Rodeo kicks off summer festivities

Lockhart”s annual summer festivities will kick off this weekend with the 43rd Annual Kiwanis Club Rodeo at the Jack Schneider Arena (just east of Lockhart State Park on FM 20).
The rodeo has undergone a number of changes this year, not the least of which being a scheduling change from the weekend of the Chisholm Trail Roundup to the weekend before.

“This gives u

s the opportunity to stretch this community festival into a ten-day event,” said Kiwanis Club president Shane Sklar. “Also, there are so many people who divide their time between the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of Commerce, between the rodeo and CTR. We thought that this would give everyone more of a chance to participate.”
The two-day event, sanctioned by the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association, will be produced by the Flying J Rodeo Company of Hamshire, Texas. The Flying J has offered up award-winning stock to rodeos nationwide for more than 40 years. This year”s production will include standby favorites such as barrel racing and bull riding, and a new children”s event, “Mutton Bustin”.”
According to Sklar, the new event will give children the opportunity to participate in the rodeo.
“We had to impose a weight limit, but not an age limit,” he said. “The riders will be judged by the same judges who will overseeing the bull riding, and judged in the same kind of way. We have trophies for the highest scores.”
Sklar said would-be participants in mutton bustin” will have to register and 10 names will be drawn to compete.
Another addition to the rodeo is the introduction of arts and crafts vendors and live music.
“There will only be a few booths,” Sklar said. “And Black”s Barbecue will be at the concession stand.”
Although live music was introduced at the rodeo last year, problems with the weather prevented the Friday night performance from taking the stage as scheduled. This year, the Kiwanis Club is confident that the weather will hold, and performances will go on as scheduled.
On Friday June 4, rising country star Todd Fritsch will open the rodeo with a live music performance at 7:00 pm, with an additional performance during intermission. The Whiskey River Band from Victoria, Texas will perform on Saturday. Rodeo action is set to begin at 8 pm on both Friday and Saturday.
According to Kiwanis treasurer Dick Wieland, proceeds from the rodeo are used each year to fund local scholarships, sponsor little league teams, Project Graduation and the Caldwell County Junior Livestock Show and to assist a number of local and worldwide youth organizations and children”s charities.