More than 130 contestants expected for Hub Area 4-H Rodeo, which begins Friday evening
The Hub Area 4-H Rodeo will kick off on Friday in Aberdeen with a host of fast-paced events.
Starting 5:30 p.m., five junior contestants and one senior contestant are competing for the junior and senior ambassador titles to represent 4-H and the sport of rodeo in the upcoming year.
The horsemanship contest will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. at Akkerman Arena at the Brown County Fairgrounds. There will be two competition area for participants.
The rodeo should have more than 700 performances, according to those in charge of the event. The top four in each regional rodeo event will qualify for the state 4-H rodeo in August.
There will be pro-style rodeo events, including bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback broc riding. There will also be steer riding, steer bareback riding, pole bending, flag races, goat tying and women's roping.
The rodeo begins Saturday morning with the ambassador coronation at 9:45 a.m. Sunday’s rodeo events begin at 9 a.m. The rodeo is open to the public and there is no admission charge. More than 130 4-H youth from throughout South Dakota are expected to compete.
Get to know the ambassadors
The reigning senior ambassador is Caycee Schneider. The 18-year-old is the daughter daughter of Pat and Julie Schneider of Turton. She just finished her first year of college at Mount Marty University. In high school, she was involved in basketball, volleyball, track, student council, band, choir and FFA.
The lone senior contestant this year is Cami Wallace. She is the 14-year-old daughter of Ed and Teresa Wallace from Dell Rapids. She attends Dell Rapids St. Mary school where she competes in track and cross-country. In her free time, she enjoys skiing, snowboarding, working with her 4-year-old mare and running, according to a 4-H news release.
This weekend, Wallace will be competing in barrel racing, pole bending, goat typing and breakaway roping.
The current Junior Ambassador is Kyler Foreman. She is the 13-year-old daughter of Travis and Kassandra Foreman. She attends Miller Junior High and participates in volleyball, wrestling statistics and 4-H.
Junior ambassador contestants
Fidelia Rasmussen is the 11-year-old daughter of Angela Bochek and Bill Rasumussen from Cark. She will be entering middle school as a sixth-grader this fall. She participates in dance and ice skating. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her animals and her sister. She also enjoys being a South Dakota Junior Beef ambassador, promoting the beef industry. This weekend she will be competing in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying and the ambassador contest.
Jacee Reuer is the 9-year-old daughter of Lewis and Katrina Reuer. She will be a fifth-grader at Bowdle elementary in fall. She shows beef cattle, dairy cattle, dairy goats and rabbits in 4-H. In her free time, she likes to do anything horse-related. She was recently in Fort Scott, Kan., at a rodeo Bible camp where she participated in trick riding. This weekend, she will be competing in barrels, pole bending, flags, goat tying, break away roping and the ambassador contest.
Henley Mack is the 9-year-old daughter of Cody and Baily Mack of Castlewood. She has one older brother and one younger brother. She will be in the fourth grade at Castlewood Elementary this fall. She plays basketball and is a member of the Victory Boosters 4-H club. This is her second year in rodeo, and she has a new horse named Boo. This weekend, she is competing in barrels, poles, goat tying, flag race and the ambassador contest.
Lily Mundt is the 10-year-old daughter of Ann and Erik Mundt of Britton. She will be a fifth-grader at Britton-Hecla Elementary, where she loves to play basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and anything else she tries. Her 4-H activities include archery, hippology and the horse show. In her free time, she enjoys reading and playing with her sister. She will be competing in barrels, poles, flag race, break away roping and the ambassador contest.
Kelsa Foreman is the 8-year-old daughter of Travis and Kassandra Foreman. In fall, she will be a third-grader at Miller Elementary. This is her first year in 4-H and her first ambassador contest. She will be competing in barrel racing, pole bending, flag racing and the ambassador contest.
Sitting Bull Stampede is this weekend in Mobridge
For those who want to catch some professional rodeo action this weekend, Mobridge is the place to be.
Some of the top cowgirls and cowboys from across the nation will be on hand Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the annual Sitting Bull Stampede Rodeo. There are nightly performances that begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Mobridge Rodeo Arena.
A fireworks display will follow Monday night's rodeo.