The Licking Chamber of Commerce this week will play host to its 30th Annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Artwork for the event has once again been provided by local artist Lanie Frick, who has generously donated her talents to the chamber for several years now. This year’s logo is “American Pride” and features a horse’s head with a furled flag background. The logo will be featured on the 2014 rodeo booklet, T-shirts, posters and tickets.
Featured entertainer for this year’s rodeo is Jerry Wayne Olson, who will be coming with a bag of tricks and talents to keep the audience laughing and inspired. Jerry has 10 times been named in the top five PRCA Specialty Acts of the Year and has performed for audiences far and wide, all the way from Mile Marker 0 in Canada to the Florida Everglades, and from New York’s renowned Madison Square Garden to the Cow Palace in San Francisco.
This year’s barrel man is “Backflip” Johnny Dudley, who has plenty of clown acts appealing to audiences of all ages.
The pre-show entertainment for Thursday and Saturday evenings will feature Gary and Diane Davenport, who formerly performed their musical and comedy routine at the Frontier Theater in Marshfield. Pre-show entertainers on Friday will be the Exceptional Equestrian Veterans’ Division.
Tonight (Thursday) is Senior Night, and everyone age 55 and over with proper identification will be admitted for half price. Friday night is Military Night, and all active-duty and retired military with proper ID can get in for free and their spouses for half price.
Saturday night is Pink Night. All cowboys and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.
The Licking chamber will again host Rodeo Saturday during the daytime. With South Main Street blocked off from the four-way stop to Old Salem Road, vendors and craft demonstrators will be set up, selling food and other items and demonstrating old-time crafts. The event will also include musical entertainment, clog dancing and kids’ games.
The highlight of Rodeo Saturday will be the annual parade. This year’s theme is “Celebrating 30 Years of Cowboys, Kids and Country,” and former Licking city clerk and administrator Myrna Van Deusen will be the grand marshal. Prizes will be awarded for the top three floats — $100 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third.
For more information about the PRCA (including bios of rodeo competitors and “star” animals, standings, history, a nationwide schedule and more), log onto www.prorodeo.com.