TVCC rodeo Friday and Saturday

It’s time to rodeo up!

The 5th annual Trinity Valley Community College National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo is scheduled Friday and Saturday at the Henderson County Fair Park Complex.

Competition is scheduled at 7:30 each night with slack beginning at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Each night during the performance, children can compete in a calf scramble to win prizes.

“We always have a lot of fun with that (calf scramble),” Bratton said. “It’s a great way for kids to come out and find out what we’re all about.”

TVCC rodeo coach Brent Bratton said approximately 400 contestants, representing 20 college and universities, are expected to compete. Expected to compete with Bratton’s talented squad are Hill College, Southwest Texas Junior College, McNeese State University, 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.

Each NIRA member college has its own club composed of student members and sponsored by a faculty advisor 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.

The TVCC roping team of Wenceslao “Lightning” Aguilera and Kolby “Thunder” Miller is currently ranked No. 1 in the region.
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.

All proceeds generated by the rodeo are given back to the students to further their education, according to Bratton.
Sponsors of the 2013 event include: Henderson County Farm Bureau, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Royal Mountain Inn, Athens Bank, Kevin Lilly’s McDonald’s, Champion Genetics, Miars Arabians, Whataburger, Bent Bucket Ministries, Smith Pro Rodeo, Carr Pro Rodeo, ETMC EMS, Southside Feed, North 19 Fire & Rescue, Reynolds New York Store, Ag-Power, Inc., Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative, KCKL 95.9FM, Red Line Power, Citizens National Bank, Lone Star Western Wear, Mark Roberts, DDS, Marion’s Shell & Service Center, Heritage Land Bank, Dillon Manufacturing, Agri-Land Farm Credit Services, Athens Cleaners, Mill’s Feed & Supply, First State Bank, Bar None Cowboy Church, Jalapeno Tree, Prosperity Bank, Big Tom Construction, Athens Lumber & Supply, Spencer Hardware, East Texas Ag Services, Henderson County Veterinary Hospital, Citizens State Bank, Cox Trailers, Iron Hill Ranch, McMurray’s Signs, East Texas Crushed Rock, Palmer Trucking and The Cutting Company.