SIKESTON -- After this weekend, the Sikeston Jaycees Bootheel Rodeo probably will be among the 10 biggest in the country, Jaycees say.

But for the next few days, rodeo organizers will have to settle for the 15th largest rodeo in the country. The rodeo begins tonight.

"More people are watching rodeo now more than ever," said Dennis Fraser, publicity chairman for the Jaycees, "and with our purse and attendance this year, we'll probably be in the top 10."

Rodeo organizers said the purse, or total prize money, is approaching $120,000. He said the purse combined with robust ticket sales put the rodeo among the country's biggest and best.

"We always get pretty good entertainment, and this year we have 319 entrants, more than we've ever had," Fraser said.

Entrants are the cowboys and cowgirls competing in barrel racing, bronco riding, calf roping and bull riding.

The best in the world come to the Sikeston rodeo.

The entertainment includes country music stars Sammy Kershaw tonight, Confederate Railroad on Thursday, Tracy Byrd on Friday and Ken Mellons on Saturday.

Fraser said almost 40,000 people attended the rodeo last year, and organizers expect more people this year. The arena seats 11,000 people, and he expects all of those seats to be filled.

The telephone lines for rodeo information were busy Thursday. "I think it's been non-stop," Fraser said.

The rodeo gets a jump start today at 5 p.m. with a parade from the River Birch Mall to Sikeston High School. The rodeo begins at 7:30 each night.

Fraser said 10 acres of parking north of the rodeo grounds have been added this year. Visitors are asked to enter the grounds from the north to take advantage of the additional parking.

For more information, call rodeo coordinators at 1-800-455-2855.