Volunteers make big impact

Five young girls are making a major impact on this year’s International Finals Youth Rodeo and are getting little recognition for their hard work. They are not competitors but volunteers who work for two weeks to ensure that this year’s IFYR is successful.
Katie Miles, 14, Lauren Underwood, 14, Skylar Wright, 14, Annie Jo Gilbert, 14, and Sierra Beauford, 13, worked since July 9 to prepare the expo center and help contestants get ready for the following week’s events.
These five girls are not old enough to compete in the IFYR this year so they have found other ways of participating. They volunteered to perform the flag presentation during opening ceremonies and help out with odd jobs like holding goats, recording times and checking stalls.
Their work may not seem glamorous but these girls are not short on pride for what they do and it shows through their confidence and decorated horses and outfits.
“We always coordinate what we are wearing,” Annie Jo said. “We like to put glitter on our horses and decorate them with leg wraps and festive pads. Everything has to be red, white and blue though.”
Opening Ceremony Coordinator, Suzanne Gilbert, choreographs the girls’ presentations and provides them with patriotic wardrobes and horse grooming supplies. Though she works closely with the girls all week she also organizes the volunteers to say the prayer and national anthem singers for two events per day.
“These girls do all the work,” Gilbert said. “They volunteer their time and provide their own horses and they are doing a great job.”
The weeks opening ceremonies were consistent from Monday through Friday but this year the girls are preparing something special for the championship events. Generally three girls run each flag presentation with a set in every arena but the final opening ceremony will include five girls running a new figure eight pattern.
“Tomorrow will be the best day because we will all be working together during the opening,” Lauren said.
Lauren will be a freshman at Bethel High School this year and plans on competing at next year’s IFYR.
Since this is Lauren’s sixth year as a flag presenter feeling comfortable and being close to home will be an advantage for me next year, Lauren said.
Flag presentations are her favorite part of the week, Lauren said. She loves to be with the other girls and show off what they can do.
Lauren’s team ropes, barrel races and shows goats and horses. She will be barrel racing in Jackson, Miss., in the National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Finals this weekend after her flag presentation on Saturday.
She is also President of the Pottawatomie County Horse Club, Vice President of the Pottawatomie County Four H Club and is very involved in Church activities.
Skylar will be a freshman at Meeker High School and has big plans for competing in next year’s events.
“I can’t wait to be a contestant next year,” Skylar said.
Skylar has been doing rodeo all her life and though this is her first year as a flag presenter she said it is a great way to be a part of the IFYR before she can compete.
“Meeting Lane Frost’s parents was the highlight of my week,” Skylar said. “No not my week, my whole life! He is my hero.”
Skylar barrel races and pole bends and participates in team roping and breakaway roping events. She runs track, cheers and plays basketball and softball. And even with a busy schedule she maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a member of National Honor Society.
Annie Jo will be a freshman at Nicoma Park High School next year but may not be competing with Lauren and Skylar at next year’s IFYR.
Focusing mainly on showing cattle and other extracurricular activities Annie Jo seems happy with flag presentations and said she will definitely be supporting the girls next year.
“This is my favorite week of the summer,” Annie Jo said.
Meeting new people and being with the girls are only part of the excitement of the week, Annie Jo said. And with seven years as a volunteer under her belt the excitement has not faded yet.
Annie Jo shows cattle and rides horses. She is the Junior Ambassador, Board Member and Treasurer for the Limousin association and the President of Tecumseh’s Four H Club. She plays basketball and volleyball and is a member of student council.
Katie will be in eighth grade next year at Meeker Middle School and plans to volunteer again next year. Meeting new people has been Katie’s favorite part of the week.
“I like going to the dances and meeting all the boys,” Katie said.
Katie shows horses in the western and english divisions. She is also a cheerleader and reporter for the Pottawatomie County Four H Club. Katie is also involved with many of her local church events.
Sierra will also be in eighth grade at South Rock Creek Middle School next year. Due to the busy week she was unable to comment on her work as a volunteer.
Sierra shows horses in the western and english divisions and barrel races. She is a cheerleader and plays competitive volleyball and basketball.
These girls have worked hard for almost two weeks, Gilbert said, so keep an eye out Saturday morning during the opening ceremony for the newest version of the flag presentation.