American Legends and Wild Horses benefit concert is Aug. 20-21 in Minden

Grab your hat and boots, saddle up and head to the 5 Clover Ranch in Minden on Aug. 20-21 for the inaugural American Legends and Wild Horses, an outdoor concert to benefit wild horses and burros.

Five legends of country music are taking to the main stage for what organizers are describing as Woodstock, country style.

Taking the stage are David Frizzell, who charted hits like “Gonna Hire a Wino” and “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” Jimmy Fortune, lead singer for the Statler Brothers, Rex Allen Jr., known for “Goodbye” and “Lonely Street,” Marty Haggard, the son of the late Merle Haggard, and, of course, Nevada’s own Lacy J. Dalton.

Besides the two days of live entertainment, the event will offer food, beverage and craft vendors, large animal rescue demonstrations, pony rides, animal adoptions, Native American drumming demonstrations, face painting, raffles and silent auctions.

Festivities will open at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, with the opening of the Wild Horse and Burro Expo, presentation of colors by the Northern Nevada Coalition Color Guard and the National Anthem sung by Dalton.

There also will be a Pony Express demonstration with a high-speed run in the main arena. Other events throughout the day include a barbecue and autograph signings.

The concert, to be opened by Thunder Drum, a drum large enough for 20 people to play at the same time, will take place following the expo’s conclusion at about 5 p.m.

Activities will pick up at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast followed by the Wild Horse and Burro Expo and vendor booths at 9 a.m. Sunday also will include the National Anthem at 10 a.m. and Cowboy Church with Reverend Eddie Floyd. Performances will be by Richard Elloyan and Steve Wade, Ricochet, Krista Jenkins and cowboy poet Harold Roy Miller.

American Legends and Wild Horses joined with the Let ‘em Run Foundation, 5 Clover Ranch, Bently Ranch, Bently Heritage, Douglas County Tourism and Visitors Authority, Carson Valley Inn, Courtyard Marriott of Carson City and Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo. All monies raised will be used for the welfare and care of wild horses and burros.

Parking is $5 per car. Concert tickets are $37.50; children 12 and under are free. Sunday’s pancake breakfast costs $6 per person.

Concert and pancake tickets are available at www.eventbrite.com.

For more information or to volunteer or become a vendor, go to www.americanlegendsandwildhorses.com, or www.letemrun.com, or www.lacyjdalton.com.