The Rodeo Kings
Bentonville Family Ready For OJRA Event This Weekend
Last updated Tuesday, September 25, 2007 8:47 PM CDT in Sports
By Josh Souza
SPECIAL TO THE MORNING NEWS
SPRINGDALE -- More than 100 young cowboys and cowgirls will strap on chaps and spurs this weekend for the 2007 Ozark Junior Rodeo Finals, to take place at Parsons Stadium.
None will be more prominent than the King family of Bentonville. The Kings -- parents Doug and Elizabeth, and children J.C., Garrett, and Katelyn -- will all be participating in the two-day event, set to begin Saturday at 2 p.m. and continue through Sunday.
"I am so proud of all three of them," said Doug King, who serves as the vice president of the OJRA. "They are all doing the best with what they have and it means a lot to me, and I think being involved with rodeo is teaching them a lot about responsibility."
The King boys J.C., 17, and Garrett, 14, will participate in roping. The youngest of the King clan, daughter Katelyn, 7, will compete in barrel racing and pole bending, as well as the OJRA princess pageant.
Doug King, who has participated in rodeo since his college days, taught each of his kids how to rope and ride at their home in Bentonville. For the past five years, the King family has become involved with the OJRA, where all three of the children have thrived with rodeo success.
J.C. King, who competes with his father in the adult amateur ranks, has taken home the all-around boys title for the past four seasons and will look to continue that run this weekend. J.C. King is a junior at Bentonville and hopes to attend college on a rodeo scholarship after graduation. J.C. said he has accumulated around $700 in prize money this season.
"We usually have about 20 events in the OJRA season and I also compete in about another 30 amateur events throughout the year with my dad," J.C. King said. "Competing in the amateur events really helps when it comes to the junior events. It is a whole different level."
Garrett King is usually listed just behind his older brother in the all-around rankings, also plays junior high football for Bentonville Black. Garrett will compete in calf roping and ribbon roping this weekend.
"We don't really see it as us competing against each other," said Garrett. "If he is riding, I am supporting him and he is supporting me."
Katelyn participated in the OJRA sweetheart pageant last year, and will make her run for OJRA princess in this year's finals, as well as competing in several riding events.
"It's hard to say which event is my favorite," said Katelyn. "I really like pole-bending, but the princess pageant is fun, too. Rodeos are hard work, but in the end it's a lot of fun."
The queens contest includes three levels: queen, princess and sweetheart. The girls who compete will model full western attire and recite a speech on a topic that is chosen by the pageant coordinator. The modeling and speech portion are held on Friday night, and the girls return on Saturday for a horsemanship pattern competition. The winners are announced on Sunday and the winners will receive a crown, flowers, a sash and tack for their horse.
In order to qualify for the OJRA finals, the participants must have competed in at least seven OJRA events, collecting a minimum of $100 in sponsorship money, and sell the required number of raffle tickets.
This year the OJRA will be raffling off a quarter-horse, donated by the Hank Snow family, as well as a Savage 9317 with Accu Trigger courtesy of John Hooser. Also, there will be numerous awards given to the top performers in each age group, including more than 25 saddles.
"This year we are awarding six all-around saddles the top boy and girl in each age event, which consists of 8-under, 9-13 and 14-18," said Elizabeth King. "Twenty-one event saddles will be given to the top cowboy and cowgirl in their event. We will also be giving away to the finals average winners.
"The reserve average winners, and the first place winners in their events get nice awards such as saddle pads, gift certificates, and tack that applies to the events these are awards that recognize the contestants for their hard work at the finals alone," added Elizabeth King.
Although the rodeo competitors are all going after the same prize, the rodeo family is a close one.
"It is a very tight-knit group of kids," Elizabeth King said. "There is a lot of competition between them, but there is also a lot of cheering on and congratulations by each and everyone of them and there parents for all of the accomplishments.
"Friendships are made that last a lifetime."
OZARK JUNIOR RODEO
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday
WHERE: Parsons Stadium, Springdale
TIME: 2 p.m. daily
COST: $2 for children, $5 for adults
Reader Comments (No comments posted.)
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
