Events center to host armed forces rodeo championship

The Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association will hold its World Championship Rodeo at the Curry County Events Center for the next three years starting in 2023, according to events center management.

“We’re more than excited,” General Manager K.C. Messick said. “We got the privilege to have this over some major cities.”

Messick said Las Vegas, Nev., and Kansas City, Mo., were vying for the contract.

“That says a lot about Clovis,” Messick said.

Messick said he believes the community coming together is what won the contract with PAFRA.

“The letters from the community showed support,” Messick said. “We had letters of support from Cannon (Air Force Base), the Clovis-Curry County Chamber of Commerce and Clovis Community College.”

Clovis Mayor Mike Morris also sent a letter of support to PAFRA.

“I couldn’t be happier to hear the event is coming to Clovis,” Morris said. “Credit to K.C. and the proactive efforts he and the county have taken.”

Morris said landing the event contract is an example of the community being able to land “big events.”

“When everybody collaborates it’s a great example of how things work when we all work together,” Chamber Executive Director Ernie Kos said.

Kos pointed out PAFRA’s slogan is “For the love of rodeo and country.”

Kos said, “That’s the spirit that also runs deep in the heart of the Curry County community.”

“K.C. and our community partners did an outstanding job in recruiting PAFRA,” Curry County Manager Lance Pyle said. “We are very excited and look forward to welcoming and hosting PAFRA.”

According to a news release from PAFRA the organization’s first World Championship Rodeo will be held in Clovis Nov. 3-5, 2023.

The organization is described in the release as “a veterans organization, comprised of active-duty, retired servicemen and women, reservists, National Guard and honorably discharged veterans from all branches of service.”

The release went on to describe PAFRA as an organization that strives “to provide a worthy morale and welfare outlet for members and operate on the money generated by membership and partners/sponsorship only.”

More information: http://www.rodeopafra.com