Students Enjoy 2009 Cattle Call Mini Rodeo

From Article: Imperial Valley Students Turn out for Cattle Call Mini Rodeo

BRAWLEY — Mary Helen Garcia was braving the warm weather with her 20-year-old pupil, Deanna Valtierra, during a mini rodeo event Tuesday at the Cattle Call Arena. But the heat did nothing to dampen the spirits of Garcia’s student, or of the scores of other people, who turned out for the event. Garcia, a teacher at the Imperial Valley Center for Exceptional Children, said the sight of horses and cowboys performing live exposes Valtierra to something new. “She gets a lot out of it,” Garcia said. Preschool students, a few senior residents and a group of special education students were among the large crowd of people who enjoyed the outdoor event.

FERNANDO ACOSTA JR. PHOTO Cyleigh Nelson, 6, of Imperial pulls her horse after getting down to rush back to the finish line to take first place during the “Run, Ride, Lead” competition Tuesday during a mini rodeo at the Cattle Call arena in Brawley.

Joanie Moore, a member of the Cattle Call Rodeo Committee, said a number of people connected with the mini-rodeo volunteered their time to help put it on.

While other students were invited to watch, the two-hour program of barrel races and horseback riding was geared for special education students throughout the Imperial Valley, Moore said.

Schools out of Calexico, El Centro, Brawley and McCabe Union School District came out to see the rodeo, she said.

“It’s a treat for us to put on this event,” Moore said.

Also participating in the event was Animals Plus, a company that provides special education students with riding opportunities, Marsha Boutwell, coordinator of Animals Plus, said.

“It gives the students the opportunity to watch rodeo,” Boutwell said. “The cowboys and cowgirls all donate their time