BAKER — The Old Spanish Trail Rodeo has attracted some of the Southeast’s top cowboys and cowgirls to Baker for more than a quarter-century.
The 27th annual event, set for April 8 and 9, continues the tradition, featuring a crew from the Professional Cowboy Association, according to Baker Area Recreation Association president Mark Todd.
Here’s what attendees can expect:
●Traditional events of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, break-away roping, barrel racing, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling and bull riding.
●Eager participants. “PCA just had their finals in Biloxi, Miss., this past January and they had their largest turnout and a payout of over $200,000, which is huge for a rodeo circuit in our area,” Todd said. “We expect to see great things from them.”
Last year, the rodeo attracted more than 200 riders to the two-night event. The BARA sweetens things up by adding $1,000 to the purse in each event.
“What that does is draw better riders into the rodeo,” Todd said. “It’s a win for the rodeo and also for the spectators. We want the riders to do well because if they do well it will make the younger kids want to get into rodeo.”
●Fan favorites the All American Cowgirl Chicks to be back for their fifth year. “They’ve (the Cowgirl Chicks) become an important part of our rodeo like Rudy the clown and Mr. (Jim) Poole our announcer,” who also will return, Todd said. “The Cowgirl Chicks do an opening for us. They then perform two times during the rodeo. They will do a meet and greet again this year at Ace Hardware in Crestview on Saturday of the rodeo from 12-2 p.m.”
●Herbert Theriot of Poplarville, Miss.-based ST Rodeo Company, returning as stock contractor
●A ceremony each night to honor a local war hero with an American flag.
Advance tickets go on sale March 21, and some ambitious young readers may win free entrance. Students from area elementary schools will participate in the Reading for the Rodeo program, meeting reading goals in hopes of winning a ticket. Todd said the goal is to help make students lifelong readers.
Another goal, for the entire event, is to keep Northwest Florida and surrounding residents coming back. Todd said he’ll attend about a half-dozen rodeos throughout the year to see how to improve the Old Spanish Trail Rodeo.
“To me this is not just a rodeo, it’s a performance we are going to put on for these spectators,” he said. “We want the spectators to be able to enjoy it as a family event that they will be able to come back to in future years.
“We can’t do this without the fans.”
UPCOMING
WHAT: Old Spanish Trail Rodeo
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. April 8 and 9; gates open at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Barnhill Arena, Highway 4, Baker
COST: Adults: $12 advance, $15 at gate. Children ages 5-12: $7 advance, $10 at gate. Children under 5: free. Reserved seating tickets, $20, available at Ace Hardware Crestview and Tractor Supply.
NOTES: Advance tickets go on sale March 21 at locations throughout the area. See more information at http://bakerarena.com/bara_rodeo.php
Old Spanish Rodeo Information
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Old Spanish Trail Rodeo schedules return to Baker