According to Heather Gruenig Duvall, coordinator of the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Tobacco Education Program, "this agreement is just the beginning of bigger things. Stanislaus County may be one of the first to sign this type of pact, but more counties will follow suit."

Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Deputy and rodeo organizer Mike Wagner stated, "We are pleased to join with Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Tobacco Education Program to remove the tobacco advertisements at our rodeo to provide a healthy environment for young people who attend."

Although many think of cowboys and spit tobacco as a pair, the reality is this is a dangerous combination. Spit tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking and can cause cancerous mouth sores, receding gums, increased blood pressure, and a variety of oral, esophageal, and stomach cancers.

Although the Attorneys General and the Tobacco Companies signed the Master Settlement

Agreement that was supposed to reduce tobacco advertising in local communities, tobacco advertising for products like Copenhagen/Skoal at rodeos is still common. With increased tobacco advertising restrictions, the tobacco industry has found Rodeo and Fair sponsorships to be an effective way of continuing to make profits from promoting tobacco in youth. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo has taken a stand by refusing these ads.

To further mark this change in policy, The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency Tobacco Education Program will be posting a banner in the rodeo arena to promote tobacco free living with the slogan, "A New Breed…Tobacco Free."

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo is being held at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th at 7:30 p.m. Photo opportunities include signed agreement to cease tobacco ad sales, the new banner at the rodeo and opening ceremonies on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Interviews can be arranged with Heather Gruenig Duvall at the Fairgrounds for Friday at 7:30 p.m. or at the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency at an earlier time.

The Stanislaus County Health Services Agency (HSA) is an outpatient medical system with 9 medical offices located throughout Stanislaus County. The HSA operates the Public Health Department, an Urgent Care Center and multiple programs serving over 400,000 patients and clients each year in Stanislaus County. The HSA also is in local partnerships for the MOMobile project and the Stanislaus Family Practice Residency Program. The HSA has extensive community health information available at its web site www.schsa.org