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Some come from several states away. Some returned this year or plan to come again the next.
But 18-year-old Connor Osborn’s travel to the International Finals Youth Rodeo was short and he said this is his one shot to win it all.
As a 2010 Tecumseh High School graduate, Osborn will not be eligible to compete in the 2011 IFYR and, although he has attended the rodeo at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center for the past three years, he was unable to compete until this year.
“I wanted to last year but I tore my rotator cuff playing basketball and had knee surgery,” he said. “I came out and watched and played pool. And I roped goats, even though I really wasn’t supposed to. It was hard having to sit it out.”
Osborn’s “one shot” will be in team roping and calf roping events at this year’s IFYR.
Onlookers who miss his name when called by the announcer can look for back number 568; however, they will need to look quickly, as Osborn said he plans to win money and a saddle and that will require a combination of speed and talent.
He said the way he kept in shape and continued to perfect his skill, despite the knee surgery and cuff injury, was simple.
“I roped a lot of dummies inside,” he said.
Osborn, whose parents Randy and Lisa Osborn were rodeo competitors themselves, began competing in rodeo events as a 6-year-old sheep rider. His dad “used to bulldog” and his mom “ran barrels.”
His older brother competed in several rodeos, including the IFYR, as a bullrider but Osborn said that wasn’t the event for him.
“I’m too big,” he said, smiling.
Osborn’s outgoing and friendly personality, along with his size and talents, have helped him be competitive and successful in many sports but he quickly learned he couldn’t participate in all of them at once.
“I quit football to play rodeo,” he said. “My coach made me pick between playing ball and rodeo. It was my eighth grade year.”
But Osborn doesn’t regret his choice.
“It was easy,” he said. “I was a quarterback in junior high. He thought I’d choose football but I didn’t. I’ll keep rodeoing until I can’t do it anymore.”
Osborn said when ranking priorities in life, rodeo takes first place. Rodeo also helped Osborn with college, which he will begin this fall.
He received a rodeo scholarship to Western Oklahoma College in Altus, where he will pursue an agricultural business degree in hopes of being an ag teacher one day. He said he will continue competing in rodeos while away at college.
Osborn competed in junior high rodeos two years and high school rodeos four years, as well as many open and other rodeos.
He said he practices a minimum of four times per week for several hours a day but in his spare time, he also enjoys hanging out with his friends, playing pool or bowling.
Rodeo draws Osborn to the arena and pushes him to work hard practicing for several reasons and it has taught him many valuable lessons, he said.
“It’s fun, exciting and I meet a lot of new people,” he said. “It’s taught me a respect for animals and people, mostly respect for people — a lot of respect.”
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Johnna Ray may be reached at 214-3934.
Some come from several states away. Some returned this year or plan to come again the next.
But 18-year-old Connor Osborn’s travel to the International Finals Youth Rodeo was short and he said this is his one shot to win it all.
As a 2010 Tecumseh High School graduate, Osborn will not be eligible to compete in the 2011 IFYR and, although he has attended the rodeo at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center for the past three years, he was unable to compete until this year.
“I wanted to last year but I tore my rotator cuff playing basketball and had knee surgery,” he said. “I came out and watched and played pool. And I roped goats, even though I really wasn’t supposed to. It was hard having to sit it out.”
Osborn’s “one shot” will be in team roping and calf roping events at this year’s IFYR.
Onlookers who miss his name when called by the announcer can look for back number 568; however, they will need to look quickly, as Osborn said he plans to win money and a saddle and that will require a combination of speed and talent.
He said the way he kept in shape and continued to perfect his skill, despite the knee surgery and cuff injury, was simple.
“I roped a lot of dummies inside,” he said.
Osborn, whose parents Randy and Lisa Osborn were rodeo competitors themselves, began competing in rodeo events as a 6-year-old sheep rider. His dad “used to bulldog” and his mom “ran barrels.”
His older brother competed in several rodeos, including the IFYR, as a bullrider but Osborn said that wasn’t the event for him.
“I’m too big,” he said, smiling.
Osborn’s outgoing and friendly personality, along with his size and talents, have helped him be competitive and successful in many sports but he quickly learned he couldn’t participate in all of them at once.
“I quit football to play rodeo,” he said. “My coach made me pick between playing ball and rodeo. It was my eighth grade year.”
But Osborn doesn’t regret his choice.
“It was easy,” he said. “I was a quarterback in junior high. He thought I’d choose football but I didn’t. I’ll keep rodeoing until I can’t do it anymore.”
Osborn said when ranking priorities in life, rodeo takes first place. Rodeo also helped Osborn with college, which he will begin this fall.
He received a rodeo scholarship to Western Oklahoma College in Altus, where he will pursue an agricultural business degree in hopes of being an ag teacher one day. He said he will continue competing in rodeos while away at college.
Osborn competed in junior high rodeos two years and high school rodeos four years, as well as many open and other rodeos.
He said he practices a minimum of four times per week for several hours a day but in his spare time, he also enjoys hanging out with his friends, playing pool or bowling.
Rodeo draws Osborn to the arena and pushes him to work hard practicing for several reasons and it has taught him many valuable lessons, he said.
“It’s fun, exciting and I meet a lot of new people,” he said. “It’s taught me a respect for animals and people, mostly respect for people — a lot of respect.”
---
Johnna Ray may be reached at 214-3934.
