The idea was submitted to the Clare Agricultural and Horticultural Society committee at a meeting on Tuesday December 8, with 100 percent backing from all.

“It did come with a debate, but I had all the facts in front of me and they (the committee) were all very supportive,” rodeo committee spokesman and Society president Norm Crowther said.

The idea stemmed from a proposition put to Maggie Longbottom and Deb Sims at an interschool gymkhana by Norm Crowther .

“I am pushing to get a big horse event here and the rodeo idea came up and I won’t say no to anything until I know it can’t be run,” Mr Crowther said.

A date has been set for the rodeo that will include a full list of events for March 13 next year.

Events that will be run include barrel racing, steer wrestling, rope and tie, bull ride, bareback ride, saddle bronc ride and steer ride, it will include junior and second division events.

“At the moment all it clashes with is vintage,” he said.

The rodeo will register with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association, will make its spot on the calendar and will see plenty of interstate riders register for it.

“It will be run as a fundraiser for the Clare show activities,” Mr Crowther said.

The rodeo will be held on the main arena at the Clare showgrounds at the southern end giving all spectators a good chance to see all the action from the seats at the top of the arena.

“We are expecting it all to cost less than $50,000 and we are keen to hear from sponsors, we will be looking in to business sponsorship packages,” Mr Crowther said.

“We will also be inviting the RSPCA to come along, we need to talk and work with them not against them,” he said.

Clubs throughout the Clare Valley will be approached to help out on the evening and for the next morning.

“We can’t find any record of a rodeo that was previously held in Clare, if there was one we would love to know about it, we aren’t claiming this is the first one and we don’t doubt there was one, but we would love to know,” Mr Crowther said.

The night will be run as strictly no BYO alcohol, an automatic teller machine will be on site along with full canteen facilities. Admission prices are yet to be set and other on the night stalls and entertainment are to be confirmed, but the rodeo is a definite goer.