30th International Finals Youth Rodeo brings annual crowd, economic boost to Shawnee

SHAWNEE — Hundreds of cowgirls and cowboys hailing from Florida to California and Illinois to Texas are in Shawnee this week for the annual International Finals Youth Rodeo.

With the young rodeo competitors come families, friends and support systems, and for Shawnee businesses that means an influx of traffic, especially as rodeo goers look for ways to keep cool between competition rounds at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.

In 2017, the International Professional Rodeo Association, which organizes the International Finals Youth Rodeo, estimated attendees spent at least $10 million in the city and surrounding areas during the event. Shawnee Mayor Ed Bolt said it's hard to put a real dollar amount on the rodeo these days, but Shawnee residents seemingly know the value of the event. Residents have passed multiple propositions and temporary sales taxes to fund improvements to the expo center grounds.

"I'm sure it's pretty significant," Bolt said. "I think people enjoy seeing all the young people in town. It's just an easy event for us to understand that it's important to the community, and I think Shawnee has stepped up a number of times to be very supportive of that."

Laina Schroeder, manager of Shawnee's Atwoods Ranch and Home, said the store's location, about a mile from the expo center, likely helps drive business to them. She also said staff get the added benefit of getting to meet and talk to competitors from across the nation.

"We are definitely up in sales," Schroeder said. "We sell a lot more of our pine shavings and general rodeo stuff, their necessities. We definitely see an increase in business."

Rodeo fosters friendship, life lessons for youths

This year's rodeo brought more than 960 entries from 32 states to compete in bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, calf roping, goat tying, pole bending, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and team roping events. For the cowboys and cowgirls, it's not all about the competition, though the chance to walk away with their share of the $250,000 purse is a sweet bonus.

"Competing in rodeo — it teaches you a lot of lessons — you have a lot of challenges when you go through," said Ali Jo Cruce, from Monticello, Arkansas, a breakaway and team roper. "You've just got to know that one bad mistake does not lead to all mistakes, you're going to get back up, you're going to do good. It's not the end of the world."

Cruce said those who compete on the rodeo circuit become like family, starting as strangers in one location and growing into lifelong friends as they see one another at events across the nation.

"We really like coming here, just hanging out and seeing everyone from different states and stuff that we don't usually get to see," said Ally Gose, a senior breakaway roper from Lorida, Florida.

Tracey Williams, whose daughter will be competing this week, said the friends her kids have made competing stay in touch even when they return home, creating networks of cowboys and cowgirls across the United States.

Things heat up, and rodeo families try to keep cool

Keeping themselves and their animals cool between sessions is a concern for competitors with escapes to the mall planned and blow-up pools, hammocks and chairs dragged into the shade of the sparse trees scattered on the grounds.

Schroeder said Atwoods was already low in stock of quickset pools before the crowds arrived in town, now the store has even fewer options.

"It's extremely hot, we've been sitting in the air conditioner, relaxing in the shade, trying to find a pool," said Cross Fulford, a roper from Moore Haven, Florida. "We have (the horses) indoors in stalls, and we have multiple fans blowing on them."

Williams said she enjoys seeing her kids flourish, but is also thankful for the opportunity to get out of the heat at local restaurants and businesses.

"Last year they went to the water park, but we haven't really had a chance to do anything yet this year because it's so dang hot," Williams said.

Junior Sydney Herrin, a barrel racer and roper from Kansas, said the heat does not take away from the experience, but that she was planning to head to the mall Monday afternoon and looking even further ahead to a competition in Wyoming later this month for a change of pace with the weather.

"It is a very unique experience, and I am blessed to live the life that I live, honestly," Herrin said, as she worked her barrel racing horse's muscles after competing. "I would not trade it for anything."

IFYR sessions are taking place through Friday, at 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The event finals are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday. For more information, go to IFYR.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: IFYR boosts Shawnee businesses, creates friendships for competitors