Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo donates $12,000, names Greg Fell Yuman of the Year

More than $12,000 from the Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo went to Bridget’s Gift, the Yuma nonprofit that raises breast cancer awareness, pushes early detection and keeps 100% of the money it raises in the local community. For Yuma organizations that rely on hometown fundraising, the check was more than a ceremonial gesture; it was a direct infusion into a cause built around helping Yuma County residents facing breast cancer.

The rodeo handled the donation during its annual meeting at the Silver Spur Rodeo Clubhouse at 6 p.m. Saturday, where board members were elected, charitable gifts were distributed and corporate business was completed. The gathering showed how the rodeo operates as both a heritage event and a local institution, using its business meeting to move money and make decisions that stay close to home.

The night also brought a surprise honor for Greg Fell, who was named Yuman of the Year. Chairman Lefty Leifeste said Fell had been a great person for the community, citing his service with the Yuma Police Department, his work with the Arizona Western College Police Department and his current role teaching kids how to drive. The recognition tied the rodeo’s awards program to civic service, youth mentoring and the trust that comes from public-facing work in Yuma.

That kind of local reach has been part of the Silver Spur Rodeo’s identity for decades. Silver Spur Rodeo, Inc. and the former Yuma Jaycees say they have brought rodeo to Yuma since 1946, and the organization describes the annual production as a more than $200,000 event supported by local businesses along with city and county governments. This year’s 81st annual rodeo was held Feb. 13-15 at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, including Buckin For Bridget Day on Feb. 14, when pink attire was encouraged in support of Bridget’s Gift.

The organization has also used its Horseman’s Banquet to thank sponsors, with Leifeste saying sponsor support is a major part of what it takes to put on the rodeo and keep western heritage alive in Yuma. The annual meeting made the same point in another way: the rodeo’s money, honors and volunteer energy all remain part of Yuma’s civic economy.