The pressure’s on as Kindra Plumb rolls the dice in the Mad Hatters event to see who will win the Judge pistol to be custom painted. Janessa Lutze holds the tally sheet, and Randy Oliver for Hat No. 1 and Mark Lutze with No. 6 carefully eye Plumb’s dice throw, as does Lucinda Mares. No. 6 was eventually rolled for the sixth time to make Lutze the lucky winner. — Johnson Publications
Mechanical bull riding and a live auction were two of the fun events at the Dec. 16 NFR Rodeo Gala fundraiser for the Phillips County Fairgrounds Pavilion & Education Center. Hunter Donovan takes her turn on the mechanical bull.
Rodeo Gala prods enthusiasm for Pavilion & Education Center project
Numbers were down, but enthusiasm reigned as a crowd of close to 110 enjoyed the Phillips County National Finals Rodeo Gala Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Phillips County Event Center.
When the final numbers were in, the event netted close to $5,000 for the Phillips County Fairgrounds Pavilion & Education Center.
Phillips County Administrator Randy Schafer said there were a number of factors that contributed to the smaller crowd this year but primarily the home ballgame made a difference.
But those who attended had a good time socializing. Fundraising co-chair Mendi Lutze cited the support from surrounding communities, noting that several from the Wray/Yuma area attended.
Schafer said they made a point to set up a showing (complete with sound) of the National Finals Rodeo event in the Biesemeier Room so that those interested in watching that could focus on that alone.
Meanwhile, in Heginbotham Hall, the NFR was showing on the big screen during numerous other fun activities, including a meal catered by Happy Jacks Barbeque, live auction, reverse raffle, door-prize drawings, riding of the mechanical bull provided by Stan Sumner and dance music by Jason Kimble with Night Sounds.
Schafer said the number of auction items was down as they started preparing for the event a little later than last year. However, it was a good auction and things sold well, he added.
A highlight of the evening was the “Mad Hatter” game, in which six ballcaps were auctioned off for a chance to roll the dice and win a Judge pistol to be custom painted.
Those in the Mad Hatter competition were assigned a number from 1-6 and took turns rolling the dice. A number had to be rolled six times to claim the pistol.
Holding the lucky No. 6, the winner was Mark Lutze. Other Mad Hatter competitors were Randy Oliver, Hank Hassler, Tim Becker, Josh Larson and Kindra Plumb.
Hassler (No. 2) and Lutze (No. 6) were both sitting with five tally marks when Hassler rolled a six to make Lutze the winner.
Funds near targeted goal
Schafer reported Saturday night that $1.55 million has been pledged or raised for the new Pavilion & Education Center, representing 97 percent of the original project goal. He said the estimate was perhaps a bit low, so they’re now targeting a $1.8 million-$1.9 million project.
The plan is for building to begin in March in anticipation of having the new center in place for the 2018 Phillips County Fair.
County commissioners took bids for the building Friday, Dec. 15, and were pleased to have 13 bidders. Evaluation of those bids was set to begin Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 19, at the commisisoners meeting.