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WILD ROGUE PRO RODEO It's a family affair for these trick riders at the Expo Five siblings take to the arena on horseback Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 28, 2015 at 3:44 PM Updated May 29, 2015 at 9:24 AM A Washington family of young trick riders will be at the Central Point Rodeo this weekend. By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 28, 2015 at 3:44 PM Updated May 29, 2015 at 9:24 AM Buckin' broncs at the Expo --> A weekend of cowboy hats, lassos and family fun has returned to the Central Point Expo’s Compton Arena. The Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo will be held nightly at the Expo, 1 Peninger Road, toda... » Read more X Buckin' broncs at the Expo A weekend of cowboy hats, lassos and family fun has returned to the Central Point Expo’s Compton Arena. The Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo will be held nightly at the Expo, 1 Peninger Road, today through Saturday. Doors at 7 p.m. each night. Rodeo events will include saddle bronc, bareback riding, bull riding, tie down roping, team roping and steer wrestling. Mutton Bustin’, which features young cowboys and cowgirls trying to tame sheep, will be featured nightly, along with the boot race. There are prizes for event finalists. Friday night is Cancer Survivors Night, in which Asante officials will recognize cancer survivors and their families. Saturday night will recognize military veterans. The event will also feature rodeo clown JJ Harrison, 9-time Northwest Clown of the Year recipient Spokeswoman Buckley Cox says the new “Exceptional Rodeo” event will also be featured this year. The event allows people with developmental disabilities of all ages to participate in rodeo events.  Tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for children ages 6 to 11 Thursday, and $8 and $16 for children ages 6 to 11 and adults, respectively, on Friday and Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online www.wildrogueprorodeo.com . Prices will be slightly higher at the door.   » Social News CENTRAL POINT — One moment, Callahan McMillan is just sitting on her horse as she begins a ride around the Central Point Expo’s Isola Arena. Then, without warning, the 14-year-old clad in red, white and blue is standing on the saddle as the animal continues to gallop at a quick clip. She completes a lap around the arena and finishes in the sitting position, just as she started. “That was an easy trick,” Callahan says with a grin. If you say so. But easy or not, Callahan knows what she’s doing. She’s part of the McMillan Family Trick Riders, a Washington-based group of youngsters that will perform at the Expo’s Central Point Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo this weekend. Five of the family’s 10 children — four biological and six adopted from foster care and ranging from 5 to 17 years old — will perform nightly at the rodeo, which kicks off at 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday. Lynette McMillan, the children’s mother, said the story of the group really starts with her mother, who was a trick rider in the 1940s. She performed at Madison Square Garden and at her ranch in upstate New York. “She trick rode, but she never let us kids,” Lynette McMillan says. But she wanted to have her own children give it a try. So about six years ago, she sent two of her children to a camp in Colorado. When they got back, they started teaching their siblings. “We were just going to have the girls trick ride at our rodeos, but they came home and everybody wanted to trick ride,” McMillan says, adding they then took their act to a bull riding show, where an official recommended they get professionally certified. They did, and it hasn’t stopped since then. The group will tour across the U.S. following the Expo rodeo event, doing shows in Arizona, California and Colorado over the course of a month. “I hang upside down on the neck and I jump off both sides of the saddle and back on, and I stand up with no straps,” says 14-year-old Josh McMillan. In addition to standing on her mount, Callahan, too, can be found hanging upside down. Davey McMillan, 10, spins a full 360 degrees in the saddle. Mastery of the moves takes practice, an hour or so a day every day, but Lynette McMillan says it pays off in a number of ways. “It does wonders,” McMillan says. “It really gives them a sense of accomplishment. If you can jump off your horse and hop back on while it’s running, you can do anything.” The dedication to the sport also brought the family’s legacy full circle. McMillan’s mother did get to see some of her grandchildren ride at the Red Bluff Rodeo about two years ago. “It was awesome,” she says. “It was the best thing.” Lynette McMillan says part of the group’s message is to spread awareness about foster adopting. “There’s a huge need for it. Especially the older kids,” she says. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted May. 28, 2015 at 3:44 PM Updated May 29, 2015 at 9:24 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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