Rocking G Bucking Bulls Youth Rodeo Needs Funding
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A youth rodeo is scheduled for next weekend in Autaugaville, but just this Tuesday, the event lost half of its funding when a production company backed out.
The rodeo will take place in Autaugaville but today we traveled to Bullock County to visit the farm of the mom and son duo who are trying to put this rodeo on.
The only thing is – they’re now short about 5 thousand dollars.
14-year-old Garrett Guillot knows a thing or two about rodeos. He’s been competing in them for years and co-owns Rocking G Bucking Bulls production company with his mother, Jennifer Tompkins.
“I bull ride, calf rope, team rope and shoot dog and I’ve been bull riding since I was about six,” he says.
The two are putting on a youth rodeo for 1st through 8th graders next Saturday and Sunday. But this week, Tompkins got some bad news from another production company, that was supposed to split the costs.
“They were unable to complete their commitment and on Tuesday informed us that they would be pulling out so it’s left us holding the bag on all the expenses to put this on next weekend.”
Now they’re looking for sponsors to help them out.
“Arenas are expensive,” she says, “Stock, calves, steers, bulls, goats, all have to be there and you have to lease those from people and they’re very expensive.”
Although Tompkins is now short on funds, she says that won’t stop her from giving back. Rocking G Bucking Bulls has teamed up with Charles Lee’s youth organization, That’s My Child. Lee’s kids will work the concession stands at the rodeo and will take home ten percent of sales.
“Sometimes when you sit in your situation so long, you forget that other things are out there and then you miss the possibility of becoming the next bull rider or becoming the next best roper,” Lee explains.
Lee says more than anything, he hopes the children of That’s My Child will be exposed to a different kind of fun. Guillot says he’s thinks all kids can have fun and learn something from rodeos.
“It’s really like everybody goes to school, they go to school but on weekends they play baseball, football. It’s really all of us getting together and we like to rodeo, ride horses and that’s what we’re good at.”
About 70 kids from Alabama and the Florida Panhandle are scheduled to compete at next weekend’s rodeo. The top four from the rodeo even have a chance to compete at nationals in Iowa, but Rocking G Bucking Bulls needs financial help to put it on.
Here’s how you can help: If you’d like to donate time or money, call Jennifer Tompkins at 334-391-2926
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https://www.facebook.com/RockingGBuckingBulls
