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Show HILLTOP TIMES Riders entertain at rodeo, learn life lessons TIMES 9 July 25, 2013 NEWS BRIEFS Youth Group to visit Raging Waters on Tuesday, July 30 By JANAE FRANCIS Standard-Examiner staff GDEN — Trick riders performing this week at the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo say they hope to land more than a perfect Indian death drag from the side of a horse. While their acrobatic skills remind audience members of the days of Buffalo Bill, their coach says the real feat to their program is turning ordinary girls into ladies. "You earn your reputation in the arena, but you earn your respect in the barn," said Executive Director and Coach Jennifer Welch Nicholson about the character of the four young women she brought with her to Ogden. Rodeo audiences have shown their excitement as the five performers in Ogden with the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls from Tulare County in California have flown through the air, trusting their steeds, it seems, with their lives. Their skill demonstration has proved to provide a bit of nostalgia too, as the group is returning to Ogden for the first time in 24 years. But an up-close meeting of these women brings an even deeper nostalgia for age-old values that Nicholson said are more important to her to pass along than the thrill of performance. "I need for the girls to be just as impressive standing outside as I do for them to be in the arena," Nicholson said. She pointed to character building as the No. 1 focus of her program. "Greatness doesn't start with ability," she said. "Greatness starts with character. We're more about class and style and leadership and mentorship and good values." Back at home, Nicholson runs a year-round training program for a few dozen young women — a program she said is more about creating well-rounded people than it is about teaching them to do tricks on horseback. She also holds numerous clinics throughout the year. The program has been known for high-class public performances since 1976, but it started training girls decades before that. Started by Tom Maier, his philosophy for the program is outlined in the book "Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls: Life Lessons Learned on the Back of a Horse," by Maier, Hilltop On July 30 a youth group will head out to Raging Waters. The cost for the young water park enthusiasts will be $30 for Youth Group members and $35 for nonmembers. Raging Waters has water slides, a wave pool, swimming pools and much more. A hot lunch is included in the price. The group will leave the Youth Center at 10 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. Open recreation will be closed on this day. This activity is open to all youth ages 9-18. For more information, call 801-777-2419 Amazing Race Challenge on Tuesday, July 30 An Amazing Race Competition will be sponsored by the Warrior Fitness Center. This is a team event in which teams receive points for mental challenges, physical challenges or being at the right place at the right time. Physical challenges consist of running to different locations around the base, up to 5 miles, and then performing a challenge at that location. Participants must be able to perform lunges, push-ups, sit ups, and squats. Mental challenges will consist of multiple choice and memory questions, as well as puzzles. Teams of three with a minimum of one male and one female per team. Sign up and pay $15 for a T-shirt at the Warrior Fitness Center by July 19 to participate. Call 801-777-2762 for more information. CCAF From page 7 1,47 7. " ,17 • • //, JP• REYNALDO LEAL/Standard-Examiner Anna Estill hangs onto her saddle with one leg during the Pioneer Days Rodeo in Ogden, Saturday, July 20, during one of the performances by the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls. Rebekah Ferran Witter and William Shepley, published in May 2001 by Storey Publishing, LLC. The book retails for $10.49. Nicholson said when Maier died in 2002, she decided to continue his legacy by taking over his program. And the young women she brought with her to Ogden said they have appreciated learning how to be good people. "We're all about giving a girl a good experience and to travel the world," said Brandi Phillips, 22, of Exeter, Calif. Phillips said she has trained with the group for 10 years, after she committed to training for one summer and never left. Anna Estill, 15, of Gerloch, Nev., is younger than most who have been allowed to travel with the performance group. RODEO From page 7 • Staff Sgt. Benjamin Clement, 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Flight, who performed as the lead Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team Member at a Command Out-Post in direct support of an Army Dismount Unit, Afghanistan Uniform Police and Afghanistan National Army. He is responsible for disarming 50 Improvised Explosive Devices and destroying 1,000 pounds of enemy homemade explosives. As the primary M240 machine gunner he was in direct enemy contact during ambushes resulting in the neutralization of enemy