By Kacie Svoboda
Approximately eight years ago, Rich and LeeAnn Jensen observed a small boy with Downs Syndrome perform at the Western Heritage Days rodeo at their ranch. With the wave of his hat to the crowd and a big grin, Tucker Blain of Hermosa spurred the Jensens to start Tucker Day Rodeo for special needs children at their Double Diamond Ranch north of Hill City. The Jensens started this event to give other special needs children the joy of performing that Tucker clearly showed.
“Out of all the kids who competed, he seemed to enjoy the day, the ride and the experience the most,” Rich said.
The Tucker Day Rodeo has continued to thrive and grow, allowing numerous special needs children to get a taste of the rodeo lifestyle. They accomplished this by gathering sponsors and volunteers, utilizing their ranch for the event and partnering with Suncatcher Theraupu-tic Riding Academy of Custer, which pairs its specially trained horses with children based on their ability and height. The rodeo also provides side riders, leaders and Suncatcher Academy program lessons for participating kids who desire them.
This year, the seventh annual Tucker Day Rodeo will be held again at the Double Diamond on Sunday, Aug. 9.
Tucker still participates mainly as master of ceremonies and is brought in on a helicopter to begin each rodeo. However, according to his mother, LouAnne Blain, his favorite part is the food.
Tucker’s parents explained that as Tucker has a horse, they have tried to teach him responsibility and leadership for this special event for other children.
“As he (Tucker) grows older he realizes that the rodeo is a huge opportunity for other kids,” LouAnne said.
David Drolc has also performed in the rodeo since it began in 2008. David, who was just 2 years old at his first rodeo, utilizes a horse from Suncatcher Academy.
“Participating in this event has given him (David) confidence to do things he doesn’t do on a normal basis,” his mother, Mona Drolc, explained. “It gives him an attitude of ‘I can do this.’”
The family participates because it gives David the opportunity to do something he wouldn’t do otherwise. This will be David’s first year of riding a bigger horse. David’s favorite part is always ‘riding the horseys.’”
The arena events typically include barrel racing, cattle sorting, pole bending and paint branding small livestock. After a series of trials and errors, Tucker Day Rodeo now organizes kids by age and each participating child performs in four events.
In addition to the arena events, all kids are welcome to try out gold panning, face painting, a Strider Bike demonstration and — new this year — a Hill City 4-H- sponsored petting zoo. There will also be a puppeteer and balloon animals, as well as the annual appearance of Smokey the Bear.
Semi-retired rodeo clown Duane Reichert will again perform and live music will be provided throughout the day by Brent Morris and the Western Acoustics. For the adults, there will be a silent auction of items donated by Hill City and Custer merchants. Funds raised go to ensuring the continuation of the Tucker Day Rodeo, as admission, participation and the chuckwagon barbecue are free. In addition, every entrant will receive a complimentary medallion, a Tucker Day Rodeo T-shirt and a gift bag.
“We think it is a great family outing and a great opportunity for special needs kids to be outdoors, be acknowledged and praised, and do something they don’t get to do a lot without much cost to their families,” said LeeAnne.
Registration and activities begin at 9 a.m. Tucker will fly in at 10 a.m. Cowboy Church is at 10:30 a.m. and rodeo events begin at 11 a.m. and will run to approximately 2 p.m. The Double Diamond Ranch is three fourths of a mile north of Three Forks junction on Hwy. 385.
For more information, call the ranch at 574-4560 or 391-1999.