Rodeo Museum benefits from state grant

The Sikeston Rodeo Museum, located in the newly renovated Sikeston Post Building at 215 N. New Madrid St., also houses the Sikeston Visitors Center, Chamber, Economic Development, Tourism and Historic Downtown Sikeston offices. The Sikeston Rodeo Museum is in the design and development stages, and donations of historic Sikeston rodeo-related artifacts are being collected for the displays.

Photo provided

SIKESTON — The Sikeston Rodeo Museum was recently awarded a Missouri Humanities Grant in the amount of $14,850 to assist in the creation of new custom displays.

The museum will feature 72 years of history and memorabilia from the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.

Kathy Medley, director of Sikeston Tourism and Sikeston Rodeo Museum, recently sat down to discuss the grant, the growth of the museum and the future.

“For each display, we are getting wooden cases made and glass display cases as part of the grant, [which] will hold rodeo memorabilia from 72 years of history,” said Medley. “We are working with Kinder Signs on some of the other kinds of displays.”

The Sikeston Rodeo Museum Project will create custom cabinet and wall mount displays. The museum displays will be informative, historic and educational. The goal of the Sikeston Rodeo Museum is to preserve the 72-year history of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo and to share that history with the public. The museum is handicap accessible, according to a news release.

Medley applied for the grant in September.

“It [the grant] was awarded in October,” said Medley. “Some grants take longer than others. We have until April 2025 to complete the project.”

The Sikeston Rodeo Museum is sponsoring this project in partnership with Missouri Humanities and with support from the Missouri Humanities Trust Fund.

The Sikeston Rodeo Museum is in the newly renovated Sikeston Post Building at 215 N. New Madrid St., which also houses the Sikeston Visitors Center, Chamber, Economic Development, Tourism and Historic Downtown Sikeston offices. The Sikeston Rodeo Museum is in the design and development stages, and donations of historic Sikeston rodeo-related artifacts are being collected for the displays.

This project is supported by the Sikeston Jaycees and Sikeston Chamber, Economic Development, Tourism offices.

The Sikeston Rodeo Museum is grateful to Missouri Humanities for the award and their assistance in preserving Sikeston’s rodeo history for future generations to enjoy, Medley said. Anyone interested in supporting this project can contact Medley.

“This will be the first of its kind in Missouri and the surrounding states, actually,” said Medley. “It is new to our community, but we expect it to be a big attraction.”

For more than seven decades the rodeo has had a vital place in Sikeston lore, and Medley said the impact is palpable, with no end in sight.

“It is so vital, really the cornerstone of the community — 72 years of rodeo history,” Medley said. “It is a unique opportunity to preserve and to share the history.”