Posse Events

The posse is involved in many events throughout the year. Some of these events are more for fun, some of them are to assist the Sheriff, and some of them are both. Since the posse is strictly volunteer and not funded by the department, the posse members collect donations from numerous businesses throughout the area and have various fundraisers to raise money to buy supplies.

The Annual Dinner Dance


			Everyone is invited to attend, whether they are affiliated with the posse or not. Tickets are sold in advance for this event and local businesses donate goods that will be auctioned off. Attendees are encouraged throughout the night to purchase raffle tickets either for the donated items or for the 50/50 raffle that is held at the end of the evening.

			Each year has a theme. The theme for 2005 was "Valentine's Day"; quite fitting for an event held on February 12. There is always good food, camaraderie, and lots of dancing to the live band. Items like TVs and pocketwatches are raffled off and the winner of the 50/50 raffle has been known to take home over $400!

			The posse members work hard each year to make the Dinner Dance
	event a success. It has become a favorite for many in the community, and is a wonderful way for the posse to raise funds!

Parades


			The posse has participated in many parades during its existance, and will continue to do so. Although parades still have their purpose, as they did when the posse began, the horses and the riders enjoy parading downtown. They have graced the streets in many different cities, like Byron, Bancroft, and Morrice.

			Both horse and rider are proud to carry flags, whether it be the American flag, the Michigan State flag, or the Shiawassee County Sheriff's Posse flag.

The Spring Shoot


			The Michigan Sheriff's Mounted Association (MSMA) sponsors a Spring Shoot. There is a different county chosen each year to host this event. Often times the shoot is held at the Shiawassee County range facility.

Volunteer Work


			The posse fingerprints children at different events throughout the year. Depending on the event, they sometimes fingerprint anywhere from 100 to 200 children.

			Posse members also put on demonstrations like the one in Bancroft with
	about 40 students. This program was to show the kids how much time and training we spend working with our horses. Instinctively, horses are creatures of flight and it takes a very long time to gain the amount of trust required to be a police horse. The children were shown how Apache could master an obstacle course and knock over barrels because he had learned to trust in his rider. The kids got to pet his nose and some souvenirs were given out.

The Shiawassee County Fair





	The posse provides security on the fairgrounds the entire week of the fair.

The Pony Express Ride

The Pony Express is a fundraiser in which posse members from around the state sell official stationary for a donation. The donation is used to help someone, usually a child, with a life threatening illness. It is sponsored by the Michigan Sheriff's Mounted Association (MSMA) and is hosted by a different county each year the second weekend in June.

Each horse and rider team carry a mailbag that contains the letters written on the official stationary. They ride for one mile and then hand it off "Pony Express" style (on the run) to the next horse and rider. This process continues until each member attending the ride gets a turn carrying the bag.

The recipient of the donations is nominated and voted on by the entire membership in March. In 2005, the Pony Express ride generated over $8000!

There are other activities that take place during the weekend as well. There is an obstacle course, a parade, and a horse show, aside from the Pony Express itself.