ROSS – Ross County agricultural society is cutting ties with Easyriders after a possible life-threatening event occurred.
A vote this week from the Ross County Agricultural society chose to cut ties with the yearly event.
Easy Riders according to meeting minutes contacted the Fair board about a 2022 event. In the November 1st meeting they voted against having Easyriders event in the county citing dangerous conditions for people and the sheriff department.
Statement from Brad Cosenza President of Ross County Ag Society
“During the November meeting of the Ross County Agricultural Society, the board discussed the issuance of an additional contract for the Easyrider Rodeo event which has been held at the Ross County Fairgrounds for over thirty years. At the meeting, Ross County Sheriff George Lavender and members of his command staff addressed the board and provided a video of drone footage of this year’s Rodeo. During the sheriff’s comments, he described a situation that took place this year during the event that he felt put the lives of his deputies and possibly the community at large in a life threatening situation. He also stated unequivocally, that he, nor any of his department going forward would provide security services during another Easyrider event. He made it clear to the board that he was in no way intending to sway the board in making a decision to not continue to allow the event on the fairgrounds only to point out his concerns for the community and to state his department would no longer provide security. He did state that if the board decided to continue providing a venue for the Rodeo, his department would respond to calls as provided by law but would not assist in the security portion of the event.
Prior to the meeting, We received approximately ten emails requesting the board consider allowing the event to continue which were forwarded to every board member. We also received a copy of an email sent to board member Gary Prater from Dusty Countryman who signed the email as the Chairman, Ice Sales Committee, First Capital Rotary, which was distributed to the board members present prior to the start of the meeting.
Eighteen of the twenty one voting board members were present at the meeting, including me, as president who is only allowed to vote in case of a tie. A motion was made by a board member from the floor and seconded, stating “to not offer Easyrider Rodeo a contract to hold their event at the Ross County Fairgrounds.” The motion carried, fifteen (15) agreed, two (2) opposed.”
