Parade kicks off Sikeston rodeo today

SIKESTON, Mo. — A parade and day full of events will kick off the 56th annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo today.

The rodeo parade begins at 10 a.m. today. Lineup will be at 9 a.m. at the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce.

"I think we're on schedule, and everything will be fine," said Rodeo parade chairman Ben Wrather about getting ready the event.

Civic groups are still welcome to participate in the parade, Wrather said. The parade will follow the roads through the Sikeston Sports Complex and end at the Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo grounds. Immediately following the parade, the Community Day will start at the rodeo grounds where a barbecue lunch, pony rides and jumping space for children will be available. There will also be rodeo clown face painting and a petting zoo.

New this year is a dunking booth with well-known Sikeston individuals taking turns sitting in the booth.

"We thought we'd get some people in there we thought others would want to dunk," said Marcie Lawson, community manager for American Cancer Society.

Sikeston Mayor Mike Marshall will be the first to sit in the booth beginning at noon.

The Tough Enough to Wear Pink committee came up with the idea to have a dunking booth, Lawson said.

"The Jaycees do such a great job of raising money. We really want to make sure that breast cancer awareness isn't forgotten by capturing those who attend the rodeo parade and community day but not the rodeo," Lawson said.

Mike Marsh, director of the Sikeston Depot, said he's excited about the Cowboy Up! Arts Festival planned for Aug. 8-9.

"We're real proud of what we're able to do. This is by far the biggest and best we've ever had during Rodeo Week," Marsh said.

Marsh said he's also looking forward to performances by flamenco guitarist Ronald Radford and Randy Erwin.

"Ronald Erwin has a 50-foot self-contained art trailer. He's a western artist and developed a saddle for handicapped children," Marsh said.

And Radford is a world-class performer, Marsh said. "That's no joke. He was here nine years ago and he's outstanding," he said.

Because the depot received two grants, the normal $30 admission fee will be reduced to $5 for Radford's performance at the Albritton-Mayer Cultural Center, Marsh said.

Marsh encouraged visitors and residents to take advantage of the free admission exhibits and entertainment at the depot, too.

"And free doesn't mean bad," Marsh said. "We're working hard to make it available to everybody in the community. All they have to do is come down and have a good time."