When school bells ring in the fall, that’s also a signal that it’s “Rodeo time!” in Pike County.

The Pike County Cattlemen’s Association is gearing up for its 23rd Annual Professional Cowboy Association Rodeo August 21 and 22 at Cattleman Park Arena on U. S. Highway 231 south of Troy.

Friday night the gates will open at 5 p.m. with the rodeo getting underway at 7:30.

“On Saturday night, we’re going to open the gates at 4 p.m. for our Western Festival with activities especially for kids,” said B.B. Palmer, Cattlemen Park director. “We’ll have all kinds of fun things for the kids and we hope to have kids all over the place.”

The Pike County Cattlemen want every kid who wants to rodeo to have that opportunity.

“So, the Cattlemen are offering free tickets to Saturday night’s PCA Rodeo to all kids through age 12 when they are accompanied by an adult,” Palmer said. “The free kids’ tickets will be available through the local schools all week long.”

Advanced rodeo tickets are priced at $10 and are now on sale at all Pike County banks, Don Walker’s Western Wear, all Piggly Wiggly stores and Banks Buy Rite.

Tickets at that gate will be $12 for adults. Children six and under will be admitted free.

“The 23rd Annual Pike County Cattleman’s Association Rodeo promises to be one of the biggest and best ever,” Palmer said. “We try to keep each rodeo different. So, this year, Clint Allemand will be will be our rodeo announcer. Clint is an eight-time Professional  Cowboy Finals Rodeo announcer and is the Professional Cowboy Association announcer for many of the Southeastern rodeo events.

“And we’ve got Jake Wilcox coming. Jake is a young professional rodeo entertainer from Athens, Georgia and will keep rodeo fans well entertained with his unique clown act. He interacts with the crowd and is really going to bring fun and excitement to the arena for kids and adults alike.”

The 23rd Annual Pike County Cattlemen’s Rodeo will feature between 200 and 300 of the top cowboys and cowgirls in the Southeast. The events are divided into two categories, rough stock events and timed events. The cowboys will compete in six rodeo events — bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, steer wresting, tie-down roping and team roping. The cowgirls will compete in breakaway roping and barrel racing.

“Of course, at intermission both nights, the kids will be invited into the arena for the calf scramble,” Palmer said. “The kids will chase calves with ribbons tied to their tails and attempt to pull off the ribbons. It’s fun for the kids and fun for all the rodeo fans.”

The rodeo clown will also have a dance contest or some other fun activity for the kids at intermission.

“We hope everybody who enjoys rodeo and good family entertainment will join us for the Pike County Cattlemen’s PCA Rodeo next weekend at Cattleman Park,” Palmer said.