Innisfail honours late bull rider Ty Pozzobon

INNISFAIL - The 2017 A Night at the Ranch fundraiser will honour the memory of professional bull rider Ty Pozzobon.

Pozzobon passed away unexpectedly in January at the age of 25.

He won the inaugural event in July 2016 and helped raised $10,000 for the Innisfail Eagles and the Canadian Pro-Rodeo Sports Medicine Team.

The Eagles honoured the memory of Ty Pozzobon at a recent playoff game on Feb. 19. A cheque presentation was made to Dusty Daines, president of the Innisfail Eagles in a pre-game ceremony.

"We raised $5,000 for the Innisfail Eagles, that's the amount Ty won for winning the bull riding that night," said Kyle Daines, one of the organizers for A Night at the Ranch fundraiser. "We also raised $5,000 for the pro-rodeo sports medicine team."

In attendance at the game were several friends and family members as well as fellow professional bull riders and bull fighters.

"At the time he won it, it was great for the Eagles but now with his passing, to pay that tribute to him the other night (at the game) sure meant a lot," said Daines. "It was originally planned that Ty would be the one to present the cheque and drop the puck. We reached out to his family and friends and they were able to make it a great night."

This year, the 2017 A Night at the Ranch scheduled for May 13, will be held in Pozzobon's memory.

"All the money that's raised will go to the Ty Pozzobon Foundation and sports medicine," said Daines. "It's going to bring some awareness for mental health. If people need help they shouldn't be afraid to ask," he added.

It's thanks to sponsors that the event is being held free of charge but visitors may make a donation if they wish, noted Daines.

"The bull riding will start at 4 p.m. on May 13," he said. "We'll have a dance to follow."

Daines noted Pozzobon's important role in professional bull riding.

"Ty was somebody that was always (involved in) bull riding all the time. He was a really good person," Daines concluded.

For more information visit A Night at the Ranch and the Ty Pozzobon Foundation pages on Facebook.