STARKVILLE — On Thursday afternoon, the Mississippi Horse Park sat empty with the ghost of rodeo future whispering into the air of what is to come — excitement as a cowboy hangs on to his bull for eight long seconds, laughter as the night’s barrelman entertains the crowd and neighs from the horses locked in on their next target.
The Starkville Rotary Classic Rodeo, a two-day event, is back in town and will kick off tonight at the Mississippi Horse Park. Doors open at 6 and action starts at 7. Children 12 and under are admitted free tonight.
On Saturday, attendees can enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo on the arena floor from 5-6:30 p.m. Children’s tickets are $5 for ages 4-12 for Saturday, and adult tickets are $20 at the door or $15 in advance both days.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at Oktibbeha County Co-op, Greater Starkville Development Partnership and Tractor Supply Company in both Starkville and Columbus.
For 19 years, the rodeo has served as Starkville Rotary Club’s largest fundraiser of the year with around $24,000 raised annually, Rotary past president John Forde told The Dispatch. The funds raised from this event go right back into the community to help groups like Starkville Habitat for Humanity and Oktibbeha Young Leaders.
Though she doesn’t remember the exact number of contestants in 2022, Mississippi Horse Park manager Bricklee Miller said 333 have registered for this year’s rodeo, which is “definitely a growth in contestants.”
“The contestants entered this weekend come from 23 states and Canada,” Miller said. “We’ve got world champions coming, and we’ve got bucking stock that was at (National Finals Rodeo) last year.”
The Rotary Classic Rodeo is sanctioned by both the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association — the two governing bodies for the largest competitive rodeo in the world. Men and women compete in PRCA- and WPRA-sanctioned events in order to earn a spot at National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December each year.
Events for both nights include bull riding, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, breakaway roping, tie down roping, team roping, barrel racing and steer wrestling. Miller said she expects each night to last about two-and-a-half hours.
Ashley Rogers, from Amite, Louisiana, has competed at the Starkville Rotary Classic Rodeo three times and said she goes out of her way to come to the rodeo because of the care put into the event.
“At Starkville it doesn’t matter where you draw (a spot in competing), everyone has a true, fair shot at winning …” Rogers said. “They put so much care into the ground, so everyone who enters has a fair shot at winning. … It draws a lot of entries because of that, and it’s very much appreciated from all of the barrel racers. Word has got out that it’s a good rodeo, and you know when you go to Starkville, it’s safe.”
In between events, the crowd will be entertained by award-winning barrelman John Harrison, who was the selected barrelman for 2022 NFR.
“He won entertainer of the year last year,” Miller said. “He actually won three awards including specialty act, so he’ll do his specialty act that he did to win that award. He’s also doing a brand new act this year, and he’s actually starting it in Starkville. He’s hoping this is his next act that will make him win specialty act of the year, and basically what he does is anything your parents told you not to do on a horse.”
This year there will be a novelty booth for children to get souvenirs such as cowboy hats, glowsticks, bandanas and plastic horses. There will also be a photobooth for children to get their picture taken in front of a cutout horse.
Each night roughly 50 Rotarians and other volunteers will help man full concessions, the ticket booth and more.
Miller said people don’t come to the rodeo for just one thing — there are events for kids, for rodeo lovers and for people who just want to have a good time.
Forde echoed her sentiments and said it gives people a look at the “cowboy” life.
“The big thing I always tell people is if you’ve never been to a rodeo, it’s just a lot of fun,” Forde said. “It’s kind of Americana. Most of us at one point wanted to be cowboys. It’s something really fun, and if you’ve never seen one, it’s definitely something you should come to.”
How to go
■ WHAT: Starkville Rotary Classic Rodeo
■ WHEN: Today and Saturday at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday
■ WHERE: Mississippi Horse Park, 869 E. Poor House Road, Starkville
■ HOW: Adult tickets are $20 at the door or $15 in advance, which can be purchased at Oktibbeha County Co-op, Greater Starkville Development Partnership and Tractor Supply Company in both Starkville and Columbus. Kids 12 and under get in free Friday night, and kids’ tickets for those 4 to 12 are $5 Saturday.
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
