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Siloam Springs Mutton Busting - Nightly Jr Barrels - Nightly ursday Night Kids 12 & under FREE ADMISSION with paying adult Nightly Entertainment Brinson James the Entertainer 64th Annual June 16-18, 2022 7:30 pm Nightly Herald-leader Sports Sports 1B Wednesday June 15, 2022 Siloam Springs Rodeo Grounds 2590 Cheri Whitlock Drive Siloam Springs June 16, 17, 18 • 7:30 p.m. nightly Siloam Springs What are you doing Thursday, Friday and Saturday night of this week? If the answer is "not much, just sitting at the house and trying to stay cool" then I have a suggestion for you. The 64th annual Siloam Springs Rodeo returns this week at the Siloam Springs Rodeo Grounds. If you've never been, I'd encour - age you to go just at least once. If you're like me, you're probably go- ing to see something that you've never seen before. And it's a lot of fun. Preliminary weather forecasts look good for this year's rodeo — sunny, dry and warm. Yes, tem - peratures will be warm, but the bulk of the events happen after 7:30 p.m. each night, and the hot conditions start cooling down to a more tolerable feeling. But hey, it's summer time and it's going to be hot, whether you're at a baseball game, going swim - ming or going to the rodeo. According to Siloam Springs Rodeo and Club board member Karen Davis, there have been some more improvements to the rodeo grounds for fans to enjoy. One that will be very noticeable is the giant screen on the north side, which will feature instant replay, leader boards and other things. The screen will be visible from anywhere in the bleachers. There's also a new fence inside the arena. This is all in addition to the work the club has already done with a new press box, buck - ing chutes, calf chutes and new pins. OK, that's some of the new fea- tures at the Siloam Springs Rodeo Grounds. There will be 380 contestants competing each night, and the Riding Club has $20,000 of added money to the events. That trans - lates to $1,500 per event and $3,000 for team events. There are no easy wins out there for the contestants either. You've got one shot to make the most and try to leave the event with a paycheck. Also keep in mind this year, there are serious rising costs of fuel, and these competitors and attendees of the rodeo often bring You'll see something you've never seen before Graham Thomas Timeout It's rodeo week in Siloam Springs The 64th annual Siloam Springs Rodeo kicks off this week with shows on Thursday, Fri- day and Saturday at the Siloam Springs Rodeo Grounds. And while much of the rodeo will be familiar to fans who have come each year, there will be several new features, accord - ing to Siloam Springs Rodeo and Riding Club board member Karen Davis. One of the new features will be rodeo clown Brinson James The Entertainer. "He's from Florida," Davis said. "He had The American this year, that's the 'world's richest rodeo' in Arlington (Texas). He's been to Calgary. He's kind of a big deal. We're happy to have him." The rodeo will also feature a big screen this year for replays and a leader board, Davis said. The screen will be hanging from a crain on the north side of the rodeo grounds. "It'll be where you can see it from anywhere in the bleachers," she said. The screen and a new fence in - side the arena are two of the new features. The club previously has renovated the press box and added new bucking chutes and calf chutes along with new pins. "Our board and our club works really hard to get more money and to do things to make our rodeo better," Davis said. By Graham Thomas Staff Writer n gthomas@nwadg.com 64th annual event set for Thursday-Saturday Rodeo has been an event that has bonded many and in Siloam Springs it has bonded one family for five generations. Karen Davis and Kari McReyn- olds Hutchins not only have family in common, but also rodeo. The family has been a part of the rodeo world for five generations, according to Karen Davis, a member of the Siloam Springs Riding Club board of directors. Like her mother, Davis, Hutchins also serves on the board of directors as secretary and helps her mother obtain 90 percent of the sponsors, Davis said. "I don't know what I would have done without (Kari) be - cause she helped me out a lot," Davis said. This mother-daughter duo has not only worked to put on the Siloam Springs Rodeo, each one has also competed in rodeos during their early years. Karen Davis Davis was born into the rodeo world, she said. Her parents and grandparents were rodeo performers who passed down the love of the sport to Davis, she said. Davis did not go into great detail about her rodeo career but did say she was a barrel racer who competed in amateur rodeos. Davis joined the Siloam Springs Riding Club in 1961, she said. Around 30 years ago, Davis joined the board of directors of the riding club and has worked to advance the Siloam Springs Rodeo over the years, she said. When asked what has changed in the rodeo, Davis said it was probably community involve - ment. "Our local sponsors have re- ally stepped up for us and our crowds are great," Davis said. Along with the Siloam Springs Riding Club, Davis serves as the secretary and treasurer for the American Cowboys Rodeo As - sociation (ACRA) in Tulsa, Okla., she said. Davis also helps her daughter with the Erin Duncan Memorial Barrel Race, Hutchins said. By Marc Hayot Staff Writer n mhayot@nwadg.com Rodeo a longtime family affair for pair Photo submitted Karen Davis has been a part of the Siloam Springs Riding Club since 1961 and has served on the board for approximately 30 years. Davis passed on her love of rodeo to her daughter, Kari McReynolds Hutchins. Photo submitted Kari McReynolds Hutchins has been a part of the Siloam Springs Riding Club for approximately 38 years. Hutchins' family has been a part of the rodeo world for five generations. Graham Thomas/Herald-Leader The flags of the United States and the state of Arkansas lead the way in the 2021 Grand Entry at the Siloam Springs Rodeo. See rodeo on Page B2 See family on Page B2 See thomas on Page B2