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Show Vernal Express Wednesday, July 19. 2006 B1 Beh nd'the By Jennifer Petty Express Writer When most people sit in the stands at the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo to see the cowboys and cowgirls compete in what is considered to be one of the best rodeos in the country, there are a few things they don't see out in the arena. One of the things they don't see is the organizational effort it takes to put on a world class rodeo. Mechelle Miller, the second sec-ond vice president and VIP committee com-mittee chairman for the rodeo said, "It takes everyone to put the rodeo on. It takes all committee com-mittee members committed to their job because without them it makes it really difficult to put on such a high quality show. We have a great committee that works together, gets the job done and puts on a great show. Communication is a key to putting put-ting on the caliber of rodeo that we have." "The volunteer committee commit-tee will begin working on the rodeo for next year, the day after the rodeo," said Miller. "It is an all-year rodeo and they work almost non-stop to make sure everything is perfect." per-fect." Thousands of hours have been spent planning the rodeo. Also, said Miller, the workers at Western Park are key to making the rodeo a success. "Without them, it wouldn't be possible," she said. As a hint to rodeo fans who want to get more involved, Miller added, "It takes a lot of hard work to put on the rodeo and we are always looking for new volunteers and new ideas." Rodeo fans also don't realize the medical team that works to keep the cowboys and girls in the saddle. Andy Hopkins, The Justin Boots sports medicine team program manager for the rodeo, said that rodeos have the highest injury rate of probably any other sport, but what's not seen, said Hopkins, is that if an athlete in any other sport gets a stubbed toe, they sit on the bench and still get a paycheck. "In the rodeo," said Hopkins, "if a cowboy gets hurt and can't ride, his family goes hungry." Hopkins knows personally person-ally about life as a cowboy and rodeo personality. He tried bull riding in high school and did cowboy protection for 12 years before returning to school and getting a degree in sports medicine. medi-cine. "I've always loved the rodeo," said Hopkins. "It's great to be helping the riders do their best," he said. "I used to be the one getting the help, now I'm helping them." Hopkins is just one of the Justin Boots team to help at the rodeo. "The sports medicine team members are very essential. essen-tial. If We have a cowboy that gets hurt, they help them. They are there on site to make sure they get taken care of. They also help with other personnel that need attention and they are so willing to help everyone that needs it," said Miller. Rodeo attendees see the bulls and broncos and cowboys, but few see what happens after they ride their eight seconds for a win or leave empty handed. Bob Griswold, a bronc rider from Oklahoma said, "What fans don't see is the thousands of miles we drive to be in rodeos." Griswold related how many of the cowboys that were competing com-peting in Vernal, drove from Colorado Springs, where they competed in another rodeo, to Vernal, and then many will drive back to Colorado Springs to compete in the finals there. "We are on a horse every day for a month," said Griswold. "We are so fatigued from the travel, and then we have to do our best on the horse, which takes a lot of energy. There really real-ly is no off season." Expressions Basin Life i i t - 6as..i:..t4i9 4;-- - Casey Wells and Rodeo Queens gave When asked about the training train-ing Griswold said that a lot of the guys lift weights and work out, but most of the time there is not enough money to hire a personal trainer. A lot of the guys rely on natural ability and mental preparation, remarked Matt Hebert of Nebraska. Most rodeo spectators also don't know about the behind the scenes work of rodeo personalities person-alities and staff at the Special Rodeo. The Special Rodeo is an event that was started by the rodeo committee over 10 years ago. Russ Perry was one of the committee members who helped get the special rodeo started. "We hired a group out of California to do the Special Rodeo," said Perry, but committee commit-tee members weren't impressed with the Special Rodeo they put on and the committee felt they could organize it better. "The next year we decided to just do it ourselves and the first year we had about 30 or 35 kids." When asked about the benefits ben-efits of the Special Rodeo, Perry said, "It gives the kids a time to go and do something different differ-ent and to expand their life just a little bit. Many of those kids don't normally have that opportunity oppor-tunity and we wanted to give them the chance to 'cowboy up a little." Rita Campbell has helped organize and put on the special rodeo for many years and has 'roped' her family into helping too. "My daughter-in-law and A pair of cowboys contemplate their Uintah High School cheerleader paints faces at the Special Rode.o X : f irmrtr .....i tAjti hum m . tmm t i k, ... -nn rode gat autographed pictures to Special Rodeo