threat. Also honored were all military services and those representing active duty, Guard, Reserve and DoD The daughter of a rancher, Anna said she never really had the chance to learn to be ladylike before. She said she has had to learn to be a bit more mature than her age. "I've learned the importance of posture and etiquette," she said. "There is a place for you in the show if you can stand and have good presence." "Jennifer develops us in a holistic way," said Samantha Thompson, 26, who said she's still in training and not as skilled as the other performers. She said gaining the morals and values has been her draw to Riata Ranch. Thompson, who is a teacher in Australia, followed her younger sister, Sarah Jennifer Thompson, 22, to the United States for the program. "Why does she have this civilians in Utah who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom — American patriots who exemplify the values of courage, selflessness and teamwork that define the U.S. Armed Forces and keep the nation great. To open the rodeo ceremonies, 419th Fighter Wing Anthem Choir sang the national anthem. The choir is made up of current and former 419th Reservists, as well as some family members. The group has been singing together for over a year and has performed for many Hill AFB and local community events. Members include: Maj. Paul Hubenthal, Master Sgt. Dan Turley, Tech. Sgt. Kim Goldsberry, Dina Scheifl and Tanya Webb. It was Patriot Night at the rodeo. The Wrangler National Patriot program helped sponsor the Patriot Night. passion about what she does?" Samantha said she wanted to know. What she has discovered is a world where faith and trust are key. "It comes down to believing the horse will take care of you 100 percent," Samantha Thompson said. Sarah Thompson, who is a central performer in the show with her Australian whip-cracking and top trick-riding skills, said she met Nicholson at the World Equestrian games in 2010 in Lexington, Ky. "This is a stepping stone for where I want to go in my life," she said. "I want to travel. I want to expand what I've been doing in the performance world." Performers with the program have visited 18 countries and four continents. They performed for the queen of England last year. Among the stand-out rodeo performances that night were those of Casey Colletti, who took top spot in the bareback riding leaderboard with 86 points on Korkow Rodeos' Flashcard Champ. Colletti is ranked No. 16 ($32,601) in the world bareback riding standings. Colletti's home base is Pueblo, Colo. In the steer wrestling round, Casey McMilan, of Redmond Ore., posted a time of 4.5 seconds, enough to reach third place in the standings. The team of Jake Cooper and Clint Summers, of Monument, N.M., and Lake City, Fla., tied for first place in the team roping round. Cody Wright, of Milford, Utah, scored 82 points, placing a respectable 4th in saddle bronc riding standings. Cimarron Boardman, of Stephenville, Texas, tied for first place in the tie down roping standings that night Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Noel Capt. Katie Papenberg Staff Sgt. Clayton Proffer Tech. Sgt. Jerry Rivers, Jr. Staff Sgt. Michael Rogers Master Sgt. Adrian Ruisenor Staff Sgt. Travis Salter Tech. Sgt. Kevin Shafer Staff Sgt. Todd Sherman, Jr. Senior Airman Shelby Skinner Staff Sgt. Daniel Smith Staff Sgt. Ian Smith Tech. Sgt. Robert Sweeney Staff Sgt. Amanda Transue Staff Sgt. Dustin Weyenberg 1st Lt. James Whitmer Master Sgt. Joshua Wickster Tech. Sgt. Matthew Wilson Master Sgt. Colby Wortman Staff Sgt. Justin Yoder SCAM From page 7 good choices in the community, she noted. If a military family does find itself to be a victim of a scam, DoD also offers resources to help. Consulting with the legal assistance officer on the installation not only helps with recourse, Thompson said, but also advises the installation of a business that's not reputable to protect other service members and their families. "You learn a lesson, but you also make sure somebody else is not taken advantage of," she added. "The bottom line is you have to be a smart and savvy consumer," Thompson said. "You need to really think about your purchases, your purchasing power, and do your due diligence to make sure you're getting the right information and the right product for the money you're going to spend." with a time of 7.9 seconds, as Josh Peek also placed with a time of 8.5 seconds as the cowboy from Pueblo, Colo., tied for fourth place. The top performer in barrel racing was Whitney Baker, of Stephenville, Texas, with a time of 17.45 seconds, for fourth in the standings. Britney Pozzi, an entrant not posted on the program, posted a time of 17.54 seconds, for fifth. Bronc riding provided plenty of thrills as the stock provided several good rides. Allen Helmuth, of Redmond, Ore., stayed on for the required 8 seconds, with a bucking ride that satisfied the judges for a score of 87, 2nd in the standings. Tate Stratton, of Kellyville, Okla., scored a reported 83 to tie for 6th. Events continue until July 24. For results visit http://www.prorodeo.com/ EarlyResultsStory.aspx?xu=5314. |