Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo begins Wednesday

SIKESTON — Put your spurs on, Bootheel residents.

The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, a tradition since 1953, will begin on Wednesday evening at the rodeo grounds (located at 1220 N. Ingram Road).

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctions this event, which welcomes more than 40,000 visitors to the area annually.

This rodeo is considered one of the top-40 events of its kind in the entire nation, bringing in more than $8 million in revenue to Sikeston businesses during the week.

This year's chairman is Sikeston resident Ethan Vasquez.

“As the 71st rodeo chairman, I look forward to entering the arena before the first horse bucks out of the chute each night,” Vasquez said in a prepared press release, “and scanning the crowd for those first-time rodeo fans who will be gaining the full experience.”

This rodeo truly has it all — from first-class entertainment to intense bull riding and bullfighting to saddle bronc and mutton bustin' and face painting for the youth.

The top-six mutton' busters will perform this Thursday for the right to win the championship belt buckle.

This year's bullfighters are Cody Webster, who was trained by PRB legend Frank Newsom, Chuck Swisher, and Justin Rumford.

Boyd Polhamus will serve as the rodeo announcer. The Texas native has called rodeos since he was 19 years old in 1985. He's called the National Finals Rodeo, and been named arena announcer of the year four times.

Cervi Championship Rodeo, under the direction of Binion and Chase Cervi, provides top-notch livestock for the contestants.

ENTERTAINMENT

Gates will open at 5 p.m., each night, followed by concerts at 9 p.m.

Riley Green will perform on Wednesday night. The Alabama native is perhaps most

famous for his 2018 single, “There Was This Girl.”

Travis Denning is set to perform on Sikeston Community Night Thursday. Denning, from Georgia, is best known for his country chart-topping hit “After A Few.”

Friday will feature roping' and rapping' with Ja Rule joined by the Ying Yang Twins. Bullfighting also will be an attraction on this night.

Ja Rule debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and the single “Holla Holla.” The Ying Yang Twins are a rap duo from Atlanta, with the top single “Whistle While You Twurk.”

Whiskey Meyers, based in Palestine, Texas, will be the featured performer on Saturday evening. The group is composed of Cody Cannon, John Jeffers, Cody Tate, Jeff Hogg, Tony Kent, and Jamey Gleaves. The band's latest work is “Tornillo,” released last year.

What's more, Saturday is Mental Health Awareness Night. Fans are urged to wear navy blue that night.

SOLD OUT NIGHTS

Wednesday and Saturday night's rodeos are sold out, according to the website etix.com.

Tickets are still available for Thursday and Friday sessions. Tickets for

Thursday's slate range from $25-$125 per ticket. Friday's session cost between $30-$130 per ticket.

At the etix.com site, browsers will be steered toward a map with ticket availability areas.

The box office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information and tickets, log onto sikestonrodeo.com, email info@sikestonrodeo.com or call 1-800-455-BULL (2855).