Arizona Rodeo Mafia News

Arizona Rodeo Mafia News

By Rodie Owen "It's 100% payback, a rodeo for the kids, by the kids" was the immediate response by Blake Huerta when I asked him "Why do you like riding at Arizona Mafia Rodeo events?" It quickly became evident that is what they stand for through and through. My son has been begging to ride for 2 years, so when I saw the poised, polite, well dressed rider, Rodie Holland, standing in front of our local farm supply store working a booth to raise money for their next rodeo, I knew this was the group to ride with. " By the kids, for the kids" is taken very seriously. Its the kids selling the merchandise like stickers, t shirt, hats (available at http://www.azrodeomafia.com) plus raffle tickets for 50/50 and

buckle drawings that allow Dan Holland, co-founder of ARM, to keep the policy of 100% payback to the kids, so they can keep riding in the sport. Just for reference, the jr riders earned back $3100 this weekend!

So what does it take to be a roughstock rider? It's way more than just a desire to ride that bull over and over and paying an entry fee. "Even though its an individual event, it takes a team effort," says Jesse Huerta, Board Member of Arizona Mafia Rodeo. We saw first hand how much support family, other riders, and rodeo personnel give to the young ones. Everyone pitches in whether its rides to and from rodeos, gearing up, settling in on the stock, advice and just moral support. The atmosphere behind the shute abounds of manners, teamwork, (often sharing gear as something can be forgotten easily), mentoring, pride and a revered dress code followed proudly. Seasoned riders gravitated to our young boys, gearing up for their first big ride in a real rodeo, with advice, high fives and "good lucks", followed by "do you need any help?" For us, a family new to the circuit, it took just one ARM rodeo to realize its the type of environment we want our kids surrounded with. A real, "for the kids by the kids" event.

Call (928) 607-8110 for more information.