The word around town is that Probate Judge Wes Allen was seen in Don Walker’s Western Wear trying on cowboy boots and considering a set of spurs.

Word is also that Brundidge Police Chief Moses Davenport purchased a pair of leather chaps and a 10-gallon Stetson hat at the same western wear store.

If the “word” is true, then the judge and the chief were preparing to compete in the Pike County Cattlemen’s Celebrity Bull Ride at Santa Fe Steak House on Friday.

Ed Whatley, publicity chair for the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association, would neither deny nor confirm that Allen and Davenport will be competitors in the winner take all Celebrity Bull Ride.

“They might be competing and they might not be,” Whatley said, with smile. “What I will say is that we have celebrities from all around the county that have signed up to compete in the Celebrity Bull Ride.”

And winning won’t come easy.

“Whoever wins the Celebrity Bull Ride will have to stay on the bull for eight seconds and do it with style and grace,” Whatley said. “The bull will do its part in separating from the rider but the style points will count just as much, if not more, than the ride.”

Style points may be earned in different ways –from a smile to attire to from the tip of a hat to the dismount from the mechanical bull.

The ride and style points will be combined to determine the winner.

The Celebrity Bull Ride is a kickoff event for the Pike County Cattlemen’s Association’s PCA Rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights at Cattleman Park.”

“The Celebrity Bull Ride is a fun event for the spectators and well as the riders,” Whatley said. “We invite everyone to come out at 11 a.m. Friday and help us get the rodeo kicked of in a fun way.”

The Celebrity Bull Ride is not the only rodeo event that will put people in the saddle.

“At breaks during the rodeo both Friday and Saturday nights, we’ll have Hoppy Horse Races for kids and adults, too, if they want to give it a try,” Whatley said. “A Hoppy Horse is a huge balloon horse that you hop on and then hop along. It will be a fun event and something new at the Pike County Cattlemen’s Rodeo.”

The Cattlemen’s PCA Rodeo is set for Friday and Saturday nights at Cattleman Park. The rodeo gates will open at 6 p.m. and the rodeo will get underway at 7 p.m.

The Western Festival for kids will begin at 5 p.m. Friday.

Rodeo tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Advance tickets are available at Piggly Wiggly in Troy and Brundidge, Don Walker’s Western Wear, Troy Bank & Trust main branch and Banks Buy-Rite.