SDHSRA Annual General Membership Meeting Minutes
February 1, 2025
9:00 am MT
Everest Room, Rapid City
The Annual General Membership meeting was called to order by President Brad McGirr at 9:00 AM, February 1, 2025.
The pledge of allegiance was led by Student Vice President, Brady Meyer.
Roll call was taken by Secretary Amy Johnson. Absent for the meeting was Director Jeremy Meeks, Host committee Shane Kramme, and student president Sern Weishaar. Lance Lesmeister attended the meeting in place of Jeremy Meeks. All other members and directors were present.
President Brad McGirr presented the agenda and asked for any additions for the agenda, Brad McGirr added to the agenda the Western Justice Fund. Scott Deal made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition, Nate Grueb seconded the motion, MC.
The 2024 Annual General Membership meeting minutes were presented by Amy Johnson, President Brad asked for a motion to dispense of reading the minutes, Justin Robertson made a motion to dispense of the reading and approve the minutes, Scott seconded the motion, MC.
Financial Report by Treasurer Ann Sundermann
Renewed Cd that was due on 1/2028, it was approved by the Executive Committee. It is in a 7 month at 3.83%
A Credit Card processing fee of 3% was added to the transactions.
A check for the saddles was written to Triple R Tack for $32,343.58 last week.
Sponsorships for the National Team and State Finals, that have been secured by Ann and Marty total $48,850.00. These are not indicated in the AR and will be billed after the Stock Show. An amount of $24,100.00 left to secure would match last year’s contributions.
There is $5,450.00 left unpaid from committed sponsorships from 2024. Justin Pihl has been trying to help collect these funds.
Anticipated upcoming NHSRA meeting expenses and sponsorship include $10,000.00; the copy machine will be transferred from Ann’s house to Amy’s and Ann will need a smaller tabletop model to use.
All Accounts were reviewed, there are no bills to pay at this time. Ann asked for questions from the Board of Directors and others in the room, none were offered.
Justin Pihl made a motion to approve the financial report, Jeremy Stevens seconded the motion, MC.
The next item of business is the National Director Report from Dale Christensen. Dale noted that the National Winter Meeting held last weekend was a huge success and was one of the largest attended meetings to date. Dale thanked everyone who attended, and for the Board’s support at the event.
A few important rules that were passed at the National Meeting were: western attire rule was passed; shirts must be tucked in at all times; Yeti coolers will be a new exclusive sponsor this year; No bull fighters under the age of 18; if there is an event that occurs that isn’t covered under our rule book, refer to PRCA or WPRA rule book.
Dale and some of the other national directors will travel to Missouri and Lincoln to review the facilities for possible future NHSRF locations. The 2025 finals will be held again in Rock Springs. Rock Springs ensured that they are working to improve the location this year and SDHSRA will have 44 full/dry camping spots, each person will only get one spot.
Next is the addition to the agenda is the Western Justice Fund. The Western Justice Fund is working against the Horse Protection Act, which would make things very difficult in the equine industry. For more information on this act visit westernjustice.info. Dale stated that the best way to help fight this act is to give financially but advised the Board to wait to give any funds until after the 60 day hold President Trump put on this act. It was discussed that this could possibly be a good area to distribute the Gary Vance memorial donation.
The Calendar Chair Report was presented by Donna Curr. To date 9,600 calendars have been printed and distributed. The postage is down this year; the calendars seem to be in good locations for the members to be able to have access to them. Currently there are 6,000 calendars that have been sold and monies turned in. As of right now there are 235 members who have not sold their required 6 calendars.
This year Donna has worked with Tami Pfleger on different prizes and appreciates her donations. Today Donna and Marty will work with the student directors and queen to pick out the prizes/shirts/coats for calendar sales and national qualifiers.
The social media report was presented by the Social Media Manager Halie Ruff. Overall, the social engagement numbers are up. Its report numbers were run from September to date.
President Brad brought an idea from the national meeting to Halie about implementing an Alumni group within the state. The national level is revamping that, in a way to get alumni involved. Halie thought possibly hosting an Alumni event at the State Finals, we will see what this looks like and bring it to the public when it’s ready. Also looking at different ways to get the student members involved with helping with content on social media platforms.
