Improvements made to Phillipsburg rodeo facilities

Submitted

PHILLIPSBURG — The Phillipsburg Rodeo grounds sports two improvements to its grounds.

Newly built on the west side is a concessions and restroom building. Measuring 50-by-60 feet, the building will house a new concessions area and men’s and women’s restrooms.

new chutes at kbr kbr 15 — New WW chutes were welded into place at the Phillipsburg rodeo grounds last month. The old bucking chutes will be donated to the Mid-Plains Community College rodeo program in McCook, Neb.

The building will include a storage area for food and drink, and the women’s bathroom has sixteen stalls, a vast improvement over the five that it used to have.

The building is air conditioned, and was paid for in part by the Morgan Foundation, grants, and “a lot of sweat and donated labor,” said J.D. Shelton, a rodeo committee member and the electrician working on the building. “We strive to give our rodeo fans the best facilities possible,” Shelton said.

On the east side, fans will see new bucking chutes. They were installed in May, and they are the WW brand, a high quality product. “They’re top-notch chutes,” said Steve Christy, Phillipsburg rodeo board member. “They’re made a lot heavier than the old ones. They’re an upgrade for us.” They are already welded down but more welding is being done before they will be complete.

The old chutes will be donated to the Mid-Plains Community College rodeo program in McCook, Neb. The WW chutes are made similarly to the Priefert brand of chutes, which is the brand used at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

The public will notice the red color of the chutes, Christy said, but they, especially the women, will appreciate the increase in the number of restroom stalls. “Hopefully there won’t be as big of lines this year,” he said. Before 1964, the only restroom facilities at the rodeo grounds were two outhouses, each “four-holers”, and following each rodeo, the committee would receive a stack of complaint letters. In 1964, restrooms were finally constructed on the east side of the arena, and the current building on the east, which also has a meeting room, was built in 2003.

new building at kbr kbr 15 — A new concessions and restroom building is completed on the west side of the Phillipsburg rodeo grounds and will offer more storage and serving space for concessions and more stalls in the restrooms.

The rodeo committee is appreciative of all the people who have made the new building and new chutes possible. “We want to thank all who donated to this project,” Shelton said. “Without Phillipsburg and Phillips County people, projects like this would not be possible.”

This year’s rodeo is July 30-August 1. Tickets go on sale July 1 at Heritage Insurance, 685 Third Street in Phillipsburg (785-543-2448). For more information, visit the website at KansasBiggestRodeo.com.