OklahomaHorses Magazine Sept 2022

10 OklahomaHorses • September / October 2022 Heart of Oklahoma HOYRA Teaches Heritage, Humanity, and Horsemanship by Carol Mowdy Bond Photos by Diamond N DIRT Photography W ith rodeo pulsing through their veins, more than 200 youths are spurring the Heart of Oklahoma Youth Rodeo Association (HOYRA) on to new heights. As HOYRA board member and member parent Cassie Crouch explains, “HOYRA is the largest youth equestrian group in Okla- homa. Our members are ages 19 and under. During the 2021– 2022 season, we broke all records. We grew to 201 members, 170 members went to finals, and we had 20 regular season rodeos. The members brought in over $108,000 in sponsorships, and West- ern Oklahoma State College in Altus gave $9,250 in scholarships during finals. We had a season payout of $191,529.16. The finals prize line was over $256,628. Together, that is $457,407.16 in cash and prizes for contestants for the season and finals. That is an increase of over $68,000 from last season.” HOYRA’s 2021–2022 season came to a close with rodeo finals May 12–15 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center in Shaw- nee. As the dust settled on HOYRA’s nineteenth season, there were lots of smiles under those cowpoke hats. The finals prizes included cash and all sorts of custom-made in-kind winnings, including buckles from Tres Rios Silver, saddles from Scott Thomas Custom Saddles, and a plethora of other items for young horse owners. The nonprofit volunteer association focuses on helping the next generation of rodeo champions learn and fine-tune their skills. Youths participate in four age categories — six and younger, seven through nine, 10 through 13, and 14 through 19. A few events are open to anyone, so adults, including parents, can pull on their boots and show off their rodeo skills. For all age brackets, the all-around champions have to best their peers in a certain number of events. For ages six and under, “goat undecorating” involves pulling the ribbon off a goat’s tail. An on- foot event for that age group involves roping a dummy calf head. HOYRA contestants also participate in barrel racing, pole bending, and goat tying. Calf breakaway, tie-down calf roping, ribbon rop- ing, steer breakaway, steer stopping, and team roping, also known as heading and heeling, are on the competition list too. How HOYRA Helps with College In fall 2022, freshman Gracie Rae Snider rode into Western Okla- homa State College, majoring in agriculture science and business. Snider, from Fletcher, earned one scholarship to be on the rodeo team plus an agriculture scholarship. She also has three tuition waivers that she won through HOYRA events. Involved in rodeo for nine years, Snider grew up on the family farm, and both her parents rodeoed. “My two favorite events are barrel racing and breakaways,” Snider says. “Out of all the associations we’ve done, HOYRA is my favorite because they include kids a lot, and I’ve made a lot of friends from the beginning, and we’re all like one big family.” Snider’s precollegiate wins include 43 buckles and 14 saddles. In 2022, she was HOYRA’s age 14–19 all-around girls’ champion, Bronc Evans, 10–13 age group, tie-down roping, Woodward.