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Branded Bonanza is coming to the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island, NE, August 22-23, 2025!𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗘𝗦𝗦: Applications are LIVE (https://foreverbranded.org/branded-bonanza/)!
1. All applicants will be required to submit proof of an approved BLM adoption application showing the number of horses they are approved for as part of the Branded Bonanza application (so please complete your BLM application first and await approval before applying to Branded Bonanza). Competitors are encouraged to complete their BLM application using the BLM Online Corral to expedite the process (https://wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/HowToGuide).
2. Complete your Branded Bonanza application (https://foreverbranded.org/branded-bonanza/). As part of your application, be prepared to submit 2 (non-family member) reference forms (https://foreverbranded.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Branded-Bonanza-Reference-Form.pdf) and photos/videos of your facilities. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 50 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘪𝘯-𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 (𝘯𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳).
𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗞-𝗨𝗣 & 𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Eligible horses may be adopted April 19, 2025, at the Rock Springs Corral (WY), or on April 26, 2025, at the Wheatland Off-Range Corral (WY), or from April 21-25, 2025, at the Elm Creek Off-Range Corral (NE) by appointment. If someone other than the competitor is the named adopter of the animal, they will need to be present at pick up to complete the necessary paperwork.
The competitor or adopter will select the animal they wish to compete with using the eligibility requirements: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯-𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. For adult divisions, horses must be over 3-years-old and bay, brown, or sorrel. For youth divisions, horses must be 1 or 2-years-old and bay, brown, or sorrel.
𝗗𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 & 𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘: Branded Bonanza is geared toward the novice horseman and designed to be a supportive atmosphere where folks can grow their horsemanship and their community along the way. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯-𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺. 𝘕𝘰 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳.
𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦: Every competitor who returns to compete at the competition will receive $500. In addition, both division awards (cash awards to Top 10, neck ribbons to Top 10, champion buckle, and reserve award), individual class awards (ribbons for Top 10, champion buckle, reserve award), AND specialty awards are offered.
𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦: The competition will take place 8/22/25 and 8/23/25 at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Grand Island, NE.
𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗚: A digital catalog of available horses will be available ahead of the event. It is solely at the competitor's discretion of whether they would like to offer their animal for reassignment following the competition.
𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 & 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣: Donations are key in helping us bring this incredible event to life! Forever Branded is a 501(c)(3) organization and every dollar you donate is tax deductible. Sponsorship opportunities are detailed at https://foreverbranded.org/branded-bonanza/.
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁: 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱.𝗼𝗿𝗴/𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲/𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁/. If you have a specific place you would like your donation to go to (i.e., awards, operation costs, etc.), you can add that in the donation note.
Be sure and join the Branded Bonanza Nebraska Facebook group to share your journey or follow along with the competitors: https://www.facebook.com/groups/524165949946273
Visit the Forever Branded site for more info & to apply: https://foreverbranded.org/branded-bonanza/
The Bureau of Land Management Wyoming will have untouched wild horses available for adoption at this event as well.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Nebraska State Fair Grounds, Sheep Barn - Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island, NE 68801, United States,Grand Island, Nebraska
