Claypool’s Avery Slaymaker shows her skills as Optimist volunteer Shelby Harlan provides encouragement and direction. Photo provided by Sheryl Harlan.

News Release

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — A tradition that started in the early 1990’s by the Noon Optimist Club at Atwood Elementary is growing. The rodeo moved to Jefferson Elementary School in 2006 and was held annually.

Since then, combined efforts from multiple service clubs over the last few years has helped expand the Rodeo to more schools with the end goal of being to accommodate every third grader in Kosciusko County.

On Friday May 5, with combined efforts of Tracey’s Trailer, Kosciusko County Velo and the Warsaw Noon Optimist Club, 177 third graders from Claypool Elementary, Eisenhower Elementary, and Jefferson Elementary got to try out their skills and practice what they had been working on for the past four weeks.

Tracey’s Trailer provided bicycles for the event. There were dozens of bikes, ranging from the beginner’s strider bikes up to a more advanced rider bike. Bicycles were available in different sizes for the kids to choose from. The bikes are maintained and serviced by the Trailhouse Village Bicycles in Winona Lake.

KCV provided classroom instruction the last four weeks, leading up to Friday. Topics covered were bike safety instruction, biking etiquette and the proper road rules for road biking. They also spent time measuring each child to be sized for a new properly fitting helmet. A bike safety picture was provided to each student at this time to be colored and submitted for the coloring contest.

Warsaw Noon Optimist Club provided the end of the rodeo treats for everyone and certificates for each of the participants. They also awarded first-, second-, and third-place prizes for the coloring contest for each classroom. Third-place received a bicycle lock, second-place received bicycle lights, and first-place received a bike computer. New helmets were provided to each student by the Warsaw Noon Optimist Club.

It took many volunteers to make Friday happen. Several volunteers from each of the clubs listed participated as well as many Warsaw Community high school students. “A special thank you” to Warsaw Community Church for providing a safe place for the rodeo to take place. Fun was had by all.