Over the weekend of Feb. 6-8, the Alabama High School Rodeo Association hosted the Georgia High School Rodeo Association at the Covington Center Arena. There were more than 160 contestants and their families that came into your town, visited your businesses and used your facility.

In talking with the contestants and parents from Georgia, I received nothing but positive feedback on the quality of the Covington Center Arena and the way they were received by the people of Andalusia and Covington County. Several rodeo attendees told me that they hoped to get invited back next year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Covington County Sheriff’s Posse for the hard work that they put in to help make this happen. The staff of Sheriff Dennis Meeks conducted themselves in a professional manner at all times and presented a positive influence and image of law enforcement to everyone that they came in contact with. This group is all volunteers and provides a service on which a price tag cannot be placed.

During the rodeo the two High School Associations and the Sheriff’s Posse set up a bucket to collect funds for a family in Elmore County that lost everything in a house fire. When I say, “lost everything,” that does not even come close to what was really lost. This family lost a 16-year-old daughter who was trapped and died. I cannot imagine their loss. During the rodeo, more than $1,500 was collected and will be delivered to the family in the name of the Alabama High School Rodeo Association, the Georgia High School Rodeo Association, the Covington County Sheriff’s Posse, and the citizens of Andalusia and Covington County. Thank you for your generosity.

The Alabama High School Rodeo Association has enjoyed great support from your community and we look forward to coming back in June for our state finals. Thanks again to everyone that worked hard and donated to make this rodeo a success.

Glenn Miller

President, Alabama High School Rodeo Association