Wranglin’ good time at Stampede Rodeo

If you missed the Pickens County Sheriff’s Foundation’s 5th Annual Stampede you may have been the only one. The unprecedented crowd that gathered shortly after the rain stopped Saturday evening meant the ever-growing event is continuing that trend.Cool temperatures greeted rodeo guests as well as all the western fun one could take in. The Southern Rodeo sanctioned event, held both May 9 and 10, included barrel racing, team roping, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding. Of course, the highlights of the evening were the bull riding and the monster truck exhibition.

In between events, the crowd laughed at the rodeo clown’s antics including a “Duck Patrol” skit and his dance routines. To welcome crowd participation, a Kids Calf Scramble and to honor Mother’s Day, a Ladies Calf Scramble were conducted. In the two scrambles, kids between the ages of 5-11 and ladies over the age of 18 were invited into the arena. They lined up at one end while two young calves were released from the opposite end with ribbons attached to their tails. It was then up to the scramblers to high-tail it and chase those calves down. Cash prizes were awarded to the two in each division who grabbed and raced the ribbons back to the other end first.

Everyone was hyped up for the monster truck event, featuring Wrangler’s Strait Jacket truck. The crowd cheered as two Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department patrol cars were demolished under the wheels of the giant monster.

The annual event is hosted by Sackett’s Western Wear, Tack and Feed and Jasper Jeep.

Please see the slideshow and the brief video of the show from Saturday night.