Posted on 07/25/2003 9:05:42 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Cheyenne Frontier Days 2003 Challenge Rodeo
By Juliette Rule Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle
CHEYENNE – “Hooowwdyyy,” the pint-sized crowd yelled from the arena. White cowboy hats tipped forward, and the audience applauded.
It’s the Cheyenne Frontier Days Challenge Rodeo, and that welcome is a tradition all its own.
The 60 or so special-needs children compete, ride, rope and run with the help of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association members and others, who ferry kids to each event, snap pictures and offer them water in the noon heat.
It’s a modified rodeo with big emotional appeal.
“I’ve watched it so many times it makes me cry to see it,” said Bill Vernon. He’s a beefy man in a red shirt and a veteran of the CFD security team. Vernon has cheered on special kids from Cheyenne and other parts for years.
“It’s wonderful for those kids,” he added.
Children participate in modified versions of barrel racing, calf roping and steer wrestling, often using broomstick horses for travel and a solid push to “wrestle” the roughstock.
Bull riders sit secure in the knowledge that they’ll be gently see-sawed by the professional cowboys. Left hands are nonetheless raised in keeping with the PRCA rules.
From the mount of her trusty steed, Cassie Brown waved a small American flag as high above her head as her little arm would allow. One volunteer kept his hand on her back to ensure she didn’t slip out of the saddle, while another led the gentle bay-colored horse around a barrel.
She looked pretty confident on the horse, and she beamed on the dismount to a hay bale.
Cassie’s confidence didn’t come without practice Thursday. Before climbing in the saddle, she tossed a lasso above her head and very nearly roped the practice steer. A little help and a solid pull landed the 6-year-old, pigtailed girl a perfect score and a round of applause.
Her helper, Pat Gentry, snapped a picture on a disposable camera.
“I didn’t even fall,” Cassie said after collecting the trophy declaring her a July 2003 Challenge Rodeo Winner. A gold-colored plastic bucking bronc was mounted on top.
Not bad for the second-grader who is competing for the first time this year.
Cassie joined about 60 other winners during the two-day event.
The day before, Zach Forseth took home his own trophy. He sat quietly, taking in his victory.
“He’s really been looking forward to it,” his mom, JoAnn Forseth, said, noting Zach’s shyness.
The event is a mainstay at Cheyenne Frontier Days and brought a crowd of about 70 Thursday.
It’s an event that rodeo royalty also attend, along with a few rodeo clowns and CFD committee members.
Children are chosen by a committee, which reviews a short application submitted by parents of kids with special needs, organizer Christie Lysinger said.
“His teacher at school thought he needed to do this,” JoAnn Forseth said. Zach attends Hebard Elementary.
“She thought maybe he’d open up,” she added.
That was 7-year-old Zach’s first ride. In fact, Saturday was the first time he’d seen a rodeo, his dad, Rod Forseth, said.
Zach grew excited when Dad pointed out the steer ropers and told him that would be his event Wednesday.
“They just have so much fun,” said volunteer Heather Becerra. “My job is to get him from event to event, take lots of pictures, hold his stuff and offer moral support. We had a good time.”
Volunteers help the event move seamlessly, and it’s an experience that airmen Jason Krazer, 27, and Randy Kukorlo, 25, said they’ll gladly do again.
“He has more experience than we do,” Krazer said with a laugh, which was emulated by Drew Nielsen who sat nearby in his wheelchair. This is Drew’s third year as a competitor.
“I think this is the first time he hasn’t cried,” his mom, Tracy Nielsen, said. “The fact is that this is a great thing. There’s not a lot for kids with disabilities to do in this community.”
The modified rodeo, which is sponsored by Trilegiant and the CFD Buckle Club, is something many look forward to during CFD week.
“It’s the most rewarding thing we do,” Vernon said. “It really gets them (the volunteers). They just get these big hugs ’round the neck. It gets them.”
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