BELLE FOURCHE - For years, the Black Hills Roundup Committee has hosted a unique regional "NFR Sendoff" for the area's rodeo athletes headed for the National Finals Rodeo in top positions in their divisions.

This year, the Roundup itself is in the running, and it's one of the top five "mid-size" rodeos nominated as the best in the world.

Several Deadwood Days of '76 committee members will also join the Belle Fourche party at the Friday, Nov. 16, NFR Sendoff. The Deadwood rodeo is also in the running as the top mid-size rodeo.

The Black Hills Stock Show is in the running as best indoor pro rodeo - and organizers in Clear Lake are in the running as best small rodeo of the world.

Belle Fourche will play host to them all in a celebration of the official state sport.

The sendoff is free and open to the public.

An informal autograph session will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Branding Iron Steakhouse and Saloon, with past and present finalists and world champions and some nominees attending.

Roundup chairman Gabby Bush said the extra work recent committees and the city of Belle Fourche have done for the rodeo is paying dividends.

"They really like the fact that we have put so much into our Roundup Grounds rodeo arenas and that we got the input and support from the people who are competing when we did it," Bush said.

The Roundup Grounds also had some of the "competitor only" areas set up specifically to meet needs of the competitors for their safety, as well as the safety of the fans.

"And they like competing here during the 'Cowboy Christmas' of the July 4 time period because we're definitely competitor-friendly," he said.

Bush said the Roundup Committee members will not only be working toward the next several years' programs when they're at the National Finals Rodeo PRCA committee meetings; they'll also be there as competitors.

"We have some of the world's best rodeo competitors, the prettiest rodeo queens - and now, proof that we are among the world's top rodeo events for competitors and spectators alike," Bush said.