CRESTVIEW — One weekend each year, local residents from all walks of life get into the cowboy spirit.
Yes, the 26th Annual Old Spanish Trail Rodeo is right around the corner. This year’s rodeo is scheduled for April 10 and 11.
Proceeds from the rodeo go for the upkeep of the Baker Area Recreation Association facilities, which include an equestrian center, a community building, tennis courts and walking and riding trails.
BARA president Mark Todd expects another exciting event with longtime favorites — clown Rudy Burns and announcer Jim Poole — returning to spearhead the event.
“I’ve looked at a lot of rodeos and I can’t find anybody that compares to Rudy’s capability,” Todd said. "…He does so much more than just present himself as a clown. He has helped us over the years in making the right decisions for rodeos. He’s just a super individual.”
Poole's baritone has become associated with the rodeo, which is fortunate to have him, Todd said. “He (Poole) can speak about the events. He knows the names of the riders and he’s just extremely smooth at what he does."
WHAT TO EXPECT
“For those people that do enjoy coming to the rodeo, year after year, they know what they are going to get,” Todd said.
Cowboys and cowgirls from the Professional Cowboy Association will compete in the traditional events of bareback riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, break away roping, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
“We are hoping the prize money will be between $25,000 and $30,000, which is huge for our event,” Todd said. “We put $1,000 add money (above the entry fees of riders) per event.
“There are eight events. We raise that through sponsorships. What that money does is it draws better riders to the event.”
The All American Cowgirl Chicks return for their fourth consecutive year as the feature act. Todd said it’s rare for the same act to appear four years.
“We always made the effort to have a new act each year, but we got hooked on the Cowgirl Chicks,” Todd said. “Our rodeo is exceptional because we have the All American Cowgirl Chicks. They do an opening act for us.
“At the intermission, they will do a full trick riding act. They are just a great group of individuals. They help us to keep the rodeo going.”
Herbert Theriot from the 5T Rodeo Company returns for a third year as the stock contractor.
A local hero or Wounded Warrior will be awarded an American Flag each night during the intermission.
Saturday night will be Breast Cancer Awareness Night, with the rodeo donating $1,000 toward cancer research. There also will be a bull fighting event each night.
The past several years, the rodeo has been standing room only, and Todd expects the same this year.
“We’ve had about 3,000 in attendance each night,” he said. “It gets to the point of standing room only. That’s why we encourage everybody to get there before 7:30.”
UPCOMING
WHAT: Old Spanish Trail Rodeo
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 10 and 11
WHERE: Barnhill Arena, Highway 4, Baker
COST: Adults: advance $12, at gate $15, Children ages 6-13: advance $7, at gate $10. Children 5 and younger free. Reserve seating, located above the bucking chutes, is available for $20 in advance.
NOTES: Parking lots open at 5 p.m. See bakerarena.comformore information to advertise, sponsor or purchase advance tickets.
EmailNews Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: It's time to cowboy up for Old Spanish Trail rodeo