The Chadron State College rodeo team holds its annual Black Tie Calf Fry fundraiser tonight (Friday) at the Dawes County Fairgrounds Events Center beginning at 6 p.m with tickets available at the door.

Rodeo coach Dustin Luper, in his fifth year running the team, is excited because of a special guest who will be attending…Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer and former world champion bull rider Charlie Sampson.

Sampson won’t be speaking, but will be mingling with the other guests…giving them a chance to meet the rodeo legend, the PRCA’s first black world champion even though he grew up in urban California.

The $10 price of admission for the evening includes dinner of fries, roast beef, baked potato, salads and dessert along with music and both live and silent auctions. Luper is impressed with the items gathered for the auctions, and credits the involvement of his cowboys and cowgirls as well as their parents.

As for the “black tie” in the name of the event, Luper says that’s just to rhyme with “calf fry” and that dress is actually casual.

Last year’s Black Tie Calf Fry drew about 275 and…between the tickets and auction…raised nearly $19,000 to help with the expenses of the CSC Rodeo team.