COLBY COLLEGE SET TO HOST LARGE RODEO SEPTEMBER 16-18, 2011
 
          Horses, trailers, pickup trucks and rodeo enthusiasts will be evident everywhere during the annual Colby Community College National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Rodeo scheduled for Sept. 16-18 at the Thomas County Fairgrounds. 
          Evening performances on Friday and Saturday will begin at 7 p.m.  The finals on Sunday featuring the top 10 in each event will begin at 1:30 p.m.
          Men’s events include bareback bronc riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and bull riding.
          The women will compete in breakaway calf roping, goat tying and barrel racing.
          Tickets at the gate are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.  Advance tickets ($8 for adults and $4 for children) are on sale at Vanderbilts and the Campus Bookstore.
          Stock will be provided by the Hudson Rodeo Company with Deone Hudson, Sharon Springs, as producer of the event.
          Allen Russell, CCC rodeo coach, served as the director of the Central Plains Region of the NIRA which includes two- and four-year colleges and universities in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri for six years.
          “We will have over 500 contestants from 24 colleges in Kansas and Oklahoma competing,” said Russell.  “The Central Plains Region is one of the largest and toughest in the NIRA. This is one of the biggest events hosted in Colby, and the community support is always outstanding.  It would not be possible without the numerous volunteers and sponsors who support the college and our rodeo program. I encourage everyone to attend all three performances.”
          For more information about the rodeo, contact Russell at (785) 460-5461.