Contact: Allison Matthews
STARKVILLE, Miss.—The annual Rotary Classic Rodeo is back at the Mississippi Horse Park Feb. 11 and 12, featuring contestants from across the country.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event begins at 7 p.m. each night. Children 12 and under are admitted free on Friday; children 3 and under are admitted free on Saturday. On Saturday, attendees can enjoy pony rides and a petting zoo on the arena floor from 5-6:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $15 at the door or $12 in advance.
Women’s breakaway roping is being added this year to the events that include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, barrel racing and team roping. The rodeo has been nationally recognized by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association with two first-place Justin Boots Best Footing Awards for the Southeastern Circuit, and contestants compete for prize money, which helps them qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December.
“The Rodeo” began 18 years ago at the Horse Park and is the Starkville Rotary Club’s largest fundraiser. Proceeds from the rodeo support humanitarian, educational and community service activities. The Horse Park is a division of Mississippi State University Extension and is located at 869 East Poor House Road.
Title sponsors include CSpire, Clark Beverage Group, Oktibbeha County Co-Op, Parker Ram, Rick’s Café, the Starkville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Tractor Supply Co. and WCBI.
“The committee has been working very hard to plan and prepare for this great rodeo,” said John Forde, Starkville Rotary Club president. “We want to thank our sponsors supporting this community event. We’ll also have dozens of our members working in volunteer roles each night of the rodeo. It’s a true team effort that has a substantial impact on our local economy.”
Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Oktibbeha County Co-op, Greater Starkville Development Partnership and Tractor Supply Co. in Starkville and Columbus.
For more information, call the Mississippi Horse Park event info line at 662-325-0508, follow on Facebook at MS Horse Park or visit the Rotary Rodeo website at rodeo.starkvillerotary.org.