Special Olympics athletes compete in rodeo

By Stephen Baldwin, RealWV

Andrea Lafferty had never ridden a horse…until this past Sunday. 

As part of a collaboration between the WV High School Rodeo Association, Reining Warriors, and Greenbrier County Special Olympics, Andrea rode a barrel racing pattern around the arena. Her arms extended into the air, raised in triumph, as she did something she never thought would be possible: She rode a horse…in a rodeo…as her friends and family cheered her on from the stands! 

I spoke to Andrea just after she dismounted. The smile on her face was the size of Texas, with adrenaline still pumping through her veins from the experience. 

“Where are you from, Andrea?” I asked her. 

“WEST VIRGINIA!” she hollered, proud as can be. 

“Have you ever ridden a horse before today?” I inquired. 

“NO!” she yelled. 

“How did it make you feel?” I asked. 

“I WASN’T SCARED!” she told me, as her elation turned to satisfaction. “It was so fun! Even riding the bull.” 

A dream come true

Sonya Fullen doesn’t sleep much. She doesn’t have time for it. 

In addition to her professional life, she is fully engaged in multiple community and youth organizations including Reining Warriors and the WV High School Rodeo Association (WVHSRA).  

“I’ve been involved with horses all my life,” Sonya says, “and rodeo since high school.” 

Her older sister, Stacey Brinson, has Down syndrome. “She’s inspired me my entire life,” says Sonya. “A year ago she mentioned, ‘I want to be in a rodeo!’” 

So Sonya got to work. She pitched a rodeo for a local Special Olympics team in the Greenbrier Valley. “Everyone got involved and stepped up,” she says. 

It was originally scheduled for last spring, but a severe storm derailed that plan. With the support of the State Fair of WV, Reining Warriors, WVHSRA, and numerous local businesses, the rodeo was rescheduled for this past weekend. 

“We are grateful the State Fair of WV in the midst of one of their busiest weekends, (Healing Appalachia music festival), fit us in,” she says. “We couldn’t have done this without our wonderful WVHSRA rodeo members, parents, alumni, and volunteers. Seeing the youth step into serving others reminds me how important that is in building their character that will carry them into their future.”

Cinch, a Western clothing company, served as a sponsor of the Special Olympics Rodeo, alongside local businesses, providing each participant with a special belt buckle commemorating their achievement in the arena. All local sponsors are shown below.

“We love to support these special folks,” adds Brandon McCormick, a local farmer and law enforcement officer who also serves as President of WVHSRA. “This is a day they’re gonna remember and cherish for the rest of their lives.”

“I was blessed and grateful to be a small part of something my sister, Stacey, will talk about forever,” Sonya says.

Photo Gallery: Belt Buckle Presentations

With the support of Cinch, WVHSRA, and Reigning Warriors, all athletes were gifts a belt buckle for their rodeo performances.

See the person, rather than the disability

Heather Mustain and Heather Humphreys are the coaches of the Greenbrier County Special Olympic team. Their athletes compete in various sports throughout the year, but this event was special. 

 “This truly was a very special day that will be remembered for a lifetime,” notes Mustain. She believes it’s an important step forward for the disability community. 

“We at Special Olympics, the coaches and volunteers, all strive for inclusion,” she says. “This event definitely demonstrated that when all people are included in all aspects of society, we are more likely to see the person rather than focus on their disability.”

Brad Burns competed in Sunday’s rodeo. After receiving his belt buckle, he told me what a joy it was. 

“It was a fun day!” he said. “I rode a horse and learned how to rope a bull. It felt good!” 

Coach Heather Humphreys adds, “We would like to say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of our hearts.”