At last Tuesday’s meeting of the Pioneer Days committee, members decided to send a message to fans of the community celebration, notifying them that while the  rodeo was cancelled, the annual get-together still has plenty to offer.

After verifying the date and theme (Aug. 1 and 2, and “Horsin’ Around”), the crux of the message was: “due to circumstances beyond our control, we are saddened to notify our community that there will not be a Bulls and Broncs or Open Rodeo for the weekend. While we are as disappointed as everyone else, the weekend is still packed full of fun, exciting, and family-friendly events.”

The rodeo events, historically held at the Ronan fairgrounds, were dropped this year because the new venue, Mission Range Event Complex (MREC), isn’t ready to accommodate a rodeo. The complex was turned over to the City of Ronan two years ago, with the understanding that the Pioneer Days committee would lease at least 10 acres of the property to build a rodeo arena and stock pens and put up seating. That process has taken longer than expected.

Another issue is that Elmo McDonald, who’s provided rough stock and his own chutes for the rodeo for years, said he wouldn’t bring his stock to Ronan this year because the existing chutes at the fairgrounds can’t handle big saddle broncs and bucking bulls.

Committee members also say the fairgrounds lack contestant parking space, and the arena – a former baseball field – is too small for rodeo action.

“We want to have the new arena up and going by next year,” said Pioneer Days President AJ Bigby.

“We want to get it where people can enjoy the new arena,” he added, noting that more community volunteers would help hasten the project along.

However, organizers aren’t kidding when they say Pioneer Days is still packed full of fun.

Westland Seed has volunteered to handle the kids’ fishing derby at the Ronan City Park and Lucky Larson has already reserved the fish. Kids can fish in Spring Creek or smaller tykes can angle in plastic pools. Parents are welcome come to help bait hooks, teach kids what to do when they get a bite, and show how to reel in or net a fish.

The City Slicker Rodeo on Saturday afternoon is geared toward children too.

Street dances on Friday and Saturday nights, a car show, golf scramble at Mission Mountain Golf Club, and softball, volleyball and 3-on-3 basketball tournaments are also on tap. And on Sunday, the ever-popular Big Parade begins at 12:30 p.m.

Other activities and events are in the planning stages, with surprises in the mix.

In its statement, the Pioneer Days committee vowed “2027 is slated to be a banner year with the rodeo back bigger and better than ever.”

They also encouraged disappointed rodeo fans to reach out to a Pioneer Days committee member and volunteer to help with this year’s event, or to put some muscle or money into the new MREC arena to keep Pioneer Days “the vibrant, fun-filled celebration of Ronan it is.”