Rodeo News

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Contact: Mandy Linquist*Marketing Manager*(831) 775-3102* mlinquist@carodeo.com

California Rodeo Salinas Announces New President, Officers & Directors

SALINAS, CA November 3, 2011-The California Rodeo Salinas is proud to have over 1,200 volunteers that help to run the four day rodeo and other annual events each year. The Rodeo Board consists of 52 Directors, 6 of whom are Officers, 45 Advisory Directors and 14 Past President Directors. The Directors are in charge of various aspects of the Rodeo or other events and work year round to insure success for the association. Each year at our Stockholders Meeting in October, we announce the newest Officers and Directors and every two years, we usher in a new President. This year Benny Jefferson will take over as President of the California Rodeo for 2012 and 2013. The Officers of the Rodeo Association consist of the President, three Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. This year the new Officers are 3rd Vice President Brent Eastman and Secretary Fred Hooker. New Directors are Dave McDougal, Patty Standridge and Tony Rossi.

Benny Jefferson has lived in the Salinas Valley his entire life and credits his love of the Rodeo to his parents raising him in the western way of life and his dad being an avid team roper who competed at the Rodeo many times. A local farmer, Benny is involved in not only the Rodeo, but also the California Farm Bureau and is the chairman of the Salinas River Coalition which represents property owners from the mouth of the Salinas River to South of San Ardo. He started out on the Ground Preparation Committee at the Rodeo in the early 80s. He has two sons, Kenneth and Martin (Jamie) and a granddaughter, Addy, a daughter, Mellisa (Rick) and two grandchildren, Jordan and William, and two step sons Ryan (Natalie) Lisk and John Lisk. Benny and his wife, Donna, live in King City. The entire family volunteers at the California Rodeo each year.

Brent Eastman grew up in Salinas and started volunteering with the Rodeo in 1986 on the Director's Patio Committee and he now chairs the Announcing Committee and has since 1995. Brent is the owner of Brent Eastman Insurance Services, established in 1995, and lives in Salinas with his wife Maureen; they have five children-Amanda (21), Sam (18), Cammeron (14), Ben (9) and Brent Jr (9). Beyond the Rodeo, Brent is the Board President for Partners for Peace, he sits on the Board of Public Recreation Unlimited and is a co-announcer for the Palma-Notre Dame Track Team.

Fred Hooker first became involved with the California Rodeo in 1978 on the Blue Grass/Salt Flats Hoe Down Committee; he then served on the Round Up Day Barbecue Committee for 17 years before moving to the Concessions Committee and becoming chairman in 2005 and then Director of Concessions in 2007. Fred now manages all the non-profit and specialty food vendors, beer concessions, inventory purchasing and the midway and other merchants. Fred's sons and daughters have served on committees and he loves the fact that the Rodeo is a family affair. Fred lives in Salinas with his wife Mary.

Dave McDougal started volunteering at the Rodeo in 1994 in the Indian Village. He has been chairman of the Kids Corral Committee since 1999. His lovely wife of 24 years, Nancy, is by his side helping to run the Kids Corral, build floats and support the Rodeo in any way they can. Dave is self-employed with OnSite Equipment Repair which provides heavy equipment service for Ag and Construction companies. He has two grown children, Stephanie and Chris, and a five month old grandson, Colby James. When he isn't working long hours, he enjoys spending time with the family, camping in the RV, Autocross Racing, and he supports his son Chris' sport of motorcycle racing as "Pit Crew Chief."

Patty Standridge is a lifelong resident of Salinas and the Chairman of our Banking Committee and has been since 2005. She started volunteering on the committee in 1998. Patty has also worked for Nunes Company since 1998. The banking committee doesn't get any limelight but is one of the most vital functions to our association and Patty handles this huge job gracefully. She has three kids-Jennifer, Jocelyne and Peter and 4 beautiful granddaughters. When she isn't working, she enjoys yoga, walking and spending time with her family.

Tony Rossi has volunteered on the Arena Committee since 1978; he helps out every year with the Special Buckaroos Rodeo, a special rodeo that is put on for handicapped children on the track on Saturday before the Rodeo starts, and Tony is also on the Construction Committee for ‘The Stadium' project that Public Recreation Unlimited is leading. Tony and his wife Susie live in Salinas and own and operate Rossi Masonry. They have a son, Timmy, and daughter, Gina. When Tony isn't working, he enjoys hunting, fishing and golfing.

About California Rodeo Salinas

The California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 19-22, 2012. The California Rodeo Association is a non-profit organization that strives to preserve and promote the traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. We support the community and other non-profit organizations through the staging of the annual California Rodeo Salinas and other year round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex. Through donation of our facility, vending and fundraising opportunities during Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association returns over $200,000 annually to local non-profits. For more information about the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775.3100. ‘Like' the California Rodeo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or follow us on twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and more.