Family fun 6 pm – Rodeo 7 Pm
Friday,June 27 Thursday,July 3 Friday,July 11 Friday,July 18
Friday,July 25 Friday,August 1 Friday,August 8 Thursday,August 14
wol.is/Rodeo
For more info call 518.494.1300 Directions and weather conditions at wol.is/rodeo 8192 US Rt 9, Pottersville, NY 12860
CONTENTS
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PROGRAM SPECIAL NOTE GRAHAM AND RANDI’S STORY
GENERAL STORE RODEO EVENTS
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WRANGLERS AND RIDERS IMPORTANT INFORMATION DAY CAMP
FAMILY CAMP YOUTH CAMPS SPONSORS
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2026 WINTER CAMPS
PURSUIT CAMP (Florida) wol.is/pursuit
SNOWCAMP (New York) wol.is/snowcamp
INTERSECT (Ohio, New Hampshire, and Michigan) wol.is/Intersect
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THE PROGRAM 6:00 FAMILY FUN NIGHT
7:00 RODEO • Grand Entry • Flag Relay • Barrel Racing • Cow Chasin’ • Pole Bending • Team Penning
• Horse Rides* • Face Painting* • Bounce Houses* • Fort Playground • General Store • Music & Food
*Enjoy before the Rodeo and until 6:45
HUNGRY? TRY A RODEO BURGER A 1/3 lb. hamburger patty covered with pepper jack cheese, Cajun BBQ sauce, and sauteed onions grilled between two pieces of Texas Toast.
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SPECIAL NOTE
HOWDY FOLKS! We want to welcome you to the Word of Life Ranch Rodeo! Word of Life Ranch is a summer camp for elementary-aged kids. We also host a middle school camp here called The Ridge. Tonight’s rodeo is our end-of-the-week celebration, and we are glad you’ve joined us. Since 1955, Word of Life has been hosting rodeos and using horses to teach kids riding skills. At Word of Life, fun is fundamental to our camp program. Horses are just one fun tool we use to break down walls in the lives of campers so they are more open to the planting of spiritual seeds. Ultimately, we want to help every camper take their next step with Jesus .
We want you to have fun tonight also so, enjoy yourself, grab a Rodeo Burger, check out the program, and meet our friendly staff.
Marshal Mark (Mark Bodlien) Camp Director – Word of Life Ranch & Ridge Rodeo Announcer markbodlien@wol.org 518.494.6377
Your generous donation online or in the orange offering buckets as you exit will help us keep the Rodeo free to the public and help us enhance our horsemanship experience for hundreds of campers each summer.
Scan QR code to donate.
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GRAHAM AND RANDI’S STORY
The summer of 2010 started like any other here at the Word of Life Ranch, with campers, guests, horses, lessons, and, of course, the Rodeo! It was a beautiful night with fast horses and lots of kids and families watching. All was going well – until it wasn’t. My husband’s horse, Crockett, who he is riding tonight while making announcements, took an unexpected fall while lassoing a cow. Graham fell with his horse and, in the process, was knocked unconscious.
