POW/MIA Awareness Rally and Motorcycle Rodeo returning to Pocatello

The 19th Annual POW/MIA Awareness Rally and Motorcycle Rodeo will be held at the Bannock County Event Center Fairgrounds July 26-27, according to a press release.

The event is returning to Pocatello, where it was held from 2005-2015. Since departing, it had been held in Idaho Falls.

Many assume the reason the group moved the event was due to issues with law enforcement, but the new POW/MIA director, Tim Cowden, said that’s not the case at all.

“It had nothing to do with them. They responded like they were supposed to,” Cowden said. “The concessions was the thing that caused us to walk away.”

Cowden said that the group was unable to afford the prices of concession and had to leave.

“So that’s one of the biggest, and only, reasons we really left. It’s just we couldn’t afford it because we earn our money from what we sell,” he said.

Now, “with everybody on good terms,” Cowden is excited about the homecoming and hopes that the community comes out and becomes a part of the festivities, law enforcement included.

“I hope the sheriffs come up and participate, maybe bike on bike, a little competition. And just welcome us back,” Cowden said.