Saturday rodeo: bulls and broncos to help buck cancer odds

An elementary school from Santa Rosa County is rustling up a full-blown rodeo in Baker Saturday night.

Sanctioned by the Southern Bulls, Barrels and Roping Association, the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” series was organized by the Bennett Russell Elementary School’s Relay for Life team and proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.

More than 100 contestants are expected to compete in the Riders for Relay American Cancer Society Benefit Rodeo at the Baker Area Recreation Association Community Center on U.S. Highway 4.

Bull riding, calf roping, team roping and barrel racing are among the featured events.

This is the seventh year the school’s Relay for Life team has sponsored the rodeo.

“This the first year it will be a fully sanctioned rodeo,” Bennett Russell Elementary bookkeeper Jane Bartholomew said.

The rodeo is the brainchild of Bartholomew, a long-time participant in horse-riding events.

About eight years ago, at the age of 26, Bartholomew lost her mother to colon cancer. Soon after, she joined Relay for Life, began scouting around for ways to raise money to fight cancer and came up with the idea for the rodeo.

“We started out small and began adding to it every year,” Bartholomew said.

The event first took place at the Chumuckla soccer complex in Santa Rosa County, outgrew that facility and moved to the East Milton Recreation Center.

Last year, more than 1,500 people attended the one-night rodeo. In order to garner the sanction as a full-fledged rodeo, the event had to be held in a covered arena like that offered by the facility in Baker.

Contestants from Florida, Alabama Georgia and Mississippi are among the Southeastern competitors who have registered to participate.

Ticket and concession sales will be donated to the American Red Cross through the Bennett Russelll Elementary Relay for Life team. Hopes are to raise between $5,000 and $6,000, Bartholomew said.

The rodeo kicks off at 7 p.m. In addition to the traditional rodeo lineup, plans include a “calf-scramble,” where children try to remove a ribbon tied to a calf’s tail.

Bartholomew is a member of the “Dixie Darters Drill Team,” a precision horse-riding group based out of Milton that will also perform, as will the “Lone Indian Chief,” a trick horse rider out of Bonifay.

The rodeo will also provide an opportunity for Baker residents to give back to their community. The Baker Fire District will operate a concession stand and sell raffle tickets to help raise money to purchase a thermal imaging camera used to find victims in a fire, firefighter Fred Steinmeier said.

What: Riders for Relay American Cancer Society Benefit Rodeo.

When: Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m.

Where: Baker Area Recreation Association Community Center.

Cost: $10 for adults, $6 for 12 and under, 5 and under get in free.