By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Nearly 300 competitors are in McCracken this week for the 29th annual McCracken Rodeo in the Jack Wilson Mustang Arena.

KPRA Open rodeo action is at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday with kids events starting at 7 p.m.

Allen McCloy, owner of McCloy Rodeo Company, in Morse, Texas, has been the McCracken rodeo stock contractor for 23 years.

“Competition with his three brothers” is what McCloy said got him started in rodeo where he “rode saddle broncs, barebacks and bulls.”

McCloy is on the road about half the year with his livestock and a crew of 8 to 10 people.

“We have an excellent crew and they do an outstanding job,” he said.

“We take excellent care of these animals because they are our livelihood. They eat before we eat; we make sure they’re taken care of before we relax.

“We raise a lot of our stock and retire them to our ranch. We’ve even had some of them buried on our ranch.

“If I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t be doing it,” McCloy said with a laugh.

There are five young women competing in the Rodeo Queen and Princess contests Saturday morning at 9 a.m. The two winners will be crowned by their predecessors, Mikaela Brackney and Abbie Schwab, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday just before the second night of rodeo begins.

A rodeo dance will be held on the grounds after the rodeo both nights.

Other Saturday events include a golf tournament, cancer benefit run/walk, trail ride, and a 12:30 p.m. dinner meal hosted by McCracken High School alumni.

Tickets are available at the gate or in advance in McCracken–Charlie’s, and Midland Marketing; Ness City–G&L Pharmacy; LaCrosse–Farmers Bank & Trust, Nekoma State Bank, LaCrosse Abstract & Title, and State Farm Insurance; Hays–Vanderbilt’s; and WaKeeney–Keyser True Value. Adult tickets are $10 at the gate or $8 in advance. Children’s tickets (ages 5 to 12) are $7 at the gate or $5 in advance.