Gerry Rodeo to host Junior Rodeo Camp
GERRY — The Gerry Rodeo committee has just learned that theirs is the only rodeo site east of the Mississippi chosen to host a free Junior Rodeo Camp to be held on Sunday, June 2, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for children and youth over age six with no age limit.
The camp will be held in the newly constructed equestrian stable on the campus of Heritage Village, which is located just off Damon Hill Road in the town of Gerry. There is no cost, but registration is required online by going to www.prorodeo.com/jrrodeo. Lunch will be available at a reasonable cost by the equestrian drill team at the Heritage Stables.
These camps are sponsored by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and are intended to give young rodeo fans a close-up look at the sport of rodeo with instruction given by some of rodeo’s top performers. The instructors coming to Gerry include three multiple-time qualifiers to the First Frontier Finals Rodeo — Clovis Crane, Tim Kent, and Olin Ellsworth.
The camp is intended to give a fun and educational rodeo experience with topics including rider safety, nutrition, fundamentals of each event, chute procedures, and livestock safety. There will be no live buck-outs, but participants who chose to do so may experience a ride on a mechanical bull or bronc.
Rodeo chairman Tom Atwell says that getting national recognition as the only rodeo site in the East to be chosen speaks well for the 75-year history of professional rodeo in Gerry. All other camps are being held in Western states, so he urges area youth to take advantage of this unique opportunity. He is also pleased to be able to hold the camp indoors at the equestrian center to avoid any possible inclement weather.
For more information about this camp, contact Atwell at 969-4488 or Paul Cooley at 985-4215.
The 75th consecutive rodeo in Gerry is set for four performances, July 31 – Aug. 3, with more than 200 professional cowboys and cowgirls from across the nation competing for $50,000 in prize money. Additional information is available at the rodeo website: www.gerryrodeo.org.