Jaycees honored with Sikeston Tourism & Hospitality Award of Excellence

SIKESTON — Each year, people flock to Sikeston in August for the annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, filling local hotels and local restaurants. Thursday, the Jaycees were honored for their efforts with the Sikeston Tourism & Hospitality Award of Excellence during a ceremony at Lambert’s Cafe.

The award is presented annually by the Sikeston Convention and Visitors Bureau to a business, organization or individual who has made a significant contribution to the tourism and hospitality industry in the Sikeston area. The Lambert’s Family Hospitality Traveling Trophy was also presented at the luncheon to Jacob Rutledge, president of the Sikeston Jaycees.

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of the Sikeston Jaycees,” Rutledge said. “I’ve been a part of the organization for five years now and it’s been a really big part of my growth in the community and in being a leader.”

The Sikeston Jaycees have been dedicated to improving Sikeston since 1934, averaging $130,000 a year in donations to local charities. Their donations have benefitted the Sikeston schools, Missouri Delta Medical Center, Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, YMCA and numerous community projects.

“For the past 70 years the Jaycees have put on a rodeo to bring entertainment to our community,” Rutledge said. “We never stop there. We put on an amazing crawfish boil. We’ve done haunted houses and we’ve done little league football and Octoberfest. We always strive to bring in people from our community and the surrounding areas and even further. It’s great to be a part of this community and help it grow.”

This year, the Sikeston Jaycees will host the 70th Annual Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo on Aug. 10-13. During rodeo week, attendees from around the country will converge on Sikeston and pack local restaurants, hotels and shops, bringing in an estimated $8 million in revenue.

The first rodeo took place at the VFW Memorial Park, home to the semi-pro baseball team at the time, the Sikeston Stags. Today, the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is held at the Art Saunders Arena and is the premier Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event in the region, bringing in almost 40,000 people each year.

Sikeston Mayor Greg Turnbow, a former Jaycee himself, said Missouri sees a spike from tourism dollars during June and August.

“I don’t know what brings them (to Missouri) in June but I can guarantee that spike in August has everything to do with the Sikeston Jaycees and the rodeo,” Turnbow said. “The tradition is going to carry on for years and years.”

Steve McPheeters who emceed the event was also complimentary of the rodeo.

“You guys make it bigger and better every year,” McPheeters said, who added this year’s rodeo entertainment lineup announcement will be held March 18.

The Jaycees will also host the 13th Annual Crawfish Boil and Music Festival on May 14 this year.

This is the third year for the award as the Jaycees joined Lambert’s Cafe and Sikeston Parks and Recreation as winners.