Local historic statues to be replaced

Two iconic statues are being replaced in preparation for the Cattle Call Rodeo which takes place every November in Brawley.

The two statues of Casey Tibbs, a famous American cowboy were about 50 years old, and after some wear and tear, the time has come for them to be replaced.

News 11 got a glimpse at the new statues that will be installed soon.

“We noticed about five or six years ago we were beginning to have some problems,” said Carson Kalin, Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo Committee member.

The Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo Committee, which is a nonprofit organization is footing the bill and will preserving one of the statues at a local museum.

“Both statues have already been taken down and we are going to donate one to the Pioneers Museum and they’ve agreed to put it up out there and put it on display, and the other one, were not quite sure yet what we are going to do with it,” explained Kalin.

The statue at Cattle Call Arena was removed this morning and we are told both statues are set to be put in place by October 1st.

There was concern about the cost at first, but after some quick detective work an exact mold of the statue was found.

“I just did what anybody would do, go on the internet and i looked around and second or third person I called said yeah, send me a picture, so I sent him a picture of it and he said yeah I go that mold,” explained Mark Huber, Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo Committee member.
The mold was located in Minnesota and is used for other statues that are featured in a popular restaurant chain.

“This is a symbol of the rodeo; it’s a symbol of Brawley and of the valley. This is the 64th year and anybody that’s been to the rodeo has seen those horses, anybody that has been down Main Street in Brawley has seen those horses,” added Huber.

“The nice thing is, is that they are identical to the ones we just took down, except that they are brand new. People that are concerned about losing heritage, actually we are gaining heritage because these are good for another 50 years,” said Kalin.

Each statue cost six thousand dollars apiece, but that price tag does not include the price for demolition and placement of the new statues.