A local family’s quest to use steer wrestling to benefit the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation hits its ninth year Sunday, May 5.

The ninth annual Cross Family Benefit will begin at 1 p.m. at the Kingfisher Roundup Club Arena.

The event includes a steer wrestling jackpot, raffle and auction.  

Cowboys from all over the country, including Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas,  Alabama,  Louisiana,  Iowa and Illinois will be competing in the three-header.

Several cowboys scheduled to appear have qualified for the National Finals Rodeo.  

Local cowboy Mitchell Gardner is also entered.   

Justin Rumford, five-time PRCA Clown of the Year and Coors Man in the Can, is slated to announce the event.

The benefit has raised more than $27,000 for the OMRF.   

The event was started to celebrate Floyd Cross being cancer free.

“Since his passing three years ago, it’s been in his memory,” said his daughter, Sherrie Cross, one of the event’s organizers.

Now the event has even more family members to memorialize.

“Now it’s the ‘cowboy and four angels,’” Cross said. “Cousin Joyce Endres Schutkesting, aunt Betty Jo Cross Yoder, cousin Bonnie Yoder Flud and the youngest, cousin Jenni Spray.

“All passed because of health issues.”

Drawings will begin at 2 p.m. and at approximately 3 p.m. they will begin auctioning pies, ice cream, bread and cinnamon rolls.

All of the money raised will be donated to the OMRF and will stay in the state. It will be used for research, not salaries, Cross said.