Abilene, Kan. (May 21, 2015) – The fifth grade students at Garfield Elementary in Abilene, Kan., got a special presentation on Monday.

Miss Rodeo Kansas State University Allie Dwyer and members of the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo committee visited the school to talk about rodeo, its history, tradition and events, and to give students free tickets to the rodeo.

Dwyer and the committee brought rodeo equipment to the classroom, including a bull rope, bareback rigging, bronc saddle, rope and piggin’ string, and talked about how those items were used for the different rodeo events.

To demonstrate the barrel racing, students were used as the barrels, and fifth grade student (and barrel racer) Miah Elliott raced teacher Miss Garver around the barrels. At a rodeo, if a cowgirl hits one of the barrels, a five second penalty is assessed to her time. One of the fifth grade student “barrels” fell down on Miss Garver’s run, so she was given a penalty, making Miah the winner.

Principal Dallas Meneley said the event was successful. “It went really well. The kids are talking about it and learned a whole lot. The fair here (Central Kansas Free Fair and the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo) is a big deal, and to give students the history, and why we have the rodeo, you can’t go wrong with that.”

The students enjoyed it, he said. “This time of year, to get fifth graders to fully listen is a challenge, and they were totally engaged and listening.”

Students were given vouchers for tickets to any night of the rodeo, July 29-August 1.

The rodeo begins at 7:30 pm  each night, July 29 through August 1. More information can be found on the website WildBillHickokRodeo.com or on the rodeo’s Facebook Page or by calling the fair office at (785)263-4570.