The mud and the majesty

They came from Utah and Nevada, Kentucky and Tennessee. Some came all the way from California.

But whether they hailed from far or near, many of the estimated 40,000 visitors who passed through the 64th Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo last week came because the sport is something they've followed all their lives.

The mud, the majesty, the soaking-wet heat -- all of it set the stage for a fantasy of hard-bitten cowboys on the open range.

Jule Hazen drove in from Ashland, Kansas, only to take off hours later.

"As soon as we're done, we'll get in and wash up," he said, his face streaked with sweat and his green button-down shirt splashed with churned-up earth. Hazen planned to wrestle some steers Wednesday night in the hope of snagging a $4,000 prize. Next stop: another rodeo, this one in Lawton, Oklahoma, the following morning.

A young rodeo fan walks hand-in-hand around the arena during the opening night of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo on Wednesday.Laura Simon

Hazen said he grew up on a cattle farm and became a professional rodeo man back in 2004. Since then, he's been traveling year-round from event to event and prize purse to prize purse. It's how he earns his living.

It's also an income source for Tanner Brunner of Ramona, Kansas. He, too, wrestles steers.

"My family did it and I grew up around it," Brunner said, so he became a professional about four years ago.

Like Hazen, Brunner was getting ready to go straight from Sikeston to Lawton after his match.

"There's about four rodeos down here this week, and a lot of people go to all four," he said.

For Mallory James, the draw to the Sikeston event was a little closer to home.

"I've been coming (to the rodeo) ever since I was little," she said.

Barrel racing is a favorite activity for James, who lives in Sikeston, although she's on hiatus for now because she's 33 weeks pregnant.

But as James sat in the section of chairs closest to the arena fence, waiting for bucking broncos to flail their tenacious human cargo off their careening backs, she reminisced about the sport that's a culture unto itself. A culture of 10-gallon hats, boots and big, bold belt buckles.

She smiled when she recalled being named Little Miss Western back in 1997. She was about 5 at the time, and went on to win other pageant titles at ages 17 and 21.

And now ... now she's on the verge of becoming a mom.

"I would have worn my boots (tonight), except ..."

Except her feet have widened as her daughter has grown and developed right under her heart.

For Marsha and Danny Roberts of Rolla, Missouri, their reason for attending the rodeo was simple.

"We came to watch a friend, Paul Eaves," Marsha said. "He's in the team roping."

Eaves grew up with their son, Jay, who also used to practice the sport.

After the evening's festivities, the couple planned to drive all 200 miles home so they wouldn't miss work the next day.

For De Bizzell, president of the not-for-profit Sikeston Jaycees and advertising and publicity chair for the rodeo, everyone who drove, flew or walked to the gates on opening night represented ticket sales that would help a variety of community groups.

Last year's rodeo, which raised about $175,000, benefited 20 organizations such as the YMCA, the Boy Scouts and Sikeston's Kenny Rogers Children's Center.

"Every dollar counts when you throw a function like this," he said.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

1220 N. Ingram Road, Sikeston, Mo.