Buckaroos build connections, futures with annual ride

The mission of the Buckaroos is to “Bring people from all walks of life together to soak in the good that comes from the great outdoors of Western South Dakota.” The organization started in 1966 by a group of about six men who were business owners or ranchers in the Rapid City area. The group of men wanted to find a way for ‘city folk’ and ‘country folk’ to come together for a ride through the beauty of Western South Dakota. The first annual ride of the Buckaroos brought together nearly 35 men to share fellowship and the great outdoors. In 2018, 315 men gathered in Western South Dakota for the annual Buckaroo ride. This is the maximum number of Buckaroos allowed in the organization. Creating an organization to bring businessmen and ranchers together was the foundation of the Western South Dakota Buckaroos, but somewhere along the line they wanted to give back. Today they do this in the form of scholarships for high school rodeo participants. Seven scholarships are given annually by the Buckaroos and three scholarships are presented by the Buckaroos through memorials of past Buckaroo members. More than $10,000 in scholarships are presented each year to deserving high school students. One scholarship is awarded in the amount of $2,000 and the other six are $1,500. Memorial scholarships are awarded in the name of a Buckaroo who is gone, and given until the funds run out...MORE