SDSU’s indoor rodeo facility fails in committee

PIERRE – A bill that would have authorized the design and construction of a year-round indoor rodeo facility on SDSU’s campus failed in the House Education Committee on Feb. 2. House Bill 1091, whose primary sponsor was District 7 Rep. Larry Tidemann, asked for $5 million in general funds from the state, with another $5 in private donations to reach the $10 million dollar price tag.

The planning for this project got off the ground in April of 2020 when the Board of Regents designated 28 acres of land, which is pasture right now, to SDSU’s rodeo club for a new facility. The current facility was built in the 1960s and includes an outdoor arena, used strictly for practice when the weather is favorable.

Tidemann spoke in favor of the bill explaining that the rodeo club at SDSU currently has to practice outdoors in Jan., Feb., March, and even into April.

“It’s tough to compete and recruit student when you don’t have a facility,” Tidemann said.

The rodeo team can practice at the Swiftel Center when available, but has to rent the facility at a cost of $350 per day. Further, Tidemann explained that it is extremely time consuming hauling all the necessary animals to the Swiftel, setting up all the equipment, practicing, and then hauling everything back to the SDSU rodeo grounds.

The indoor facility would be for practice only, but could hold some small rodeos, Tidemann said. Further, the facility could be rented out during the summer months and revenue from students boarding their horses at the facility would help pay for the maintenance.

Stables, a shed, and other equipment used for the facility is also included in the price tag. The facility would be built over four years, Tidemann said.

Don Reichert, a former intercollegiate bull riding champion for SDSU in the 1960s and current President of the National Collegiate Rodeo Association Alumni, explained that South Dakota is losing top collegiate rodeo student-athletes to other states because there is no suitable practice facility at SDSU.

“South Dakota has a cultural image and heritage that includes rodeo, the official state sport, bringing economic activity and tourism to South Dakota,” Reichert said. “Gov. Noem’s goal for South Dakota is to be the best place in the country for rodeo. College rodeo is an important part of that image.”

Reichert explained the facility would provide for statewide benefits and would keep the wealth of high school rodeo talent in South Dakota, as well as attracting high school rodeo athletes from out of state.

Opponents

Hallie Getz, a spokesperson from the Bureau of Finance and Management urged lawmakers to oppose HB 1091.

“State funds should not be used to build extracurricular facilities,” Getz said. “A rodeo facility will just serve those in that specific sport. Putting state general funds towards just this one extracurricular activity will set a precedent going forward.”

She explained in the “recent past” facilities like the proposed rodeo facility have been paid with “other funds” such as donations.

Tidemann responded, explaining that it’s time for South Dakota to support these students who have to raise all their own money, along with being a student. The rodeo team, as a club, does not receiving funding from the university.

“I think it’s time for South Dakota to support them,” Tidemann said.

Other legislators indicated they would be voting no on the bill because they would rather see it fully funded by private donations.

Vote

A motion to refer HB 1091 to the House Committee on Appropriations, failed in a 7-8 vote. There was then a motion to refer the bill to the 41st Legislative Day (a motion to kill the bill), which passed 13-2.