The ninth annual Riata Roundup Rodeo, a Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce fund-raiser, begins Thursday night at Lometa Regional Park. Members of the rodeo committee include, front row from left, Jill Carroll, Angie Porter, Jamie Garrett, Kelli Isom and Beth Maples; back row from left, Ryan Shahan, Andy Johnson, Logan Vann, Lisa Simpson, Matt Harton, Evan Stubbs and Todd Cooper. It’s nearly time to pull out the saddles, boots and cowboy hats.

The Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce’s ninth annual Riata Roundup Rodeo will begin Thursday night with county jackpot team roping at Bar 3 Arena at Lometa Regional Park.

Books open at 6:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. roping, open to any contestant who lives or pays taxes in Lampasas County. Contestants get four draws for $80 and may enter twice. No one over #5 may heel.

The top 10 teams will advance to rope in the riata rodeo — sanctioned by the United Professional Rodeo Association and the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association — to compete for the top prizes.

Last year, 83 teams competed in county team roping, and rodeo committee chairman Lisa Simpson expects a similar number of participants in this year’s contest.

The Weatherford Cowgirl Chicks, a group of nationally renowned trick riders, will perform Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. The Cowgirl Chicks will display a variety of riding skills, and will raise funds for cancer research and cancer patient financial support.

The Pink Warriors, a group of Lampasas-area women affected by breast cancer, will be recognized Friday during “Tough Enough To Wear Pink Night.” All rodeo participants and spectators are encouraged to wear pink to show support for breast cancer awareness.

In addition, five rodeo queen contestants — Monica Bridges, Kalyn Hayes-Barrington, Samantha Phillips, Sierra Rash and Leah Staley — will be introduced Friday. The winner will be announced Saturday and will receive a $500 college scholarship, a sash and a crown. Judging criteria are personality, riding ability, poise and interview skills.

Regular rodeo events — including bareback riding, saddle bronc, steer dogging, team roping, tiedown calf roping, bull riding, girls’ breakaway roping and barrel racing — will begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Kids’ events include stick horse races, boot races and a calf scramble.

Will Cook of the family-owned Flying C Rodeo Co. of Madill, Okla., will produce the rodeo. Cook has been named UPRA Contrator of the Year each year from 2004-2009.

Entertaining the crowd throughout the rodeo will be Cameron Keeton of Whitesboro, a rodeo clown who has been featured in Texas Highways magazine.

“He’s hilarious,” Mrs. Simpson said. “He was here last year, and he did such a great job we decided to ask him back this year.”

Keeton has been rodeoing since he was 9, and he has been a bull rider, bull fighter and barrel man. He was named a Finals Barrel Man in 2003 and 2004 for the Louisiana Rodeo Cowboys Association, and was named Contract Act of the Year for the United Professional Rodeo Association each year from 2003-2008.

West Huggins, the 2008 UPRA announcer of the year, will be announcer for the Riata Roundup Rodeo. Huggins, 29, lives in Gardendale and is a member of the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Admission is free for

Continued from page 1 Thursday’s competition. Rodeo tickets Friday and Saturday are $10 for adults and $6 for those with military identification. The dance is included in the Saturday admission.

Kids 12 or younger will be admitted free on Friday and for $5 Saturday.

Tickets are available from rodeo queen contestants, at Hodges & Sargent Pharmacy, Cattles Pharmacy or at the chamber of commerce. Tickets also will be available at the rodeo.

Concessions will be offered all three nights of the event.

When the rodeo concludes about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, a dance -- with music by Jake Hooker and the Outsiders -- will be held in the parking lot next to Bar 3 Arena.

A Texas musician, Hooker offers a nice mix of old-time Western swing and some newer songs, Mrs. Simpson said.

Dance participants may bring lawn chairs or reserve tables to be close to the band. A table for 10 is $200. To reserve tables, or to request more information about the rodeo, phone the chamber of commerce at 556-5172.