grandchildren and I all do it together," she said. This year's rodeo featured a bean bag toss, a fish pond, ring toss, steer roping, face painting, gold digging, dig-ging, an autograph signing session ses-sion with the rodeo queens and clowns, and a special appearance appear-ance by Smokey the Bear. Usually there are horse rides and a petting zoo. "Just the joy and excitement excite-ment on their faces is worth the work," said Campbell. "It is just the kids with the personalities person-alities of the rodeo. It is a time for kids to have one-on-one time with people and animals. It is so rewarding to watch the kids. The businesses are really supportive sup-portive too by donating supplies for the kids." Campbell also added praise to the Uintah High School cheerleaders that donated donat-ed their time to helping with the special rodeo. "They were really - enttmsiastie-about helping the kids," said Campbell "It's not about us, it's about the kids," said Casey Wells, one of the rodeo's bullfighters. "What an honor it is to work with the special rodeo and the Vernal, Utah rodeo committee. commit-tee. What is so great about the Special Rodeo is not only working work-ing with the kids but being involved with the community. I feel that the Special Rodeo gives kids the opportunity to be involved in something that they might not otherwise be involved in. I feel very honored to be able to help the kids to experience ride. Melissa Pipher Photo by: Jen Petty I V Photo by: Jen Petty f I J . I II participants. the sport of rodeo and to put a smile on their face. I would like to say thank you to the kids, community, and Vernal committee com-mittee for being involved in such a wonderful program." At the conclusion of the rodeo Miller said, "I thought the rodeo went really well this year. With any rodeo or event you will have glitches but it takes a team to get it up and running. Mike Williams of Logan, UT attends to :P A, k j tv. fX ' ?JBrs - .,& Y$?d r . ) Jeff Seitz gets ready to rope at Special Rodeo. I I Photo by: Jen Petty You have to love what you do. It takes teamwork and heart and soul to get it done." If numbers are any indication indica-tion of success, this year tops them with Saturday sold out, Friday almost sold out and with Wednesday and Thursday attendance atten-dance doubled from past years. vernalsocietyyahoo.com injured cowboys. Photo by: Jen Petty ;k fit a) Photo by: Jet Petty Community Calendar June 28-July 28 Rusty Rails and Oulaw Trails Art Show on display at Western Heritage Museum. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 19 Karen Coombs will be teach ing Finding Maps on the Internet at the Family History Center at 5:15 pan. Basic PAF3: Editing, Chain Order, Deleting and Sharing Sign up recommended. The class will be taught by Hazel Bentley at the Family History Center at 7 p.m. July 20 Bedtime Story Hour at the Duchesne County Library children's room at 6 p.m. Questions, call DDI Vantage, 435-722-3008. July 21 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides the music. July 21, 22 Preparedness Expo. 12 noon to 9:30 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Western Park Expo. Expo is free, but donations are accepted. accept-ed. July 24 Boy Scout Breakfast held at Colton Pavilion from 6 to 9:30 a.m. $2.00plate paid at the breakfast 24th of July Parade will be held Monday 10 a.m. Line up at 9 a.m. at Vernal Middle school parking lot. Everyone is invited invit-ed to participate. Entry forms available at Vernal Chamber of Commerce. 789-1352. July 26 Karen Coombs will be teaching "Gathering Family Information from the Internet" at the Vernal Family History Center at 5:15 p.m. Basic PAF 4: Navigating and Printing" will be taught by Hazel Bently at 7 p.m. at the Family History Center. Sign up recommended. The Uintah Basin Garden Society will hold a garden ing workshop at the Golden Age Center, 155 S. 100 W. at 7 p.m. For more information call 790-1029 or 722-1782. The workshops will be held the 4th Wednesday of every month. July 27 Alive After Five Held at Cobble Rock Park. Call Teena Christopherson for more infor mation, 790-0098. July 27, 28, 29 Morning Glory Quilters will hold their first quilt show at the DUP Museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. July 28 Community dance at the Golden Age Center, 155 South 100 West from 8 to 10 p.m. every Friday night. Kay's Band provides the music. July 29 The Miss Uintah Basin Scholarship Pageant will be held in the Union High School Auditorium. All seating is reserved. Tickets may be pur chased in Roosevelt at UBTA UBET, Jubilee, and Stewarts. Prices for Prime are $12.50 in advance or $15.00 at the door. General admission is $10.00 in advance or $12.50 at the door. 9 Stake Outdoor Fun Day for Uintah Basin Singles 31 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ed Richman's Pavilion Whiterocks Canon. Lunch and Dutch oven din ner provided. Maps and more information available from Ruth 789-7349. July 30 9 Stake Fireside for Uintah Basin Singles 31, 7 pjn. at Ballard Chapel on Hwy. 40. Speaker will be John Barton "From Tabernacle to Temple." To place items of public interest inter-est in the Community Calendar, call 789-3511 or email them to editorgvern t g |