Southeast Florida Honor Flight is ready to fly again. Helping the nonprofit group get back into the air is the popular AmberWay Equine Buck Off Challenge, a family-friendly, mechanical bull-riding competition set for Friday, March 18 on the boardwalk at the Wellington Community Center.
Four-person teams compete in the AmberWay Equine Buck Off Challenge, where individual rides are scored by a panel of celebrity judges and totaled to determine the winning team. Riders are scored on their ability to stay on the bull while keeping one hand in the air at all times, as well as the style of the ride. Higher scores may be achieved for character, “team spirit” and costumes. Prizes are awarded to the top three teams. The entry fee is $100 per team.
A limited number of individual VIP reserved seats are available for $75 per person or $750 per table. VIP tickets includes dinner and a cash bar. General admission/unreserved seating tickets are $15 each.
To register a team or purchase tickets, visit www.honorflightsefl.org/events.
The AmberWay Equine Buck Off Challenge benefits the Stuart-based Southeast Florida Honor Flight, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that flies World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veterans from Palm Beach International Airport to Washington, D.C., four times a year free of charge to visit the memorials built to honor their service and sacrifices.
Each flight costs about $120,000, according to chairman Janet Hoose. The next flights are scheduled for April 9 and May 21.
The AmberWay Equine Buck Off Challenge is being co-sponsored by the Village of Wellington. Other major sponsors include philanthropists Sanjiv Sharma and Nadine Allen of Highland Beach, Madison Sport Horses, Peninsula Trucking, Vitas Healthcare, IDA Development, Bolay, IDA Farm, Carl Schachter with Northwestern Mutual and Professional Bank.
“Wellington is honored to co-sponsor the 2022 Buck Off Challenge,” Wellington Assistant Village Manager Ed De La Vega said. “Wellington supports community-based programs and events that enrich the lives of youth, adults and seniors. This unique event, in particular, is a great way to bring the community together to bring awareness of the Honor Flight of Southeast Florida and all they do for our veterans.”
The Southeast Florida Honor Flight is a day devoted to honoring the local men and women who served the country in conflicts around the globe. For the veterans, it is a day to reflect on those heroes that never came home, on connecting with fellow military compatriots, on the fact that America has not forgotten them. For everyone else, it is a day focused on thanking these courageous men and women for serving the nation, for stepping up when the world needed them most and for helping to preserve America’s freedom and way of life.
AmberWay Equine is a well-respected and full-service equestrian business that supplies top-quality products, construction management and owner’s representation for private facilities, show barns and competition venues throughout the United States. A key component to the company’s success is its superior customer service and ability to provide clients with assistance from conception to installation.
The Buck Off Challenge is a fundraising event started by Wellington’s Bobbi Rottman of Eques Solutions, which primarily specializes in bringing the equestrian community and businesses together.
Rottman and her team started the event almost 10 years ago, and for the last four years, Southeast Florida Honor Flight has been the beneficiary. They spend months going over every detail to make sure Southeast Florida Honor Flight receives enormous support from the community.
“This is one of my favorite events because it combines a fun atmosphere with such an important cause,” Rottman said. “The support from the community continues to grow, and the veterans who attend are treated like the heroes they are.”
For more information about Southeast Florida Honor Flight, visit www.honorflightsefl.org or www.facebook.com/honorflight or call (855) FLYAVET (855-359-2838).
