The rodeo is coming to Lexington this weekend. The event will include the antics of rodeo clown Wesley 'Hippie' Engelkes as part of the three day event at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Hippie Engelkes says he is called in to offer some comedy whenever there is a break in the action inside the ring. Engelkes says he grew up around horses. "Every since I was a kid, the first thing I remember telling my dad I wanted to do, either ride bulls or fight bulls and I've done them both now," he said. "I rode bulls for ten years and I fought bulls for a little while during that period and also was a clown during that period as well."
But, it won't only be two days of intense bull riding, steer wrestling, and tie down roping. Engelkes says his comedy is impromptu. "Everything that I do kind of flies off the top of my head, so I'm always looking around and paying attention to people and if I see something that catches my attention I usually bring everybody else's attention to it," he added. "To really tell people what's going to happen, I have no idea myself."
The Lexington Rotary Club has taken on the Lexington Rodeo as one of its priority projects. The three day event begins Thursday night with a free rodeo party. In addition to two days of competition in categories including bareback riding and team roping, a fun run will be held Saturday morning.?
