Celebrating its 51st year of existence, the Prairie View Trail Riders once again are keeping the trail alive and breathing.
On a windy Monday afternoon, the atmosphere was one of peace, friendship and fellowship. This year, the trail ride brought in 300 people and 11 wagons.
Assembled in the field behind Blackshear Stadium were RVs, vendors, celebrations, stagecoaches, horses, saddles and wagons
John Burkhalter, the wagon boss for wagon number one who has been with the trail ride for 20 years said, “I enjoy the trail, and I also enjoy the exposure the children get to wagons and horses. It gives them an outlook and exposure that they might not learn in class.”
The trail started out on Feb. 24 from Sunnyside Enterprises located between Brookshire and Hempstead.
They arrived in Prairie View, staying here until Tuesday morning, when they moved on to Hockley.
The trail was started by James Francis, who contacted Dr. A.N. Poindexter while E.B. Evans was president of the university.
He met with Poindexter, Evans and Myrtis Digthman Sr. to request the use of the name ‘Prairie View’ for his trail ride. The agreement was made verbally. Since then, Francis was granted permission to use Prairie View’s name.
Monday the trail riders went to Jones Elementary School for “Show and Tell,” then conducted their annual parade around campus. People from all generations rode in the parade. A chili cook-off began shortly after noon. Tickets were $3 per person, and eight pots vied for competition. The proceeds went to the College of Agriculture for students who will show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Sherylle H. Fuller, liaison for the Prairie View Trail Riders Association, makes arrangements for them to come on the campus every year.
“Everyone at the university is so cordial. Lawyers, attorneys, physicians, railroad workers, professors, policemen, and doctors all come out for a week, and enjoy themselves. You meet someone new every day, all are nice and very down to earth,” says Fuller.
After Hockley, they will meet up with all the other trail riders on Friday at Memorial Park in Houston to prepare for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo parade Saturday.