The NILE Stock Show and Rodeo is underway at the MetraPark in Billings, Montana. Along with the livestock shows, rodeos and sales (VIEW SCHEDULE HERE) and the Northern Ag Network Ag Broadcast Team is there.
Listen, Watch and Read these Special NILE Reports by Russell Nemetz and Haylie Shipp.
Roni Baker discusses teaching agriculture to are 4th graders and the impact it has on our youth.
Ken Rauch with K.R. Rauch Company in Billings, MT has been a long-time supporter of the NILE. This week he talked with Russell Nemetz about this support.
The NILE ProRodeo Gives Back
This year the NILE ProRodeo will offer two featured performances to benefit worthy charitable causes during its four performance run. Friday night’s performance will be dedicated to breast cancer awareness with “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” presented by St. Vincent Health Care. Saturday night’s title performance will be the Wrangler Patriot Night as the NILE pays tribute to our fallen service men and women as well as those currently serving our country.
In 2006 the NILE and St. Vincent Healthcare teamed up to bring awareness to the reality of breast cancer and raise money to assist in breast cancer research and prevention through a feature rodeo performance titled “Tough Enough To Wear Pink”. Since that time, more than $20,000 has been raised and plans continue for this year to keep moving forward.
This year the NILE encourages all fans to wear pink during the third performance of the PRCA ProRodeo Friday, October 20, for “Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night” presented by St. Vincent’s Health Care. The NILE will pledge $1 for every rodeo ticket purchased while other businesses will be donating money towards the “Eva Project”. In addition to rodeo fans wearing pink, all contestants wearing pink that win each of their respective events will win an additional $100 “Pink Bonus” sponsored by the Yellowstone Surgery Center. Again this year, Wells Fargo Bank are sponsors a special set of kids chaps and vest handcrafted by B.J. Griffin of Powell, WY. The vest and chaps will be auctioned off prior to the rodeo Friday night in the NILE member hospitality room. All proceeds will be used to assist in St. Vincent’s Eva Project, a special project designed to provide free mammograms to limited income women over 40 who would not otherwise be able to afford mammograms.
The addition of the Wrangler National Patriot program is returning to the NILE for its second year. It was introduced by Wrangler during the 2009 NFR in Las Vegas. Its purpose is to provide funding and support for America’s wounded and fallen soldiers and their families. The NILE is honored to have the opportunity to salute our soldiers through the designation and ceremonies at the Saturday (Oct. 22) Night Rodeo performance of the NILE ProRodeo.
Tickets for each night start at $9.50 for general admission and may be purchased by contacting the Metra ticket office at (800) 366-8538 or by visiting www.MetraPark.com. For more information contact the NILE office at (406) 256-2495 or visit www.TheNile.org.
Billings Fourth Graders Learn About Montana Agriculture
Nearly 2000 Yellowstone County fourth-graders descended on the 44th annual Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE), October 17 through 19. The annual Fourth Grade Ag Education event, sponsored by the Yellowstone Conservation District, has been hosted by the NILE for over twenty years. The goal of the program is to educate young people about natural resource and watershed issues and leave them with an understanding of how agriculture – Montana’s primary industry – impacts their lives.
Most schools spend a whole day at the NILE, taking in the program’s booth demonstrations on watershed management, honeybees, and beef processing as well as touring the livestock barns and other attractions. The children are encouraged to always keep in mind the key role agriculture plays in a healthy watershed. When asked about the future of the program, Laverne Ivie, Administrator for Yellowstone County Conservation District said, “we plan on conducting the program for many years to come – as US citizens active in agriculture numbers continue to dwindle, it will be more important than ever to educate our youth about Montana’s #1 industry.”
Tickets Available for NILE 2011 Raffle Filly
Tickets are now on sale for the NILE 2011 Raffle Filly, donated by James H. and Bonnie Whipps of Basin, Wyoming. “CC A Sure Super Doc” is a 2009 buckskin mare by “A Sure Doc” and out of “CC Super Quincy.” Her breeding is known for producing solid ranch and performance horses.
Featured Equine Clinician, Van Hargis, will be holding horsemanship demonstrations sponsored by Pfizer featuring the 2011 Raffle Filly at various times throughout the week inside the Western Expo area of Rimrock Auto Arena. The filly will also be on display at the trade show for anyone looking to catch a glimpse of her.
Raffle Filly Tickets may be purchased for $5 per ticket or $25 for 6 by calling the NILE office at (406) 256-2495. The drawing will be held during the NILE Gold Buckle Performance Horse Sale on Saturday, October 22 where the mare will be presented as Lot Number 944. Ticket holders need not be present to win. If the winner is present, he or she will have the option of keeping the mare or selling her in the sale.
Please stop by and see Northern Ag Network at our trade booth! The trade show runs from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
© Northern Ag Network 2011
Russell Nemetz & Haylie Shipp
