The Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association (MCCA) invites the public to attend the 12th Annual MCCA Ranch Rodeo on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 5pm. The annual event will celebrate armed forces this year with a “Military Appreciation” theme with free entry for veterans and active-duty servicemen and women. Local cattleman and veteran Arlin Taylor will be honored during the ceremony with the inaugural “Manatee Cattlemen’s Patriot Award.”
Nominated by his fellow cattlemen, Taylor is a 90-year-old Manatee County resident who served in the Korean War as an Army Supply Sergeant. He currently lives on his family’s homestead in Duette that his father bought when prices were $1.75 per acre. As a child, Taylor’s family grew sweet potatoes, bought and sold cattle and trained horses. After years of rodeo, calf roping and farming, Taylor and his family still raise cattle and grow hay, sod and tomatoes on the same land.
In addition to the inaugural “Manatee Cattlemen’s Patriot Award,” the Manatee County Cattlemen are establishing the “Manatee Cattlemen’s Patriot Award Scholarship Fund,” with an amount earmarked for a youth member planning to serve in the military after graduating high school. This year, the scholarship will be awarded to Private First Class Walker Broxson, a 2018 graduate who is currently stationed at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Military Base in Anchorage, Alaska. PFC Broxson, who will not be in attendance as he is currently assigned to an Army cavalry unit preparing to attend the United States Army Airborne School, will send a pre-recorded video message to be played during the event.
“We are honored to recognize and thank our veterans and those in the armed forces during our Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association 12th Annual Ranch Rodeo,” said Todd Henson, Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association President. “This rodeo, along with our newly-created award and scholarship fund, is a way to honor those who have served and are currently serving and protecting our country. We are excited to award Arlin Taylor for his years of service and Walter Broxson for his commitment to serve – they are incredible examples of true patriots and we are so thankful to them.”
Gates will open at 4pm and the event will be held at the Manatee County Fairgrounds, located at 1402 14th Ave. West in Palmetto in the Mosaic Arena. Children 10 and under will receive free admission; tickets are $10 for adults and can be purchased at the gate the day of the event. and event proceeds are used to provide scholarships for the Manatee County Junior Cattlemen’s Association, along with awards and scholarships for local FFA and 4-H chapter members. The junior members will be handling concessions and there will be a raffle for prizes during the event.
This event, which features competitions based on real-life operations happening every day on ranches throughout our community and our country, will have a unique and exciting focus this year. This year, the Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association has partnered with The Farm Experience to host an expanded and improved petting zoo with educational opportunities for a small fee. Local veterans resources and services teams will be featured, with displays to educate and inform veterans and their families of services existing within the community.
The ranch rodeo will begin with a grand entry followed by events that include team sorting, team doctoring, a children’s “boot race” where children ages 5 to 13 compete for prizes, calf branding, double mugging, a kid’s calf scramble, and the final event: trailer loading. The “Manatee Cattlemen’s Patriot Award” winner, Arlin Taylor, will be recognized during the “Grand Entry”. Event winners and awards will be announced following the final event.
The presenting sponsor for this event is the Mosaic Company. Additional event sponsors include 4F Structural Concrete & Masonry, Manasota Flooring, Parrot Patio Bar & Grill, ZNS Engineering, NDC Construction, Gulf Coast Ag, Conley Buick GMC, Come See Come Sav, Olive Branch Tree Services and Mainspring Communications.
The Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association Ranch Rodeo is a qualifier for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association State Ranch Rodeo Finals held in September 2020. To learn more about this event or for sponsorship information, visit https://manateecattlemen.com/events/12th-annual-ranch-rodeo/ or contact Cassidy Jones at jonesc2511@gmail.com.
About Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association
Established in 1947 by a group of farmers and ranchers, the Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association (MCCA) has a membership of nearly 150 members. With a mission to preserve and promote the beef industry for present and future generations, the MCCA provides support to local farmers, ranchers and the youth involved in agriculture and the beef industry throughout Manatee County. To learn more about the Manatee County Cattlemen’s Association, visit https://manateecattlemen.com/.
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