Cameron could be site for new rodeo association facility

_{Cameron could possibly become home to a new facility for the Central Texas Youth Rodeo Association.}

_{The Cameron ISD Board of Trustees heard a presentation from Lindy Sanders with the group during a meeting Monday night.}

_{Sanders proposed a partnership with Cameron ISD to bring a new facility to the area. She proposed using land around the current Cameron ISD Farm on FM 2269.}

_{The CTYRA was established in 1991.} 

_{“The point of CTYRA is to support youth through rodeo competition,” Sanders said. “We also provide scholarship opportunities. We previously had a facility in McGregor. Space-X came in and we started to lose some of the support from tourism and the city and getting pushed to allow some sub-contractors to buy portions of our property.”}

_{She said they sold their facility to a Space-X contractor a few years ago and they really want another home in a community that would embrace their values and be supportive.}

_{“We want someone that will help us to grow our organization and support tourism,” she said. “That’s why I am here today. Our rodeo season has 12 rodeos per year between September and March.”}

_{She said the organization is currently renting facilities in Bryan, Groesbeck and Hamilton but they want to have a home again.}

_{“What could our organization mean for Cameron in terms of tourism,” she said. “We have 12 rodeos per year with on average 450 entries per rodeo. That is a large number of people coming into the city every weekend.”}

_{She said that just staff will need hotel rooms along with all those that are coming to watch the rodeo. They would also rent the facility to other rodeo organizations that would come to town and spend money and rent hotel rooms.}

_{“The reason I am here tonight because Cameron ISD keeps being suggested,” she said. “Because you have a school farm that is not using all of the acreage.”}

_{She said the facility would house a rodeo arena with seating and approaches as well as RV spots for participants. They would need 25 acres of the property along with parking and road access.}

_{Sanders said this is just an exploration of if there could be a partnership with the school district to bring the facility to town.}

_{She said they are open to all options – buying, renting or leasing – the property.}

_{“I am pushing Cameron because we are centrally located, we have major highways, we have restaurants,” she said. “I just wanted to throw our hat in the ring.”}

_{She said they are looking to be in the facility by September 2023.}

_{Other business}

_{The board also heard from Sprinkles about enrollment numbers during the meeting. He said as of Sept. 1 there were 1,571 students enrolled in Cameron ISD.}

_{He said the district has had 20 confirmed student cases of COVID and eight staff cases so far this school year and there has not been an explosion of cases in any one grade level or class.}

_{“We are confident that our numbers will stay low,” he said. “There hasn’t been an explosion of cases here like you have seen other places.”}

_{The board also retained attorneys to assist Cameron ISD with a 313 agreement with Two Rivers Solar.}

_{Sprinkles said the district plans informational meeting for the community about the 2021 Bond Election on Sept. 29, Oct. 4 and Oct. 13 at the YHS Commons.} 

_{The community is invited to attend.}