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• • Rodeo rustles up lots of business for Great Falls
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  • Rodeo rustles up lots of business for Great Falls

Cowboys and cowgirls are in Great Falls this weekend competing for cash, but they're not the only ones benefiting from the Circuit Finals.

Sandra Thares, general manager of the O'Haire Motor Inn, noted, "Rodeo in Great Falls in the middle of January is definitely an economic boost to everybody in the city. Not just hotels, it's city wide."

And she would know - this is the 17th year Thares has worked at the O'Haire Motor Inn during the rodeo.

Thares continued, "We love rodeo weekend. The people who come in for rodeo are nice. They're friendly, they're happy to be here. We've got great weather, which I think is bringing people into town. I think it helps."

She says business has increased 50% to 75% in just one weekend. Because so many rodeo-goers stay at the O'Haire, the Inn is offering free transportation to and from the fairgrounds.

"We do run a free rodeo shuttle so anyone who's staying with us gets a ride to and from the rodeo," explained Thares.

She added that the shuttle idea not only adds appeal for potential customers, but it also gives them the opportunity to have a good time and get back safely.

And over at the Prospector, things are really heating up; staff are working triple-time to accommodate the added business.

Not only are restaurant staff serving 25% more customers this weekend, they also added an outdoor barbeque at the fairgrounds for Saturday's Rodeo Flea market, and are seeing a swell of business at the newly re-opened Jay-Bar-T, which is owned by the same family that owns the Prospector.

Marlin Brooks, executive chef at the Prospector, said, "Some of the things that are going well are our fatso burger which is corned beef, egg, bacon."

Cooks estimate 50 to 100 pounds of meat has been prepared and served at the flea market alone.

Brooks says he's cooked more steak in this weekend alone than he has in the last few months. He chuckled, "Cowboys love their steak, so it's very easy to just make a lot of steak."

Thares says the rodeo couldn't come at a better time, noting, "January is typically a slow month so it's good for staff to remember what it's like to have a full house."

And both businesses say they're already looking forward to next year's rodeo.