Today might be the first of Tucson's "Rodeo Days," but the city doesn't have the corner on rodeo activity in these parts.
Maranans have been competing in rodeos near and far for years, and the opening of the Marana Western Heritage Arena, at North Postvale Road and the Interstate 10 frontage road, in the last decade made the rodeo accessible for more people.
Two elder statesmen in the scene - Maranans Dan Post and Mel Potter - said it's common for people competing in the Tucson rodeo to stay in the Marana area for its easy access to practice arenas and the freeway that takes them to the Tucson rodeo grounds.
"They'll be from everywhere here during the Tucson rodeo," Post said between runs on a tractor, grading the rodeo arena for barrel racers on Feb. 13.
But even without the Tucson rodeo, the Western Heritage Arena sponsors enough events to attract folks from out of state just to Marana, he said.
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Year-round, the arena is busy five days a week with barrel-racing practice, bull-riding practice, roping practice - and competitions on most Saturdays.
"We get contestants from all over the Southwest," including New Mexico, southwest Texas, California, Utah and Nevada, Post said.
The constant flow of contestants as well as Tucson rodeo participants are a boon to Marana, Potter said.
"They bring a lot of money into the town. Service stations are full. All the restaurants are full," he said.
The arena and its Junior Rodeo program tie into the town's heritage, said Marana spokesman Rodney Campbell.
"Rodeo's always been an important part of Marana's past and present, and it's great to be able to see that tradition continue," he said. "Rodeo in a lot of ways has helped put Marana on the map."
Many Tucson rodeo contestants - including some from his family - live in Marana and spend much of the year traveling the country competing, Potter said.
Brothers Joseph Parsons, 25, and Cutter Parsons, 26, grew up in Marana and do just that.
But they do like the proximity of the Tucson rodeo when it comes around, they said.
"Since it's such a big rodeo, it brings all the world-class athletes out," said Cutter Parsons, who competes in calf-roping and steer-wrestling.
Calf-roper Joseph Parsons and team-roper Trevor Brown, 27, drove 13 hours last week to get to an event in Texas.
Joseph Parsons said he appreciates the Tucson arena size, which is four to six times that of other competition venues in February. His brother said other rodeos at this time of year are indoors in old, damp buildings.
The men welcome the sunshine and wide-open space, they said.
Another bonus, Brown said, is that by competing in Tucson "you get to sleep in your bed every night."
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Upcoming events
At the Marana Western Heritage Arena
• Open barrel race: 6 p.m. today. Free admission.
• Bull riding: 6 p.m. Friday, March 5 and March 12. $5 admission.
• Jackpot barrel race: 7 p.m. first Wednesday of every month. Free admission.
• Barrel practice: 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, except the first Wednesday of the month. Free admission.
• Team roping practice: 6 p.m. March 11 and March 25. Free admission.
• Cowboys Cowgirls Open Barrel Racing Association competition: 10 a.m. March 13. Free admission.
• Rudy Clark Team Roping competition, 10 a.m. March 20. Free admission.
• Marana Junior Rodeo Association, 10 a.m. March 27.
Contact reporter Shelley Shelton at sshelton@azstarnet.com or 807-8464.
