About 1,200 people packed into Brown Family Ranch this past weekend for the 11th annual rodeo in Gary, an event that almost didn't happen after a derecho tore through the property weeks earlier. Riders came from as far as Georgia and Arizona to compete on the 4-acre grounds, cementing the ranch's status as the only venue of its kind in Gary or anywhere else in Northwest Indiana.
The event nearly had to be called off after an Aug. 11 derecho damaged the ranch, tearing roofs off enclosures, damaging fencing and bringing down trees, the Chicago Tribune reported. Co-owner Nakisha Brown said the team was unsure the rodeo could go ahead, but completed repairs in time. “by mid-morning we were able to get things set up just in time,” she told the paper.
A Previous Derecho in the Region
The Aug. 11 storm was not the first derecho to cause damage in the region. CBS Chicago reported that a separate derecho on Aug. 10, 2020, damaged areas around Chicago as it crossed parts of the Midwest, including Indiana and Michigan.
The rodeo featured timed events, roping, and speed and agility courses, with equestrians arriving from Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and across Indiana. Co-owner Chris Brown said the event remains a rarity locally: “we are the only ones in Gary, let alone in Northwest Indiana, putting on this type of show,” he said, per the same account. Food vendors, shopping tents, a Saturday night bonfire, a concert and fireworks rounded out the weekend.
Buffalo Soldiers Ride Into the Arena
Following the National Anthem, members of the local Buffalo Soldiers regiment rode into the arena carrying flags to open the competitions. The regiment commemorates Black Americans who served in the U.S. Army on the Western Frontier, the Tribune reported. Chris Brown joined the regiment in uniform for the first time this year.
The Buffalo Soldiers’ Historical Roots
The National Park Service says Congress established six all-Black regiments in 1866, consolidated to four shortly after, and that the Buffalo Soldier nickname originated with the 10th Cavalry.
Among the competitors was Kenny Holloway, a Chicago equestrian who rode at Brown Family Ranch for the first time. Chris Brown estimated that about 80% of the field had spent most of their lives competing in equestrian sports, even as the rodeo continues to draw newcomers and younger riders into the sport.
A Ranch With Deep Roots and Bigger Plans
Brown Family Ranch describes itself as a Black-owned operation on Gary's east side that has been running for more than 50 years, according to its own about page. That history carries weight against a national backdrop: Black farm ownership nationwide fell from 41.4 million acres in 1920 to 5.3 million acres across 32,700 farms in 2022, per U.S. Department of Agriculture figures cited by My Indiana Home.
Gary residents Gina Grimes and Ben Barnes attended in western-inspired clothing. Barnes said he hopes the event will eventually expand to include on-site camping. Elizabeth Anderson, who has been involved with the ranch since fifth grade, said the rodeo has real significance for the community. The ranch also holds an annual summer camp where children take part in gardening, nature activities, arts and crafts, and equestrian instruction.
Space Constraints and Expansion Plans
Parking, space for the show and spectator seating limit the rodeo’s current capacity, Chris Brown said. He plans to pursue the purchase of surrounding land to expand the ranch and rodeo, while adding more year-round events and competitions. The ranch also intends to offer additional free community programming focused on agriculture and equestrian life.
Rodeo proceeds support scholarships for graduating high school seniors or local college students. The Brown Family Ranch Community Outreach Scholarship Program accepts online applications from Oct. 1 through March. According to My Indiana Home, the scholarships support students pursuing higher education in agriculture, animal science or community leadership.
The ranch has other events on its calendar: an Annual Harvest Hayride on Oct. 24, Mississippi Street Blues Fest on Dec. 12 and Brown Family Ranch Winter Wonderland on Dec. 19. Chris Brown said the rodeo and the ranch’s other activities are intended to give people a close-up look at equestrian and agricultural life. This year, that work continued alongside repairs from the storm that threatened the rodeo.
