Little Britches Rodeo

Rodeo Rolls On

George rodeo-intro-2 we've been doing a lot of stories about the slow return of sports during this prolonged pandemic.

One sport that is getting less attention is rodeo, and just across the state line in wisconsin, rodeo is back.

Kimt news 3's george mallet spent a recent weekend watching his son colton compete in a rodeo and joins us with the story.

George rodeo-bmintro-1 george rodeo-bmintro-2 katie, a wise cowboy once said that rodeo is about more than belt buckles and winning.

Rodeo, he said, is about life lessons.

That is certainly true on the "little britches" rodeo circuit across the state line in wisconsin.

George rodeo-pkg-1 lowerthird2line:little britches rodeo kimt news 3 a sun splashed saturday at rock river ranch in neosho.

Wisconsin.

Flags carried by western riders marked the start of the first little britches rodeo of 2020, the earlier scheduled events all cancelled by a prolonged pandemic.

Talk to the youthful cowgirls and cowboys here and they'll acknowledge that life isn't always rodeos, cowboys and horses---- but they'll tell you it should be.

Lowerthird2line:aislynn nelson cowgirl aislynn: what do you like the best about doing rodeo?

That i get to ride my horse.

Lowerthird2line:little britches rodeo kimt news 3 that's aislynn nelson perched happily on her loyal quarter pony, a filly named jordan.

Aislynn nelson: i got second in poles today, yesterday i got like, i knocked a pole.

Larissa nelson says the cowgirl gets a lot out of rodeo.

Lowerthird2line:larissa nelson rodeo parent larissa nelson i think just a good work ethic.

Taking care of her animals.

Participating in all of the events.

She has to put the work britches rodeo kimt news 3 rodeo dad nate kummrow views rock river ranch's rodeo weekend the same way.

Lowerthird2line:nate kummrow rodeo parent it's horsemanship.

Companion with the animal.

Hard work.

And it pays off when they get to go in that arena.

Lowerthird2line:little britches rodeo kimt news 3 the bond formed between the cowgirls, cowboys and their horses is remarkable for us rodeo parents to see.

The kids spend the entire weekend in the saddle---- whether competing in the arena--- or just riding around having long, thoughtful conversations with their friends.

Lowerthird2line:george mallet rodeo parent for us rodeo parents, it's all about horsemanship.

We love to see our kids out there managing their horses, but there's another element to rodeos that perhaps is inevitable and that's bull colton jumped on bull number one, bull fighter sawyer gough gave dad some advice.

Lowerthird2line:sawyer gough bullfighter sawyer gough you're putting your 8-year-old boy on a bull the biggest thing that you've got to do is you got to that your kid gets out of there safe.

You gotta trust your stock contractor.

Your stock contractors are not going to bring anything here that's gonna get your kids hurt.

And the biggest thing is, you put your kid on the bull you can't let it get in their head that they can get hurt.

You gotta be calm cool and collected for your 8-year-old kid saying, hey, you got this.

That's the biggest thing.

Lowerthird2line:little britches rodeo kimt news 3 not sure how cool and collected this cowboy dad was as he peered through the fencing, watching a lot of uncertain movement aware his son was climbing on an angry steer... but when the chute opened... the old man continued to shoot video... even if his heart had long since stopped.

I after eating dirt he did let his old man snap a picture.

He smiled for this one with his cowgirl mama too---- these rodeo weekends are about family and forming memories.

Which is why mike furlong says this is the perfect fundraiser for his rock river ranch therapeutic riding program.

Lowerthird2line:mike furlong founder rock river ranch mike furlong: this is our fifth year.

We figured it out.

This is a great fundraiser for our ranch.

And all the money goes to helping people, youth use horses brains to help people with mental issues ptsd and disorders.

So, the people here are the most amazing people i've ever met in my life and this is a great place to bring people, or kids just to see the other just the commradarie of all the kids at the rodeo is a huge thing too.

Everybody here is wholesome families that want to come out and enjoy the time so they just, they all get a good bond everyone here's a nice close-knit family.

Larissa: we just keep going, yep.

All the time.

Rodeo keeps on rolling and they all help each other.

It's a good rodeo family.

George rodeo-bmtag-1 george rodeo-bmtag-2 yesterday was colton's first holy communion.

He asked his mother if he could wear the big as colt worked the belt through the belt loops of his slacks---- his mother looked me in the eyes and said--- this is happening.

Thank you, george.

For the record, colton mallet won that belt buckle for taking third place saturday in bareback bulls.