He was rushed away by ambulance and airlifted to Albany Medical, where I was told he had sustained a broken back and a traumatic brain injury (aka TBI). After Graham had spent a couple weeks in the ICU and remained unresponsive, my family and I were given some difficult news to swallow: The doctors didn’t expect him to wake up. If he did, he’d most likely remain in a vegetative state. As you can imagine, we found ourselves in a very dark and difficult place. We had two small boys at the time (Wyatt, 2, and Keith, 11 months). Hearing news like this is the stuff nightmares are made from. How does one handle a tragedy like this? How can you get through the “what if’s” and scary moments like a traumatic brain injury, a cancer diagnosis, or another unexpected tragedy? I am not anyone special and definitely didn’t feel cut out to handle something like this. The
truth is – and please hear me out, as I’ve lived it – no one is cut out to handle the hard things life can throw at them. When tragedy strikes, people generally do one of two things: They run toward God, or they run away from Him. I experienced this firsthand. There were times I wanted to run, scream, cry, plead, and scream some more – I sometimes did those things as I walked the dark and scary road. BUT, I also knew I wasn’t alone. Ever. I experienced the personal relationship of Jesus Christ intimately walking with me as I sat watching Graham fight for his life with a machine breathing for him. Because of a decision I had made earlier in my life, I knew without a doubt Christ had come to this earth, died for me, didn’t stay dead, and was involved in my life in a minute-by-minute process. I can’t guarantee much, but I can guarantee this: Life is hard. With Christ, it’s still hard, but you aren’t alone, and you can have
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2 WEEKS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT
TODAY AT THE RODEO
TODAY WITH HIS FAMILY
blessed assurance that you are His and He is yours. I can also guarantee there’s NO ONE better equipped to walk with you during your easy days, hard days, and dark days. As you can see, Graham made an almost full recovery. The Lord had other plans for him and decided to keep him here on earth a bit longer to fulfill His good and perfect will. Graham is a testament of God’s goodness, love, and miraculous healing power still being displayed today! Want to experience Christ firsthand? Grab Graham or one of our other staff members after the Rodeo. We’d be happy to tell you more!
Truthfully, Randi Rodeo Advisor
Graham Ranch Area Official
If you would like to trust Christ to help you through dark days, please text that’s me to 69965 for a free spiritual growth resource.
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THE GENERAL STORE Come visit us! Make your way over to the heart of Main Street to see all the Word of Life General Store has to offer. Western Apparel Cowboy Hats WOL Ranch Belt Buckle WOL Ranch Cowbell Bandanas Ranch and Ridge Camp Gear Rodeo Sweatshirt
Rodeo Blanket Camp T-Shirts Novelty Candy Beverages Toys
Souvenirs And More! Come and see for yourself! All proceeds go to help support the Word of Life Ranch Horsemanship Program.
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ROdeo Events
GRAND ENTRY Most rodeos begin with a traditional Grand Entry, and the Word of Life Rodeo is no exception. This is a time to introduce our contestants and their horses to the crowd. Horses who carry a flag are considered especially well-trained, and the rider will also be more experienced. Grab your camera and cheer them on as they pass by! FLAG RELAY This event pays tribute to one of the fondest memories of the Wild West, the Pony Express. It is a fast-paced event that will pit tonight’s two teams against each other as well as rider vs. rider simultaneously. The object is to pick up or drop off their flag in the can at the other end and then hand off or take the flag from the other rider. BARREL RACING Barrel Racing is an event you will see in every major rodeo across the U.S. An event for cowgirls only, the riders will take turns running the course in a clover leaf pattern, trying to get as close to the barrels as possible without knocking them over. In the event a barrel falls or the pattern is broken, a disqualification or penalty will be awarded. Tonight, we’ll do two rounds for separate skill levels. ARENA RUN Let's see who has the fastest horse on The Ranch! This is a timed racing event where riders zoom around the arena in hopes of being the fastest.
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COW CHASIN' This event takes teamwork and determination. A team of three “cowboys” will have the job of catching their cow and holding it steady for one of them to mount. The cowboy may hold onto the cow however he can as long as he's on its back. The team to ride their cow at least eight seconds and to put on the best bovine show will win for their team. This event will be sure to make you smile. POLE BENDING Pole Bending is a team event where speed and agility are key. Each team of cowboys or cowgirls will compete at the same time. The object is to weave through a course of poles as fast as possible without knocking any of the poles over. The first team to complete the course will win. RANCH SORTING New this summer, this event is fast and difficult. Riders must work together to sort certain cows and bring them across the finish line without the other cows crossing also. They will have two minutes to get the job done!
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Wranglers and riders
JAMES AND KELLI ASHLEY Barn Manager and Rodeo Coordinator James is the Barn Manager at The Ranch, and Kelli is Rodeo and Housekeeping Coordinator at The Ranch and The Ridge and The Pines. They both work on year- round staff, James as BI Maintenance and Wastewater Treatment Plant Assistant and Kelli in Housekeeping. From before they began dating, they both had a passion for using Horses/Ranching to connect people to the Gospel. They are excited to see what God has in store for their lives, right now serving at Word of Life, and down the road for whatever might happen!
