- July 26, 2024
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Fourth grader Annabelle Wendell loves showing off her skills to her teacher, Jackie Blue, and her classmates.
Photo by Liz RamosFirst 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.
Photo by Liz RamosFourth grader Jerson Olivera touches a horse for the first time.
Photo by Liz RamosHaven Blanford tries her best to get the goat positioned properly so she can tie its legs.
Photo by Liz RamosMacie 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.
Photo by Liz RamosDakota Watson is first up in the goat-tying competition.
Photo by Liz RamosFourth 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.
Photo by Liz RamosSareece Coons has her horse hang tight around the barrel to get through the barrel race faster.
Photo by Liz RamosEli 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.
Photo by Liz RamosHarper Davis, who is 5 years old, races through the arena, circling barrel after barrel.
Photo by Liz RamosFirst 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.
Photo by Liz RamosMacie 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."