Local governments support rodeo with funds

By Editor | February 19, 2025

Bordertown Showdown set for April 17-19 in Cotulla

Both the La Salle County and Cotulla city governments have put their support behind an April weekend rodeo that is expected to attract hundreds of riders and spectators to the community and invigorate the local economy.
Hosted by the South Texas Rodeo Association, LLC, the Bordertown Showdown from April 17 to 19 is a rough-stock rodeo featuring bronc riding and bull riding, among other contests, with participants converging on Cotulla from across the United States as well as from other countries.
During its first two years, the event attracted professional rodeo riders seen on the national circuit from at least nine other states as well as competitors from Canada, Mexico and Australia.
In brief presentations to county commissioners and Cotulla city councilors this month, event organizer Ira Lansford said he believes hotel bookings reflect the rodeo’s interest to visitors traveling long distances to stay the weekend in Cotulla. At least one large local hotel has been fully booked for the weekend, he said, and others have begun taking reservations for dozens of rooms to accommodate competitors as well as visitors.
The Easter weekend event in the La Salle County Youth Rodeo Association Arena on North Main Street in Cotulla also includes family entertainment ranging from games and contests to an egg hunt and nighttime revelry with live concerts on Friday and Saturday, and “dancing in the dirt.”

Last year’s Bordertown Showdown rough-stock rodeo included bull riding (above) as well as bronc and saddle-bronc riding and attracted competitors from across the US and other countries. (Courtesy photo)

Local law enforcement and emergency responders will be honored during the event with a special recognition.
Vendors will offer foods and refreshments on the rodeo grounds. Plans are also in the works for a students’ barbecue competition.
The local governments have contributed a total of $10,500 from their budgets to support the organization’s promotion of the weekend rodeo.
Although not associated with any professional rodeo associations in the United States, the rough-stock rodeo in Cotulla has now ranked as the largest of its kind in Texas for the past two years, Lansford said.
“This event brings a lot of professional contestants to the area,” Lansford told city councilors last week, “and we are bringing a lot of people to the area, visitors, and they will shop and buy fuel locally.”
All proceeds from the nonprofit event are donated to local organizations for use as scholarships to high school students. Among the recipients have been a number of youths who have qualified for national rodeo competitions, sponsored by the South Texas Rodeo Association.
“Every year, this event is getting bigger and bigger,” Cotulla City Councilor Manuel Rodriguez said during Lansford’s presentation, “and you are bringing a lot of revenue to this town.”
Cotulla City Attorney Steve Pena reminded councilors at their meeting Thursday, Feb. 13, that the municipal contribution to support the event can be drawn from the city’s hotel tax revenues, as it contributes to promotion of the city for tourism, helping put more “heads in beds” at local hotels and thereby boosting the economy.
The revenues collected monthly by the city of Cotulla from all hotels and motels inside city limits are used exclusively for promotional or community enhancement projects that have included downtown beautification, restoration and repurposing of city-owned buildings, and local festivals.
The city support of $5,000 came on a motion by Councilor Gilbert Ayala, seconded by Councilor Rodriguez and supported unanimously.
County commissioners allocated $5,500 for the event, the same as was budgeted in 2024, and likewise voted unanimously for the fund injection on Monday, Feb. 10.