The College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) has brought a significant economic impact to Casper, with visitors from all over the country attending the event. Vicki Birkeland and her companion John Gray were among those who attended the event, and they planned to visit downtown Casper during their stay.

The Mercantile Event

The Mercantile event, held at the WYO Sports Ranch, featured dozens of vendors from around the region, with 10 additional vendors added this year. The event is intended to help keep the CNFR in Casper and showcase the facility and local businesses.

Casper resident Mason Hansen bought two custom-decorated hats from Denver retailer Kayln Young, who was among the new vendors at the Mercantile this year. According to Visit Casper CEO Annette Pitts, the economic impact of the CNFR is significant, with almost $3 million in revenue last year.

The CNFR benefits not only hotels and restaurants but also numerous other businesses, including dry cleaners, who see a significant uptick in business during the event. The Mercantile event concludes on Wednesday evening, and CNFR performances will continue throughout the week.

Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.