Dusty Bina awarded rodeo scholarship
A Centre High School senior completed paperwork Friday to receive a scholarship for rodeo.
Dusty Bina, son of Bob and Jeanette Bina of Lincolnville, received a full scholarship — half rodeo, half agriculture — to attend Pratt Community College.
He will compete in the team roping event.
Rodeo scholarships are rare from this area. None of the officials present could recall the last CHS senior to be awarded one.
Bina said he has had limited rodeo experience, other than a few youth rodeos.
Coach Doug Janke said the one-year renewable scholarship was granted due to Bina's qualities and his real-world experience working with cattle.
"It's work ethic," Janke said. "He wants to practice and wants to get better."
"His agricultural and vocational training is a big plus for us," added instructor Lori Montgomery.
Pratt competes in the 23-school Central Plains Region, with three rodeos in the fall and seven in the spring.
There's no distinction among schools. Junior colleges compete against teams from Division I universities.
Men's National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association events include bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, team roping, calf roping, and steer wrestling. Women's events include breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing, and goat tying.
Official teams at each rodeo include six men and four women. Coaches must submit the names of the official team members before each rodeo, which will count toward the team score. Other team members can compete for individual honors. PCC has about 40 members on this year's squad.
Regional finals are in May. Students can qualify for national finals individually or as a team.
Three Pratt rodeo riders advanced to nationals last year, Janke said.
About 15 to 20 percent of PCC rodeo team members eventually compete at some level on the professional rodeo circuit.
Bina's scholarship is tied mostly to academics. Students must maintain a C average on from 12 to 18 hours per semester.
PCC rodeo team practices and competes on campus at Huffman Arena, which includes indoor and outdoor arenas and stalls for 39 horses.
Spectators are welcome at the official rodeos. Pratt had 456 college students participate at its annual fall rodeo.
The scholarship includes tuition and books for Bina and a stall for his horse, Booger.
