Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

District Fair Gears Up

Those who don't enjoy the 62nd Annual Southwest Arkansas District Livestock Show and Rodeo in Hope may need to be checked for a pulse.

Again this year, there is literally something for almost everyone. Rodeo fans will be glad to see the Sam Andrews Rodeo Co. of Bagwell, Texas, back with some of the most ill-tempered livestock on the circuit, while carnival fans will enjoy the 26 rides provided by Razorback Amusements. This year's action takes place Sept. 24-28.

In addition, there will be about 50 games along the midway and around a half-dozen food booths.

According to SWAR District Secretary Don Fuller, Mike McKenzie's Country Show Band will be performing outside the arena Saturday night, at no additional charge to patrons.

Most of the entertainment for inside the coliseum has been set, with the exception of the musical group.

Rudy Burns, the Crazy Cajun, brings his act back to the SWAR Coliseum, while Bree Worthington, hailing from Weatherford, Texas, will thrill rodeo-goers with her trick riding.

Worthington, 16, is the representative for the National Paint Horse Association, and as such will perform her act on paint horses.

Worthington does Roman riding, along with other trick riding.

Some of the top rodeo hands in North America are expected to throw caution to the winds again as they tackle Andrews' National Finals Rodeo level stock.

This year's rodeo is being co-sponsored by Hope Auto Co., along with Dodge Trucks, as part of the Dodge Rodeo Series.

While Bodacious has been retired from active competition, Intrepid will take his place as the Dodge bounty bull.

One lucky bullrider will get the chance to earn an extra $1,000 by staying on Intrepid for eight long seconds.

For those more interested in the carnival, armband day is for them. For one price, those with armbands can ride all the rides they can stand from the time the midway opens until it closes on Thursday.

Fuller said 26 rides are expected, including the new Silver Streak and Gravitron. A new merry-go-round will be set up for the younger visitors, while a funhouse will keep everyone else in stitches.

As an added bonus, however, Fuller said those who buy their rodeo tickets in advance can get into Fair Park for $1, as there will be a coupon on the back on advance rodeo tickets. These tickets will be $8.

Saturday, Sept. 28, the final day of the festivities, there will be a car audio show. This will give the winner bragging rights as having the best sounding car stereo in the region.

Saturday is also the day of the horse show. Competitors in this event must be between the ages of 9-19.

The fun begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, with the annual parade, one of the largest in the state. Floats will be judged in three divisions, queen, open and junior. This year's parade will follow the traditional route, beginning at 6th and Elm and ending at the Post Office.

All floats must be entered no later than 4 p.m. Tuesday and be ready to line up by 5 p.m.

This year, no all-terrain vehicles will be allowed in the parade unless they are being used to pull floats. These must also be driven by adults.

Additionally, no candy will be thrown from the floats this year, to help insure the safety of those gathered along the streets watching the parade.

Saturday will see the inauguration of two new events as well, Fuller said, a rabbit and goat show. The milk goats will be shown by contestants four-years-old. The animals can't have horns.

The rabbit show is an open event, with a $2 entry fee.

Commemorative T-shirts, caps and pins are also available. Fuller said the T-shirts will be $9 up to XL, with those XXL running $11.

Caps will be $4 and $5, while the pins cost $2.50. These will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis as there is a limited number of all.

An added attraction to the bullriders will be the doubled premium, which goes along with the points earned by these Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association riders toward their trip to the NFR in Las Vegas later this year.