Smiles, joy abound at 30th Wrangler NFR Exceptional Rodeo

They call it the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Exceptional Rodeo for a reason - it is simply exceptional.

For the 30th time, Wrangler NFR contestants, personnel and staff joined forces with PRCA Exceptional Rodeo Director Ruth Dismuke-Blakely to hold the one-of-a-kind event at the Thomas & Mack Center on Monday morning.

Approximately 40 special-needs children from Las Vegas-area schools participated in the hourlong rodeo, which included a number of rodeo events and fun for everyone.

This has always been one of my favorite parts of covering the Wrangler NFR, and the contestants have just as much fun as the kids. You can't help smiling as you see the bonds that are formed between the contestants and the children, who exhibit unbridled joy as they live dreams of being cowboys and cowgirls.

"It's really heartwarming to see that, after 30 years, the Exceptional Rodeo still has a place at the National Finals Rodeo," said Dismuke-Blakely, a speech pathologist based in Edgewood, N.M. "For these athletes to take some time on a Monday morning in Las Vegas to be out here and give their time to these special-needs kids is great. It's really fun to see the two-way exchange between the contestants and the kids.

"The Exceptional Rodeo gives everyone a chance to step back and look at the sport through a different set of eyes, and it reminds you that it's nice to give something back."

Contestants match up with the children and lead them through a series of rodeo events, from riding a stuffed bareback horse and bull and roping steer heads mounted on hay bales to bulldogging a steer or riding a real horse. They also have the chance to pose for pictures, make a barrel racing run on stick horses and be interviewed by rodeo announcers.

The kids receive cowboy hats, ropes, T-shirts, gold trophies, pictures with their pro cowboy or cowgirl partner, autographs and the joy of experiencing a slice of what pro rodeo is like.

World Champion Tie-Down Roper Tuf Cooper spent time with a boy named Joshua, and it was difficult to decide who was having more fun.

"It definitely brightens my day to be able to come out here, and I'm so happy they put on this rodeo," said Cooper, who has been a mainstay at Wrangler NFR Exceptional Rodeo since he began qualifying for Las Vegas in 2008. "A lot of contestants came out and got behind it, and it's really cool to see guys support this rodeo. It's the coolest thing to see the kids get excited about doing things like riding a horse, and it makes you realize sometimes we take things for granted."

The children are accompanied by their parents and schoolteachers in the Thomas & Mack Center, and they are more than appreciative of what the contestants and staff do for the kids.

Amy James of Las Vegas brought her son, Niko, who attends the John F. Miller School, to the rodeo for the second consecutive year.

"This is awesome," James said. "When we were invited last year, I had no idea what to expect, and I can't say enough about it. I think they all deserve just the biggest thanks ever, because they're taking time out of their busy schedules to spend time with our children, and that's very special to me."

Sixteen-time World Champion Trevor Brazile had a blast while leading a trio of kids through the events, and there were appearances by Miss Rodeo Canada Gillian Shields and Smoky the Bear. Barrel racer Lee Ann Rust was there, and she was all smiles after taking part in the event.

"Rodeo's done so much for me, and this is one small way I can give back," said Rust, who is competing in her second Wrangler NFR this year. "Everybody had a good time, and it does something for your heart and your soul to be able to connect on a personal level with these kids. Everybody was blessed by being here today."

Amen to that.

Neal Reid is a freelance writer based in Colorado Springs, Colo., who spent five years as editor of the ProRodeo Sports News and who has written for USA Today, ESPN, ESPNW, American Cowboy, Western Horseman and The Associated Press. This is his ninth Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.