courtesy of SWTJC Rodeo Alumni
As Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, Texas celebrates their 60th Anniversary as a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) team, their thoughts will be on the 21 individuals that lost their lives on that fateful day of May 24, 2022 at Robb Elementary School.
This year the team will host their 60th Anniversary NIRA Rodeo October 6-8 at the Uvalde Fairplex. The annual rodeo will be dedicated to the families of the victims involved in the May 24 shooting. As a gesture to the city, there will not be an admission fee to attend the rodeo.
At the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) this summer in Casper, Wy. SWTJC Rodeo Coach, Joey Almand and his wife, Sugar; the assistant rodeo coach, gave out patches and bracelets as a way to spread support for Uvalde as it recovered. The bracelets had a Bible verse on them, Philippians 4:6-“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
The SWTJC cowboys and cowgirls competing at the CNFR could be seen with a patch on an arm and a bracelet upon a wrist. As a bonus at the CNFR, the Almand’s were awarded the NIRA Southern Region coaches of the year and the rodeo of the year. The NIRA is made up of eleven regions in the US and SWTJC competes in the Southern Region which is comprised of colleges and universities located in Texas and Louisiana.
“Our town and extended community deserved these awards and we couldn’t think of a better time than now to spread some much needed love and light,” stated Sugar Almand.
Joey Almand added, “We are humbled and feel incredibly blessed that our Lord and Savior thinks enough of us to have placed us in a position to mentor and encourage so many young lives.”
He continued, “Thank you to our wonderful college, all of the NIRA Southern Region athletes, faculty and especially to the wonderful sponsors and supporters of our rodeo program.”
SWTJC’s mission statement is to enrich lives and advance growth through the education of their diverse communities. The junior college additionally offers classes in Crystal City, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Hondo and Pearsall. Uvalde, the main SWTJC campus is located an hour and half west of San Antonio off of HWY 90 West.
SWTJC has a long standing history of successful intercollegiate rodeo athletes. Many have gone on to compete and win in the professional ranks as well. The SWTJC Rodeo Program was featured on Good Morning America in the mid eighties as a top intercollegiate rodeo school. The school has had students win too many Southern Region Championships to name. The national titles and accomplishments are listed.