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66th Annual Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo features a stampede of activities
SIKESTON - The stampede is on.
This year the Sikeston Jaycees are working hard to involve local businesses and area residents in the 66th annual Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. While the actual rodeo begins Aug. 8, the first-ever Stampede Week kicks off local activities Aug. 3.
Stampede Week, according to this year’s Rodeo General Chairman Ross Merideth, seeks to encourage community participation in the rodeo.
“It takes a lot people in this town not just Jaycees to make this work. it takes a community,” said Merideth. “We really want to involve as many as possible in Stampede Week.”
Describing it as a spirit week, Merideth explained there are three competitions open to area businesses. The top three winners will not only earn bragging rights but some big prizes, he added.
The first competition on Aug. 3 will have businesses decorating their storefronts, windows, walkways and yards using the theme bull riding. Judges will consider how well the theme is incorporated as well as the business’s rodeo spirit.
Sikeston employees will be encouraged to do a bit of clowning around in the second contest.
At the Cowboy Up Festival on Aug. 4, employees from the participating businesses can dress as a rodeo clown. Judges will consider everything from creativity and difficulty of the costume to the clown’s response’s during a question-and-answer session.
The final area of competition is the rodeo parade floats. Businesses must register their floats before 9:45 a.m. Aug. 4 at the registration desk in front of the Sikeston Kindergarten building.
Like the decorating contest, floats will also promote the bull-riding theme.
The top three finishers in each event earn prizes and accumulate points.
“After the three contests we will add up the points with the top three finishers winning the grand prizes,” Merideth said.
Merideth noted the top prize includes free event sponsorship and second place includes arena signage. All three winners will be recognized at Wednesday’s grand entry and receive free rodeo tickets.
“We wanted to offer incentives to draw businesses and get them excited about rodeo,” he explained. “We are seeing great response from that.”
Information about Stampeded Week along with rules and entry form are posted on the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo website, sikestonrodeo.com, under rodeo events.
With the addition of Stampede Week and the recognition of the winners at Wednesday’s grand entry, Merideth pointed out volunteer riders will not participate that evening. Volunteer riders will ride to open the rodeo on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, he said.
While Stampede Week is geared toward businesses, Merideth said there is plenty for individuals and families to enjoy throughout the week as well.
By moving the parade to the Saturday before rodeo, he said he hopes even more people will have the opportunity to take in the event.
Each night at the rodeo a mechanical bull will be set up giving rodeo fans a chance to test their own skills. For children, the Jaycees have created a miniature bucking chute with a bouncy bull.
Also for children is Lunch with the Rodeo Clowns and Queens from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 10 at the Bootheel Golf Club.
The public can get a closer look at the animals and the rodeo grounds at 10 a.m. Aug. 11 during the Behinds the Chutes tour. Those planning on taking the tour should line up at the ticket office.
Marcie Lawson, executive director of the Sikeston Regional Chamber of Commerce, said the many activities surrounding the 66th Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, especially the addition of Stampede Week, is building excitement. With the first round of the announcement of Stampede Week just going out, her office has already received replies from businesses planning to participate.
She said in talking with the Chamber’s Young Professionals and the Chamber’s Ambassadors, the reaction is positive.
“They are really excited that there is so much community excitement around rodeo again. They are saying, ‘This is what it was like when I was a kid’,” Lawson said. “The atmosphere is definitely coming back.”
According to Lawson, the rodeo has a tremendous economic impact on the community by bringing in thousands of visitors who want to experience the rodeo and all the events surrounding it.
And all the work by the Jaycees is volunteered, she noted.
“They do it because they want their community to be better,” Lawson said. “The Jaycees do so much for Sikeston. The hundreds of thousands of dollars they have donated to a variety of organizations is incredible. These guys are working really hard for our community so we should show our support.”