High School Rodeo Finals Approaching

The Illinois High School Rodeo Association State Finals are scheduled Thursday-Saturday, June 12-14 at the Effingham County Fairgrounds at Altamont.

The finals will again be preceded this year by a Rodeo Kickoff Parade on Wednesday evening, June 11 in downtown Effingham.  

The parade will take the traditional route down Maple Street to Jefferson Avenue, and then east on Jefferson to the Courthouse Museum.  Lineup will begin at 6:15pm, and the parade will step off at 6:30pm.  To enter the parade, you may phone 618-483-6176.  Entries will also be accepted at the parade.

The parade theme is "Superhero" and colors are red, blue, yellow and green.

Other activities downtown that night will include a barbecue cookout on the lawn of the Old Courthouse from 5-8pm sponsored by Martin's IGA+.  Proceeds will go to the High School Rodeo Association Scholarship Fund.  Featured entertainer for the night will be Big Spike Hammer, at 7pm.

The scene will shift to the fairgrounds at Altamont for the rodeo finals, starting at 12:30pm Thursday the 12th with a Special Kids Rodeo for children with special needs.  

Universal Rodeo Company has been hired as this year's State Finals stock contractors.  The company has provided stock for many rodeo events, as well as being stock contractors for the National High School Rodeo Association Finals.

The first of four rounds of competition will begin at 7pm, featuring the return after a long absence of Mutton Bustin' for the kids ages five to seven.  Each competition will feature barrel racing, steer wrestling, tie down roping, breakaway roping, goat tying, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, pole bending, team roping and the most dangerous sport on dirt, bull riding.

On Friday, there will be another round of competition at 7pm with another session of Mutton Bustin'.  That will be Alumni Night, where all alumni of Illinois High School Rodeo will be recognized in the arena.  

Saturday will feature the final two competitions for this year's Rodeo Finals.  The day will begin with the Annual Scholarship Breakfast at the Fairgrounds hosted by S&W Supermarket in Altamont and by Altamont Mayor Larry Taylor.  All proceeds will go to the Rodeo Scholarship Fund.  The community is invited to attend the breakfast before heading out to Altamont's Community Garage Sales that day.

Another round of rodeo action will begin at 12 noon with a special kids event for those ages 6 to 10.  The final round of rodeo action will begin at 7pm with the Grand Entry.  The new rodeo queen will be crowned that evening, and there will be one final round of Mutton Bustin'.

Ticket prices in advance are $8 for an adult for a single event and $25 for an adult weekend pass.  Tickets at the gates will be $10 for an adult single event or $30 for an adult weekend pass.  Children's tickets are free if accompanying a paid adult.

Tickets are available by phoning 618-483-6176 or at The Altamont News or Peoples Bank and Trust in Altamont; Cowden Medical Clinic in Cowden; or Martin's IGA+ or Rural King in Effingham.