Chevron & Ariat Texas Rattlers hosted second annual charity rodeo
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- For the second year in a row, Chevron and the Ariat Texas Rattlers teamed up to bring the basin an exciting matchup anchored by a landmark charity initiative.
'When Chevron and the Ariat Texas Rattlers joined together to bring the PBR Chevron Showdown to West Texas, we really wanted to make sure that we integrated charity as a part of the landmark event,' said Catie Matthews, Chevron's Public & Government Affairs Adviser. 'And so through that, the $800 for 8 Seconds program was born.'
The way that the $800 for 8 Seconds program works is very simple. Every time a Rattler rider holds on for eight seconds, whether at the Chevron Showdown or throughout the entire Team Series season, an $800 donation will be given to a local community organization.
The Ariat Texas Rattlers General Manager Chad Blankenship says the program helps provide his riders with some extra motivation.
'The $800 for 8 program has had a fantastic impact on our riders. You know, fundamentally, they're out there riding for themselves and to provide for their families. But when there's a program like $800 for 8 behind them, it really creates an even deeper and bigger purpose for them and their riding.'
WATCH: More about the charitable impact
What's the best part about being the General Manager for the Rattlers?
Blankenship: 'One, it starts with the riders. To be in a role where I can support these young men to achieve their dreams, to even exceed their dreams, it's tremendously rewarding. The other piece that's been most rewarding really is just the fan engagement… A team format gives fans an opportunity to kind of come in and engage more deeply. There's hometown pride. The Texas Rattlers, of course, are based in Fort Worth, but we really ride for all of Texas, and we have thousands of fans in the Permian Basin. It's a huge privilege when the fans come and they show up and they fly the flag for the team and all the riders who are competing for them.'
What's it like to have Dwight Yoakam perform?
Matthews: 'Dwight Yoakum is quite the perfect fit for this event. He has that appeal of the Western culture and rodeo and just has that appeal to the people attending the event, but he also, in a way, has a special connection to Chevron. A lot of the folks here, our employees, have worked in our Bakersfield asset, and we all know Dwight is famous for the song 'Streets of Bakersfield,' so I'm sure a lot of our employees are going to enjoy hearing that.'
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