Exceptional Rodeo brings joy to participants

Tiffany Whetten learned the ranching business early, with ranchers as parents.

As rodeo chairperson for the Southern New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo’s rodeo committee, Whetten did the bulk of organizing for the fair’s rodeo events including the Exceptional Rodeo, Ranch Rodeo, Professional Rodeo and Barrell Racing events.

One of her favorites is the Exceptional Rodeo, held Sept. 27, an event in its second year at the fair.

“It’s just a great way to get kids with disabilities out here and  get them in the arena, get them around rodeo events,” she said. “They just have so much fun. It’s an event just for them so it’s kind of special. Their faces are just amazing.”

Five-year-old Jett Womack was so excited he couldn’t hold still, bouncing from event to event — roping, riding, stick-horse barrel racing, bull riding – taking it all in as fast as possible. He said everything was his favorite.

“I’m going to wait my turn,” he said, bouncing on his heels, and then he was off to the next one.

“I’ve never been in a rodeo in all my life,” Alecia Lucoski said when she got off the bull, a structure pulled around by a pick-up truck. “It was fun. Maybe I’ll do more in the future.”

Lucoski is in a special needs program at Doña Ana Community College and plans to write about the experience in her English class.

Whetten said the New Mexico State University rodeo team helps with the rodeo. The team’s coach, Brice Baggerly, said team members were a bit nervous at first but got over it pretty quickly.

“The whole team came out to help out and support the kids,” Baggerly said. “The [team members] are a little shy at first but by the end they love it. I hear all the time how much fun they had and they are glad to give back a little bit.”