The Pike County Cattlemen’s 26th annual NCPRA is coming to town Friday and Saturday, August 24 and 25. But the main events will kickoff with a promotional event at 11 a.m. Friday at Santa Fe Cattle Company.

B.B. Palmer, publicity chair for the Cattlemen, said local celebrities will strap on the chaps and straddle the mechanical bull in hopes of winning the title of Pike County Champion Mechanical Bull Rider.

“The rodeo announcer will be there and we’ll have a couple of rodeo judges to determine the winner if its close,” Palmer said. “The mechanical bull ride is free and the Cattlemen encourage everybody to come out and cheer on their favorite rider. It will be a lot of fun and a great way to kick off rodeo weekend in Pike County.

The Pike County Cattlemen’s 26th annual rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights will feature all of the major rodeo events, bareback bronc, saddle bronc, calf roping, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, team roping, barrel racing and everybody’s favorite, bull riding.

The rodeo will get off to a great start on Friday night with a full slate of events. The gates will open at 5 p.m. and the rodeo will start at 7:30 p.m.

Vendors will be on the grounds with lot of fun things for kids including pony rides and the mechanical bull for the older folks, Palmer said.

“In the arena, we’ll have the calf scramble and mutton bustin’s for the kids. So the rodeo will be a great night for family fun.

Saturday’s rodeo will feature the “Western Festival” for kids. The gates will open at 4 p.m. and the festival will get underway at 5 p.m. The Western Festival is a rodeo for kids.