Rodeo makes impact on the area

SIKESTON - When the 51st Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo kicks off on Wednesday, its impact is felt throughout Southeast Missouri.

Every August, thousands of fans pour into the Sikeston Jaycee Rodeo grounds to see some of the top cowboys give it their best.

What they are seeing is a year's worth of work neatly packed into four days of fun-filled entertainment.

Along with Lambert's Cafe, the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is one of Southeast Missouri's top tourist attractions, which possesses economic ramifications felt throughout the area.

"Obviously it has a large economic impact with the money that people spend in the community and then the money that we're able to raise and give back to other organizations throughout the year," said rodeo general chairman Rob Clay. "We are supposedly the single largest economic boon for a week in this area. And you're not just talking about Sikeston, but also the surrounding communities when you've got people that stay in hotels in Cape, Charleston and Dexter and other towns."

Each year 40,000 fans visit Sikeston to see one of the 50 largest rodeos in the United States. With so many people entering a town with a population of less than 20,000, the effects are obvious for the city's merchants.

Hotels are booked months in advance and restaurants and stores see business skyrocket.

And where does the money made at the rodeo go?

Right back to the community.

Of course a chunk of it is held over for future events, but Clay said money spent by Sikeston residents at the rodeo can only help the city.

"What would be ideal is for everybody in Sikeston to come out for at least one night," said Clay. "We try to cater as family oriented entertainment. We try to keep it price friendly. We want anybody and everybody that wants to come to be able to. We like the local people to come because when they spend money out here it's helping them directly with money we're giving back to the community."

There's also the fees for the entertainment, which the Sikeston Rodeo has a reputation for bringing in some of country music's biggest stars, from Garth Brooks to George Strait to Alabama.

This year's lineup has some of the top up-and-comers in country music with Brad Paisley, Trick Pony and Chris Cagle along with veteran Chris LeDoux, who performed at the Sikeston Rodeo in 1996.

Alabama brought out the largest crowd last year, estimated at roughly 13,000 fans.

"We want every night to be a big night," said Clay. "Alabama played on Wednesday last year and that was a big night for us."

Clay said the entertainment is just a small piece of the pie in the grand scheme of things.

"As chairman, you spend the full year getting contracts set with everybody, the personality announcers, clowns, entertainers, all the emergency, the police," said Clay. "You constantly keep in contact with the police so everybody can have a fun and safe time out here."

And the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo isn't the only event that Clay and the Jaycees work on.

"We're doing more events out here throughout the year," said Clay. "The week after our rodeo there's the 4-H Rodeo out here. And the first of September there's the high school rodeo. Then we've got the Cotton Carnival that uses our facilities. We have barrel races that we try to have throughout the year. Even without those events the rodeo takes pretty much year round to prepare for four days of events."

But it isn't just Jaycees doing the work.

Rodeo time means volunteer time from the community.

"The preparation is mostly Jaycees, but during the four days it takes everybody in the community to volunteer their time," said Clay. "We've got 1,000 people working out here and we don't have that many members in the Jaycees. The Kelly 4-H, the Sikeston 4-H, swim team, Boy Scouts, VFW, Legion, you name it. And there's various other people that aren't affiliated with any organization that just donate their time to come out and help. Without those people coming out and helping, we wouldn't be able to do it."

Some recipients of the Jaycees' donations include: Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude's Children Hospital, Camp Run-A-Muck, American Red Cross, Kenny Rogers Children's Center, Camp Wonderland, Delta Area Blind Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation, United Way, Bootheel Counseling Services, Missouri Delta Medical Center, Regional Children's Services, Sikeston Public Library, Salvation Army, YMCA, Sikeston Public Pool, DARE, Boy Scouts, Foster Grandparent Program, Girl Scouts, Heritage House, RSVP, Humane Society, Scott County Transit, Rescue Mission, Rescue Squad, Sikeston Arts Council, Little League Football, Nutrition Program, Sikeston Public Safety, American Heart Association

For tickets to the rodeo, call (573) 471-7196 or (800) 455-BULL (2855).