4-H Bicycle Rodeo all about safety and skills
By Steve Wilcox
Bicycles and rodeo would seem to be two very separate things , but at the 2024 edition of the Benton County Fair ( Sept . 20-28 , Benton County Fairgrounds ) they will come together as part of an ongoing 4-H bicycle fitness and safety effort .
Bryan Tucker is one of the parents who ’ s taken part in the Benton County 4-H Bike Club rides and events , and now he finds himself leading the effort to grow the group ’ s bicycling program .
“ I volunteered to keep the club running ,” said Tucker . He played a key role in getting the first bicycle rodeo going at the county fair in 2023 .
4-H is a youth development program offered through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture ,
Cooperative Extension Service . The organization ’ s mission – 4-H stands for Head , Heart , Hands and Health – is to prepare community youth to meet life ’ s challenges by developing skills in leadership , lifelong learning , and service to others .
“ Our bike club is about teaching kids the fundamentals of bicycling : safety , basic maintenance – and then riding ,” said Tucker .
The club does group rides on local trails that are mostly paved , like the Razorback Greenway . The group has experimented with some entry-level off-road rides , but the donated bikes the group is using do not have the suspension systems found on typical mountain bikes .
Age ranges for 4-H members are 5-8 years old for Cloverbuds , 9-13 years old for Junior Members , and 14-19 years old for Seniors .
Early meetings for the group were about basic bicycle training .
“ We wanted to make sure the kids were
2024 Benton County Fair 20 120 Years - 1904-2024