Do you remember a few weeks ago I posted about the American Legion District Oratorical Competition in Wichita Falls? Well, this past Saturday the American Legion Post 71 hosted the 1st Division Competition in Denton, Texas at the historical old Courthouse on the square....below is what they posted after the event.....
Great day for Post 71 and the 1st Division of The American Legion Department of Texas!
Post 71 hosted the 1st Division Oratorical Competition at the Old Denton Courthouse on the Square (thank you Commissioners!). Six high school competitors from across North Texas participated in the competition. Mr. Jacob Groninga from Trinity Preparatory Academy and Post 655 won the competition and a $750 scholarship. Post 71’s own JB Lilley from Coram Deo Academy came in second by just a hair. We are very proud of Mr. Lilley!!! Mr. Groninga will advance to the Department competition in San Antonio on February 14th.
The American Legion has hosted this competition since 1938. Competitors are required to give an 8-10 minute prepared speech over the U.S. Constitution and a citizen’s responsibilities to our government. In the second round they must give a 3-5 minute speech about one of four randomly chosen topics dealing with the Articles or Amendments. The contest is designed to teach youth about the Constitution and instill in them the obligations of citizenship.
I would like to thank Mayor Gerard Hudspeth, Mayor Pro Tem Jesse Davis, Amy O’Keefe of TWU; Jill Jester of Minor and Jester Law Firm; and Senior Legionnaire Dave Etter for judging the competition. NOT AN EASY JOB with these six outstanding competitors!
Congratulations to all the young people who participated....and I am glad I was not a Judge!
If you follow me on Snow Sisters Texas social media, then you know that I was at the North Texas High School Rodeo Association (NTHSRA) rodeo this weekend......love watching these athletes and their horses perform. Many of them will go on to College with a scholarship. We have all the events that you see in a regular rodeo....but we also have two you don't normally see. For the boys, we have the regular event of calf roping. This event shows the skill needed to catch calves, steers etc. for doctoring out on the range. So the girls wanted to do something similar, and that's how we got to goat tying for the girls....they have to ride in, dismount and tie their goat.
Running almost fast enough to get a ticket...HI...HI...speeding ticket that is...
For those that want to do "goat tying" and don't have a horse....well there's walk up goat tying
In turn, for the boys there is Steer Wrestling, where a Cowboy comes off his horse (on purpose) to catch a steer and wrestle him to the ground......
I know what your thinking right about now....why jump off of a perfectly good horse....HI...HI...
Then for the boys that don't have a horse we offer what we call chute doggin'.....which is the same thing without the horse......
Down and Dirty......arena dirty that is......
Barrel Racer coming down the alley for her run......
The NTHSRA (The North Texas High School Rodeo Association) are very proud of all it's members. Their education is first and foremost and that is why they have to turn in report cards twice a rodeo season. If they are failing....no rodeo until grades are brought up. These kids practice and hone their skills. Each and everyone is a true athlete.
What's a rodeo without a Rodeo Queen.....well it's that time of the year to start preparations for the upcoming Queens Contest....and guess what I am Chairman of the Queens Committee... Ran into our current Queen, Miss NTHSRA, Ashley Polson and one of the contestants hoping to win the crown....... Couldn't resist having my picture made with them......
The Queen is an Ambassador for the rodeo industry....representing everyone at many different functions during her reign......
These are some of the teenagers I was telling you about that are studying to get their Ham Radio ticket.....
There are rodeo Queens....and then there are Hollywood Queens......
Back in 2019 I attended "Ignite Hope" a fundraising event put on by Bob Williams of Ranch Hands Rescue located in Argyle, Texas......Did you know that there is also a "sex trafficing" business for little boys!!!! All this time I thought it was only girls that were kidnapped.....but not so..... for more information go check out his website.....www.ranchhandsrescue.org
Anyway, me and my Elmer, Rex (W5EAK) were sitting at a table in the banquet room waiting for everyone to be let in......I was asked to make a celebrity appearance of which I was very glad to do for this awesome organization. Out of the corner of my eye I saw RED.....red dress, red boa wrap, red sparkly boots and big blonde hair..... Well this red outfit was headed straight for me and Rex..... she walked up to our table and said, "Do you mind if I sit down?", to which I replied, "Sit down, take a load off"..... She sat down, I looked her straight in the eye and about passed out!!!!! It was Ruta Lee...Yep....you heard me right Ruta Lee..... don't believe me?
I knew the only way anyone would believe me was if I had a picture.....isn't she beautiful....she was the guest speaker for the evening and man was she ever funny!!!!!
Hollywood Royalty....Ms Ruta Lee
Rex (W5EAK) and Ms. Ruta Lee
Over a year ago and 135 lbs. heavier........
Before I shut up....HI...HI... wanted to share a picture I came across a few days ago and probably only YL's will appreciate it.....it was from my very first SkyBall, which is a fundraiser for the Military and Veterans..... Now you have to remember, I am a House Mover by trade, which means my closet consists of blue jeans, t-shirts and work boots..... Yep, not a dress to be found anywhere in my closet....... So when you I was invited to this formal function my first question was, what is the dress code for the evening.....to which I was told....it's formal..... So off to go shopping...not my favorite thing to do at all.....and came home with a dress and of course it was purple. Then everyone at the office wanted to know what shoes I was going to wear with this dress.....I told them I could either clean up my work boots and wear them....or take my spurs off and wash the cow poop off my boots and wear them..... The girls in the office didn't seem to think that was funny at all... I thought it was hysterical...... So I took a picture to send to them and asked.....
It's the socks isn't it?.......HI...HI..... Again, they didn't think that was funny at all......