In celebration of their 100th anniversary, Lexington's Rotary Club is bringing the professional rodeo to town. The announcement came yesterday during the group's weekly meeting.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event is set for June 19th and 20th at Kentucky Horse Park's Alltech Arena. Rotarian Rodeo coordinator Ken Wooden says a full slate of activities is planned, beginning with a community rodeo party the day before cowboys hit the ring. "We're trying to bring the best cowboys for the best show, the best specialty act for the entertainment. The best livestock to draw the best cowboys. The best announcer to keep the crowd and keep the sponsors all excited and on the edge of their seats through all of this," said Wooden.
Wooden says cowboys will compete for close to 30 thousand dollars in prize money. He says cowboys could visit Lexington from as far away as Florida and Michigan. Bardstown cowboy John Allender was on hand yesterday for the official announcement Thursday. "You'll have bareback riding, saddleback riding, you'll have bull riding, tie down calf roping, steer wrestling, all those main events, barrel racing. So, you get to see all those events and you get to get the feel for how things work and how they run," said Allender.
Future Farmers of America members from across Kentucky will sell tickets to the event. FFA State Vice President Cody Pryor expects a well-attended rodeo next summer. "Adding up the numbers kind of in my head, we had way over 11 thousand people. If one person could sell one ticket, they're sold out and it's gonna be a great thing. I have no doubt they'll get really close to selling all their tickets," said Pryor.
Wooden says thousands of Future Farmers of America members, Scouts, and Rotarians will be selling tickets. He says the three-day event includes a 5K run.
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