In The News

Below is a collection of articles what have mentioned the Rocking B and events in Austin County over the years. We are happy to share these with you and invite you to check out the fine publications that have allowed us to reproduce their content.

Millheim announces festival raffle winners - (Jul. 28, 2006)

The annual membership appreciation dinner of the Millheim Harmonie Verein will be held Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. at Millheim Hall. As is the tradition, all members and guest workers are invited and encouraged to attend.

Sponsors and winners in the Father's Day drawing were: George Burnett, 27" TV; W.A. Virnau and Sons of Sealy, Tommy Monk; Shrader's of Sealy, Jamie Geirik; Industry State Bank, New Ulm, Marge Michaelis; Bill's Supermarket, Gene Slovak; Crossroads Tavern, C. Hartmann; First National Bank of Bellville, Vickie Monk; J. Frank Monk Real Estate, Allen Abel; Rocking B Cowboy Supply, Wayne Pomikal; Steinhauser's Sealy, Doug Neva; AL&M Building Supply, Tommy Monk; Lenseisen's Feed, Carolyn Bilski; Malcolm Dittert, Sharon Goebel; Bellville Butane, Holly Flentge; Trees Direct From Farm Sealy, Warren Conner; Unique Clocks of Texas, Vickie Monk; Wells Fargo Bank of Bellville, Travis Nelson; Columbus Livestock Auction, James Grawunder; Four County Auction, Mildred Hilboldt; Harrison Farm Service, Holly Flentge; Bellville Quick Stop, C. Hartmann; Lange's No. 1 and 2, Glenda Kloss; Bellville Auto Care, Elly Schmidt; Goeke Feed and Seed, Louis Smid; Ueckert Flower Shop, Buck Kollman; Bellville Meat Market, Holly Flentge; Citizens State Bank, Ernie Koy Jr.; Western Auto Sealy, James Wilson; Manuel's Restaurant, Shirley Hauerland; Schovajsa Catering, Carolyn Grisbee and Neely Grawunder; Carol's at Cat Spring, Wayne Pomikal; Beall's, Rubert Resninicke; Golden Pagoda, Glenda Switzer; Galileo's Mexican Grill, Leslie Melner; Las Fuentas Restaurant, Patricia Heidelberg; Latigo's, Vonnie Grawunder.

President Arno Meyer wishes to extend his thanks to all the sponsors and volunteers.

Fair’s ‘tough enough to wear pink’ night to raise money for ACS - (Apr. 18, 2003)

Tonight, for the third year in a row, the Austin County Fair Association in conjunction with the American Cancer Society will participate in “Tough Enough to Wear Pink”, a nationally recognized program with the goal of funding breast cancer research.

“The Fair Association will donate one dollar to the Austin County unit of the American Cancer Society for every person—man, woman or child—wearing a pink shirt, who enters the fairgrounds on Friday between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.,” says fair manager Susan Sillavan.

Volunteers of the Austin County unit will be at the fair’s entry gates during designated hours to give away pink ribbons, signifying breast cancer awareness, to all those who participate. In addition, every 100th fairgoer at each gate (number 100, 200, 300, etc.) who wears a pink shirt will be recognized with a special ribbon.

“The American Cancer Society has traditionally observed October as Breast Cancer Awareness month,” said Pat Vornkahl, unit communications coordinator, “so we are pleased to be able to work with the Fair Association on this project. For the last two years the program has enabled the Fair Association to donate over $1,000 to our unit, all going toward research, education and patient services.”

Since Tough Enough to Wear Pink was introduced, rodeo cowboys across the country, as well as their audiences, have jumped on the bandwagon and worn pink shirts to fight the battle against the dread disease, raising thousands of dollars earmarked for breast cancer research.

So popular is the Tough Enough program across the nation, its logo has been transferred to articles of western clothing, some of which are available at Rocking B Cowboy Supply in Bellville.

The color pink is not something one would associate with the tough sport of rodeo, but breast cancer has touched the lives of many rodeo families. The Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign keeps this important health issue top-of-mind at rodeos across America through a yearlong awareness and fundraising program.

According to statistics recently released by the American Cancer Society, in the state of Texas there are over 13,000 cases of breast cancer every year with 2,500 fatalities. In Austin County alone, from 15 to 20 women are diagnosed annually with breast cancer.

The good news, however, is when diagnosed at an early stage, the five-year survival rate is 96.8 percent, and the best diagnostic tool currently available is mammography. That is why the American Cancer Society recommends all women age 40 and over have an annual mammogram.

“We are happy to be joining rodeo contestants around the nation in their fight against breast cancer,” said Sillavan, “and we hope everyone who comes to the Fair on Friday night will wear a pink shirt.”

