Helping youth become winners in life.
“This is rodeo at a different level. It provides an opportunity to compete above the local events, yet not forcing us to travel a long ways from home. There’s not so much pressure. Everybody wants to win, but we’re all friends who love horses and help each other in every way we can.”
That’s one perspective.
“This is a very Christian-oriented family organization. We want to educate our kids and do what’s best for them. It’s tough growing up today. We strive to provide a good safe place to educate our kids, have a fun time and develop strong morals all at the same time.”
That’s from another.
These are youth rodeo moms talking. They’re describing their heartfelt feelings about the Christian Youth Rodeo Association.
First, “The CYRA is a great beginner rodeo organization. It gives younger inexperienced kids a way to get involved in rodeo with a lot of different events. They start out in peewee and continue up in through junior and senior divisions as they get older and more competitive,” continued Leann Edington, Berryton, whose daughter Jordyn was the all-around senior cowgirl winner last year.
Next, “Our daughters had been active in 4-H horse activities and have been going to Kansas Barrel Racing Association events around home. We decided to take a step up in the level of competition to the CYRA, and yet we could stay pretty close to home. It’s our extended family made up generally of rural people without really expensive horses and elaborate rigs,” continued Stacie Adams, Meriden, whose daughters Kassie and Shanie ride in the junior and senior divisions, respectively.
“There’s some special activity planned at almost every CYRA rodeo besides just competition. We’ll sometimes gather around the campfire, have special singers such as Rusty Rierson, speakers and entertainment. Clyde Frost, Lane Frost’s dad, is going to speak at one of our rodeo church services,” said Edington, only in the third year of family participation, and an adult board member serving as secretary and membership chairman.
“Families often enjoy camping, cooking out and sharing meals together at the CYRA rodeos. We have games, play volley ball, and even have an on-foot goat roping contest planned. We make it fun, and yet it’s an affordable way to rodeo. It’s such a nice group of people who get along really well,” commented Adams, also in just the third year of family participation, and an adult board member, serving as treasurer and points recorder.
Sunday is time for church. “We always have a special service, and just about all of the families come,” said Edington.
“Chad Chambers of Baldwin City is a board member who serves as the rodeo association chaplain and coordinates the services,” she added.
“Chad is so good with the kids and involves everybody in the services. He’s not like a church preacher, but relates real life experiences that the kids and their parents pay attention. There’s a lesson in what he says,” Adams contended.
Now in its 11th year, the CYRA was organized at Edgerton in January 2003. Idea for the organization actually was that of George Steinberger of the Homestead Rodeo School, who was elected as the first president and provided livestock at CYRA events for several years.
First CYRA rodeo was at Pleasanton, with the second at Gardner, and then one at Garnett, with two more CYRA competitions the first year also at Pleasanton. A recorded CYRA history indicates “the treasury at yearend had $5,000 to spend on awards for youth members.”
“A stipulation from the beginning was that all the rodeos must within a hundred mile radius of Ottawa,” Edington clarified.
“However, the contestants can come from anywhere. We have riders from Missouri, Oklahoma and quite a ways off,” Adams tallied.
Peewee boys and girls are three to eight years old featuring dummy roping, mutton busting, calf riding, goat tying, goat tail untying, barrel racing and pole bending, with special divisions for boys, and girls, depending on their ages.
For junior girls, nine to 13, there’s barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying and steer riding.
Junior boys (nine-13) can enter goat tying, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding and either steer riding, or junior bull riding (11-13).
Senior girls, 14-18, compete in barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying and chute dogging.
For senior boys, 14-18, there’s bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie down calf roping, and either chute dogging or steer wrestling.
Junior and senior boys and girls compete together in the team roping and ribbon roping events.
“A nominal membership fee is required to participate in the CYRA events. We have 19 rodeos scheduled this year staring on April 18 at the North Topeka Saddle Club, and the yearend finals are set for Humansville, Missouri, August 22 through the 24th, with double points at that rodeo,” Edington explained.
Despite being somewhat lower key than certain rodeo groups, the CYRA has stringent rules and guidelines. “Our rulebook has similarities to that of the high rodeo association, but every event has specific variations fitting our organization,” Edington qualified.
3D Rodeo Company operated by Brad Daily of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, is listed as one of the CYRA stock contractors. Special competition clinics are sometimes offered at rodeos, and at other times throughout the year.
“We have relatively inexpensive entry fees, and pay back prize money to the top contestants in every event. More than $13,000 in awards including saddles for the all-around girl and boy in each age group, and buckles for all event winners are given as yearend awards,” Adams tabulated.
“Several businesses, groups and individual assist in sponsorship of the CYRA, and we are very appreciative of their generosity. We also have special fund raising activities every year,” Adams added.
Regular monthly, or sometimes more frequent, meetings are conducted by the board of directors to coordinate CYRA activities.
Besides Edington, Adams, and Chambers, the officer slate includes Chad Newell, president, and Thom Whildin, vice president. Other board members are Clint Adams, Carl Hines, Travis Long and Stephanie Newell.
Serving the CYRA youth board are Taylor Adams, president; Shanie Adams, vice president; Kylee Prouty, secretary; Blaze Hobbs, treasurer, and Jake Joeckel and Ty Pope, directors.
Royalty for this year are Haydan Walters, CYRA Little Miss; Kamryn Prouty, CYRA Princess; and Taylor Adams, CYRA Queen.
“Some of our members do compete in other youth rodeo organizations sometimes, but they’re still quite loyal to our rodeos. Most members go to every rodeo,” Edington contended.
“My oldest daughter expressed an interest in competing in the Kansas High School Rodeo Association, but we decided it’s better to stay closer to home, still have a good time, and actually win more while competing against your close family friends,” Adams analyzed.
The young cowboys and cowgirls are animate in their feeling about their weekend rodeo association.
“In CYRA, we are not just a rodeo association, we are a family. We do more than just compete. We make new friends and have fun inside and outside of the arena. We make memories that will never be forgotten,” professed Jordyn Edington.
“I like CYRA, because there are many people to help you if you need it, and we get to see our friends that we don’t get to see very often,” declared Shanie Adams.
“I get to be with my friends. I am able to do what I love. I can just be me. I get to spend a weekend with the friends I don’t normally get to see,” Kassie Adams agreed.
Although there are those who still are not familiar with the CYRA, membership has continued to grow annually.
“We have 74 members so far this year, and it’ll likely keep expanding as more families find out what the CYRA has to offer,” Edington predicted.
CYRA’s Mission:
“Our mission is clear. We vow to help each other in and out of the rodeo arena. We are here to help the youth today, and build a strong bond among family and friends. We will teach valuable skills, and keep Christ in our lives and hearts.
“We compete and make relationships that last longer than all the trophies, buckles, points and money that we will ever win, with God as our guide.”
Information is available at www.christianyouthrodeoassociation.com.