LOTRA Rodeo

10/11/2026

LOTRA members: Some maintenance and events coming up this week at the LOTRA barn.

Monday, Oct. 12: Kelly Winfield will be working on welding more panels on the roping chutes. So there will be some noise and grinding going on.

Thursday, Oct. 15: Barn Closure/Reservation Notification: The barn has been reserved for Thursday, October 15 to the Popo Agie Conservation District for their annual Ag Expo day for 3rd graders from 8-1.

Friday, October 16: We plan to power wash portions of the inside of the barn. Time yet to be determined.

Sunday, Oct. 18: Obstacle/Trail Practice, Sunday 1-4 pm, Contact Paula McCormick ([email protected], 307-851-1126) LOTRA members free. Non-LOTRA attendees: $30/person.

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10/03/2026

Our next LOTRA board & member meeting is this Wednesday, October 7. Please plan to join us via Zoom or in person. (Agenda with Zoom link will be sent separately by Julie Freese.) Topics include grooming contract, getting the barn ready for winter cattle lease, barn improvements, more equine activities on our winter calendar, membership rules and roping rules updates, etc. 6:00 Fremont County commissioner's chambers

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10/03/2026

LOTRA is hosting an Obstacle/Trail practice on Sunday October 18 from 1-4. See the attached flyer for the details!

09/24/2026

LOTRA’s fall/winter/spring event barn schedule is shaping up and we wanted to share the calendar with you, so you know when all of the happenings are being planned.

We already emailed this to our LOTRA members. Please watch our Facebook for any updates or changes, and soon all LOTRA events will be listed on our website calendar at: LOTRA.org/events

Out of respect for others who use the arena, please cleanup after your own horses in the tie-up area.

09/24/2026

LOTRA MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS AND NON-MEMBER USE FEES: https://www.lotra.org/membership

Our costs of leasing roping cattle doubled this year, and other operation expenses are up, but even so, we did not increase membership fees for 2026/2027. Unless the board votes to change our non-member rates, any non-member who participates in any of our practices with cattle will pay $40 per person/practice like last year. If the person is ONLY riding in the barn and not using our cattle, the cost would be the same as last year at $30/person. To ride, the non-members must have one of our LOTRA members be their sponsor to be responsible for collecting the funds. Our hope is that we get more people to become members when they want to practice at our events using our expensive cattle.

026/2027 LOTRA Memberships are due November 1: We have lots of options to join. You can pay online or by check. There’s a membership application attached. There are blank printed membership applications available at the barn at the crow’s nest. All our membership info and a downloadable membership application is also at: https://www.lotra.org/membership If you are paying the Installment Plan over 3 months, the first payment was due 8/31. The second payment is due 9/30, and the final payment is due 10/31. The prices are written at the top of the membership application. Remember, there is a special student rate, and a special 4-H enrolled member rate for our youth.

09/24/2026

AVAILABLE LOTRA CONTRACTS FOR WINTER GROUNDSKEEPER AND CHUTE CLEANUP:
The winter groundskeeper and cattle chute cleanup contracts are open for LOTRA members or anyone to apply. They could be positions where it is shared by two people or contracted by one person. Let Julie Freese (307-349-1981) or Paula McCormick (307-851-1126) know if you are interested. Below are the job listings and pay. We can text or email you the full job descriptions.

AVAILABLE: Winter Groundskeeper Contract, November 1 thru April 30. Six- Month Contract is $3,640, plus free single barn membership. Pay/Month is $606. It can be job-shared between 2 people, if desired. We want to have the arena groomed 7 days per week, like last winter. See full contract to break out job between 2 people.

AVAILABLE: Cattle Chute Manure Cleanup Contract, November 1 through March 31. Pay is $1,040 for 5 months, or $208/month. Includes after Tuesday/Thursday roping practices and nine Saturday Memorial Team Roping Jackpots. It can be job-shared between 2 people, if desired, or combined with Winter Groundskeeper Contract. This is a good job for someone attending the weekday roping practices.

Committed: Winter Cattle Care Contract, 5 1/2 months—Kenan Beninati will assume the daily Cattle Care contract this winter from mid-October through March.

09/09/2026

LOTRA barn is open! The new washed sand, donated by Croell, was added to the barn yesterday, and while it will take a few more groomings to get it all worked in, it looked good by last night. We will continue to work on the watering and dust control. It was hard to keep enough water on the old sand when it was 90 degrees, 9% humidity, and both garage doors were open. As fall takes over, we hope with the added washed sand, it will make it a little easier. Please thank Croell, and say thanks to the volunteer efforts of Bill Bartlett for getting the donation, to John Gazso for spending all day, and the use of his heavy equipment, to even out the ground and work in the new sand, and to our groundskeeper Kenan Beninati who grooms it and works to keep our 40-year-old barn clean for you.

09/07/2026

LOTRA barn closure Reminder: This Tuesday, September 8, possibly Sept. 9 a.m. & October 15.
This Tuesday Sept. 8 the barn will be closed to riding from 8 am to 8 pm for maintenance. Croell has generously donated some washed sand to be added to our existing arena ground, which should improve the footing for the heavy winter use. We will be leveling the ground beforehand, and after the washed sand is dumped into the arena, we will spread the sand. We do not know how well it will be mixed in by Thursday morning, Sept. 9, and may need to continue to work the arena Thursday morning. We are excited about this improvement to the ground, thanks to the volunteer efforts of Bill Bartlett and John Gazso, and our groundskeeper Kenan Beninati. Please be considerate and accommodate those working the ground. John has worked up the city's outdoor rodeo arena so you have a place to ride.
We have also donated the arena to the Popo Agie Conservation District on October 15 for their annual 3rd Grade Ag Expo from 8-1.

09/04/2026

Announcing LOTRA barn closure September 8 for maintenance and a an October 15 event. This Wednesday Sept. 8 the barn will be closed to riding from 8 am to 8 pm for maintenance. Croell has generously donated some washed sand to be added to our existing arena ground, which should improve the footing for the heavy winter use. We will be leveling the ground beforehand, and after it is dumped, we will spread the sand. We do not know how well it will be mixed in by Thursday morning, Sept. 9, and may need to continue to work the arena Thursday morning. We are excited about this improvement to the ground, thanks to the volunteer efforts of Bill Bartlett and John Gazso, and our groundskeeper Kenan Beninati. Please be considerate and accommodate those working the ground. We have also donated the arena to the Popo Agie Conservation District on October 15 for their annual 3rd Grade Ag Expo. THANK YOU!

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09/01/2026

Our next LOTRA board & member meeting is this Wednesday, Sept. 2. Please plan to join us via Zoom or in person. (Agenda with Zoom link will be sent separately by Julie Freese.) Topics include winter cattle lease, barn improvements, more equine activities on our winter calendar, membership rules and roping rules updates, etc. 6:00 Fremont County commissioner's chambers.

Send a message to learn more