America's Richest Two-Day Rodeo Comes to Orange County This Month!

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. -- The nation's top 30 rodeo cowboys will be among more than 200 contestants competing in this weekend's 5th Annual Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo, the richest two-day Rodeo in America.

Scheduled for the weekend of August 27 and 28, 2005 at the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo Grounds (formerly the Oaks Blenheim Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park), situated near San Juan Capistrano, the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo will include rodeo professionals vying for a purse totaling $192,500 in such events as bareback and saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and team roping. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit www.RMVRodeo.com.

"As sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Assn., the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo has become a major event on the professional rodeo season schedule especially for the top contenders on their way to the National Finals Rodeo," said Rodeo Committee President Gilbert Aguirre, Executive Vice President - Ranch Operations for Rancho Mission Viejo, managers of the family-held, historic 23,000-acre Rancho Mission Viejo cattle ranch in Orange County. "The top 15 regular-season finishers in each of our Rodeo events will qualify for the NFR to compete for even bigger prize money."

Among the long list of nationally renowned champions or top-ranked riders who have signed on to take part this weekend are the following:

--Bareback Riding - Kelly Timberman (4th visit to San Juan)

--Saddle Bronco Riding - Bill Etbauer (5th visit to San Juan)

--Bull Riding - Dustin Elliot

--Steer Wrestling- Luke Branquinho (5th visit to San Juan)

--Tie Down Roping - Monty Lewis

--Team Roping Headers - Speed Williams (5th visit to San Juan)

--Team Roping Heelers - Rich Shelton (5th visit to San Juan)

"In addition to the thrill of competition, the Rodeo promises lots of family-oriented fun with a Saturday evening concert performance by the Working Cowboys as well as a broad array of exciting children's activities and entertainment," said Aguirre. "Plus, in honor of the old cowboy tradition of 'passing the hat' in support of a sick child or needy friend, the proceeds for this year's Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo will, once again, benefit local charities."

Over the course of the last five years, more than $600,000 in Rodeo profits have been donated by the O'Neill/Avery/Moiso family to local charities including the R.H. Dana School for Exceptional Children and Camino Health Center.

Aguirre added that the family has managed the Rancho Mission Viejo since 1882. Today, Rancho Mission Viejo is the largest family-owned landholding and the oldest existing large-scale cattle ranch in Orange County. In November 2004, the family created The Ranch Plan to ensure the perpetuation of cattle ranching and farming as well as open space and habitat protection and phased community development on the Ranch over the next 20 to 25 years.

"The Ranch family is committed to the preservation of the cowboy way of life," said Aguirre. "As one of the last remaining California Ranchos, Rancho Mission Viejo is proud of its ranching heritage and strives to hold dear to the authentic and honest values held by every American cowboy."

Among the many highlights of this year's Rodeo will be Cotton Rosser and his Flying U Rodeo Company. Rosser - proclaimed as "The King of Rodeo" - will be on hand with what organizers say will be another "spectacular rodeo production." Serving as Rodeo Announcer will be Bob Tallman, one of the favorite rodeo announcers of fans and contestants. Tallman has been named PRCA Announcer of the Year seven times (including last year) and was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2004.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Saturday, August 27                        Sunday, August 8
2:00 p.m. - Gates Open                     11:30 a.m. - Gates Open
3:45 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies             1:15 p.m. - Open Ceremonies
4:00 p.m. - Rodeo Begins                   1:30 p.m. - Rodeo Begins
6:00 p.m. - Concert

The Rodeo will take place at the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo Grounds, located at the intersection of Ortega Highway and Antonio Parkway/La Pata on the western border of the Rancho Mission Viejo in South Orange County.

Tickets prices are $20.00 for adults on Saturday (which includes admission to the evening concert) and Sunday as well as $10.00 both days for children ages 4 to 12. Children ages 3 and under will be admitted to the Rodeo for free. Tickets may be purchased at the Gate on the day of the event, San Juan Capistrano's Los Swallows Inn, Hennessey's Taverns in Dana Point, American Horse Products in Laguna Niguel, Ortega Tack & Feed, participating Boot Barn locations, and the Ladera Ranch Realty in Ladera Ranch.

For more information, please log on to our website at: www.rmvrodeo.com or email us at [e-mail]