GREEN COVE SPRINGS — Chaz Robinson heard about the Clay County Pro Rodeo from a friend, so he grabbed his girlfriend and her little girl and drove from Jacksonville to the Clay County Fairgrounds last Saturday.

Neither of them had ever been to a rodeo, and they were curious to see why so many people were willing to sit in traffic, wait in lines to buy tickets and be part of the standing-room-only crowd on the final night of the sport’s wildly successful return since it disappeared from the county’s calendar after 2019.

“I was looking for something to do, something different,” Chaz said. “It seemed reasonable. It seems like everyone is having a lot of fun. I’m interested in seeing it for the first time.”

It’s a good thing all three were early. J.C. Kitaif Pro Rodeos General Manager Jade Kidaif had to stop new ticket sales an hour before the first Ranch Bronc Rider left the shoot because the stadium was approaching maximum capacity.

By then, Kidaif and county officials realized the rodeo belonged at the Clay County Fairgrounds, so they agreed to bring it back every May and September for the next five years.

“We do have two dates a year here, just in case we want to,” Kidaif said. “We have the next five years nailed down, two dates a year. But you know, if we decide to do that, they will be our group that’s essentially doing a lot of the manpower.”

Kataif said she was impressed with the facilities and the turnout in Clay County. She also said the Friday-Saturday show already makes Clay one of her companies’ top “four or five” biggest rodeos in Florida.

J.C. Kitaif Pro Rodeos is part of the International Pro Rodeo Association circuit. Cowboys and Cowgirls earn points in January, with the top 15 nationally earning spots in the International Finals Rodeo in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Kataif said she flew between her Tylertown, Mississippi headquarters to Clay County several times to sell sponsorships to local businesses. She hopes to get help from county officials, particularly UF/IFAS’ 4-H, which received a portion of the proceeds, with future events.

She wants to be back. Thousands of other fans like Michael Cornish also want her company to return.

He used to attend the rodeo when the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned it. COVID-19 created a four-year void, but UF/IFAS worked with Kataif and the International Pro Rodeo Association to return last weekend.

Cornish, who lives in Green Cove Springs, brought his girlfriend, Jessica Killian, and his daughter, Emma, to their first rodeo. When asked what she wanted to see most, Emma smiled and screamed, “Cowboys!”

“I always come out to the rodeos when it comes,” Cornish said. “I know the stands are full, but we’ll find a spot. I think it’s great they’re back. I think it’s great so many people are here.”

What is his favorite part of the rodeo?

“Watching the bulls,” he said.

And if everything goes as planned, he will get plenty of opportunities to see a lot of bulls in the next five years.