The ninth annual Bitterroot Cowboy Ball is coming right up on Saturday night! This event is sponsored by the Rockin’ RC Rodeo Committee of the Ravalli County Fair. The doors open at 5:30 with a delicious dinner, games, feed bucket raffles, and a live auction. There are still some tables available and can be reserved by calling the Ravalli County Fair Office at 363-3411. Or, just come to the door that night and pay $10 per person for entry.
Each year, the committee earmarks the money for a special project on or around the rodeo arena. This year, the rodeo committee will be raising funds to build a new and larger announcers booth. With more and more technology used to put on a great performance, more room is also needed. The current announcers booth is no longer adequate. Last year, the money raised from the Cowboy Ball went to seed money for new handicapped seating in the grandstands.
The Feed Bucket Raffle is just that. Purchase tickets for the raffle and then select the basket or prize you want, and put the tickets in that feed bucket. The always popular Calf Pie Bingo is back. There are only 52 chances to win. Buy a playing card from one of the rodeo royalty members in attendance and then hope that the calf ‘plops’ on the matching card in the pen. The winner will take home $520.
The live auction has many exciting items. One of the most sought after is the naming rights to a bronc or bull from Red Eye Rodeo Company at Deer Lodge. Last year, Julie Fillingham of Re/Max Realty bought the rights and named the bull “Landon’s Re/Max” after a young man who had been severely injured in a car accident. The bull went on to become the bucking bull of the year in the Northern Rodeo Association. These naming rights put a company’s name out in the public all over Montana.
There will be a Border Collie/Hanging Tree pup auctioned off; a beautiful leather chair from Bitterroot Furniture, artwork, get-aways out of the valley and in the valley, ski tickets from Lost Trail and much more.
The no host dinner is done by UpNSmokin BBQ House which originally was here in the valley but is now in Philipsburg. There is also a no-host bar.
Dance from 8 p.m. until 12 midnight with the fabulous tunes of shoDown. They are a great country/rock band that plays lively foot-stomping music from classic rock to modern country. This band brings the party with them and everyone has fun when they are playing.
Remember, there are still tables available. Call the Fairgrounds at 363-3411 and reserve one now!