SPRINGDALE -- The annual Rodeo of the Ozarks kicked off Wednesday with renewed attention on children.

The rodeo has a free petting zoo for the first time in 70 years in response to children who were disappointed they didn't get to pet animals.

The rodeo continues its tradition of holding Mutton Bustin,' goat dressing, and a calf scramble at the beginning of the show, much to the little boys' and girls' entertainment.

Cowgirls

Among the herds of cattle and sheep at the rodeo are herds of little girls in pink cowgirl hats with silver trimming, evidently a crowd favorite.

Riley Campbell, 8, says she likes dressing up for the rodeo. She is, of course, sporting a pink cowgirl hat with silver adornments.

She watches as her cousin takes a turn on the Bill Bass Bull Riding Experience.

"I like the bullriding," she says shyly.

She says she's been on the bull riding simulator, and it isn't that scary. Could she climb on a sheep for Mutton Bustin'?

"No."

More importantly, though, she doesn't like the clowns.

Emma Gastineau, 7, also dons a pink cowgirl hat. She and her parents hang out by the petting zoo before the rodeo begins.

"The horse is my favorite animal," she says, looking into the petting zoo.

This is Emma's second rodeo.

"It's cool how they ride the bulls," she says. "The bulls are mean."

Her eyes widen when asked if she could do what the cowboys do.

"No. I think I could do it just a little bit, but it might go -- 'woo!' -- I think I'll need practice to do it."

Cowboys

Of course, the rodeo is an adventure for boys, too.

Julio Silva, 5 (but almost 6), attended his first rodeo Wednesday night. He, too, spent some time with his parents by the petting zoo.

He likes the goats. He says he thinks he's going to like the bullriding, but maybe not-so-much the other entertainment prepared for the evening.

"I hate clowns," Julio says.

Asher and Garrick George, twins, 5, peered through the white metal fencing around the bleachers as other children took turns Mutton Bustin'. Tomorrow night they will ride into battle on their own cranky sheep.

The boys say they aren't afraid. At home, they sometimes play with their family's sheep.

"They've been practicing," their mother says.

Zoe Frazier, 3, holds a shiny golden sheep trophy in both of her hands while her older brother, Seth, bounces around the bleachers in between rodeo acts. Seth won the trophy earlier when he participated in the Mutton Bustin' for his second time. Last year, he won third place.

The Fraziers were shy in recounting their rodeo experience thus far, but Seth says it was fun getting butted off the sheep.

As the sun set over Parsons Stadium, the children finally seemed to tire after stuffing themselves with rodeo popcorn and cotton candy and pork rinds.

Jenna Rogers, 7, says she most liked when the cowgirls in sequined blouses paraded around the stadium on horseback.

"That's wild and crazy and I really like it," Jenna says.

Her brother Page, 4, says he liked the sheep and the bullriding.

"I like where the sheep jump," Page says.

Cora Copeland, 11, comes to the rodeo every year with her family. Cora did the calf scramble along with several other pre-teens earlier in the evening. The scramble, new this year for ages 9-11, rewards the first three kids who take a ribbon off a calf's tail and return it to the judges.

"A calf ran right into me -- the calf with the two bows."