Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo sold out final two nights

SIKESTON, Mo. -- For the first time since its establishment 56 years ago, the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo sold out back-to-back nights.

About 11,000 tickets were sold both Friday and Saturday, which were also the first times the rodeo has sold out any single day since 2003, said Claire Grisham, a ticket seller for the event.

"We've been working really hard" preparing for this year's rodeo, Grisham said.

Country singer Gary Allan performed Friday night, and Jason Aldean headlined Saturday.

Saturday was also "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night, meaning that pale pink western dress shirts dotted the sellout crowd to raise awareness and support for breast cancer research. Several horses sported pink manes during the opening ceremony.

Saylor Zielinski of Cape Girardeau said she usually tries to make it to the four-day rodeo at least three times and has been coming for about 14 years.

While Zielinski said she enjoys all seven rodeo events, which include steer wrestling, bareback riding and tie-down roping, Colleen O'Neal of Jackson was more blunt in talking about her favorite part:

"The cowboys," she said.

Garrett May of M&M Trailer Sales in Sikeston said his stand has been selling cowboy hats at the rodeo for the past 15 years. Sales were steady this year, though not quite as high as in previous years. Most of the customers to the stand are spectators, but sometimes a cowboy will purchase a new hat from the stand, May said.

Laura Mitchell of Jackson said she's been going to the rodeo for about 10 years.

"The entertainment, that's why I come," she said.

Mitchell said her favorite event is barrel racing, where horse and rider enter the arena at top speed and maneuver tight turns around barrels in a cloverleaf pattern.

During the opening ceremony, John Harper, former chairman of the rodeo, received honors for 50 years of service to the rodeo.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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