NAJA SHRINE CIRCUS---RAPID CITY

Ari Steeples, ringmaster for the NAJA Shrine Circus, announces the opening of the circus in the Don Barnett Arena at the Civic Center on Friday afternoon, April 30, 2010. (Toby Brusseau/Journal staff
The elephant in the room: Young and old flock to Shrine Circus
Cindy Card Buchholz Journal Correspondent
Posted: Friday, April 30, 2010 6:00 pm

Wanted: Elephant riders now through Sunday. No experience required.
The elephants are part of the 60th NAJA Shrine Circus going on now through Sunday at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Circus-goers have the opportunity to hitch a ride on an elephant before the start of each show and again during the intermission.
Five-year-old James Graves of Rapid City said Friday that he was not afraid to ride high atop one of the elephants by himself. His father, Eric Graves, stayed on the ground and took pictures. This was James's third circus and his 6-week-old sister Sofia's first. His mother, Katie Graves, said the Shrine Circus is a very affordable outing for families and something all kids should experience at least once.
People can take in two hours of live entertainment that includes animal acts, a variety of human circus performances and comedy skits.
"Circuses are one of our hallmarks and our biggest fundraisers," Lowell Holmgren, past potentate for the NAJA Shriners, said. Circuses are also a method of public visibility, he said.
"We like people to know who we are, what we do and what we stand for."
He said the Shriners' primary philanthropy is hospitals for children.
"We own and operate 22 hospitals across North America that deal with orthopedic problems in children" -- specifically, problems associated with bones, the major muscles, muscular dystrophy, cleft palates and spina bifida, he said.
"We also treat children who suffer burn injuries."
Gloria Gilbert of Rapid City said she attends the circus just about every year and likes supporting what the Shriners do.
"I don't mind spending money for a good cause," she said.
Holmgren said the other thing Shriners stand for is fun, and they make a conscious effort to present an entertaining experience for the public that is also affordable.
"We make money, and that helps support our operations and keep us here, and we want to make it available to as many people as possible," he said.
The Shriners donated hundreds of tickets for Friday's matinee performance to area nursing homes and schools.
Denzel Black Bull, 10, rode one of two school buses from Porcupine School to attend Friday afternoon's circus. He and fellow fourth-graders Tre Mesteth and Tyrell Killsback amassed quite a collection of toys the Shriners sold, including strobe swords, glow slime and laser guns. Black Bull said he spent most of his allowance before the circus even started, but he was pretty sure he'd buy more.
"I saved some money for the intermission," he said.