Backyard bronc bash ropes in fans and funds for scholarships in the Magic Valley – KBOI
Now
69
Thu
72
Fri
62
by Laramie Lavala
TOPICS:
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (CBS2) — For the past six years, one cowboy has brought a taste of the NFR to the Magic Valley for one wild night of family, friends, and bronc riding.
NFR saddle bronc rider and Caldwell Night Rodeo ambassador Mitch Pollock and his family founded the Backyard Bronc Bash in 2020 when most rodeos were shut down due to COVID. That’s when Mitch and 18 of his rodeo buddies got together to go bronc riding in his backyard.
“I really didn’t want to do it because I knew it was going to take a whole lot of work, but I thought, how cool would it be to have a bronc riding every year and bring together your buddies and friends and family and bring something really cool to the Magic Valley area,” Mitch said
Little did he know that a fun get-together in his backyard would turn into 500 people showing up to cheer on the athletes. After that, Mitch found a new arena to turn into the perfect place to hold their bronc bash and accommodate more fans.
Mitch is on the road most of the year, rodeoing. “It is very difficult, it starts back in May, we start contacting our sponsors, we have a great group of sponsors that have helped out for six years now. There's just upkeep around the place. My wife she does a lot; she's my main secretary.” his wife, Jordan, is making sure everything is ready to go, from sending emails to answering phones and getting sponsors, vendors, and contestants secured for the event. But when he is home, Mitch is out working to get things ready for the event.
Two weeks before the event, his parents, grandparents, and brother jump in to get the final preparations done for the big day.
This year, on October 11, Idaho’s own Kade Bruno will be returning to try and win the event for the third time.
But he’s not the only one who wins from the Backyard Bronc Bash with the help of the Caldwell Night Rodeo and the Silver State Stampede; two scholarships are given out.
“We actually give two scholarships. We give out a scholarship to a CSI rodeo athlete, and then this year we decided to give one out to the younger generation, to a high school senior who shows an animal in the stock sale and is also in FFA.”
The Backyard Bronc Bash is happening on Saturday, October 11. For ticket information and directions, click here.
