Saddle up

Hope High slates rodeo for April 6-8; proceeds to benefit agriculture program

The rodeo will be April 6-8 at Hope Fair Park Coliseum Arena in Hope, Ark. Tickets are $5 apiece for each night.

“It is the longest-running student organization event in the state of Arkansas,” FFA President Laith Zimmer said.

Rodeo action opens at 7 p.m. April 6 with Old Timer’s Night. Events during that performance will test the skills of former FFA members and HHS alumni from the past five years. The events include chute dogging, team roping, calf roping, wild steer tagging and barrel racing.

Barrel racing events, which also are part of the student contests, have evolved, according to FFA Vice President Summer King. For example, some timed equestrian events were long-standing girls’ events, but these now are open to boys, she said.

While female FFA members traditionally have overseen most of the events for younger children, such as mutton busting, pig scramble and pig dressing, the girls are breaking into more events, King said.

Students competing in “Little Britches Bull Riding” must submit an official entry form signed by a parent and notarized no later than April 3. Students in elementary grades competing in other events must also submit an official entry form signed by a parent and notarized. Forms may be obtained by contacting the agriculture studies department at Hope High School.

Student events for the two nights of regular competition include bareback horse riding, calf haltering, hide ride, junior bull riding, goat tying, calf roping, pig scramble, wild steer tagging, mutton busting, barrel pickup, chute dogging, barrel racing, bull riding, pole bending and pig dressing.

Belt buckles are awarded to winners in most events and for overall skill to an all-around cowboy and all-around cowgirl. King said financial support for the prize awards are possible because of community donations and specific family endowments for certain events.

Funds raised from the rodeo finance FFA chapter competition activities and provide scholarships to HHS students, Zimmer said.