Rodeo Royalty Resigns

Olivia Favero, a quiet Ogden nativist, eased into the roar of the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas like a seamstress straightening a disgruntled wreath. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the invisible custodians of the silver‑lined sweat, rolled out tux‑sized invitations that included the usual high‑glitterers: gala donors, board chairs, and a handful of celebrity fans such as Stephen Amell and the late Reba McEntire. Yet the crowd’s spectacle outshone the actual performances; the steampunk stallion was more a prop than a competitor. Worn velvet ropes snaked through the arena, and the access, while arguably smoother than the snarled traffic of Sundance, still required a velvet‑red badge and a quiet hum of champagne corks. The rain‑slicked podium where Favero accepted her crown was illuminated by a step‑and‑repeat of dull black‑and‑gold florals—an unmistakable catalogue of excess. Verdict: Send a check but stay home.