SIKESTON STAGING MORE RODEO-RELATED EVENTS

Long before rodeo fans are dazzled by singers Chris LeDoux, Joe Diffie, John Anderson or Clay Walker, the city of Sikeston has plans for them. More than 30 city-wide events are planned in conjunction with the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.

Kathy Medley, office manager at the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce, said the Jaycees look to the community to provide daytime events for rodeo-goers.

On Saturday, Aug. 7, rodeo festivities will commence with the Rodeo Roundup Parade at 5 p.m.

Medley said that the Redneck Barbecue Ribs Cookoff, which was extremely popular at last year's rodeo, is always enjoyable for rodeo fans.

"There were no good contests for rednecks, and we thought we'd change that," said Medley.

The cookoff, which allows local barbecue teams to grill against each other between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Aug. 7, also involves Sikeston businesses.

"Businesses profit because they can give out lots of free samples and advertising and they can sponsor some of the barbecue teams," said Medley.

In the 1995 cookoff, 18 amateur barbecue teams competed for trophies and cash prizes. This year the "Do-Right" Barbecue Team will be defending its 1995 Redneck Champion title.

Budweiser bull riders will appear for autographs, pony rides will be available for children, and the crowd-pleasing automated calf-roping will be available for fans daily during rodeo week.

All community events, however, end at around 4 or 5 in the evening during rodeo week.

"We just like to make sure that everybody has time to come and enjoy themselves, but we don't try to compete with the rodeo." said Medley.

Other city-wide events preceding and following the rodeo are Junior Miss and Miss Rodeo Contests, Sikeston businesses' sidewalk sales, and a Red-Hot Chili Cook-off at the River Birch Mall.

Gilmore hopes that parking and fencing improvements will allow rodeo traffic to flow more smoothly.

"Traffic, with that many people, is always a problem," he said. "We changed the layout of the fencing and roadways to avoid bottlenecks and help people get in and out faster."

So far, said Gilmore, there have been no major glitches with the planning or production of the rodeo.

"Just a lot of hard work."