SIKESTON, Mo. (KFVS) - A fan-favorite event for the Bootheel and beyond is riding back into town.
The 72nd Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo returns August 7-10.
Gates open at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Tickets are on sale online and at the Rodeo Ticket Office.
The All-Inclusive Chute Club, for ages 21+, will be open Friday and Saturday.
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Rodeo Week kicks off the preceding weekend with several events.
Saturday, August 3
Almost 5K - Cowboy Shuffle
The 1.5 mile race begins at 9:55 a.m. at the Sikeston Kindergarten Center on E Salcedo Rd. The route ends at the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce on New Madrid St.
Check-in is from 9 to 9:30. People can pre-register by clicking here. The $20 fee is due at the ticket office by August 2. Day-of registration cost is $25.
The event is for all ages, with walking, running, and “cowboy shuffling” all being acceptable modes of transportation.
Participants will receive a rodeo goody bag and a rally towel. People can wear cowboy-style accessories, like bandanas and hats, to show their rodeo spirit. Dogs can also join runners on a leash.
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Prizes for the top three finishers include two tickets to the rodeo and a gift card for souvenirs and concessions.
Rodeo Parade
The parade begins at 10 a.m. Anyone can sign up to participate for free, with a deadline of August 2. Check-in for this event is also at 9 a.m. at the Kindergarten Center. The theme is Red, White, and Bulls. The top three floats win cash prizes.
Mutton Bustin’ - First Go Round
Children ages 4-7 will compete from noon to 2 p.m. at the Depot Museum on W Malone Ave. The first 60 registered get a spot in the first round.
The top 18 finishers move on to compete in the second round, taking place over the first three nights of the Rodeo. The Championship Round takes place Saturday night, August 10.
Registration for this event is closed.
Wednesday, August 7
The first night of the rodeo is Veterans Night, presented by First State Community Bank. Vets and active duty service members can get a discount on tickets by clicking here.
Bull Fighters Only and Mutton Bustin’ Round Two also take place, followed by entertainment from country artist Warren Zeiders.
Thursday, August 8
Night two is Community Night, presented by Alan Wire. It’s the last night of Bull Fighters Only. Mutton Bustin’ Round two continues. Christian artist Rhett Walker will take the stage to end the evening.
Friday, August 9
Behind the Chutes Tour
People can meet at the rodeo ticket office at 10 a.m. to get a behind-the-scenes look.
Rodeo Fan Favorites Autographs
Get an autograph from some rodeo greats from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Lambert’s Cafe.
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The event features Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 2023 Announcer of the Year Anthony Lucia, 10-time Clown of the Year Justin Rumford, and three-time Bullfighter of the Year Cody Webster.
National Finals Rodeo Bullfighter Chuck Swisher and professional rodeo clown Josh “Porkchop” Garrick will join.
Visit MO Night
The Missouri Division of Tourism will present Visit Mo Night on the third night of the rodeo. It’s the last night of Round Two for Mutton Bustin’. Grammy-winning rapper Ludacris will perform.
Saturday, August 10
To end Rodeo Week, the Championship Round of Mutton Bustin’ will take place, followed by a performance by Shane Smith and The Saints, featured on the Paramount hit show “Yellowstone.”
The Jaycees are also recognizing their partnership with SEMO Food Bank that night, a nonprofit fighting hunger across 16 counties in Southeast Missouri.
People can donate to the “Give Hunger the Boot” campaign and be entered to win four Party Porch passes on the final night of the 2025 Rodeo.
Every three years, the Jaycees select a local group to support during one night of the event. SEMO Food Bank will receive that spotlight this year, as well as the next two years.
“The Jaycees are wonderful supporters of the food bank. They partner with us on our ‘Sack Hunger’ and our ‘Strike Out Hunger’ campaigns that we do with SEMO,” Heather Collier said. “[They’ve] already committed for every bull ride...that goes the full eight seconds, they’re going to give us a donation.”
Shirts featuring the “Give Hunter the Boot” design will be sold on Saturday night, with proceeds going to the food bank. Currently, the organization serves 80,000 people across 16 Southeastern Missouri counties every month.
Donate to support the cause and enter to win Party Porch passes by clicking here.
2024 Rodeo Chairman Clay Driskill said this year, people can look forward to improvements to the rodeo grounds, including new grandstands and deluxe seating. “We’re very fortunate over the past few years to have some great successful rodeos. We’ve invested about $2 million into our grounds...to make the patrons’ experience a lot more comfortable.”
The Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is known around the nation. Driskill said attendance averages about 40,000 people over the four nights. “We get cowboys that travel from Canada, but you’ll see a lot of license plates out there from Michigan, Wisconsin, Alabama, all throughout the United States.”
The Jaycees work hard to get things lined up, beginning preparation for the event 18 months ahead of time. However, it simply couldn’t be done without local support.
“It’s one of the largest volunteer rodeos throughout the country. That speaks volumes to how much this community supports it year-in, and year-out. We couldn’t do what we do every year without the community support.”
Driskill said people always wonder how some of the entertainment acts find their way to the Bootheel. “That’s the funny question we get every year, ‘How do you guys go about getting some of these acts?’”
Some big names in country music have performed at the Sikeston Rodeo Grounds over the past seven decades, from late greats like Loretta Lynn to modern sensations like Morgan Wallen.
Including a wider selection of genres has only served to boost numbers. Thursday’s performance by Rhett Walker will mark the first by a gospel artist. “We’ve learned that the more diverse we become in our music lineup, the better attendance we get.”
That’s important since the rodeo contributes to various causes and groups around the community. Recipients include Kenny Rogers Children’s Center, Sikeston Bulldog Pantry, the YMCA of Southeast Missouri, and more.
“Every year, we’re averaging over $150,000 that we can put right back into the Sikeston community. Over the last decade, that’s over a million dollars.”
Tickets for the 2024 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo are on sale now. For questions, contact 1-800-455-BULL,
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