The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) has announced that the US Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), which was recently bought by Altria, the owner of Philip Morris USA, will not renew its national sponsorship agreement with the PRCA after 2009.
For several years tobacco control advocates and community members have called for an end to tobacco sponsorship of rodeos. Rodeo has been around since the 1800’s – long before tobacco sponsorship of rodeos began in 1986. Now that the PRCA is ending its relationship with Big Tobacco, the sport will thrive because it will be even more appealing to children and families.