The Annual Stockholder Dinner Meeting held recently marked the beginning of the term for the California Rodeo Association Officers, Directors and Advisory Directors and provided an opportunity to recognize outstanding volunteers.Each year the organization promotes individuals who are taking on new roles in the association. The California Rodeo boasts a large board of 52 active Directors along with several Advisory Directors, who are all volunteers, working together to produce community events.Directors with longevity who move to Advisory Director roles, open a spot for up-and-comers to join the active Director roster.
These volunteers are hard-working contributors who help keep the tradition alive at the California Rodeo. A team of Officers made up of President- Brent Eastman, 1st Vice President-Dave Pedrazzi, 2nd Vice President- Fred Hooker, 3rd Vice President-Steve Davis, Secretary- Bob Eggers and Treasurer- Tom Nielsen will continue leading the 109th edition of the California Rodeo.Kyle Brown, Orlando Garcia and Mike McLane are now Directors while long-time Director Jerome Politzer moved to the Advisory Director board. Occasionally there are individuals who make such a large impact on the association that their involvement warrants special recognition, these are the Honorary Directors of the California Rodeo.Pat DuVal is the newest Honorary Director with over 30 years of iconic participation at the Rodeo.Also recognized for their hard work over the years were Lupe Covarrubias-Martinez, Committee Person of the year, Mark Clark, Arena Committee Person of the Year and Ric Causley who was selected as the Gold Saddleman recipient. Read below for full biographies on all individuals.
Kyle Brown, Director
Kyle Brown has been a volunteer at the California Rodeo since 2009 in the Bull Crossing and has most recently added the chairmanship of the Committee Barbecue to his volunteer list.He loves being involved in his community and is proud that the California Rodeo gives him an opportunity to help give back.Kyle was born and raised in Salinas, where he lives with his wife Bonnie and two children Charlotte and Kenny.He boasts that his wife Bonnie, who he met at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2001, was the reason he got into volunteering.He is the Past President of the Salinas Jaycees, a board member for the Cal Poly Alumni Association of Monterey Bay, a board member for Palma High School Alumni and works as an Agriculture & Industrial Real Estate Appraiser.He really enjoys volunteering, working on home improvement projects and traveling.
Orlando Garcia, Director
Orlando Garcia has been a volunteer at the California Rodeo since 1998 when he joined the Grandstands Committee.In 2013 he became the chairmen of the Grandstands.He not only works events like Monster Jam, Professional Bull Riding, Rodeo and Central Coast Motorsports Spectacular, he also organizes volunteer orientations leading up to the events for high school students who are coming out to volunteer in the grandstands.Orlando’s proudest moment was when he was asked to be chairmen of the Grandstands Committee five years ago and just last year when his oldest granddaughter, who is 12, asked how old she had to be to volunteer.He is proud and honored to be a part of an organization that gives back so much to our community and enjoys meeting and working with great people he calls a big family.
Mike McLane, Director
Mike McLane has been volunteering at the California Rodeo since 2001.He began on the Sponsor Hospitality Committee and then moved to the Announcing Committee, which he has chaired for the past few years.Mike’s proudest moments, besides getting the call to become a Director, have been the countless times he was honored to introduce the voices of the California Rodeo, Wayne Brooks and Will Rasmussen, the official announcers of the California Rodeo.Mike is very active in his community, working with the Salinas Valley Fair Board, the King City Young Farmers, and coaching high school football. He is from Salinas and lives in King City with his wife Erika of 15 years and two children, Mikayla and Cash.He enjoys going to calf brandings, hunting and golfing.
