STURGIS, S.D. – Sturgis will soon have a brand new rodeo grounds located right next to Sturgis Brown High School thanks to hundreds of donations that came in Saturday, June 29, 2024, during a radiothon heard on KBHB Radio.
The Greater Sturgis Foundation helped set the project in motion by announcing every dollar donated would be generously matched up to $100,000.
“The farm and ranch community is really important to Sturgis. So what a great thing that we can bring rodeo back to this little town that’s lost its rodeo grounds. We’re thrilled to do it and just hope this fundraiser is a great success,” Greater Sturgis Foundation Board Member Rosemary Roth said.
By any measure, it was.
⌊ $100,000 Matching Fund Announced For Upcoming RadioThon 〉
After the three hour radiothon, $440,707 was raised for the Sturgis Rodeo Club. Donations included cash, materials and even labor in building the new arena.
Among the donations was Morton Buildings donating the ground’s concession stand and Cammack Ranch Supply, Union Center, S.D., donating the lights and light poles.
Donations as little as $25 and as high as in the tens of thousands dollars poured in for the new arena.
Sturgis Rodeo Booster Club President Ryan Casteel says a new rodeo grounds will be a great asset to the Sturgis community. “Having a facility of this size will allow us to bid to host a regional high school rodeo again and down the road, maybe the state high school rodeo finals.” He continued, “We hope the Meade County Fair can get their horse show back with this new arena.” In addition, Casteel said hosting youth rodeos, timed events, saddle bronc matches, amateur and professional rodeo events are all possibilities that will bring people to the community where they will need gas, lodging and food.
It’s important to remember, he notes, that this project all begins with the kids.
“I think it will impact a lot of kids. Kids are always looking for something to do. I would suspect we’ll get some kids over from the high school to take a look. We’re always looking for more athletes and it’s open to everyone. It would be awesome to have double the rodeo club members we have now (presently over 30 high school and a handful of junior high members). I don’t think that’s out of reach.”
According to Casteel, over the years, the Sturgis High School Rodeo Club has won more state team championships than all the other sports combined in Sturgis. “We’ve sent rodeo athletes to both the national high school and junior high school rodeo finals. There are some high caliber, competitive kids in this area.”
That includes Tava Sexton, a junior from Whitewood, S.D., who is a 2024 national qualifier in girl’s cutting and the reigning South Dakota High School Rodeo Association Rodeo Queen.
He and others in the Sturgis High School Rodeo Booster Club envision a multi-use facility ranging from boarding horses, to riding lessons to play days for all kids and more, benefiting the community in many other ways – in addition to being a rodeo complex.
Ground work has already started on the 94-acre property just east of Sturgis.
Tune in and follow KBHB Radio for rodeo-related updates.
STURGIS RODEO CLUB INTERVIEWS with Lori Kirk:
INTERVIEW 1
INTERVIEW 2
INTERVIEW 3
INTERVIEW 4
INTERVIEW 5
