A conversation with Cindy Schonholtz - PRCA'S Director of Industry Outreach
Hank Wilson

During this year's San Antonio rodeo, I had a chance to talk with Cindy Schonholtz about the PRCA's new industry outreach program.  Cindy mentioned that with the new program is part of new commissioner Karl Stressman's desire to make the PRCA even more of a part of the community. Cindy told me that she is now working in three distinct areas of importance to the rodeo community and those are the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, Animal Welfare, and Rodeo Camps.  Now I'm familiar with the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, the whole concept of Animal Welfare, but I had never heard of the Rodeo Camps, so in this part of our conversation, that's exactly what we focused on.

Q: What are the rodeo camps?

A: "The rodeo camps are something new, we started them last year with 6 in 2009 John Barnes and Morey Tate - found a way to get the competitors to participate almost in a mentorship program for kids who wanted to get started in rodeo but had no idea of how to get started - its grown to get some of the kids who are already involved with rodeo to learn more of the basics - ground schools, safety, setting goals, health and fitness, the business of the PRCA, how to enter, the pro cowboys who come in spend the day with them and really give them a good foundation for their career."

Q: Do they try to also give the kids a picture of what's it's really like to try to make a living as a rodeo competitor. After all, it's much different trying to succeed in rodeo than in baseball, or any of the other sports.

A. "Yes, that's a big part of it, they want the kids to know what it takes to truly be successful, you have to walk the straight and narrow and if you just want to come in and party, the PRCA isn't for you. If you want to be successful in the PRCA, you need to set goals for health and fitness, goals for competitions, practice, all those things are what they focus on. Plus safety chute procedures and a lot of it is equipment and that's critical.  We're focusing on the rough stock events, .especially in the bareback riding, getting into that event is very difficult, and finding someone to help you pick the right rigging, get the glove fixed  the way it needs to be.  That's been a big part of the camps so far, it helping the kids learn to get the right equipment, because they're not going to be successful if they don't have things setup the right way."

Q: So these are a "rodeo school" this is much more of where they can go and get an overall introduction to rodeo

A: Yes. that's why we call it a camp, it's a one day camp, they can get that introduction to rodeo and where they can meet people who can help them, help mentor them if they decide that rodeo is what they want to do. A lot of people who come to it, have never experienced rodeo, some of them are experienced they might be having trouble, they want to get their equipment fixed or adjusted correctly, the pros might tell them that this isn't the right equipment for you and help them get different equipment.  Help them get off to the pickup men, how to get off a bull, working with the bullfighters, about sports medicine"

Q: And you do all that in one day?

A: "Yes, it's a tight curriculum, and that's why we decided to make it a ground school and not have any live buck outs, depending on where it's being held we have used robocyber systems animals, we've had saddle horses in the chutes, we've had pickup men.  We try to use the resources of the facilities that host the event"

Q: What type of people host these camps?

A: "All different types of people have come forth on this. We've been to Cody Wyoming where Morey Tate started this in conjunction with the Cody Night Rodeo and that's a unique experience because the students can actually go get on an animal that night if they want. A lot of rodeo committees are looking into this, our first one this year was at the Ft. Worth Rodeo, we're working with the Dayton Rodeo, in Dayton Iowa, we're going to Nebraska, some in conjunction with the High School Rodeo Association and various PRCA rodeos. It's any number of people, and people are now wondering why we never did anything like this before and they're putting together resources to do these camps and especially the rough stock events and we do hope to expand it to the timed events, because they need the same information.
    "The camps are run by either our members, a  stock contractor, a rodeo committee, we send a staff person, we recruit some of our top contestants as instructors and we always try to get some of our circuit competitors, because they're local so they continue to follow up and be there for the students afterwards."

Q: In the past a lot of people felt like the PRCA was isolated there in Colorado and didn't really want to get too involved with it core fan base.  This seems to be much more pro-active.

A: "There has been the idea to some people that we are just that group in Colorado, we have always tried to reach out, but I think that under Karl Stressman we've been able to introduce these new programs  and people do understand that they're able to work with us more closely to build the future of rodeo"

Q: If people want some more information or want to get in touch with you about this how can they reach you?

A:  "They can reach me at the PRCA site prorodeo.com or call us at 719-593-8840"

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