60th annual bronc match to support troubled youth
Annually, on the first Saturday in August, spectators gather in the natural amphitheater to watch “champions ride” to benefit the children who call the ranch home. Wade Sundell walked away with the championship buckle last year, after riding Burch Rodeo’s “Lunatic from Hell” in a ride-off with his traveling buddy Cort Scheer.
Traditionally most of the nation’s top bronc riders compete in this classic cowboy event. This year, Dickinson cowboy Dusty Hausauer, Jessie Bail, Camp Crook, South Dakota; Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, South Dakota; J.J. Elshere, Hereford, South Dakota; Cole Elshere, Faith, South Dakota; Sterling and Jacobs Crawley from Texas, Canadians Dustin Flundra, and Zeke Thurston, and no less than six Wrights from the Milford, Utah, area, are on the roster, along with many more top cowboys, for a total of 30.
This year’s Home on the Range Champions Ride Saddle Bronc Match will be Saturday, Aug. 6 at 1 p.m.
The rustic arena is nestled on the grounds of HOTR in the serene beauty of western North Dakota. Fans are truly “up close and personal” with many of the rodeo personalities they follow on TV. Champion’s Ride gives them a great opportunity to get autographs and meet many of their cowboy heroes.
The Ranch and the Rodeo have grown up together and it would be nearly impossible to separate the two and the strong western heritage they share. In 2000, Champion’s Ride was honored with the prestigious Special Achievement Award from the ND Cowboy Hall of Fame and was inducted into its ranks – only the third such event to have been honored in this way.
The rodeo itself is truly a class act, but more importantly, it brings people to Home On The Range, to see the working ranch dedicated to helping homeless, troubled and neglected children. The children themselves are on-hand to give tours and share the colorful history of the facility.
Champion’s Ride is an affordable quality entertainment event for all ages. All proceeds from the event go to support the children that call Home On The Range home.
The Ranch and rodeo arena are located outside of Sentinal Butte, North Dakota at 16351 I-94 – off Intestate 94, Exit 7.
A calcutta and sponsor reception will be held at North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in Medora, N.D. at 5:30 pm on Aug. 5. Another calcutta will be held during the event, to sell the cowboys who advance to the short go. Advance adult tickets are $15, advance student tickets are $8. At the door they will be $20 and $10.
Go to HOTRND.com or call 701-872-3745 for advance tickets.
Directions to Home On The Range from the West:
Take 1-94 six miles east of Beach, ND.
Take Exit 7.
Turn left/north at the bottom of the exchange, go under the interstate bridge and go north about a half mile. Turn right under the Home On The Range sign.
All visitors should check in to the Administration building.
Directions to Home On The Range from the East:
Take I-94 three miles past Sentinel Butte, ND.
Take Exit 7.
Turn right/north at the bottom of the exchange and go north about a half mile. Turn right under the Home On The Range sign.
