Out of the chutes they come ... and what action! The crowds were thrilled with the performance the cowboys and bulls put on at the Bullarama. (Jean Schlegel/VCTR file photo) 

By Jean Schlegel
Valley City Times-Record

This year's 2008 Outstanding Sodbuster of the Year honoree is Mike Heinze of Dazey. Members of the club voted on this award in April.
Heinze says he's been going to Dazey Sodbuster meetings since he was 16 year old, and has hardly missed a meeting.
“The only time I missed was when I was in the Army for two years,” Heinze said.
He added, “This is the highest honor one can receive in that the community club takes care of local needs.” He will be honored at the clubhouse at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31, the same day as the annual Sodbuster Stampede Bullarama. This is the fifth year for the Bullarama, which has drawn large crowds.
Sodbusters President Tony Heinze said they are again planning for 2,500 people this Labor Day weekend on Sunday, Aug. 31. Tony Heinze was the honoree last year.
This is the 63rd anniversary of the Dazey Sodbusters Club, which is on the south side of Highway 26 at Sibley, or 22 miles north of Valley City on Highway 26.  
Mike Heinze, who owned Mike Heinze Landscaping & Earthmoving at Dazey, did a lot of work on the second clubhouse in 1971, and again on the new building erected last year.
Mike graduated from Luverne High School in 1971. He volunteered for the Army after graduation and served in the Vietnam War. After discharge, he came back home to Luverne and started hauling cattle for hire for 17 years. During that time, he bought some heavy equipment and did dozer and scraper work for 26 years. He hauled gravel and rock for 15 years for more than 25 townships and across four counties. He sold that part of the business, and now runs his ranch, in addition to building things
from structures he has torn down for salvage. “It's starting to look like I have more material than I can put back up,” he said.
Mike has always volunteered, doing whatever has to be done in the club.
“Since we started doing the bull riding event on Labor Day weekend, it got exciting with lots more things to do. We needed a new building because the first year of the Bullarama,it rained all day,” Mike said.
He added that the Bullarama was the idea of younger members of the club: Joe Koch, Brandon Mueller and Mark Jacobson. Mike's crew took down poles from Cass County Electric and turned them into square posts for the building. He gives credit to all the members of the club for pitching in
to make the new building a reality.

The Bullarama
Since its inception in 2004, club members have mainly focused on their biggest fund-raiser of the year ... the annual Dazey Sodbuster Stampede Bullarama. It's held every Labor Day weekend. This year it will be held Sunday, Aug. 31, with many events now held in the new building across the road from the little town of Sibley. Visitors will immediately notice the huge building, constructed mainly by Sodbuster members, which sits next to the clubhouse.
Heinze said the first year they held the Bullarama, they had a tent, 3 inches of rain and enough wind to blow the tent over. Following this unfortunate event, members saw the need for a building at the site of the Bullarama. The building also has bathrooms, a kitchen, space for serving food, and enough room to hold the annual honorees roast and a dance. The building is available for other community events during the year, as well. Heinze said during winter months, rented space is available for boat and machinery storage.
In addition to the Bullarama, a dance, kids’ tractor pull and games for the kids are held.

Big bucks
Five thousand dollars in added money, and prizes will be given away during the annual Dazey Sodbuster event, and there is entertainment to suit everyone. Heinze said he believes the Dazey Sodbuster Club gives away more purse money than any other rodeo around.
Starting out the events, 5-year-old Kaia Anderson of Valley City will sing the National Anthem. She is the daughter of Jake and Shelly Anderson.
Admission charge for the Bullarama and dance for adults is $12 and $8 for kids grades one through 12. Preschoolers are admitted free. After 7 p.m., dance tickets are $8.
The Calcutta Auction is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by the Sodbuster Stampede Bullarama at 3 p.m.
“This will be a big, first-class event,” Heinze said. “We are expecting more than 1,200 people to be there and we plan to have 45 riders from a four-state area.”
There is limited bleacher seating, so people are asked to bring their own lawn chairs. Heinze added, “Come have fun, enjoy a cool one — and bring a designated driver.” Local law enforcement will be on duty at the event.
The bulls for the Bullarama will once again be supplied by the Arrow K Rodeo Co. of LaMoure, owned by Tessa and Kelly Klein, who also put on the rodeo itself.
Professional rodeo clown Slip Knot will be back. He was at the Bullarama the first year in 2004. He is sponsored by local John Deere dealers.
For the first time ever, announcer, Shannon Dean of Bismarck will make his appearance. Stock contractors are Arrow K Rodeo, LaMoure, and Berger Bucking Bulls will come from Mandan.
A Kids’ Tractor Pedal Pull (4 to 11 years old) will start at 5 p.m.
The public can dance in the dirt to the music of Back Stage Pass from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. for an $8 admission fee after 7 p.m.
The Sodbuster Grill is open all day of the event.
For a $10 ticket, the winner can have a chance to win the following top prizes: First: LG 42 inch HD screen TV ($1,000 Value); Second: Custom built gun case; Third: $500 Phoenix grill; Fourth: $250 gas card.
Thirty-one businesses also donated $100 each. Winners need not be present to win.

For full story, see Monday's edition of the Valley City Times-Record.