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Military, volunteers make rodeo possible
Comments 0 | Recommend 0BARSTOW — Sometimes it’s easy to look past what’s right in front of you.
The hundreds of spectators that showed up to the rodeo arena at the Yermo Annex of the Marine Corps Logistics Base for bull riding and calf roping missed the best show of the weekend — the dance put on backstage by the volunteers and staff of the Barstow Rodeo Group. When the crowds show up to the arena, the portable toilets are in place, the vendors are cooking up food and the events are scheduled and ready to begin.
The preparation process takes around a week and begins when volunteers come from around the area to help with the set up. Mal Wessel, president of the Barstow Rodeo Group, said that more than 100 volunteers help put the event on. El Mirage residents Ed Morris and his daughter Brandi, 15, have been coming to and volunteering at the rodeo for four years.
“You learn a lot helping out with this,” Ed said. “The Wessels have a lot on their plates that people don’t realize. When you get here it’s barren. They bring in the lights, the trash cans and plan it. We’ve been out here since Wednesday helping out.”
Brandi, who was the 2005-06 Little Miss Queen and this year's Teen Queen, is also competing to be the Teen Rodeo Queen this year. Ed said they travel to other area rodeos in Tehachapi and Norco but Barstow’s has more of the hometown feel that rodeos are supposed to have.
“We’ll be back next year,” Ed said. “As long as it’s here and as long as the Wessels are running it we’ll be here.”
Although many of the volunteers are directly tied to the rodeo through participation, one group is not: the armed forces. Members of the Marine Corps were around the rodeo helping throughout the day. Military Police patrolled the area helping keep order and occasionally offering directions to people. MCLB Commander Col. Kenneth Enzor was even in attendance Saturday evening.
“The Marine Corps is part of the community no doubt,” Connie Wessel said. “We’re very fortunate that the Marine Base made this arena and helps us every year.”
Army soldiers from Ft. Irwin also lent a hand. Master Sergeant Jorge Garcia, of the Sergeant Augie Murphy Club at Ft. Irwin, worked the gate as people arrived and enjoyed the rest of the night watching the events with his family.
“It’s a great event for charity,” Garcia said as his children watched the barrel racing event. “Plus there’s not much to do around in a small community so it’s nice to be able to help. It’s something family oriented to do on a Saturday night. I’ll definitely come back if I’m here next year.”
Click here for video from the rodeo.