John Hutton, who dreams of participating in the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas, gave a detailed demonstration of how to head and heel a calf Saturday.
A junior at Iola High School, Hutton described five ropes used by cowboys in rodeo events and gave a demonstration of the ones he prefers at the Southwind 4-H Club Days at Marmaton Valley High School.
“I’m not sure I can do this in here,” Hutton said, as he twirled the loop of a lasso above his head in a classroom. It missed the ceiling by inches as he sure-handedly settled the loop precisely over the horns of a “calf” constructed of tubing.
Hutton is a member of Square B 4-H Club and Allen County Roughriders. He participates in the Allen County Fair Shodeo and other area events for young rodeo cowboys.
“I was put on a horse when I was real young, too young to remember exactly when,” Hutton said. He has been roping since he was strong enough to handle a lasso.
Heading, he said during his demonstration, is strategically placing the noose around both horns of an animal, while heeling is entwining the hind feet.
“If you catch just one leg, there’s a deduction on your score,” he said, which “can be really important in the big shows but not so much in the smaller ones around here.”
Also, Hutton explained that two cowboys teaming up in a roping event requires one to rope the horns, the other the legs.
Hutton earned a blue ribbon for his presentation.
THOSE RECEIVING top blues advanced to Regional 4-H Club Day Feb. 25 at Altoona.
Results of Allen County 4-H members Saturday, with TB being top blue, B blue, R red, W white, were:
Model meetings: City Slickers, TB; Logan Pals, B; Prairie Rose, B; Square B, B.
Senior readings: Kolbyn Allen, TB; Anna Setter, TB.
Intermediate readings: Isaiah Wicoff, TB; Jennifer Tidd, B; Erin Klubek, B; Cassandra Delich, TB.
Junior readings: Clay Shannon, TB; Henry Wicoff, B; Jessica Tidd, TB.
Public speaking: Clara Wicoff, TB.
Senior demonstrations/illustrated talks: Caitlin Dreher, TB; Jessica Sharp, B; Catherine Sharp, B; Delaney Umholtz, B; Shannon Vogel, R; Trent Johnson, B; John Hutton, B.
Intermediate demonstrations/illustrated talks: Jackson Wilks, R; Stevie and Casey Allen, TB; Danielle Sharp, B; Jenna Wilks, TB; Klair Vogel, B; Jennifer Tidd, R; Katie Weide, W; Zoey Rinehart, B.
Junior demonstrations/illustrated talks: Gabriella Sharp, B; Ethan Weide, R; Levi Meiwes, B; Brody Nemecek, TB; Jillian Keller, TB; Clay Shannon, B; Henry Wicoff, B; Abby Rinehart, B.
Project talks: Ty Scharff, TB; Reid Smith, TB.
Multi-media presentations: Emily McKarnin, TB; Katie Weide, TB.
Talent and dance: Square B (senior folk dance), R; Prairie Dell and Prairie Ross (senior folk dance), TB; Setter, Bruneau and Allen, Logan Pals, (skit/one-act play), B; Prairie Dell (skit/one-act play), TB.
Show and share: Curt Shannon, B; Kyser Nemecek, B; Carson Keller, B; Carly Dreher, B.
Vocal solos: Katie Weide (junior), B; Kaysha Elmenhorst (senior), TB.
Instrumental music: Isaac Heskett/Lana Myers, ensemble, TB; Katie Weide/Jennifer Tidd, ensemble, B.
Junior instrumental solos: Jenni Armstrong, B; Jennifer Tidd, B; Jessica Tidd, B; Mykayla Ard, B.
Senior instrumental solos: Alexis Hobbs, B; Allyson Hobbs, B; Danielle Sharp, B; Tyler Holloway, B; Jessica Sharp, TB; Jonathan Tidd, B; Shannon Vogel, B; Trey Wilson, B; Jeremy Setter, B.
