Hamel Rodeo supports community with rodeo proceeds
The Hamel Rodeo is more than just a fun way to spend a summer evening.
It’s a way to give back to the community.
Since the rodeo started in 1981, its goal has been to raise money for local organizations.
And it’s done that, in a resounding fashion. Since its start, it has given $3.75 million to everything from fire departments to youth athletics, and from veterans’ groups to church groups.
After the bills are paid, the money is split evenly between five organizations: the Hamel Lions, the Heinzen-Ditter VFW, the John Pohlker American Legion, the West Suburban Fire District, and the Minnesota Lions Childhood Cancer Fund.
The VFW focuses on veterans when they disburse their share of rodeo funding.
“We donate to Gold Star Families, the VFW National Home, Soldiers Six, and Magnus Foundation, among other groups,” said Mike Elias, VFW member.
They help out with local needs, too. When the Rockford High School band was in need of a saxophone, the VFW helped buy it. The band sends a member to play taps and echo taps at the VFW’s POW-MIA ceremony every June, so the VFW wanted to help out.
One of the fun things the VFW provides financial help for is Fishing with Vets. A Minnesota organization, it arranges fishing and other outdoor trips for veterans, with everything taken care of for the veteran: lodging, fishing, bait, even cleaning and bagging the fish.
The VFW also donates to the Red Knights MN Chapter 4, a motorcycle riding group made up of retired and active firefighters who raise funds for firefighters fighting cancer.
The Legion, like the VFW, reserves much of their rodeo money for veterans, giving to groups like the Magnus Foundation, the MN Veterans Food Pantry, Wreaths for the Fallen, and more.
For the Hamel Lions, rodeo funding helps in a variety of ways. Each year, they give $1,000 scholarships to area students, and this year, six Wayzata High School students received scholarships, along with two ad hoc recipients.
The Lions donates to Can Do Canines (service dogs), Leader Dogs for the Blind, Special Olympics support, vision, hearing and diabetes research programs at the University of Minnesota, Mateo’s Message (raising awareness of the fentanyl epidemic), and more.
The fire department uses their money to update equipment, including purchasing self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs), which are worn by firefighters going into a hazardous environment, such as a chemical spill, to lower the amount of toxicants the firefighter is exposed to.
The MN Lions Childhood Cancer Foundation provides monies for pediatric cancer research at the University of Minnesota, and gives financial help to Minnesota families with kids with cancer.
In turn, each group provides volunteers for the rodeo. The Hamel Lions, the VFW and the American Legion man the concessions booths and beer stands, while the West Suburban Fire District directs parking and helps with security.
Volunteering at the rodeo is a lot of work, but it’s fun, said Marlene Roberts, a Lions member who coordinates the upper hill concessions stand.
“It’s a good way to make good friends, meet good people and do good things.”
This year’s Hamel Rodeo is July 9-12 with evening performances at 7:30 pm and a Saturday matinee on July 11 at 1 pm.
Tickets range in price from $20 to $28 and can be purchased online at HamelRodeo.org. All seats are general admission.
