Women will learn the intricate details of rodeos, including how they are scored and the lingo.
“It’s a great way to spend time with cowboys who are, let me say, easy on the eyes, spend time with girlfriends, support a great cause and have a great time,” said Shannone Hart, the event organizer.
Chicks n Chaps is hoping to raise $10,000 for Tough Enough to Wear Pink, Hart said.
Hart got the idea for Chicks n Chaps when the first Huddles & Heels Women’s Football Clinic, hosted by the University of Montana was held in May. The proceeds from that clinic went to Missoula’s Guardian Angel Foundation.
She thought it was a great idea and that a similar clinic for rodeos would be fun. The board of directors for the Missoula Stampede Rodeo thought it was a good idea, too, and they and Hart organiezed the event in 14 weeks.
“We got our ducks in a row and got it organized in a record amount of time,” Hart said. “We’re hoping it will become an annual event.”
Activities include meeting top cowboys in the state, who will give roping and riding lessons in the rodeo arena. Participants will also tour the bucking chutes, hear explanations of the seven events in a professional rodeo, have photographs taken with the cowboys, and get VIP seating at the Missoula Stampede Rodeo that night.
Chicks n Chaps will also be raffling off prizes, including a belt buckle from Montana Silversmiths and tickets to the Oct. 18 Cowboy ball in Lolo.
The registration fee for the clinic is $50 and includes appetizers, drinks, a T-shirt, gift bag and entry to the Missoula Stampede Rodeo. There is room for 225 women to participate in the clinic. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Some of the confirmed participating cowboys are Cole Burman, Ty Taillon, Dustin Jenkins, Miles Suberg, Bridger Chambers, Warren Adams, Kory Mytty, Kevin Nordahl, Steve Edwards and Ike Sankey.
Bull rider Dustin Jenkins won the College National Finals Rodeo, which is like the Superbowl of college bullriding, Hart said.
Professional rodeo announcer Will Rasmussen will introduce everyone shortly after registration. And then the activities will begin.
Missoula Stampede Rodeo events include saddle bronc riding, bull riding, bareback riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.
Clinic participants will enjoy food and drinks while sitting next to the bucking chute at the Stampede Rodeo.
“It’s going to be fun,” Hart said.
Photographs with cowboys will be available all day for under $5. The professional photographer will be donating part of his proceeds to Tough enough to Wear Pink as well.
Women are encouraged to wear jeans and comfortable shoes to the clinic.
Chicks n Chaps is sponsored by Cenex, Summit Beverage, The Shirt Shop, The Mountain broadcasting stations, Guardian Oncology & Center for Wellness, Merrill Lynch individual investors, Culligan water, Advanced Imaging at Community Medical Center, Karl Tyler Chevrolet, Montana Medical Research, Missoula Concrete Construction and Fidelity Real Estate.
If you go
The inaugural Chicks n Chaps Women’s Rodeo Clinic will be Aug. 8 at the Western Montana Fairgrounds Rodeo Arena from 3 to 9:30 p.m. Women can register for the clinic online at marketplacemt.com/chickshome.html until July 25. Each $50 registration fee will go to Tough Enough to Wear Pink of Montana, a breast cancer foundation.Amy Faxon is a newsroom intern for the Missoulian. She is a journalism student at the University of Montana.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)