Champions Challenge Rodeo Supports Nebo Reading

One of the top rodeos in the nation, Champions Challenge Rodeo in Spanish Fork, recognized 18 students in Nebo School District for their success in the Champions Reading Challenge.

The Champions Challenge Rodeo features the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association's best contestants competing on the best stock all on one night in Spanish Fork City. Coordinator, Wayne Andersen, and Rodeo Chairman, Steve Money, met with all the local elementary school principals and organized a win/win situation.

The top student readers were invited to a delicious barbeque dinner at the High Chaparral building provided in part by the Diamond Fork Riding club and president, Whites Nelson, on June 3, 2016. After dinner and introductions, the members of the Champions Challenge Rodeo committee alongside Spanish Fork City Council members Chad Argyle, Stacy Beck, and Keir Scoubes as well as Seth Perrins, Dale Robinson, and Mayor Steve Leifson met with and congratulated the winning students. Justin Boots donated the prized boots presented to each student by representatives Tom Feller and Mike Haderty. The PRCA Administration as well as PRCA announcer Randy Corley attended the dinner along with Wrangler Jeans representative Robert Leiber. These nationally recognized individuals included stock contractors Hank Franzen and Craig Wentz, Barrelman and Clown Gizmo McCracken and Janice, and Bullfighters Joe Butler and Richie Harris.

The Champions Reading Challenge was kicked off in March by members of the Rodeo committee including Coordinator Wayne Andersen, Rodeo Chairman Steve Money, Spanish Fork City officials as well as well-known bull fighters Joe Butler and JJ Harrison. They visited schools and conducted sixteen elementary assemblies and fourteen junior high assemblies in only five days. Students were asked to track their reading minutes during the spring. The students who read the most minutes in each class at each school were then entered in a drawing. These winning students received tickets to the rodeo and were involved in the opening ceremonies.

The partnership all started with one educator issuing a simple challenge to her school to read more western novels. Now, it is a city-wide effort to encourage reading and introduce the rodeo to a younger generation.

In its third year, the partnership increased in both popularity and success. The impressive accomplishments from the previous years were surpassed and the reading totals are a truly impressive feat. In total, the elementary schools reported an amazing 2.3 million minutes or 39,000 hours of reading.

The following students were part of the opening ceremonies at the Champions Challenge Rodeo.
Brockbank Elementary winners Cahill Simons and EllyAnn Thacker. 
Canyon Elementary winners Aubrey Ashliman and Dashiel Fife. 
East Meadows Elementary winners Samuel Frederick and Luke Rasmussen.
Larsen Elementary winners Shyloh Grosland and Shanae Orton.
Park Elementary winners Jordan Jensen and Kyler Hoover.
Rees Elementary winners Andy Herget and Grayden Hunter. 
Riverview Elementary winners Alyssa Gorham and Caleb Giles. 
Sierra Bonita Elementary winners Sara Christensen and Dallin Hardy.
Spanish Oaks winners Lydia Adams and Derek Ford.
Other educators honored were Lisa Muirbrook and Lana Hiskey.