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New documentary highlights story of saving the Eagle Rodeo

Posted at 6:15 PM, May 26, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-28 15:43:27-04

EAGLE — The Eagle Rodeo was held in downtown Eagle for seventeen years until its land lease ended, prompting a twelve-month scramble to move the rodeo to the nearby Avimor development, while the building of a new arena was in process.

It was an impressive feat for the dozens of volunteers who made it happen in time for the rodeo last June 9. Now their story is being showcased in a new documentary called, "The Best Small Town Throwdown Rodeo."

"It seemed almost impossible that they could do it, and it seemed like a really interesting story worth telling," said Hope Manna, the film's director. "I hope it really does honor the western way of life. It’s about the Eagle Rodeo and their move, but it is also about the inner workings of the rodeo, rodeo life in general, and the cowboys and cowgirls that compete."

Eagle Rodeo director Tracy Baggerly spearheaded the move to keep the rodeo that has become a sanctioned Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event alive.

"My vision for this rodeo has always been in-your-face, up-front, close, and dirty," said Baggerly. "We don't want a big commercialized event. We want the fans to feel like they are a part of it; and I think we accomplished that with the new grounds."

The film will be screened at the Egyptian Theater in Boise on Sunday, June 2.

The doors open at 5:00 p.m. There will be a question-and-answer session at the end of the film. For more information on how to get tickets, click here.

"This is kind of an homage to Idaho, an homage to these volunteers that made the impossible happen,” Manna said. “We are really proud to bring it to film.”

You can watch the full story here: