Ropin’ it up

SUU rodeo plays host to event
at new Cedar arena

By DAVID DeMILLE
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

The SUU rodeo team welcomed schools from around the region to the first college rodeo at Cedar City’s new Iron Rangers Arena over the weekend.
The event was the culmination of hard work and preparation by club adviser Jean Lopour and the other members of the club.
“It’s an excellent facility,” Lopour said of the arena. “It’s always nice to have a home crowd, and we had a pretty good turn out.”
The team has competed in two other events this fall, and will take part in more events during the spring. Following national rules and regulations and competing against top flite competition from schools like Utah State and Idaho State.
The rodeo involves team roping, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, goat tying, breakaway, calf roping and bareback riding.
Team competitors spend each day practicing, and the emphasis on academics is always maintained.
“We follow all of the NCAA rules,” barrel racing competitor Makenzie Wood said. “As far as grades and eligibility go, we follow everything.”
During the rodeo, Wood, Sarah Heaton and Kalene Eilers all made it to the short goal, which is the rodeo equivalent of a final.
In regional rodeos like the Thunderbird Stampede can serve as a chance for the top two athletes in each event, and the top two teams in the region, to compete on the national stage.
“We have a focused, dedicated group,” Lopour said. “We

 

1.Beau Taylor, a freshman agricultural science major from Hinkley, competes in the bareback riding event at the Thunderbird Stampede at the Iron Rangers Arena Friday. Taylor nearly outlasted the clock on his second run.
ERIN MADSON / UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

support ourselves, and we make our own way as far as money.”
The team cleaned stalls after the rodeo to help raise money, and fund-raising is a common activity without any school funding.
The team is finished for the fall semester, but competes twice again in the spring. Unfortunately, another rodeo in Cedar will have to wait.
“It only happens once a year,” Wood said. “That’s all you get.”