LaBelle livestock club urges county to stop 'bumping' event dates; commissioners propose calendar meeting for 2026

Multiple members of the LaBelle Family Livestock Club told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on May 27 that the club’s one-day barrel-race dates have been repeatedly bumped in favor of three-day junior rodeos, disrupting volunteer scheduling, insurance sanctioning and local economic benefits.

Sherry Walker, president of the LaBelle Family Livestock Club, described the club as a 501(c)(3) that relies on volunteers to maintain the arena and run events that benefit youth and local charities. ‘‘We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization…Our main focus is to do our part to help keep kids off the street, have family oriented events, and put back into our community,’’ she said.

Other speakers — Alexandra Williams, Andy Bridal and Laura Carruthers — said their events require months of scheduling with sanctioning organizations (IBRA, WPRA and similar groups), securing insurance and preparing the arena surface. Andy Bridal said the club averages 60–100 riders per show and that riders typically patronize LaBelle businesses after events. The speakers asked that the county adopt a first-come, first-served booking policy or otherwise prevent last-minute date substitutions.

County staff and commissioners said the matter had been discussed at a WestRec meeting and that a policy change process is under way. Staff proposed that the current year remain as scheduled and that, for 2026, the county implement a calendar process: notices in November, a date-certain scheduling meeting in December at the special-districts venue for all user groups to coordinate, and a finalized calendar effective Jan. 1, 2026. Staff also said they will allow arena use on holidays except Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and that, after the 2026 calendars are set, future additions would be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Commissioners and users discussed alternatives including shared weekends and staggered start times, but speakers raised logistical obstacles (insurance differences, parking and long-stay trailers for multi-day events). Brandon Lin, president of LaBelle Youth Livestock and AG Show, asked that the annual fair and swamp-cabbage events remain fixed on the calendar.

No formal county ordinance or code change was adopted at the meeting. Staff said they will convene the scheduling meeting and return proposals to the board for finalization; commissioners invited organizers to attend an off-hours planning meeting and work with staff to resolve conflicts.