Haggard headlines Sheyenne Stampede

On Saturday, August 19, Hendrickson Park – located just west of Sheyenne, N.D. – will once again host an exciting day of rodeo events and live music.

And this year, the small-town venue will get a visit from country royalty – Ben Haggard, son of the legendary Merle Haggard, will headline the third annual festival.

The concert will begin at 8 p.m., and attendees will first get to enjoy a performance from Garret Dockter, a vocalist from a South Dakota band called The Barn Flies. Then, opening for Haggard will be Jarrod Morris, a successful country/Americana singer and songwriter.

But before the party begins, there'll be plenty of classic ranch rodeo action all day long.

The day opens at 9 a.m. with the Miss Sheyenne Stampede Queen Competition.

Championship Barrel Racing action will start at 1 p.m., and the racers will be competing for prize money with $2,500 added to the purse. Payout goes to the horses with the fastest times in each division, and also on the line, as always, will be a championship belt buckle.

The entry fee is $100 per horse, and pre-entries will be taken until 8 a.m. on Friday, August 18.

The sign-up form can be found on the Sheyenne Stampede Facebook page. Over 50 have already signed up, and the event is limited to 100 horses.

Late entries will be taken on site and are cash only.

This year's championship barrel racing is sponsored by Butler Machinery.

Once the barrel racing is complete, the Ranch Rodeo will get underway at approximately 5 p.m.

In this rodeo, contestants are in a race to complete basic ranch tasks as a team in the least possible time.

This year there are 12 teams competing in five events: wild cow milking, steer mugging, range branding, calf-sled racing and rope steer penning.

The payout, which includes $2,500 added to the purse by event organizers, goes to the top four contestants in each event, with buckles awarded to the team with the best "average," based on points earned during the events.

Also up for grabs for one outstanding rancher will be the Top Hand award, sponsored by the Jesse N. Faith Fahnestock family and F Arrow Ranch – home of PC Sun Dasher.

The winner of the award will be the best rancher who competed in both the barrel racing event and ranch rodeo. In addition to bragging rights, the Top Hand award winner will get a $150 fuel/gas card.

The ranch rodeo is sponsored by Farmers Union Insurance of New Rockford, Roughrider Feeds, Rue Ranch Trucking, Nystrom Trucking and Leading Edge Equipment.

Both the barrel race and ranch rodeo are open class events, with no rodeo association connections required.

The New Rockford Eagles Club will open the beer gardens in advance of the evening's concerts. The championship buckle presentation will begin just ahead of Ben Haggard's appearance Saturday evening.

An after party sponsored by Fessenden Co-op will follow Haggard's concert with even more live music from The Barn Flies before the night comes to an end.

Meanwhile, for those wanting a glimpse at Rodeo Royalty, a display at Ostby Hall in Sheyenne that honors Hall of Fame Cowboy and legendary bull rider, Duane Howard, will be open from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Tickets will be available at the entrance only and will cost $25 per person. The ticket includes entrance to all the day's events.

The organizers encourage spectators to party responsibly. Primitive camping is available in Hendrickson Park at no cost, as well as at Warsing Dam east of Sheyenne. Spectators can also reserve a room at Open Season Lodge in Sheyenne. Call (701) 996-3020 to reserve.

For more information, call Brent Helseth at (701) 302-8220.

The event is sponsored by Bank Forward, James River Ag, Westad Auction & Appraisal, Pioneer Seed, WWW Trucking, Lake Region RadioWorks, AgBoost, Route 281, Dekalb, ASGROW, Community Credit Union, Unverferth Manufacturing, Finley Motors, High Plains Equipment, Hefty Seed Company, Fessenden Co-op Association, Butler Machinery and the New Rockford Eagles Club F.O.E. 2923.