Carbondale
Wild West Rodeo

For 12 Weeks in June through August - Rain or Shine

2023

Carbondale Wild West Rodeo Board

Mike Kennedy

Mike Kennedy CWWRA president and one of the founding members of the rodeo, is a 44 year resident of Carbondale. Formerly a mining engineer at Thompson Creek and consulting engineer on the Glenwood Canyon Tunnels, Mike has been working full time in the real estate business since 1992.

Mike is the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Mountain West in Carbondale since 1997. RE/MAX Mountain West has offices in Carbondale, Paonia and Cedaredge, Colorado. The Carbondale office is next to the 7-11 store at Main Street and Highway 133 since 1993.

Mike has been involved with the Carbondale Fire District since 1980 as a volunteer for 27+ yrs and also a Board Member (29 yrs) for the district.

Mike is married (Julie) with two grown boys, one is a EMS Division Chief with the Carbondale Fire District and the other is an electrician.

Mike has truly enjoyed watching the rodeo grow from its humble beginnings into something that Carbondale can really be proud of!

It's the place to be on Thursday nights in the summer!

Melanie Cardiff

Melanie Gianinetti Cardiff, a Carbondale native, is the CWWRA Secretary/Volunteer Administrator.

Melanie is no newcomer to rodeo, at age 7 she won her 1st, first place trophy and continued to ride competitively in rodeo for many years. In 1974, she was crowned Colorado Mountain College Rodeo Queen, and in 1975, crowned Carbondale Potato Day Queen by the Governor of Colorado. Melanie's passion for riding is as strong as ever. She now enjoys riding her horses and mules on the trails of the beautiful mountains surrounding her home town. Melanie is married to Dave Cardiff, a General Contractor, and Roaring Fork High School Football Coach. Family time is important to Melanie. She cherishes spending time with her grandchildren, Layton, Aubrey and looks forward to spending more time to the newest 2021 addition Lorna.

Melanie assists in the management of Spring Creeks Ranch and Event Barn available for rent for weddings, special occasions, retreats and other private gatherings. She also volunteers in many community activities outside the rodeo board. Melanie is an avid cook and baker, sewing, crafting, and crazy about canning and pickling. You may have seen one of her wedding or birthday cakes around the community or been lucky enough to sample some of her pickles or jam.

Having always been very involved in her community, she says "I am proud to serve on the CWWRA board where we all work so well together". The board members contribute hundreds of volunteer hours preparing and producing the summer rodeo series. "There is a ton of work that goes into pulling off 12 great rodeos, but it's all worth it when you see those smiling faces." She is most passionate about keeping our "Western Heritage" alive and "always working to improve the show!" The best part of rodeo night she says is "getting to interact with all the people…contestants, spectators and our amazing volunteers!"

You will see her driving the rodeo “vintage golf cart" around the grounds or checking in contestants, when she is not organizing and directing volunteers! Please take a moment to stop her and say hello.

Tom Harrington

Tom was raised in Ridgway, Colorado. He currently manages the Crystal River Ranch, a cow/calf operation in Carbondale residing there 15 years with his wife Ginny. Tom and Ginny feel fortunate to have some cattle of their own as well. They have one daughter Crystal Ferguson and son-in-law Derek of Fort Worth; grand daughter Tegwyn 12 years old, and grandson Riordan, 9 years old. Both Tegwyn and Riordan enjoyed mutton bustin' as their first rodeo event. They love warming up (or winding up as Tegwyn has coined it) horses before the rodeo starts. The calf scramble is also a favorite and Tegwyn proudly won her first ribbons in 2019, one first and one third place. It is truly a family affair and the grandkids look forward to participating in further events in the future..

Tom began his career as a cowboy at the age of 14 on high mountain pastures in Telluride working for a cow/calf and sheep operation building fence, riding herd health and irrigating. Working with cattle and being horseback has remained his passion since. Tom participated in the high school rodeo team at Ridgway, team roping and riding bulls...

Graduating from Colorado State University in December 1994, with both a B.S. in Animal Sciences and a M.S. in Animal Reproduction and Management Systems, Tom has gone on to manage ranches in Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and Montana. These have included seedstock, cow/calf operations and a retained ownership operation with a meat program. Tom has also judged beef cattle shows including National Western Stock Show, Montana State Fair, National Junior Red Angus Show and local fairs in Colorado, Montana and Arizona..

Tom team ropes in the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo. Tom became very interested in the Vaquero style of horsemanship in 2001. He competes in ranch roping and also judges an occasional ranch roping. Tom’s other interests include building custom tack, gear and saddles in his spare time, fly-fishing and road trips on his Harley Davidson. Tom is very active in his community along with serving on the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo board of directors, he is the board President of the Roaring Fork Valley Coop, and board member of Holy Cross Cattlemen’s Association. Tom is a Past President of the Rocky Mountain Ranch Roping and Stock Horse Association’s (RMRRSHA) board of directors, still serving as a director on their board. Tom also founded Roaring Fork Ranch Roping in 2010 and along with Ginny is proud to host this roping each year, the weekend after Labor Day. Tom also serves as 1st VP for Colorado Cattlemen’s Association board of directors and is a board member of the local Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association. Ginny helps keep the rodeo website updated along with being active in Holy Cross Cattlemen's Assoc. as their Membership Chairman and Event Coordinator.

Tom and his wife, Ginny are proud to call Carbondale their home.1dt

Steve Turley

Steve Turley joined the rodeo board during the 2019 season.

Steve has been the long-time arena manager of the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo and knows the ins and outs of the rodeo probably as well or better than anyone around. He is a true supporter and cheerleader of the contestants and keeps the rodeo events running smooth each week. Steve has to work closely with all the volunteers in the arena, the judges, the stock contractors and all the contestants, plus the other board members..

Steve has been dedicated to getting the arena and facilities in shape and ready for the rodeo each year, whether that is putting in a new holding pen for the steers at the end of the arena or welding a new roping chute and working on fences and pens.

Thank you Steve for your dedication and welcome to the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo Association board.

Welcome to the Rodeo

The Carbondale Rodeo Committee is a not-for-profit, volunteer organization committed to keeping the Roaring Fork Valley’s western heritage alive by offering a fun family-oriented event for residents and visitors alike. The Carbondale Wild West Rodeo is held every Thursday from June until late August, rain or shine.

2024 Rodeo Season

The 2024 rodeo season will begin on Thursday, June 6th, and continue through Thursday, August 22nd. Come down to the rodeo every Thursday evening for 12 weeks with slack at 6:00 p.m. and the main performance at 7:30 p.m.

Get Involved

Join us in preserving the Western heritage of the Roaring Fork Valley by volunteering for the Carbondale Wild West Rodeo! Contribute to a meaningful cause, build lasting connections, and enjoy personal satisfaction in supporting a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the spirit of the Wild West. Whether you're experienced with livestock or not, there's a role for you. Sign up today and make a difference at the Carbondale Rodeo!

 

To volunteer, email Mike Kennedy at:
[email protected]  or call at:
(970) 379-3907.

Reserve Arena Fence Parking

We are excited to continue the premium arena fence online parking reservation system for the 2024 season!

Arena fence parking tickets go on sale every Wednesday starting at noon through the rodeo season and typically sell out within minutes.

Remember, leaving your vehicles at the arena or on Willow Lane early is no longer allowed. 

Learn more about premium arena fence parking tickets HERE.