Rodeo draws large crowds

The 40th annual Cattlemens Day Rodeo played to capacity crowds this past weekend.

On Friday night, the rodeo had more than 2,000 in attendance and Saturday night was a blockbuster night with more than 3,500 estimated in attendance.

Saturday’s crowd was so large, the line of traffic was backed up to the Hwy. 63 exit at about 7:30 p.m. Cars were parked around the Optimist baseball outfield and back into the Season’s Ridge subdivision.

The annual rodeo raises funds for the Cedar Valley Riders Club and its arena as well as Ashland Optimist youth sports, scholarships and educational efforts.