by Travis Hendryx, Office of Public Relations
For the 74th season, Sul Ross State University will host the annual NIRA Rodeo with competition beginning tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the SALE Arena and running through Saturday. Slack gets underway Friday and Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
In this evening’s performance, Cooper Hurt will represent Sul Ross in the steer wrestling event while Kaylee Smith and Codi Ann Mize compete in breakaway roping.
In goat tying, LaKayla Bell will be in competition tonight while Allison Pfeiffer performs in barrel racing.
Timmi Hutchings and Mize will compete in Friday slack in goat tying. Hutchings and Smith will also perform in the barrel racing event during Friday’s slack round.
Friday night will see Will Griffel perform in tiedown roping. Griffel and Colten Fisher will then pair up for team roping competition. Hutchings and Hannah Martin will also be in action in breakaway roping.
Aspen Wash, Smith and Lana Bell will compete in Friday night’s goat tying event.
Saturday morning slack will see Chanz Webster and Zach Hamar in action in tiedown roping. Hamar and Jesse Keysaer will also compete in steer wrestling while Nico Hinojosa and Hurt perform in team roping.
Allison Pfeiffer will be in action in breakaway roping while Hannah Martin competes in goat tying.
In barrel racing, Kathi Norell, Abigail May and Madison Cavness will perform in Saturday’s slack.
Hutchings won the goat tying event at last week’s Eastern New Mexico University Rodeo while Smith finished third.
Hamar took the gold in steer wrestling at ENMU while Webster and Kirby Blankenship both posted top 10 finishes in tiedown and team roping respectively.
Five candidates will seek the honor of Miss Rodeo Sul Ross 2019. The coronation ceremony will be held prior to competition Saturday night.
2019 Miss Rodeo Sul Ross candidates and their sponsors include: LaKayla Bell- Cresson, TX (Out West Fencing), Randi Bloom- Sugarland, TX (Out West Feed and Supply), Kaylee Smith- Jay Em, WY (Out West Disposal), Aspen Wash- Alpine, TX (Chesire Cat), Ashley Weatherford- Hamilton, TX (Blackmon Metal Works).
General admission is $10. Children 12 and under and senior citizens will be admitted for $5. Sul Ross students, faculty and staff with current university ID will be admitted free of charge.
Friday and Saturday morning slack is free of charge.
Sul Ross State University is the birthplace of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association which was established in 1949.
Thursday/Friday/Saturday Events- 7 p.m.
Bareback tiedown roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc, goat tying, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding
Friday and Saturday Slack- 9 a.m.
Barrel racing, tiedown roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, goat tying, team roping