TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Foundation will be hosting the 16th Annual Sagebrush ‘n Roses event on Jan. 28 at 6 p.m. The event will be at the Goshen County 4-H Rendezvous Center. The evening will kick off with cocktails at 6 p.m., then dinner served at 7 p.m. and a dance to follow. Tickets are available now!

“Sagebrush ‘n Roses is one of the region’s most popular fundraisers,” according to EWC Director of Institutional Development John Hansen. “It is a fun evening of elegance with the money raised benefiting EWC’s agriculture programs.”

The music for this year’s gala will be provided by the Brandon Jones Band. Jones is a Black Hills native who released his debut self-titled EP with Grammy Award-winning engineer and producer Mills Logan. The EP features hit songs “Black Hills Back Road” and “Kiss Me All Night.”

Tickets are $75 each and are available at EWC, the Torrington branches of First State Bank, Pinnacle Bank, Platte Valley Bank, Points West Community Bank, the Goshen County Chamber of Commerce, or online at ewcsagebrushandroses.com. 

For the dinner, each person will have the choice between beef or fish when they buy their ticket. According to the menu posted on ewcsagebrushandroses.com, “The beef main course is an eight to nine-ounce tenderloin served with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. The fish main course is a six to seven-ounce baked rockfish served with caramelized fennel and blood oranges, topped with lemon juice and lemon zest. The sides are roasted asparagus with crispy prosciutto and smashed crispy baby potatoes. There will also be an olive garden-style salad accompanied by freshly baked rolls and garlic butter. The dessert will be tart shells filled with chocolate mousse and topped with shaved chocolate and whipped cream.”

The event is hosted by the EWC Foundation. The foundation is a separate 501 C organization that helps support the programs of the college. 

“Sagebrush ‘n Roses started in 2007,” EWC Foundation Member Rick Vonburg told the Telegram. “I’ve been involved in it since our first one, which was at the St. Rose’s Parish Hall, with about 80 people.”

Since its beginning, the event has only grown over the years, both in size and significance.

Vonburg explained that this event was started after an agriculture advisory group requested a separate building for ag programs. Sagebrush ‘n Roses was created by the group as a way to celebrate ag in the community and as a fundraiser for their program. The event also funds ag scholarships, livestock judging, ag activities, field trips and additional equipment.

“You’ll see as much visiting as anything else,” Vonburg said. “The women like it because it gives them the opportunity to dress up. You will see, it’s a premier event. It’s like an adult prom. There’s a lot of fellowship and coming together to support the ag community. Also, all of the ag students are involved, they help serve, set everything up and take everything down.”

In addition to regular tickets, corporate sponsorships are also available. Sponsors can buy bundles of tickets at some additional cost. Depending on the package, a sponsor receives website recognition, social media recognition, and advertising, among other benefits. 

Vonburg said the number of tickets will be limited to 400 and can go fairly fast. It is best to buy tickets as soon as possible.

“It’s a great event,” Vonburg commented. “I would invite people to come out if they haven’t ever been there, and those that have been to come back. It’s one of the premier events for Goshen County, it really is.”

For more information, go to their website https://ewcsagebrushandroses.com/ or call 307-534-2417.