Myakka City Elementary students don't horse around with academics

By Liz Ramos
| 1:15 p.m. May 17, 2024

Fourth grader Annabelle Wendell loves showing off her skills to her teacher, Jackie Blue, and her classmates.

East County
Schools

Macie Connours, a fourth grader at Myakka City Elementary School, was beaming with pride as she rode her horse, Dibs, around the outside of the Winding Trails Ranch Arena.

She had just competed in the barrel race in front of hundreds of Myakka City Elementary students, teachers and staff members.

Connours said she was not only happy to participate in the rodeo but proud of herself for achieving the goals necessary to be able to compete.

Carol Ricks, the principal at Myakka City Elementary School, said at least 250 students met three out of four quarterly goals and earned the opportunity to attend or participate in the rodeo. The goals were in reading, math, behavior and attendance.

Students were able to see 21 of their classmates show off their skills in the rodeo, which included events such as barrel racing and goat tying.

First grader Dakota Bryant said she couldn't wait to try riding a sheep for the first time.

Jackie Blue, a fourth grade teacher, said she loved seeing her students, past and present, participating in the rodeo. She said she's learned all about fourth grader Annabelle Wendell's horse, Lucky, as Wendell has written or spoken about Lucky in many of her assignments.

"I live on the west part of the county, so it's great to see the kids be a part of something they do every day," Blue said. "We get to see what they love to do."

First graders Kaylie Connours and Dakota Bryant have fun at the rodeo. In order to attend or participate in the rodeo, students had to achieve three of their four quarterly academic goals.

Fourth grader Jerson Olivera touches a horse for the first time.

Haven Blanford tries her best to get the goat positioned properly so she can tie its legs.

Macie Connours ties down a goat in 26.59 seconds. The goal was to have three of the goat's legs tied together for at least six seconds as fast as possible.

Dakota Watson is first up in the goat-tying competition.

Fourth grader Macie Connours beams with pride as she's able to participate in the rodeo after achieving her goals in reading, math, behavior and attendance.

Sareece Coons has her horse hang tight around the barrel to get through the barrel race faster.

Eli Masse does his best to get his horse around the barrels as fast as possible in the barrel race. He completed the race in 40.851 seconds.

Harper Davis, who is 5 years old, races through the arena, circling barrel after barrel.

First grader Dakota Bryant is ready to show off her skills to her friends and classmates. She is one of 21 Myakka City Elementary students participating in the rodeo.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.