I was mighty glad to see the return of the International Finals Youth Rodeo this week with all the contestants, parents, grandparents and others.
After a year off due to COVID-19, it’s been good to see all the pickups and trailers driving through the area this week.
This marks the 28th year for the IFYR that originated in 1993.
It’s a sports activity that has consumed a considerable amount of time each July for nearly three decades.
A lot of these contestants coming from states to the north of Oklahoma pass through Lincoln County as they head toward the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shawnee.
As I was out at the Expo several days 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 don’t understand is it takes a lot of volunteers and hard work to put this on and make this all happen.
It provides an economic impact to not only Shawnee but the entire area and even reaches other portions of the state.
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.
The consecutive number of years for what many like to label is a “family affair,” rather than just a rodeo, was 27. At least we’re holding a 28th International Finals Youth Rodeo.
Contestants and their parents began descending on the Expo Center last Friday morning and many will be here through tomorrow night.
For me, personally, this is at least the 35th 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. Beginning in 1984, I also covered the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association Finals in several locations, among them Shawnee at the Expo Center.
So 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.
I helped a woman last weekend, who said she got up that morning at 1 a.m. to catch a flight from Alabama to come watch her grandson compete, locate him and his trailer by guiding her there.
It’s just little things like that which make this event so enjoyable each year.