Letter from the President

November/December 2009

Dear Members:

We are currently talking to venues for our Bull Riding and Junior Bull Riding 2009 finals. As soon as any information is available, you will be notified.

We congratulate the following barrel racers who placed in their finals in September.
Tena Larrabee - 2009 Finals Winner & 2009 Season Champion
Carlie Brant - 2009 Rookie of the Year
Dawn Powell - 2009 Reserve Champion

Included in this issue is the voting ballot for the President, Secretary, Bull Riding Director, and Jr. Bull Riding Director positions that are up for election for the 2010/2011 season. Please note that there is a write-in opportunity if you choose to use it. Please fill out and return the ballot to Darlene Spafford by December 31, 2009.

Since we now have a website, we will continue to have all information from the Informer put on line. This has allowed us to keep our membership fees the same for the 2010 season. If you do not have access to a computer and would like to receive hard copies of the newsletter, please let Darlene know and include an extra $10 when you send in your membership form to cover the cost of printing and mailing.

We have a very dedicated board of directors. Any one of us would like to talk with you about any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. Please feel free to contact us. Let Darlene know if there are any injuries, marriages, births, or other events you would like acknowledged.

On behalf of the board, I would like to wish all of you a very Happy Holiday Season. We hope your Thanksgiving celebration was blessed with family, good food, and many friends! May you and those you love have a wonderful Christmas and New Year Celebration. In spite of all the insecurities we face these days, we are truly blessed!

Sincerely yours,

Sam Swearingen, President

 

P.S. On behalf of Rawhide Rodeo, I'd also like to share the following poem with HPBR contestants, contract personnel, family and friends as a way of wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Each year at this time we write a poem

And send it out to you

To tell you that we’re grateful

For all the work you do.

 

We reflect upon the year gone by

And the shows that we’ve produced

Hoping that the words we’ve penned

Will, to your spirits, be a boost.

 

We acknowledge that each one of you

Plays an important role

And that, without your efforts,

We could not achieve our goal

 

Of upholding rodeo’s traditions

As we make each show our best

By reflecting the Old West’s customs

And the values therein expressed:

 

That a rodeo is always so much more

Than a performance, time, or event

It’s a showcase of the skills and talents

Cowboys’ lives still represent.

 

We’re committed to improving rodeo for

A new generation of women and men

By maintaining a standard of excellence

And teaching and encouraging them

 

So they’ll understand that a winner

May not always take first place

But does his best ~ whatever his draw

And wins or loses with grace.

 

So as we take up paper and pen this year

And write a new line or two,

We pray the sentiment expressed within

Will speak to you anew.

 

Thank you for your commitment,

Your hard work, and dedication.

You have our heartfelt gratitude,

Our respect, and admiration.

 

You’re part of our rodeo family,

We’re very proud to say,

And we ask that God will bless you

When we bow our heads to pray.

 

As we think of the Christmas holiday,

And the meaning it imparts,

We hope you share, along with us,

Christ’s love within your hearts.

 

“We thank you, Lord, for coming

As a babe, and a sacrifice

So through your death upon the cross

We can have eternal life.”

Happy Holidays!