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The Pike County Cattlemen’s NCPRA Rodeo is a go.

The rodeo will get underway at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cattlemen Park Arena and continue on Saturday, same time and same place.

The Pike County Cattlemen’s National Cowboy Professional Rodeo is highly anticipated each year by rodeo fans and the Cattlemen are expecting a good crowd both nights.

“We’ve all been cooped up for so long and folks are looking for something fun to do so it will be good to get out and enjoy the rodeo,” said Cattleman B.B. Palmer. “The arena is big and open and there’s plenty of room for social distancing. We encourage rodeo fans to wear their masks, keep a safe distance and come on out and enjoy a great rodeo.”

Palmer said the expectations are for a large number of competing cowboys and cowgirls.

“A number of rodeos have cancelled because of the coronavirus so the cowboys and cowgirls are looking for rodeos to compete in and we’ve got one of the best,” Palmer said. “We’ll have all the favorite rodeo events – bareback riding, saddle bronc, calf-roping/tie down, team roping, ladies’ breakaway roping and barrel racing, steer wrestling and, the big one, bull riding.”

Palmer said rodeo fans’ favorite announcer and clown will be back.

“Clint Allemand is an award-winning rodeo announcer and he announces from horseback,” Palmer said. “He keeps the audience informed and involved. Jake Wilcox is a young rodeo clown and he’s a favorite with the grownups as well as the kids.”

A special event for the 2020 rodeo will be a special memorial tribute to four members of the Pike County Cattlemen and Cattlewomen Associations:  Jack Davis, Mike Griffin, Bill Hixon and Tammy Powell.

The Pike County Cattlemen’s Rodeo will feature the Kids’ Western Festival at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

“The Western Festival is fun for the kids as they participate in events from stick horse riding to mutton busting,” Palmers said. “Folks have as much fun watching as the kids do participating.”

The rodeo will feature a variety of vendors and the Cattlemen’s famous concession stand.

“This weekend will be a great time for rodeo in Pike County,” Palmer said. “We invite everyone to come out and rodeo with us.”

Rodeo tickets are $10 in advance and are available at all Piggly Wiggly locations, Banks Buy Rite, Troy Bank & Trust main location and Don Walker’s Western Ware. Tickets at the door will be $12. Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday and at 4 p.m. on Saturday for the Kids Western Festival. The rodeo gets underway at 7:30 p.m. both nights.