FARMINGTON ? About 90 animal rights protesters lined the road to the Olympic Rodeo Saturday night with signs, props, costumes and shouts of protest, but their harsh words for the sport essentially fell on deaf ears.
"I don't think that's in the spirit of the Games," West Point resident Earl Rogers said while waiting in line to enter the Olympic Command Performance Rodeo in Farmington.
Cars waiting to enter the parking lot of the Legacy Center, where the rodeo was held, were at a virtual standstill at times, giving protesters a captive audience. As part of the anti-rodeo display protesters held up a coffin with the words "RIP Olympic Spirit" and "Yeehaw, ride 'em to death."
Some spectators rolled down windows and gave protesters a thumbs down or yelled, but for the most part, the demonstration was peaceful and did little to change the minds of rodeo enthusiasts.
"We don't care. It doesn't bother me," said Jill Richards of Alberta, Canada, who came to see her son ride in the competition. "Everybody has their opinion."
Because of weeks of media coverage about the rodeo controversy Lt. Dan Horton of the Davis County Sheriff's Office said many people may have expected an even bigger display. Public safety officials far outnumbered protesters.
Kristie Phelps, a campaign coordinator with People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was the only member of the national organization in town to protest the event. She said up until recently hundreds of PETA members had planned to fly to Utah to protest to Games but then thought better of it. "We did not want to give Utah our tax dollars. They would have stayed in hotels and eaten in restaurants."
Phelps and other protesters who were from the Utah Animals Rights Coalition and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness said the protest zone was not ideal because they were not able to hand out literature or speak to passers-by, but said they were pleased with the high visibility. "We hope people visit our Web site and learn more," Phelps said.
The animals rights groups argued the rodeo should not be included as part of the 2002 Winter Games because they say it is violent and cruel to animals. Rodeo fans, however, adamantly disagreed. "It's just ridiculous. These animals are better taken care of than they know," said Mike Clarke, who drove from Las Vegas specifically for the rodeo.
"They've probably never been on a ranch or a farm," said Mary Ardouin, also from Las Vegas.
But Phelps said even though an animal may not be injured, they will suffer from stress and fear. The nearly sold-out rodeo pitted top Canadian cowboys versus the top riders in the United States for cash and medals. The event will also be held Sunday and Monday night. Protesters said they would also be back.
E-mail: ehayes@desnews.com