The 51st annual UTM Spring College Rodeo is set for Thursday, April 11 through Saturday, April 13 at the Ned Ray McWherter Agricultural Pavilion and NW (Doc) Robinson Arena.
The UT Martin rodeo, which has been spotlighted as the Ozark Region’s “Rodeo of the Year” for 13 straight years, begins at 7:30 p.m. on all three dates. Timed events and rough stock events (including bull riding) will take place every night as the highly anticipated event serves as a springboard for the 2019 College National Finals Rodeo, held on June 9-15 in Casper, Wyo.
All tickets are $6 for Thursday night’s session while adult tickets are $10 on Friday and $12 on Saturday. Tickets for children ages 6-12 and UT Martin student with a valid ID are $7 for both Friday and Saturday. Children ages 5 and under get in free with a paid adult.
In addition to UT Martin, teams from the University of Arkansas-Monticello, East Mississippi Community College, University of Kentucky, Mississippi State University, Missouri Valley College, Murray State University, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Pearl River Community College, Southern Arkansas University, University of Tennessee, Three Rivers College and University of West Alabama are scheduled to appear over the three-day event.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a crawfish supper at the American Legion building in Martin on Wednesday, April 10 at 5:30 p.m. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be available as well as corn on the cob and new potatoes. Tickets are $15 per person for the event that is put on by the UTM Rodeo Booster Club to raise money for the UT Martin Rodeo Scholarship Fund.
Thursday is Tyson, Obion County Complex Performance night as fans can enter a drawing for a chance to win an MTD riding lawnmower. The Weakley County 4-H Mounted Drill Team will conduct the opening.
Friday is Tennessee Tractor, LLC Performance night and is also “Orange Night” to raise money for the Wyatt Cole Memorial Scholarship Fund. If the MTD riding lawnmower is not won on Thursday, a second drawing will take place that evening while the Weakley County 4-H Mounted Drill Team will perform a special presentation at both 7:10 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday will begin with Edward Jones Investments hosting a free barbecue lunch at 11 a.m. in the downtown Martin Festival Park. The Martin Paving Company Championship Finals follows that evening where the top-10 contestants from the opening two rounds will compete in a battle of the best of the best.
Garrett Yerigan will once again serve as this year’s announcer while rodeo clown and funny man Dusty Myers will also be featured. Top bucking bulls and horses will be provided by Mark Johnson of Universal Rodeos in Jonesboro, Ark.
A silent auction will be held during all three nights of the rodeo to help fund the UT Martin Rodeo Scholarship Fund. A scholarship auction will also take place at noon on Saturday after the free county-wide barbecue. For a full list of auction items, please visit the UTM Rodeo Facebook page.
Action from all three nights can be heard through the radio airwaves locally on Star 95.1 FM.
