By Alyssa Harvey

Mar. 27, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
There will be a lot of roping and riding this weekend at the Kentucky Wrangler Quad State Rodeo.

The competition -- which is for students in grades six through eight who are from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Missouri -- will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at Western Kentucky University's L.D. Brown Agricultural Exposition Center. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students ages 12 and under and free for children ages 5 and under.

Before the rodeo, there will be an egg toss. Cost to participate is $5. Proceeds will benefit LifeSkills. Crossroads IGA is giving gift cards to the rodeo for the eggs.

Kentucky Wrangler Rodeo secretary Tina Litkenhus, whose husband, Mark, is state director, said that although this is the third annual Quad State Rodeo, this is the first year it has been in Bowling Green.

"We've had it in Sturgis the past two years," she said. "If it's a success, we'd like to continue it here. This is the only four-state rodeo (for this age group)."

The rodeo will feature 76 students competing in 11 different events, including bull riding, girls' barrel racing, tie down roping and steer wrestling. Competitors are working to earn points to participate in the junior high rodeo nationals in Gallup, N.M., Litkenhus said.

Warren County participants are looking forward to the rodeo.

"I like everything -- the excitement and all that," said Wyatt Harper, 12. "We really need a crowd at the Bowling Green rodeo."

Wyatt -- who will compete in bull riding, steer wrestling, goat tying and team roping -- has wanted to compete in rodeos since he was 2 years old. He has been in the junior high rodeo for two years and has competed in nearly 16 rodeos total.

"Last year I placed first in bull riding and got 'Rookie of the Year,' " he said.

His favorite event is bull riding, Wyatt said.

"It's the adrenaline rush," he said of why he liked bull riding best. "When you get on, it's really, really fun."

Lorie Harper, Wyatt's mother, agreed -- to a certain extent.

"It's exciting and scary at the same time," she said. "The one event I worry about is bull riding."

Jerry Johnson, 13, said this is his first year with the Kentucky Wranglers. He will compete in steer wrestling and goat tying.

"A friend got me into it," he said. "I've been practicing and getting ready. (OTCBB:GTRY) "

Dillon Vincent, 14, said he has been with the Kentucky Wranglers for two years, but has been riding since he was 5 years old. He will compete in team roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, steer wrestling and ribbon roping. He placed fourth in the state in breakaway roping and earned second place in goat tying. He also went to the junior high finals in New Mexico last year.

"I practice at least twice a week," he said.

Another Warren County participant, Lane Corey, recently joined the Kentucky Wranglers and will compete in bull riding.

Children learn a lot when they compete in rodeos, Litkenhus said.

"It teaches them a lot of responsibility. There is no coach to tell them when to practice, and there are a lot of hard practices," she said. "The majority of these kids have horses. They have to be responsible enough to go to the barn and take care of their horses. The ones who bull ride go to schools to learn the correct way to ride."

Rodeos can further education, Litkenhus said.

"They can gain scholarships to college and go on to college rodeo," she said. "They have to keep good grades. If they can't get good grades, they don't get to rodeo."

Rodeo participation is also good for families, Litkenhus said. She and her family have participated in rodeos for years.

"It's a family togetherness sport," she said. "We are a very close family because of the rodeo."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0033-24078303