Tehachapi News

Rodeo Queen hosts a special rodeo

On Sunday, Aug. 19, Becca Barnes, Junior Miss Rodeo Tehachapi 2006, inspired many community members to volunteer their time, while creating a great opportunity for children with special needs to participate in rodeo activities.

Special rodeo activities included calf roping, bullriding, barrel racing, and horseback riding. The children were escorted through the events by a cowboy, a rodeo queen, or rodeo queen contestant and each child received a signed photo taken with their special rodeo escort. Each participant also received a cowboy hat, bandanna and “sheriff badge” name tag.

Several Rodeo Queens and many of Barnes’ family and friends volunteered their time to support the event. Among those who volunteered and participated were Tehachapi Chief of Police Jeff Kermode; Rodeo Committee Treasurer Jodi Love; David Futch; Salt River Rodeo (supplier for all livestock used in the Mountain Festival PRCA Rodeo); and rodeo clowns Barry “Boom Boom” Johnson and Lance White.

“They don’t get to do this kind of stuff like the rest of us kids get to,” said Barnes’ 7-year-old cousin, Hannah Dahl,  one of the child volunteers. Of all of the rodeo activities offered, Dahl said she thought the kids would like the barrel racing the best.

“My inspiration came from the Jurupa Rodeo. It was so much fun to share the rodeo experience with children who otherwise may not have been able to do so,” said Barnes of the special rodeo.

Barnes was able to host the event with the sponsorship of Cliff Clark and Oak Valley Incorporated.

“I thought it was a great idea when I heard her present it to the rodeo committee for permission. Becca was very well prepared for the presentation. She’s a sharp young woman,” said Chief Kermode of Becca Barnes.

In addition to her rodeo activities, Barnes is also the head drum major for the THS Warrior Band, maintains a 4.0 in advanced classes, acts as a stat girl for the wrestling team, is a member of the THS Jazz and Pep Bands and plays with the Tehachapi Pops Orchestra. She also competes in Bear Valley horse shows.
Barnes initially took lessons with Matt Sheridan, of Sheridan Performance Horses, to whom she says she owes all her skill on horseback. She plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, to major in mathematics education and minor in equine management.

According to Barnes, being a rodeo queen has prepared her to overcome any challenge and take on every opportunity that has and will come her way.
“I have learned that you really can do anything you want to do and even the biggest dreams can come true. I have learned that even though the going can get extremely rough, with a little chocolate, a little Advil, and sometimes, a little more hairspray, if you keep going in the right direction, you will come out on top,” said Barnes.

Although there were not as many special needs children in attendance as she had hoped, Barnes said overall the event was a huge success.

“The number of volunteers was absolutely incredible and the smiles on the childrens’ faces was the greatest reward. I am looking forward to next year when I help the new rodeo queens plan the Special Rodeo,” said Barnes.