Bellville Heritage Gathering set for May 3 - (Apr. 18, 2003)

The Bellville Heritage Gathering, set for Saturday, May 3, at high noon, will feature a Longhorn Cattle Drive and Trailride, offering you and your family an experience of a lifetime.

The Cattle Drive will begin near Raccoon Bend on FM 1456 and continue into town on Holland Street, which is on the west side of the square, then turn east on Main Street (Highway 36).

The Longhorns will pass Texas Ranch Life headquarters and turn on Matthews Street at Rocking B Cowboy Supply to be penned for viewing. The trailride will continue on Highway 36 to the Austin County Fairgrounds where the Cowboy Ranch Rodeo will be held.

There is no admission fee for any of the events around the town square or at the fairgrounds. Authentic chuckwagon grub can be experienced for $25 per plate, as a fundraiser for the Bellville Chamber of Commerce. The historic Austin County Jail Museum will be serving Miss Nellie's beans and cornbread. Various foods will be available throughout the festival as well as the local cafes and restaurants around town. Beverages and entertainment will be located at the OK Corral by the mini-park off the Square and at strategic locations. Be sure and check out the Mestenos Way Station on East Main and the barbecue cook-off at the fairgrounds.

1890s vintage children's games will be in the mini-park where historic walking tours are available and exhibitions of all types. Crime Stoppers and the Boy Scouts are sporting Chicken Bingo. The evening will end with a free dance at the open-air pavilion in the fairgrounds.

Come early to park and experience a hayride as you step back in time at the Bellville Heritage Gathering, contact the

Chamber of Commerce for more information at 865-3407 www.bellvcoc.com, or (877) TRAIL55.

Colt project to hold stallion auction - (Sep. 20, 2005)

The Austin County Fair Colt Project is holding a stallion breeding silent auction.

It will be during this year's fair in the horse barn at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. The bidding opens Wednesday, Oct. 12 at noon and will be closing on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 p.m. after the rodeo.

The funds raised will go toward the maintenance of the stalls at the fair grounds and towards the youth.

AQHA and APHA mare owners can start the bidding for these 2006 breedings at half the regular fee.

These are extremely high quality stallions that have either produced roping, reining, barrel racing or cutting horses or are currently being shown in their event.

The AQHA stallions available for the 2006 breeding season are: "Colonel Cuttem" donated by Doyle Reeves; "Dual Cord" donated by Vickie Sisson; "Haidason" donated by Wayne Miller; "Rey Jays a Hick" donated by Mark Hollar; "Sonitanovemberlena" donated by Mark Lavender; and "RR Quick Earl" donated by Jesse Byler.

For more information flyers will be available at Austin County feed stores and Rocking B Cowboy Supply in Bellville or call Kevin or Annie Wingo at 865-9321.

Colt Project sets auction - (Sep. 2, 2005)

The Austin County Fair Colt Project is holding a stallion breeding silent auction.

The funds raised will go toward the maintenance of the stalls at the fair grounds and towards the youth.

AQHA and APHA mare owners can start the bidding for these 2006 breedings at half the regular fee.

These are extremely high quality stallions that have either produced roping, reining, barrel racing or cutting horses or are currently being shown in their event.

For more information flyers will be available at Austin County feed stores and Rocking B Cowboy Supply in Bellville or call Kevin or Annie Wingo at 865-9321.

Heritage roping - (May 4, 2004)

Most of the events for the Bellville Heritage Gathering were rained out on Saturday, but the 1st Annual Bellville Heritage Gathering Team Roping was a success on Sunday.

Over 350 teams participated at the Austin County Fairgrounds Arena. Courts saddles were presented to the high money-winning header and heeler for the day. Pictured left to right are, Dusty Kendrick, roping producer, Trey Cruz, high money-winner heeling, Josh DeBord, High money-winning header, Curtis Kendrick, roping producer. The saddle sponsors are Todd Machine- Emil Reznicek, Al and Sharon Peck, and Rocking B Cowboy Supply.

Fair Association sets shrimp boil - (Sep. 1, 2006)

This year, nine Austin County students are receiving the Austin County Fair Memorial Scholarship.

To help raise scholarship money, the Austin County Fair is hosting a shrimp boil Sept. 30 at the Austin County Fair Pavilion.

Tickets are $30 per person for all-you-can-eat, and drinks are included until 8:30 p.m. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and serving is from 6-7:30 p.m.

This year's scholarship recipients and Fair Queen contestants will be on hand to assist with the evening festivities.

Following the shrimp boil, Jerry Hart and Southern Ways kicks off the 79th Annual Austin County Fair.

Admission to the kick-off dance is included with the shrimp boil ticket. The dance starts at 8:30 p.m., and tickets to the dance only will be sold at the door for $6 per person.

