Celebrating Western Heritage Week


ALTUS - The 29th Great Plains Stampede Rodeo committee invites Altus and the surrounding communities to come together and celebrate Western Heritage Week August 20 -26.

Events are scheduled all week beginning with a rodeo golf tournament at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20. The tournament will be held at the Elks Lodge. Thursday at 10 a.m. there will be a longhorn cattle drive through Altus Air Force Base.

Thursday is also Military Night with a barbecue dinner for all rodeo ticket holders, along with the nightly rodeo performances. Other activities that night include military tug-of-war, military heifer dressing and mini-bull exhibition.

Friday is family night beginning with the Shortgrass Arts and Humanities Council, Giddy Up Gala. Families can enjoy a barbecue dinner and Will Rogers impressionist Gene McFall. Also planned for the night is the elementary kids tug-of-war and the calf scramble.

Saturday is the grand finale with the parade beginning at 1 p.m. Activities for the final day include the Rangerettes from Canadian County performing at 7:45 p.m., along with the Fort Sill artillery and the “musical chairs” contest. The 2006 rodeo queen will be presented ,and Hillbilly Stu will perform at the rodeo dance that will be held at the National Guard Armory.

Nightly rodeo arena events include bull riding, barrel racing, modern saddle bronc, bareback bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and new this year is the miniature bull riding.

For more rodeo and Western Heritage Week information call committee president Jim Gover at 477-1100; vice-president Teri Anderson at 477-0073; secretary Amanda Burrell at 477-2222; or treasurer Jane Roberts at 482-6100. For advance ticket sales at a discount contact Stockman's Bank at 477-2222 or 2006 Queen Rene Straub at 374-1468.