The Central Arkansas Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association will hold its ninth annual rodeo on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15 at CrossRoads Cowboy Church and Two Bar Two Arena in El Paso, where the event has been held the last two years.
The rodeo will start at 7:30 p.m. both nights with kids events at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 7 to 12 and free for kids 6 and under.
Ron Riddle will hold church services in the arena at 9 a.m. Easter Sunday, which the public is invited to attend. A chuck-wagon breakfast of biscuits and gravy will start at 7:30 a.m.
Last year, about 1,700 attended.
“We have contestants from all over the country who are competing for points to get them to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in December. In years past we have had contestants such as Shawn Proctor, Rider Wright, Reece Cates, Ricky Hyde and many others compete at our rodeo,” according to the announcement.
The Andrews Rodeo Company will provide the livestock both nights.
The rodeo clown Frankie “Punkintown” Smith will perform as will Bert Davis and his Muttley Crew, whose act features 10 rescue dogs.
The Muttley Crew and Bert were on “America’s Got Talent” in 2010, and they were the only animal act to make it to Las Vegas. They were featured in “Dogs with Jobs,” 2002 National Geographic television documentary.
The Central Arkansas Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association partners with the Wounded Warriors of Arkansas through the Marine Corps League of Arkansas. “We always honor a few of our local veterans during the rodeo. Some of the monies raised will go to help Arkansas soldiers as they re-adjust to life back home,” the announcement said.
This year’s event will add the Miss Rodeo Arkansas pageant. The winner will be crowned Friday night.
There will also be kids events like mutton bustin‘ and a calf scramble. The mini bronc riders, a favorite event last year, will return for the second year.
To sign up for those events, arrive by 5:30 p.m. Only 10 riders can participate in the mutton bustin‘ and they must be 8 years old or under and weigh 50 pounds or less.
Calf scramble will be for ages 7 to 12 years old, and boot scramble is for kids 6 and under with buckles for the winners each night.
Vendors will also be set up for shopping during the rodeo.
For more information, call Becky Switzer at 501-230-7872 or Dale Hancock at 501-269-4900.
