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The Golden Spike Arena in Ogden, Utah will host the second annual
Rodeo Education Day from 9 am until noon on Nov. 1 for local elementary
school students in conjunction with the Wilderness Circuit Finals
Rodeo. The event was a hit with students during last year's event.
Jan Wilson of the Golden Spike Events Center will serve as coordinator
for the event again this year. Wilson reported that approximately
300 students from Weber, Davis, and Morgan counties have been invited
to attend the event this year.
Utah radio personality Cowboy Ted will sit behind the microphone
in the announcer's booth and serve as host for the event again this
year. After welcoming the students to last year's event, Cowboy
Ted introduced the respective schools to their cowboy/cowgirl group
leader for the day and to the cowboys and cowgirls serving as workshop
facilitators for the day. All of the presenters from last year's
event are expected back for this year's education day.
The leaders (including Cowboy Ted) escorted the students to different
workshop stations, which were set-up throughout the indoor arena
facility to allow the students a first-hand and up close and personal
opportunity to learn about a host of topics related to the sport
of rodeo.
Veteran PRCA barrelman Kevin Higley of Hooper, Utah joined forces
with PRCA rodeo announcer Ed Bingham of South Jordan, Utah behind
the bucking chutes at last year's event. The cowboys introduced
students to the rough stock events associated with the sport of
rodeo. The pair of rodeo veterans demonstrated the proper use of
equipment including bareback riggin', bull rope, bronc rider's saddle
and the use of flank straps during a rodeo performance.
Ogden area cowboy Kyle Kosoff has won a host of Wilderness Circuit
championships in the calf roping event and he gave a live demonstration
(complete with horse and rope) for the students regarding the finer
points related to the timed portion of professional rodeo.
Former Miss Rodeo Utah, Angie Burton also hails from the rural
town of Hooper. Burton is currently serving as the host of a weekly
Rodeo Report for KKAT radio station in Salt Lake City, and she will
serve as the host for the Rodeo Queen workshop.
Randee Munns of Garland, Utah is a longtime PRCA rodeo clown and
he was joined last year by PRCA bullfighter Kelly Jennings of Idaho,
to talk to the students about the entertainment segment of a rodeo
clown, as well as, the lifesaving tactics of the professional bullfighter.
All of the rodeo experts come together at the conclusion of the
event and combine their talents and rodeo experience to speak about
the sport and the PRCA's mandate regarding the humane treatment
of animals involved with the sport of rodeo.
"This is a great event and all of us really enjoy working with
the kids and providing them with a little better understanding of
the sport of rodeo," Higley said. At the conclusion of the instructional
portion of the program, the professional cowboys and cowgirls gather
in the arena and sign autographs and photos while they visit with
the students.
Each student is also given a complimentary ticket to attend the
opening night performance of the Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo
to be held Nov. 1-3 at the Golden Spike Events Center at the Weber
County Fairgrounds in Ogden.
Cowboy Ted will also provide students with a complimentary copy
of the Cowboy Ted's Kids Club Rodeo Coloring Book, along with information
about joining the Cowboy Ted's Kids Club.
Teachers and administrators who are interested in obtaining more
information about the event or scheduling their class to attend
the Rodeo Education Day are encouraged to contact the Golden Spike
Events Center by calling (801) 399-8798 or toll-free at (800) 44-ARENA.
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