The award-winning Shady Dale Rodeo, sanctioned by the International Professional Rodeo Association and produced by the Masonic Lodges of Jasper County, will be held at 8 p.m. June 7 and 8.
Now in its 30th year, the rodeo is held on Ga. Highway 83, just south of the red flashing light at the intersection with Ga. Highway 142 in downtown Shady Dale. This year’s event will feature the best cowboys and cowgirls from across North America competing for $35,000 in prize money. Competitions will include bare back and saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping, world championship bull riding and a calf scramble for ages 6 to 12.
A variety of concessions will be for sale, including home-cooked barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers, boiled peanuts and crowd favorites, the “Farm Bureau lady’s” homemade cakes, pies, cookies and other sweets.
Mike Wentworth will return this year as the clown, and Jerry and Janell Thornton will perform trick and roman riding moves on their steeds Bolero and Shades of Gold. In addition, the Southern Exposure Drill Team will perform.
Rodeo announcer David Sharp of “ Xtreme Bulls” on ESPN will be back, along with the reigning Miss Rodeo USA, Lauren Terry of Moulton Ala. She will sign autographs at Town & Country in Monticello from 9-10 a.m. Saturday and at Hays Tractor and Equipment in Mansfield from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
On June 8, Shady Dale’s Rodeo Roundup Festival will entertain fans with music, vendors and good eats beginning at 9 a.m. The award-winning, mile long American Legion - Al Shiah Shrine parade will begin at 3 p.m., with local hero Marine Lt. DeWayne Sorrells of Shady Dale as grand marshall.
Rodeo admission is $15, with children 10 and under admitted free Friday and Saturday nights. All proceeds from rodeo ticket sales and concessions will benefit Scottish Rite Care for the hearing impaired, The Shrine Burn Hospital, The York Rite Eye Foundation, The Masonic Children’s Home in Macon and will help to provide college scholarships for local youths.
Parking is free. For more information, call 706-468-6296 or go to shadydalerodeo.com.
