Ep. 25 - Rascal Rodeo's Ann-Erica Whitemarsh

Sunday, December 7, 2019 (Las Vegas, Nevada) - Rascal Rodeo, a 501(c)-3 non-profit out of Washington State, has been making national news for their efforts to make rodeo an opportunity available to any person, any age, no matter their abilities. You can join them Sunday, December 8th, in Las Vegas for two special Rascal Rodeo’s as a part of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo!

If you told Ann-Erica Whitemarsh that her senior project in high school would become her full time job nearly a decade and a half later, she probably would have said you were joking. What started as Whitemarsh’s senior project for four participants and 20 volunteers in her home town became an overnight sensation and it only took 15 years. 

Due to her dedication and hardwork, Rascal Rodeo has not only gained nationwide recognition, but continues to inspire communities and rodeo athletes through Rascal Rodeo events across the northwest. Rascal Rodeo is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in Washington, dedicated to producing western events that anyone can participate in no matter their age, physical or mental disability. 

“After getting laid off from four jobs in three years I realized that I needed to create my own job,” Whitemarsh explains. Sounds simple, but here’s where the story begins. She was 27 years old living at her parents’ house, unemployed again, no car and desperate to find her way. Anyone who’s attended a Rascal Rodeo knows miracles happen at every single event, but what most people don’t know is that Ann-Erica’s faith told her this was her calling, her God-given gift. 

“I would spend 10-12 hour days working on my laptop at the coffee shop trying to get the nonprofit off the ground.”The only thing she had to her name was $40,000 of student loan debt. But she didn’t see lack of funding or transportation as her biggest obstacles; it was the naysayers. 

“Literally maybe three people said, ‘That’s a good idea, go do it!’” She laughs. Even her parents didn’t think it was a good idea, and told her to “get a real job.” 

Today, Rascal Rodeo holds one large annual fundraiser, a variety of other fundraisers, and hosts 16 Rascal Rodeos in three states. A beautiful truck and utility trailer arrive at every Rascal Rodeo stocked with modified versions of every rodeo event any Rascal Rodeo participant, regardless of mental or physical disabilities, will be able to participate in. 

Landmark  breakthroughs include winning a Toyota Tundra pick-up, through recognition of their philanthropic efforts. Whitemarsh no longer had to walk, take public transportation, carpool or borrow a vehicle to run errands and manage events. Les Schwab followed up by donating new tires to the truck and utility trailer to keep Whitemarsh and her crew safe on the road. 

Whitemarsh says one of the most rewarding parts of Rascal Rodeo is ironically positive. “We prove parents wrong.” Often their children are told “no” and typically aren’t even allowed into a normal classroom. Parents are astonished and delighted by the abilities they discover in their children, such as getting on a horse. 

Here’s how it works. At a Rascal Rodeo, each participant is partnered with a volunteer and they can go through as many stations as they want, however many times as they want. The horseback riding station is the most popular. Volunteers work hard to bring in trusted equine partners to be used in Rascal Rodeos. These kind, gentle, brave horses work with ramps, wheelchairs, and with volunteers riding double with the participant for safety reasons.

“My first Rascal Rodeo was two years ago when I was home on break from college,” says Jessi Cornforth, 2018 Miss Rodeo Oregon.”When I was in elementary school I was selected to be in the buddy system program for kids with physical and mental disabilities, so working with Rascal Rodeo participants came naturally to me,” It’s common to see rodeo queens such as Cornforth  volunteering and advocating for Rascal Rodeo. 

“As Miss Rodeo Oregon, I have made a point in volunteering at every Rascal Rodeo I can find, even when that means swapping sleep for driving time!” 

Whitemarsh explains that for those in the rodeo or ranching world, horseback riding is an everyday opportunity. This isn’t the case for the general public, let alone those with special needs. Various physical benefits such as improved motor coordination, posture, balance, muscle tone, concentration, self-esteem and self-confidence improve for those with special needs who get the opportunity to use equine therapy. 

One of the most rewarding benefits of equine therapy for Rascal Rodeo participants is a unique opportunity to improve speech and motor skills, as well as strength and balance. Animals provide an incentive for kids to push their limits in a pain-free way, making physical therapy seem more like play. Moving reins, holding a lead rope and brushing a horse helps build fine-motor skills. Using vocal cues with horses help improve speech as well as visual-spatial perception to navigate the arena (accompanied by a minimum of two expert volunteers) (parentmap.com). 

Volunteers, caregivers and parents can’t help but feel the joy and freedom that a horse can bring a participant. “The process of using a horse for therapy is really phenomenal and cannot be simulated by any machine or device (equestriantherapy.com).”

Rascal Rodeo takes participants no matter their physical or mental disabilities and volunteers can be any age. There is always a job for someone at a Rascal Rodeo, whether it’s taking pictures, writing name tags, bringing horses, or working with a participant. 

Whitemarsh says she and her staff receive phone calls from all over the U.S. from people wanting a Rascal Rodeo event in their town. It’s going to take manpower and money to get to those places but Whitemarsh isn’t deterred; she’s overcome so much to get to where she is today. 

You can support Rascal Rodeo by sponsoring a rodeo, donating belt buckles/trophies/medallions, donating live and/or silent auction items to their annual fundraiser, and more. Follow along with their adventures on Facebook or through their website. 

Contact Rascal Rodeo at info@rascalrodeo.org.