Las Vegas Review-Journal: NFR competitors, youngsters work together at Grant a Gift event
This article was originally published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal on 12/6/21 here.
It doesn’t take a lot of rodeo contestants to make a big impression.
Just get a couple of them away from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo’s competitive and electric environment at the Thomas & Mack Center, let them have a little one-on-one time with some special kids, and those big impressions happen.
All photos courtesy of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
For the past five years, two of the elite competitors at the NFR take a little time away from the schedules of autographs, appearances, and the rodeo to visit the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation here in Las Vegas. Three-time world champion bareback rider Tim O’Connell has made it a priority for four of those five years. This year, O’Connell was joined by reigning tie-down roper world champion Shad Mayfield, who came prepared Friday with a rope and a plastic steer to give a quick lesson.
The NFR only happens because of a love of horses and cattle, so as part of Friday’s visit, it was only natural to have some horses for the kids to sit on and pet. It’s a day that 13-year-old Angelo Mayorga has looked forward to since participating in 2019. He was very disappointed when it didn’t happen last year because of the pandemic. This year, his mother said, he didn’t sleep at all the night before because he was so excited.