The 21st annual St. Jude Trail Ride kicked of Thursday, September 26 with a parade from Weaver Farms to Alamo.
As the weekend unfolded, approximately 1,000 people attended events at Weaver Farms in support of St. Jude
Events Thursday evening included goat roping and music by Theron Gean and The Cowboys on the live stage.
Golf cart winners from the parade included first place James Dean Mask and Jimmy Stephenson, second place Ellie Henderson, Amber Henderson, Jaida Ward and Taylor Bolton and third place David and Christina Buckingham.
On Friday, September 27, events continued with a Cast Iron Cookoff judged and sponsored by Longhorn Steakhouse, goat roping and live music by Steve Hughes, the Tumbleweed band and longtime trail ride supporter Bobby Marquez. Goat roping winners for Friday were Matthew Moore and Carter Casey.
Kathy Holder, Gary Thomas and Wendy Moore were the winners of the Cast Iron Cook-Off.
Early Saturday morning, motorcyclist began lining up for the Iron Horse Ride with 52 riders while 191 horse riders, wagons and a hay wagon prepared for a four-and-a-half-hour ride. Iron Horse participants met at Meo Mio’s for lunch with a silent auction before enjoying more beautiful riding.
Alamo Boy Scout Troop 53 Honor Guard presented the colors as all riders prayed as Stephen Sutton lead the prayer and the nation anthem was played before departure from Weaver Farms.
After returning from the ride, the evening was filled with children’s games including stick horse racing, boot racing, pony rides, inflatables and goat roping for kid. A live auction was held with Tucker Kail auctioneering along with a third performance of goat roping. The evening ended with live music by Theron Gean and The Cowboys and Bobby Marquez next to a dance floor filled with participants.
Goat roping winners for Saturday night included first place Lane Mayfield and Matthew Spry and second place Ethan Sellers and Spry.
The weekend ended with Cowboy Church at 9 a.m. Sunday with speaker Ryan Pattat, a former St. Jude patient and cancer survivor.
The fields were filled with campers, food vendors, gift vendors and DJ Daryl Holder emceeing and playing music throughout the weekend.
All proceeds from the St. Jude Trail Ride benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Saturday evening, a video was played of local patients and their families who have received services from St. Jude and the love and compassion the hospital shows for their patients.
As of Tuesday, October 1, the total amount raised was $92,144.91.
Vickie Branch and Jane Harden said,” We had a huge team of volunteers who stepped up and worked in teams to help make this a success and we are thankful for each person. We could not make this event happen each year without the huge support of Terry Weaver allowing the use of his farm.”
