The MidSouth Youth Rodeo Cowboys Association, or MRCA, was established in 1979, from the old Miniature Rodeo Cowboys Association. The MRCA draws in contestants in age from 18 down to as young as 4 years old. They come from south-central Oklahoma and Northern Texas, although there are contestants from as far south as Denton, Tx, and as far north and west as Leedey, Ok. MRCA contestants compete in calf riding, steer riding, barrel racing, pole bending, goat undecorating, goat typing, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, ribbon roping, and team roping. Our age groups are 6 and under co-ed, 7 to 9 co-ed, 10 to 13 boys & girls, and 14 - 18 boys & girls. If you would like more information, contact our membership secretary (or any of our other officers).
Although most of our rodeo weekends consist of one-day events, we occasionally schedule two-day events (two one-day rodeos). A great time is had by all at the end of Saturday's competition. Somebody is always cooking, the kids are always doing something. Saturday evenings are a time for families to come together, have fun, re-live old times, make new friendships - the way life was meant to be. Sunday mornings feature Cowboy Church, held wherever there's a big enough area to accommodate everybody. Currently, Kirby Kelly of Comanche, OK is providing us with a great worship experience. We also have several musically talented parents who provide music and song for our Church services.
The MRCA enjoys a great tradition of providing our contestants a rich opportunity to establish friendships that last a lifetime. At the same time, though, the level of competition within the different age groups offers our young people a chance to develop skills that can allow them to succeed later in life. Several of the MRCA alumni have proven themselves in the professional rodeo world, among them Trevor Brazile, Blair Burk, Jerome Schneeberger, Janae Ward, Felicia Otis, just to name a few. Our officers and directors all work together to give our contestants the best possible chance to compete fairly and equally.
Our finals are held each year over Labor Day weekend, and are currently being held in Chickasha, Ok at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Contestants vie for 31 event and all-around saddles, season and finals buckles, horsemanship awards, scholarships, plus many other prizes. In addition, the MRCA awards various sportsmanship awards to the contestants in each age group who shows the best qualities in sportsmanship, horsemanship, and citizenship throughout the entire year.
We offer our contestants and their families a good, clean, alcohol and drug-free atmosphere to fellowship, compete, and create life-long relationships. Our rodeo season consists of a twenty rodeo schedule, beginning in September and coming to completion in August. Contestants use these rodeos to accumulate year-end points, which determine each event champion in each age group. All-around saddles are also given in each age group.
