The Garden City Telegram
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God's brand of rodeo
Published 6/25/2008 in News : Area coverage
By RACHEL DAVIS
rdavis@gctelegram.com
A roping dummy sat in the F-Diamond dirt arena in Garden CityTuesday.
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It's front legs were firm while its back legs kicked wildly.
Behind the chute was Billy Peters of Sublette.
He backed up his horse and waited for the signal.
The flag dropped, and Peters slowly moved to the calf dummy, rope high over his head, and lassoed the calf.
His partner, one of the camp instructors, then roped the heels of the dummy.
"Way to go Billy," the crowd yelled. "Good job."
Peters was one of 12 campers taking part in the rodeo competition during the first Rodeo Bible camp in Garden City.
Randy Fisher, member of Journey to the Cross, the Garden City chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys, said the dummy is a tool used to help beginners learn how to rope a calf.
He said Peters not only was a beginner, but hadn't ridden a horse until the camp.
The three-day camp was open to youth ages 13 to 19 who wanted to learn more about God and develop rodeo skills.
Another camper, Micalah Preedy of Meade, took part in the barrel racing competition.
Preedy, who lost her father to heart problems last year, said competing in rodeo was a way for her to feel closer to her dad.
She said her dad, Carl, was a rodeo cowboy and the two had a strong relationship.
"He taught me how to rope and ride," Preedy said. "He was the strongest Christian I knew."
Sheila Preedy, Micalah's mom, said her daughter was involved in a bad accident on a horse a few years ago and she didn't think Micalah would ever ride again.
And then things began to change.
Sheila began dating and her boyfriend, J.D. Reynolds, finally coaxed Micalah back on a horse.
During Tuesday's competition, Michalah won first place in barrel racing.
But the campers weren't the only ones learning -- the instructors also took home some valuable lessons.
Lacee Olson, 19, Iola, volunteered as a camp counselor and barrel race instructor.
Olson, who is attending Garden City Community College, said she began competing in rodeo six years ago.
Even though she was teaching the girls about rodeo, she said they taught her much more.
"The campers taught me to be more open," Olson said. "The girls were so willing to learn and just being there for them -- to teach them about God -- that was an amazing experience."
As for Teddi Winfrey, goat tying instructor, she learned to have fun.
Winfrey, 23, Plains, said her student, Lindy Bilberry of Garden City, had never tied a goat before.
But Bilberry wanted to learn, so Winfrey gave her lessons.
In two days, Bilberry's confidence began to build and at Tuesday's competition, she surprised Winfrey.
"She came so far in just two days," Winfrey said. "She did an awesome job."
Bilberry said she enjoyed goat tying so much that she has asked her dad if he would buy her goat.
"I had a lot of fun and made a lot of life-long friends," Bilberry said.
Fisher said he had no expectations about how popular the camp would be to the public but did say the camp was a success.
"It takes a lot of prayer, discipline to do God's will, volunteer work, organization and the campers to show up," Fisher said. "We were blessed to put this camp on for the kids."
The rodeo camp winners were: goat tying -- first place, Lindy Bilberry, 14, Garden City; calf roping -- first place, Kyle Jackson, 16, Garden City, second place, Ty Moffitt, 14, Dodge City; Breakaway roping -- first place, Raelyn Harper, 13, Garden City, second place, Polly Gorman, 14, Meade; barrel racing -- Micalah Preedy, 14, Meade, second place, Shylan Beamer, 17, Leoti; steer wrestling -- Andrew Walck, 14, Garden City; team roping (headers) -- first place, Clayton Williams of Meade; team roping (heelers) -- first place, Colten Valentine of Syracuse; fastest team roping time -- Casey Hatcher, 14, Syracuse and most improved team roper -- Billy Peters, 16, Sublette.
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