By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

Thousands of spectators are expected to descend upon Hays in late August to see the best of the best compete in the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association state finals rodeo.

It's the first time Hays will host the event after the Ellis County Fair Association worked on and off during the past few years preparing to bring something of the rodeo's caliber to town.

"When we tore down the old rodeo arena five years ago, our hope was that we could attract some of these rodeos," said Loran Zimmerman, fair board president.

The state finals rodeo will be Aug. 27 to 29 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.

The rodeo has been in Scott City the past three years, but Zimmerman said he thought KPRA officials were ready to bring it to a bigger town.

And Hays is ready to host it.

"I'd love to have it every year," said Janet Kuhn, convention marketing manager for the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Since the rodeo arena at the fairgrounds has been upgraded and seating upgrades are expected to be completed later this year, the fairgrounds proved to be an ideal host for the event. Seating capacity could be between 1,800 and 2,000 seats for future rodeos, Zimmerman said.

The Ellis County Fair traditionally hosts a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, which has many of the same contestants that could compete at the KPRA state finals.

"We're looking forward to having them here," Zimmerman said. "I think it'll be a good thing for Hays. I think they'll like being here."