The Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville will host the Oktoc Stampede Pro Rodeo, as well as the Greek Bullriding Challenge finals.
The rodeo, which will be held Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30, is a Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (PRCA) event, and is part of the fifth annual Golden Triangle Fair. The fair will run from Thursday through Sunday.
This is the first time the affiliated center has hosted a PRCA sanctioned event. Cheri Sorey, vice president of Rush Rodeo Productions, said over 100 professional cowboys and cowgirls will compete in the two-day event.
“The rodeo will feature barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronco riding, steer wrestling, calf roping and bullriding,” Allison McNamara, staff assistant at the MSHP, said. “It will also include the One Arm Bandit and Company as a specialty act.”
“This is all professional,” McNamara said. “We are really excited about the PRCA coming as well as the One Arm Bandit. I think it will be a great show.”
McNamara also said that the One Arm Bandit and Company has been the PRCA’s act of the year for four years in a row.
For all of those Greeks with a little bit of cowboy or cowgirl,inside, there will be a mechanical bull riding competition for a free party at Rick’s Caf.
The preliminary competition will be Wednesday night at Rick’s and will be judged by official PRCA judges. All fraternity and sorority groups can register to compete.
“Contestants can come by and register at Rick’s and there will be no cover charge,” Rick Welch, owner of Rick’s, said.
“The finalists from the competition at Rick’s will ride again on Friday and Saturday nights during intermission at the rodeo,” Sorey said. “The winning fraternity and sorority will receive a free party together at Rick’s in the spring.”
“Individuals can ride for $5 as well,” Welch said.
The Golden Triangle Fair will feature several attractions.
Len McRae, organizer for the fair said, that there will be an antique tractor show, large rides as well as child-oriented rides, 4-H exhibits many other activities.
“Four-H has been active in the organization of the fair, and they will have a lot of things there,” McRae said.
“Combining the fair with the Oktoc Stampede Rodeo is the biggest change. We wanted to add that component to make it a better event,” McRae said.
There will be free gate admission to the fair on Thursday and Sunday.
Admission for Friday and Saturday is $5, but children under six are admitted for free.
Tickets for the rodeo are $12 for adults, $10 for students and military, and kids 10 and under get in free. Tickets for the rodeo also include free admission to the fair.
Although this rodeo is all professional, students can participate in a rodeo during the spring sponsored by the Block and Bridle Club.
The Mississippi Horse Park has attracted events over the past few years. “Our growth is attributed to Bricklee,” McNamara said of Bricklee Miller, facility manager of the horse park.
“This past year 40 percent of our events were multi-day events, and next year 16 of the 22 events booked are multi-day events,” McNamara said. “Those are what bring money into the community.”
To get to the Mississippi Horse Park, follow South Montgomery 3.5 miles from Miss. Highway 12, and turn left onto Poorhouse Road. It is located on the left .8 miles down Poorhouse Road.