There is no question that the action and entertainment offered each year by Caldwell Night Rodeo is among the best in Idaho, but what many people don't realize is the tremendous positive impact CNR has on the community, not only for commerce but also as a boon to charitable groups and organizations throughout the area.
CNR is a nonprofit organization run by a 15-person volunteer board of directors, a full-time sales and marketing manager and a full-time executive secretary who are all local community members. Additionally, more than 500 volunteers help put on the rodeo every year. Over 100 community, business, and media sponsors also support CNR. This sponsor support is vital to the success of the Caldwell Night Rodeo year after year.
As part of its mission statement, CNR strives to be “one of the premier rodeos in the United States by preserving and promoting Western Heritage for future generations, entertaining the American family, becoming a partner with the community, charities, youth and nonprofit organizations and having year-round community involvement.”
To accomplish that mission, CNR raises thousands of dollars each year for local causes, such as the Boise Rescue Mission, the Western Heritage Scholarship Foundation, the Power of Pink mammogram program, and Hope’s Door through the Man Up Crusade. In 2018, the rodeo gave back over $100,000 to local community groups and charitable organizations.
Since its inception in 2008, CNR's popular "Power of Pink" Program has generated over $450,000 for local mammogram screenings for uninsured and under-insured women in the Treasure Valley. CNR's Patriot Night has raised over $70,000 for local veteran services since beginning in 2010. Aside from monetary support for the Mayor’s Youth Committee and the Youth Forum, CNR's Caldwell Western Heritage Foundation has also awarded over $100,000 in youth scholarships since 2000.
CNR also budgets money to support the annual Caldwell Basque Charity dance and dinner in January and for the purchase livestock at the Canyon County Fair’s 4-H/FFA Market Livestock Sale. In further support of local youth and the rodeo, CNR donates each year to the District 2 High School Rodeo, the Gem State Rodeo and Meridian Lions Rodeo.
For five local service groups – Lions Club, Job’s Daughters, Exchange Club, Rotary Club, and Optimist Club – selling concessions during the Caldwell Night Rodeo is their largest fundraiser of the year, raising more than $650,000 since their clubs began selling concessions in 2008.
In addition to the rodeo, CNR hosts a holiday fundraiser and auction every year at the O’Conner Field House. The funds from the ticket sales and auction benefit two or three local nonprofit or community organizations a year. In 2018, proceeds totaling over $31,000 from CNR's Miracle on Blaine Street event were donated to Shop with A COP, One Church, One Child & the Caldwell Burnout Fund.
But the significance of CNR doesn't stop there. In a recent study, the City of Caldwell estimated the economic impact of CNR to the local community to be at $10 to $12 million dollars annually.