The countdown to the Pike County Cattlemen’s 24th Annual PCA Rodeo has begun.

The gates will open at 5 p.m. today and the rodeo will start at 7:30 p.m.

“The Pike County Cattlemen encourage all rodeo fans to come early because there will be pony rides for the kids and the mechanical bull for those who want that experience,” said B.B. Palmer,  Cattlemen’s president. “We’ll have a variety of vendors and, of course, vendors will have cowboy stuff for kids. Every kid wants a cowboy hat to wear at the rodeo.”

Palmer said this weekend’s rodeo will be a big one with 257 cowboys and cowgirls competing.

“This is the largest number of competitors we’ve had in a long time, so it’s going to be a very competitive rodeo and an exciting and fun one,” Palmer said. “We’ve got a couple of local kids in the rodeo. We’re always glad to have local folks competing, especially kids. That’s our future.”

Ty Singleton of Brundidge will compete in team roping tonight and his cousin, Emma Foster from Highland Home, will run barrels.

Ty and Emma come from a family that is steeped in the rodeo tradition.

Ty’s mom, Jody Ellis Singleton, and Emma’s mom, Jenny Ellis Foster, are sisters. Both competed as members of the Alabama High School Rodeo Association. Foster competed in barrels and poles. Singleton competed in all events and won the title of All Around Cowgirl.

Ty, a freshman at Charles Henderson High School, will compete in the team- roping event with Clayton’s Jeff Williams.

“This will be my first rodeo at Cattleman Park and I’m a little nervous,” Ty said. “I competed in the U.S. Roping in Montgomery and came in fourth and that was pretty good, I thought.”

Ty said he is excited to compete at Cattleman Park and hoping for a quick catch.

“We won’t get but one chance,” he said. “It’s miss or catch. I hope we catch.”

Emma will be riding exhibition in an effort to season her horse and to gain experience in the rodeo arena.

Ty will compete in the Alabama High School Rodeo Association this year and Emma, a sixth grader at Highland Home, will compete in the Alabama Junior Rodeo Association.

The Pike County Cattlemen’s Association will continue on Saturday. Gates will open at 4 p.m. and the Western Festival for kids will begin at 5 p.m. The festival will feature stick horse races, steer head roping, mutton bustin, the Little Buckaroo dress-up contest and wagon and buggy rides. The rodeo finals will begin at 7:30.

The Cattlemen’s concession stand will be open both nights with hamburgers, hotdogs, nachos, French fries, candies, snacks and soft drinks.

Rodeo tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the gate. Tickets are available at the Piggly Wiggly stores in Troy and Brundidge, Don Walker’s Western Ware, Troy Bank & Trust main location and Cattleman Park. Children under age six are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.