66th Annual LRC Rodeo

LINCOLN — Rodeo fans swarm to the small town of Lincoln, Arkansas by the pickup and car loads eager to catch all the action of the annual Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo.

The event has been going strong for 66 years and top-notch cowboys and cowgirls marked this year’s dates of Aug. 8-10 on their calendars well in advance as did a host of royalty candidates, precision drill teams, varied guests and fans.

In addition to three rodeo performances, starting Thursday at 8 p.m. followed by Friday and Saturday night opportunities for competitors to get in the money; precision drill teams, the Regulators and the Arkansas Fillies, both spinoffs of the

the Lincoln Riding Club will appear.

Rodeo week begins Wednesday with the Little Mister and Little Miss contests held at 7 p.m. prior to the street dance which goes from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. with Howard Lester & the Boston Mountain Playboys providing a lively, danceable soundtrack. Little Mister and Little Miss winners will lead the stickhorse grand entry each night at 7:30 p.m.

Arkansas Fillies are a junior equestrian drill team comprised of dedicated, and talented cowgirls from ages 9-17. Directors are Amanda Arnold and Sherry Main, who along with teaching the girls routines, emphasize how to care for horses, responsibility, horsemanship and teamwork. The precision riding adventure keeps the cowgirls busy maintaining a focus on school and horses.

The Fillies practice weekly with Arnold and Main endeavoring to instill accountability while expecting professionalism from the young riders. They thrill audiences dashing into the arena on horseback with hair flowing out from their hats and get the crowd pumped up and ready for rodeo by executing pivots to begin the grand entry as they did at the 123rd Westville, Okla. Old Settler’s Day Rodeo in June. The Fillies won an award from the Siloam Springs Rodeo and Riding Club for “Best Riding Group” in a parade this year. A member of the Fillies, Alexis Arnold, came in first Runner-up in the Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks 2019 pageant held at Springdale earlier this summer.

Last year nearly $12,000 in prize money changed hands during the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo held Aug. 9-11, 2018 at Lincoln Riding Club Arena. Even without any qualifying bull rides there the grand total payout amounted to $11,950.80.

New last year was ranch bronc riding, something Lincoln Riding Club anticipated would draw more interest due to locals from an extended radius being eligible to compete.

Kylee Bobacher’s motto. “Be true, be you,” helped the Westville, Okla. cowgirl win the 2018 Miss Lincoln Riding Club queen contest. Bobacher won the Speech and Modeling as well as the Horsemanship portions of the contest, while first runner-up Hannah Taylor, of Fayetteville, won the highest sponsorship award.

The junior queen crown went to Judygail McNeely, of Westville, Okla., who also won the Speech and Modeling and Horsemanship portions of the contest. McNeeley was also recognized as “Miss Congeneality.” First runner-up Mika Arnold, of Lincoln, won the high sales raffles, banners and tickets award; plus the “Moving Up” award.

Chloie Thomas, of Farmington, won the 2018 Princess title, taking first in Speech and Modeling and Horsemanship portions of the contest. First runner-up Brooklyn Teague, of Siloam Springs, won the “Rising Star” award and “Miss Photogenic” award.

All three will preside over the 2019 Lincoln Rodeo.

MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER A cowboy hangs on as bronco erupts into bucking action right out of the chute during the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo Saturday night performance.