101 FUN THINGS: Get ready for bulls, barrels and more at Marble Falls Rodeo
The gates to the 2013 Marble Falls Rodeo open at 6 p.m. July 19-20 at the Charley Taylor Arena, located south of Marble Falls at 3053 U.S. 281. The rodeo action cranks up at 8 p.m. both nights. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger.
The Marble Falls Youth Rodeo that was scheduled for July 17 was postponed because of lightning. Organizers are in the process of rescheduling it. READ MORE
The pro rodeo July 19-20 includes a full slate of competitions, including bull riding and barrel racing. Stock contractor Cadillac Rodeo Co. rolls into Marble Falls on a leg of their “The Party’s Not Over Tour.”
Legendary barrel man and bullfighter Leon Coffee will again entertain the crowd.
“This is the second year Leon’s been here, and he just does an incredible job in the arena,” said Mike Dyer, a member of the Marble Falls Rodeo Association. “People who follow rodeo know who Leon is, and he’s worth coming out to see.”
The first Marble Falls Rodeo was held in 1957. At the time, the arena was located in town on Avenue N near the railroad-track crossing. It stayed there until 1974, when the then-landowner dropped the rodeo association’s lease, forcing the group to relocate the facility to its current location.
This year marks the rodeo’s return to “in” the city. Though the arena is still located south of the main part of town on U.S. 281, city officials annexed the property on which the arena sits.
“This is the first time in about 40 years we’ll be in the city limits,” Dyer said.
Along with rodeo events, fans can get in on the competition. Youth can participate in mutton bustin’ and the calf scramble.
Adults looking to get in the arena might want to sign up for gentlemen’s steer saddling. During this wild and wacky event, a team of three people try to saddle an unridden steer. Once they saddle the beast, one of the team members climbs aboard while the other two try to lead the steer across a finish line several yards away.
It doesn’t always go as well as contestants plan.
“It’s pretty basic. Three people, one in the saddle and two pulling,” Dyer said. “But, sometimes, they’re chasing (the steer), and sometimes, they’re riding below it.”
Go to www.marblefallsrodeo.org for more information.
Picayune editor Daniel Clifton contributed to this story.