Window 8.8.13
August 8, 2013
50 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourwestminsternews.com
Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 68, Issue 42
Rodeo entertains at fair
Cowboys, cowgirls saddle up By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com
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t was an exciting evening at the Adams County Fair when cowboys and cowgirls from all over the state competed in the Budweiser Colorado Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) Rodeo. The event brought in around 2,000 people on Thursday, Aug. 1, to watch men and women duke it out in the United Power Grandstand arena. The evening featured a variety of events including: bareback, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, break away, saddle bronc riding, mixed team roping, open team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and of course Mutton Bustin for the youngsters. To add some comedy to the evening was long-time rodeo clown JD Schulze. He’s been clowning around for 14 years now, but started his rodeo career in bull riding. He said even after all of these years he still gets nervous in the arena. “I’m always scared,” he said. “It’s unpredictable, but a lot of fun.” This was Schulze’s third year at the Adams County Fair and was just one of 62 stops he’ll make this rodeo season. He travels all over Colorado and also into parts of Wyoming, Nebraska and New Mexico. He said the best part of his job is making people smile. “It’s so much fun meeting new people along the way,” he said. “I love making the rodeo fun for people.” For Casey Guerriera, his career in rodeo just started. The 18-year-old from Castle Rock started saddle broc riding just six months ago. He said he got a wild hair and just decided to try it out. “I’ve been riding horses all my life, so I just decided to
A cowboy shoots out of the gate during the bareback riding event during the CPRA Rodeo on Aug. 1 at the Adams County Fair. try something new,” he said. “It’s pretty much what I expected.” So far, Guerriera’s been enjoying his time on the rodeo circuit traveling around Colorado. He says he doesn’t get nervous in the shoot, just has a lot of fun at what he’s doing. “I really like to travel and meet new people, that’s probably the best part,” he said. “I’m always having fun and that’s what it’s all about.” The CPRA rodeo was just one of three events in the United Power Grandstand arena at the fair over the weekend. Friday night featured the National Sled Pulling Association (NSPA) truck pull followed by the highly popular Demolition Derby Racing Association (DDRA) demolition derby. As in past years, this event brought in a packed house at the arena.
Casey Guerriera, 18 of Castle Rock, takes a moment to examine his saddle as he prepares for the saddle bronc riding competition before the Aug. 1 CPRA Rodeo at the Adams County Fair. Photos by Ashley Reimers
Program helps fill backpacks with essential supplies By Ashley Reimers
areimers@ourcoloradonews.com With the beginning of school just around the corner, the annual tradition of purchasing school supplies is on many parents’ minds. But this task isn’t always easy for families; some need extra help to get their little ones prepared for the big day. That’s where A Precious Child comes in. The nonprofit organization offers the Fill A Backpack program to families in need, providing all the supplies a student at any age would need for the first day of school. “More than 217,000 kids in Colorado are living below the poverty line, and many of them are unprepared to start the upcoming school year,” said Britta Robinson, associate director of A Precious Child. “This program provides all the essentials needed for that first day of school.” A Precious Child serves as a resource center in collaboration with schools, organizations, From left, with Broomfield Police Officer Paul Resh, nine-year-old Orion George of Cub Scout Troop 321 in Thornton and social services, fire and police departments, A Precious Child staff members Courtney Rogers and Britta Robinson collect donations for A Precious Child’s backpack churches and shelters to ensure that all chilsupply drive on July 27 at Wal-Mart in Broomfield. Photo by Pam Wagner dren in Colorado have their basic needs met. They serve seven Denver metro counties inPOSTAL ADDRESS cluding Adams and Jefferson County. Recently Robinson and her volunteers hosted a school supply drive on July 27, at Printed on recycled Wal-Mart in Broomfield. Robinson said this newsprint. Please particular drive is one of their biggest efforts recycle this copy. in reaching their goal of providing 6,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to children living in homeless shelters, foster homes or facing tough life challenges without access to basic needs. “For this program we work in direct contact
‘This program provides all the essentials needed for that first day of school.’ Britta Robinson with local schools, shelters, abuse shelters and other agencies to receive requests from them for backpacks,” Robinson said. “We work hard to provide age-appropriate backpacks and supplies to the kids so we know they are getting what they need to be successful on that first day of school.” Other than supply drives, there are 70 collection boxes in the Denver metro area where people can drop off supplies. Robinson said people can also drop off supplies at 557 Burbank Street, Unit E in Broomfield or make a $30 donation online at www. apreciouschild.org, which pays for a backpack filled with supplies. “This program continues to grow every year because the need continues to grow. We rely heavily on our partners who donate and to our volunteers to put in the time to make this program happen,” Robinson said. “And it’s all worth it when we can see the smiling faces of the people in the agency or from the families receiving the backpacks because we know the students don’t have to worry about supplies for school, they can be focused on their success in school.” For more information on the Fill A Backpack program, visit www.apreciouschild.org.