The Miles Community College Pioneer Rodeo teams are beginning their Spring 2009 rodeo season and will have added transportation for horses and stock. The team has recently purchased a trailer that will carry 16 horses and will enable athletes to travel to collegiate competitions with fewer vehicles and save an approximate $2,362 in annual fuel costs and travel expenses. With higher fuel prices, this savings continues to rise. The MCC Rodeo Team is also giving businesses the opportunity to purchase advertising logos for display on the sides of the trailer. With the trailer on the road 4,500 miles each year in Montana and Wyoming, businesses will receive great advertising benefits.

Pioneers Rodeo Coach Wally Badgett has researched the feasibility of the team trailer since the Spring 2008 rodeo season. After factoring in rising fuel costs, miles traveled, and the number of rigs to transport the rodeo team and stock, the numbers showed that purchasing the trailer and using a semi truck for hauling would be a huge cost savings for the team budget and the College. There was also the added liability issue of having multiple young drivers on the road pulling high cost pickups and trailers with horses. By investing in one vehicle carrying horses being driven by a commercially trained driver, the safety issue is also addressed. As well, most all rodeo teams in the collegiate region provide athletic scholarships that include both student tuition and travel to competitions. This incentive has not been a piece of the MCC rodeo recruitment package in the past but with the new horse trailer the Pioneers Rodeo program's ability to recruit great athletes for the team will be enhanced.

Many of the team's parents have expressed their appreciation and support in the purchase of the MCC Pioneers Team trailer. As Selle comments, "The image of the school providing travel for their athletes and horses is a selling point to potential students. Some parents just don't have the means to provide their children with a vehicle and trailer to rodeo." Coach Badgett concludes "The MCC Pioneers are very excited to have the addition of the horse trailer. Our program views the trailer as one more plus to provide the best scholarship opportunities and to help team members and their families in our travels during the fall and spring rodeo seasons each year."

For more information or questions regarding the MCC Rodeo Team Trailer, please contact Coach Badgett at 874-6195 or 232-1179.