OklahomaHorses Magazine July 2022

July / August 2022 • OklahomaHorses 29 Second-year students continue to work with colts, improving their skills and working toward an opportunity to participate in a ranch-horse show on campus. All students also attend basic college classes in addition to equine-related courses such as anatomy, breeding management, hoof care, event production, etc. Rodeo Team Has Top Qualifiers The Connors State College Cowboys Rodeo Team competes in the Central Plains Division of the NIRA, which encompasses schools in Oklahoma and Kansas. Individual memberships and entries for men’s and women’s teams are handled through the school for approximately 10 sanctioned rodeos a year, with efforts to earn enough points to qualify for the college finals in Casper, Wyoming. Recent Connors graduate Jarvis Demery of Beggs made the trip to Casper and finished as reserve champi- on steer wrestler for the 2021–2022 college rodeo season. Connors routinely has top individual qual- ifiers, and many of them continue their careers in professional rodeo. Approximately 450 to 500 rodeo athletes com- pete per rodeo, and the schedule includes two-year and four-year schools competing equally. Rodeo team members must compete in college-sanctioned rodeos to earn points but are also free to enter open rodeos and events sanctioned by other associations. Practices are held four days a week on campus in the CSC arenas with livestock provided by the school. Connors Hosts Equine Events Connors produces two major equine events an- nually, both in November. The Versatility Ranch Horse Show and the Timed Event Rodeo provide the opportunity for students and rodeo athletes to compete but also include alumni contestants and friends. The Ranch Horse Show, which CSC has hosted for more than 10 years, continues to grow and was recently included in the schedule of shows sanctioned by the American Quarter Horse Associ- ation. CSC recently introduced an Equine Field Day for high school Future Farmers of America and 4-H programs, with about 100 students from area schools in attendance. CSC ag equine students also participated by offering clinics and demonstrations with their project colts. The event was very success- ful, fueling plans for spring and fall field days in 2023. At the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association finals in Casper, Wyoming, Jarvis Demery was named reserve champion steer wrestler for the 2021–2022 college rodeo season. He also does tie-down roping and team roping.