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Rodeo promises day of fun for children
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| This year's Baytown Special Rodeo promises to offer a series of western-themed events and activities for its participants, including the return of the popular riding horses sponsored by the Baytown Rocking Horse Riders and the Harris County Junior Sheriff's Posse. |
By JOSH HARDWICK
The Baytown Special Rodeo Association (BSRA) is partnering with the Houston Livestock Show (HLSR) this year to put on a western-themed day of fun for youngsters with special needs.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13, the Baytown Special Rodeo 2008 will offer local youths with varying levels of disability the chance to participate in a series of rodeo events and activities.
From horseback riding and petting zoos to lessons on calf wrangling, the children will be given the opportunity to enjoy the kind of hands-on experiences that many would not otherwise have the opportunity to try.
“Youngsters with handicaps do not have many chances to participate in fun things scaled to their abilities,” said J.R. Miller, chairman of the BSRA committee. “Baytown Special Rodeo seeks to change that with a fun-filled day of activities designed just for them, their parents and their siblings – all at no cost to their families.”
Children have been invited from school districts in Goose Creek, Barber’s Hill, Crosby and Huffman to participate in this year’s rodeo, as well as young patients from the Bay Area Rehabilitation Center and Baytown Opportunity Center.
Miller stressed that registration is not limited to youth in these groups, and that any child with a disability – no matter where they live or attend school – is welcome to participate.
Each child who registers prior to the event will receive a cowboy hat, bandana, T-shirt and a handmade stick horse. They will also be accompanied by a volunteer “rodeo buddy” that will make sure each child has an opportunity to participate in all activities.
In addition to supervised activities, the event will feature performances by the HLSR rodeo clowns, Elvis and several local-area bands. A barrel train and rides on a real Conestoga wagon will also be offered in addition to food and drinks throughout the day.
Representatives from the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe are expected to make a first appearance at this year’s rodeo as well, Miller said.
To put on such a large event free-of-charge requires the participation of hundreds of volunteers and sponsors, something for which Miller and the entire BSRA committee have been very thankful.
“We have wonderful volunteers and donors who sponsor everything from the activity booths to the food. People have been very generous in their support,” said BSRA committee chair M. A. Bengtson.
Last year’s rodeo drew a crowd of 160 special needs children who, with their parents and siblings, totaled more than 1,500 guests. Committee members are hoping to surpass those numbers this year, but in order to do so Bengtson said many more volunteers will be needed.
“We kind of got off to a late start searching for volunteers because of the start of school. We really need all the help we can get,” she said.
The 2008 Baytown Special Rodeo is scheduled for Sept. 13 at the Eastside Honda Pavilion, 12527 I-10 East between Mont Belvieu and FM 3180.
For more information or to fill out a registration form, visit the BSRA website at www.specialrodeo.com
Children will be allowed to register at the day of the event.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 13, the Baytown Special Rodeo 2008 will offer local youths with varying levels of disability the chance to participate in a series of rodeo events and activities.
From horseback riding and petting zoos to lessons on calf wrangling, the children will be given the opportunity to enjoy the kind of hands-on experiences that many would not otherwise have the opportunity to try.
“Youngsters with handicaps do not have many chances to participate in fun things scaled to their abilities,” said J.R. Miller, chairman of the BSRA committee. “Baytown Special Rodeo seeks to change that with a fun-filled day of activities designed just for them, their parents and their siblings – all at no cost to their families.”
Children have been invited from school districts in Goose Creek, Barber’s Hill, Crosby and Huffman to participate in this year’s rodeo, as well as young patients from the Bay Area Rehabilitation Center and Baytown Opportunity Center.
Miller stressed that registration is not limited to youth in these groups, and that any child with a disability – no matter where they live or attend school – is welcome to participate.
Each child who registers prior to the event will receive a cowboy hat, bandana, T-shirt and a handmade stick horse. They will also be accompanied by a volunteer “rodeo buddy” that will make sure each child has an opportunity to participate in all activities.
In addition to supervised activities, the event will feature performances by the HLSR rodeo clowns, Elvis and several local-area bands. A barrel train and rides on a real Conestoga wagon will also be offered in addition to food and drinks throughout the day.
Representatives from the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Tribe are expected to make a first appearance at this year’s rodeo as well, Miller said.
To put on such a large event free-of-charge requires the participation of hundreds of volunteers and sponsors, something for which Miller and the entire BSRA committee have been very thankful.
“We have wonderful volunteers and donors who sponsor everything from the activity booths to the food. People have been very generous in their support,” said BSRA committee chair M. A. Bengtson.
Last year’s rodeo drew a crowd of 160 special needs children who, with their parents and siblings, totaled more than 1,500 guests. Committee members are hoping to surpass those numbers this year, but in order to do so Bengtson said many more volunteers will be needed.
“We kind of got off to a late start searching for volunteers because of the start of school. We really need all the help we can get,” she said.
The 2008 Baytown Special Rodeo is scheduled for Sept. 13 at the Eastside Honda Pavilion, 12527 I-10 East between Mont Belvieu and FM 3180.
For more information or to fill out a registration form, visit the BSRA website at www.specialrodeo.com
Children will be allowed to register at the day of the event.
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