A Local Tradition for over 50 Years

July 23rd 2008 kicks off the 53rd Annual Kueckelhan Ranch Rodeo. Our event is one of the most entertaining and exciting events that takes place in Fannin County each year. Thousands of people of all ages and walks of life, look forward to attending this annual event, and the experience seems to get better each and every year.

"We're probably the oldest and have been around the longest," said Haynes Kueckelhan while talking about the upcoming rodeo held on his ranch in Bonham, Texas.

"When we held our first rodeo, we never dreamed it would grow to it's present size and popularity.

"It started out as a place to practice and to have fun. My dad, Howard, backed me up and let us have competitions, and the business just mushroomed," said the tall, slim rodeo head. Haynes lives rodeoing, promotes it and gets up each morning to supervise preparation for it on his ranch. He knows what he's talking about, because he is on of the founders of the Cowboys Regional Rodeo Association. He served as President, overseeing the seven-state regional CRRA in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

Haynes thought back as he recalled, "That first year, we had one performance – Saturday night. An old hog wire fence with two bucking chutes for the First Invitational Rodeo. We didn't have any bleachers – church pews were borrowed from the nearby Corinth Baptist Church (which the Kueckelhan's have always attended) and the pews were set up on the back of a float trailer for the fans seats.

"That's where we have come from," Kueckelhan concluded as he gazed around the all metal arena that now seats over 5,000.

Appearing Nightly:

Trish Lynn and the All American Cowgirl Chicks

Wearing the patriotic colors of red, white and blue, Trish Lynn and the All American Cowgirl Chicks are an equestrian drill team, exemplifying the true meaning of their western heritage as they entertain crowds while riding for a cure for cancer.

The Cowgirl Chicks are a group of spectacular rodeo cowgirl's who reach for their personal dreams and goals by providing a top rodeo entertainment program to give back to those who are battling the deadly disease called cancer. With each performance they ride in honor of one of these victims. It gives this team a purpose of riding for others and donating their proceeds to a family or an individual in need.

For information on the Cowgirl Chicks visit www.cowgirlchicks.com

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