The YOUNG GUNS

The annual Flickerwood Youth Rodeo is celebrating its 20th year this season, meaning it is older than many of the contestants.

It's served as a place for youngsters to cut their teeth and dust up their boots in pint-sized to teenage events like calf roping, "chute doggin'," and "mutton bustin.'"

Quentin Sawyer is one local teen for whom the rodeo holds an irresistible thrill. Ever since he was a (littler) kid, he said, he's wanted to rope and ride.

"I started roping when I was real little just where I could," he explained in his rodeo-worthy cowboy drawl. "That's just what I liked doing."

He said he started to get more serious when his parents got him his first horse around age 9.

"Since then, I've been all over the place going to rodeos," he said. "Tennessee, Kentucky, even Alabama."

Now a senior at Jackson High School, Sawyer gets out of seventh and eighth periods every day to participate in a work-study program that allows him even more time to hone his skills around cattle. He works on Jason Stroup's ranch riding horses, managing livestock and learning trade skills.

"That gives me some time every day on a horse usually," he says. "And three or four nights a week I try to get out and practice [roping]. I practice at Flickerwood too. If I have time to fit it in, I will; and if it's dark I go down to the Cowboy Church where I can practice under the lights."

He's learned how to juggle work, school and family all while maintaining a competitive focus on rodeo.

He said the achievement he's most proud of was winning a saddle after beating a host of college-level riders in competition while still in high school.

"I'm not really planning on doing rodeo professionally," he said, "But my goal is to win the local circuit."

But apparently his competitive nature compelled him to clarify that goal.

"I don't want to just qualify. I'm there to win," he said.

But rodeo isn't the most important thing to Sawyer. Family is, he said. At the end of the day, his parents in the stands are who he tips his hat to.

"I have them to thank for everything," he said. "From letting me start to my first horse to dragging me all over the different states just so I could do this; they're the reason I get to do this and enjoy it."

And, of course, he's also thankful for places like Flickerwood that give kids who dream of the arena a place to start.

The second leg of the Flickerwood Youth Rodeo Series kicks off Oct. 25 at the Flickerwood arena in Jackson. For more information, visit their website at flickerwood.net/youthrodeo.html.

tgraef@semissourian.com