About Us

“Preserving our Western heritage while educating for the future”

Hancock College Boosters, Inc. (Boosters) was officially incorporated back in the 80’s, but eventually went dormant after a period of non-use.  After the loss of our dear friend, Joe White, in 2000, the organization was re-established and our 501c3 Non-Profit status was brought back to life by Jim Glines & Keith Pierce, along with other Hancock athletic enthusiasts.  An agreement between the Boosters & Allan Hancock College was made to raise $150,000 over a period of five years to remodel and rename the gymnasium for Joe White.  The First Annual Joe White Memorial Dinner & Auction was held in August of 2001 and with the help of our generous community, the Boosters accomplished that goal in just two years.

The Boosters have continued to host this annual dinner & auction every August since – with the exception of 2020, due to the pandemic, when we were held to an on-line version.  Between 2001 and 2018, the Booster Board would meet with the Athletic Director and college Administrators to discuss the needs of the Athletic Department.  During that time, the Boosters raised roughly $850,000 – meeting every request for capital improvements presented.

In 2019, the Boosters transitioned this annual event in order to form an Intercollegiate Rodeo Team. Rodeo has been a long-standing tradition in our community, with our local Elks Rodeo celebrating 80 years (2023) of providing a multi-day, professional rodeo annually.  We formed Allan Hancock College’s first Intercollegiate Rodeo Team.  We became a member of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and our team competes against eleven other established teams in the West Coast Region.

As the college works to develop and expand its valuable Agriculture program, preparing students for further studies and careers in our rich and diverse local economy, it was a natural fit to include rodeo, ranching heritage and animal husbandry as experienced through the art and sport of rodeo.  Offering this program at Allan Hancock College allows an outstanding opportunity for students, who are not yet “University” bound, to obtain an affordable education and compete in a sport offered in very limited areas across the country and the state of California. In fact, Allan Hancock College is one of only 10 colleges in California and Nevada (West Coast Region) offering an Intercollegiate Rodeo Team.  In contrast, the California High School Rodeo Association (CHSRA) is divided into nine districts with over 600 members competing across the state annually, all looking for a place to compete after graduation.

The Boosters plan to continue to provide financial assistance through fundraising efforts, develop and nurture partnerships between Allan Hancock College, Elks Lodge #1538, Elks Recreation, our community of supporters and the student & animal athletes navigating their way towards an affordable education and a place to grow & compete in the rich culture that is rodeo.