Colorado mascot 'Ralphie' hails from Dawes County

When the Colorado football team takes the field against Northern Colorado for their season opener on Friday night, a Chadron connection will take the field as well.

Dawes County bison rancher Will Isham, a 1980 CU-Boulder graduate, donated a bison heifer to the university to take over the role of “Ralphie” the live mascot that makes the trip around Folsom Field with the care of her handlers.

The newest Ralphie was donated to the program in November 2020.

Isham’s have a deep tie to the University of Colorado that spreads across five members of the family since the late 1960’s.

Isham’s bison will don the name Ralphie VI, after Ralphie V was retired in late fall of 2019.

The running of Ralphie at both home and away games has been a Buffs tradition since 1967.