Sponsors are key support of rodeo

Sponsors are one of the three legs that make it possible to put on the Ramona Rodeo each year.

“It’s all connected — sponsors, vendors and, as they say, the butts in the seat,” said Nancy Spurlock. “It all comes together.”

Spurlock with husband Larry, daughter Kayla Duba and friend Justin Aspin work with businesses, organizations and individuals who sponsor the rodeo. Duba, Miss Rodeo California 2005, is focusing on the sponsors for this year’s rodeo, with the Spurlocks and Aspin taking care of the banners.

Each banner in and out of the rodeo arena represents a rodeo supporter, and Spurlock appreciates them all.

“We have a lot more sponsors than most rodeos,” she said. “We run on community support. When you see someone’s banner, you know they support the community.”

In return for the support from sponsors, Spurlock encourages rodeo-goers to support those businesses.

“People need to look around to see who’s supporting Ramona,” she said.

Getting sponsor banners and placing them throughout the rodeo grounds takes a team. Spurlock works to strategically place each banner to please each sponsor. When it comes to banners in the arena, she said, “there is no bad area in the arena.”

Spurlock, involved as a rodeo volunteer since 2000, appreciates what rodeo volunteers have done since the first Ramona Rodeo in 1980.

“This year’s (rodeo) committee wants to thank all of those who came before us and helped build the Ramona Rodeo to what it is today,” she said.