RED BLUFF — Contagious smiles filled the arena Saturday as contestants from the California High School Rodeo Association taught their rodeo skills to contestants at the Special Rodeo.
The annual event is a chance for disabled youth from the community to learn about and participate in a rodeo event during the Red Bluff Shootout, a rodeo competition between Districts One, Two and Three. The Special Rodeo pairs youth with special needs and contestants in a number of events that include mock bull riding, barrel racing, pole bending, roping, goat tying and saddle bronc riding. There are no animals used in the Special Rodeo.
“We reached out to various schools and organizations in the five neighboring counties,” said Michele Johnson, an organizer. “Attendance varies every year, but we always hope for as many as we can. We’ve had calls about it from Oregon on down to Sacramento so hopefully we’ll have a great turnout.”
The 2019 competition drew 26 contestants, Johnson said.
“District Two is in charge of providing the lunches and we also get a lot of help from the community who has donated toward it as well as Cargill,” Johnson said.
The owners of Cargill had youth who participated in high school rodeo. The company helped bring the special rodeo into being, as one of the owners’ children had special needs and the event allowed the child to participate.
“My nephew is 35 and I remember them doing the special rodeo when he was a freshman, so it’s been going for at least 20 years,” Johnson said.
District One President Robert Tilton said he enjoys the Shootout in part because of the Special Rodeo.
“It’s neat to see all the contestants helping with the Special Rodeo and to see all the smiles and enthusiasm,” Tilton said.
Parent Jodie Hughes said she enjoyed getting to see her son Hunter Hughes help.
“It’s an awesome event that really opens the kids’ eyes to opportunities a lot of them didn’t know existed,” Hughes said. “They really get excited about the event and it’s a chance for our kids to realize how good they have it and see a different side of life.”
District One contestant Kamish Wagner, of Red Bluff, was helping out with the event Saturday in between running a vendor booth and competing in five events.
“I really liked it last year,” Wagner said. “I loved helping them learn about rodeo and watching all the smiles and the way they would light up.”
