Rodeo fans get ready, 10th Annual Ranch Rodeo approaches

Get your spurs and load the pickup, it's time for the 10th Annual Kimball Ranch Rodeo. Yes, you heard right, the 10th annual Kimball Ranch Rodeo, Saturday, June 9, beginning at 5:30 at the Kimball Fairgrounds.

The town will be full of cowboys, cowgirls, muggers and ropers, and a few bronc riders also ready to try their hand and get a little dirty. Many of the finest contestants from Nebraska and the surrounding states, including Wyoming and Colorado, will compete in the Kimball Ranch Rodeo for a chance to win a little bit of money, earn a few more points in their circuit and, of course, good western fun and entertainment.

Fans can expect to see a great round of action from 14 bronc riders and 12 teams Saturday evening. With bucking horses from Wayne Larson with Bad Medicine Rodeo Company, roping steers out of Greeley, Colorado, and cow/calf pairs from Alex Engstrom, spectators will sure get the evening they hoped for.

"This is the first time in 10 years we have ever been full on bronc entries with 14, and 12 teams is the most entries we have ever received," said Alex Engstrom.

Concessions will be available, as will a beer garden for those 21 and older. Following the rodeo, the J.D. Nash Band of Denver, Colorado, will be kicking off the rest the night performing at the dance in the hog barn.

"We enjoy finding different bands to bring in for the dance after the rodeo. We just want people to stick around after the rodeo and continue the fun at the dance," added Engstrom.

Kimball Ranch Rodeo is part of the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association, also know as the WSRRA, with headquarters in California. When contestants compete and win in a WSRRA sanctioned rodeo they earn points to add up in their circuit standings to qualify for the year end finals, held the first week of November in Winnemucca, Nevada.

As the Kimball Ranch Rodeo is celebrating its 10th Annual event, organizers invite everyone to come celebrate, grab a couple beers from the Beer Garden, sit back and enjoy the show.

This thrilling performance includes five events; Ranch Bronc Riding, Trailer Loading, Branding and Doctoring, Team Tying, and, of course, the crowd favorite, the Wild Cow Milking.

"The Wild Cow Milking is a really fun way to end the night. We always get to see a lot of great cowboy action as the contestants get drug around the arena. We never want to see anyone get hurt, but they always put on a good show," Colby Lukassen, committee member, said.

Want a different night out with friends, family? Well the Kimball County Fair Grounds will be the place to be Saturday, June 9. A very entertaining night out and a chance to enjoy the weather.

These guys and gals work hard all year round to put on a great night filled with excitement and laughs, for the town and surrounding areas of Kimball, including the huge success of Donkey Basketball last March. Funds raised from that hysterical event can make the winning team and bronc rider's wallet a little bigger.

"The proceeds from Donkey Ball allowed us to increase prize money, as well as, prizes themselves, which I think reflects in our entries," Engstrom said.

The Kimball community is what has kept this tradition alive in the past years and the committee members are more than grateful for what has come of this event.

"I am very happy we have a local venue where all our local cowboys can come and participate and show off their skills and have a little friendly competition with each other and give the locals something to whoop and holler about," committee member Sharon Baker added.

The Kimball Ranch Rodeo can not thank all of those people and businesses enough for all of their support over the years.

Justin Perry is one of many committee members who is very thankful for everything that is done to help out with this great event.

"We are very appreciative of the support from the community, the businesses and the individuals, the rodeo would not be a success with out everyone's time and effort through sponsorships, and their attendance of our event. The committee is very proud to donate back to a local organization or a cause in the community every year. We plan on being able to do this as long as the rodeo is around," he said.

Alex Engstrom added that this year the Kimball Ranch Rodeo is proud to make their annual donation to the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts for 2018.

Organizing any event is hard, whether it is small or large, the Kimball Ranch Rodeo committee puts a lot of time and effort into this annual event but are so appreciative of all of the volunteers that back up the committee during set up, tear down and the performance,

"We have a great group up in the crows nest, keeping time and taking scores, crews working behind the chutes, and so much more, without them we wouldn't be able to do this," said Baker.