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Riding, roping, and ranching Third-graders learn the art of the cowboy
Sierra Vista Herald ^ | Dana Cole

Posted on 02/25/2017 9:58:32 AM PST by SandRat

TOMBSTONE – Saddle up and hang onto your hats! It’s rodeo time!

While Arizona celebrates Tucson Rodeo festivities, third-graders from Huachuca City School are learning all about riding, roping and ranching, as well as a little rodeoing on the side. On Wednesday, about 50 young buckaroos traveled to Tombstone High School for a crash course on cowboys and ranching.

The Future Farmers of America students organized the event and worked with the young cowboys and cowgirls as they dabbled in bull riding and roping and learned how to saddle a horse. They met goats and other petting zoo animals and tried riding a bucking bull (barrel, that is). Rosie “the rodeo clown” Fulton was on hand to help the kids to their feet when the barrel got the best of them. Several kids also opted for face painting.

Third grade teachers Pam Carns and Deborah Paul had been planning the morning field trip as part of a reading project about the history of 1800s cowboys.

“We use the children’s book ‘Yippee Yay!’ by Gail Gibbons, which is a nonfiction expository about the old west cowboy,” said Paul. “The children learn about things like cattle drives, the role of horses in ranching and roping.”

The FFA students set up different stations for the kids to explore and managed to keep everyone active and occupied with a list of hands-on projects.

“I was one of the group leaders, so I led them around to the group stations,” said Kenna Conley, a sophomore. “We had bull riding, face painting, roping, a petting zoo, barrel racing and a greenhouse tour. We also showed the kids how to saddle a horse. They were really interested in everything and asked a lot of good questions.”

It was Fulton who kept everyone safe after the bucking bull (barrel) launching.

“It was really rewarding to work with the kids,” she said. “I did some bullfighting routines after they were thrown to show them how rodeo clowns keep cowboys safe.”

Freshman FFA member Kayla Baird took photos, spoke the younger students about FFA and what the program offers and helped with the face painting.

“They absolutely loved the face painting,” she said. “I had so much fun working with the kids.”

FFA instructor Katie Swaim said the project was such a success, she hopes more classes participate next year. “It really went well,” she said. “We had multiple stations going on and all the students really enjoyed it.”

Third-grader Alex Edlund summed up his full day of rodeoing with, “Today was a great day. I got face painted and I did tons of activities. I really liked barrel racing. Our team won and the rodeo clown ‘Rosie’ high-fived us.”

Wednesday was Malachi Worley’s first day at Huachuca City School.

“I enjoyed the roping,” she said. “They taught me how to rope and I learned that it is dangerous, so you shouldn’t play with ropes all the time. Even if you feel you’re the best, you need to be careful so you don’t hurt yourself. Learning about cowboys was exciting because it was my first day at school and I didn’t expect to go on a field trip on my first day.”

While Damien Sikon enjoyed the whole cowboy experience, he liked the bull riding best.

“I thought the bull riding was fun, especially when I was bucked off,” he said. “I also liked being able to rope a bull for the very first time.”

On Thursday, 24 FFA students and Swaim traveled to the 92nd annual Tucson Rodeo where they started the day by watching the parade. Then they were off to the rodeo grounds for a full day of rodeo competition.

“We were so fortunate. The president of the Tucson Rodeo Association donated all our tickets,” said Swaim. “We got 30 tickets, which was right at $600 worth. It was a lot of fun.”

    

If You Go

Tucson’s 92nd annual rodeo - La Fiesta de los Vasqueros - winds down this weekend, with the final two days of rodeo action today and tomorrow.

The following schedule is for both days: • Gates open at 11 a.m.

• Coors barn opens at noon with a live feed of the rodeo.

• Muttin’ bustin’ and the junior rodeo starts at 12:30 p.m.

• Pro rodeo competition goes from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

• Coors barn dance is from 4 to 8 p.m. ($5 online or at the door - kids 12 and under are free).


