Kamas council and volunteers weigh costs, sponsors for Fiesta Days lineup

Council members and Fiesta Days organizers discussed event logistics and funding at the Kamas City Council meeting on March 11, focusing on derby payouts, rodeo programming and a potential headline concert as alternatives to rebooking nationally known rodeo performers.

Organizers told the council they have eight derby entries pre-registered and are planning lawnmower races, power-wheels activities for children and a possible parachute attraction. Steve Kirby, the festival organizer, described race formats and safety measures, including 15-foot buffers from concrete barriers and 30-foot corner radii to reduce collision risk.

The meeting turned to larger budget questions when sponsors expressed disappointment that the city might not rebook the Caleb Bennett rodeo act. Kirby and others said top-name acts drew larger sponsors last year and helped boost turnout. Council members said they are concerned about the financial risk of booking a large act: estimates for a major cowboy/rodeo headliner could approach $100,000, while a concert alternative to attract sponsors was estimated at $20,000–$40,000 for an artist plus $15,000–$30,000 for staging, sound and lighting.

"If we're expecting top-dollar sponsors we should provide a top-dollar product," Kirby said, describing sponsors' feedback that last year’s headliner produced strong returns. Several council members responded that relying on uncertain sponsorship revenue is risky. One councilor who has been on the council for multiple years said the event “barely broke even last year with the grant,” and cautioned against committing to large guaranteed payments before sponsorship and grant outcomes are known.

Council members and organizers discussed several compromises: keeping rodeo prize money but increasing derby payouts if grant money arrives; replacing one rodeo night with a concert (to reduce stock contractor and announcer costs for that night); and pursuing a smaller-name concert under a $50,000 artist budget cap to explore sponsor interest. Kirby agreed to research artists priced up to $50,000 and provide names and firm costs by the council’s next meeting in April.

Organizers also addressed logistics: who signs payout checks, where winners will pick up payouts (police trailer, announcer stand or ticket booth were discussed), and timing of payouts (after all heats rather than after each heat). The council asked that any on-site payouts include two signatures and a documented printout of results.

Councilors asked staff to schedule a Fiesta Days site walk-through to finalize layouts and ticket locations. Attendees agreed on a walk-through meeting scheduled for March 27 at 6 p.m., to be noticed as a public meeting. The council directed organizers to return to the April 8 council meeting with concrete artist options and sponsorship projections so the city can finalize budget language for upcoming grant requests.

Organizers said the city has already budgeted funds for derby prizes and advertising; they reported about $86,000 budgeted for derby prizes and advertising with $8,500 earmarked for winners so far, and that they have one jumbotron quote about $20,600 for three nights. Kirby said other cost estimates still need to be firmed up and that he will provide updated numbers at the next meeting.

The council did not adopt new spending at the meeting but gave staff and organizers direction to (1) gather artist names and firm quotes by the first council meeting in April, (2) proceed with a publicly noticed walk-through March 27, and (3) ensure payout and safety procedures are documented before the event.