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Sports B2 n Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader Our Community Matters A parade, an event, a festival, a rodeo – when we gather together, Shelter is proud to be there. Shelter Insurance ® is pleased to support the Siloam Springs Rodeo. ® ® We're your Shield. We're your Shelter. Jimmy Allen Agent 816 S. Mount Olive St. Siloam Springs, AR 72761 479-524-4183 JAllen@ShelterInsurance.com 960 S. Mt. Olive • Siloam Springs, AR 479-524-5161 • 888-736-2020 Hours: Monday 8-6, Tuesday 7-6, Wednesday & Thursday 7-5, Friday 7-3 GreG PhilPott, o.D. leAh CAte, o.D. JorDoN M. NetZel, o.D. ritA WilKiNS, oFFiCe MANAGer MelANie YeAGer, BilliNG MANAGer We're all about supporting the Siloam Springs See ya there! Your Hometown Total Eye Care Center We have been treating people in Siloam Springs since 1974 gates.com Proud SPonSor of the 2022 Siloam rodeo! driven by PoSSibility. The future of the Siloam Springs Riding Club looks great thanks to a rodeo and sponsor base which is getting larger, Davis said. Davis has built a legacy in the riding club through her work in promoting the club and rodeo, which is something that she has passed on to her daughter. Kari McReynolds Hutchins Hutchins has been a part of the Siloam Springs Rodeo Club in some form or fashion for 38 years, she said. Hutchins grew up performing in play nights doing speed events, she said. As a young girl Hutchins said she spent her time at a barrel race, ballfield or gym. While she ended up choosing sports over rid - ing, the western lifestyle stayed with Hutchins and when she and her hus- band realized they were expecting Hutchins said she wanted to become involved with the rodeo again, she said. Along with speed events, Hutchins ran barrels in the Siloam Springs rodeo until she was at the University of Arkansas, she said. "I never took it back up," Hutchins said. "I enjoy watching my husband Ty - ler team rope at the rodeos and watching our boys Randon and Kade ride and rope." Hutchins entered com- petitions a few more times until she retired her mare and then decided to move on. Despite not perform- ing in the rodeo, Hutchins still wanted to be a part of the rodeo world and has served as secretary of the board of directors for the Siloam Springs Rodeo Club for the last six-and-a- half years, she said. Since stepping into her role as secretary, the Si - loam Springs Riding Club has doubled its added money in each event of the rodeo, which led to the rid- ing club to purchase new bucking chutes, a new an- nouncer's stand and new arena fencing, Hutchins said. "We currently have a great group of board members," Hutchins said. "We're a small group, but we're willing to help in any way we can." Like Davis, Hutchins also serves with the ARCA as the vendor coordina - tor and office help during the finals in January, she said. Her husband Tyler Hutchins also serves as the team roping director for the ARCA, she said. "It's a family affair and I wouldn't change a thing," Hutchins said. their own horse. It's not cheap to drive these big trucks with trailers hooked on, even with gas prices at a somewhat normal level. I went to two of the nights at the 2021 rodeo last summer. The first night was fun be - cause I brought my daughter with me, her first time to go to a rodeo. The third night on Saturday was the biggest crowd I had ever seen at the event in more than 10 years of covering it. The place was absolutely packed and a great crowd led to a great atmosphere. I'm hopeful there will be three nights of a packed house this week. So go on out there and see what you can see. You'll be glad that you did. — Graham Thomas is the managing editor for the Herald-Leader. He can be reached at gthomas@nwadg. com. The opinions expressed are those of the author. Davis said club leader - ship, including president Harvey Trogdon, vice presi- dent Lee Reed, secretary Kari Hutchins, treasurer Sherri Davis and board members Pam Williams, Kaci Johnson, Karen Reed, Jeremy Weir, Cody Cash and Zachary Johnson have all put in a lot of work. "Our next deal is try and add to our bleachers," she said. "And that's really ex - pensive, so we're going to have to try and do that in increments." The rodeo will kick off each night with Mutton Busting at 7:30 p.m., fol - lowed by the Kiddie Grand Entry at 7:45 p.m. and the main Grand Entry around 8 p.m. Rodeo events will follow after the Grand Entry. Admission for adults (13 and up) is $10, while kids tickets are $5 and children 6 and under get in free. Thursday night is Kids Night and any kids 12-and- under get in free with a pay - ing adult. "We like to do that so ev- ery little kid in town has a chance to come," Davis said of Kids Night. Advance tickets are on sale at Powell Feed, Grand Savings Bank, Generations Bank, Sassafras, Modern Day Nutrition and Curran Feed and Pioneer Pizza in Gentry. "We appreciate our spon - sors," Davis said. "We were really blessed with our sponsors this year with the local participation and the surrounding towns as well." A total of 380 contestants are scheduled to compete in the following events: Bareback, saddle bronc, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, senior barrels, junior barrels, ladies breakaway and ranch saddle bronc. The number of contes - tants is consistent with most years, Davis said. "I was worried about it with fuel as high as it is," she said. "We did really good with our contestants be - cause a lot of people aren't having as good of luck. I'm sure contestants are picking and choosing where they go with the expense of every- thing." Davis said the club has added $20,000 to the prize money put, putting events at $1,500 for total purse and team events at $3,000. Rebecca Ault is scheduled to sing the national anthem on all three nights, Davis said. She also said ARCA queen Chesney Grimes is sched - uled to be present at this year's rodeo and carry the American Flag. Miss ACRA, Chesney Grimes comes every night and will be carrying the American Flag. Rodeo Royalty from the 2021 rodeo will be in at - tendance, but there will be no pageant this year, Davis said. Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader A participant in ladies breakaway tries to attempts to rope a calf during the 2021 Siloam Springs Rodeo. family Continued from Page B1 Source: raisingbookworms.com Children who read well do better in other subjects, and in all aspects of school and beyond. together read rodeo Continued from Page B1 thomas Continued from Page B1