The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

It is once again rodeo season for the Texas High School Rodeo Association. Students from all over the stat compete in rodeos in their region to try to advance to the state and national levels.

Members of the Orange County Youth Rodeo Association (OCYRA) are no exception. OCYRA members have been competing in both the junior high and high school level since the season started in September with the “Get Acquainted Rodeo” held in Jasper.

The OCYRA will host their third annual Drawdown at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. The drawdown is the OCYRA’s major fundraiser for the year and supports the OCYRA Cowboys and Cowgirls from both the junior high and high school levels.

Drawdown tickets purchasers will be given a ribeye steak dinner for two with all the trimming provided by the OCYRA. Cowboys and Cowgirls will serve and wait on all ticket holders while they wait to see if they purchased a winning ticket. Every tenth number drawn throughout the night will receive a prize donated by many area businesses.

OCYRA members have been competing in Region V Rodeo, the largest region in the state, and are making for some stiff competition. Cowboys and Cowgirls of the OCRYA compete in barrels, poles, girls goat tying, breakaway roping, bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc, tie down roping, steer wrestling and team roping. Junior high member also compete in team ribbon roping. OC members also hold the current student positions of president, vice president and secretary for Region V.

Two of the OCYRA Cowgirls have already competed in the Region V Queens Contest. Keeley Gray will be representing Region V at state as Queen and Bailee Ackerman will be the first runner up. A new addition to our club is the Shooting division. OCYRA is also helping to support its member Bradley Bilbo, Jacob Bilbo and Wyatt Neely.

Junior high members include: Emmi Lummus, Cheyenne Tant and Shelby Young.

High members include: Bailee Ackerman, Rigby Baker, Christ Bortner, Caleb Cogbill, Shaylon Elms, Keeley Gray, Tanner Jenkins, Lacie Lummus, Shellie Lummus, Scarlett Neely, Jesse Winfree and Jaycie Young.

All member must be participating members in the Texas High School Rodeo Association or the Texas Junior High Rodeo Association. All members are held to high expectations. Members must maintain academic eligibility to participate in each rodeo.

Please visit twww.THRSA5.com, TJHRA.net or follow them on Facebook to follow the OCYRA Cowboys and Cowgirls.