Children and adults with special needs tried their hands at lassoing, hobbyhorse barrel racing and barrel bull riding Tuesday, Aug. 13 at the Rascal Rodeo during the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden. The 120 participants and 70 volunteers filled the Pape Machinery Arena with laughter and squeals of delight over new hats and belt buckles, horseback rides and the cattle ring tosses.
Rascal Rodeo is a nonprofit organization that travels to rodeos around the Western U.S. to host the adaptive rodeo events. Founder and Executive Director Ann-Erica Whitemarsh began the rodeo tour in 2013 and has provided a rodeo experience to thousands of people with special needs since.