Events pack week of 51st UTM rodeo

The 51st annual UTM Spring College Rodeo is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, through Saturday, April 13, at the Ned Ray McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.

The UTM rodeo, which has been named the Ozark Region’s “Rodeo of the Year” for 13 consecutive years, features both timed and rough-stock events (including bull riding) each night.

All tickets are $6 for Thursday night’s session, while adult tickets are $10 on Friday and $12 on Saturday. Tickets for children ages 6-12 and UTM students with a valid student ID are $7 for both Friday and Saturday. A $20 weekend pass for all three performances is also available, while children ages 5 and under get in free with a paid adult.

In addition to UTM, teams from the University of Arkansas-Monticello; East Mississippi Community College; University of Kentucky; Mississippi State University; Missouri Valley College; Murray State University; Northwest Mississippi Community College; Pearl River Community College; Southern Arkansas University; the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Three Rivers College; and University of West Alabama are scheduled to appear during the three-day event.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a crawfish supper at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the American Legion building in Martin. Hamburgers and hot dogs also will be available as well as corn-on-the-cob and new potatoes. Tickets are $15 per person and proceeds will support the UTM Rodeo Scholarship Fund.

Thursday’s competition is sponsored by Tyson, Obion County Complex, and fans can enter a drawing for a chance to win an MTD riding lawnmower. Friday is sponsored by Tennessee Tractor LLC, and is also “Orange Night” to raise money for the Wyatt Cole Memorial Scholarship Fund. If the MTD riding lawnmower is not won on Thursday, a second drawing will take place Friday evening.

Saturday will begin with a free barbecue lunch at 11 a.m. in Festival Park in downtown Martin, sponsored by Edward Jones Investments. The Martin Paving Company Championship Finals follow that evening, where the top 10 contestants from the two opening rounds will compete.

A silent auction will be held during all three nights of the rodeo to help fund the UTM Rodeo Scholarship Fund. A scholarship auction will also take place at noon Saturday after the free barbecue. For a full list of auction items, please visit the UTM Rodeo Facebook page at facebook.com/utm.rodeo.

Garrett Yerigan will once again serve as this year’s announcer, alongside rodeo clown Dusty Myers. Bucking bulls and horses will be provided by Mark Johnson of Universal Rodeos in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

For more information, contact Ryne Rickman, UTM Office of Sports Information, at 731-881-7630 or rrickman@utm.edu.

Graphic credit| Ben Greer