By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information
Trinity Valley Community College welcomes the public to the 6th Annual National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Rodeo! The rodeo will be held Feb. 7-8.
Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. each evening at The Henderson County Fair Park Complex with slack beginning at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Each night during the rodeo performance, children can compete in a Calf Scramble to win prizes.
All proceeds generated by the rodeo are given back to the students to further their education.
General admission tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance at Lone Star Western Wear in Athens, or on the night of the performance at the gate. Free admission will be given for those with a current TVCC ID.
Each NIRA member college has its own club composed of student members and sponsored by a faculty adviser who supervises the club’s activities. Each year, a men’s team consisting of six members and a four-member women’s team is chosen from each school. These team members travel to the regional rodeos competing against other NIRA member schools. Those not chosen for the team may compete on an individual basis and still be eligible for all prizes except those given to the team. The top three contestants in each event from each of the NIRA’s 11 regions qualify to compete in the CNFR. The top two men’s teams and women’s teams also qualify from the regions.
Coming from as far away as Louisiana, the event will feature approximately 400
contestants representing 20 colleges and universities including: Hill College, Southwest Texas Junior College, McNeese State University, Trinity Valley Community College, Northeast Texas Community College, Lone Star Community College – Montgomery, Panola Junior College, Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and Wharton County Junior College.
Several local hotels are offering competitive rates for rodeo competitors and families. Please contact the Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Royal Mountain Inn, and Super 8 to learn more. Don’t forget to mention that you’re with the TVCC Rodeo event to receive these special rates.
Our sponsors who make this possible are: Living For The Brand Cowboy Church, Henderson County Farm Bureau, Athens Bank, Kevin Lilly’s McDonalds, Citizens National Bank, Red Line Power Equipment, Best Western Plus, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, ETMC EMS, Bent Bucket Ministries, Mark Roberts D.D.S., Miars Enterprises LP, Southside Feed, Reynolds New York Store, Mills Feed, First State Bank, Ag Power Inc., KCKL, Whataburger, Texas Farm Credit, Champion Genetics, TVEC, Heritage Land Bank, Tractor Supply, Wal-Mart, Lone Star Western and Casual, Athens Cleaners and Laundry, Prosperity Bank, Henderson Veterinary Clinic, Athens Tractor and Equipment, Athens Equine, Action Cattle Company, Spencer Hardware, East Texas Ag Supply, Athens Lumber and Supply, and Morton Small Animal Clinic.