Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

District rodeo set

Though county fairs are over with doesnt mean fair season has ended.

In fact, its just getting started good as the 61st Annual Southwest Arkansas District Livestock Show and Rodeo will kick off from Sept. 27 through Oct. 1, at the fairgrounds in Hope.

Don Fuller, district secretary, said this years livestock show and rodeo could be one of the best yet. Once again, Sam Andrews, of Texas, is bringing livestock in that was in the National Finals Rodeo earlier this year. This caliber of livestock also attracts the top rodeo hands in the nation.

In 2004, Andrews had 19 horses and bulls in the NFR, and all of those animals had been at the Southwest Arkansas District Show prior to making the trip to Las Vegas, Nev., where the NFR is held. And, Fuller said, this years rodeo will again be a Dodge rodeo, which also brings in top hands as the points they accrue count toward the NFR.

Fikes Truck Lines is sponsoring the bull riding event, Fuller said, adding there are several sponsors for the saddle bronc competition. This, he said, means there will be more horses and cowboys for saddle bronc riding as there is more added money to the pot.

Fans can expect some of the top hands in the country, he said. I expect several PBR (Professional Bull Riding Association) riders here as well.

According to Fuller, more than 100 cowboys will be entered in the various events at Hope. This includes the womens barrel racing, which had the top 10 women in the NFR in the Third District arena in 2004. He added there will also be NFR calf ropers at the rodeo.

The entertainment for the rodeo will be rodeo clown Rudy Burns, one of the best in the business, Fuller said. Burns is sponsored by Brazzel Funeral Homes. This years rodeo, co-sponsored by York-Gary Autoplex of Nashville, will start at 8 oclock nightly.

Other entertainment will feature a Mexican band Saturday night. This band, he added, plays northern Mexican music. There will be two shows, one at 6:30 p.m. and the other at 9:30 p.m.

Of course, theres more than just the rodeo and livestock show for visitors to see, do and enjoy. This year there will be rides from two companies, Razorback Amusements and Gold Star Amusements. These companies will take care of the midway with four or five state fair caliber spectacular rides on hand for the braver souls. In all, Fuller said, there will be 24-26 major and kiddie rides on the midway. In addition, there will be about 25 game booths.

Along with this there will be the arts and crafts booth, horticulture and flowers. The Southwest Arkansas District has the largest flower show in the state, and this includes the Arkansas State Fair. Fuller said he expects overflow entries again this year.

All the judges for the different events, he said, are professionals and certified. This should help keep things flowing smoothly throughout the week.

In talking about animals, Fuller said the entries for cattle, goat, sheep and rabbits are up this year. The rabbit show will be Saturday, Oct. 1.

Armband night, an important part of the event, will be Thursday, Sept. 29, from 2-10 p.m. Armbands will be $15 in advance and $16 at the gate. But, with the purchase of an armband, the person wearing it gets in the gate free. Armbands can be purchased at First National Bank of Hope, Harvest Foods, Super 1 and Double M Western Wear.

This has been a district fair for 61 years,Fuller said, but records show there has been a Hempstead County Union Fair since 1888. This fair became the Third District Livestock Show and Rodeo, which became the Southwest Arkansas District Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Its been a district fair for 61 years, and its been in the same location since 1912, he said.