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The Mechanical Bull Riding kickoff event for the Pike County Cattlemen’s 20204 PCA Rodeo, is set for 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Half Shell.

No pre-registration is required.  Just show up, saddle up and vie for the title of the Pike County Cattlemen’s 2024 Bull Riding Championship.

The names of local residents and celebrities, who will vie for the title, has not been released. Expectations are they will just show-up and mount up in hopes of winning the 2024 championship title and the 200-dollar prize that goes with it.

“The money,” will be awarded to the rider who stays on the mechanical bull the longest,” said Pike County Cattleman Johnny Garrett. “We invite and encourage local and area residents who dream of winning a rodeo event to come and mount up with an opportunity to win the championship and the money.”

And, “Yee Haw” said John Mike McCall on WTBF-Radio Tuesday morning. “The 200 dollars will be a great prize for the winner along with the fame that goes with being a champion bull rider.”

McCall has horse riding experience on the Merry Go Round but ‘no! never!” on a bull. Not even a  mechanical one.

So, the odds of McCall winning the Pike County Cattlemen’s mechanical bull riding competition are a zillion to one. But, just “what if” he should hold on for the magic eight seconds and win the title and the money.

McCall had a quick answer.

“The Pike County Cattlemen do so much for Pike County and, especially for the kids,” he said. “If I win, I will hand the $200 right back to the Cattlemen in support of their annual scholarship program and the annual Cattlemen’s Professional Cowboy Rodeo.”

McCall said he is especially looking forward to the Kids’ Western Festival at the Saturday Rodeo. The Western Festival gets underway at 5 p.m. with a variety of kids’ activities from stick horse riding to mutton bustin’ which is the kids’ answer to bull riding.

To mutton bust, kids must be between the ages of four and seven, weigh no more than 60 pounds, less 45 inches tall and have proper footwear such as closed toed and heeled shoes. No sandals, flip-flops or bare feet.

Admission to the 2024 Pike County Cattlemen’s Rodeo is $12 in advance and $15 at the gate. Ages five and under are admitted free with a paying adult.  Advance tickets are available at Troy Bank & Trust Main Branch, Don Walker’s Western Wear, Banks Buy-Right and Piggly Wiggly Brundidge.