By PAIGE CARSWELL
Soon, there will be an opportunity to watch gutsy 20-year-olds take
their turn at bull-riding, adventuresome 10-year-olds try to stay on
bucking ponies, and daring five-year-olds try their hand at riding wild
and crazy... sheep?
It's no joke. A new event will take place at this year's Cowley County
Fair. The Kansas Junior Bull Riders Association will conduct a junior
rough stock event with sheep, calf, steer, bull and bronc riding at 7:30
p.m. July 30 at the Cowley County Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena in Winfield.
Kent Miller, president of the Cowley County Fair board, said that there
has been bull riding before, but this is the first rough stock event
solely for youth.
"Open bull-riding is more for professionals," Miller said. "This is for
juniors. We're trying to make it a youth-oriented event. It'll be kind
of a neat opportunity for the kids."
The KJBA offers sheep riding for ages six and under, calf riding for
eight and under, senior calves for 10 and under, steer riding for 12 and
under, junior bulls for 15 and under and senior bulls for 21 and under.
In addition, there will be bronc riding for eight and under, 10 and
under, 12 and under, 15 and under and 21 and under. The animals will be
chosen according to the age group.
"This is a good idea for someone who wants to try the waters," Miller
said. "It's a way to build some skills in a little less threatening of a
situation. They're not just going at it cold turkey."
Although members accumulate points to qualify for future rodeos, kids
don't have to be members in order to ride with the association.
This is the first summer series by the KJBA, which was started in June
2008 by Bret and Jennifer Pope. It is the first rough stock only
association in Kansas for youth only.
The Popes realized the need for a rough stock only association in Kansas
because of the qualification standards for the Youth Bull Riders World
Finals in Fort Worth, Texas. In order to qualify, youth must participate
in rough stock only competitions.
Jennifer, who is the treasurer for the KJBA, said that the best part
about the organization is the number of levels available to youth to
gain experience.
"We have each level that the kids practice on to move up to the senior
bulls," Jennifer said.
The fee to enter ranges from $25 for sheep riding to $50 for senior bull
riding. The entry fee will go toward the pot, stock and association
charge. In addition to money that competitors pay into the pot, Cowley
County is putting in $1,200.
"That's huge," Jennifer said. "They're putting in that money to give it
to the kids, and that's what we're doing it for, is for the kids."
The face that they are indeed making a positive influence on children is
something that has caught the eye of several people, including Kansas
rodeo announcer Scott Fry. Fry got his start announcing at youth rodeos,
but now does rodeos across the Midwest, including Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma
and Nebraska. Still, when the opportunity arose, he decided to
participate in one of the KJBA events in Kingman.
"The KJBA is one of those deals where you kind of want to be involved,"
Fry said. "They not only challenge the kids to be winners but to be
winners outside of the arena. It's a pretty good organization for kids
to be involved with."
Fry was especially impressed with stock contractor David Berry.
"David Berry is just a really positive influence on those kids. He
talked to each and every one of them kids that rode. He'd tell them what
they was needing to do right and encouraged them to keep on competing
and succeeding. You just can't say enough for him and the positive
influence that he is on the kids."
Jennifer agreed.
"A lot of contractors want the stock to win, because it means they're
getting better," she said. "To David, he'd rather see the kids win. If
one of them gets hurt, he's down in the arena. He did this, so he's been
them before. The kids are really drawn to him. They flock to him."
Jennifer said that the organization is just getting its feet wet, and
that they hope to be keeping up the association for as many years as
there continue to be young rough stock riders in Kansas.
"We're in it for the long haul. We're going to be doing this for a long
time," Jennifer said.
To enter the event, call (785) 893-2691 July 27 or 28 from 6 to 10 p.m.,
and specify what category you would like to enter in. For more
information about the KJBA, visit www.kjba.org.