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Joanna Blackwell, a teacher from Baker-Koonce, carried the American flag to open the rodeo.

Panola College Rodeo Team members showed off their skills for area school children Wednesday, May 5.

Students from Gary ISD and Baker-Koonce Intermediate School in Carthage attended the event as a reward for reading their goals in the Accelerated Reader Program. Students wore cowboy boots, hats, belts and bandanas to get into the true rodeo spirit.

Rodeo Team members demonstrated team roping, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping and barrel racing. Several rodeo team members talked to the students about the importance of studying hard and making good grades.

Travis Adams is the Rodeo Team coach for Panola College. This is the second year in a row that Panola has participated in the Reading Rodeo. See more pictures in the Reading Rodeo Photo Gallery.