Jerome Politzer, Advisory Director
Jerome Politzer first got involved with the California Rodeo in 1968 volunteering in concessions and by 1985 had joined the Coordination Committee chaired by California Rodeo’s own Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Hall of Famer, Doc Etienne.Jerome’s favorite Rodeo activity was making the daily Big Week Coordination Committee rounds with Doc during slack covering the entire Rodeo Grounds. Jerome became a Director in 1996, and was instrumental in the fundraising, construction and operations of the new sports complex; he served as Rodeo Counsel from 2002 to 2010 and was the Chairman of the Coordination Committee.Over the years, he competed in and judged the Chili Cook-Off Competition and participated in the Cowboy Poetry Competition.Jerome’s best memory, besides standing with his other Rodeo Directors, was after a Mexican Fighting Bull butted open the pedestrian gate to the main grandstand during the performance; Warren Wayland jumped in front of the bull and slammed the gate shut. Jerome’s family first came to Salinas in the 1860’s and he still lives here with his wife of 32 years and practices law in Carmel.He loves to fish for anything that can be caught on a dry fly.
Pat DuVal, Honorary Director
Pat DuVal was born in Fort Pierce, Florida; after joining the Army and serving at Fort Ord, he decided to stay in California.He became a Monterey County Sherriff Deputy and it was while living in The Golden State that Pat followed his dream of singing, everything from opera to country to rock-n-roll.Pat quickly became known as the “Singing Sheriff” which is now a household Rodeo name. His rendition of “I love you California” sung during the grand entry can be heard before each rodeo performance and is an iconic part of the Rodeo.Pat has been considered a part of the Rodeo family for a very long time and he is now the newest Honorary Director of the California Rodeo Salinas.
Lupe Covarrubias-Martinez, Committee Person of the Year
Lupe is completely dedicated to her community. She grew up in Salinas and donates much of her time making her hometown a better place. She has spent countless hours translating marketing materials from English to Spanish as an 11-year member of the Marketing Committee. She has walked the Kiddie Kapers Parade route collecting donations before the Colmo Parade went down the street. She was a ‘co-anchor’ on the Colmo del Rodeo Parade Live production on Facebook along with her husband who is always by her side helping at events. She is active on the Relay for Life Committee and helps with various events throughout the year. In addition to volunteering at Rodeo-sanctioned events, she also attends community events where she promotes the Rodeo.
Mark Clark, Arena Committeeman of the Year
Mark Clark has been volunteering at the California Rodeo since the early 70’s when he started with his dad Marten Clark on the Track Committee.After years of working on the track, Mark moved to the Arena Committee where he pulled the barrier for the timed events.Mark is proud to be a part of the long-standing history at the Rodeo and is honored to follow in the footsteps of those who came before him keeping the tradition alive in Salinas.Mark is a Salinas native, he attended Palma High School and went on to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, but returned to Salinas where he currently lives with his wife Susie.Mark spends most of his time running his agriculture packing company, but enjoys a nice round of golf in his spare time.
Ric Causley, Gold Saddleman Recipient
Before becoming an official volunteer, Ric Causley was by his father’s, Past President Woody Causley, side on the Rodeo’s Maintenance & Construction Committee in the mid ‘60s, starting when he was in high school.He spent several years working on the Concessions Committee, using his affinity for numbers to help that committee work well. Ric was also the chairman of the Monster Truck Committee for a decade and is currently the Chairman of the Facilities Committee. He became a Director in 2002, an Officer holding the Secretary position in 2008 and then Treasurer in 2010. Ric and his wife Anna live in Salinas and have a daughter, Barbara and two sons, Scott and Sam as well as 3 grandchildren.
Photo by Wayne Capili; Rodeo President Brent Eastman, Mike McLane, Orlando Garcia, Kyle Brown & Miss California Rodeo Salinas 2018 Valerie Costanza
About California Rodeo Salinas
The 109th California Rodeo Salinas will take place July 18th-21st, 2019. The California Rodeo Association is a not-for-profit organization that strives to preserve and promote the traditions of the California Rodeo Salinas and the West. We support the community and other non-profit organizations through the staging of the annual California Rodeo Salinas and other year round operations of the Salinas Sports Complex. Through donation of our facility, vending and fundraising opportunities during Rodeo and other events, the California Rodeo Association returns over $400,000 annually to local non-profits. For more information about the California Rodeo Salinas, log on to www.CARodeo.com or call the California Rodeo Office at 831-775.3100. ‘Like’ the California Rodeo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CARodeoSalinas or follow us on twitter @CaliforniaRodeo for updates, photos and more.