RANCH RODEO AT GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS EXPO CENTER

This year’s Ranch Rodeo will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center in White Pine. The rodeo is one of the most popular events of the annual Walters State Ag Club Winter Horse Series.

The Ranch Rodeo features teams of professional cowboys and cowgirls competing in events like calf doctoring, calf branding and wild cow milking. Young cowhands can get in on the action with calf ribbon chases (ages 5-6, 7-8 and 9-10) and the stick horse race for ages 2-4. Children can bring their own stick horses or use one provided by the Ag Club.

Families will also enjoy trick riding by Kylie Arrington of Glade Spring, Va. and Mutton Bustin by Tri-C Farms. Arrington rides in a similar style to the trick riders seen at Dixie Stampede. Mutton Bustin is similar to bull riding, except children ride sheep. Most children will fall within the first eight seconds.

This is the sixth annual ranch rodeo sponsored by the Walters State Ag Club. Each year, the event has grown in both attendance and activities.

The event is a fundraiser for the Walters State Agriculture Department and proceeds are used for scholarships. Since the Winter Horse Series’ inception over 10 years ago, more than $60,000 has been raised.

For agriculture students, the horse series is part of an agriculture event management class. The series also provides a chance for agriculture students to meet and work with alumni.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students aged seven-17. Students six and under get in free. Tickets are available in advance from participating FFA members. Tickets are also available at the door before the event.

Care is taken to make sure no animals are harmed during the Ranch Rodeo. For example, calf “branding” is done with paint, not an actual brand. A veterinarian is present throughout the event. 

Source: WSCC