This weekend, Flying Cross Ranch will be giving fledgling riders a chance to try their hands at rodeo.
On Nov. 15th, Flying Cross Ranch will hold their second rodeo in their Winter Ranch Rodeo Series.
Owner Roy Sturgeon said the ranch decided to start a rodeo series to get some of their riding students some experience before they try more competitive rodeos.
“We’ve got some people who would like to rodeo,” said Sturgeon. He added that these rodeos are a teaching tool as much as a competition for those students.
“It’s more for the people who are riding here so it’s all their level. That way they can be competitive and they can learn and if they want to take it further after this then it’s easy to do.”
While the rodeo series was started mostly for the benefit of Flying Cross Ranch students, anyone is welcome to participate, said Sturgeon.
He added skill levels are accepted with different events held for different skill levels. Sturgeon also said that all ages are welcome, with competitors as young as five and as old as 60 involved in the rodeo.
Some of the more advanced events in the rodeo include team roping and cow riding. For the beginners there is barrel racing, dummy roping and modified cattle penning.
Flying Cross Ranch decided to do a whole rodeo series, complete with a finals rodeo, for a number of reasons.
Sturgeon said requiring competitors to come to at least four of five rodeos makes competitors committed and also prevents ringers from entering the finals rodeo at the end of the season, keeping things fair.
The first rodeo of the series was held on Halloween night. Sturgeon said it was very successful with about 30 competitors and fit the Halloween theme, with participants dressing up for the rodeo.
Rodeo action this Saturday gets started at about 6 p.m. Sturgeon said all are welcome to watch and late registrations are still being accepted with a late registration fee of $40 per person per event.