ISABEL, S.D. – Grab your hat, grab the kids, grab a friend for a celebration fit for any Old West event that promises fun and fast-paced action and a commitment – to having reliable, quality health care at home.
The Cowboys Care Bull Bash, Jully 13, 2024 in Isabel, is a fundraiser to remove barriers to care for patients and keep health care close to home for clinics in northwestern South Dakota including Isabel, Bison, McIntosh, Eagle Butte, and Faith.
The Horizon Health Care clinics serves 3,000 plus people in these areas where access to health care is limited. Half of them are children. Tracy Pardy is the Executive Director of the Horizon Health Foundation.
“Without access to care, many folks would be in a world of hurt,” she said. “Most rural clinics are two hours away from a major medical facility. Our clinics, while offering primary care, also serve as triage emergency centers as well.”
She added, “One of the Horizon missions is to go where no one else would imagine to go to deliver health care, regardless of income or size of the community.”
Pardy says funds raised are used in a number of ways for the clinics. “Like cancer care, transportation, upgrades in equipment or facilities.
The schedule for the fun filled day and evening is below (Mountain Time):
4:00pm: Gates open/5 bouncy houses for kids/concessions
5:00pm – 6:30pm: Steak Dinner (8oz sirloin, baked potato, salad, and bun)
6:00pm – 6:30pm: Mutton Bustin
6:30pm – 7:00pm: Calcutta
7:15pm: Bull Bash
9:30pm – 12:00am: The Broken Spokes band/Beer Gardens
12:30am: Event concludes
“We want everyone to have a fun and safe time while attending the Cowboys Care Bull Bash,” shared Pardy. “Transportation to and from the event will be provided by Skywalker VIP which is being sponsored by Locken Oil and Skywalker VIP. Buses will run from Bison and Timber Lake (Main Street), McIntosh (Gus Stop), Faith (Sale Barn), and Eagle Butte (Fairgrounds) from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.”
Pardy, who is a Sully County girl, drew on her friendship with stock contractors from that area – Weischedel Bucking Bulls – to round up 30 of their rankest bulls. Pay out is $8,000 to the winner among the 30 bullriders competing. According to Pardy, contestants are coming from Australia, Texas, South Dakota, Minnesota and more states. A custom gold belt buckle also awaits the winner.
She reminds people who want to enter their kids in the mutton bustin’ to arrive early. There are only 15 slots available. The winner of the popular event will receive a custom belt buckle.
A finale of sorts will be what Pardy calls a “big” announcement from the Horizon Health Foundation.
