Washington County Enterprise-Leader

Rodeo Week Kicks Off In Lincoln

- By Mark Humphrey

LINCOLN — The 66th annual Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo arrives on schedule this week with action getting underway Thursday through Saturday at the LRC Arena west of town.

The rodeo is once again cosanction­ed by the American Cowboys Profession­al Rodeo Associatio­n (ACPRA) and the Internatio­nal Profession­al Rodeo Associatio­n (IPRA).

Among fan favorites rodeo competitio­n features: steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc, team roping, bareback riding, barrel racing, calf roping, and break away roping. This year’s events also include Junior barrels 15 and under and Pee Wee barrels 8 and under with mutton busting held all three nights. Junior barrel contestant­s must sign up nightly.

Kids can get in on mutton busting each night of the rodeo.

The stickhorse grand entry is 7:30 p.m. each night led by the 2019 Little Mister and Little Miss, who will be selected during a contest held Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Square prior to the street dance featuring Howard Lester & the Boston Mountain Playboys from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Among the 2019 candidates for Little Miss are: Delilah Alvarez, 5, of Siloam Springs; Dalli Jo Fisher, 5, of Vian, Okla.; and Alaina Nickles, 3, of Lincoln. Gauge Perkins, 3, of Farmington, is a candidate for Little Mister.

Big Horn Rodeo, of Lamar, Okla., is the stock contractor for 2019.

Profession­al rodeo clown and barrelman Michael “Goobie” Smith, known as one of the best entertaine­rs in the industry, serves as clown for the 2019 Lincoln Rodeo. According to his bio, posted on the LRC website, Smith got his nickname from a well-respected contractor in the rodeo industry, who along with several of Smith’s rodeo colleagues, began referring to him as “Goobie” prior to his clowning career as a result of the numerous pranks and jokes he often hassled his friends with.

A former competitor on the profession­al rodeo circuit in bareback and bullriding, Smith sustained a serious injury that fractured his skull in four places. He refused to walk away from rodeo and began fighting bulls establishi­ng award-winning routines, acts, and comedy that have been enjoyed across the entire United States and in other countries.

Smith wants to assure fans attending a rodeo he is performing at that there will be no scripts used in his routines. Smith takes pride in his work and works to make sure fans are treated to a show that is unique, different and exciting.

Presiding over the 66th annual Lincoln Rodeo are 2018 Miss Lincoln Riding Club rodeo queen Kylee Bobacher, of Westville, Okla.; 2018 junior queen Judy Gail McNeely, of Westville, Okla.; and 2018 princess Chloie Thomas, of Farmington. Karson Sampley and Emma Parker won the 2018 Little Mister and Little Miss titles.

On Saturday, the rodeo parade lines up at 4 p.m. at the LRC Arena with the parade beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Royalty finalists for 2019 will be announced during the Saturday rodeo performanc­e. Five candidates for queen are: Landree Cunningham, 16, of Lincoln; Kinsey Driver, 21, of Springdale; Bailee Ory, 17, of Gentry; Elyse Perdue, 19, of Gentry; and Lindsey Thompson, 21, of Siloam Springs. Junior queen candidates are: Shania Downing, 13, of Farmington; Savannah Perkins, 12, of Farmington; and Arianna Price, 15, of West Siloam Springs, Okla. Bailey Sizemore, 9, of Watts, Okla., is a candidate for princess.

It’s time for rodeo.

 ?? MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER ?? Kendal Reynolds, and his grandson, Bentley Sheets, 5, of Seligman, Mo. appeared in the Lincoln Rodeo parade on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Bentley’s two ponies, “Rodeo,” which he is riding, and “Cowboy,” which Reynolds is leading, were incorporat­ed into a skit with rodeo clown during the Saturday night rodeo performanc­e.
MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Kendal Reynolds, and his grandson, Bentley Sheets, 5, of Seligman, Mo. appeared in the Lincoln Rodeo parade on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. Bentley’s two ponies, “Rodeo,” which he is riding, and “Cowboy,” which Reynolds is leading, were incorporat­ed into a skit with rodeo clown during the Saturday night rodeo performanc­e.

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