OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Jim Grego, R-Wilburton, was among a group of Oklahomans who traveled recently to the Louisiana State Penitentiary to view firsthand the Angola Prison Rodeo, the only remaining prison rodeo in the United States.

"The purpose of this trip was to gain ideas about what they are doing and how we might apply some of this knowledge as we make an attempt to revive our own prison rodeo at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester," Grego said.

"Angola really has their stuff together," he added. "This is so much more than just a rodeo. It is an event drawing 10,000 visitors to each sold-out rodeo."

Grego said one estimate shows a total local impact of $1 million for each rodeo held at the prison.

Traveling with Grego was his wife, Sandy; Braedon and Kristie Oquin, the latter serves as the chair of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo Restoration Committee; Kevin Beaty, committee vice chair; Willis Pettit, warden of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester; Michael Davis, CEO and president of Oklahoma Finance Authorities; and Josh Beaty.

The group had the opportunity to visit with the commissioner and the first deputy of the Louisiana Department of Corrections, Grego said, as well as the warden at the state penitentiary, known as Angola.

Grego said for many years, the Oklahoma State Penitentiary held a rodeo that was very popular with inmates and their families as well as staff. It drew visitors from across the nation to Southeast Oklahoma.

"The rodeo was discontinued due to a lack of funding and deterioration of the grounds," Grego said.

The last rodeo at the prison was held in 2009.

Grego has authored legislation the last few years to create a revolving fund to restart the rodeo, but the bills have not made it through the full legislative process.

Grego said the measures have support, including from the Department of Corrections, which previously committed to putting $1 million toward the project. Both the City of McAlester and the McAlester Chamber of Commerce are supportive as well, Grego said. The Oklahoma Department of Tourism and recreation also previously committed to promoting the rodeo if it were to again operate.

Grego said many professional cowboys also have expressed an interest in holding events at the McAlester prison once the rodeo grounds are restored. He said the Oklahoma Department of Commerce agreed the event would have a positive economic impact on McAlester and surrounding areas of Southeast Oklahoma.

"This could bring a return on investment to the Department of Corrections and the state and local economy, and we could all reap the economic reward it would bring," Grego said.