Council authorizes contract, funding request to revive Evanston Rodeo Series

The Evanston City Council authorized a contract with the Evanston Rodeo Series and heard a request for restart funding from the organization’s representative, Mr. Bounds.

Mr. Bounds told the council the rodeo had been dormant for two years and outlined plans for three weekends this summer: June 10–11, July 1–2 and July 22–23. He said organizers had re-signed stock contractors, announcers and entertainers for two of the three weekends and sought city support to jump-start the season: “we come to you tonight to ask if we could ask the city for some funds to be able to jumpstart our activities again for this year,” he said.

Councilors had no extended discussion and moved to authorize execution of a contract for services with the Evanston Rodeo Series (a Wyoming nonprofit corporation per the resolution title). The council approved the authorization by voice vote.

Mr. Bounds said organizers planned to coordinate some ticketing and promotional crossovers with city events to encourage attendance and would return to renegotiate future-year support after the season. The resolution authorizes the city to enter the service contract; any specific funding amounts or follow-up terms were not detailed in the meeting record.