Citizens form rough stock rodeo

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
An idea years in the making is coming to fruition on Monday, July 27, when the recently formed Weston County Mini Roughstock Rodeo Association holds its first annual event at the Weston County Fair. 
The free event will be open to all kids ages 5 to 18 and include mutton busting, mini bareback and bull riding, a mini wild horse race and high school bareback and bull riding, according to Mike McFarland, the secretary-treasurer of the newly created association. 
“We had been kicking the idea around for two to three years. We decided we needed to do something for the kids,” McFarland said. 
Putting their thoughts into action, the group of “rodeo minded” people came together to form the association and approached the fair board about hosting a rodeo at this year’s fair.  The group’s board of directors includes Eric Gewecke, Kacy Jones, George Graham, Tim Sewell, Scott Sewell, Alvaro Baeza, Nancy McFarland, Tim Jones and McFarland. 
“The fair board was enthusiastic but said they didn’t have any money for us, but we could do it. So, we formed the association and split up into different areas and just started going around and asking for sponsorships,” McFarland said. “I like to think of it more as a partnership. We are partnering with them for the kids. The response from the partners has been overwhelming. I can’t believe how fast and easy it was to raise the money.”
With sponsorships in hand, McFarland said, the association reached out and received bids on the mini ponies and horses, the mini bulls and the bulls for the high school-aged kids. Thanks to Jason Whitney, a local rancher, there will be sheep for the mutton busting. 
According to McFarland, the group announced the event on Facebook and in press releases sent throughout the surrounding areas. It also created the Weston County Mini Roughstock Rodeo page. To date, the group has used an online venue for signing participants up for the event. 
Before the event, according to a press release from the association, parents should visit the Weston County Mini Roughstock Rodeo Association Facebook page, the Weston County Fair Facebook page or westoncountyfair.com to complete the online entry form. 
The number of participants will be limited, McFarland said, to prevent the animals from being overworked. 
“For the mutton busting, we will be taking 25 kids. You can’t abuse someone’s livestock when they donate them,” McFarland said. “For the mini ponies and bulls, we will be taking 20 riders for each age group and a total of 12 teams for the mini wild horse race.” 
For those who may not sign up before the event, McFarland said, the group will use a waiting list to fill the slots of no shows or kids that might get too nervous behind the chute. Parents will be required to sign a COVID-19 release form on the day of the event, despite it being included in the registration forms, he said.