School for the Blind celebrates 15th Western Heritage Day at Silver Spur Western Lodge in Haskell

MUSKOGEE, Okla. – Look out Haskell! Here come the Oklahoma School for the Blind students on Wednesday, September 27, for their 15th Western Heritage Day.

The event will be sponsored by the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association and Roy and Rose Anna Webb from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Silver Spur Western Lodge.

“Western Heritage Day keeps growing and getting bigger every year,” said Sharon Breeding, who coordinated the event and lunch sponsored OQHA for many years. “We are proud to be involved and happy to help the kids have a good time.”

The Webb’s annually donate their Silver Spur rodeo arena, stagecoach, hay wagon and employees to ensure that students enjoy an authentic cowboy experience with educational impact.

Students also enjoy fishing, a rock-climbing wall, a bungee jump station and mechanical bull rides in a safe environment.

Western Heritage Day Chair Jake Walker expects to bring between 75 and 80 Connors State College equine program students. They will join Oklahoma Youth Quarter Horse Association members and Haskell Future Farmers of America as volunteers for the event.

Walker is an Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association executive committee member and agricultural equine instructor and rodeo coach at Connors State College in Warner.

“We work together to match each OSB student with an enthusiastic friend for the day who makes sure each person has a great time and a glimpse into the Western way of life.”

Donna Janssen will coordinate the lead line horses

Patsy’s Ponies from Pryor will bring the pony carousel.

Connors State College will supply lariat ropes, calf roping dummies and petting zoo animals, who will be confined by panels set up by Haskell FFA.

Todd Colburn will coordinate the bait and poles for students who want to fish in the pond at Silver Spur Western Lodge.

Western Heritage Day would not be possible without generous support from Silver Spur Western Lodge, Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association, Connors State College and Haskell FFA,” OSB Superintendent Rita Echelle said. “Students gain confidence and knowledge from this experience that they will carry with them for a lifetime.”

The Oklahoma School for the Blind is fully accredited and provides students with specialized educational programs in coordination with their state education requirements. In 2021-22, 85 students lived at the school during the week or commuted from home. OSB also provides summer classes, seminars and thousands of hours of free direct outreach services each year for students who attend other public schools, their families and educators.

OSB is a division of Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services.

For more information, call 918-781-8200 or 877-229-7136 toll free, or visit http://osb.k12.ok.us/.

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