PHOTOS BY HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Escape is the better part of valor for several competitors in the Silver State Pro Rodeo Company's Saturday and Sunday in McCullough Arena. Above, Tory Tyree, thrown by the bull, tries to elude the charging beast. Adam Tannner tries to stay aboard his horse. Willie Coversup is tossed. Pete Barkowski has problems with his bucking bull. An unidentified rider hopes for a soft landing being throw by a bronc. Advertisement

Steven Lee has tried for several years to get rodeo to be accepted in the Pahrump Valley, staging several events at McCullough Arena as the director of SL Rodeo Productions.

Monday, after a two-day event at the arena, Lee announced that, "As of May 21, 2007, SL Rodeo Productions will no longer be producing, nor promoting, events in Pahrump.

"We would like to thank all of our sponsors who have stood by us and supported the sport of rodeo," the statement continued. "Without their support, these events could have not been possible.

"Our goal was to bring back the sport of rodeo to the Pahrump Valley. Secondly, to all of the individuals who volunteered their time to help, we couldn't have done it without you," the statement concluded.

The next major rodeo in the arena will be the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association-sanctioned Fall Festival three-day show in October.