Board approves donation of county rodeo arena to youth rodeo association, bars paid admission

The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to donate use of the county-owned rodeo arena to the African Youth Rodeo Association for a youth rodeo, with a board amendment that the donated use cannot be used to charge admission.

Jeremy Ratliff, secretary of the African Youth Rodeo, asked the board to donate the arena for youth-only events so the group could hold a rodeo without charging admission. He said the organization does not intend to make a profit and uses any concession proceeds to fund end-of-year prizes for youth competitors. "No. We're not trying to make a profit," a representative said during questions from the board when asked how the organization would cover costs.

Supervisor Gaines made the motion to donate the arena "pending legal review." Supervisor Middleton seconded. Supervisor Gray asked to amend the motion to ensure there would be no charge for entry; the amendment was accepted. After brief discussion confirming that a donated county facility must be open to the public if donated (a point raised earlier in the record), the board voted and the motion carried.

The motion recorded in the meeting: donate the arena to the youth rodeo association for youth rodeos, pending legal review, amended to prohibit charging admission. The board clarified that if the county donates a facility to the public, the facility must be freely open to the public for that event per the county attorney's earlier explanation.

Why it matters: County-owned facilities are public assets; donating them for exclusive or chargeable events raises questions about public access and legal limits. The board's amendment explicitly preserved free public admission for the event.

Implementation: The motion directs county staff to complete the legal review and finalize the donation terms; supervisors said they will document the no-admission condition in the board record and the legal review will check any additional requirements.

Quotes

"If you donate the arena to you according to the lawyer, you cannot charge on, for entry. It's gotta be free entry. If we donate, it's for the public," county staff explained during the request for clarification.

"No. We're not trying to make a profit," a representative of the African Youth Rodeo Association said when asked about revenue plans.

Ending

Supervisors carried the motion, amended to prohibit entry charges, and asked staff to return a draft of the donation agreement after legal review.