Southern Arkansas University rodeo draws successful crowd and prepares students for future events
MAGNOLIA, Ark. — Judging by the crowds that surpassed even standing room only, the 27th Annual SAU Rodeo was a success.
“I don’t remember ever having a night like Saturday night where there was no where to sit or stand,” said Rusty Hayes, SAU rodeo coach, about the event which took place September 27, 28 and 29 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.
Hayes said he expects one of the lures of this year’s rodeo was the opportunity to watch some of the members of the team who captured a fourth place national title for SAU in the collegiate finals earlier this year in Casper, Wyoming.
However, there were plenty of new members of the team as well who are just getting their first taste of competition and the butterflies that come along with being in the spotlight of the arena.
“We have a lot of freshman. The pressure got to them and they became a little nervous,” Hayes said. “Plus it was their hometown rodeo, so by Saturday they were smooth worn out because they had to do so much to get prepared for the rodeo.”
The total points accumulated by the men’s team at the rodeo were 430 points, while the women’s team earned 305 points. These scores mean the women are already showing a more competitive streak than last year, he said.
“It was a huge improvement from last year. Last year they had a total of 140 or 150 for the year, and now they have over 300 points so far,” he said.
The points earned in each rodeo are tallied at the end of the season, which includes a total of 10 rodeos. The rodeo in Magnolia was SAU’s second this year.
Although Hayes is proud of each of the students who participated in the rodeo, a few standouts come to his mind including Ashley Mills, a freshman agriculture business major of Live Oak, Fla., who is expected to complete the somewhat unusual task of making the finals as a freshman; Beth Stone, a freshman with an undecided major from Springhill, Ark., also expected to make it to the finals at each rodeo; and Brianna Luck, a sophomore majoring in agriculture business from Beebee, Ark., who is the most consistent of students with her classification.
Hayes said those to watch on the men’s team include Payden Emmett, a sophomore majoring in agriculture business from Harrison, Ark.; Cody Prescott, a sophomore majoring in agriculture business from Jay, Fla.; and Chad Fyar, a senior majoring in agriculture education from Cove, Ark.
