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It was a bittersweet opening night for International Finals Youth Rodeo competitor Sara Atwood as the 17-year-old Choctaw resident was presented with a memorial saddle honoring her late father, Art Atwood.
Art was a long time barrel racer and rodeo announcer. He died in May after a battle with cancer.
The saddle was won earlier this month by 14-year-old Rison, Ark., resident Garrett Dedman at the Lucky Dog Races Art Atwood Memorial Barrel Race in Searcy, Ark. All entrants who received a side pot check had their names entered into a drawing for the saddle, and upon winning it Dedman, who had never won a saddle, decided he “wanted to give the saddle to Sara.”
Dedman and his family made the five-hour drive to Shawnee’s Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center for the Monday night presentation.
The arena and stands were filled with emotion as Sara received her saddle Monday evening, and with tears of joy falling down her face Sara embraced Dedman in a hug of thanks.
Dedman’s generosity did not go unnoticed as Christy Kurck, Leslie Brown and Judy Brown of Lucky Dog Races and Twister Saddle Company joined together to have another saddle made for Dedman. The Arkansas teenager was in turn presented with his new saddle Monday.
Lucky Dog Races will hold a barrel race in September at the Expo Center. There will be $3,000 added money, a trophy saddle and eight buckles given away. For more information, go to www.luckydograces.com.
It was a bittersweet opening night for International Finals Youth Rodeo competitor Sara Atwood as the 17-year-old Choctaw resident was presented with a memorial saddle honoring her late father, Art Atwood.
Art was a long time barrel racer and rodeo announcer. He died in May after a battle with cancer.
The saddle was won earlier this month by 14-year-old Rison, Ark., resident Garrett Dedman at the Lucky Dog Races Art Atwood Memorial Barrel Race in Searcy, Ark. All entrants who received a side pot check had their names entered into a drawing for the saddle, and upon winning it Dedman, who had never won a saddle, decided he “wanted to give the saddle to Sara.”
Dedman and his family made the five-hour drive to Shawnee’s Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center for the Monday night presentation.
The arena and stands were filled with emotion as Sara received her saddle Monday evening, and with tears of joy falling down her face Sara embraced Dedman in a hug of thanks.
Dedman’s generosity did not go unnoticed as Christy Kurck, Leslie Brown and Judy Brown of Lucky Dog Races and Twister Saddle Company joined together to have another saddle made for Dedman. The Arkansas teenager was in turn presented with his new saddle Monday.
Lucky Dog Races will hold a barrel race in September at the Expo Center. There will be $3,000 added money, a trophy saddle and eight buckles given away. For more information, go to www.luckydograces.com.
