Very special rodeo: Cowboys climb down off their horses to help Special Olympians

Cowboys came down off their horses for two hours Saturday morning to put together a very special rodeo for Special Olympics kids across southern Illinois.

More than 80 challenged children got to ride horses, rope a steer, ride the mechanical bull and experience the hijinks and caring of the National Federation of Professional Bullriders Association rodeo clown.

The rodeo opened at 10 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and the morning just kept getting better and better after that.

NFPBA founder Clint Jackson helped raise a Special Olympics child and this is one way the cowboys could give back to Southern Illinois.

Large crowds attended both nights of the nationals at the Southern Illinois Center, then enjoyed after parties and live music both night at Alongi's.