Good things come in threes, and the 68th annual Rodeo of the Ozarks offers all three for Northwest Arkansas, said Tom Reed, president of the rodeo's board of directors.
The Rodeo of the Ozarks busts out of the chutes at 7 p.m.
nightly Wednesday to July 7 at Parsons Stadium in Springdale.
Ticket prices range from $19 to $35 for adults. Horseback riders, wagons and floats travel west down Springdale’s Emma Avenue from the rodeo grounds in rodeo parades beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m.
July 7.
“We always have a very good rodeo,” Reed said. “We’ve got top cowboys and top stock.” The rodeo has been named one of the top five large outdoor rodeos by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for many years running. Stock contractor Stace Smith has been named the PRCA stock contractor of the year for the last eight years.
In addition, the rodeo brings back the One-Arm Bandit - 12-time PRCA specialty act of the year and a Springdale favorite - to each night’s performance.
The bandit, John Payne, brings to Northwest Arkansas the same show he presented for the king of Oman last year in Muscat, Oman.
“It was quite a deal,” Payne said in an interview from his home in Shidler, Okla. “Every five years, they throw a party for the king, and they were looking for exotic acts. They had never seen a guy load buffalos jumping through a hoop on top of a trailer. They had never seen buffalo in the Middle East.”
The Rodeo of the Ozarks Rounders, a horseback dance team, performs each night,and a new Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks will be crowned July 7.
“And we’ve got great entertainment after the show,” Reed continued. Country music star Chris Cagle takes the stage after Wednesday’s performance of the rodeo, and newcomer David Nail sings Thursday. The rodeo’s annual fireworks show will light the skies after the July 7 rodeo.
Cagle’s latest album “Back in the Saddle,” featuring the pre-release hit “Got My Country On,” was released Tuesday. Cagle’s credits include two gold albums, two No. 1 albums and 12 charted songs. Nail has charted with songs “Turning Home,” “Red Light,” “Let It Rain” and “The Sound of a Million Dreams.”
“I think they said that, at the AMP, tickets would be $40 or $50, and you’d bring your own chair to watch the concert,” said Steve Smith, vice president of the rodeo board. “Here you pay $25 for a rodeo ticket, and you get a concert. For half the price, you get to see two events. You don’t have to bring your own chair; we’ve got a seat for you. And the music is thebest anywhere.”
“So there’s something to go along with the rodeo every night,” Reed said.
But rodeo directors are most proud of a special recognition that will be given Friday night to a veteran wounded in the war in the Mideast. The Military War Support Foundation will present a $250,000 home,mortgage-free, to one of these heroes and family members, Reed said.
“Every board member is honored,” Reed said. “Usually they donate the house at an event with hundreds of thousands of people - like a NASCAR event.”
“We are honored to be chosen as their instrument to do this,” Smith added.
“What I enjoy most (about working for the rodeo) is that it’s a volunteer board and we are able to help out local nonprofit organizations and provide scholarships to students throughout Northwest Arkansas,” Smith said.
“This is what we all are supposed to do - to give back to the community.”
Whats Up, Pages 13 on 06/29/2012