Embezzlement impacts an Oklahoma youth rodeo organization

A youth rodeo association is scrambling to salvage its season after possible embezzlement of the group's funds. <br/><br/>The Northeast Youth Rodeo Association's former treasurer, Kathy McLaurin[pictured-right],

Wednesday, February 9th 2005, 5:42 am

By: News On 6

A youth rodeo association is scrambling to salvage its season after possible embezzlement of the group's funds.

The Northeast Youth Rodeo Association's former treasurer, Kathy McLaurin[pictured-right], is charged with embezzling at least $26,000 over the past year.

The News on 6 talked with several kids who are in the association. Some of the young competitors were promised money for college scholarships and prize saddles, buckles and money. That's all in jeopardy because the group doesn't have any funds at all.
Tulsa resident Tory Camerer: "It is kind of depressing because I worked so hard all year and I dedicated my time to it. I missed school events to go to rodeos and then it was all just taken away."

Brenda Spencer with the Northeast Youth Rodeo Association: "How could anybody do something like that to kids? It's bad enough to do it to adults, but to little kids who work hard all year long to win this stuff and then it is taken away from them.â€

The association plans to hold several benefit events to raise money so kids can go to youth rodeos starting in March.