It was really good to see the significant increase in contestants at the International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center earlier this month. With them come the parents, grandparents and others.
This marked the 31st year for the IFYR that originated in 1993. It’s a sports activity that has consumed a considerable amount of time each July for more than three decades.
They had to take a year off in 2020 due to COVID.
Those in the know put the contestant count at 940 contestants. They came from 35 states.
Official IFYR media said this year’s payout to the contestants was $319,000.
It’s hard to realize the impact the IFYR brings to the area and region, especially with the increase in contestants. The 940 compares to 650 a year ago and this year’s numbers represent a significant uptick from the last several years.
A lot of these contestants coming from states to the north, east and west of Oklahoma pass through Lincoln County as they head toward the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee.
I was out at the Expo some prior to the event actually beginning. I spoke with several of the local officials and the volunteers who make this all possible.
What a lot of people fail to realize is it takes a lot of volunteers and hard work to put this on and make this all happen.
The contestants, their parents and others they bring with them don’t just spend all their time at the Expo Center.
They travel to other communities and visit as well.
Contestants and their parents began descending on the Expo Center Friday, July 7, and it was more than a week later before the last ones left.
We had more contestants from Lincoln County this year than we’ve had in the past several years and that was encouraging to see.
For me personally, this was the 38th year of being involved in and providing coverage for a rodeo of national and international scope.
I covered the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D., for a year, three years in Pueblo, Colo., and the three years Shawnee hosted it. And the 31 years of the IFYR.
Since the mid-80s, I’ve been involved with covering and helping direct coverage of various high school rodeo finals.
Although I’ve worked the IFYR each year since its inception, I’ve also been a volunteer, helping in the media center and in other areas as needed.
One thing I enjoy the most is just interacting with the contestants and talking with the parents and visitors. They all seem to like coming to the IFYR.
It’s just little things like that which make this event so enjoyable each year.
In checking the other day, apparently no dates have been set for next year’s IFYR.