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As rodeo chairman, Merideth getting up close look at rodeo tradition
SIKESTON — Ross Merideth said he’s always known the annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo to be a community event, a community effort and a tradition like no other.
And as the general chairman of the 2018 rodeo, which is in its 66th year, the Sikeston native has an even better, up-close-and-personal view of it.
“Everyone in the community — from the chamber to the city and vendors — is so supportive, and it really makes you proud to be a part of Sikeston,” Merideth said. “It’s a tradition. Everyone understands how we operate, and we all have the same goal.”
Currently, there are 130 members of the Sikeston Jaycees, and every one of those members are needed, he said.
“It’s a difficult job,” Merideth said of being rodeo chairman. “It’s time-consuming but very rewarding, and it’s humbling to lead this group of guys. They are the most hospitable bunch you’ll find.”
And, of course, the community goes without saying.
“It takes a village to put the rodeo on,” Merideth said. “We’ve got volunteers from all over the area. We have Boy Scouts who help run concessions. Kelly High School seniors, Three Rivers College rodeo team, 4-H, soccer team, wrestling team and a ton of different people who help us out by volunteering their time. We absolutely could not get it done with out them.”
Employers are very generous to the jaycees, especially about allowing them time off to run an errand.
Spouses and significant others are also a part of the rodeo’s success.
“My wife has been a trooper,” Merideth said. “This has taken a lot of time away from my family, and she’s done an excellent job managing the home front.”
Merideth and his wife, Kaleigh welcomed their first child, Wesley, in February 2015.
In May, the couple welcomed their second child, another son, Elliott, who is now 2 months old.
Many people do their parts, and the local economy also reaps the benefits of the rodeo, which began Wednesday and ends Saturday.
“We had a financial impact study done recently and it showed that the rodeo is bringing in about $6 million of economic impact to the local economy,” Merideth said. “That includes those who are staying at hotels and visiting our restaurants, not to mention we’ve got a $1-million operating budget, and a lot of that money is going to a lot of printing and advertising posters and T-shirts. We’re spending about $1 million just to put on the rodeo and open the gates.”
For every ticket spectators purchase, that money is going right back to community, he said.
Merideth comes from a long line of Jaycees. His father, brothers, grandfather and uncle have also been active members at one time or another.
When Merideth was attending the University of Mississippi’s School of Pharmacy, his brother, Ryan Merideth, had joined the Jaycees. As soon as he turned 21, Merideth said knew he wanted to join the Jaycees, and he has been active ever since.
“My brother was usher chairman, and I started helping him with that. I did that for a summer or two when I was in college,” he recalled.
In 2011, Merideth graduated from college and returned home to Sikeston in May.
“I started to get involved even more since I was home,” Merideth recalled. In 2012 he became the club’s treasurer and started working in concessions. By 2013, Merideth had become the club’s president. In 2014, he took over as chairman of concessions.
“Then, also in 2012, 2013, 2014, I was the chairman of the crawfish boil, and I really got my feet wet in planning events,” Merideth said.
The Jaycees’ now-annual spring Crawfish Boil has become its second-biggest and popular fundraiser. The one-day event features musical entertainment along with other food and activities for families.
“It’s a small version of a one-day rodeo,” he said.
Merideth said he stepped into that situation very green.
“I told my buddy who had stared it that I’d help him with it in its third year. I took a project that needed to be fine-tuned, stepped in and really learned a lot there and really grew as a Jaycee and as an individual between all of that and being club president in 2013,” Merideth said.
In 2013, profits doubled from the previous year’s Crawfish Boil.
“ We had a very successful year in 2014 as well, and it has been doing well ever since,” he said.
Also in 2013, Merideth served on the Rodeo Board of Directors, which he’s been doing since 2013.
“In 2015, I didn’t really take on any additional roles — just a board member — and then I was talked into running for rodeo chairman. … We’re all pretty good friends, and I talked to my wife and cleared it with her,” he recalled.
Finally, the time arrived for Merideth to fulfill his duties as general chairman of the rodeo.
“We’ve had a good pattern going the last few years. The chairman is more of a business guy, and the co-chair is more of the labor organizer and manager of the grounds. As co-chair in 2017, Merideth said he was also learning the business aspect of the rodeo.