“EASY-GOIN’ BOWEN” Rodeo Announcer
Steve Bowen has been a friend of Word of Life since his youth. Steve runs a small tourism business (Bowen Arrow Tours) hosting and leading group trips in the Adirondacks and across the world. He volunteers his time to help bring some life to our Rodeo. Mark and Steve have worked together for many years and look forward to hosting you this evening.
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SOPHIA JOHNDROW (18) HORSE: REMMIE (8) Rider Number: 7
This flashy duo is a must watch! Sophia and Rembrandt have been a team for quite a few years now. Sophia will be attending Plattsburgh state this fall as a freshman. She loves playing softball, soccer, and basketball, but especially loves barrel racing.
MCKENNA WHITNEY (15) HORSE: COWBOY (21) Rider Number: 8 McKenna is a freshman at Fort Ann Central School. This is her second with us at Word of life and has had her partner Cowboy for a year and a half now. She enjoys softball, basketball, and soccer, but her favorite place to be is at the barn.
DANIELE FISH HORSE: EOIN (7) Rider Number: 9
Daniele is a mom and a TA from Gansevoort, NY, and has been riding for as long as she can remember. She has been riding Eoin for the past 4 years. When she isn’t riding, she likes to spend time with her husband and 2 daughters.
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ASHLYN FISH (18) HORSE: A FAMOUS CHOICE “HUCK” (13) Rider Number: 10 This is Ashlyn’s first year at Russel Sage College studying pre-medical aspiring to be a veterinarian. This will be Huck’s first season with Word of Life rodeo, but we’ve had several seasons with Ashlyn. She enjoys playing soccer, lifting, and hiking with her dog Archie.
AVA CORMIE (15) HORSE: TROOPER (16) Rider Number: 11
Ava is a sophomore at Argyle Central School. She enjoys riding her horse, Trooper, in many local competitions and on trail rides. Ava also enjoys playing volleyball, basketball, and softball for her high school. Trooper loves to compete just as much as Ava does!
MILEY BELDEN (15) HORSE: MUGSY (24) Rider Number: 12
Miley is 15 years old from Ticonderoga, NY, and attends Ticonderoga High School. This is Miley’s third year riding at the Word of Life Rodeo. Miley and Mugsy have been working together in lessons for the past couple of years and enjoy attending gymkhanas and cow sorting together. They have become a great team!
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ALIYAH GLEASON (14) HORSE: ELLIE (13) Rider Number: 14
Aliyah is an 9th grader from Chestertown, NY. She and her horse, Ellie, have been best friends and riding partners for 4 years and recently started competing in New York State’s High School Rodeo. She is a member of the blue blazers drill team, is an honors student, and plays 3rd base for the school’s softball team. This will be her and Ellie’s second season with us.
SAMANTHA BURRIS HORSE: ANGEL (17) Rider Number: 15
Sam has been riding since she was about 15 years old. Angel has learned to love gymkhanas and trails since the years of being with Sam but hasn’t been out too much the last couple years due to Sam’s health. Sam is not letting her health stop her from doing what she loves which is why they are joining us for their first season at Word of Life!
VICKIE HOFFAY HORSE: CHANCE (19) Rider Number: 16
Vickie and Chance live right down the road and are quite the pair. Vickie is our rodeo queen who is always riding with a smile. With age comes experience, wisdom, and the ability to not take things too seriously. You’ll see that tonight with this duo!
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JESS CORMIE HORSE: KD (9) Rider Number: 21
Jess is a middle school science teacher. In her free time, she enjoys riding horses with her daughters, reading books, and going to the beach with her family. This will be her second full season with KD, and they like to fly.
RYLAN RIST (20) HORSE:ALLYKAT (13) Rider Number: 23 Rylan is a cowgirl from Argyle, NY, and has been competing with Allykat for 5 years now. She works at CWI and is in college at SUNY Acc to become a teacher. Rylan and Allykat love to do speed events and go on trail rides.
