On Saturday, June 28, the Winnebago Fairgrounds in Pecatonica buzzed with excitement as young cyclists ages 5 to 18 gathered for the 4-H Bike Rodeo—a hands-on event focused on bicycle safety, skills, and fun. The event was presented by University of Illinois Extension–Winnebago County in collaboration with The Bicycle Hub, with the Pecatonica Lions Club generously providing lunch for all participants.
Rich Backebey, owner of The Bicycle Hub and one of the event’s champions, spoke passionately about the mission behind the rodeo. “It’s a great way for youth to learn how to ride safely downtown—understanding spacing from parked cars and how to react around emergency vehicles,” he said. In a show of community spirit, the Pecatonica Police and Fire Departments brought their vehicles on-site, thrilling attendees and encouraging positive relationships with first responders.
Skills and Safety at Every Turn
Before taking to the course, youth received a comprehensive helmet and bike check. Through interactive activities, they practiced navigating traffic, obeying road rules, crossing intersections, and using proper hand signals. The event emphasized both education and empowerment, helping young riders gain confidence for biking in real-world settings.
Special Highlights
Adding to the day’s excitement, Rich Backebey raffled off two brand-new bicycles. Congratulations to this year’s lucky winners—Anissa Leiva and Abinadi Leiva!
Community and Camaraderie
After a loop around the fairgrounds, participants and their families were treated to a classic picnic-style lunch—hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks—courtesy of the Pecatonica Lions Club.
Kelly Lafferty, 4-H Youth Development Educator, summed up the spirit of the day perfectly: “The bike rodeo is such a great event for two reasons—it provides important lessons to keep youth safe as they ride, and it's a shining example of community support in action.”
Also playing key roles in the event’s success were Erin Garner, Extension Program Coordinator; Cora Dittmar, Extension Intern; and Youth Leadership Team member Thomas Nestler, who volunteered alongside his mother, Kelly. Their teamwork helped make the day both impactful and memorable.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.