Johnie Logue
Sports Reporter
The following article is courtesy of Brenda Bohon and photo credits belong to Sports Memories Photography.
Summertime for some teenagers is for hanging out with friends, sleeping in, swimming and other relaxing activities. For one Cole Camp teenager, there’s hardly ever a moment’s rest.
Gracie Thompson, 17 year old daughter of Katie and Jeremy Ives of Cole Camp, is learning that time management and being organized is her key to success.
Working up to 30 hours/week , along with summer workouts for volleyball, basketball and softball, and playing summer league volleyball, she also finds time to be team captain for the Jennings Arena Patriot Riders. Jennings Arena, Green Ridge Missouri, puts on a benefit bull ride every Father’s Day weekend. All proceeds of this event is donated to the Central Missouri Honor Flight. They have a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and many other ways people can donate to this worthy cause. The tribute that the Patriot Riders organize on horseback to honor veterans is beautiful. But when Gracie comes into the arena carrying the American flag on horseback, well, let’s just say it is breathtaking!
Gracie is currently attending Missouri Girl’s State at Linden University. Later this month, her FFA SAE project, Buggies of Grace, has been invited for the second year in a row, to bring her team of four year old Percheron draft horses to participate in the parades at the Cheyenne Frontier Days. This is a ten day event, that hosts four parades in downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming. Last year, she and her grandpa, Everett Bohon, were asked to pull an authentic vintage US Calvary wagon to lead the draft horse portion of the parade. While there last July, she was also asked to carry the Mayor of Cheyenne through the grand entry at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
When she returns from Cheyenne, she will continue preparing for her senior year at Cole Camp High School. Gracie is on the CCHS varsity Volleyball team, is a member of the National Honor society, serves as secretary of CCHS FFA chapter, Encore Show choir, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is involved in many other activities.
