Cottonwood Rodeo draws in huge crowd despite restrictions outlined by the county
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. — On Sunday, the Cottonwood Rodeo kicked off their Mother's Day event, drawing in a large crowd of people despite public health officials guidelines against it.
Rodeo Goers like Chad Bushnell and Don Johnson told KRCR they feel the data allows for the Northstate to safely host a public event, such as a rodeo.
"Right now I know in Tehama (County), just right over the hill there is only one confirmed case. Shasta (County), there have been a few," said Bushnell.
"We have constitutional rights. We have inalienable rights given to us by God," said Johnson.
People in attendance felt they had support from local law enforcement as the Shasta County Sheriff's office had said they would not be enforcing the stay-at-home order.
The Cottonwood Rodeo told KRCR earlier in the week leading up to the rodeo that hand sanitation stations would be set up and food and alcohol would not be sold.
There were sanitization stations set up but there was food being sold by food trucks.
Longtime Cottonwood Attendee, Daniel Warner, said its an event the community looks forward to every year, and even more so after the recent months.
"This event has been going on for 50 years, it is a tradition for probably most of us, the rest of them that are here have been tired of being cooped up for months," said Warner.
Recently, Shasta County Public Health Officials have said certain businesses can reopen but have outlined that businesses such as entertainment venues and community centers can not.
While the Cottonwood Rodeo has said the grounds do offer people the ability to exercise social distancing, we asked if the large crowds had rodeo goers worried.
"If you were worried about everybody that you came into contact with, why would you even bother to go outside," said Warner.
As many will wait and see if repercussions follow down the road, those in attendance say today was a memory worth making.
"A lot of these people have not seen each other for a long time. Of course, it is a rodeo, I am a big rodeo fan and just getting to be around my friends I haven't seen in a while. I think that is going to make everybody bring the mothers together for mother's day," said Bushnell.
