Sweetheart of a fundraiser to be hosted for BC High School Rodeo Association

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The organization supporting regional secondary school rodeo competitors is looking to raise money by offering what could be a sweetheart of an event.

The BC High School Rodeo Association will hold a gala on February 14th at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre in Fort St. John.

The money raised from the event goes toward rodeo production for high school events in northern B.C.

According to Rebecca Newsham, a parent volunteer with the association, the gala is held bi-annually, rotating with the North Peace Cattleman’s Association.

Money raised will go toward organizing and putting together events around the region.

“We need to pay for stock. We need to pay for venues,” Newsham told Energeticcity.ca. “We need to pay for first aid [and] judges. Money we raise at the gala goes towards helping the kids do that.

“We let [the cattleman’s association] have their fundraising gala one year, and then we have it on the off year from that. The Fort St. John area is so generous and we rotate it so we aren’t burning the community out [from donating]. We try to be mindful of other events.”

In its fifth decade of existence, the BC High School Rodeo Association, dedicated to developing future rodeo stars, holds regional events in disciplines such as bull riding, calf roping and barrel racing.

It also has unique events such as ribbon roping, where the object is to rope and then pull a ribbon from a calf before running across a finish line. It also holds some shooting events as well.

Athletes competing in junior and high school events earn points where they can advance to the Canadian High School Rodeo finals and the National High School Rodeo Association finals in the United States.

The season usually lasts throughout the school year, beginning in September and having events up until June, said Newsham.

A silent and live auction will be held, as well as dinner and a dance. Music will be provided by the Chetwynd-based band Guns For Hire.

Newsham, whose son and daughter compete in high school rodeo, told Energeticcity.ca the timing of Valentine’s Day for the event was a conscious decision.

“It’s going to be the perfect night out,” said Newsham. “We are going to have a live auction. We’re going to have a silent auction. There’s going to be dinner and dancing. It is going to be a really great evening. It would definitely be a really good thing to bring your date to.”

Tickets are priced at $80 and are available at 8 Seconds Western Wear at 10036 Beaver Road in Fort St. John or at the Dawson Creek Veterinary Clinic at 238 116 Avenue in Dawson Creek.

The BC High School Rodeo Association’s fundraising gala will take place on Saturday, February 14th, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.