This article is presented in partnership with Sikeston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
On September 17, 1953, cowboys from across the region made their way to the VFW Memorial Park, home to the semi-pro baseball team the Sikeston Stags, in Sikeston, Missouri, for the town’s very first rodeo. Today, the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is the premier Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event in the region, drawing forty thousand people annually. The 68th Annual Sikeston Rodeo will be held August 5-8 and is run exclusively by volunteers. Proceeds from the rodeo are donated to local charities, non-profits, and other community projects.
The Rodeo is sponsored by the Sikeston Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Sikeston Jaycees. The volunteer organization began in 1934 and supports their community in a variety of ways. The annual rodeo is one event the group sponsors for their city.
Photo by Justin Lindsey.
Spectators this year can expect bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping at the four-day cowboy showdown. Boots will be stomping at the rodeo grounds, with nightly concert performances from top Nashville entertainers.
Along with the rodeo events and concerts, the Sikeston Jaycees also hosts a rodeo pageant. Cowgirls can apply for the pageant through July 13 and compete in a variety of categories, including horsemanship. The August event also dedicates time to a Domestic Violence Awareness program Saturday evening.
Boots, bull riding, and live music meet in the Bootheel to provide the quintessential midwestern summer experience, but aside from the rodeo, Sikeston is a lively city every weekend. The town’s historic downtown district draws visitors in, and Sikeston also has a heap of local wineries and eateries that add to the flavor of the trip. Whether you are coming for a wild west experience or a quiet weekend away, Sikeston offers a range of attractions, events, and dining to fit the bill. For more information visit Sikeston.net.
