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  • Jesse Loughridge, 16, of Comanche, tries to immobilize a calf Saturday at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center arena. David Laughlin

    Rodeo
September 6, 2010

Youth rodeo rears responsibility

David Laughlin The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Usually all that visibly remains after a successful calf roping is an immobilized calf, a cowboy with his arms raised to the heavens, and a cloud of dust. This past weekend, the Midsouth Youth Rodeo Cowboys Association, MRCA, worked to ensure what’s not seen in the young cowboys and cowgirls, character, attitude, respect, and sportsmanship, shines bright.

Although a successful calf roping session lasts less than a minute, it is the culmination of weeks, months and years of practice. The practice consists of physical training to ensure the timing and mechanics of each throw well loop the calf around the neck. The cowboy then has to display physical strength and wrestle the calf to the ground and bind its legs together.

Conceptually, the entire process is easy to understand; rope, tackle, and bind. In practice, however, the entire process becomes a symphony of skill, technique, and pure strength. The cowboys and cowgirls who hoist the top award master the necessary skills through perseverance.

Jesse Loughridge, 16, of Comanche, has been involved with rodeos for more than six years. “I look forward to it every year,” he said. Loughridge was sitting on top of the leaderboards in tie-down roping and ribbon roping. He said if he wins it would be more significant than usual. “If I win this year, it would be my third consecutive year to win,” he said.

Loughridge is one of more than 130 cowboys and cowgirls who are taking part in the MRCA Finals at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center, Deaneete Phillips, secretary for MRCA, said. Those participating in the finals represented nearly 100 families.

Of the various events going on in the finals, Phillips said most are neck and neck. There are four age groups, with the youngest member of MRCA being 3 years-old. She said 19 years-old is the limit, as long as they are in high school.

The Stephens County Fair & Expo Center has been the location for the event for three years now, Phillips said. The group has no desire to change venues, it signed a three year contract expansion to use the facilities.

“The visitors borough has just been wonderful,” she said. “The people here at the fairgrounds have just been wonderful, they help us with whatever we need.”

The main objective of Phillips and MRCA isn’t to raise the next generation of great cowboys and cowgirls. Rather, the objective is to raise up a generation of responsible cowboys and cowgirls.

“I know there in it for the winning,” she said speaking of the youth involved. “Showmanship is just as important. We want them to be winners in the arena and outside. If e keep them here they won’t be doing bad things.”

The awards will be given out at about noon today at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center. Phillips said MRCA tries to do all its finals events at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center.

“The facility is just awesome,” she said. “Anything we need, we are taken care of. We try to take care of it when we leave too.”



— David Laughlin is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 144, or via e-mail at david.laughlin@duncanbanner.com.

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