Thirty-eight bull riders will highlight the 18th Annual Pike County Cattlemen’s Association Professional Cowboy Association Rodeo at Cattleman Park on Memorial Day weekend, May 28 and 29.

The Cattlemen’s PCA rodeo will feature 300 contestants and the most bull riders ever to compete locally.

“Bull riding is usually the most anticipated event at any rodeo and we’ve got the best competing Friday and Saturday nights along with the top cowboys and cowgirls in every event on the rodeo circuit,” said Cattleman Bill Hixon. “We’ll also have the PCA’s top all-around cowgirl competing. So the competition will be as good as you can get.”

Hixon said the stiff competition among the contestants will translate into an exciting rodeo for the fans.

The rodeo will feature eight top events including barrel racing, steer wresting, calf roping, team roping, breakaway roping, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.

Everybody’s favorite rodeo clown, Reggie Pervis, will return to the arena with his daring antics as a distraction for the rodeo animals and an attraction for rodeo fans of all ages.

Announcer for this year’s PCA rodeo will be Clint Allemand, who is known far and wide for his ability to keep the fans informed and entertained.

Adding local flavor to the rodeo will be the presentation of the winners of the Pike County Cattlewomen’s 2010 Rodeo Pageant.

“The winners of our pageant will be presented at intermission both nights of the rodeo,” said Betty Hixon, president of the Pike County Cattlewomen’s Association. “They will circle the arena in Don Renfroe’s wagon pulled by his white mules.”

The winners of the Rodeo Pageant are rodeo ambassadors and represent the spirit of rodeo, Hixon said.

The Pike County Cattlemen’s PCA Rodeo is an event of Bo Campbell’s Rodeo Productions.

“Years ago, Kevin Davis had the idea for our Cattlemen’s association to sponsor a rodeo but we didn’t have any idea of how to go about it,” Bill Hixon said. “We asked around and everybody said that Bo Campbell put on the best rodeos. So, he’s been with us since day one and does a terrific job.”

The local rodeo has come of age. The first rodeos were held in an open field but are now held in the state-of-the-art arena at Cattleman Park on U.S. Highway 231 between Brundidge and Troy.

“We invite everyone who enjoys the rodeo to come out this weekend and cheer on these contestants as they ride for the win and also for points toward qualification for the PCA Rodeo finals in Las Vegas in the fall,” Hixon said. “We’ll have concessions available and vendors will be here with all kinds of items for the rodeo fan.”

Gates open at 6 p.m. nightly with the Grand Entry at 7:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are $8 for ages 12 and up and are available at all Troy Bank & Trust locations, Pike Farmers Co-op in Troy, Don Walker’s Western Wear and all Piggly Wiggly locations.

Tickets at the gate are $10.

Children under age 12 are admitted free.