Female Inmates To Take Part In State Prison Rodeo

TAFT, Okla. (AP) -- For the first time in 20 years female state prison inmates will be taking part in the annual Oklahoma State Prison Rodeo.<br/><br/>Ten women from the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center

Wednesday, July 19th 2006, 10:47 am

By: News On 6

TAFT, Okla. (AP) -- For the first time in 20 years female state prison inmates will be taking part in the annual Oklahoma State Prison Rodeo.

Ten women from the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center and 13 from the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center are to compete in a full range of rodeo events.

Monty Baker is a case manager at Eddie Warrior who is overseeing the team and says it gives the female inmates added self-esteem.

And Oklahoma State Penitentiary administrator Terry Crenshaw says the rodeo allows inmates to participate in something worthwhile and understand there's more to life than getting in trouble.

The prison rodeo began in 1940 and will be August 18th and 19th at the state penitentiary in McAlester.

More than 12,000 spectators are expected to watch.