Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1466549
LINCOLN — Last year covid sanctions hit the rodeo industry hard, threatening the livelihood of stock contractors, judges, timers, contract acts and those associated with the sport, but it's back big. This week Lincoln celebrates its 68th annual rodeo by presenting traditional rodeo action in a show- case of bellowing bulls and bucking broncos dashing across the arena bent on unleashing the cowboy from their back and there's plenty more action featuring steer wres- tling, team roping, cowgirls barrel racing, calf roping and cowgirls breakaway roping along with bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding plus nightly mutton busting for the kids starting at 6:30 p.m. One event that got left out of last year's rodeo, the popular street dance, returns for 2021 to kick off the rodeo Wednesday night. The Boston Mountain Playboys will provide live music on the Lincoln Square from 8 to 11 p.m. "We would love to have every- one come out to the rodeo this year because we're going to have a good rodeo. I think we've sold a lot of advance tickets and that speaks that people are wanting to get out and experience something out in the open," said Lincoln Riding Club Secretary/Reporter Sherry Smith. "I think if they come and they enjoy the hype and the excitement and the spirit about the rodeo, that they'll get involved and get inter- ested in it." Ve t e r a n a n n o u n c e r B r a n - don Wren and rodeo clown Ty "Stormin' Norman" Stewart provide entertainment between events. Big Horn Rodeo Company, of Lamar, Okla., is the stock contractor. Thursday night is "Family Night" and kids ages 6-10 get in for $3 while military and first respond- ers pay only $5 by showing proper identification. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids 6-10 on Friday and Saturday. Ages five and under are free. The rodeo is sanctioned by American Cowboys Rodeo Associ- ation and the International Profes- sional Rodeo Association with money earned during the event counting in the standings for both associations. Rodeo competitive events for junior cowboys and cowgirls include junior barrels, 15 and under, and peewee barrels, 8 and under. Junior cowboys and junior cowgirls might want to try their hand at a calf scramble and nightly mutton busting beginning at 7 p.m. followed by the stickhorse grand entry at 7:30 p.m. Each nightly rodeo performance begins with a grand entry at 8 p.m. A negative coggins is required for horses participating in the grand entry. Sophie Duch will do nightly trick riding and trick shooting, new for this year's rodeo. Saturday's rodeo parade begins at the Lincoln Riding Club Arena just west of town on U.S. 62 with paraders lining up at 4 p.m. The parade gets underway at 4:30 p.m. traveling around the town square situated two blocks north of U.S. 62 downtown and can be reached by turning onto Main Street. Legend Realty, Inc. 196 E. Main St., Farmington 479-267-5911 998 E. Heritage Pkwy, Prairie Grove 479-846-2222 Let Us Wrangle Up Your Dream Home! www.legendrealty.com wednesday, August 11, 2021 B Rodeo Week MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Competitors await the start of a recent Play Day held at the Lincoln Riding Club Arena one mile west of Lincoln. Temperatures in the low 100s didn't diminish their enthusiasm for rodeo. The arena will be busy this week as LRC hosts the 68th annual Lincoln Rodeo showcasing performances Thursday through Saturday in addition to numerous other rodeo-related activities such as the 2021 royalty pageant. Welcome To Lincoln Rodeo By Mark Humphrey ENTERPRISE-LEADER 68TH ANNUAL LINCOLN RIDING CLUB RODEO When: August 12-14, 2021 Performances: 8 p.m. nightly Sanctioning: ACRA/IPRA Stock Contractor: Big Horn Rodeo Company Added Money: $650 per event, Team Roping $1,300 Total Added Money: $5,850 Events: Bareback, Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie Down Roping, Cowgirl Barrel Racing, Team Roping, Cowgirl Breakaway Roping, Steer Roping Special Event: Bill Estep Memorial Steer Roping Friday August 13, 2021 at 9 a.m. Slack after rodeo performances Aug. 12-13 68TH ANNUAL LINCOLN RODEO KICKS OFF THIS WEEK MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER One competitor displaying tremendous improvement from her rookie season of rodeo last year, Maci Atchison, of Stilwell, OKla., won the barrel race in the 12-14 age division at the July 25 Lincoln Riding Club Play Day. Atchison is vying for the 2021 Lincoln Riding Club Junior Queen crown. The 68th annual Lincoln Rodeo kicks off this week.