Dreams of a horse-crazy little girl

Cowgirl transforms childhood dreams into career, will perform at Franklin Rodeo

 

A horse crazy little girl, who has turned into a horse crazy grown woman, will entertain during this year’s annual Franklin Rodeo.

Trick and roman rider Dusti Crain Dickerson will perform during each night of the Franklin Rodeo, May 17-19, at the Williamson Co. Ag. Expo Park.

The St. Peter, Ill. cowgirl grew up around horses, with a dad who owned a rodeo company, providing horses and bulls for rodeos. She barrel raced and carried the American flag during grand entries for rodeos.

But it was when she was eight years old while on vacation at the Dolly Parton Stampede in Branson, Mo., that she saw roman riding: a person standing atop a pair of horses, with one foot on each horse. After that, roman riding became her obsession. Within a year, she was performing at rodeos.

After high school graduation in 2005, she moved to Pigeon Forge where she practiced the craft of trick riding and roman riding for the Dolly Parton Stampede for twelve years. When she was able, she worked rodeos across the U.S.

Dusti rides three horses for her act: Blue, Rummy, and Dash. Blue, her number one horse, has a unique story. Her dad, Ronnie Crain, had owned the Hancock-bred horse, who liked to buck. The family sold the horse, and a week later, her dad died.The brothers decided to buy Blue back, and a year later he was back to his old tricks of bucking. Dusti was in need of a roman riding horse, she she tried blue, and he loved it.

When she’s not performing at rodeos across the nation, Dusti helps with the family’s rodeos across the nation, Dusti helps with the family’s rodeo business and giving riding lessons. This year she will entertain at 35 rodeos.

Dusti loves trick riding and loves horses. At every rodeo or show she performs at, she thinks of the little girls she was and when she became enamored with the roman riding.

Dusti will entertain during every night of the Franklin Rodeo on May 17-18-19. Performances begin at 7 p.m. nightly at the Williamson Co. Ag. Expo Park. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids ages 12 and under. All seats are reserved. Tickets are available online at www.FranklinRodeo.com and at the gate. For more information visit the website or call 615-RODEO-11.

 

Dustin Crain Dickerson will roman ride and trick ride at the Franklin Rodeo May 17-19. The Illinois cowgirl makes her living with her horses. Photo courtesy Dusti Crain Dickerson.