JEN TOMPKINS HORSE: MUGSY (24) Rider Number: 24
Jen is a Teaching Assistant from Putnam Station, NY. She has been riding for several years, and this is her third year riding here at the Word of Life Rodeo. Mugsy and Jen enjoy competing at local gymkhanas together. She also enjoys working with children and being outdoors.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION A SPECIAL THANKS Our Arena
The Ray & Louise Ely Arena is named in honor of a devoted couple who led our horse program with horses from their ranch in Missouri. They were an integral part in developing the current Horsemanship Program. God used their love for Christ and their love for children to leave a lasting legacy for which we are so grateful. Our Rodeo Cows Our rodeo cows are kindly provided by George Lawson of Vermont.
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20oz. WATER .............................................. 2.00 20oz. SODA .................................................. 2.75 CHIPS ............................................................. 1.50 CANDY BARS ................................. 2.00–2.75 COTTON CANDY ......................................... 3.50 POPCORN ..................................................... 2.50 RODEO BURGER ........................................ 6.00 HOT DOG ....................................................... 3.00 CHEESEBURGER ........................................ 4.50
If you have a food allergy, please notify us.
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DAY CAMP Since 1955, Word of Life Ranch has been helping elementary-aged campers have a life-changing summer camp experience. Join us for a day, and you’ll see!
What to expect from Word of Life Day Camp • Cool, caring, committed counselors • Great meals • Morning Bible Hour with some of the best children’s teachers in the country • Exciting morning and afternoon activities • Beach time • Supervised free-time activities • A life-changing experience
Some of our fun activities • Activity Fort • Arts & Crafts • Archery Range • The Beach • Climbing Tower • Horseback Rides CONTACT
• Mud Pit • Ranch Zoo • Team Sports • Waterslide
wol.is/ranch 518.494.6000
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FAMILY CAMPS
The Pines (All Ages)
Whether you have an RV, tent, or you just want to relax in a rustic cabin, The Pines is here for you. With all the amenities of a traditional campground, we also have a family-centered program specifically designed to bring you and your family closer together and closer to God. wol.is/pines
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YOUTH CAMPS The Ranch Grades 1–5
The Ranch sits on 240 acres in the Adirondack Park – an incredible place to run a camp. While The Ranch and The Ridge share space, the camp programs are run separately between the two age groups. Launch your faith through fun-filled adventures and life-changing biblical truth.
The Ridge Grades 6–8
The Ridge sits on 240 acres in the Adirondack Park with The Ranch. While The Ranch and The Ridge share space, the camp programs are run separately between the two age groups. Explore your faith in a fun and safe camp environment.
The Island Grades 9–12
At the heart of the Adirondacks in the middle of nine-mile Schroon Lake sits a 49-acre island where excitement and life change happen. Experience a camp like no other, filled with heart-stopping activities, engaging counselors, and challenging truth.
The Coast Grades 1–12
Situated just north of Tampa, the Florida Youth Camp sits on 500 acres of beautiful land. With activities like paintball, archery tag, rock climbing, tubing and Soccer Camp, students from grades 1–12 have no better way to spend their summer!
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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS
BBL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES BOWEN ARROW TOURS OLD SCHROON PROPERTY SERVICES ADIRONDACK CUSTOMS ROWES CABINS THE LODGE AT SCHROON LAKE
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Are You Ready for Adventure?!!?
Custom Christian Trips Senior Class - Mission - Cultural facebook.com/bowenarrowtours518/; @bowenarrowtours 518.791.2793 Custom Christian Trips Senior Class - Mission - Cultura facebook.com/bowenarrowtours518/; @bowenarrowtou 518.791.2793
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OLD SCHROON PROPERTY SERVICES OLDSCHROONSERVICES.COM PHONE: (518) 217-8577
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518-532-7298 / WWW.ROWESCABINS.COM 10% COUPON AVAILABLE FOR WORD OF LIFE FRIENDS
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Scan here to donate to the Word of Life Ranch Horsemanship Program
Word of Life would like to say THANK YOU for visiting us this evening.
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