A fundraiser is being held to help Calumet grad Payton Barnes pay her way to the High School National Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
To participate, residents select a boot off the interactive site. Each boot is marked with a dollar amount.
The patron then uses the app Venmo to send the money on the boot to Payton’s travel account.
Using the app helps keep track of her supporters.
The numbers will be marked off daily so everyone can see how much has been raised and how close she is to her goal.
Any amount is helpful even if there is no corresponding boot figure.
Payton and her horse, Bunny, will head to Wyoming in mid-July. Hauling a horse or horses that far can become quite expensive because of the rise in elevation, meaning the engine is pulling uphill most of the way, which takes more fuel.
Additionally, Payton grabbed her spot for the finals at the last minute, so the time to raise funds is shortened.
She is participating in breakaway roping.
Sponsoring Payton is an excellent way for small businesses to advertise in a unique way.
It isn’t all about donations, though. Payton herself is willing to do any kind of household chores that supporters have a need for. She can mow, clean or babysit.
She and her family want to express how much the support of the community has meant to them and have expressed that even those who are unable to donate are still a big part of the effort to get her to Wyoming through their love and constant support.