The Pike County Cattlemen’s annual Professional Cowboy Association Rodeo is a main attraction for the weekend and ticket sales are brisk.

Ed Whatley, Cattlemen’s executive director, said the Pike County Cattlemen have worked extremely hard to bring a rodeo like no other to Cattleman Park Friday and Saturday nights.

“Not only do we have top cowboys and cowgirls from all across the Southeast competing in eight rodeo events, we also have the largest number of vendors we’ve ever had,” Whatley said. “To top it all off, we have two great country music concerts following both nights of rodeo action. The Down Home Boys will entertain Friday night and country music star Jamey Johnson will be on stage Saturday night.”

Whatley said 150 professional cowboys and cowgirls will compete in bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, saddle bronc, bareback riding and calf roping.

“The Cattlemen have a new stock contractor, Bar W Rodeo Company in North Carolina,” Whatley said. “Bar W is known for great bucking stock. This year our announcer will be on a horse instead of in the booth and we’ll have an electronic scoreboard. So, the rodeo will be fast moving, extremely competitive and highly entertaining both nights.”

Friday night will be Family Night and all tickets are $12. Children under age 12 will be admitted free.

“Family night will feature special events for the kids,” Whatley said. “In the arena, we’ll have mutton bustin’ where the kids will ride a sheep out of the chute and the calf scramble that’s always exciting and fun.

“Added attractions for the kids will be a bungee jump where the kids are harnessed and they can jump and turn flips. For the little kids, there’ll be a Moon Walk. And, we’ll have the mechanical bull for all ages.”

Whatley said the mechanical bull can be adjusted to a slow bucking speed for little kids and turned up for faster bucking for the more adventurous riders.

After the rodeo ends at 9 p.m. Friday, a stage will be set up in the arena for the Down Home Boys’ concert.

“The arena will be open so those who want to stand near the stage during the concert can come on down,” Whatley said. “Of course, the bleachers will be available for those who want to sit and enjoy the hour-long concert.”

The Down Home Boys sing everything from country and gospel to ’50s and ’60s music.

Then, on Saturday night, professional cowboys and cowgirls will be back in action in the Cattleman Park Arena from 7 until 9 p.m.

Following the rodeo, country music star, Jamey Johnson will be in concert.

“Jamey Johnson is from our area and he has made it big in country music,” Whatley said. “We’re excited to be able to bring him to Pike County.”

Tickets for the Saturday night rodeo are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Advance tickets are available at all Piggly Wiggly locations in Troy and Brundidge, but only through Thursday.

Concessions will be available both nights at Cattleman Park and everyone is encouraged to plan a supper, rodeo and concert weekend.

The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the rodeo begins at 7 p.m. both nights. The country music concerts begin around 9:30 p.m.

“It’s going to be a great weekend at Cattleman Park with the PCA rodeo, two concerts and all of the fun that surrounds rodeo events” Whatley said.