JoJo Brinkhoff
Managing Editor
Photo by Skarabeusz
The Roughrider Arena has scheduled their main rodeo events for the season. The first rodeo on the schedule is the Cody Jenkins Memorial, starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday May 10.
According to Karen Fink, administrative assistant in the agricultural department, Cody Jenkins was an active agricultural student who was killed in an accident. The Agricultural department now holds the Cody Jenkins Memorial every year in memory of him.
“This is our chance to remember him as a student because he was very active in everything we did here,” Fink said.
The Cody Jenkins Memorial is a four division (meaning competitors will be divided into four groups, normally by age or experience, and compete in their division instead as a whole) that consists of barrel races and team roping. The winners of each division will receive a belt buckle as an award.
“Last year, the Cody Jenkins Memorial roping was very well attended,” said Kelly Shillings, general agricultural and education major. “…Winners received belt buckles and reserved winners received custom made stirrups.”
The competition is open for students, locals and non-locals, whether part of an association or not. Besides the price at the concession stand, this is free admissions.
The second rodeo on the schedule is the LJ Jenkins Bull Riding at 7 p.m. on Saturday May 31. The tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children 10 and under in advance; $2 extra for both adults and children at the gate.
According to Fink, The LJ Jenkins Bull Riding is a professional bull riding competition that is held throughout the year, usually in Oklahoma. For the bull riding on May 31, there will be 30 pro bull riders riding on the top ranking bulls. Because the bull riding is professional, no students and community members are allowed to enter in the competition; however, fans of bull riding will enjoy the event.
“If you are looking for good old family entertainment, come to the rodeo,” said Jaycob Wilkins, a general agricultural major.
Besides the LJ Jenkins Bull Riding, the Roughrider Arena rodeos are open for anyone to enter as long as they follow the requirements such as age, knowledge of the event and number of people, if the competition is a team event. In some cases, the competitors must register beforehand, depending on the event.
“A student can compete in it [rodeo], but they have to follow the guidelines and call in,” Fink said. “It’s not just a show up and compete.”
The money raised from these rodeos will go to the agriculture department for their students to go on judging trips, field trips, agricultural conferences, as well as scholarships.
Those who are interested in attending any of the rodeo events can visit the Roughrider Arena Facebook page. The page will also announce any upcoming events that have not been listed in the 2014 rodeo schedule.
Roughrider Arena Schedule for 2014:
Cody Jenkins Memorial – May 10
LJ Jenkins Bull Riding – May 31
MJRC Youth Rodeo – June 21
Rockin’ P Ranch Rodeo – July 9
2nd Annual Roughrider Scholarship Rodeo – Aug. 15 & 16
Ranch Rodeo – Aug. 30
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