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Food, fashion, fun on tap Saturday
By SALLY ANN SHURMUR
Star-Tribune staff writer
There's no foo foo salad as a main course at this luncheon.
Try beef tenderloin.
There's no silly skit drummed up by a
group of gigglers. Try Nashville recording artist and
Casper native Pete Martinez.
There's no bad auction item, like that
dusty topiary dressed in Christmas lights from someone's
attic. Try a 2-year-old roan gelding from the Hancock
line.
And there are no ridiculous fashion models
who look like they've existed on celery and lettuce for
years.
Try College National Finals Rodeo contestants
-- and some homegrown stars as well.
Saturday's second annual CNFR luncheon
and fashion show at the Holiday Inn on the River to benefit
the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association's four-pronged
foundation promises to be bigger and better than the inaugural
effort a year ago, and that's a tall order.
Last year, the financial goal was $10,000,
and almost $23,000 was made in one afternoon.
"Our goal is $15,000, but if we
double that, it's $30,000," Brandi Forgey said Tuesday.
She is one of the event organizers, along with Gay Milne
of Casper and Corey Rutledge of Cheyenne.
Last year's event was held the Sunday
the CNFR began. This year it has moved to the afternoon
of the championship round on Saturday evening.
"One advantage is we have way more
time to get the kids organized for the style show,"
Forgey said.
Joyce Barnard, Mantha Phillips and Virginia
King are working with the models and Wrangler and Corral
West provide the fashions.
Casper Special Olympians Sami Andrew
and James Dean will also model.
Because of the sponsorships received,
all proceeds from ticket sales, raffles, and the live
and silent auctions will go directly to the NIRA's efforts
in scholarships, helping injured athletes, a Historical
Preservation Fund to save the history of collegiate rodeo
and the RAWHIDE Fund, which focuses on alcohol abuse and
drug issues, instilling character development by example.
The menu is exactly the same that more
than 200 people raved about last year.
"It was received so wonderfully,
we didn't change a thing," said Angela Berry, director
of catering for the Holiday Inn on the River.
The menu includes Caesar salad, seared
tenderloin steak with Jack Daniels mushroom sauce, pesto
red potatoes, fresh asparagus and assorted cheesecakes
-- for lunch.
Once again, Dr. John Whipp of the Broken
Bones Cattle Co., of Lander, has donated a horse for the
live auction, this time a 2-year-old roan (red) gelding.
Last year's yearling colt donated by
Whipp was bought by a philanthropist for $5,000 and sold
again to a CNFR goat tying contestant for $2,000.
Forgey is hoping for the same spirit
of generosity this year.
"We're hoping somebody will show
up and buy it and donate it back," she said. "Even
if you only wanted to own a horse for a few minutes, we'll
take your picture with it and then you can give it back."
Forgey rides a horse from the Hancock
line.
"He's a great horse," she said.
"It's kind of like he's always watching out for you
and at my age, that's not a bad thing."
Each of the NIRA's regions has donated
something for auction, with the return of the ever-popular
alligator head from the Cajun guys, a rattlesnake from
Wyoming, hand-carved ostrich eggs from Montana artist
Randy Coleman, a sheep pelt, a wool vest and an Indian-beaded
breast collar and headstall.
It's not just contestants who have donated
things for the auction.
Forgey is especially proud of Noal Larson's
creations. The former Niobrara County rancher is in his
upper 80's and is on oxygen full-time and creates braided
rope items from the discarded oxygen tubing. Because it's
exceptionally soft, it's a favorite with recreational
and competitive cowboys and cowgirls.
Luncheon tickets are $30 each and available
at the box office of the Casper Events Center, at Corral
West at Eastridge Mall and at the Holiday Inn on the River,
300 W. F St., just down the hill from the Events Center.
Forgey said she'll be happy to deliver
tickets to anyone who can't get to one of those locations
by Saturday.
And there will be a limited number of
tickets on sale at the door.
For more information, call Milne at 234-8109
or Forgey at 237-0050.
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