Meridian hosts high school rodeo this weekend

By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
May 21, 2004
They've competed in football and basketball and this weekend, many athletes from Mississippi and Alabama will battle each other in the Mississippi-Alabama High School Rodeo Challenge at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
Competition in the three-day event begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Saturday's rodeo is also scheduled for 7:30 p.m. with Sunday's final day of activity getting under way at 1 p.m.
Cowboys and cowgirls from Mississippi will be trying to tally more points than their counterparts from Alabama.
"The individual points will count in the team score," rodeo spokesperson Kim Lee said. "It will be state against state. This is one of the bigger high school rodeos, not counting the state finals."
The two-state battle has been going on for several years.
"It used to be in Alabama, then they moved it over here," said Donna Austin, secretary for the Mississippi rodeos. "It's been in Meridian about four years now."
This rodeo will have the upper echelon from each state competing.
"This time of year a lot of kids that are not in the running (for their state rodeo) don't come," Austin said. "There will be about 175 kids between the two states. Early on, we usually run 125 kids and they have about as many.
"They are still trying to get some points and make the state finals."
The Mississippi High School Rodeo Association finals will be in Jackson in two weeks, so time is running out for the cowboys and cowgirls to qualify for that event. From the state rodeo, the top four in each event will advance to the National High School Rodeo Association finals at Gillette, Wyo.
Among those expected to compete here this weekend is Ashley Adams, the current rodeo queen from Mississippi.
"She does barrels, poles, and goat tying," Lee said. "She will be giving up her title in the state finals in June."
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children age 12 and younger.