DOUGLAS — Fall college rodeos in the Grand Canyon Region will kick off Sept. 21 and 22 with a rodeo at Dine College in Tsaile. Ten teams, including Cochise College, will travel to the two-day competition. The rodeo will include junior colleges and universities across New Mexico and Arizona that are members of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
Students’ horse pens were cleaned and restructured prior to the start of the school year by coaches Rick, pictured, and Lynn Smith, with help from Cochise rodeo athletes. (Photo by Lynn Smith)
The Cochise College Rodeo team has been practicing since Labor Day in upgraded facilities. The Douglas Campus rodeo facilities include two timed event arenas and a rough stock arena, which had work done to the ground and reorganization done to the fencing for improved appearance and function.
Apache team members practice five days a week in the areas of saddle bronc riding, bull riding, team roping, breakaway roping, goat tying and barrel racing.
This year’s smaller team size has allowed for personal instruction from new coaches Rick and Lynn Smith.
Timed event practice cattle and bulls have been supplied by Slash M Rodeo Company with Vold Rodeo providing the bucking horses.
Cochise College will host its first of two annual rodeos on Sept. 28 and 29, in conjunction with the Cochise County Fair. Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, N.M., will host the final rodeo of the fall Oct. 12 and 13.