PINK A POPULAR RODEO COLOR

Initiative Raises Funds for Cancer Research and Treatment

NEBRASKA - (Sept. 8, 2008) Rodeo fans across Nebraska were asked one question this summer: are you tough enough to wear pink?

That's because the "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" campaign, a breast cancer awareness and fundraiser program, took place at pro rodeos across the state.

The initiative was designed for the western industry - rodeos, equine events, and the like - to raise awareness of breast cancer and funds for research and treatment. It got its start at the National Finals Rodeo in 2006, when a $1 million check was presented to the breast cancer research community. The NFR, held annually in Las Vegas, is pro rodeo's world championship event.

Tough Enough to Wear Pink encourages rodeo fans and personnel alike to wear pink to show their support for breast cancer awareness and research. The unique thing about the "pink" campaign is that rodeo committees can designate how funds are raised and to whom funds are donated.

At the Oregon Trail Rodeo in Hastings, fairgrounds manager Sandy Himmelberg said that their Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign raised funds for a local cancer center. "It works better for us when rodeo fans know their (donated) money stays in the county." The rodeo, held over Labor Day, raised $5,400 last year for the Morrison Cancer Center at the Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings. The Hastings rodeo also hosts a 5K Run/Walk entitled "Tough Enough to Run with the Bulls." Himmelberg said the race had 62 participants this year, with an emotional finish; a woman who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and had just received a mastectomy finished the race.

In Ponca at the Days of '56 Rodeo, their pink night is the first night of rodeo in late June, and funds raised go to the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, a local organization. Business manager Chris Bostwick says the event has been well received in the community. "You can't believe the people who come in (to the rodeo) wearing pink." The rodeo committee gives 10% of proceeds from its Friday night performance to the Cancer Center, and profits from the sale of pink items, including neckerchiefs, bandanas and caps also go to the Center. The rodeo has given the Center $1,000 each of the past two years, and Bostwick says that the cause has also benefited the rodeo. "It's helped our Friday night gate (attendance) considerably," he says. "It's worked out good for us."

Pink isn't a color usually associated with the macho sport of rodeo, but if a cowboy is tough enough to ride a bull, he's probably tough enough to wear pink. And pink is here to stay in more rodeo wardrobes now than ever. So when you attend a Nebraska rodeo next year, be sure to grab your pink shirt and support the Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign.

Upcoming rodeos in the Prairie Circuit include the Enid Stampede on Sept. 20 (Enid, Okla.), the Oklahoma State Fair PRCA Rodeo on Sept. 20-21 (Oklahoma City, Okla.), the River City Roundup on Sept. 25-27 (Omaha, Nebr.), the Tulsa State Fair on October 4-6 (Tulsa, Okla.), and the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, hosted by the American Royal, on October 24-25 (Kansas City, Mo.)

About the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kansas City:

The American Royal will host the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo October 24-25, 2008 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. There, Prairie Circuit cowboys and cowgirls will compete to earn a berth at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR), held annually every March in Pocatello, Idaho. Two competitors from each event: the year end champion and the aggregate champion, will go on to represent the Prairie Circuit at the DNCFR.

About the Prairie Circuit:

The Prairie Circuit is made up of the 45 rodeos in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska that are sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Cowboys and cowgirls must win the finals held in the circuit to qualify to compete at the DNCFR.

About the PRCA's circuit system:

In 1975, the PRCA recognized the need for an award system for cowboys who chose to compete closer to home because of family and professional commitments.

The Association created the PRCA's circuit system, consisting of 12 geographic regions that include as few as one state or as many as 13. Each PRCA cowboy in the United States chooses a home circuit at the beginning of the year or is assigned to one that corresponds with his home address. Cowboys compete for points throughout the year and points earned within his circuit are applied toward the standings of his respective circuit.

Each circuit's top cowboys in each event qualify for that circuit's "Finals" at the end of the season. After all 12 circuit finals are completed, the top regular-season cowboys in each event and the winners of the circuit finals qualify for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, held in Pocatello, Idaho.