We truly hope it continues! The Chamber is stepping aside from producing the rodeo, but we strongly hope a local group will step forward to continue this proud tradition. We’re inviting community organizations, individuals, or businesses with rodeo expertise to take the lead — and the Chamber will support those efforts however we can.

No — CTR is not going away. The Chamber remains fully committed to producing a Chisholm Trail Roundup festival that celebrates our heritage, community, and traditions. We’re simply updating our role so we can focus our resources and energy on what the community loves most. More festival details will be shared soon.

We’ve worked hard for many years to produce the rodeo, and it’s been a tremendous community effort. However, the costs, infrastructure, and logistics required to run a safe, high-quality rodeo have grown significantly. We believe that passing the reins to groups who specialize in rodeo will ensure its long-term success and allow the Chamber to focus on building a sustainable festival for everyone.

No. Once a community organization steps up to take over the rodeo, they would manage it independently. The Chamber’s focus will remain on producing the festival portion of CTR, while supporting the rodeo organizers however we can to ensure both events succeed.

We’ve been listening closely to feedback from our members, vendors, volunteers, and residents for several years. Many have expressed concerns about cost, logistics, and the volunteer workload required for the rodeo. We’re also launching a community survey soon so everyone has a chance to share their thoughts and help shape the future of CTR

No — this isn’t about a financial crisis; it’s about financial sustainability. Producing the rodeo has become very expensive and resource-intensive. By evolving how we manage CTR, we’re making sure this beloved celebration continues for decades to come.

We’re focusing on delivering a festival that highlights what the community loves most — food, music, family-friendly activities, and celebrating our heritage. While the structure may look different, the goal is to create an even better experience for attendees.

That’s still to be determined. We’re inviting community groups, nonprofits, or individuals with experience in rodeo production to reach out to us. Our goal is to work collaboratively to support whoever decides to take the lead.

The Lockhart Chamber of Commerce will continue producing the Chisholm Trail Roundup festival while placing greater focus on serving our members and supporting the local business community.

Chambers of Commerce exist to promote local businesses, foster economic growth, and strengthen community connections. With this transition, we’ll have more time and resources to:

• Advocate for local businesses and provide support to help them succeed
• Host networking events and workshops for business owners
• Partner with community leaders on initiatives that make Lockhart thrive

By shifting responsibilities, the Chamber can focus on being the best possible resource for our members while still supporting the community traditions that make Lockhart special.

While sponsorships were significant, the festival and rodeo production costs exceeded $150,000 in 2025. Expenses included fencing, bleachers, lighting, insurance, security, and labor. Every year, the Chamber must spend a significant amount to build temporary infrastructure. Without a permanent arena and space to expand at City Park, we have had no choice but to bend to the rising costs.

Here’s a snapshot of top expenses in 2025:

Rodeo crowds on Friday and Saturday were strong, but overall CTR attendance — including concerts, vendors, and festival activities — has declined 20–30% compared to pre-pandemic levels. The rodeo remains popular, but the rest of CTR has struggled to sustain participation.

Not exactly. The City’s HOT Funds are restricted:

• $30,000 can only be used for producing a sporting event like the rodeo.
• $30,000 can only be used for marketing and promotion (radio, tv, print, etc.)

These funds cannot be applied toward general operations or losses.

For many years, CTR has struggled to fill all volunteer needs. We receive a lot of feedback from the community, but not a lot of folks really want to do hands-on volunteering. We understand! It’s not for everyone, and it’s really hot.

In 2025, volunteers contributed more than 2000 hours of their time, including 1,400+ hours by the Pegasus youth and staff alone, just to make the festival and rodeo happen. The Chamber focused resources on managing the festival, parade, cook-off, vendors, and entertainment, and we recognize the incredible effort of the rodeo chairs and many others who the chairs recruited to ensure a successful rodeo.

This has been a conversation for many years. Past rodeo and festival leaders have expressed concerns to the Chamber board about the financial viability of CTR in its current state. Many community leaders have shared their concerns over the long-term sustainability of CTR, as well. The question of “how do we fix this?” has been the conundrum, and most people agree, something must change.

Over time, the community has grown, but CTR struggles to grow without the proper, permanent infrastructure needed to produce a financially successful festival and rodeo. After reviewing financial trends, declining overall attendance, and the growing demands on volunteer labor, the Chamber concluded that producing the rodeo is unsustainable for the organization. This decision opens an opportunity for rodeo experts to lead production while the Chamber focuses on strengthening the CTR festival.