CC plans regional rodeo competition

One of the new faces at Clarendon College plans to make a big impact on the community this fall with a rodeo that is sure to be full of entertainment.

Cody Heck is no stranger to rodeos. Growing up in Perryton he started riding cutting horses when he was ten years old at the urging of a neighbor. His love of the competition would stay with him right up through the collegiate level.

Now in his first year as the rodeo coach at CC, Heck is busy preparing to host the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) competition here this October 25-27, and he says he is up to the task.

“This event will really boost our community and bring money to our town,” Heck said. “It will also provide our students an opportunity to interact with the community.”

More than 400 contestants and their families are expected to attend the three-night rodeo, which will feature all the traditional favorite contests – barrel racing, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, and more.

For Heck, the NIRA rodeo is a chance to give today’s students the same experiences he had in college.

“I owe my success to my college rodeo coach, and I want to give to these kids what that coach did for me,” he said. “I want to see them develop into young adults who provide community service and leadership.”

And Heck has plenty of experience to share, including qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling in 2008 and being a member of the Crutch Ranch team that won the Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) finals four times and the $50,000 All Around Ranch Rodeo Challenge that was held in Glenrose this summer.

This region’s NIRA rodeo has traditionally rotated locations between Canyon and Perryton, but this year Clarendon has been given the opportunity to host the event. Heck says he looks forward to putting on a successful rodeo in front of his students’ peers and wants to see the rodeo do well on the local level by boosting local businesses.

The college is anticipating an attendance of about 1,000 to 1,200 over the three days, and CC representatives are actively seeking sponsors to help defray the cost of bringing the rodeo to Clarendon. For more information or to sponsor the event, call Heck at 806-874-4844 or Ashlee Estlack at 806-874-4808.