Rodeos likely to end tobacco sponsorships

(UNEDITED)There is great news for families that enjoy the sport of Rodeo. We are one step closer to tobacco-free rodeo events.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) announced last week that U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (and their new parent company ALTRIA - AKA Philip Morris) will be ending their sponsorship agreement with the PRCA at the end of this year.

Hopefully this signals the start of a tobacco-free era for professional rodeo. Rodeo has been around since the 1800's. Tobacco sponsorship of rodeo began in 1986.

A number of organizations including, Buck Tobacco, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Oklahoma Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT), Montana REACT, and many others have been instrumental in sending out the message - Rodeos Are For Families - Not Big Tobacco.

Many tobacco prevention programs across the United States and I have also asked the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) to step up and make their rodeo event family-friendly by giving tobacco the boot.

Lets make rodeo an event that we are comfortable to share with our kids. I encourage kids and parents to contact the PRCA and PBR and the sponsors of those organizations to let them know that you are in favor of tobacco-free rodeos.

Ted Hallisey

Bountiful