CNFR Includes A Very Special Rodeo [GALLERY]
The 2016 College National Finals Rodeo is in the books and over the weekend concluded with the annual Special Olympics Rodeo and another successful event! The Special Olympics Rodeo took place on Saturday, June 20th at 9:00am at the Casper Events Center.
This is a tradition that started with the first CNFR in Casper. The Special Olympic Athletes are contacted by the Wyoming Special Olympics and are paired up with rodeo contestants and coaches who escort them through the several rodeo events.
Special Olympic Athletes participate in events including horseback rides, roping on roping dummies, barrel racing with stick horses and bucking bull and bronc rides on barrels held by the rodeo contestants. The Special Olympic Athletes also get a chance to meet the bull fighters and the barrel men who protect the rodeo bull riders.
All Special Olympic Athletes are given t-shirts and other prizes donated by generous sponsors. The CNFR contestants are rewarded with a chance at a number of door prizes. Each of the CNFR contestants and Special Olympic Athletes receive a photo of him or herself with the person with whom they were paired with for the event, as well as a group photo.