BOOTHEEL RODEO STARTS WEDNESDAY

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Charlie Daniels will sing "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" when the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo kicks off Wednesday, and Ty Herndon will sing about "What Mattered Most" when the rodeo ends Saturday, Aug. 11. In between, audiences will be treated to the songs of Collin Raye and Lonestar and a whole lot of rodeo competition under the rodeo grounds' new state-of-the-art lighting.

This is the 49th annual rodeo the Jaycees have sponsored in Sikeston. The rodeo annually raises $100,000 used to fund Jaycees projects.

This year, the Jaycees upgraded the lighting at the rodeo grounds. "It was needed, especially for the timed events," says Allen Meeks, president of the Jaycee Rodeo Board of Directors.

Meeks says tickets are selling well, with Saturday night's performance by Herndon leading the way. The rodeo often sells all 11,000 tickets available on Saturday night.

Daniels, who appeals to a variety of audiences because he plays country, rock, bluegrass and blues, is the only performer making a return engagement to the rodeo.

Raye, whose nine No. 1 singles include "My Kind of Girl" and "I Can Still Feel You," will be in Sikeston Thursday. The band Lonestar, whose hits include "Come Cryin' To Me" and the mega-selling "Amazed," will play Friday night. Herndon comes with a TNN 1996 Male Artist of the Year award and a host of hits that include "A Man Holding on to a Woman Letting Go" and "It Must Be Love."

Rodeo events will include bullfighting, bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding. At least 10 of the top cowboys in the nation will compete in each of the events. Only two of the top 20 barrel racers entered. Meeks says the barrel racers tend to stay in the West to compete.

Cowboy clown Rick "The Agin' Cajun" Young will make his 42nd appearance at the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo.

Want to go?

When: Pre-rodeo activities begin at 7 p.m., the rodeo at 7:30 p.m., with musical entertainers performing between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. The rodeo will be held Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11.

Where: Rodeo grounds, 1220 N. Ingram Road. Take exit 69 off Interstate 55, west on Highway HH. Turn south on Ingram Road.

Tickets: $20 for box seats, $13 for bleacher seats, for both adults and children. Phone (800) 455-2855 or 471-7196 for ticket information. More information is available at the Web site, www. Sikestonrodeo.com.