Ann read the Queen report that was submitted by Queen Coordinator Patsy Schollerman, who was absent for a funeral. Patsy is currently working on the 2025 scoring sheets and looking for judges for the finals, welcoming any suggestions. Something to consider for the 2025 finals is to move the contest ahead an hour or more to help avoid conflict for the queen contestants who are also in the cutting. Patsy is looking for a co-coordinator to be on site during the contest on Tuesday and Wednesday, as she has a work conflict. The queen contestant applications are due April 15th.
Old Business:
Schedule changes for 2025
-The Queen contest will start two hours earlier to accommodate any contestants who are in Cutting and RCH.
– Boys cutting will be first in 2025
There was discussion about the start time of the short go, with a letter that was sent in from the vendors at last year’s finals. The student officers present stated that they liked the time of the short go and would like it to stay the same. The fun event hosted by the Host Committee for contestants will be moved closer to the grandstands to help the flow of traffic to the vendors.
Justin Robertson on the Judges Committee, presented the judges contacted for the finals. For the north arena Craig Miller, Darin Boots, and Bruce Keller. The judges for the South Arena; JR Clark, Jake Clark and Bailey Tibbs.
Other discussion was to move one of the girl’s events from the South Arena to the North Arena. The goat tying would be the best event to move, starting the rodeo with goat tying. After all the arena improvements, it makes the most sense to have barrels and poles in the same area that has had all the work. The final decision was to start the rodeo with tie down in the south arena, and goat tying in the North Arena.
Nate made a motion to approve the judges selected, Shawn Reis second the motion, motion carried.
Justin Health presented the Reined Cow Horse judges; Bruce Keller and Justin Lawrence. The Cutting judges; Bruce Keller and Jim Halligan. Dale made a motion to approve the Reined Cow Horse judges and Cutting judges, Scott Deal seconded the motion, Motion carried.
Stock Selection Committee presented the Cutting and RCH cattle will be contracted by Shane Cowan. Justin Robertson. Perry and Jeremy are meeting for rough stock selection. Justin Robertson has two bids for the timed event stock, from Brent Belkham and Denton Good. Discussion on the stock selection was to ask for more extras to sort from. Nate made the motion to accept Brent Belkham and Justin Heath second, motion carried.
Goat tying stock; Cheryl Severson presented the board with a letter stating that she is stepping back from contracting and would highly recommend Layton Zoss and Hudson Fouberg to do the contracting for $14 a run. Dale made a motion to accept Layton and Hudson at $14 a run, Jeremy second motion and motion carried.
Dale noted that the announcers for finals will be Sugar Ray Quinn and Terri Kissack, they are both requesting $50 a more a day increase from last year. Jeremy made the motion to increase the announcer pay $50 a day, Bryce seconded motion, motion carried.
15 min break
Following the break Marty Phillips reported to the Board the student decisions of the calendar awards, calendar sweatshirts, short go shirts, national team coats and buckles.
Ann reported to the Board the saddle sponsors are taken care of and saddles are on track to arrive for state finals.
Dale is going to talk to the saddle rack makers to make sure they are still wanting to produce them this year. This item will be tabled.
Scott reported on the host site report:
There was 400 tons of washed sand added and worked in for two weeks this fall to the south arena. This spring he will do a soil sample and will discuss with Jay for further ground prep. Stanley County Commissioners have spent what they want to spend on the ground conditions.
Scott is moving in new bleachers to the south arena, that were donated. This will be a nice addition to the seating for that arena. Grossenburg Implement and Kubota will sponsor arena drags again this year.
Toni is working with Vendors for this year. Ann asked if it was possible to move the goat roping closer to the stands for the vendors. Noting that the only problem is that they must stop for the awards when that ceremony begins.
Toni will be doing special events for the contestants, setting up volleyball net for them.
Call in for hook-ups will take place Monday April 14th 6 pm -8pm, adding a 3rd number to have more available phone lines.
Concessions are not confirmed yet. Confirming youth center for national meeting and Shane will do breakfast again.
