By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information
Noah McCowan was just calling it like he saw it.
“I thought the little horse was a dog,” said McCowan, a first-grade student in Lindsay McCowan’s class at Eastern Hills Christian School in Athens.
“Well,” TVCC agriculture instructor and rodeo coach Brent Bratton said with a smile, “he kinda does look like a little dog, doesn’t he?”
McCowan and his classmates had a fun, hands-on experience Monday when Bratton brought a group of TVCC Ranch Management students to the school. McCowan’s class was learning about agriculture and rodeo – a lesson that included studies ranging from cowboys and cowgirls to cattle and spurs.
Bratton not only talked about those topics, but brought with him a pair of horses – a shaggy miniature horse and a paint horse, the latter of which the schoolchildren got to ride (with Bratton walking along and holding the reins, of course). The EHCS students also got to practice roping on a calf roping dummy.
Bratton said this was the second year he has brought his students to Eastern Hills. Last year they brought dairy calves to show the children.
“Doing this is always kind of neat,” Bratton said. “We really get more out of it than anybody.”
Bratton said several of the schoolchildren told him they plan on being at the calf scramble at TVCC’s 6th Annual Southern Region National Intercollegiate Rodeo scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8, at the Henderson County Fairpark Complex in Athens. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. each evening, with slack beginning at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Each night during the rodeo performance, children can compete in the calf scramble to win prizes.
All proceeds generated by the rodeo are given back to the students to further their education.
General admission tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance at Lone Star Western Wear in Athens, or on the night of the performance at the gate. Free admission will be given for those with a current TVCC ID.
The event will feature approximately 400 contestants representing 20 colleges and universities including: Hill College, Southwest Texas Junior College, McNeese State University, Trinity Valley Community College, Northeast Texas Community College, Lone Star Community College – Montgomery, Panola Junior College, Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and Wharton County Junior College.