Infusion Of Youth

LINCOLN — Billed as the Old Timer’s Day Rodeo May 1 at the Southwest City, Mo., fans were greeted with an infusion of youth when the Arkansas Fillies galloped into the arena.

Team members consist of girls who are reigning rodeo royalty and most have received champion showmanship awards and titles. The girls work hard and practice weekly yearround striving to always put on a good show. With that much experience they were undaunted with this being only their third performance. Their second public performance came at the Arkansas National Barrel Horse Association finals on April 4.

The fledging organization has grown quickly. In early January tryouts were held and 20 girls showed up. Ten days later the group had expanded to 23 rang- ing in age from 6 to 15. A week afterwards on Jan. 28, Kalleigh Jo Shreve sustained a broken foot when her horse stepped on her foot. Kalleigh went to an orthopedic surgeon the next day but has bounced back and will compete as a princess candidate during the Lincoln Rodeo.

Among other things the girls ( ages 5- 17) have to learn how to carry a flag while galloping into and about an arena. Among events the Arkansas Fillies have appeared at so far this year are the Southwest City Rodeo and Strawberry Festival Rodeo at Stilwell, Okla. They have been drawing rave reviews on their Facebook page. On May 9, Dee Holcomb posted, “Can’t say enough good things about your performance Friday night at the Stilwell Rodeo. Ya’ll slowed down for the mud. And created a beautiful work of art an controlled horsemanship. It was a performance worth over.”

Brittany Huffaker is one of the directors of the high speed drill team. The group features trick riders (ages 6- 8), fireworks, drill team and a show featuring what Huffaker refers to as “a modern day ‘Annie Oakley’ — a wild west cowgirl dubbed “Bullwhip Mae,” 16-year-old Mae Davis, who uses a bullwhip instead of a gun all while standing on her horse.

“We seek to inspire youth and adults alike to want to be a part of our nation’s historic love affair with the rodeo,” said Huffaker. “Our goal is to have fun and put on the greatest wild, wild west show ever.”

Members include: Jenna Jarnagan, Tabor Lewis, Katelen Green, Emily Morse, Summer Rose, Chloie Thomas, Halle Cummings, Madison Whitley, Jaydon Jarnagan, Kalleigh Jo Shreve, Hanna Taylor, Alexis Arnold,

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and Kylie Perkins, Mika Arnold, Kyleigh Cook, Olivia Taylor, Kenleigh Shreve, Savannah Perkins, Landyn Perrine, Kayden Loftin, Landree Cunningham, Taylor West, Taylor Cunningham, Sarah Siffing and Davis.

The Arkanas Fillies will perform at Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo on Thursday. According to Bethany Reed, another one of the Arkansas Fillies’ directors, this will be only their fifth public performance. Many members are from Lincoln and virtually all are members of the Lincoln Riding Club. Some hold rodeo titles while others are competing for a crown at this year’s rodeo. Reed noted Tabor Lewis is the current LRC princess while Landree Cunningham is competing for junior queen.

“They also run and perform and practice every Sunday,” Reed said. “It’s a great honor for them to be able to ride and represent the city.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF RON MOONEY The Arkansas Fillies are a 25-member high-speed drill team consisting of girls ages 5 to 17. The group which will perform at the 2015 Lincoln Rodeo on Thursday.

COURTESY PHOTO Mae Davis, 16, performs as Bullwhip Mae, sort of a modern day Annie Oakley, wild west cowgirl who uses a bullwhip instead of a gun while standing on her horse.