In January 2014, no one knew that a dream would actually happen. In the movie Field of Dreams, one of the cherished lines is, “If you build it, they will come.” This statement is completely based on faith. Great things happen when God lays an idea on your heart, and that’s how this story begins. When you have a strong idea or yearning to bring an event like this to life, you search for “HOW?” The answer comes with prayer and a whole lot of faith.

We felt God guiding us. His message was, “Follow me, and I will make it happen!” And He did.

We did everything for our Special Angels through God’s hand. We give Him ALL of the glory for this special event. We want to thank everyone who joined us on this extraordinary journey to make this event so special for all the participants, families, and caregivers.

What started as a dream became our first-year event, which hosted nearly 100 participants from around Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. That inaugural event took place at the Orange County Sheriff’s Posse Arena. Modified rodeo events, carnival games, food, goodies, and lots of fun awaited our participants. God also blessed us financially, providing more funding than we ever dreamed possible. This allowed us to bless others beyond the arena and outside of our one-day event. We sponsored other organizations’ events and made donations to area schools and organizations to help further their programs. We considered this a huge success for our first-year event.

A year later, God continued to bless us. We once again surpassed our fundraising goals. Our second rodeo took place at a new home, the T2 Arena and Event Center, a state-of-the-art facility offering about 63,000 square feet of covered space and improved parking. We hosted approximately 300 participants, about three times the number in our first year. Our 40 coordinators and committee members were joined by 297 volunteers. We added new games, more equipment to ease the wait for activities, and a petting zoo for the first time. Everyone, including participants, families, volunteers, and spectators, enjoyed a free meal.

In 2019, before the pandemic, our last rodeo hosted nearly 350 participants, over 500 volunteers, and countless family members, caretakers, and spectators. We handed out more than 2,500 servings of food, free of charge, to those on-site. Dozens of games and activities kept our participants engaged. It was a great day, and we looked forward to hosting an even bigger and better event the following year. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced us to cancel the 2020 rodeo, breaking our hearts and those of our team, participants, and volunteers. Making that decision was difficult, but we always prioritize the safety of our participants.

Now, we pray that God will continue to bless us and allow us to touch even more lives. Our event welcomes all special needs individuals, regardless of age, disability, county/parish of residency, race, religious background, or socioeconomic level. Everyone is welcome.