But, as he says, there are plenty of others standing behind him in the arena - starting with his mom and dad, his brothers and his sisters.

For 32 years, the family of Mike and Lou Warnick have voluntarily staged West Jordan's rodeo, an event that's one part tradition and the other part, community glue.

The Western Stampede runs July 2-4 at the arena in Veterans Memorial Park.

"It's a 54-year-old tradition that a lot of people have fought to keep," says Kelly Taylor, the youngest of the Warnicks.

"A lot of mayors and council people have come through, and we're still down there trying to put on a good show," says her brother, Reed Warnick.

Warnick this spring received the "John Justin Standard of the West Award" for his outstanding volunteer service.

Nominated by the city's rodeo committee, which includes family, Warnick received a pair of black-leather, custom-made Justin boots with embroidered stitching up the sides.

Warnick says there are plenty of others more deserving.

"I'm just the worker guy. They call me the rodeo Zamboni, the guy on the tractor."

The Warnicks inherited the rodeo in 1975, three years after Mike, originally from Delta, and Lou, a Texas native, moved to West Jordan with their four oldest children.

They organized the community's first 4H horse club, and once the club grew from seven children to 64, they began using the arena in the middle of Veterans Memorial Park.

Soon, the city asked Lou to run the annual horse parade, and not long after that, she and Mike were put in charge of organizing the then-amateur rodeo. Mike had ridden bulls and broncs, and Lou barrel raced. Most of the children followed in their footsteps.

In the early 1980s, the Western Stampede joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association circuit of rodeos

"I don't remember a time when we didn't do the rodeo," says Kelly, who was born after the family moved to West Jordan.

"We nursed and patched together the old rodeo grounds every year so we could have a fun rodeo," she remembers.

It takes three generations - as well as a host of other volunteers - to make the rodeo run smoothly.

Lou is on the executive committee for all the Fourth of July events and manages rodeo ticket sales.

Kelly co-chairs the rodeo-queen competition, gets sponsors and runs the "Muttin Bustin'" sheep-riding competition for youngsters midway through each rodeo.

Daughter Denise Garner, who used to return from out-of-state each year to help, now lives nearby and pitches in with the Muttin Bustin' event.

Mike is the senior chairman and continues to advise Russ, a son who last year replaced him as chairman. Russ handles all the contracts.

Mike and Russ, as well as sons Dave and Reed, make sure the animals are fed and watered.

"You'll see them like little firecrackers everywhere, pulling gates, making sure the cowboys are good," says Kelly.

Reed, the "chute boss" as well as "dirt man," credits a corps of dedicated volunteers.

"I've got a bunch of guys that have been out there helping me pop gates and move steers for years, guys that enjoy rodeo and want to see something good for West Jordan."

One of the most important jobs, though, is preparing the competition surface - the dirt.

And that begins now for Reed, who this month will use a tractor to dig up and then compact the dirt at a depth of 12 inches, then 8 inches, then 6 inches and then 2 1/2 inches. A half-inch crust is good.

The dirt, a 3-to-1 mix of topsoil to ground sand, is just the right consistency to hold water - but not turn mucky.

While barrel racers and calf ropers who make sharp turns especially need a solid surface, bulls and broncs will buck harder if their feet strike a secure surface, Reed says.

"I do it the way my dad taught me to do it. Years and years of riding around on a tractor, you know what it feels like," says Reed, who works for West Jordan Public Works Department as well.

Much of the preparation work is easier now that West Jordan has built a new arena south of the old one and purchased new equipment.

The city invested $1 million two years ago in the arena that has bleachers for nearly 5,000 and skybox seats for up to 60. Last year, the city added a $180,000 concession stand and restroom building.

Kelly says she is often asked why she and her family take vacation time from their day jobs to work on the rodeo at no pay.

"There are things in life you're just passionate about, that money can't give to you," says Kelly. "It's a tradition."

For her part, Lou figures the rodeo and the demolition derby (on July 7) help West Jordan keep in touch with its farming roots.

"It's a big city now, but it's still got a small-city atmosphere."

kmoulton@sltrib.com

Buckle up

* What: Western Stampede PRCA Rodeo.

* When: July 2-4. Pre-rodeo fun at 7 p.m., flag ceremony at 7:45 p.m., rodeo at 8 p.m. Fireworks in adjacent Veterans Memorial Park each night after rodeo.

* Where: West Jordan's Arena, 8000 South 2200 West.

* Tickets: Available now online at www.westernstampede.com or by phone beginning June 19, 801-862-1050. Arena ticket office opens June 25, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily except Sunday. Seats usually sell out.