The 9th Annual IPRA Luncheon took place at Devon’s Boat House in Oklahoma City on January 17.
$3,000 was raised for the Amanda Westermier Foundation. The Miss Rodeo USA contestants put on a fashion show thanks to Ariat and Sheplers, and Elsie Frost was the guest speaker. “Our connection has been through tragedy,” said Elsie, personal friends of Greg and Tammy Westermeir. Elsie and Clyde lost their son, Lane, in 1989 in a bull riding accident at Cheyenne Frontier Days. “Lane’s death had an impact not only through the rodeo world but through the movie (8 Seconds).” Lane was only saved a year and a half before his death and Elsie has devoted her speaking engagements to spreading God’s Word, passing out more than 270,000 Bibles.
The money from admission and the silent auction at the luncheon went to the Amanda Westermier Foundation, formed in 2003. “Our daughter was killed in a barrel racing accident and we felt passionate about having something positive and good to come from her memory,” said Greg Westermier. The foundation is able to send future rodeo athletes to the Camp of Champions, held the beginning of June in Sayer, Okla. The camp incorporates top rodeo contestants like Paul Tierney, Cody Custer, and Alan Bach, that instruct students ages 6-17 in rodeo events in a positive, spiritual atmosphere. “These guys give their testimony and the kids get to work with the people that they see in the arena as their heroes,” said Greg. “We were able to send 40 kids there last year with the proceeds from this luncheon.”
A portion of the proceeds also pays for a saddle and other prizes given away each year for sportsmanship at youth associations around the area. Relationships are a cornerstone value of the foundation and the Westermeirs remember the late nights and all weekend rodeos they attended with Amanda. “Relationships with friends, family, and the father have allowed us to maintain a positive attitude as we deal with this tragedy,” said Greg.
The Westermiers believe in the importance of relationships that the sport of rodeo. “Rodeo is definelty one that is a brotherhood that takes care of each other. We have certainly felt that.”
he 9th Annual IPRA Luncheon took place at Devon’s Boat House in Oklahoma City on January 17.
$3,000 was raised for the Amanda Westermier Foundation. The Miss Rodeo USA contestants put on a fashion show thanks to Ariat and Sheplers, and Elsie Frost was the guest speaker. “Our connection has been through tragedy,” said Elsie, personal friends of Greg and Tammy Westermeir. Elsie and Clyde lost their son, Lane, in 1989 in a bull riding accident at Cheyenne Frontier Days. “Lane’s death had an impact not only through the rodeo world but through the movie (8 Seconds).” Lane was only saved a year and a half before his death and Elsie has devoted her speaking engagements to spreading God’s Word, passing out more than 270,000 Bibles.
The money from admission and the silent auction at the luncheon went to the Amanda Westermier Foundation, formed in 2003. “Our daughter was killed in a barrel racing accident and we felt passionate about having something positive and good to come from her memory,” said Greg Westermier. The foundation is able to send future rodeo athletes to the Camp of Champions, held the beginning of June in Sayer, Okla. The camp incorporates top rodeo contestants like Paul Tierney, Cody Custer, and Alan Bach, that instruct students ages 6-17 in rodeo events in a positive, spiritual atmosphere. “These guys give their testimony and the kids get to work with the people that they see in the arena as their heroes,” said Greg. “We were able to send 40 kids there last year with the proceeds from this luncheon.”
A portion of the proceeds also pays for a saddle and other prizes given away each year for sportsmanship at youth associations around the area. Relationships are a cornerstone value of the foundation and the Westermeirs remember the late nights and all weekend rodeos they attended with Amanda. “Relationships with friends, family, and the father have allowed us to maintain a positive attitude as we deal with this tragedy,” said Greg.
The Westermiers believe in the importance of relationships that the sport of rodeo. “Rodeo is definelty one that is a brotherhood that takes care of each other. We have certainly felt that.”
For more information on the foundation or the camp please visit Just As You Are or Amanda Westermier Foundation.
