The Regional Tobacco-Free Rodeo Project (RTFRP) at the Public Health Institute will work to restrict tobacco sponsorship at specific rodeos in Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and California. The project's goal is for rodeo organizers in the region to adopt written policies to restrict tobacco marketing, including tobacco use, outdoor advertising such as billboards and scoreboards, and product sampling in order to reduce tobacco marketing to rural youth and young adults. Local advocacy efforts within the region will be guided by the partner agencies in each of the four states, which will receive resources and technical support from the regional office at PHI. The RTFRP is supported by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Tobacco Policy Change program (www.rwjf.org), the American Legacy Foundation Small Innovative Grants Program, and the Public Health Trust, a project of the Public Health Institute.

Links to partner agencies in the four states are below.

California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN)
Contact: Corina Bigham, Project Coordinator
corina@cyanonline.org

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Tobacco Prevention
and Control Program
Contact: Jack Miller, Program Manager
millerj@dhw.idaho.gov

Southern Nevada Health District, Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Nicole Truax, Tobacco Control Health Educator
truax@snhdmail.org

Washoe County (Nevada) District Health Department, Tobacco Prevention Program
Erin Dixon, Program Coordinator
edixon@mail.co.washoe.nv.us

New Mexico Department of Health, Tobacco Use Prevention and Control (TUPAC) Program
Rufus Greene, TUPAC Northwest Regional Field Coordinator
Rufus.Greene@state.nm.us

Funding from the American Legacy Foundation Small Innovative Grants Program supports the National Tobacco-Free Rodeo Project (NFTRP), the first coordinated national effort to restrict tobacco sponsorship of rodeos. From August 2005 to October 2006, the project built a national coalition of tobacco-free rodeo advocates, and provided training, technical assistance and networking resources to support tobacco-free rodeo campaigns. NTFRP is continuing its efforts to provide networking resources through the National Tobacco-Free Rodeo Project listserv, website and technical assistance resources described below.

ACTIVITIES

During Year 1 of the NTFRP, national conference calls were held to network, report on current tobacco-free rodeo activities and successes, and brainstorm new strategies. Click here to enter the "Members Only" section of the website, which includes notes from previous conference calls and announcements regarding future calls, and a strategy forum where members are welcome to post. If you do not have a user name and password (required), send an email to admin@bucktobacco.org to request one. The National Tobacco-Free Rodeo Listserv is designed for local- and national-level advocates who want to address tobacco sponsorship and use at rodeos. Members can use the list to network, announce activities, and share information. To join, email admin@bucktobacco.org. Technical assistance is available to support your local work to restrict tobacco sponsorship. Email admin@bucktobacco.org with your questions. Policies restricting tobacco sponsorship at rodeos around the country Click here to view copies of tobacco-free rodeo policies obtained by advocates around the country. "Cowboy Ted" Hallisey Supports Buck Tobacco: "Cowboy Ted" Hallisey has been involved in rodeo for over 20 years as a fan and as a credentialed broadcast and print journalist. For information about how Cowboy Ted can support your tobacco-free rodeo efforts, click here.

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