A Carrollton organization will raise money for veterans through bull riding events.

“Riding For Our Veterans” is a non-profit organization based out of Carrollton that started in 2014. One of the founders, Larry Oster, also a veteran, says the organization came about after a benefit held for his veteran brother who had a rare form of cancer. 

“(My wife and I) set up a benefit to help him with medical expenses,” Oster said. “Unfortunately, we lost him in October, but with the outpouring of support from the surrounding communities, we decided to continue this and help other veterans and veteran organizations. In 2015, we became incorporated and got our 501c3 status and we did an annual benefit last year in Carrollton and helped an organization called Generation of Heroes Ranch and also put some money in the service fund for the local VFW. This year we kind of changed gears a little bit and we’re trying to help more individual veterans out and assist them in many different ways.” 

“Riding For Our Veterans” will hold a bull riding event this month in Chillicothe with proceeds going towards veterans and veteran organizations. According to Oster says some of the organizations they have helped include the local VFW in Carrollton and Welcome Home Incorporated in Columbia. Oster says last year they targeted their fundraising toward one organization near Springfield called Generations of Heroes Ranch. 

“The ranch is set up to bring in veterans of all eras, from World War II up to present and even service members that suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury),” Oster said. “(There is) no cost to the veteran at all and it’s just kind of tailored to that veteran or service member. They help them out in that way using equine and different things and it really works out good.” 

The “Riding For Our Veterans” bull riding event takes place on Friday and Saturday, June 24th and 25th at the Litton Ag Center in Chillicothe. Gates open for the event at 4:30 p.m. each night with the main show starting at 7 p.m. Another bull riding event will be held on September 2nd and 3rd at the Andrew County Fairgrounds in Savannah. For more information, go to the Riding For Our Veterans website.