Cowboy Ball bucks fundraising record
The Colby Acuff Band performs May 20 during the 2022 Cowboy Ball at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. This year's event bucked fundraising records to gross $222,000 that will support area youth scholarships and capital improvements at the fairgrounds.
Courtesy photo
The 2022 Cowboy Ball was the biggest — and most successful — ball of them all.
The 11th annual North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation event, held May 20, grossed $222,000 and welcomed more than 700 guests to the Jacklin Building at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
Guests were greeted by Fair Foundation President Dwayne Glemser and past President Mary Luann Larson. The theme this year was an ode to the great gold mining days, decorated by foundation board member Dorine Souther and sister Colleen Ripatti.
“This year’s Cowboy Ball exceeded our predicted budget by a lot," event chair Gayle Stegmann said in a Monday news release. "We had a record number of scholarships awarded, amounting to $15,500, thanks to the generous support of all of sponsors."
This sold-out annual event raises money for area youth scholarships and capital improvements at the fairgrounds. With money from this year’s Cowboy Ball, the foundation is planning to hire a new executive director. The foundation is also raising funds to buy a portable building for the large number of 4-H livestock animals housed in conjunction with the North Idaho State Fair.
This year is the 100th anniversary of the North Idaho State Fair, which will be held Aug. 19 through 28.