AN ALTENBURG ATTRACTION: PERFORMERS IMPRESSED WITH TURNOUT AT PERRY COUNTY'S FIRST RODEO

ALTENBURG, Mo. -- For a first try at rodeo, Perry County did just fine Friday night, according to rodeo cowboys and clowns.

"When I got off the interstate and got down here and saw about five houses, I thought about turning around and going back," said John Hayden of Eureka, Mo., who has spent 30 years as a rodeo clown traveling from Maine to Montana. "But now I can't believe a rodeo in its first year has this kind of turnout."

Newly built bleachers for 1,000 were full as were portable bleachers for 700. A few hundred lawn chairs and people who chose to stand dotted the hills around the outdoor arena for the Perry County Community Rodeo.

A total of 615 advance tickets had been sold for the first of two days of rodeo, said Jackie Wengert, president of the Perry County Chamber of Commerce.

"Rodeo people tell me advance sales make up about 20 percent of your attendance," said Wengert, who donned a cowboy hat and painted her nails red, white and blue for the night.

A few local cowboys joined professionals in the seven rodeo events. Assuming that much of the crowd was new to the sport, announcers explained procedures and scoring before horses and bulls flew out of their chutes.

Carla Barber of neighboring Frohna, Mo., was content to let her 18-month old daughter stand by a railing and watch the horses wait to perform. Neither had ever been to a rodeo.

"I guess we came because it's local, and she likes the animals," Barber said.

Ty Totten of Waco, Texas, could have competed in one of seven other rodeos involving cowboys from the International Professional Rodeo Association this weekend, but he chose Perry County.

"I've been living with my father in Illinois, so this was close," said Totten, who was rookie of the year with two professional rodeo associations since he started competing three years ago.

The caliber of cowboys at the rodeo was good, he said, with former world champion team ropers Chip Porterfield and Eddie Ruth attending.

Ben Meier, one of about 250 volunteers who made the rodeo possible, was glad to see that the bleachers he helped build were holding up.

"Last week there was nothing there but concrete," Meier said.

For 72-year-old Francis Flieg, this was his second rodeo. He attended his first three months ago in St. Louis at a daughter's urging.

Even though he is discovering rodeo late in life, Flieg said the action attracts him.

"It's a rough sport," he said.

For Hayden the clown, rodeo represents the best of America.

"It's a family sport and it's an American sport," he said. "Out here you don't have to worry about what you're children hear or see."

The rodeo continues at 7:30 p.m. today.