Sallisaw Rodeo Has a Hometown Flavor

Sequoyah County’s own Crossroads will be performing

at the Sallisaw Lions Club Rodeo Dance on Saturday night.

The 74th annual Sallisaw Lion’s Club IPRA Rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. each day, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Sallisaw Rodeo Arena, and features numerous rodeo cowboys and cowgirls from Sequoyah County.

The rodeo is hosted by Hampton Rodeo Company. Sponsors include local merchants, Blue Ribbon Dodge, Coors, and Clean Line Energy Partners. The rodeo is sanctioned by the International Professional Rodeo Association and the American Cowboys Rodeo Association

The Sallisaw Rodeo draws over 5,000 people a year, and showcases the elite athletes in rodeo competition. Talented cowboys and cowgirls from throughout the country and from the local area will compete for thousands of dollars in prize money in several different events.

The events include:

*Bareback Bronc Riding

*Bull Riding

*Cowgirl's Barrel Racing

*Cowgirl's Breakaway Roping

*Saddle Bronc Riding

*Steer Wrestling

*Team Roping

*Tie Down Roping

According to the entries as of Wednesday at noon, the rodeo will feature a number of local cowboys and cowgirls, including team ropers Destry Graham and Eric Flurry of Sallisaw. Stay tuned to The Mix 105.1 tomorrow for more news about Destry Graham, a record-holding header.

One of the most popular rodeo sports in Sequoyah County, team roping will be well represented by Sequoyah County ropers on all three evenings of the rodeo. Entrants include Jason Smith and Jim Ellis of Sallisaw, Ron Edwards of Muldrow, Dalton Fargo of Gans, Mike Carter of Sallisaw, Billy Jacobs of Muldrow, and Adam Hubler of Webbers Falls.

Jimmie Stone of Sallisaw and Ross McGuire of Webbers Falls will be representing local cowboys in steer wrestling, and McGuire will also be competing in tie down roping.

But it’s the barrel racing that is drawing the most local cowboys and cowgirls. As of noon Wednesday, the barrel racing entrants included Addi Shofner of Sallisaw, Kaelyn Burr of Gans, Adrian Bolin of Sallisaw, Hazlee McKenzie of Muldrow, Ardania Small of Muldrow, Elva Steinmetz of Sallisaw, Grace Weddle of Muldrow, Sierra Tatum of Sallisaw, Karen Melton of Sallisaw, and Kinsley Swepston of Vian.

And that may not be all. Entrants had until 5 p.m. Wednesday to enter the rodeo.

For the little buckaroos who may be aiming for rodeo careers, the rodeo also offers pony rides and mutton bustin’. Stay tuned to The Mix 105.1 this week for more on mutton bustin’s Max Tan Smith.

The rodeo kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday with a parade through downtown Sallisaw. The Rodeo of the Ozarks Rounders drill team will be performing, and the hilarious wild horse races will cause cracked ribs from laughter and hooves each night.

For musical entertainment, the group Whiskey Revolver will perform Friday night at the after-rodeo dance, and the popular Crossroads will perform Saturday night at the dance.

Admission to the rodeo is $7 for adult and $5 for kids age 6 to 10. Kids 5 and under get in free.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com