Our Story

In 2018 at the National Finals Rodeo, Camarie Roorda was talking with different professionals throughout the western industry about what they do for the youth when she realized, we were all missing something. We were missing the very link that will keep this industry, culture and western lifestyle alive...the youth. While there were opportunities popping up everywhere for youth to compete inside the arena, there was very little being done to build their skills, knowledge and abilities outside the arena and in life.
 

Camarie was an active member in her rural Iowa FFA program. Today, she still implements many of the skills she learned through the program in her professional and personal life daily. She started thinking about what could be done in the western industry to provide a similar experience. A community that honored the youth's God given talents and abilities while creating opportunities to build character, self-esteem, knowledge, networking, leadership skills and build resumes for the youth who loved the rodeo segment of agriculture. 

 

As a small town, Iowa girl who only had one other "rodeo" friend within a 60 mile radius growing up, Roorda wanted to create a place where youth who lived in areas isolated from western culture to be able to connect with their peers, learn, ask questions and still feel like they were part of the industry. With modern technology, youth now have direct access to their peers, professionals and information to support them in reaching their highest goals through RodeoKids monthly zooms, podcasts and team meetings!

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**Not to mention, support for parents who are trying to be coaches, bus drivers, bankers, arena keepers and everything else that comes with being a #RODEOMOM or #RODEODAD.

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With a little time and God's guidance, RodeoKids.com was founded. The website was launched in the fall of 2019 with a mission is to empower youth to be the best versions of themselves to unlock the full potential of our youth to become community leaders and carry on the traditions of western life into the future.

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In 2020 the first RodeoKids Ambassador team was created consisting of four members growing to a selected maximum of 50 members in January of 2022. On July 1, 2022, RodeoKids.com became a membership platform open to all youth age 21 and under. In December of 2022, RodeoKids became a Non-Profit organization. We pray that opens doors for individuals and organizations to be willing to support our cause and the youth who are driving it!

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If you've read this and would love to support our cause, please review the field below. All funds go towards scholarships and opportunities to further educate and support youth in the western industry.

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"Our goal is for all kids interested in the western industry to have a community. No matter if they live in the middle of rodeo country or out in the boonies by themselves, we want them to feel like they are part of the industry everyday." - Camarie Widmer