Parade To Pay Dirt
Mississippi Black Rodeo brings excitement to Jackson
July 7, 2013
by Terricha Bradley-Phillips
Clarion Ledger
Call them “Real Cowboys.” Hundreds of riders with the Real Cowboy Association had a bucking, galloping good time Saturday at the 11th Annual Mississippi Black Rodeo at the Mississippi Coliseum. The experience was a first for Otis Riley of Kosciusko, who came to the event because his children wanted to see cowboys and cowgirls up close.
“I really enjoyed it,” Riley said, “It was real exciting. The guys riding the bulls and the ladies riding around the barrels. I’ll be back next year.”
The rodeo’s events included team calf roping, bull riding, steer doggin’, rough stock riding, junior break-away, junior barrel racing and ladies steer undecorating. Recording artists Cupid, Lil Falley and Noel Gourdin entertained the crowds.
Frank Penny Edwards founded RCA and started the black rodeo circuit to show another side of the experience.
“We always say we got the ‘baddest show on dirt,’ ” said Edwards of Longview, Texas. “We’re going from city to city, and we’re selling out everywhere we go.”
For the Jackson rodeo, 626 cowboys represented 13 states including Pennsylvania, Florida and Louisiana. A Saturday morning parade had local riders trotting on horses, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office deputies on horseback and drivers in shiny Corvettes tossing candy.
A tailgate on the state fairgrounds gave off the aroma of barbecue before the afternoon and evening shows.
Inside the packed coliseum, spectators got their fill of concessions, and clothing vendors sold merchandise, cowboy hats and lighted toys. RCA member and Ed and Tim’s Hats vendor Tim Walker said sales are always strong in Jackson.
“This is the best show in the circuit,” said Walker, a former calf roper from Ridgeland. “For one thing, they have two shows ... and the crowd and tailgating is excellent. Maybe one day, (Edwards) can do three shows. Hopefully, it gets to that level.”
Jeremy Landry of Lafayette, La., fared well in tie-down calf roping. “It’s just a passion,” he said about rodeos and riding. “I’m not going to say it’s an addiction, but when you start, it’s hard to stop.”
The ladies open barrels event winner LaBrelah Hutchins of Natchez enjoys traveling to different states on the RCA circuit.
“I enjoy the open barrels event because I’ve been doing it longer. You go so fast your hat doesn’t stay on,” said Hutchins, with a 13.7 second finish.
“Once I run, hear the loud crowd, it makes me go faster. I enjoy the rush.”
Mississippi Black Rodeo brings excitement to Jackson
July 7, 2013
by Terricha Bradley-Phillips
Clarion Ledger
A rider and his mount entertain the crowd gathered along West Street during the Mississippi
Black Rodeo Parade held in downtown Jackson Saturday morning.
See the Video Link to the 11th Annual RCA Black Rodeo(photo credit: Vickie D. King)
Black Rodeo Parade held in downtown Jackson Saturday morning.
See the Video Link to the 11th Annual RCA Black Rodeo(photo credit: Vickie D. King)
Call them “Real Cowboys.” Hundreds of riders with the Real Cowboy Association had a bucking, galloping good time Saturday at the 11th Annual Mississippi Black Rodeo at the Mississippi Coliseum. The experience was a first for Otis Riley of Kosciusko, who came to the event because his children wanted to see cowboys and cowgirls up close.
“I really enjoyed it,” Riley said, “It was real exciting. The guys riding the bulls and the ladies riding around the barrels. I’ll be back next year.”
The rodeo’s events included team calf roping, bull riding, steer doggin’, rough stock riding, junior break-away, junior barrel racing and ladies steer undecorating. Recording artists Cupid, Lil Falley and Noel Gourdin entertained the crowds.
Frank Penny Edwards founded RCA and started the black rodeo circuit to show another side of the experience.
“We always say we got the ‘baddest show on dirt,’ ” said Edwards of Longview, Texas. “We’re going from city to city, and we’re selling out everywhere we go.”
For the Jackson rodeo, 626 cowboys represented 13 states including Pennsylvania, Florida and Louisiana. A Saturday morning parade had local riders trotting on horses, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office deputies on horseback and drivers in shiny Corvettes tossing candy.
A tailgate on the state fairgrounds gave off the aroma of barbecue before the afternoon and evening shows.
Inside the packed coliseum, spectators got their fill of concessions, and clothing vendors sold merchandise, cowboy hats and lighted toys. RCA member and Ed and Tim’s Hats vendor Tim Walker said sales are always strong in Jackson.
“This is the best show in the circuit,” said Walker, a former calf roper from Ridgeland. “For one thing, they have two shows ... and the crowd and tailgating is excellent. Maybe one day, (Edwards) can do three shows. Hopefully, it gets to that level.”
Jeremy Landry of Lafayette, La., fared well in tie-down calf roping. “It’s just a passion,” he said about rodeos and riding. “I’m not going to say it’s an addiction, but when you start, it’s hard to stop.”
The ladies open barrels event winner LaBrelah Hutchins of Natchez enjoys traveling to different states on the RCA circuit.
“I enjoy the open barrels event because I’ve been doing it longer. You go so fast your hat doesn’t stay on,” said Hutchins, with a 13.7 second finish.
“Once I run, hear the loud crowd, it makes me go faster. I enjoy the rush.”
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