In the days and weeks since Wyatt Oglesby’s sudden passing, his family has received an outpouring of support from the community.
This weekend, some of the people he touched will host the Wyatt Houston Oglesby Benefit Barrel Race and Team Roping event to honor his memory and support efforts to build an arena to be named after him.
People are invited to the Bill Barnhill Arena in Baker on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for a concert, rodeo events and a church service to help raise money for Ropin’ the Truth’s new arena.
“We decided to kind of make his dream come true,” said James DuBose, one of three people who helped organize the competition.
The idea came from a story told by Wyatt’s mother, Connie.
She said not too long ago she told Wyatt that rather than focusing on the barrel racing that she and his older sister loved, they would spend the next year exploring his new passion for team roping.
She said Wyatt was really excited at the prospect, but paused and asked if there would be barrel racing at the events. When Connie told him that was unlikely, Wyatt said he only wanted to attend events that would give them all an opportunity to participate.
Dallas Dewees, who worked closely with Wyatt’s mother and older sister on their barrel racing, noted the conversation to DuBose the day after Wyatt died.
They knew what they had to do. With the help of Charlie Day, who also is involved with Ropin’ the Truth youth ministry, they have made Wyatt’s wish a reality.
The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday with a concert by up-and-coming country singer Dustin Craig. Day reached out to the singer about performing after they learned Wyatt had downloaded several of his songs, DuBose said.
Tickets will be $15 for people age 16 and up, $10 for children ages 7 to 15 and free for children 6 and under.
Saturday’s events begin at 8 a.m. with a barrel racing exhibition and end with team roping in the evening. There is no admission charge, but visitors are encouraged to participate in a silent auction.
A church service will be at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Bill Barnhill Arena is at 5503 State Road 4 in Baker.
“Through his death, as crazy as that sounds, he’s still touching lives,” DuBose said of Wyatt. “He was a gift from God.”
WANT TO HELP? Donations in support of the new arena can be mailed to Ropin’ the Truth, 370 Johns Road, Holt, FL 32564.
