Rounding up funds: Lovell Rodeo Club auction a success

 The Lovell Rodeo Club hosted a live and silent auction at the Lovell Community Center on February 8. This was the Lovell Rodeo Club’s first time hosting the event at the Lovell Community Center. In the past, the actions were held at the Oasis Bar west of Lovell.

People who attended the live auction observed different items that were being auctioned off. Attendees were treated to a live performance from the local band “Buck Wyold,” who played some classic hit songs from the past.

“This year by popular demand, the Lovell Rodeo Club moved the auction to the community center,” said Lovell Rodeo Club treasure and First Bank of Wyoming branch manager Charis Bischoff. “It has been an overall great event, and the rodeo club raised just under $24,000 including the silent and live auction. The auction also had the card deck raffle where people bought cards from a full deck of cards for $100 a card.”

Bischoff said people who purchased cards from the full deck had a chance to win a huge prize if their card was picked from the drawing.

“Whoever’s card got drawn out, the card would be ripped in half,” Bischoff said. “The buyer would keep one half of the card, and the other half would be put in the bucket, and so whatever card gets drawn wins a new 42-gun safe with a new gun inside and some random mystery gifts. The rodeo club raised $5,400 from the card deck drawing.”

According to the Lovell Rodeo Club website, the new rodeo club was first started in March 2020 by a local group of likeminded rodeo enthusiasts. Bischoff said when the Lovell Rodeo Club first started, funds were lacking.

“The rodeo club did not have any funds when it first started,” Bischoff said. “Our club worked with little or nothing for the first couple of years and decided to have a fundraising auction as a way of getting people together. Some of the proceeds from the auction will be used for our summer rodeo.”

Bischoff said during the summer, the club runs four events a week every Thursday from June to July, which includes fun events for kids. She also said the proceeds help fix up the rodeo grounds.

“In June and all the way to July, the rodeo club will have a kids play day event,” Bischoff said. “There is no cost for kids to come. Our funds will also help make improvements to the rodeo grounds near the Lovell water tower. The rodeo crew put a lot of sand into the arena, which cost several thousand dollars. Our club is also looking into putting in a permanent bathroom and a concession area.”

The Lovell Rodeo Club has had a total of 65 bidders at their fundraising auction and was able to raise more funds than last year. These funds will not only keep the rodeo club in operation, but it will help give payouts to rodeo winners.

“It was a great auction” said Lovell Rodeo Club secretary Marlene Purcell. “This auction has helped put money back into our rodeo, which will help pay for rodeo winnings and put new stands in our arena. Our club had some donations from our partners, and without them, we could not have an auction.”

Bischoff and Purcell both have kids who perform in rodeos. According to Bischoff, her son Cinch does sheep riding and is working his way to steer riding and to becoming a saddle bronc rider as his next goal. Bischoff also said her daughter Oakley  does barrel racing and rodeo royalty and is currently learning to do roping. Purcell said her daughter Hattie is in pee wee rodeo and participates in the summer weekly play day.

“We are involved in the rodeo club for our kids,” Bischoff said, and Purcell agreed. “This is why we put in our time in running the rodeo club.”

For more information on any upcoming events, visit the Lovell Rodeo Club website at https://www.lovellrodeoclub.com or find the Lovell Rodeo Club on Facebook.