TUCSON, Ariz. — The 94th annual Fiesta de Los Vaqueros is in full swing. It's a historic sporting event and opportunity for kids to learn some life lessons.
Hundreds of K-8th Grade children participated in the rodeo education and children or “REACh” program.
It's been offered at the Tucson Rodeo for 25 years. It teaches about western heritage, the working cowboy, and some life lessons.
“We look at the cowboy as an iconic figure,” said Presenter Janet Lemmons. “We look at him as a strong, rugged individual.”
Lemmons says they use the term cowboy up or cowgirl up to help kids visualize themselves resisting peer pressure, bullies, drugs, and gangs.
“Cowboy up and stuff like that, be tough, and don't let yourself be sucked into certain stuff.,” said 11-year-old Savannah Moses.
Lemmons says the rodeo is the perfect place to get that message across.
“My horse bucked, something happened,” said Lemmons. “But you have to just put your head up and step forward and make the best of any situation and that’s what we try to teach the kids.”
