Riders and Ropers was started by a handful of parents looking for a place at home in which their children could participate in rodeo events and continue the dying cowboy tradition. Although, over the past few years these rodeo youths have graduated from high school and gone on to participate in rodeos on a personal level or through college rodeo clubs, Riders and Ropers lives on. Often volunteer parents continue to be involved even if their youngsters are no longer participants because of their love of the sport; some become involved through their grandchildren.
Riders and Ropers holds its youth rodeos on Saturdays beginning September and continuing through May. They are held at the C.W. Wheaton arena on the Willacy County Livestock Show grounds, with no admission charge to the public. Funds are raised to sustain the program from concessions sold and minimal participation fees.
Some of the rodeo events include barrel racing, chute roping, running dummy roping, pole bending and goat tying. Participants range from ages 0-19. An annual awards banquet is held at the end of the year's program with monetary prizes, buckles and personalized tack awards as prizes.
About Us,
