COEUR d'ALENE - The fourth annual Cowboy Ball fundraiser, hosted by the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo Foundation, raised $73,455 on April 10.

The proceeds from this event will fund capital improvements at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds and provide educational scholarships for area youths.

Major sponsors include: Kootenai/Shoshone County Farm Bureau, Texas Roadhouse, Idaho Forest Group, Super 1 Foods, Paradise Amusements, Midway Automotive, McKinlay & Peters Equine Hospital, RR Chatters & Company, Fox Trailers, Odom Distributing and K102 Country.

"We are so appreciative to the many sponsors and supporters that made the Cowboy Ball a great success," said Dane Dugan, general manager for the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. "It is very apparent that this community has a passion for their fairgrounds and want to see it continue to serve as the community's gathering place well into the future."

The proceeds from this event have funded lights and heating in the Jacklin building, grounds-wide "barn red" paint project, grand entryway into the fairgrounds and the main arena viewing platform. More than $17,000 in scholarships has been provided to area youths.