This group of Texans are competing in the International Finals Youth Rodeo for the first time, but from what they have heard, they already are glad they here.
Cooper Vandiver, 16, of Fairfield, Texas, will compete in the team roping and calf roping events. Shawn Hudson, 18, is in the team roping and Heather Hassler, Madisonville, Texas, is in four events: pole bending, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying.
It’s the initial trip for each. For Hudson, who is headed to Sam Houston State University in the fall, it also will be his only time he is eligible to compete.
Heather said “my friends told me about it,” citing the primary reason she is here. Heather, 15, will be a sophomore. And Vandiver, 16, is a junior.
Vickie Hassler said she and her daughters arrived about 1 a.m. Saturday. Hudson and Vandiver said they pulled in about 4 p.m. Saturday. Vickie said “the people here have just been awesome. They are very friendly, helpful, very, very nice. They even helped us with our trailer,” she added.
She called Shawnee “a nice little town.” They already had been to eat at the one of the Mexican restaurants in Shawnee, and found the food and service to be very good.
Vandiver will head to the NHSFR next week in Farmington, N.M. where he qualified in the cutting competition.
He and Hudson said one of the reasons they are here is because “we heard it’s a really good rodeo. The competition is tough,” they have been advised.
Vickie Hassler noted “we are told it’s the best of the best.”
|
|
|
This group of Texans are competing in the International Finals Youth Rodeo for the first time, but from what they have heard, they already are glad they here.
Cooper Vandiver, 16, of Fairfield, Texas, will compete in the team roping and calf roping events. Shawn Hudson, 18, is in the team roping and Heather Hassler, Madisonville, Texas, is in four events: pole bending, barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying.
It’s the initial trip for each. For Hudson, who is headed to Sam Houston State University in the fall, it also will be his only time he is eligible to compete.
Heather said “my friends told me about it,” citing the primary reason she is here. Heather, 15, will be a sophomore. And Vandiver, 16, is a junior.
Vickie Hassler said she and her daughters arrived about 1 a.m. Saturday. Hudson and Vandiver said they pulled in about 4 p.m. Saturday. Vickie said “the people here have just been awesome. They are very friendly, helpful, very, very nice. They even helped us with our trailer,” she added.
She called Shawnee “a nice little town.” They already had been to eat at the one of the Mexican restaurants in Shawnee, and found the food and service to be very good.
Vandiver will head to the NHSFR next week in Farmington, N.M. where he qualified in the cutting competition.
He and Hudson said one of the reasons they are here is because “we heard it’s a really good rodeo. The competition is tough,” they have been advised.
Vickie Hassler noted “we are told it’s the best of the best.”
