June 09, 2000

TURLOCK -- The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Posse's 18th Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo starts tonight at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds and ends Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. Admission is $12. The county Health Services Agency boasts that the two-day rodeo is the first in the country that doesn't promote or sell tobacco products.

The sheriff's rodeo is one of 800 nationwide that advance participants to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, deputy Jeff Broumas said. Some of the rodeo proceeds are used to purchase equipment for such sheriff's operations as the bomb squad, K-9 and dive teams, hostage negotiation unit, and Special Weapons and Tactics Team. The rest is used to support various countywide civic and children's organizations, organizers said.

Reprinted by permission of Modesto Bee.