The UT Martin Spring College Rodeo is back on campus this week as action runs from Thursday, April 11, through Saturday, April 13, at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex. The performance portions will begin nightly at 7:30.
The UT Martin Spring College Rodeo will include timed events and rough stock events – including bull riding – each night.
The Skyhawks will compete alongside fellow Ozark Region participants Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas Tech, Central Methodist, East Mississippi Community College, Mississippi State, Missouri Valley College, Murray State, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Pearl River Community College, Southern Arkansas, Three Rivers College and West Alabama along with other universities.
On Wednesday, April 10, the Wendell Alexander Realty, Top Tier Auctions and Tennessee Department of Agriculture shrimp boil will take place at 5:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the UT Martin Rodeo Booster Club and will be held at the American Legion building in Martin. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be available for $25 per plate ($10 for ages 10 and under) with all proceeds going towards the UT Martin Rodeo Scholarship Fund.
Annually considered one of the biggest events on campus, the rodeo opens on Thursday with Tyson/Obion County Complex Performance Night. Friday’s action is Tennessee Tractor LLC Performance Night, as the Weakley County 4-H Mounted Drill Team will perform at 7:10 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday begins with the second annual Kids Rodeo from 9 to 11:30 a.m. inside the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex, and the free event is sponsored by My Animal Hospital of Jackson.
Saturday’s “Rodeo Roundup” also includes a Rodeo Booster Club free barbecue lunch sponsored by Edward Jones Investments. The meal will occur at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex and fans can meet and greet plus get autographs and photos with members of the Skyhawk rodeo team.
The Martin Paving Company Championship Finals are set for Saturday as the top-10 Ozark Region contestants from the previous rounds will compete in each event.
Garrett Yerigan returns as the public address announcer, while Dusty Myers will serve as rodeo clown and funny man. Universal Rodeos of Crenshaw, Mississippi, will fill the role of stock contractor.
The annual UT Martin silent auction features different items each night, as bidding will take place live at the rodeo, wrapping up during Friday’s action at 9 p.m. Proceeds go directly to the Skyhawk rodeo program for scholarships and facility upkeep. A link for the silent auction can be found at https://givebutter.com/c/M0c9iQ/auction.
Limited tickets are still on sale for each nightly session at this link: https://www.purplepass.com/#u54141/UT_Martin_Rodeo.html. Tickets are $12 each on Thursday and $20 for both Friday and Saturday performances. Children 5 and under are admitted free, but must sit in an adult’s lap. All seats are reserved and must be purchased online. Doors will open at 6 p.m. each evening.
For those who cannot attend, a live stream of each night’s performance round will be provided online for $10 per session. The live video stream can be purchased later this week at the ticket link.
Star 95.1 FM (WCDZ in Dresden) will broadcast the radio call live all three nights.
Photo: Rodeo participants enter the arena in a parade of flags in last year’s UTM Spring College Rodeo. The UT Martin collegiate rodeo dates back to 1969 and is an annual favorite in West Tennessee.
