Professional bull riding event comes to Sikeston this weekend

SIKESTON, Mo. -- For an exciting performance that will get people engaged, the Sikeston Jaycees say they have just the ticket for next weekend, when professional bull riding makes its return.

"It's the longest eight seconds in the world," said Eric Sadler, this year's chairman. "It's action-packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat."

Forty of the top bull riders in the world will compete at this year's event, set to begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with gates opening at 7 p.m. at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo grounds.

"They're going to be active -- we've got bulls that will be jumping six feet in the air and riders will be getting swung off," Sadler said. "There will be some good rides."

The top 10 riders from each night will again compete in a short competition that evening. "They'll combine the two scores together to see who has the highest score and wins the event," Sadler said.

Co-chairman Daniel Beck said the rides may be so tough, there won't even be 10 at the end of the night who make it through the entire eight-second ride to compete again.

Some of the top riders in the world are coming to Sikeston to participate in the event. Those include J.B. Mooney, ranked No. 4 currently, as well as Cord McCoy and Austin Meier.

"We've got about 14 of the Top 40 coming," Sadler said.

Also competing will be two hometown boys -- Justin Wibbenmeyer, a Jaycee member, and Andrew Cowger, a Kelly High School graduate -- Sadler said. Comedian Rick Young will also be back as the barrel man and to entertain the

audience.

One thing that attracts so many cowboys to Sikeston's PBR event -- there are several others planned for the same weekend -- is the $25,000 purse.

Right now, ticket sales are up a bit from the same point last year, Sadler said.

All the proceeds from the event go back to the community through donations to several charities and foundations around the region. A few of the beneficiaries of the Jaycees' events include the YMCA of Southeast Missouri, the Kenny Rogers Children's Center and the Sikeston Public Schools Foundation.

The event is sponsored by the Jaycees and Health Facilities Rehab in Sikeston.

Concessions and novelties will also be available at this year's event. Tickets will be on sale in advance and at the gates. Box seats will be $18 each and bleacher seats are $12 each. For more information, call 573-471-4295 or 877-472-5233 or go to www.sikestonpbr.com.