Santa Rosa rodeo coming

Roundup in Vernon will begin May 18

By Linda Stewart

VERNON — It's rodeo time in Texas, out ole Santa Rosa way!

Vernon is gearing up to celebrate 66 years of tradition with this year's edition of the historic Santa Rosa Roundup.

The event will get under way May 18 with a massive downtown parade made up of more than a mile of floats, bands, riding clubs, local celebrities and other entries.

The Lions Club will hold its traditional rodeo barbecue beginning at 5 p.m. The meal will be served in the Horse Palace at the Santa Rosa Rodeo Grounds. Tickets for the meal are available from any Lions Club member or at the door. The meal will consist of barbecue brisket, beans, potato salad and all the trimmings.

A Little Clown Contest will be held at Cavender's Work & Western Wear at Laurie St. and U.S. 287 Frontage Road beginning at 11:30 a.m. May 14. Three of the winners will be featured each night of the rodeo helping rodeo clowns during the Mutton Bustin' competition.

Nightly performances of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned Santa Rosa Roundup will be held May 18-21 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Rodeo Grounds, south of Vernon on U.S. 183. The first Santa Rosa Roundup was held in 1946 by the late E. Paul Waggoner.

Rodeo publicist Stacey Bartlett said the performances will feature top professional cowboys from across the country, professional rodeo clowns, nightly precision drills by Vernon's Ambassadors on Horseback, the Santa Rosa Palomino Club.

Contestants will compete nightly in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and ranch bronc riding. The ranch bronc riding will feature a number of local and area cowboys.

Special nightly events will include "Ride the Hide" competition and Mutton Bustin' competition for youngsters.

Rodeo stock will be provided by Beutler & Son Rodeo Co. of Elk City, Okla. Hadley Barrett of Kersey, Colo. will once again be the voice of Santa Rosa.

Phil Kropp and Darrell Diefenback, two talented Australian bullfighters presently residing in Azle, Texas, will return for the third year thrilling rodeo fans with their antics as they protect cowboys from the angry bulls.

Each performance is guaranteed to provide the country's top professional cowboys, legendary bucking stock and prime family entertainment according to Bartlett.

Team sorting will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Advance rodeo tickets may be purchased at Norsworthy's Music Center at 1814 Main St. Box seats are $10 each, general admission seats are $8 each with children under 12 tickets $6 each when purchased in advance. Prices will be slightly higher at the gate.

Friday and Saturday night activity will include a dance in the rodeo grounds Horse Palace following the rodeo with music by the Rick Wylie Band from Wichita Falls. Dance tickets are also available at Norsworthy's Music Center or may be purchased at the door.

This year marks the 14th year the rodeo has been sponsored by the Santa Rosa Roundup Rodeo Association.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact rodeo personnel at Norsworthy's Music Center or call 940-552-6868 or check out the rodeo association website at:www.santarosaroundup.com.