COWGIRLS COMPETE ALONGSIDE PROS Auburn Pharmacy Barrel Racers to compete at rodeo ABILENE, KAN. (July 29, 2013) – Four Dickinson County cowgirls will compete alongside the professional barrel racers at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene in early August. The Auburn Pharmacy barrel racers, formerly the Bankes barrel racers, are the five fastest cowgirls from a barrel racing qualifier held in June. Sarah Johnson, DeDe Lorson, Afton Snider, Kylie Bryant, and alternate Macy Elliott will each compete during one night of the rodeo. Sarah Johnson will run on Wed., July 31. The Enterprise, Kan. cowgirl has run barrels for the past six years, in 4-H and National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) events. She graduated from Chapman High School this spring and will attend Hutchinson Community College this fall, majoring in emergency medical services. After college, she hopes to get her paramedic certification. She rides a six year old quarter horse named Jetemiah who she has owned for two years. Jetemiah requires a lot of attention and work. “He’s very flighty,” she said. “If you don’t keep his mind busy, and if he’s left out to pasture, you can’t get on him and ride him. You must work with him a lot.” She is the daughter of Steve and Sherry Johnson. The Thursday, August 1 barrel racer is DeDe Lorson, Hope, Kan. She has been running barrels since she was young, but not “super-competitively” till the last five years, competing in the NBHA. She enjoys the competitiveness, meeting new people, and being with horses. Her mount is a 17 year old named Boogie, who she has owned for four years. He’s a big horse, DeDe said, but trustworthy. “He is a very consistent runner, and that’s one thing I can trust about him. He’s pretty much going to run the same pattern every time.” This is her second year running at the Abilene rodeo, and the nerves are no less this time than the first time. But that’s natural, DeDe said. “I think everybody gets nervous before a run.” The barrel racer for Friday, August 2 is Afton Snider, Abilene. Afton has run barrels since she was seven. She was a Bankes barrel racer 12 years ago, and competes in rodeos, Barrel Bashes, Better Barrel Races, and NBHA events. Her daughters, Sydnie, age three, and Elsa, age two, have slowed down her barrel racing time. “It’s harder to rodeo when you have little kids,” she said. But the girls love the horses. “They love to ride.” Afton, who is married to Paul Snider, will ride a twelve year old gray mare named Jil. Nine year old Kylie Bryant is the Auburn Pharmacy barrel racer on Saturday, August 3. The Hope, Kan. girl has been getting some advice from her older sisters, Chelsea, and Shelby, who have both been Bankes barrel racers several times. The three sisters have all qualified on the same horse, a 22 year old named Mickey who the family has owned since he was four. “He’s one in a million,” said Kylie’s dad, Mitch. “He’s raised those girls (Mitch’s daughters). He’s part of the family.” Kylie isn’t nervous now, but her dad thinks she may get the jitters when she gets to the rodeo. “She’s been riding for quite a while, but she’s never rode in something like that. She’s seen her two sisters do it, so she’s pretty excited about it.” Her mom is Jennifer Tiers. Macy Elliott, is alternate barrel racer. The 12 year old cowgirl is the daughter of the Friday night barrel racer, DeDe Lorson, and her husband, Bryon. Macy will be a seventh grade student at Hope Elementary this fall. The Auburn Pharmacy, formerly the Bankes Drug Store, sponsors the Auburn Pharmacy Barrel Racers at the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene. Each night, one of the Auburn Pharmacy barrel racers will compete during the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association barrel racing. If a member of the Auburn Pharmacy team has a time that would have won money in the WPRA race, that cowgirl is paid what the WPRA member would have been paid. The cowgirls will sell autographed pictures on Friday, August 2 at the rodeo. Autographed pictures will be $2 each, with all of the proceeds going to the Elsie Brooks Cancer Fund of Dickinson County. The four cowgirls and an alternate are chosen at a qualifying barrel race. Cowgirls must be Dickinson County residents. The Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo is July 31-August 3 in Abilene. For more information, visit WildBillHickokRodeo or call 785.263.4570.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 19:41:37 +0000
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