Sikeston residents get in the spirit for rodeo

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Most weeks of the year people in Sikeston look like other people in Southeast Missouri. But this is Rodeo Week, and an informal dress code -- cowboy boots, jeans, cowboy shirt, a big belt buckle and cowboy hat -- is in force whether or not you're going to the rodeo that night. Bankers, lawyers, medical and dental staffs dress like extras in a Western.

"It turns the entire town into cowboys," said Pansy Glenn, executive director of the Sikeston-Minor Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo begins Wednesday and continues through Saturday.

It is not unusual to see doctors at the Missouri Delta Medical Center doing their rounds in cowboy boots this week. On Wednesday, the rodeo clowns are coming to the hospital to cheer up patients. Most of the hospital's employees get into the rodeo spirit.

"It's a big deal," said Sharon Urhahn, the hospital's director of marketing.

The lawyers at the Blanton-Rice-Sidwell & Nickell firm won't go to court wearing Western duds this week, but they're encouraged to wear them around the office. Partner John Blanton, a former Jaycee president and former rodeo board chairman, remembers when Jaycees were required to don Western wear beginning 10 days from the start of the rodeo. Offenders were thrown into a swimming pool.

"They used to have a posse that would go around checking," Blanton said. He says that policy has been relaxed.

Business boost

Rodeo Week is as much a social as a sports event, and clothes are an important part. Linda's Western Store is the center of the universe for anyone who must have a new shirt or new boots for Rodeo Week.

Owner Linda West can outfit a 2-year-old in a size 4 boot. She's selling lots of ostrich boots and a new boot endorsed by country singer George Strait. "Women seem to like it a little better than men," she said.

Rodeo Week is a boon for her and for many Sikeston businesses. "I'm glad it comes," West said. "Summer is usually pretty slow."

A survey completed a few years ago estimated that the rodeo brings $4.7 million into Sikeston each year. Some residents of neighboring states take their vacation each year during Rodeo Week.

Rob Clay, this year's rodeo chairman, said every motel room in the city is booked by now. Many people attending the rodeo will stay in Cape Girardeau, Charleston, New Madrid and Dexter.

Residents already have noticed heavier traffic in town. That will gradually increase as the week goes on and once the rodeo begins. At the rodeo grounds, Art Saunders Arena can seat 10,000 people.

Running up to Rodeo Week, radio stations play songs by the performers who are coming to town. This year's country performers are Brad Paisley on Wednesday, Trick Pony on Thursday, Chris Cagle on Friday and Chris LeDoux on Saturday.

Friday and Saturday are usually the best-attended nights of Rodeo Week, although last year the honor went to Wednesday when the popular group Alabama performed.

Calls about LeDoux

This year, many patrons are calling in to find out when LeDoux is performing, Clay said. A former bareback bronc world champion, LeDoux for years also had a low-key career as a singer until he was immortalized by a reference to him in Garth Brooks' song "Much Too Young (to Feel This Damn Old)." Brooks and LeDoux also have recorded "Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy," LeDoux's signature song, as a duet.

A number of top rodeo performers will compete, including 2002 World Champion calf roper Fred Whitfield, 2000 College All-Around champion Jessie Bail and barrel racers Sherry Cervi and Janet Stover.

In past years, a few rodeo events were presented before the entertainers went on, with more rodeo events afterward. This year, to improve the flow of the rodeo, the entertainers will perform after the rodeo events have been concluded. The rodeo will begin at 7 p.m. each night, with the entertainers to follow between 9:15 and 9:45 p.m.

Another change in the 2003 rodeo is the elimination of the bullfighting event. This was done because the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has stopped sanctioning the event.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182