By Hailey Dinkins, North Webster Yearbook Staff
Last weekend my hometown hosted the 2021 Springhill PRCA Rodeo. It’s definitely the most popular event in Springhill and one of the oldest of its kind in Louisiana. Everyone I know shows up to watch the cowboys and cowgirls show off their skills of saddle bronc riding, calf roping, bareback riding, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, and bull riding.
North Webster High had quite a few freshman girls representing our school in the hometown barrel racing contest. Adalynn Haynes, Cailey Nail, Aubrie Adkins, and Bailey Williams all had great runs on their horses. The hometown competitions are always the best because these riders get a moment in the spotlight in front of their classmates and friends who most likely have never seen them race before! I’m already looking forward to next year, hoping that our hometown bull riders, Seth Dehart and Caden Zaruba will get the chance to attempt an eight second ride in front of the local Springhill crowd.
There were also plenty of activities that allowed the rodeo fans to get involved. The rodeo offered the shark tank, calf-scramble, mutton bustin’, and the most thrilling of all, bull poker.
On Thursday night my name was called to be in the “shark tank”, which is basically a big blue cage that is rolled out onto the arena floor and those whose names are called get to sit inside of it while the bull riding takes place. Luckily, I didn’t have to brave this alone; I was surrounded by other North Webster High School students, Chloe Ray, Alexius Dunning, Gaige Cude, Lily Herrick, and a surplus of brave Little Knights.
There are two activities that are limited to the little wranglers; the calf-scramble and mutton bustin’. The calf-scramble is where all the children go down into the arena and chase calves that have ribbons tied to their tails. The first three to secure a ribbon win cash money! Mutton bustin’ is a newer event where the objective is very similar to bull riding, but the little ones ride a sheep for as long as they can instead of a big scary bull. It’s actually pretty funny to watch!
At last, the most dangerous activity, BULL POKER! This game consists of four average joes sitting at a poker table in the arena as a Spanish fighting bull is released from the gate. The last man sitting in his chair wins! Can you believe people actually sign themselves up for this? North Webster alumni, Levi Schumacher, signed up and was chosen to play. He survived two major blows by the bull. It was frightening, yet awesome.
I’m always sad to see the rodeo wrap up on Saturday night, but our rodeo has never failed to return in the late summer even better than it was the year before. If you didn’t get the chance to come to the 2021 Springhill PRCA Rodeo, go ahead and make plans to be there next year, same place, same time, same dirt.
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