Press conference gives taste of Dodge City Days

    As cameras snapped photos, Dodge City High School junior Eric Norton smiled in surprise and delight as he posed next to his Dodge City Days rodeo poster.
    Norton had just learned that he had won first place and a $300 prize for his poster, which will be displayed at Landmark National Bank during this year's Western art show. The poster will also be reproduced for the cover of the Dodge City Roundup PRCA Rodeo program.
    Norton told a reporter later that he was excited about his win. He also praised the posters of his competitors, second-place winner Jason Kirchman and third-place winner Tyler Long.
    "I was just overwhelmed, happy," he said. "These other two, they're really good."
    The announcement of the poster contest winners was one of the highlights of Friday's Dodge City Days press conference at the Dodge City Roundup office. The event was designed to give local media outlets a taste of the upcoming festival, which will run July 25 through Aug. 3.
    This year's celebration will feature all the traditional favorites, including the kick-off concert, the Western parade, the barbecue contest and the chuckwagon breakfast. And, of course, the rodeo.
    But there are some new twists as well. For instance, float judging for the Western parade will take place before the parade begins, instead of waiting until the end. Also new this year is the People's Choice Award, which will allow parade-goers to cast online ballots at dodgecity.com for their favorite floats.
    Buck Taylor, who was part of the cast of the television show "Gunsmoke," will be the marshal for the Western parade, said Dodge City Days Chairman Dan Harris. Taylor will also be the featured artist at this year's Western art show.
    "He's been here in the past," Harris said. "He's been a great supporter of Dodge City and our community and the Old West, so we're really excited to have Buck Taylor as our parade marshal this year."
    Roundup President R.C. Trotter said once again, the rodeo will bring together a cast of well-known rodeo professionals and performers, including Hall-of-Fame announcer Clem McSpadden.
    The rodeo will include the usual activities, including an event for special-needs children, a hamburger feed and the Bank of America/Cargill barbecue.
    Trotter encouraged rodeo fans to contribute to the annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign, which raises funds for cancer research. The major night of the campaign will be Aug. 2, with pink items for sale and pink cowboy hats for donations circulating through the stands.
    Proceeds from the fund-raiser will remain in the community and go to cancer research.
    "Anything you give, small or large, will go directly to the people who benefit from it," Trotter said.
    In addition, Tough Enough to Wear Pink banks shaped like steers will be placed at Dodge City's two Pizza Hut restaurants to collect additional donations.
    Trotter said Roundup officials were looking forward to the rodeo.
    "We're excited about this year," he said. "Everyone's worked really hard."
    
Reach Eric Swanson at (620) 408-9917 or e-mail him at eric.swanson@dodgeglobe.com.