The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni will have their 19h Annual Reunion June 18 and 19, 2010 at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. The reunion will be held at the Ramada Plaza Riverside in Casper and the rodeo takes place at the Casper Events Center.
Sixty one years have passed since the first College Finals at the Cow Palace in San Francisco in 1949. Each year the NIRA Alumni seek to find and honor those early college cowboys and cowgirls. This year we are reaching back to 1950 and urging all NIRA members from that year to come to Casper to see how college rodeo has changed and all the ways it has stayed the same. Past champions and contestants from the other years ending in zero-1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000- are invited to join the “old timers” from 1950. All the contestants from 1950 and champions from the other years will be introduced in the Arena prior to the Friday performance.
The reunion is an opportunity to meet old friends and enjoy a great rodeo. Activities include a hospitality room, meetings and introductions, and an awards luncheon. Anyone with an interest in rodeo history is invited to come see the past and the future of college rodeo.
. Many of the contestants at those early college rodeos were members of the “Greatest Generation” returning to college after service in World War II. “College rodeo and professional rodeo owe a debt to these men. They brought a maturity and depth to the sport that has served it well,” said Sylvia Mahoney, former rodeo coach, author of College Rodeo From Show to Sport, and the founder of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni.
Rookie of the Year scholarships, as well as team scholarships, are given by the alumni. To raise funds for the team scholarships a saddle drawing will be held at the CNFR. A beautiful hand tooled saddle will be given to the lucky ticket holder at the Saturday night performance. Tickets for the drawing will be available at the alumni booth in the Events Center.
For more information, go to our web page www.collegerodeoalumni.com or call (602) 268-5874 or (602) 819-8384.
