The opening of the famed St. Paul Rodeo was dedicated to the memory of Austin Smith, who was killed battling a wildfire earlier this year. Smith was a regular at the smalltown rodeo events.
A remembrance to Smith was the display of a horse with an empty saddle that was draped by an American flag during the kick-off to the weekend as Amazing Grace was played on bagpipes.
“That’s what makes us a small town and makes it a community,” Brian Cordell told KPTV.com. “We will always continue to honor Austin, in our thoughts, in our dreams, and in our memories.”
Funds from this year's rodeo are being used to purchase equipment for the St. Paul Fire District, said St. Paul Rodeo Charitable Fundraiser Chair Sue Coleman. She said they've already raised $70,000.
At the time of his death, Smith was working on opening a bar in the community.
Smith's brother, Zach, completed the project, Harvester Taproom, which opened at the rodeo.
Smith responded to an early morning fire at a poultry barn Feb. 3. An explosion critically injured Smith, who died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The Smith family was one of the founding groups for the annual July 4th rodeo.
Donations to the rodeo can be made here.
