Gifts to USAFA Rodeo Club contribute to...
About Us
The U.S. Air Force Academy Rodeo Club provides cadets with the opp
ortunity to participate in collegiate rodeo while developing horsemanship, leadership, teamwork, discipline, confidence, and sportsmanship. The club brings together cadets with a range of rodeo and equestrian experience and provides opportunities to train, practice, and compete in events including team roping, barrel racing, bull riding, calf roping, and steer wrestling. The team participates in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and competes for opportunities to advance through regional competition to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR).
Our Mission and Activities
The mission of the USAFA Rodeo Club is to develop cadets through rodeo and horsemanship while reinforcing the leadership, teamwork, responsibility, discipline, and perseverance expected of future Air Force and Space Force officers.
Club activities include regular practices and training, collegiate rodeo competitions, horsemanship development, team-building activities, and responsible care of horses and livestock. Competition provides cadets with opportunities to set goals, perform under pressure, learn from both success and failure, and represent the United States Air Force Academy in collegiate competition.
The club's participation in NIRA connects USAFA cadets with collegiate rodeo athletes from across the country and provides a pathway toward regional and national competition, including the CNFR.
How Donated Funds Will Be Used
Donated funds will support the USAFA Rodeo Club's ability to train, compete, and provide meaningful development opportunities for cadets. Funds may be used, consistent with applicable Academy and Association & Foundation guidelines, for:
- Purchasing or leasing horses for use by the USAFA Rodeo Club
- Horse care, feed, veterinary services, farrier services, transportation, and other equine expenses
- Rodeo entry and competition expenses
- Travel, lodging, and transportation associated with competitions
- Tack, ropes, saddles, safety equipment, and other training supplies
- Arena, practice, and training expenses
- Horse and rider training and instruction
- Team development and educational activities
- Regional and national collegiate competition expenses, including opportunities associated with qualifying for and participating in the CNFR
Your Gift at Work!
- $50 — Helps keep the team moving! Contributes toward renting a horse trailer, travel costs, and getting our cadets to competition.
- $100 — Keeps a horse fueled! Provides a one-month supply of grain for one horse.
- $250 — Keeps our horses healthy! Helps cover a veterinary bill for seasonal maintenance and care.
- $300 — Opens the door to Nationals! Covers one cadet's NIRA competition fees and provides the opportunity to compete for a chance to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR).
- $500— Helps turn practice into performance! Supports poles, obstacles, and other specialized rodeo equipment used across our training programs.
- $1,000 — Invest in the Future of USAFA Rodeo! Helps us purchase or secure a lease for a team horse, building the foundation for continued training, competition, and opportunity for generations of USAFA cadet athletes.
Every Dollar — Helps the USAFA Rodeo Team Compete at the Next Level! Your generosity directly fuels our cadet and equine athletes providing the horses, equipment, training, travel, and competition opportunities they need to prepare, perform, and represent the United States Air Force Academy in the arena.
Building and maintaining an appropriate horse inventory is particularly important to the club because access to suitable, trained horses allows more cadets to participate in practices and collegiate competition. Donor support can help the team acquire or lease horses appropriate for rodeo events while also supporting the ongoing costs required to responsibly care for those animals.
Through donor support, the USAFA Rodeo Club can provide cadets with greater access to horses, training, and competition opportunities while developing leadership, teamwork, discipline, horsemanship, sportsmanship, and responsibility.