There will be a host hotel again this year (My Place), the deadline for rooms to be booked for Board and personnel is May 1st.
Patty Gilbert will graciously be at State Finals to provide sports medicine services, in the sports medicine trailer. Also thanking Monument Health for their support at finals again.
Note the change this year for the Stanley County waiver, all the contestants are required to fill one out.
Arena Director designations are as follows:
Cutting Arena, Justin Heath; Reined Cow Horse – Jeremy Stevens; Timed Event Arena (South)- Nate Grueb; Rough Stock arena (north)- Justin Robertson
Perry Moody presented the bullfighters to vote on – Austin Tilton, Luke Heninger, Cash Heath, Brenen Robertson. Jeremy Stevens made a motion to hire Luke and Austin for bullfighting, Dale seconded the motion, motion carried.
The Pickup men for selection are Joe Wishard, JJ Hunt, and Denton good. A motion was made by Jeremy for Joe Wishard and JJ Hunt to be the Pickup men, seconded by Nate, motion carried.
Admission prices for state finals were discussed; it was noted to change the short round pass to $20 and the day pass to be $15. Jeremy Stevens made a motion to accept the change in admission prices, Scott second the motion, motion carried.
Security- Justin Pihl: Justin Pihl reported on State Finals Security, noting that the price from last year did go up. Mountain States Security went from $1,600 to $2,185 for one guard Tuesday to Sunday, it would be less if the Board decides to not have security on Tuesday. Perry made a motion to hire Mountain States Security starting Wednesday till Sunday, Justin Heath seconded motion, motion carried.
The Board of Directors will have a rodeo production meeting on Wednesday between rounds to go over positions and duties. Also will meet at 9:00 am on Saturday to decide on awards that need to be handed out at the Saturday awards.
Saddle racks: The saddle rack company (Glendon Shearer) would like to do racks again this year. Glendon did inform Dale that the price of the racks did go up this year, $16. Bryce made a motion to accept $250 for the saddle rack sponsors and to go ahead with saddle racks, Justin Robertson seconded motion, motion carried.
New Business:
Steve and Kim Sutton met with the Board to go over 20X rodeo details. The arena opens at 8:00 am to 9:00 am for warming up. The calves have been to Odessa and the steers are a little fresher. Suttons asked Dale if he would like to ride on stagecoach. New this year, The Western Legacy Foundation had added an additional scholarship to be awarded.
Ryan Richardson spoke with the Board about stock draw. Ryan brought his concerns that the stock that come into the short go doesn’t necessarily showcase the best draw, because some stock come in on points not average. Feels that the stock in the short go should be in the draw because of the average standings. There was no action taken on this.
Rodeo approvals for 2024-2025 season were signed and approved by the Board.
Brad asked for Legendary Honoree nominations, the nominations are Kenny and Dana Ingalls nominated by Dee Haugen, Ann Sundermann nominated Lance Lesmeister and Nate Grueb nominated Bud Longbrake. Nominations ceased and to vote for two of the nominees. The vote was taken by written ballot, votes counted, and Bud Longbrake and Lance Lesmeister are the 2025 Legendary Honorees.
Region transfers were approved by the Board of Directors.
NHSRA Merit scholarship committee this year is the executive committee.
Social media policy discussion was brought up at the national meeting. NHSRA has implemented a social media contract, and has sent each state the template to follow. The current ground rule does cover a social media infraction.
Discussion- Marty Phillips asked to know who would regulate the disqualification of a contestant if there was an infraction to the rule. The Board feels it necessary that if there is an infraction of the rule then it will go to the whole Board for decision vs going to the executive committee for final decision.
Dale made a motion to implement a social media policy from the NHSRA with the provisions that Texas made to their ground rule at the state level, to include the whole Board in the decision making. Scott seconded this motion, motion carried.
Jimmy Nicholas talked to the Board about doing college rodeo 101 presentations. This would be an event he would host to help rodeo members transition from high school rodeo to college rodeo. The Board supported this and would be sure to post any events to our social media.
Brad asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting, Justin Robertson made a motion to adjourn, Jeremy Stevens seconded the motion, motion carried. Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
SDHSRA Secretary, Amy Johnson