This year the Super
Kids Rodeo will be held in Harper Stadium on Thursday, May
29th, beginning at 5:00 pm. The public is invited
to attend.
Super Kids Rodeo at the Old Fort
Days Rodeo
The annual Old Fort Days Rodeo, held in
Fort Smith, Arkansas is one of the top PRCA rodeos in America. Each
year, hundreds of contestants from across the USA and Canada participate
in the World's Richest Barrel Futurity and Rodeo. To many, these
contestants are heroes; and young and old alike come to see them
compete.
Unfortunately, everyone does not have the ability to compete as
these professionals do. To make their lives a little brighter, each
year there is a special rodeo for the special children in our area.
The Super Kids Rodeo is provided solely by volunteers and
sponsors. The events are scaled down to make it possible for the
special children to compete. Many of these children are in wheelchairs,
while others have some disability which prevents them from having
the chance to participate in the usual fashion. Events such as barrel
racing, calf roping and bull riding are specialized so that these
children can compete. Rodeo professionals and volunteers assist
these children so that they too can participate in the rodeo to
the best of their abilities. Some are pushed around the barrels
in their wheelchairs - others ride stick horses.
One volunteer brings his team of Belgian horses and an authentic
wagon to take the children for rides around the arena as many times
as they want to go.
Jim Grizzle of Jim Grizzle Tire Company, the Super Kids Rodeo sponsor,
also brings his four-wheel ATV Mule for arena circuits.
The children receive a tee-shirt, trophies, a cowboy hat and goodie
bag to reward them for their participation in the Super Kids Rodeo.
A cookout is provided for the children and their families, and they
all are guests of The Old Fort Days Rodeo at the Thursday evening
performance.
