PENDLETON — Many children in Eastern Oregon likely dream of waving to the crowds at the Pendleton Round-Up from the oval arena, but Bentley Crivellone is one of the few who actually gets to.

Bentley, 10, was one of about 50 local children with mental or physical disabilities aged 5-10 who tried their hands at rodeo events Thursday, Sept. 12, during the annual Children’s Rodeo. Each child is paired with a cowboy or cowgirl, such as a rodeo competitor or queen, who assists them with the activities spread throughout the arena.

The event, founded in 1984, is sponsored by the InterMountain Education Service District and the Pendleton Round-Up Association, and students from school districts in Baker, Morrow, Umatilla and Union counties are able to participate. Each child receives a T-shirt, cowboy hat, lariat, scarf and a photo with their cowboy or cowgirl partner.

IMESD Superintendent Mark Mulvihill said it’s the district’s major public event and takes a lot of preparation throughout the year.

“Why it matters is because it puts a smile (on their faces) and gives a kid an experience and you cannot quantify that,” he said. “We have (older) kids now that actually come back and volunteer and help.”

A day of rodeo magic

Bentley’s mother, Hannah Crivellone, said her son thinks the event is “amazing” and talks about the rodeo throughout the year, so it’s bittersweet that at 10, this was his last hurrah. She said she loves seeing the joy in his face when he’s having fun in the arena being a cowboy, especially since as a Pendleton resident, the Round-Up culture is so ingrained in the city.

“It’s just a magical thing for these kids,” Crivellone said. “With him, he doesn’t get to do a lot of things because of his disability, so this is something that he only gets to do and his sister gets jealous. It’s just something special for him.”

For Bentley, all the events are fun. He said he likes riding the fake bull and the real horse. During the event, he took a ride on the horse and called out, “Let ‘er buck!” with his hand in the air like a bronc rider.

He’s not alone in his joy during the Children’s Rodeo. James Luke, 9, is a student at Athena Elementary, and his mother, Sara Taylor, said he loves the drum circle and working with the cowboys.

“It means so much to me that people are caring that much about him that all these people would come together and put together this much energy and effort for him,” Taylor said. “It’s heartwarming, it’s humbling and we just super appreciate it.”

James’ smile spread across his face while doing the barrel riding activity, which was adapted for him to work with his wheelchair. A volunteer at the station, Grande Ronde Rodeo Queen Isabella Orr, said she enjoys “the inclusivity of it” and how “there’s something for everyone, for all ranges of abilities of the kids.”

Marty Campbell is an agriculture teacher in Pendleton and rodeo announcer. He’s been the voice of the Children’s Rodeo for about 10 years and first got involved because of his daughter, who used to be a participant. He keeps coming back, he said, because not only is it fun, he understands the impact of the event.

“I know what it can do for these kids and their attitude and to do something they might not otherwise have a chance to,” he said.