The North Dakota State Parade Committee has selected the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame as the Grand Marshal for the 40th Annual North Dakota State Parade to be held on July 23 during the North Dakota State Fair in Minot.
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame (NDCHF) strives to preserve the history and promote the culture of North Dakota’s Native American, ranching and rodeo communities by informing and educating people of all nations and cultures about the state’s rich and colorful western heritage.
The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame (NDCHF) was conceived along a stretch of Highway 83 in October 1994 as seasoned western icon Evelyn Neuens, her sister Goldie Nutter and “40 Years of North Dakota Rodeo” author Phil Baird drove home from the 40th Anniversary of the Y’s Men’s Rodeo in Minot. En route, the trio realized that the state’s rich rodeo history was scattered to the wind and that faces and facts were fading with each aging generation. Baird proposed that they initiate an organization to honor North Dakota rodeo competitors. “Let’s do it! I’d rather wear out than rust out,” the 83-year-old Neuens said with a determined smile.
With Evelyn Neuens and Phil Baird tending the reins, gatherings were held in Dickinson and Mandan in early 1995 to assess public interest. Attendees noted that such an organization needed to include North Dakota ranchers and indigenous Native American people. Quickly, “the horse” became the rope that tied the groups and the history together.
The NDCHF was formally established with a board of directors in February 1995 and was officially incorporated in March. Fundraising, logo selection and non-profit status followed. An intense site selection process ensued. Veteran broadcast journalist Darrell Dorgan, Bismarck, became the first executive director in October 1997 and fund-raising continued.
In May 2005, the barbed wire ribbon was cut and the dream of a facility to recognize and honor North Dakota’s western heritage and culture became a reality.
The character and legacy of the American West comes to life inside the organization’s Center of Western Heritage & Cultures: Native American, Ranching and Rodeo located in Medora, North Dakota.
The NDCHF hosts several events and activities at the Center of Western Heritage & Cultures such as the National Day of the Cowboy, Day of the Great Plains Horse People, Old-Fashioned Cowboy Christmas and more.
This year’s parade theme is “Kickin’ It in Cowboy Country!” It starts at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, and follows Burdick Expressway east from Broadway and through the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. Non-commercial entries are free of charge; however, there is a $60 fee for commercial entries (with $50 fee for each additional unit). There is also a $5 charge for entries wishing to be judged. Entry forms may be downloaded at http://www.ndstatefair.com/specialevents/
Entries are lined up according to date received. Numbers will be mailed out in early July. Deadline to guarantee being announced, judged or listed in the newspaper is June 20. A late fee of $5 will be assessed for entries after June 20.
Please contact the State Parade Committee for more information at P.O. Box 2157; Minot, North Dakota 58702-2157 or call (701) 838-0104 and leave a message. You may also email: ndparade2002@yahoo.com or check out Facebook.
