Imagine winning a $10,000 scholarship. Now imagine winning it when you are nine years old.

Kade Bigbee, a third-grader at Smithville Elementary School, does not have to imagine this feeling. He was recently the recipient of the $10,000 Donkey and Mule Show scholarship presented at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo last month.

Bigbee showed his own mule and his cousin’s donkey to win the title.

“I have been riding and showing since I was three,” Bigbee said.

According to Diane Smith, Bigbee’s grandmother who was born and raised in Smithville, the whole family has grown up working with animals.

“It’s just in our blood,” she said.

Smith said she has furnished her grandson with animals throughout his young life and taught him how to ride.

“I love riding them – that is my favorite part,” Bigbee said.

According to Bigbee’s mother, Cassie, he has ridden all over the state of Texas.

“He’s met some pretty good friends along the way, too,” she said.
One of the mules that Smith has furnished her grandson with is Cele (short for September Celebration because she was born in September and the family feels she is something to be celebrated about). Cele was one of the animals Bigbee recently showed, along with Laptop, his cousin Jessica’s donkey who is smaller than most donkeys – hence the name.

In order to prepare them for shows, Bigbee said he has to feed his animals, as well as keep them healthy by exercising them.

It is really hard for Bigbee to choose a favorite animal, but he said he has secretly favored one over all the others.

“Out of all my animals, I guess my favorite one is my horse Andy,” Bigbee said.

Not only does Bigbee participate in stock shows, but he said he has done the rodeo portion as well, where he ropes, runs barrels and ties goats.

“I have won four saddles and I lost count of how many buckles,” he said. “I think about 50-something of them.”

So far, Bigbee has only been working with equines, but he said next year he would like to work with other types of animals, like pigs and cows.

When asked what he wants to do with his scholarship, which is his first big award, he said he has not decided yet.

“It has to be something agriculture related, so I think it will be really easy for him to use,” Smith said.

Bigbee said he was very surprised to receive the scholarship, mainly because a 19-year-old won it last year.

“I’d like to thank my grandma for taking care of all the animals, Jessica for loaning me her donkey, my parents for taking me there and the stock show for making it all possible,” he said.

Bigbee said he has tried participating in other activities besides working with animals, but they just were not for him.

“He tried basketball, but fell and busted his knee cap,” Cassie said. “Then, when he was able to come back for the last couple of games, he jammed his toe in the wall while playing.”

Bigbee said he wants to try out football, but his parents are a little hesitant about it.

“We’ll have to wrap in him bubble wrap,” Cassie said.

When it all boils down, Bigbee’s true passion is working with animals, and he said he might like to be a horse trainer when he grows up.