At 91, the Florence Junior Parada Rodeo is the oldest junior rodeo in the country, and this Thanksgiving Day weekend, the organizers are working hard to attract more local competitors.
This year, the rodeo’s organizer, the nonprofit Historic Florence Foundation, started a series of youth rodeo events that are open to local youngsters. And for the little ones, one of the best ways to introduce them to rodeos is with the popular “mutton busting,” where the children ride sheep just like older competitors ride horses or bulls.