SpringfieldNewsSun.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — More than 150 youths converged on the Champions Center on Saturday, Nov. 15, as the country's largest youth rodeo warmed its way into the winter season with horses, goats, poles and ropes.

The Championship 4-State Youth Rodeo drew participants from Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky, and was "open to children from ages, well diaper age to 20 years old," said founder Judy Shepherd.

Diaper age?

"Well, we have stick horse races for the five and under," she said. "Then we have the (goat tail tie) where they take a (scrunchy wrist band) off of a goat."

They can even try their little hands at some dummy calf roping.

"It's really a learning-step rodeo," she said.

Shepherd founded the event six years ago. When it grew into the nation's largest youth rodeo in 2006, it moved into the Champions Center at the Clark County Fairgrounds.

Eleven-year-old Sami Bair, of Springfield, was competing in her first rodeo Saturday, entering her 9-year-old horse Dixie in the pole bending event.

The timed event involves maneuvering the horse around a line of poles set up in the arena. The serpentine route forces the horse to change its lead leg around each pole.

Not as easy as it sounds, Sami said.

"(Dixie) doesn't know the pattern very well yet," she said. "I'll have to keep pulling her head up to keep her from leaning her shoulders into the poles (and possibly falling over)."

While she didn't clock the best time, Dixie had a clean run, neither falling nor knocking over a pole.

Her inaugural performance satisfied Sami, who gave a subtle fist-pump as she exited the arena.

Like her friend and fellow competitor, 10-year-old Makenzie Roberts, Sami's been around horses as long as she can remember.

"I just enjoy being around the horses and I like riding with my friends," she said.

The public is welcome to attend the free events, which are held monthly through March, Shepherd said. The next rodeo is Dec. 10th.

For more information visit championship4stateyouth rodeo.com.