Fort Scott Community College will host benefit rodeo and other events Saturday to raise funds to help pay for the medical expenses of Ryan White, who suffered a brain injury earlier this summer from a riding accident.
A local and FSCC alumnus, White and his father-in-law, Dave Carey, have helped the college in past events for other auctions, donating items from their website. White has also spent time training as well as buying and selling horses.
“They’re really involved with the rodeo team,” said Cali Griffin, assistant coach of FSCC’s rodeo team. “We just wanted to help out.”
Griffin said White has had surgery since the accident and is well on his way to recovery, but he and his wife Cody still face medical bills as a result. Money raised during Saturday’s events will go to the family.
Activities will begin at 5 p.m. with a barbecue meal for a free-will donation. A silent and live auction will begin at the same time. T-shirts will also be sold and a two-year-old gelding will be raffled off.
The rodeo itself will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Arnold Arena and includes events such as calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, peewee barrels for those under 10 years old, goat tying, bull riding and bareback and saddle bronco riding. Event winners will be given Montana Silversmith buckles. Admission to the rodeo $5.
Griffin helped organize the fundraiser and said already they have had about twice as many entries in the rodeo as they had hoped, including team roper and National Finals Rodeo qualifier Coleman Proctor, who has also offered a day of private lessons for two people in the auction.