There will be no fall rodeo in Havre this year for the MSU-Northern rodeo teams to host. New Media Broadcasters spoke with Ed Rice, the president of the MSU-N Rodeo Booster Club and he outlined how expensive it is to fund a rodeo program, especially one for the Lights cowboys and Skylights cowgirls.
“We’re just trying to come up with fundraisers for our Northern rodeo students,” Rice said. “It costs quite a bit of money for these kids that travel.”
“They’ve got 11 pickups going on down with horses and trailers,” Rice continued. “It costs quite a bit for us to travel for our rodeo (teams).”
Rice said his staff has put together an “Extreme Bingo” competition, which will be highly competitive and exclusive. If the games turn out to be a hit, he would like this to be a yearly occurrence.
“What we’re trying to do (for) this fundraiser, is basically do something different,” Rice said. “(There’s a) $150 buy-in. We’re only letting 150 players join up.”
“Your odds are fairly good,” Rice continued. “We’re starting out at 10 games. Prices are going to vary from $500 up to $2,500 to $2,600, somewhere in there.”
What will entice people to come out and try to win? Rice has details on the cash prizes and one of the more exclusive firearms that are on the market right now.
“We basically have two cash prices,” Rice said. “One is $500 in cash. The other one is $750.”
“We got the expensive gun that’s a Christensen Arms Model 7mm PRC with a big whiskey thick scope on it,” Rice continued. “That gun there is valued at close to $2,500.”
“High quality firearms in the shotguns and rifles and pistols,” Rice said.
With the MSU-Northern Rodeo Booster Club always looking for ways to increase funds for the program, look for a ticket at Bing ‘N Bobs before the Friday “Extreme Bingo” competition. Doors to the MSU-N Student Union Ballroom (SUB) open at 6pm.
