The American Military Celebration Returns

Hillwood Land and Cattle presents the American Military Celebration with Charly Crawford brought to you by Ariat for its second year. The event raises funds for Building Homes for Heroes and fosters support and appreciation for military members, service members, and their families. Due to its high success and involvement last November, the roping has added several days of action, running October 27 – 31 at the NRS Training Center in Decatur, Texas.

"Last year we put AMC together in 30 days,” says Crawford, a 10-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “If you think that was cool, wait until you see what we've done with 300 days of planning.”

The event kicks off on Wednesday with a free, two-day roping school for active military members, veterans, and first responders. The school is limited to 15 headers and 15 heelers. Participants will work with Charly Crawford, as well as Trey Johnson, who was the 2000 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rookie of the Year and now focuses on ministry, leadership, and team roping schools.

New to AMC are the #13.5, #11.5, and open qualifier ropings, which happen Friday, October 29. The winning team of the open qualifier (that is not an NFR team) will advance to the NFR Showdown on Saturday night and compete against 2021 NFR-qualified roping teams.

On October 30 will be the Military and First Responders Roping, a #10 slide open to all military members and first responders with great cash and prizes. That afternoon will be the Military Pro-Am Roping, in which military members and first responders will draw a celebrity partner -- either a previous or current National Finals Rodeo qualifier -- for a chance at cash and prizes. The headline event, the NFR Showdown, starts that evening and offers spectators the chance to see the 2021 current NFR qualifiers. NFR athletes will be available for autographs before the shoot-out. Tickets are $20 at the door, and kids ages 10 and under get free admission if they dress up for Halloween.

Wrapping up the AMC on Sunday is the new Business Roper Elite roping. The #10.5 and #8.5 ropings are open to the public, for 21 and older.

Other weekend events include a silent auction on Friday and Saturday and a live auction on Saturday, a Calcutta for the open qualifier on Friday, and a Calcutta for the NFR Showdown on Saturday.

All proceeds from the event will go to Building Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit that provides mortgage-free homes to military service members.

“We at Hillwood Land and Cattle are excited to partner with Charly Crawford on the American Military Celebration,” says Brett Burton, general manager of Hillwood Land and Cattle. “It gives us a great sense of pride to be part of an event that is so passionate about supporting our active military, veterans, and first responders. A big shout-out goes to Charly and his team for putting on a world-class team roping event.”

“NRS is honored to be able to host the Hillwood Land and Cattle American Military Celebration,” says Jason Brooks, chief marketing officer at NRS. “One of our passions is supporting men and women who fight for our freedoms. I can’t think of a better group of people to appreciate and understand their sacrifices than our western lifestyle customers. Charly and his team have done an incredible job of creating a captivating western event that celebrates our incredible servicemen and women.”

For information on entering, donating auction items, or other sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ace High Strategic Marketing at 817-757-2276 or info@acehighsm.com. Keep up to date with AMC on Facebook and Instagram, and at www.americanmilitarycelebration.com.