Tickets for the shrimp boil are available at the Austin County Fair Office in Bellville, First National Bank in Bellville, Rocking B Cowboy Supply in Bellville, Citizens State Bank in Sealy, K&M Grocery in Brenham and Dan's Meat Market in Brenham.

For more information, contact the fair office at (979) 865-5995.

Record-breaking sale - (Oct. 18, 2005)

By JAY ERMIS, Managing Editor

The 78th annual Austin County Fair's youth livestock auction will be remembered as a record-breaking event.

Janie Tipp's grand champion Charolais cross steer sold for almost $6,000, but three reserve champions brought record prices during the auction Friday, Oct. 14, at the county fairgrounds in Bellville.

The auction also featured a record 301 sale lots that generated $546,307.65.

The two figures exceed the 2004 total sales of $476,541 for 272 sale lots.

The dollar figures do not include add-on amounts.

The auction was one of the highlights of the fair that closed Sunday, Oct. 16.

The children's tractor pull and pet show were featured Sunday afternoon.

The youth auction sale was dedicated in memory of Sylvia and John Hughes, Robin Adair, Ruby Holtz and William "Butch" Abel.

Rocking B Cowboy Supply bought Tipp's 1,325-pound entry for $5,937.50.

Tipp is a member of the Sealy FFA.

Positive Feed purchased Jordan Raska's 261-pound grand champion swine for $3,132.

Raska is a member of the Brazos 4-H

Kelli Tiemann's reserve champion steer, weighing 1,190 pounds, brought $3.75 a pound, totaling $4,462.50.

Columbus Livestock Auction bought the steer.

Tiemann is a member of the West End 4-H Club.

Of the 21 grand champion and reserve champion lots for sale during the auction, new records were established in three reserve champion categories, including commercial heifer, a gelding in the colt project and rabbit-market.

ABC Discount Glass purchased Tyler Bond-Jones' commercial heifer for a record $5,850, smashing the previous record of $4,000 set in 1997.

Tyler is a member of the West End 4-H Club.

Emory Weekly bought Katie Wingo's yearling gelding for $5,000 - $1,000 more than the previous record set in 2002.

Wingo is a member of the Pasture Pals 4-H Club.

The bay roan, named TNT Bourban Song, is certified by the American Quarter Horse Association. The sire is Blantons Bourbon and the dam is WW September Song.

Wingo's reserve champion was among entries in the county fair's horse project.

Brittany Dean's 155-pound reserve champion lamb brought a record $4,000. Dean is a member of the Lucky Stars 4-H Club.

Roland Richards' bid surpassed the $3,200 paid for the reserve champion in 1995.

Richards also paid a record $4,000 for the reserve champion goat in 2003.

Also in Friday's auction, Richards bought Matthew Dean's grand champion commercial heifer for $5,000.

Dean is a member of the Lucky Stars 4-H Club.

Other grand champion livestock auctioned were:

Goat, $1,900, Kristen Distributing, shown by Cody Martin, Bellville FFA; filly, $2,500, Robert Pier, shown by Brian Trettenero, Burleigh 4-H; turkey hen, $2,200, Gulf States Toyotya, shown by Lauren Thormaehlen, Wallis 4-H.

Gelding, $5,000, Van Dyke Rankin Insurance, shown by Amanda Kloecker, Bellville FFA; turkey tom, $2,100, Wallis State Bank, shown by Garret Holub, Wallis 4-H; rabbit-market, $1,900, Eberly Ranch, shown by Lance Raeke, Bellville FFA; lamb, $3,000, Schulte Building Systems, shown by Blake Gremmel, Bellville 4-H; broilers, $2,500, Stewart and Stevenson, shown by Cameron Blezinger, West End 4-H.

Other reserve champion livestock auctioned were:

Goat, $1,900, Tony's Restaurant, shown by Elizabeth Mann, West End 4-H; filly, $3,100, RB Livestock; turkey tom, $2,250, Jesmar Center, shown by Larry Hintzel, Bellville FFA; rabbit- market, $1,800, Bill Johnson Real Estate, shown by Mindy Shackmann, Bellville 4-H; swine, $2,680, Millennium Middstream Energy, shown by Kinsey Shackelford, Bellville 4-H; and broilers, $2,250, Galileo's Mexican Restaurant, shown by Blaine Greener.

Stallion breeding auction set for Austin County Fair - (Oct. 11, 2005)

The Austin County Fair Colt Project is holding a stallion breeding silent auction.

The funds raised will go toward the maintenance of the stalls at the fair grounds and towards the youth.

AQHA and APHA mare owners can start the bidding for these 2006 breedings at half the regular fee.

These are extremely high quality stallions that have either produced roping, reining, barrel racing or cutting horses or are currently being shown in their event.

For more information flyers will be available at Austin County feed stores and Rocking B Cowboy Supply in Bellville or call Kevin or Annie Wingo at 865-9321.