Rotarians hear about youth rodeo

Rotary Club Treasurer Joe Roth (r) presents a $500 check on behalf of the Rotary Club of Livingston to (l-r) Patty Oakley and Earline McLeod for the Polk County Youth Rodeo Association (PCYRA). PCYRA will host its 61st annual Polk County Youth Rodeo July 6-9. Photo by Emily Banks Wooten

By Emily Banks Wooten

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 Patty Oakley and Earline McLeod of the Polk County Youth Rodeo Association recently provided the program for the Rotary Club of Livingston, emphasizing that they’re presently gearing up for the 61^st annual Polk County Youth Rodeo which is slated for July 6-9 at the Barney Wiggins Memorial Arena on Hwy. 146.

Patty said the association maintains the arena and hosts playdays April through October, normally on the first Saturday, excluding July when the rodeo is held. She said they tore down and redid the bull chutes and the roping area and also remodeled the concession stand.

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She reported that this year’s youth rodeo will be what’s called a rough stock rodeo and there will be saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and bull riding.

“We want to keep doing what we are doing so we can provide for the kids,” Earline said, commenting on how cute the mutton busting is and that the association gives away buckles, saddles and tack to the students.

“We’re trying to keep rodeo alive. It’s a lot of fun,” Patty said, adding, “We depend on our supporters, our sponsors.”

The ladies said as of now, they have 170 contestants, which is a little up from last year. They added that this year, the rodeo is sanctioned as a junior world finals qualifier for rough stock and that the bull riding will be on July 8-9.

Following the presentation, Rotarian Richard Gilbert gave a brief overview of the formation of the Polk County Youth Rodeo Association, commenting that the Rotary Club and the Lions Club were the founding organizers for the association.