Back a couple of years ago or so, I believe the year was about 1957, there were some very young adventurous cowboys who loved to ride horses. Born and raised on farms, horses were just as common to these young men as Skateboards and Heelies are to today's youth. . There were three brothers, Jim, Bill, and Dick Rucinski and some buddies, Harold Krueger, Tim Foley, and Eric Wiley who rode horses whenever they could, or I should say after all the farm work was done.

  They spent time riding at Herb Hemmersbock land where Herb (the Owner of the local Ford Dealer in Wisconsin Rapids at the time) owned a horse farm, and raised horses. Herb was located about 3 miles out of the City in the town of Seneca, at Highway 13 and Elm Road. They would get together to ride and maybe put on a horse show and such. They all had a great time doing so.

  Well one day, Harold had an idea and shared it with his buddies; he wanted to start a horse riding club. Well they all thought it was a good idea, all they had to do was come up with a name. At that time the young cowboys all had lived in the Town of Seneca and did most of their riding there as well. So they came up with the name "The Seneca Rough Riders". Wow... did that fit them or what? And so it was, the new name of their club was "The Seneca Rough Riders".

  They eventually met up with John Schultz, the second generation owner of the Oak Lawn Stables. John is a very kind and honorable man who's stable was located on Seneca Road, just to the north of the Village of Port Edwards. And, the Seneca Rough Riders started to ride and and game there as well. As time went on, these youngsters had met more and more people who loved horses, who loved riding, and loved showing their animals. While John already had horse shows at his stables, it was his passion for horses and kindness towards kids that help start the Gymkhana Games (or also known as Speed Shows).

  As time had gone by, The Seneca Rough Riders had members not just Seneca anymore but had members from Wisconsin Rapids, Port Edwards, and Nekoosa. In a sportsman's type of decision in about 1962, it was agreed that the Seneca Rough Riders would be renamed to accommodate and reflect everyone in the club. So, it was renamed to The Tri-City Riding Club. (The Tri-City Area would be the Wisconsin Rapids, Port Edwards, and Nekoosa area). This would mark the end of the era for the Seneca Rough Riders.

  On April 2nd, 1965, The Tri-City Riding Club was Incorporated, and recognized by the Great State of Wisconsin as an Organization. And the first elected board members signed the by-laws of the organization into record. The signing board members were: Calford W. Hurd, Ralph J. Forbes, and Edward Randup.

  This would be the new beginning of the old club. It had also started even more friendships, more learning, and even more adventure, living up to the new clubs purpose as written in it's By-Laws: To develop and promote good fellowship among horse lovers and to interest and educate to the public in the recreational possibilities. The newspaper clipping from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, unsure of the year. Cites Dick Rucinski (Age 16) and Arnie Francis (Age 17) as going on a 150 mile horse back ride. (Click on Picture on Right to Read the Article)

 

  As time had gone by the members of the Tri-City Riding Club, eventually had beautiful light blue western shirts made with the insignia that boasted their membership to the club. (Picture on Left, Click on Picture to see it closer) This insignia remains fairly unchanged, and is still worn proudly by it's members today.

 

About 1967, John Schultz, had decided it was time to retire. His Oak Lawn Stables had closed, and the Tri-City Riding Club had looked for another place to ride and put on there shows. They had found a place to ride for about 3 years near Grand Rapids. It was just some land that they could set up on just off of 48th Street

 

About 1970 somewhere, the Tri-City Riding Club had met up with Wayne Brody who had owned the Lazy B Ranch in Kellner, Wisconsin. The Lazy B eventually became a big hit... The Tri-City Riding Club started to ride out there and put on their shows. Now, in the early 1970's, around 1972, became home to the Famous Little Britches Rodeo. The Lazy B Ranch had made a name for itself by hosting all of these events.

 

The Little Bitches Rodeo, became a hit and it took many organizations to keep it going. The Grand Rapids Lions Club, Tri-City Riding Club, Port Edwards Lions Club, and other Organizations came together and helped put on the Little Bitches Rodeo. They had even former a Committee of all these Groups to take care of the Grounds.

 

The Little Britches Rodeo was a great thing in it's time. But by the late 1990's, hard times and little interest taken it's toll, and as things came to a slow down, most of the clubs for the Grounds Committee had dropped out. And by about 2002, the Little Bitches Rodeo had withdrew from the Lazy B Ranch. The Tri-City Riding Club, was still going strong and still doing it's Shows at the Lazy B. Eventually, all the Clubs of the Grounds Committee would quit except The Tri-City Riding Club, they were the last sole survivors of the Grounds Committee, and the last ones putting on shows at the Lazy B.

 

Now, by about 2004 or 2005, Wayne Brody decided it was time to sell the Lazy B. It was sold and bought by a developer. The Tri-City Riding Club had then contacted the new owner and a deal was made to continue leasing the land. In 2008, under hard economic times, the Lazy B's Land was taken a back by the Bank. The Land was then split up into 3 sections, with the Arena being kept in tact with 5 acres of land.

 

The Tri-City Riding Club was determined to keep going, and looked in possibilities of moving else where, or leasing the land from the bank. After several discussions by the members at Club Meetings, a motion was made for the Club to try to purchase the land. The Club appointed Dick Ruscinski to talk with the Bank and look more into the details. The Papers for the purchase were supposed to be signed April 29th, 2009, but there was a small set back with the paperwork. Finally, at the June 4th, 2009 Club Meeting, Dick Ruscinski presented the Papers from the Bank to sign. And the President of the Tri-City Riding Club, Jim Yetter, had signed the papers to purchase. It was a done deal... The Lazy B Ranch, was now owned by the Tri-City Riding Club.

 

The Lazy B Ranch, in a final decision, would now be renamed to the Tri-City Riding Club Grounds. After 4 decades, the Club would finally have a place to call it's home.