Rodeo Bible Camp celebrates 5th year
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POLSON — Usually, the Rodeo Bible Camp is held in June at the Polson Fairgrounds, but the campers always dealt with rain. In hopes of drier weather, this year Riders for the Son camp directors moved the date to July 9-12, but the weather still threw a curve at them.
“They truly camped,” Levi Britton, camp pastor and team roping instructor said, because on Tuesday night a storm complete with quarter-sized hail, wind and 2 inches of water swept through the fairgrounds, splitting tents, drenching clothes and leaving three giant mud puddles in the arena.
Campers relocated to the kitchen, the bathroom, anyplace that was dry. The kids didn’t let the weather discourage them, though, and used makeshift clotheslines to dry clothing and sleeping bags.
Their days were packed full. Campers woke, yawned and trudged off to the barns to feed and water their horses and clean stalls. In such warm weather, they have to keep water in front of their horses at all times. Then it was time for morning chapel and breakfast. Much of each day was spent learning and polishing rodeo events, such as barrel racing, bull riding, team roping, breakaway roping, pole bending and goat tying.
Cliff Milliron donated the use of his indoor and outdoor arena at the top of Sunnyslope, which Britton said was a big help.
Each event had a coach, and the bull riders had two coaches, Dan Porter and Steve Balgeman.
Britton teaches team roping, but said, “Without a doubt, leading chapel is my favorite thing to do.”
“This year four people accepted the Lord,” Britton said, adding that others have rededicated themselves to their Christian faith.
But, as Jill Hoyt, one of the camp directors said, the kids are supposed to demonstrate “Godly behavior” throughout the camp, such as helping out, being thoughtful and polite, interacting with their peers, taking good care of their horses and participating at chapel. To provide positive reinforcement for their good behavior, a much-coveted buckle is presented to one individual in each event at the end of the camp.
“The buckles are a character award,” Britton said, since placing in the rodeo events doesn’t count toward winning a buckle.
While Britton was finishing his breakfast, the campers headed to the barns to prepare for the day.
Abby Egbert, Clinton, saddled her horse, Rojo. She had a plan; she fed him grain while she saddled him so he would standstill.
Egbert learned to tie goats at the camp and demonstrated on her foot.
Charlo-ites Connor Fryberger, Liev Smith and Kinna Smith were all barrel racers. The Smith girls were new to the camp, but Fryberger attended last year.
Connor and Kinna enjoyed all the time they spent with their horses, and Liev liked to go swimming when campers cooled off in the Flathead River.
Kenzie Couture, Charlo, brought her horse, Dancer, and was a pole bender while her friend Britnee Toney learned to team rope on her horse, Petie.
Couture helped out other campers in the barn by giving horses water if they looked thirsty. Toney explained that the bull riders help out with horses since they don’t have stock to care for.
As far as the food goes, it’s good, the campers said.
Beginning with dinner on Monday, July 9, cooks Cheryl Cheff, Christy Houle and Crystal Zolman made breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Feeding approximately 75 people for each meal was a big job, but none of the kitchen crew complained. The camp ate well, too, with fresh fruit and vegetables every day as well as kid favorites hamburgers, pizza, and, surprisingly, ham and baked potatoes and spaghetti.
“The kids are the best kids,” Cheff said, explaining that they have nice manners.
On Thursday evening, when the camp ended, parents and grandparents were invited for a potluck dinner and a special rodeo, so kids could demonstrate their rodeo skills. After the rodeo, awards are handed out, including the special buckles, a most-improved award in each event and placing prizes for rodeo events.
Then it was time for the baptisms. This year, Britton baptized five youngsters by immersing them completely in a blue tank of water behind the grandstands.
“It’s a public confirmation of their faith,” he said, “a very strong testament.”
It’s also a special way to end the Rodeo Bible Camp.
