The Fort Worth Stockyards Championship Rodeo paid tribute to one of its own Friday night.
Bailey Gasch, 21, died Aug. 30 following a fall from her horse. The Tarleton State University student died six days after sustaining a serious head injury while training in Palo Pinto County.
Gasch served as a flag girl at the rodeo this summer, proudly carrying the American flag during the opening ceremony for the weekly Stockyards staple.
On Friday night, her colleagues honored her memory with a moment of silence and by shining a spotlight on a riderless horse was led out into the arena.
"I really hope that people get the impact, the totality of it, you know, when you lose a loved one," said Dee Dee Barker Wix, rodeo director of operations for the rodeo. "And I know that sounds ridiculous, but sometimes you send them out the door in a hurry and you don't think about the fact that may be it."
Funeral services for Gasch will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Cooper High School Gymnasium in Cooper.
