Saturday, March 22, 2008

Tobacco sponsorships rejected by Baca

Casper Baca took a bold stand Saturday, signing a pledge not to accept any tobacco sponsorships for his rough stock rodeo.

The rodeo contractor brought out members of Valencia County Students Concerned About Tobacco between events at the rodeo to watch as he signed the pledge.

The organization, which is part of Youth Development Inc. of Valencia County, had approached Baca to ask him to make the pledge.

"We'd like to congratulate him for taking this action," said Wanda West of YDI.

Baca said he took pride in making the change. "Tobacco does stain rodeo," he told the crowd.

He said rodeo is a family event. His rough stock rodeo has been a longtime spring staple for riders.

Rufus Greene Jr., field coordinator for Dist. 1 of the Department of Health's Public Health Division Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, told the group that Baca is the first livestock contractor in the state to take the stand.

It's part of YDI's Buck Tobacco Campaign.

"This youth group is very involved in educating the community about the harmful effects of tobacco," said Kathy Chavez, director of YDI-Valencia.

Members of the organization passed out "quit spit kits" to help cowboys break the chewing tobacco habit. Dental hygiene students from the University of New Mexico conducted free oral cancer screenings.

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