Major Sponsors
- TMZ Farm
- Pinckney Hardware
- Second Story Studio
- Econoprint
- George Moses Co. and the Marketeer
- Citizens Bank
- Pinckney Chrysler Dodge Jeep
- Ed Bock's Feed and Stuff
- The Michigan Group Real Estate
Contributing Sponsors
- Advanced Water Treatment
- Burke's Roofing
- Dr. Burnell, DDS
- Carpet Depot
- Wendy's of Pinckney
- McDonald's of Pinckney
- D&R Heating and Cooling
- Dam Site Inn
- Clint Rux of Edward Jones
- Dr. Hayner and Staff
- Hell Creek Ranch
- Howell Western Wear
- Human Capital
- Insurasource
- Lavey Insurance
- Kern Road Vet Clinic
- Lakeside Saddlery
- Pinckney Auto Wash
- Screams Ice Cream
- Village Cyclery
- Village Party Store
Helluva Rodeo (formerly Pinckney Community Rodeo) celebrated its fifth anniversary this past September 23 at TMZ FARM in Hell, Michigan. This year brought in record attendance with over 4000 tickets sold and standing room only for the SuperKicker Pro Rodeo Show. This year the Rodeo is proud to be able to disburse $8000 to the PLH Service Unit of our Local Girl Scouts as well as $1250 each for the Lakeland Trail group and the PYRAT group. The Girl Scouts plan to use the funds for Camping gear, American Flags, First Aid kits and more. PYRAT will hold Pathfinder Survivor – an after school event that helps seventh and eighth graders learn team building and cooperation. Friends of the Lakeland Trail will use the funds for trail maintenance and to support the implementation of the Safe Way to Schools Program. The money will be awarded to the beneficiaries at the Rodeo wrap up meeting on November 7, 2007.
Helluva Rodeo representatives Kevin and Renee MacRitchie just returned from the Michigan Festivals and Events Association Conference, held in Kalamazoo Nov. 1-4, with 9 awards for the rodeo marketing and advertising materials. In the category “Budget under $15,000” the rodeo poster, brochure and print ad from the Horses of Michigan Magazine took First Place, The Rodeo T-Shirt design, Multi-page Program and Printed Promotional Materials placed Second, and the Website took third place. The Rodeo Poster for 2007 also earned the Judges Best Overall Achievement Award for all catogories. The floral centerpiece, designed by Renee MacRitchie for the event, took second place in that competition.
Helluva Rodeo will be accepting letters of intent for the 2008 Beneficiary choice as of January 15, 2008. Please email or call Renee MacRitchie for more information at renee@tmzfarm.com or 734.878.6425. Please keep in mind that the mission of the rodeo is to benefit youth and family oriented projects or groups each year.
Thank you to all who advertised, sponsored or helped make this rodeo our biggest success ever!
From the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus
Originally published September 24, 2007
Rodeo corrals record crowd
By Christopher Behnan
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
Sunday's Helluva Rodeo in Putnam Township drew more than 3,000 people — marking a record crowd for the annual event — and was a strong fundraiser for the local Girl Scouts, event organizers said. Spectators, much like the horses and cattle on TMZ Farm, were herded into the arena, and packed the stands for an afternoon of events such as bull riding, bronco busting, barrel racing and team roping.
Kevin MacRitchie, an owner of TMZ Farm, worked crowd control as the start of the rodeo neared. Presale tickets for this year's show were up four times more than last year's production, he said.
"See this line? That's a good thing," he said on horseback, pointing to a line extending to the parking area.
"We could have a standing-room-only situation, which is good for our kids," MacRitchie added.
Rodeo proceeds will benefit the Pinckney, Lakeland, Hamburg Service Unit of the Girl Scouts. Final numbers weren't immediately available.
While Sunday marked the official start of fall, temperatures neared the 80-degree mark as the afternoon wore on.
The Pinckney Community High School drum line entertained a patient line of rodeo-goers waiting to buy tickets.
Whitmore Lake residents Bruce and Lisa Ely brought their children, Emma, 8, and Brendan, 4, to their first rodeo. The family was visiting friends nearby and walked over to the rodeo, which marked its fifth year on Sunday. Emma and Brendan took advantage of pony rides on the grounds, and planned to take part in "mutton busting," or sheep riding.
"I'm sure that will be a favorite," Lisa Ely said of mutton busting. "We didn't realize how much was here."
The community was out in full force Sunday to support the rodeo, from local Boy Scouts to food prepared by the Dam Site Inn in Hell. Realtor Rick Beaudin, also known as the "Pinckney Pirate," walked the grounds in his large pirate hat atop his bald head. Pinckney resident Karl Burg dressed as a "mountain man" in coyote, raccoon and other fur — a character he plays at each year's rodeo. Burg said the heat inside his outfit didn't bother him Sunday.
"I don't care. The kids are having fun," he said.