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Racers hope to raise barrels of money

The rodeo community is tough, but its members have big hearts. That community is pulling together — once again — to help one of its own. A ladies barrel racing competition to help Katie Jackson will be held on Aug. 5 in High River.

The rodeo community is tough, but its members have big hearts.

That community is pulling together — once again — to help one of its own.

A ladies barrel racing competition to help Katie Jackson will be held on Aug. 5 in High River. Jackson is a Foothills area barrel racer who had to be airlifted by STARS due to facial injuries after a bizarre rodeo collision in Alder Flats in May.

“I was exiting my barrel run and someone walked out on the track in front of me,” said Jackson, a 2016 Foothills Comp grad. “My horse was spooked and there was a group of barrel racers up ahead. My horse (Radar) collided with one of the barrel racers and caused my horse to fall down.

“I remember waking up on the track with my dad holding my face, but the next memory was waking up in the hospital.”

The 19-year-old Jackson suffered broken bones to her face including under her eyes. She had one 14-hour surgery. Her second surgery was about three weeks ago lasting about nine hours.

She has her fingers crossed it will be her final surgery.

“The doctor hasn’t mentioned anything, so I am hoping I am done,” Jackson said.

Although the surgeries are hopefully done, she is far from getting back in the saddle, in what is her rookie season on the Foothills Cowboy Association circuit.

She is spending her days resting and hasn’t been back to work. She is a highway maintenance worker with Volker Stevin.

“I will be back, but I have to heal up first,” she said. “I am playing it day by day — I am hoping to get back to work in a few months.”

She is looking forward to barrel racing, likely next year.

“My horse was really starting to figure it out,” Jackson said. “We were really starting to figure things out.”

Jackson is taking plenty of comfort from friends and the rodeo community.

She is overwhelmed by the efforts of Longview’s Dusti Whiteside and Kendra Edey who are organizing the Aug. 5 fundraiser.

“I think it is awesome — the help and the time they have put in,” Jackson said. “It makes me feel grateful to have them in my life.”

Jackson has a long-history with the Whitesides. She has been long-time friends with Kylie and Bradi Whiteside. In fact, she bought Radar from Kylie, who is now barrel racing in the pro circuit.

The Whitesides know all about the heart of the Foothills and the rodeo community.

A fundraiser was held for the Whiteside family after their home burned down in the Longview area in 2004. (Dusti’s husband Travis was the 1997 Canadian Bareback champion).

Edey, a barrel racer on the pro circuit, has trained Jackson in the past.

The benefit barrel race competition is Aug. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at the High River Rodeo Grounds.

The proceeds will go towards helping Jackson while she is off work and to cover other expenses.

Anyone wishing more information can call Dusti Whiteside at 403-819-6614 or go to facebook page Katie Jackson benefit.

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