The Eastern Kansas Pro Rodeo Series has been revived with rodeos at Mound City, Kansas, August 7-8, and Eureka, Kansas, August 14-15, 2015, according to announcement from John Teagarden and Jamie Nelson, officials and promoters of the Mound City and Eureka rodeos, respectively . “Objective of the series is a joint effort to raise awareness of both rodeos among contestants and spectators with the primary purpose of increasing both entries and attendance,” Teagarden explained.
“The original Eastern Kansas Series began in 1984, continued through 2006, and at the height of the program included rodeos at Iola, Mound City, Ottawa, Paola, Ft Scott, Fredonia and Gardner,” Teagarden elaborated.
Both rodeos this year are sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and have both been approved for winning contestant points in both the Prairie Circuit and Great Lakes Circuit of the PRCA.
“This rodeo series concept especially shows our appreciation for those circuit contestants who support our rodeos. They appreciate award recognition,” Nelson pointed out.
Through the years, the series featured added prize money, funded by the committees and a half dozen area sponsors, for contestants, plus trophy buckles.
“We’ve decided that Maynard Buckles will be presented this year to the Eastern Kansas Rodeo Series winners in each event, and engraved Moore Maker knives will go to the runner-up in each event. Series winners are to be determined by points collected, not dollars, through eight places at each rodeo,” Teagarden clarified
Sponsors of the series are the Linn County Fair and Rodeo Association, Greenwood County Rodeo Association and Teagarden Quarter Horses, with additional support from Ernie Rodina’s Better Horses promotions and Priefert Ranch Equipment..
“Primary benefit of the Eastern Kansas Rodeo Series with four PRCA performances, just 80 miles apart, is the joint opportunity to more economically, efficiently increase visibility and promotion of both rodeos to cowboys, cowgirls, and rodeo fans,” Teagarden noted.
Linn County Fair Rodeo performances at Mound City, Friday and Saturday evenings, Aug. 7-8, begin at 8 o’clock, with New Frontier Rodeo Company of Roxbury as the stock contractor, Teagarden said.
Troy Goodridge will return as the Mound City rodeo announcer, and entertainment is to be by the Heartland Twisters cowgirl drill team.
The Mound City feature is rodeo clown-funnyman Andy Burelle, Ardmore, Oklahoma, three times world champion bullfighter, who will be working the clown barrel during the bull riding at this rodeo, but promises laughs from all during his acts and comic routines. The bullfighters will be Wade Kunz and Broc McGuire.
“Cody McGee will also present his highly acclaimed ‘Cody’s Roundup,’ an educational, inspirational, historical and most entertaining act, as a turn back in time to the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s, for both Mound City performances,” Teagarden revealed.
United Pro Rodeo from Palestine, Texas, will supply the rodeo livestock for the Eureka Pro Rodeo, Friday and Saturday evenings, Aug. 14 -15, at 8 o’clock, Nelson said.
Scott Grover will announce the Eureka Rodeo action, with Colby Klumb and Jake King to serve as bull fighters and cowboy protectors.
“We’re really excited to have Robbie Hodges of Cave Creek, Georgia, as our special rodeo clown-funnyman-contract entertainer. He’s been nominated five times for Rodeo Clown of the Year, and keeps everybody entertained and in stitches of smiling-grinning happiness throughout the rodeo action,” Nelson promised.
Entries for both rodeos in the revised Eastern Kansas Rodeo Series open July 30, at 10:30 a.m., and close July 31, at 10:30 a.m.
Information is available from Teagarden at 913-837-6787, or Nelson at 620-583-9565.