The Bronco Backers booster club president, Jim Steele, a retired Baton Rouge police officer, spoke to Rotarians last Thursday about the booster club and its main objectives.

A non-profit organization, the Bronco Backers supports all sports at Zachary High School, including the cheerleaders and Bronco Belles.

The club also organizes and facilitates parent and community volunteers to assist the ZHS coaches in meeting their goals.

“The Backers have been in existence since 1957 and we do a lot more than raise money,” said Steele. “Currently we’ve got over $10,000 saved to dedicate to Zachary sports. That money could go towards uniforms or banquets and more."

Steele also explained that a sport may have a difficult time sustaining itself since there may not be a lot of attendance such as with soccer or wrestling, especially now that Zachary has moved into the 5A division.

“The 5A schools in these types of sports are very competitive- Zachary will have to adjust,” said Steele.

The three major initiatives of the Bronco Backers are: strength and conditioning- programs have been designed for the football team all the way to the cheerleaders; sports medicine program- injuries are a factor in athletics; and funding for two annual scholarships- each for a girl and a boy.

Steele learned long ago from former police partner Shirley Bishop, that if you can keep a kid’s feet on the field, you keep their feet off the street. He tries to follow this philosophy today by bringing this attitude to the community.

“There is so much involved with sports in Zachary now, everybody wants to be a part of championship,” Steele said. “In Zachary we like being number one, we like being the best.”

Booster clubs bring extra revenue into the schools and into the community, Steele also said.

If interested in becoming part of the ZHS athletic program or the Bronco Backers, please visit www.broncobackers.org.