FCTA awards 8 grants to promote local events

The Fallon Convention and Tourism Authority’s board has approved grant applications presented by eight local events that will occur during 2016.

FCTA Executive Director Rick Gray said every grant application features a great event ranging from motorsports at both Rattlesnake and Top Gun raceways to next month’s 50th annual Fallon Bull Sale.

“The applicants are looking to do new and exciting things to grow their events,” Gray added.

Most of the grant money, according to the application, will be used for advertising, marketing and promotion.

The Fallon Cantaloupe Festival received the largest grant, $15,000, for its Labor Day weekend event.

The Country Fair merged with the festival last year as the it continues to be the premier agricultural event in Nevada.

From the data presented to the FCTA board, about 30 percent of the festival’s visitors came from outside Churchill County, and organizers expect 3,600 people will attend from outside the area this year and 6,150 from Churchill County.

The World Championship Fast Draw that is slated for early autumn received $14,000 for its five-day event at the fairgrounds.

According to the group’s application, the event’s long-term goal aims to increase the number of registered shooters to 500, while the short-term goal will focus on building a quality event.

About 3,000 spectators attend the World Championship Fast Draw. In his review from 2015, director Cal Eilrich said the event attracted 232 registered shooters for the main match.

“The current grant amount is greatly appreciated and allows us to keep investing into and growing this event each and every year,” Eilrich wrote.

The FCTA board approved a $10,000 grant each for Top Gun Raceway and the Lahontan Auto Racing Association.

According to Top Gun Raceway’s application, the program provides a safe and supervised facility for drag racing, and its major Hot Rod Association events attract racers from the West and Canada. Top Gun projects that as many as 20,000 people outside a 30-mile radius visit Fallon for the 10-event season.

“We believe that the community has a lot to offer outdoor racing enthusiasts and that Octane Fest is a very positive way to promote it and have a positive impact on the community as a whole,” wrote James Setterberg, project director.

LARA, doing business as Rattlesnake Raceway, expects upward to 5,000 fans during the racing season. Rattlesnake stated in its application it intends to add two classes to its racing schedule, which is a 35 percent increase in spectator and car count for the 2016 season.

CEO Chris Lumsden said the community responded well and the car count increased a little.

The Fallon Shootout Youth Basketball Tournament received $2,000 to assist with its March 18-20 event.

According to its application, between 200-250 players participate in the tournament, and many of the players come from outside Churchill County.

Danny Gleich of Churchill County Parks and Recreation said the community was pleased with last year’s results.

“The project was deemed a success on getting 21 teams from all over,” Gleich said in his comments.

The Nevada State High School Rodeo Finals returns to Fallon at the end of May, and the organization received a $10,000 grant to promote the event.

The grant money will help with the fairgrounds’ rental, stock contractor, ambulance service and programs.

The state finals, according to its application, expect an increase in visitors and contestants.

Monyca Jensen, one of the directors of the Fallon High School Rodeo Club, said the community has been very supportive of rodeo.

The Fallon Trap Club received a $7,000 grant to help with advertising programs, postage, trophy packages and specific clothing.

Organizers stated in their application that they expect an increase of more than 1,000 shooters from the West and Canada this year. Their big event is the PITA State Shoot that attracts more than 100 shooters for the three-day event.

The board approved $2,000 for the Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Churchill County.

According to the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, the annual sale provides quality breeding stock that attracts buyers from Nevada and other western states.

The grant money, according to the application, will offset part of the $7,500 to advertise in trade publications and radio.

The 2015 Fallon Bull Sale averaged $5,175 per bull, setting a record high gross for consignors, stated the NCA.

“The shortage of bulls across the region attracted a large number of buyers,” the NCA added.