'Greatest show on dirt' kicks off next weekend

“One of the greatest shows on dirt” is ready to kick off its 67th year. The Yuma Jaycees Silver Spur Rodeo will take place Feb. 10-12 at the Yuma County Fairgrounds.

The rodeo will include not only equestrian events, but also a royalty pageant, a parade Saturday morning and dances Friday and Saturday nights.

Rodeo is “an old tradition that's been around a long time. It was the original way of life in the West, it was THE way of life,” says Bethany Leeds, royalty director.

And what better way to keep the western way of life alive than a rodeo?

“The best thing about it is that it's a family event, it's good for the whole family. Kids love to watch the rodeo clowns,” Leeds noted.

Aside from the equestrian events, one of the most popular events of the rodeo is the Saturday morning parade. This year's theme is “Celebrating 100 Years of Arizona.” It will start at 8 a.m. at 4th Avenue and 15th Street.

The parade will feature plenty of entries, “everything from equestrian (horses) to vehicles and rodeo queens,” Leeds said.

Local rodeo queens will participate as well as visiting royalty such as Miss Rodeo Arizona and Miss Turquoise Circuit. Other parade participants will include city officials, such as Mayor Al Krieger. The parade marshal will be Yuma County Sheriff Ralph Ogden.

The equestrian events begin Friday, with a 6 p.m. performance. It will also be Military Appreciation Day, and military personnel will be recognized. To honor those serving the country, rodeo visitors are asked to wear red.

Live music and autograph signing will follow the rodeo performance.

At 9 p.m., everyone is invited to a rodeo dance at the Cocopah Casino in the River Room. The cost for Friday's and Saturday's dances is $5 per person or $8 per couple.

Two rodeo performances are scheduled for Saturday, with events at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

“We get a lot of people. Saturday is the busiest day. It's also Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day,” Leeds said.

“It's to support breast cancer awareness. We ask everyone to wear a pink shirt, or anything pink.”

After the 7 p.m. rodeo performance, the 2012 Rodeo Queen and Teen Queen will be crowned.

A royalty pageant was held last Friday at the Yuma Jaycees Clubhouse. Earlier in the day contestants competed and were judged on their horsemanship skills at the Whispering Horse Ranch.

Saturday's rodeo performance and coronation ceremony will be followed by live music and autograph signing.

The celebration will end with another rodeo dance at 9 a.m. in the Cocopah Casino River Room.

On Sunday, the rodeo performance will start at 1 p.m. This day will celebrate senior citizens.

“We want to get senior citizens involved and let them know we appreciate them,” Leeds said.

Pre-sale tickets are $10 or $12 at the gate. Also, passes good for all four performances may be purchased for $30 pre-sale only.

The Silver Spur Rodeo is the largest project of the Yuma Jaycees. Members and volunteers work all year for it.

The Jaycees mission is to provide ages 18 to 41 the opportunity to develop personal and leadership skills through local community service and organizational involvement while expanding the Junior Chamber movement. The Jaycees have been serving the Yuma community since 1946. For more information, visit www.yumajaycees.org.

If interested in sponsoring the rodeo or for more information, call the Yuma Jaycees Clubhouse at 928-344-5451 or Wayne Leeds, 2012 rodeo chairman, at 928-581-8993.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSMaraKnaub or on Twitter at @YSMaraKnaub.