By Ruth Nicolaus
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – It’s cold outside, and snow blankets the ground, but the excitement with the North Dakota Winter Show is heating up!
The 83rd annual Winter Show stampedes into the Event Center February 29-March 7. A variety of events: from tractor pulls to rodeos, from livestock shows to a fashion show, all take place.
The annual North Dakota Winter Show Concert will be held Saturday, February 29th. The headliner will be announced this week.
New this year is the King of the Sale Ring Bid Contest. A contest to determine the best auctioneer around, auctioneers are judged as they sell items. The bid contest takes place Sunday, March 1 at 1 pm, with proceeds going to build back the Miss Rodeo N.D. Winter Show program.
The Ranch Rodeo will be held on Thursday, March 5th at 6:30pm in the main arena of the North Dakota Winter Show Event Center.
Another new item this year is the Lil’ Buckaroo Rodeo taking place on Friday, March 6 at 5 pm. Designed for kids with special needs, the rodeo gives them a chance to ride a stick horse, race around the barrels, get on a “pretend” bucking bull, and play like they’re real cowboys!
And some of the favorites are back for the Winter Show! The truck and tractor pull, featuring old-time tractors, will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 12 noon. The Crop Show is February 28, with competition for the best commodities grown in North Dakota, from wheat to malting barley and from pinto beans to sunflowers.
Ranchers’ advocate Amanda Radke will speak on March 6 at 10 am during the Winter Show. A fifth generation rancher from Mitchell, S.D., she has dedicated her career to serving as a voice for the nation’s beef producers. Her presentation is free to the public.
The annual Miss Rodeo North Dakota Winter Show pageant will celebrate its 39th year in 2020. A fashion show and silent auction will be held on March 6, with the 2020 queen crowned during the matinee performance of the rodeo on March 7. The Miss North Dakota Winter Show queen pageant is often a springboard for young women who go on to compete at the Miss Rodeo North Dakota pageant, as shown by Callie Enander, who served as the 2019 Miss North Dakota Winter Show queen and is now the 2020 Miss Rodeo North Dakota.
The Winter Show concert falls on Leap Day this year and will be held Feb. 29. The musical artist will be announced soon.
During the week, the North Dakota Ag Hall of Fame will honor the people involved in the state’s leading industry, agriculture, by inducting two new members into the Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held during the Valley City Chamber Ag Social on March 3 from 4-6 pm. The Winter Show is proud to be the home of the N.D. Agricultural Hall of Fame.
Capping off the week’s worth of fun is the PRCA rodeo! Roping, riding, wrestling and barrel racing takes place Friday, March 6 at 7 pm and again on Saturday, March 7 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Cowboys and cowgirls will duke it out for paychecks and the title of Winter Show champions!
Tickets for the 2020 Winter Show are available at the Winter Show office located at 700 Seventh Street SE, Valley City, N.D. Tickets are required for the truck and tractor pull and the rodeo. For more information, visit the website at www.northdakotawintershow.com or call 701.845.1401.
The North Dakota Winter Show is the oldest and longest running agriculture show in N.D. It attracts exhibitors and visitors from numerous states and Canada.