A favorite in Malta has officially ended permanently.
A number of things brought the owners of Double M Rodeo to this moment. For one, Wayne Martin, who was in charge of the rodeos, broke his back in 2019. Then, his father Ron, who originated the rodeo in the late 1960s, died in November, and his mother-in-law in October. Add onto that, the COVID-19 shutdown and they decided it was time, according to the Times Union. They officially closed on February 28.
“The whole COVID-19 thing, and losing two parents in one month, makes you realize life is not forever,” said co-owner Cindy Martin, who added that she doesn’t hold the pandemic solely responsible for their situation. “It is really an aging family. Producing a rodeo is not just a business, it is a heritage. You have to know it, love and support it 100 percent, and forgo the rest of your livelihood to make it happen.”
Those who are fans of the Double M Western Store and the annual haunted hayride will be happy to know that both are continuing.
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