Stick Horse Rodeo Saddles Up Students
for Silly Sports

Catherine Hanneken and Anna Hardecke, Corner Post Special Contributors

Oct. 3, 2002 - Dirt was flying in the Trowbridge Livestock Arena Thursday night during the "Stick Horse Rodeo," sponsored by the Collegiate Horseman's Association (CHA) for Ag Week 2002. This was the first year CHA took charge of the event.

"The committee appreciates club-sponsored events because it shows support of the college, and more people participate than otherwise," Michelle Mullins, Ag Week Steering Committee member, said.

Photo by Casey Buckman  Ride 'em cowboys! Well, all but one of them is on the stick  horse.

Seventeen teams of four College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources students each participated in five different events: a hay toss, a three-legged race, a stick horse barrel race, a wheelbarrow race and a cider chug. Participants looked like they were ready to have fun when CHA President Jessica Robertson announced it was time to begin at 7:15 p.m.

"We think this is a fun event," Robertson said. "Everyone is out to win and the competition is fierce. The event is just full of good fun."

The audience of about 70 people seemed to be active for the entire event. They clapped and cheered on their favorite teams, while laughing and taking pictures.

Judging by the crowd's reaction, the stick horse rodeo competition was the most exciting part of the night. During this event, three team members stood at barrels arranged in a cloverleaf pattern and waited to be picked up by their fourth team member on a "horse" (actually a broom).

Audience members laughed when the broom (stick horse) broke, leaving its riders horseless. But in true farm fashion, some duct tape got the stick horses back in action.

The cider chug also brought lots of laughs. The event required each team to chug a gallon of cider, relay-style. After finishing, participants ran for trashcans in case they could not hold it in, drawing huge laughs from the crowd.

Participants also had a great time. Tiffany Crews, who represented Sigma Alpha, stopped to share her views of the event.

"This is a lot of fun," Crews said. "We make ourselves look like fools in the process, but it's a good time and it's helping out Ag Week too."