story by Lindsay Whelchel
The South Carolina farm is called Sandy Oaks, and it has been in the family for generations. Wesley Quarles was born on the place, and he and his wife Sandy of 44 years, have made it their home to raise their own family. But it was Sandy’s idea 10 years ago that would transform the farm from a family heirloom into a pro rodeo destination.
Sandy was recovering from surgery in 2006 and retired from the EMS of Edgefield, S.C. after 20 years, when she decided she wanted to start a rodeo. She told Wesley of her idea. “He said I was crazy in the head,” Sandy laughs recalling. And at first, with several years of rain ruining the show, initially slated for an October rodeo, it might have been difficult to see Sandy’s vision for what it was.
But then they moved the rodeo to August and since then, “it’s just blossomed,” Sandy says of the event that last year brought in around 8,000 fans and contestants both nights of the rodeo.
Now the 11th Annual Sandy Oaks Pro Rodeo is sending August off with a bang. “We have a good time. We have good vendors. We don’t have anybody out of line at our rodeo,” Sandy describes citing their faith as being a big part of the rodeo with Cowboy church included.
People have come from faraway places like New York, and even Germany and Japan.
The Quarles have been involved in rodeo and the Western lifestyle for many years. Wesley held a career as an auctioneer before his retirement, and they have an arena, named the Lazy J after their daughter Jaime, who, Sandy assures with a laugh, is not lazy. Jaime competed in junior rodeo growing up and they were heavily involved hauling stock in the South Carolina High School Rodeo Association in the past.
But now, putting on the pro-rodeo is a team effort, Sandy explains. Jaime and her husband Curtis help, as does a legion of people. “We work our butts off to have a clean arena, but we couldn’t do it with just us, we’ve got to have our stock contractor [Ken Treadway Rodeo Company], we’ve got to have our contestants, our volunteers. You can’t do anything by yourself, the only thing you can do by yourself is give your heart to God and get on your knees and pray, and we love the Lord so much. He has blessed us,” Sandy says.
Sandy credits many businesses in the community with making the event possible. “We have some wonderful, wonderful sponsors,” she says naming just a few as Derrick Equipment, Pepsi, Honda Cars of Aiken, and Greg’s Gas Plus, and the list goes on.
To give back they host a sponsorship dinner every Thursday before the rodeo and to impact the community they give away 2,000 tickets to children in nearby area counties.
For more information, visit:
SandyOaksProRodeo.org
