BELLE FOURCHE—The May Chamber Mixer was held at the Belle Fourche Roundup Rodeo Grounds on Thursday May 15. Fellow business professionals gathered to enjoy charcuterie and refreshments while socializing and supporting each other.
Board member Patrick Olson and Board Chairman Dallas Conner were on hand to answer questions about the upcoming Fourth of July celebration.
Chamber Executive Director, Michaela Horn, led a discussion with the board members addressing the planning stages of the annual rodeo. “New this year will be Matt Merritt. He will be the clown and barrel man,” said Conner. “We’ll have the same stock contractors that we had last year, same secretary, same sound, same photographer—so everything else will be the same as last year—just a new clown and barrel man!”
Another big change to the July line up finds a new carnival provider. “So we do have a new carnival this year, the carnival is Midway West Amusements,” explained Conner. “I started talking to them in the fall of 2023 and finally got everything to come together in 2024. We are excited to have them be our carnival…I think we’re very lucky to have been able to find a new carnival.”
Conner let the group of business professionals know that if anyone wants to volunteer and help with the Roundup this year, the best way is to show up at the next meeting, June 3 at the Roundup grounds or reach out to her via the Roundup website.
A few minutes were taken to celebrate the two awards the Roundup won for their efforts last year. “We won two awards, we won Medium Rodeo of the Year for the sixth time, and then we won the Remuda Award. The Remuda Award is sponsored by Polaris and it is for the most even pen of bucking horses across all PRCA rodeos, small, medium and large. We were fortunate enough to win that last year and probably the most prestigious award to get with the PRCA,” said Conner. “Medium Rodeo of the Year is amazing and we appreciate that, but the Remuda Award is just real, real special for us to have gotten.”
Conner encouraged everyone to get their tickets for the July rodeos. They are selling fast and are expected to sell out, especially the July 3 performance. Conner explained, “One big change for this year is everything is reserved seating—all of our bleachers that have been just general admission in the past, are now reserved.” When you buy a ticket for the rodeo, you will have a place to sit. Fireworks will be held on the evenings of July 2 and 3.
Horn finished by reminding those gathered of the upcoming Belle Fourche area events. The next Chamber Mixer is June 27. “We switch it up a little bit because we have reserved the party deck at a Spearfish Sasquatch game and it is a firework night! So if you are a member, you are welcome to attend! You just need to RSVP with us and purchase tickets on the night,” she said.
The Chamber member Connect and Collect Drawing of $250 was held. It is for members only and you have to be in attendance to win. This month Mount Rushmore Area Association of Realtors won, but they were not present so the pot carries on to next month.
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