A great time was had by Grade Tech employees and their family members who attended the 87th Annual Oakley City PRC Independence Day Rodeo at the Oakley Recreation Center on July 4th weekend. Grade Tech sponsored the event, which is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and invited employees and families to take in the activities throughout the weekend.
The weekend featured a full-blown rodeo with a total purse of $171,850 for bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer rustling, tie-down roping, team roping, and barrel racing. In addition to the festivities in the ring, a highlight of the weekend was the unveiling of a mural to honor Gerald Young, a 91-year-old cattle rancher and longtime cowboy who played a critical role in creating a rodeo on the East Side.
Grade Tech’s guests were treated to a “pre-game” party at a local aribnb followed by dinner and rodeo activities.
Rory explained the connection he feels with the rodeo. “We are proud to support our local community and the Oakley Rodeo,” he said. “The founding fathers were all cattle ranchers and many of the fans and competitors know what it’s like to work with your hands and get dirty. We understand that here at Grade Tech—we’ve got “dirt in our blood” too!”
Grade Tech’s sponsorship included a video advertisement that ran on the Jumbotron throughout the event as well as a print ad in the program and signage on the field. Our ads paid tribute to the rodeo and the western roots shared by Grade Tech, and urged the audience to “grab the bull by the horns” and join the GradeTech team.
