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Landon
Spafford Update January,
2006
Last
year at this time we were
all praying for a little
baby named Landon Spafford
and in May the Iowa bull
riding industry joined
together to raise funds to
help with his needed open
heart surgery. I have
received the following note
from his mother.
"Landon
has done great since his
open heart surgery which was
May 20, 2005.
The doctors
anticipate no further
surgery and his follow up
has went as planned.
Landon came home on
no oxygen and has been able
to discontinue all
prescriptions that had been
needed before surgery.
At 16 months he is so
animated and a joy and
blessing to his family and
friends.
Landon’s
family would like to thank
everyone for their continued
support and prayers.
Your acts of kindness
will never be forgotten."
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Many
call the region the
"heartland of America"
and on May 14th the bull riding
industry in Iowa and surrounding
states will be giving from the
hearts when they unite to help
little Landon Spafford. The
benefit will be held at the Top
Rail Saddle Arena in Lake City,
Iowa. The saddle club has
donated the facilities and will be
providing food concessions for the
event. It is not unusual for
associations to co-sanction events
but this event will be
co-sanctioned by four
associations. All of the
associations are donating their
sanctioning fees back to
Landon. The associations
sanctioning the Landon Spafford
Benefit Bull Riding are the
Bullriders of America, Iowa Rodeo
Association, Unite Roughstock and
Barrel Association, Circle C Rodeo
Association and the new Crossroads
Professional Rodeo
Association. There will be
40 riders competing with the top 8
qualifiers returning for the
championship round. The
riders will be competing for $1000
added money and a trophy buckle
from Frontier Trophy
Buckles. The quality of the
riders will be matched by the
quality of the bulls. Stock
contractors who will be donating
their top bulls for the night are
Ballard Bucking Bulls, Corydon,
Iowa; Grand Rivers Rodeo Company,
Grand Rives, Iowa; Cripple Creek
Bucking Bulls, , Fort Dodge, Iowa;
T-N-C Rodeo Company, Lamoni, Iowa;
Circle C Rodeo Company, Alden,
Iowa and J V Bull Company, Auburn,
Iowa. J V Bull Company will
also be serving as the
producer. Organizers were
amazed at how many people were
willing to donate their services
for Landon. Rodeo
announcer, Blaine Partridge will
be making the trip from North
Loupe, Nebraska, to announce the
event. Comedy relief will be
provided by 16X Funnyman of the
Year, Shawn Thompson, Sidney,
Iowa. Shawn, who is a cancer
survivor, knows all to well the
need to help each other in
life. At most bull ridings
you will see two bullfighters but
if you are lucky enough to be in
Lake City, Iowa, on May 14th you
will watch four bullfighters in
action. The four outstanding
bullfighters who have donated
their services are Andy Thompson,
Sidney, Iowa; Wade Kuntz, Fort
Dodge, Iowa; Scott McMullen,
Holden, Missouri; and Clint Dickes,
Parkersburg, Iowa. Judges
are important to every event and
three men have volunteered to
officiate. They are:
Ed Waldenhouser Mark Morrow and
Mike Morrow. Those attending
the benefit will get one final
treat when Flashing Thunder has
announced they will provide a
grand finale fireworks
display. Many of those
involved in this event are members
of the Rodeo Attitude Program and
we are proud of their
contributions. Watch Rodeo
Attitude for results.
If
you can't attend the benefit but
would like to help Landon and his
family you may send a donation to
the following address:
United
Bank of Iowa
201
N. Center St
Lake
City, Iowa 51449
in
care of Benefit Bullriding LJS
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