Stampede dinner kicks off Chowchilla tradition

Dressed in their finest Western attire, more than 600 people made their way to the Chowchilla Fairgrounds on Saturday night for the annual Chowchilla Western Stampede dinner, a fundraiser event that also kicks off the historic cattle-drive event.

The 59th annual stampede, scheduled for the second weekend in March, begins with a cattle drive down Robertson Boulevard in which cowboys and cowgirls herd steer to the Chowchilla Fairgrounds. The three-day event includes team roping, attracting contestants from all over the western United States. Winners earn cash prizes, Western belt buckles and saddles. The Stampede usually ends with a barrel race.

During Saturday’s dinner, the local nonprofit Chowchilla Western Stampede introduced this year’s grand marshal: Bob Ragsdale, a longtime rodeo hero and local business owner.

Ragsdale, 77, born in Montana, began his rodeo career in high school. Ragsdale qualified for the National Finals Rodeo, “the Super Bowl of rodeos,” a total of 15 times from 1961 to 1975 for calf roping, steer wrestling and team roping. He has won numerous titles and has been recognized in rodeos throughout the country.

“He’s a man that we all highly respect. He’s very humble, very honorable,” said Tom Martin, outgoing chairman of the Chowchilla Western Stampede and local cattle rancher. “He’s a superstar in the arena, but most importantly he’s a superstar as a man.

“He’s very community-oriented, very family-oriented,” Martin added. “We have a great deal of respect for him.”

In 2001, Ragsdale was inducted into the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oregon. Two years later, he was one of 10 individuals inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Last year, Ragsdale was honored in his home state by the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall.

Many in the community also know Ragsdale as a man who has contributed to the local economy. Ragsdale and his wife have owned and managed a few businesses, including a Western store and Ragsdale Mini-Storages.

At Saturday’s event, photos of a young Ragsdale in action were on display.

Saturday’s dinner, the largest fundraiser for the Chowchilla Western Stampede, also included a live auction. Martin explained that the money raised is used to award scholarships for ag-based education in local high schools, including Chowchilla High, Mariposa High and Yosemite High in Oakhurst.

This story was originally published January 10, 2016 at 3:54 PM with the headline "Stampede dinner kicks off Chowchilla tradition."