09/25/2025
Longgggg post ahead but we wanted to be raw and honest with yall.
Putting on the Down Right Awesome Ranch Rodeo has been one of our favorite things. The last 2 years have brought families together, showcased true cowboy skills like mugging, doctoring, sorting, and branding, and given kids a taste of ranch life.
What started in 2023 as a family dream to honor Mackenzie and give back to the special needs community has turned into an annual event that raised over $4,000 the last two years for local nonprofits that serve families with Down Syndrome and other special needs. Together, y’all helped us bless kids and families right here at home and we are so proud of that.
Full transparency, rodeos cost a lot more to produce than some people realize. Between buckles, roughstock, insurance, prizes, arena rental, signage, shirts, and all the little details, it adds up to thousands of dollars. The last two years, we have shouldered everything out of pocket up front to make sure the event could happen. As much as we love this rodeo, that strain just isn’t sustainable long-term.
Because of that, we had to make the hard call to take 2025 off. It was not easy, but it gives us the chance to regroup, secure sponsors, and build a stronger foundation so that when we come back in 2026, we will be ready to hit the ground running.
This rodeo is for the kids. The kids love being in the arena, watching the cowboys, and being able to be hands-on with rodeo life. From dummy ropin’ to mutton bustin’, it’s about creating moments where they can laugh, learn, and be part of something bigger. We want every child, whether they’re competing, cheering, or just getting to “play cowboy” for the day, to walk away feeling like they belonged. The rodeo makes that possible.
We will be looking for cowboys and cowgirls who would be willing to be available throughout the day to help teach kids how to rope, run barrels (on stick horses), and share other fun rodeo skills. For a lot of these kids, this will be their very first chance to try it and having real rodeo hands alongside them will make the experience unforgettable.
We are beyond thankful for every buckle, prize, animal, and dollar that has been sponsored and donated in years past, it would not have been possible without you. Going forward, we are hopeful to keep building that same support so we can continue giving these kids a place to experience the fun, excitement, and tradition of rodeo.
Our goal for 2026 is to keep this rodeo alive, sustainable, and impactful without burning out the folks behind it. Starting in January, we will hit the ground running with fundraising and getting everything squared away. We are also looking into other arena options, preferably covered, though not a requirement, to make the experience even better for both contestants and spectators.
If you or your business wants to be part of that, please reach out. Whether it’s covering a buckle, sponsoring the event, donating prizes, lending out roping dummies for the kids to use, volunteering your cowboy/cowgirl skills, or just spreading the word, we would love your support.
Thank you for sticking with us. Thank you for believing in this rodeo. And thank you for loving the kids and the special needs community the way you do. We’ll see you in 2026… bigger, better, and more down right awesome than ever. 💙
