GERRY - In addition to the trick roping, the outstanding animal and comedy acts and the exciting rodeo competition, one of the nation's top trick riders will be making two special appearances at the 68th annual Gerry Fire Department's PRCA rodeo, which opens Wednesday and runs nightly through Saturday at 8 p.m.
Gena Cox of Germantown, Ohio, travels the country nine months out of the year thrilling audiences with her "death defying" feats of trick riding. Because she was already scheduled in other locations on Thursday and Friday, her appearances here will be limited to Wednesday and Saturday nights.
She describes trick riding as acrobatics on horseback and says she gets an "adrenaline rush" each time she performs.
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GENA COX
Cox grew up on a family farm and began developing her trick riding there at an early age after watching it on TV and today performs at more than 100 shows a year. She is a college graduate with degrees in business and Spanish, and has her own horse boarding and training facility. Most surprising to audiences is the fact that this petite young lady at 5-foot-1 and 105 pounds rode bulls for five years on the Women's Pro Rodeo circuit and was the National Reserve Champion in that event.
Fans who want to see more about her can go to YouTube, and search "trick riding"and scroll down to "Natalie Does Trick Riding". It shows Gena demonstrating trick riding to a TV reporter.
The Gerry Rodeo is now the longest consecutively running rodeo east of the Mississippi and all proceeds benefit the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to the rodeo, which this year has attracted approximately 170 pro cowboys and cowgirls to compete for $35,000 in prize money, beef barbecue dinners are served each evening beginning at 5 p.m.Additional information is available by phone at 985-4847 or 1-888-985-4847 or on line at www.gerryrodeo.org