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Show Schlegel, with his parents' help, is determined to achieve even motesuccess. "Either my mom or dad comes to roping practice every weekday night, Schlegel says. "They run the chutes for the cattle and give us advice. And Schlegel cakes practice to heart. He further hones his skills helping neighboring ranchers work cattle in a fourandi grazing pool and helping a cowboy at a remote summer cow amp in Colorados Flattop Wilderness during the summer - rJrir Fond memories ' Cody He's giwdul for those otganiatioot that to his sucres. "They war all stones, ssys Mumji. who stepping gnat became the youngest cowboy millionaire in history when he was 23 and today has earner eamfogs of neatly $3 million. A number oforganizations gpwn youth rodeo, many of diem primarily state amxiarinm. When Murray reached high school age, he compered in both Litde Brioches and the National High School Rodeo, the latgest youth rodeo circuit. He then went an to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, which governs college rodeo, before turning pm at 19- paved the way Youth rodeo also seres m strengthen family and friend relnnnndiips, proponents sty. "What we love about rodeo is that we spend a tremendous amount of time with our kids, Sherri Schlegel says. "We are with them every single night helping them practice their roping, and then we are with them on weekends for the rodeo. Time together is both quality and quanrity where entire weekends are speac traveling to a rodeo and camping out with ocher roefc families. Pucnts spend hours helping their children because, at this level, they are the only coaches. Many moms and dads also can be found volunteering as stock handlers, announcers, or chute help. Indeed, all Little Brinhes rodeos use vofonreecs, with support comfog from not just paiHW h gwtvIpMHW Inml mil pwylf Bum rfi lnral mmrmmify 1 can recall working from 5 or 6 in the mom-fo- g until midnight at our National Finals Rodeo, and there were times I wanted to crawl away and hide, says marketing director GaillarxL Then I real-irthat I was the only one gettfog paid. Most of the volunteers take their vacations to put on this rodeo. A number have kids and may have to face a two-- to three-da-y drive to get here and then go back. The payoff to such dedication can be found in strong ties and a treasured childhood. "Some of my fondest memories of childhood are going to those rodeos with, my fimily and friends, especially the finals, says Murray; who remembers rodeoing at Little Britches with his obtains Casey and Rope Myers, the reigning PRCA World Champion Steer Wrestler "People gayed in campers, motor homes, and cents, and there were rodeo dances and trips to a sneer slide park. It was the most fon I can imagine for a kid who was real inerresond in eodeo and befog a cowboy. Gompcricors occasionally turn into lifetime friends. "One ofmy best friends who just visited me is Ben Facr;" Murray ays. "Wfe met in Litde Britches when we were 12, and we are now 32, and we are still great friends. He ended up riding saddle bronc as an amateur but never went pro, but we remained in contact. I was in his wedding 10 years aga In a time when families have become more fragmented, Litde Britches has found a way to traditional libw. Hwp, pnw iWinit--ly wle, rmrrr As a youngster; Murray admired the rodeo champions, but his true hero is a little closer.ro home. 1 really looked up to Larry Mahan, he says. "But it was my dad who I looked up to the most. od Lesming to campeSe t nonprofit baaed in Colorado Sprfogs, GoIol, pmmnwd gnnd apnmmuahy and ftmily rngfthwnwa for ynmy people thrrah For mote than 30 yean, Litde Britches, 1m tBiwaww lifaryi. finumiHimipw m hr wwaa Junior boys (8 to 13 yean old) state off with steer riding, bronc riding, goat tying, flag facing, breakaway calf roping, and dally ribbon roping a team event in which one member ropes a calf and the ocher grabs a ribbon from its tail and races to the finish. Senior boys (up to 18 yean old) compete in the regular pro rodeo events bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and teamnoping. Junior and senior girls contend in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway calf roping, mil, and goat tying. The sixth event for juniore is dally ribbon roping; for seniors, it's team toping. Most rodeos also offer several gamn for children 8 and under; Litde wtanglen can test their riding skills in mutton busriog, where the cfaalleqge is hanging on to a frislcy sheep. Even younger buckaroos can join a stick horse race or the calf scramble where they chare calves to try to pull ribbons off their tails. little Britches competitors not only learn how to rope a steet; soy glued , to the bade of a running or bucking horse, and dismount at a gallop, they pick up a good work ethic and build character that lasts a lifetime. "You leant how to deal with pressure and competition, Murray says. "And those lessons can help the whole rest of your career; even if you doa't go on to rodeo. Little Britches shows kids that how successful you want to be is detrr-- mined by how much effort and practice you put into it." - is a frmUan writer m Enghueoti, CWk American Profile Pago 7 |