Over the past seven decades, the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo has become a must-see showcase. As a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Top 40 rodeo, it draws some of the most star-studded names in rodeo and music.
By Natalie-Elizabeth Tan
Saddle up and ride to the Bootheel, where the ever-popular Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo runs from August 7 – 10. This rodeo has been around for 72 years, attracting big crowds and even bigger names from the rodeo and music worlds. More than 38,000 people attended last year’s rodeo, and Lil Jon, Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney are among the headliners who have performed in previous years.
Several classic rodeo events will be featured at the Top 40 rodeo: bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, and bullfighting. For young cowboys and cowgirls, there’s mutton bustin’, which challenges contestants to stay astride sheep.
To Clayton Driskill, General Chairman of the 2024 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, the bullfighting event is a must-see. The bulls these competitors fight are Toro de Lidia bulls, known for their aggressive temperament. Bullfighters score points based on their skill, tricks and maneuvers. But don’t worry. The bulls aren’t hurt.
“They get out there and dance with the bull to get the highest score,” Driskill says. “It really gets everyone on the edge of their seats. These guys get incredibly close to bulls that are trying to take their heads off.”
Another thrilling event is women’s barrel racing, which draws some of the top barrel racers in the world. Barrel racers and their horses complete a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels as quickly as possible, with penalties for tipping over barrels. This event is a classic showcase of speed, agility, and coordination between horse and rider.
“We’ve had the Lisa Leslie of barrel racing, top athletes. Last year we had quite a few National Finals Rodeo qualifiers,” Driskill says.
After the action-packed rodeo events of each day, make your way to the stage for the live musical performances. Warren Zeiders, Brett Walker, Ludacris, and Shane Smith & The Saints are this year’s big names. Vendors will be serving up classic concessions like hotdogs, burgers, barbecue sandwiches, nachos, and the like. The rodeo offers no shortage of entertainment for your little ones as well, with temporary tattoos, games, and contests to keep them occupied.
It’s worth making a weekend trip out of the rodeo, as the entire town of Sikeston joins in the fanfare. Business storefronts and lawns are decked out in themed decorations, with window painting, yard signs, banners, sidewalk chalk and more, showing how the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is more than an event; it’s a cherished tradition that the community takes pride in.
For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.
All photos courtesy of Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo
