High School Rodeo Club Gears Up

Members of Southeast All Star Rodeo Club who attended a recent planning meeting. Back from left; Dylan Wahlert, La Junta; Reece Roberson, La Junta; Talon Shipman, Lamar; Chris Bushaw, La Junta; Kelton McMillen; Kim; Bryan Denton, Rocky Ford; Blake Denton, Rocky Ford. Front from left Tamara Tunick, Fowler; Alexa Major, Fowler; Jenna Waggoner, Fowler ; Hope Holder, Rocky Ford.

Rodeo club seeks new members, plans Southeast Colorado Rodeo

High School and junior high students interested in the sport of rodeo now have the opportunity to join the Southeast All Star Rodeo Club. There are currently 24 active members from all over Southeast Colorado. Team members cooperate to organize a regional rodeo and invite other members of the Colorado High School Rodeo Association to attend. Proceeds from this rodeo and other events are used to help members with state and national travel expenses.

The spring rodeo season begins with the first rodeo on March 31 – April 1 in Cortez, Colo., and ends with the Colorado State High School finals held in Lamar, June 6-10. Members from across the state will compete to earn a spot on the National High School Rodeo team and to compete at the world’s largest youth rodeo held in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Students are also competing for rodeo scholarships.

The All-Star’s rodeo is planned in Lamar at the Prowers County Fairgrounds, May 18-20th. Over 300 contestants from around the state are expected to compete in the girl’s events of barrel racing, break-away roping, pole bending, goat tying and team roping. The boys will compete in tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc riding and team roping. Part of the rodeo is for the junior high division consisting of youth from 6th -8th grades who compete in similar events.

An added event for the weekend is the traditional Cowboy Prom. This formal dance has been held because so many rodeo athletes miss their own high school prom. The dance is planned for Sat., May 19th in Lamar.

The group is also planning a “Cowboy Bash” on Saturday, March 10 in La Junta, Colo. Live music, food and country western dancing will be part of the evening. Members plan to showcase their activites and wide areas of involvement during the event.

The 2011-2012 club’s youth officers are: Alexa Major, Fowler – youth president; Kelton McMillen, Kim – youth vice-president; Bryan Denton, Rocky Ford – youth secretary.

Adult officers include: Shawn Wahlert, La Junta – chairman; Suzanne Anarde, Fowler – secretary; Eric Larson , Fowler – treasurer.

Members of the All-Stars rodeo club are asked to help with fundraisers, including ad sales for the rodeo program. For those interested in joining the Southeast All-Star Rodeo Club, contact the Adult Chairman, Shawn Wahlert, at 719-384-2017 for additional information. In order to receive all benefits from the club, members need to join by March 31st.

In addition to joining the SEAS club, those interested also need to become a member of the Colorado State High School or Junior High Rodeo Association. For more information on joining the Colorado State High School or Junior High Rodeo Association, please see the state’s website at www.cshsra.org for membership information.