Posted 2:20 am Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tops In Texas Ropes In Fun In Jacksonville
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- Paul Myers gets an adrenaline rush when he rides bulls.
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE -- Paul Myers gets an adrenaline rush when he rides bulls.
He regularly participates in rodeos as a professional cowboy, but Saturday night marked his first time to participate in Jacksonville's Tops In Texas Rodeo.
"There's been good hospitality ... it's a good rodeo to go to," Myers said.
Tops In Texas has been a Jacksonville staple for the past 47 years and allows fun-seekers to see Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) members in action.
Attendees not only get to watch cowboys and cowgirls participate in events such as calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing, but they also have a chance to see live entertainment afterward.
Performers this year were Moe Bandy, Branded Duo, Zona Jones and Pat Green.
"It's a hometown rodeo. I've been fortunate to be part of it for the last 47 years," Charles Dickerson, who serves on the Jacksonville Rodeo Association Board of Directors, has said. "It's a family deal, (and) every year we get to go back and see people we haven't seen" in a while.
Organizers hoped to see several thousand people show up Saturday as the rodeo ended its four-day run.
Although close to 2,000 people came to Thursday's "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" event honoring breast cancer survivors, Wednesday's and Friday's rodeo attendance was down from last year, said Brenda Jones, secretary/treasurer for the Jacksonville Rodeo Association.
She attributed the lower numbers for Wednesday and Friday possibly to the economy or the summer heat.
Regardless of how many people have attended, Ms. Jones said it has been a good week and the PRCA members have been wonderful.
Jacksonville resident Mona Nobles enjoys the rodeo so much that she decided to come two nights.
She said she came Wednesday and wanted to come back Saturday to see who won the bull-riding competition and to see Pat Green.
"I love cowboys and I wanted to see the end of the rodeo," Ms. Nobles said.
Sharon Wilburn said she comes to the rodeo every year and enjoys the clowns and bull riding.
Since the rodeo started, its purpose has been to raise money for scholarships and charities. Last year, Ms. Jones said they were able to raise about $10,000.
The money typically has gone to Cherokee County students for scholarships and organizations such as Helping Others Pursue Enrichment (H.O.P.E.) and the United Way, she said.
Ms. Jones said they also have used the money to make Christmas bags for nursing home residents in Jacksonville.
Organizers will not know how much was raised this year until all bills are in and all sponsorship money is collected.
Ms. Jones said this year's rodeo became a reality thanks to about 200 volunteers.
As Myers prepared to ride the bull "I'm Dirty" Saturday, he said he hoped to win the competition.
But there is always the next Tops In Texas, and Myers said he plans to return next year.