“Last year I learned about the financial aspect, and on top of that, we were building the VIP section and party deck,” he recalled.
Merideth praised his 2018 co-chair, Kris Eastwood, who will take over the reins next year.
For Merideth, the most challenging aspect of serving as rodeo chair is fitting the right people in the right positions.
“We’ve got so many different pieces we have to get put together for everything, and I want to put the right guy in the right spot,” Merideth said. “Ultimately, you have to rely on people you may not know and delegate.”
Something the Crawfish Boil taught Merideth, he said, is that there’s nothing the Jaycees can’t do.
“It will always work out. There are too many guys out there who want it to be a success. They all have their own set of skills or resources or contacts, and we can pull it off,” he said.
Entertainment selection is another challenging part of the job, he said.
“Trying to balance what you like versus what other people like, and budget is a big issue there. Country music isn’t what it used to be. Artists are now selling out 60,000-plus appearances, and to get these guys, it’s taking more money because they travel a lot more,” he said.
Jaycees must factor in which artist they like, who the public will like, who will sell tickets within their budget and who’s available on the correct night, Merideth said.
This year’s lineup includes Chris Janson on Wednesday, Brett Young on Thursday, Justin Moore tonight and Travis Tritt on Saturday.
“It’s been a few years since we’ve gone with an older artist, and that was definitely a correct move. You’ve got to balance. Are they young or older and more established, traditional country or pop country, and we have a fair mix of all of it this year,” he said.
This year’s tickets sales have been great, he said, adding last week they were at a 7 percent increase over last year’s sales and barely behind 2013 which was a record year.
“We’re also trying to overall increase quality of the experience for every patron who walks in the gate. We try to make the place look professional. Last year we added some new signage,” he said. “Boy Scouts painted all of the arena poles for us, and that took some time. This year they finished it off and painted the roping chutes and return alley and gates.”
The Jaycees have added a new marquis sign and built a privacy fence for the all-inclusive Chute Club. A mechanical bull has been added to the mix, and a kids’ area has also been more defined this year with some miniature bucking chutes and a bouncing bull, Merideth said.
“A lot of our fans don’t know a lot of about rodeo, and we’re trying to educate them on that and make sure it’s an exciting event,” Merideth said. “… I’m a pharmacist. I didn’t grow up around horses or anything like that, but here I am, gaining skills along the way and learning a lot,” he said.
Wanting to give local businesses an opportunity to compete and show off the town, the Jaycees created Stampede Week this year, which included a storefront decoration contest, parade float contest and employee clown dress-up contest in which winners were awarded prizes.
Merideth said by serving in all the roles he has a Jaycee, he has learned about budgeting, relationship-building and all the things one needs to be know about being a leader.
“It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had — from start to finish,” Merideth said of being chairman.
Merideth even credits being active with the Jaycees for preparing him for the job he has today. In 2015, Merideth took over management of pharmacies by Sterling Healthcare Services.
“We have five pharmacies in four locations, and I oversee all of those. I directly manage the two in Sikeston and oversee the others in Kansas City and Poplar Bluff,” Merideth said.
There aren’t many places where spectators pay $25 per ticket for two hours of a professional sporting event and to see a top country star for 90 minutes, Merideth noted.
Because the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is a Wrangler Pro Rodeo Tour, the Jaycees must put up $100,000 for the purse.
“That makes us a large rodeo. It puts us in the top ranks nationally and helps bring in contestants nationally,” Merideth explained.
Being this far east, it’s almost necessary to be part of the Pro Rodeo Tour.
“Geography is a big thing for them and they have to measure their fuel and offering a large purse ensures we bring in contestants — and good contestants at that .
The Jaycees also contracted personnel like professional rodeo announcer Boyd Polhamus, who has announced for top-rated rodeos and the national finals rodeo for several years along with many other big-time rodeos, Merideth said.
Year after year, the Jaycees work to provide on one of the best rodeos they can, Merideth said.
“It’s time away from the house for us, and I’d like everyone to know we try very hard, and a lot of hours going into this that they may or may not not see,” Merideth said. “We want to put on the best show and entertainment package as possible as well as provide an accommodating professional event and an exciting atmosphere, which is our community tradition.”
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To purchase tickets, visit sikestonrodeo.com or the box office at the rodeo grounds. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.