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Rodeo entertainment lineup to be announced during a Friday night event in March
The format to announce the entertainment lineup for the upcoming Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo will be slightly different this year.
While the announcement will still be in partnership with the Sikeston Region Chamber and made in March, it will take place in the evening and also allow for members of the public to attend.
Taylor Deere, who is membership and program director for the Chamber, highlighted the change while presenting during the Chamber’s member luncheon Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Clinton Building in Sikeston.
“This is my most exciting announcement,” Deere said on Thursday. “I love how the Jaycees are always willing to try new things.”
For many years, the Jaycees have made the entertainment lineup announcement for the upcoming rodeo during the Chamber’s member luncheon in March.
“Probably one of our most well-attended luncheons is a partnership with them for their rodeo entertainment announcement,” Deere said. “They are going to move that to an evening event. So, that will take the place of our March luncheon. It still will be in partnership with the Chamber.”
Set for Friday, March 24, doors will open for Chamber members only at 4:30 p.m. with an exclusive special social hour. Dinner and a program will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by live music.
“Hopefully, this is a new, exciting way to kick off rodeo season,” Deere said. “You’ll get your entertainment announcement, and it’s going to be followed by by live music, and I think it will be a really fun event. It will open to the public after the Chamber mixer hour.”
This year’s rodeo is Aug. 9-12.
Other small changes the Chamber is making in 2023, according to Deere, include: the return of after-hours mixers on off-months of the luncheons, which would be February, April, June, August, October and December; and the addition of a blog.
“Be watching for posts covering events, Chamber luncheons/ribbon cuttings, member spotlights, Corporate Sponsor features and more,” Deere said.
Deere also noted 2022 was amazing for the Chamber.
In other Chamber luncheon news, Marcie Lawson, president/CEO for the Chamber and Area Economic Development, Corp., presented the economic development update. She noted construction at Carlisle Construction continues. It has over 490,000-square feet of space under one roof.
“They put over $100 million in capital investments into this building and therefore into Sikeston,” Lawson said. “That is exciting for our community.”
Lawson noted the new construction company brings over 100 new jobs to Sikeston, and they are over halfway through the hiring process. She said Carlisle has a goal to be in full production by April.
Lawson also briefed the crowd on the strategic planning process for economic development while Katie Merideth, Chamber administrator and SOAR director, provided an update on the SOAR program for Sikeston High School students. SOAR stands for Students Observing Area Resources.
Kathy Medley, executive vice president for the Chamber and director of Sikeston Convention and Visitors Bureau, briefed the crowd on upcoming events and projects.
The first-ever Sikeston Hot Air Balloon Festival set for June 16-18 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds. Currently, there are 57 vendors registered. Vendor fee is $35 per space for Friday and Saturday. Sponsorships are also available.
Work is underway on the Veterans Park Sikeston Honors Banner and Light Project, which is a cooperative effort with Sikeston CVB, Veterans Park Committee and Sikeston Parks and Recreation. Medley said 16 period light poles will be installed on the east and west sidewalks bordering Veterans Park and banners honoring local veterans will be displayed on each pole. A QR code will also be displayed on each pole where users will be directed to the SRC website and can read that veteran’s story.
The Tourism Advisory Board will present the Sikeston Tourism and Hospitality Award to this year’s winner during a luncheon at noon March 2 at Lambert’s Cafe. Guest speaker is Stephen Foutes, director of Missouri Division of Tourism. The award will recognize a business, organization or individual who has made a significant contribution to the tourism and hospitality industry.
Past award winners included Lambert’s Cafe, Sikeston Parks and Recreation and Sikeston Jaycees.