Lisa Osceola takes the helm at EIRA News by Beverly Bidney - January 2, 2018January 31, 2018 For the first time, the Eastern Indian Rodeo Association has a female president. Lisa Osceola was elected at the EIRA annual awards banquet this summer. The 2018 Eastern Indian Rodeo Association season kicks off Feb. 3 with the Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo in Hollywood. Action from last year’s rodeo is shown here. (Kevin Johnson) Osceola is no stranger to the rodeo. The daughter of Josiah Johns, an Indian National Finals Rodeo Hall of Famer and co-founder of the Florida Indian Rodeo Association which in 1995 became the EIRA, Osceola grew up in the rodeo and recalls the first rodeo held in the old Brighton arena. “I remember when they asked workers to get their crazy horses and old bulls and cattle owners to put in a few calves for the rodeo,” she said. “I did rodeo from the day I could walk.” In her role as president, Osceola wants to get more kids involved in the rodeo by offering more clinics. The youth rodeo has grown over the years and she wants to continue that trend. “A lot of parents don’t know about rodeo,” she said. “The more you can get the kids involved in something that requires responsibility, the better. Rodeo is yearlong, not seasonal like basketball and other sports.” Osceola has been part of EIRA leadership for years and has served as secretary and barrel racing director. EIRA’s directors are responsible for specific events; team roping header, team roping heeler, bareback, steer wrestling, calf roping, saddle bronc, women’s breakaway, barrel, bull riding, rodeo queen, fundraising and kids rodeo / special events. “I rely on the directors,” Osceola said. “We have a pretty good team; they get in here and help. It’s all us putting on these rodeos, but it’s something we all enjoy.” EIRA officers: President- Lisa Osceola Vice President- Mackenzie Bowers Secretary- Melissa Gopher Special Events- Moses Jumper Rodeo Queen- Jimi Lu Huff-Jamison Fundraiser- Jade Braswell Bareback Riding- Joe Osceola Saddle Bronc Riding- Rodney Osceola Steer Wrestling- Blevyns Jumper Calf Roping- Paul Bowers Sr. Breakaway Roping- Trina Hipp Team Roping Header- Josh Jumper Team Roping Heeler- Naha Jumper Lady’s Barrel Racing- Scooter Johns Bull Riding- Paul Bowers Jr. The 2018 EIRA schedule: Feb. 3 Betty Mae Jumper Memorial Rodeo Hollywood Rodeo Arena Feb. 10 Bill Osceola Memorial Rodeo Hollywood Rodeo Arena Feb. 13 Brighton Field Day Tour Rodeo Fred Smith Rodeo Arena March 16 Junior Cypress Memorial Rodeo Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena April 21 EIRA Rodeo Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena July 7 Josiah Johns Memorial Fred Smith Rodeo Arena July 27 and 28 EIRA Regional Finals Fred Smith Rodeo Arena Share on Facebook Share Share on TwitterTweet Share on Pinterest Share Share on LinkedIn Share Share on Digg Share
