SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KFSM) — The 75th annual Rodeo of the Ozarks starts this week (June 26-29) in Northwest Arkansas.
Rodeo of the Ozarks is one of the top 5 largest outdoor rodeos in the U.S., bringing in over 500 of the best cowboys and cowgirls for four nights.
Several people were at Parsons Stadium Tuesday (June 25) for Rodeo Slack, a preview of what's to come this week.
"Slack is just all of the people who aren’t actually in the rodeo but they are still entered to win money and everything so they just come here to show what they got," said Rounder Katlyn Collins.
Now that Rodeo Slack has passed, Rodeo of the Ozarks Rounders start practicing for their big debut.
"First off we do little organizations and we help out kids and foster groups. We just do all these things to help the community and then for the rodeo we come here to perform and we just do a little drill team. And this year we’re doing a lights out routine," Collins said.
The Rounders say their favorite part is to help out the community.
"My favorite part is just getting to come here and looking at the environment and all the little kids that look up to us and it’s just so much fun to be a role model for everyone," Collins said.
Other people who attended Rodeo Slack are the workers in charge of Mutton Bustin'.
"We just help and it’s a lot of fun for little kids. You get to see them get on and have fun since they can’t participate in anything else," said rodeo worker Allie Bowerman.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Wednesday (June 26) and Mutton Bustin' begins at 6:30 p.m. The rodeo is set to start at 7:30 p.m. at Parsons Stadium in Springdale.
The parade will be Saturday (June 29) at 3 p.m. It will begin at the rodeo grounds and proceed west through Downtown Springdale.
General admission tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for kids. The rodeo begins Wednesday (June 26) and runs through Saturday (June 29).
For more information, you can visit the rodeo's website or call 1-877-92-RODEO.