TOPICS: Education; Local News; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: arizona; cowboy; huachucacity; rodeo; tombstone; tucson

1 posted on 02/25/2017 9:58:32 AM PST by SandRat
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To: SandRat

Saw this bumper sticker on a Cowgirls Pick-Em-Up at Rodeo in Davie years back

“See Dick Ride, See Dick Rope, See Dick Rodeo, Cowgirls Love Dick”


2 posted on 02/25/2017 10:02:21 AM PST by CGASMIA68
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To: SandRat

I love Tombstone, have stopped there several times. Enjoy talking to the locals.


3 posted on 02/25/2017 10:18:48 AM PST by Rusty0604
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To: SandRat

The Future Farmers of America no longer exists. The
complete title was dropped in the 1970s in favor of
just FFA. The organization which began in the 1920s
was boys only and was affiliated with rural town HS
vocational agriculture science classes. Girls were
brought in during the early 70s and FFA chapters
started springing up in urban areas. Enough people
believed that the word “farmer” stigmatized the
organization as interest in agri-business careers
was booming that the title was dropped. As a son
of the 60s I regret the loss of the great title.
Farming is among the most noble of professions and
it is the cornerstone of all agricultural endeavors.


4 posted on 02/25/2017 11:07:05 AM PST by Sivad (NorCal red turf)
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To: SandRat

This is awesome! Wish more kids could experience this.


5 posted on 02/25/2017 11:11:37 AM PST by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: Sivad

You sound like someone from GREEN ACREs? Oh yeah, Oliver Douglas.


6 posted on 02/25/2017 11:13:57 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country.)
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To: CGASMIA68

It was obviously not a lesbian cowgirl affair ; )


7 posted on 02/25/2017 11:14:25 AM PST by leaning conservative (snow coming, school cancelled, yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: SandRat

Rodeos rock


8 posted on 02/25/2017 11:16:34 AM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: leaning conservative
and when in Tombstone they can ride an old west Stagecoach, might even have the B troop, 4th Memorial Cav (Buffalo Soldiers) ride by.
9 posted on 02/25/2017 11:21:52 AM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country.)
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To: SandRat
Has anyone warned these kids about Donald Trump?

Shouldn't that be the first thing done.

10 posted on 02/25/2017 11:38:06 AM PST by blam
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To: leaning conservative

doubt if those exist.......Yet


11 posted on 02/25/2017 11:45:11 AM PST by CGASMIA68
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To: CGASMIA68

12 posted on 02/25/2017 12:18:09 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country.)
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To: Nifster

I enjoy the PBR bull riding on CBS on Sundays.


13 posted on 02/25/2017 12:40:32 PM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: SandRat

Sorry thats a child.You blew it


14 posted on 02/25/2017 1:12:44 PM PST by CGASMIA68
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To: CGASMIA68
Nope, she goes to elementary school. She's in the 3rd grade.
15 posted on 02/25/2017 1:23:08 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country.)
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To: SandRat

were not on the same page


16 posted on 02/25/2017 1:33:54 PM PST by CGASMIA68
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To: ridesthemiles

I won’t watch that station

I do watch RFD


17 posted on 02/25/2017 2:48:54 PM PST by Nifster (I see puppy dogs in the clouds)
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To: SandRat

You sound like someone who might have an urban liberal’s
understanding and appreciation of agriculture and
agriculturalists.

Coincidentally, my dad, a WIA WWII paratrooper became a
farmer after college, returned to school for an ag teacher
credential, started two HS vo-ag departments, and
retired as California State Asst FFA advisor. He earned
a PhD in vocational education along the way. He passed
in ‘15 after surviving 70 years with a titanium plate in
skull from his war wound. Pop despised the Green Acres
TV program because it depicted rural people as morons
while there were no such programs that revealed the reality
of rural people.


18 posted on 02/25/2017 3:35:51 PM PST by Sivad (NorCal red turf)
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To: CGASMIA68

The last time I rode a horse, my butt hurt and I couldn’t get my legs together afterward.

I felt so cheap.


19 posted on 02/25/2017 3:48:38 PM PST by PLMerite
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Cowboys are racist


20 posted on 02/25/2017 3:54:40 PM PST by dsrtsage (One half of all people have below average IQ. In the US the number is 54%fe)
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