Rodeo to benefit local fire departments, non-profits

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

o you want to see a professional rodeo without having to leave central Otter Tail County? Perhaps you are looking for a fun way to pass a Friday or Saturday night in the waning weeks of summer? Or better yet, do you want to help support some of the local organizations that make up the Henning, Vining and surrounding communities? 

Well the Silver Sage Guest Ranch has just the ticket as they are gearing up to host the fifth annual Silver Sage Rodeo.   

Now in its fifth year, the Silver Sage Rodeo has made quite a name for itself with several thousand people attending the rodeo last year in rural Clitherall. The event has also garnered a following due to its family-friendly atmosphere as it continues to find ways to not only provide entertainment in the area, but give back to the community as a whole.

After all, the local rodeo is much more than simply a great time, it has become an important asset to a number of non-profit organizations and fire departments in the area who all help to put the large event. 

When the Otto family started looking into hosting a large-scale rodeo they didn’t want to have one to just benefit their ranch, but they wanted to help the neighboring communities and organizations as well. Both concepts were focal points by Nicki and Craig Otto and Silver Sage Ranch, who are part of the family that runs the guest ranch.

That help includes the Vining Fire Department, who has turned the rodeo into a fundraiser for the group as it looks to upgrade its aging equipment. Proceeds from the rodeo help to offset the rising costs of purchasing things like a new truck and training, without having to solely rely on taxes of local property owners.

The first year the Vining and Millerville Fire Departments helped with the rodeo, along with two food vendors and several local organizations. The past four year’s the Henning Fire Department filled a void when the Millerville Fire Department declined to help with the rodeo. A portion of the proceeds from the rodeo will benefit both the Henning and Vining Fire Departments.

In addition to the fire departments, local organizations were able to join the rodeo weekend as well. The organizations can set up stands and sell items at the rodeo to help raise money for their individual causes. 

Friday night’s rodeo will take on an extra special meaning for a number of people in the crowd as local emergency personnel and first responders will be recognized prior to the start of the rodeo. First responders and military personnel will receive a free ticket to the rodeo with a valid ID.

The rodeo will feature everything from bareback, bull riding, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing. There will also be mutton bustin’ and on Saturday night there will be a sale barn animal scramble. The gates will open at 4 p.m. each day with mutton bustin’ beginning at 5 p.m. The performance will beginning at 7 p.m.

Silver Sage Ranch is located just south of Clitherall and is operated by the Otto family. The property was originally purchased by the family in 1995 and over the years they have hosted patrons for overnight stays at their ranch, organized trail rides, horse camps and just an opportunity to experience life on a ranch.

Camping will also be available for rodeo guests and there will also be a variety of local food vendors during both nights of the rodeo, as well as rodeo gear on sale. 

Tickets are available online at www.silversagemn.com