ARGOS – Marshall County will be treated to some of the best in professional rodeo as the Marshall County 4-H Association will bring the I.P.R.A. Rodeo to the Argos Fairgrounds on Saturday.
The athletes in competition at Argos are all hoping to have a payoff later in the year in Oklahoma City. The IPRA is the sport’s second largest professional rodeo association sanctioning nearly 300 rodeos.
“These are professionals, they are all competing for points to compete in the International Finals in Oklahoma City,” said Tammy Dickson one of the organizers of the event. “We’re looking at 122 entries from16 states and two contries – we’ll have some competitors in from Canada.”
The athletes will hope the stop in Argos provides them with a step up in the standings to make the circuits biggest stop.
The International Finals Rodeo is the premier display of the top rodeo cowboys and cowgirls of the International Professional Rodeo Association. The IFR offers more than $250,000 in cash and prizes. The IFR is held every January inside the State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City, where the year-end World Champions are crowned for each event.
“We’ll have the regular events,” said Dickson. “Steer wrestling, roping, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, all the normal rodeo events with some of the best professionals.”
There is also a little room for locals that want to break into the circuit.
“We do have some local riders. We have several smaller rodeos around the area,” said Dickson. “Grovertown hosts a rodeo, St. Joe County and Elkhart County have rodeo events. You can sign up to compete if you have the proper equipment that you need and pay the entry fee.”
There will be concessions available at the show, gates open as early as 10 a.m with the action starting at 2 p.m. Promoters say that after the 2 hour rodeo there will be more action following a break.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 3 to 9 and under 3 are free.
