STARKVILLE — Cowfolk are about to be back in the saddle in Starkville, as the Rotary Classic Rodeo returns to the Mississippi Horse Park for its 18th year.
Kyle Jordan, president for Starkville Rotary Club, said the event will be kicking off this weekend, bringing high-quality fun for the whole family Friday and Saturday nights and supporting the club’s community service projects at the same time.
“This is our big fundraiser that we get to do, but it also gives the community something to do with a family friendly aspect,” Jordan said. “… A lot of the arrivants you’ll see are participating now with the Dixie National (Rodeo) in Jackson.”
The main event of the rodeo will start at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jordan said, though there will also be a petting zoo and pony rides for children at 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday. There will also be concession stands and merchandise booths at the event, Jordan said.
Rotarian and rodeo co-chair Matt Bowen said the rodeo will include bull riding, bronc riding, bareback riding, breakaway roping, calf roping and of course, barrel racing.
Bowen said the event has had a heavy emphasis on barrel racing since it started in 2007. This year, he said, the rodeo should attract more than 90 barrel racers, along with other highly skilled professional riders coming to compete in the other events.
“There are some cowboys and cowgirls that were in the finals for their respective circuits last year,” Bowen said. “They came through and got points here and then went on and made it to the final. They’re really, really good … competition.”
While the rodeo brings with it entertainment and fun, Jordan said it also supports Starkville Rotary Club service projects. Last year, the rodeo raised about $40,000, he said.
Funds raised go toward legacy projects like Oktibbeha County Young Leaders – a mentorship program for high school sophomores teaching them about civic engagement and business skills – and support of local Boy Scout troops. Funds also help the club support other organizations with grants throughout the year, Jordan said, like the J.L. King Center, the Starkville-Oktibbeha County Public Library and the Starkville-MSU Symphony.
“It’s grown in the last 18 years, and it really supports us being able to give back to the community and our service projects,” Jordan said.
Bowen said all of the funds raised by the rodeo stay in the community, and it consistently raises between $30,000 to $40,000 every year, based on attendance. It typically draws around 3,000 attendees, he said, showing the community’s support for the event.
“My kids love it,” Bowen said. “My family looks forward to it every year. As a Rotarian, we really look forward to the community it creates and getting to serve the community.”
Bowen said tickets are available for pre-purchase at the Oktibbeha County Farmers Cooperative, Tractor Supply in Columbus or Starkville and at the Greater Starkville Development Partnership Office on Main Street. Tickets for adults are $15 when pre-purchased and $20 at the door.
Children 12 years old and under can attend for free on Friday night, Bowen said, while tickets are $5 for children between the ages of 4 and 12 on Saturday. Kids 3 years old and under will still be admitted for free.
“It’s a great way to bring the family out and get them involved in the community and expose them to a side of life that most of us don’t live,” Bowen said. “There aren’t a lot of people anymore that grew up on a farm exposed to this kind of rodeo lifestyle.”
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