CSC Rodeo Team hosts 14th annual Black Tie Calf Fry

The 14th annual Black Tie Calf Fry drew a crowd of about 300 people, including students, faculty and community members, who attended the event to show their support for the CSC Rodeo Team on Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Student Center Ballroom.
Those who attended the event enjoyed a roast beef dinner complete with a local favorite, “Calf Fries,” also known as Rocky Mountain oysters.
Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer, Marvin Garrett, a four-time world champion bareback rider, came out as a supporter of the Rodeo Team and shared his stories and experiences of his life as a cowboy on the rodeo circuit.
“He’s a four-time world champion, but he’s a very down to Earth man,” Dustin Luper, CSC rodeo coach, said. “He’s just a great visionary.”
The Black Tie Calf Fry serves as the Rodeo Team’s most significant fundraising event of the year. This year, the team was able to raise $5,500 at the event, after expenses. The team will use the funds raised to help cover expenses including equipment, travel costs to competitions and the purchase and care of livestock.
The majority of the funds were raised from the auction items that were donated to the team by various supporters and community members. The live auction that took place during the banquet featured items including western décor, handmade leather goods, paintings, a longhorn skull with custom leather work, and vet expenses. There was also a silent auction which offered similar décor items, tack and livestock feed.
During the event, the Rodeo Team honored two significant community members, Dale Travnicek of Harrison, and Bat Pourier of Chadron, with commemorative CSC Rodeo Team jackets as a way of saying “thank you” for the contributions that they and their families have made, and continue to make, to the team.
“These have been some great supporters of our program over the years. Dale, I can’t repay him, he comes and helps at our rodeo and I wouldn’t be able to do it without him,” Luper said. “He’s always back there sorting cattle and running things around, and I never have to tell him what to do.”