Polo on the Prairie draws record crowd
By David H. Waller
Polo on the Prairie once again brought hundreds of supporters together Saturday at Rancho Verde, located between Albany and Breckenridge on Hubbard Creek Reservoir. The annual fundraiser, benefiting the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, marked its 39th year with what organizers believe was the largest crowd in the event’s history. This year’s event raised nearly $1 million for cancer care and research.
More than 1,400 people attended this year’s event, which combined a polo match, a chuckwagon barbecue provided by Joe Allen’s Pit Bar-B-Que, and a live concert. Despite heavy rainfall the week before, which left the field saturated, the event continued as planned thanks to a large volunteer effort on Saturday morning. Following damage to the field during Friday’s semifinal matches, dozens of players, staff members, and volunteers worked with sand and hand tools to repair the playing surface before the championship.
“It was all hands on deck,” said event founder Henry Musselman. “Everybody had to work for their breakfast Saturday morning. Players, workers, tent crews — everybody came together to make it happen.”
The championship match ended with a team from Dallas taking the top spot, made up of Kenneth Mayer, Clark Mayer, Rob Stenzel, and Van Miller. A total of four teams competed throughout the weekend.
Following the polo matches, guests enjoyed the Joe Allen’s barbecue dinner, and an evening concert by Charley Crockett. Originally from San Benito, Texas, Crockett has gained national attention for his blend of traditional country, blues, and Americana. His songs such as “Welcome to Hard Times,” “Jamestown Ferry,” and “I Can Help” have earned him a strong following across the country. Musselman described Crockett as “a fabulous performer” and credited entertainment coordinator Laura Childress of LFC Entertainment for securing his appearance during Crockett’s recent rise in popularity.
“We try to catch entertainers on their way up, and Laura has done a great job with that over the years,” Musselman said. Childress has been booking musical acts for Polo on the Prairie since 2005.
The evening concluded with a fireworks show by Pyro Shows of Texas, lighting up the sky above Rancho Verde.
Polo on the Prairie is MD Anderson’s oldest active fundraising benefit. Since the event’s founding, it has raised more than $12 million to support the cancer center’s patient programs, research initiatives, and outreach efforts.
Musselman emphasized that while raising funds is important, the event also helps generate widespread support for MD Anderson’s mission. “It’s not just about raising money — it’s also about generating support for MD Anderson,” he said. “It brings attention to the fact that Texans have the best cancer facility in the world, right here in Houston.”
Planning is already underway for next year’s 40th anniversary of Polo on the Prairie. “We started working on next year yesterday,” Musselman said with a laugh.
