PHILLIPSBURG — Tickets go on sale July 1 for the 87th annual Phillipsburg Rodeo.
Kansas Biggest Rodeo, as it is known, kicks off August 4-6 at the rodeo grounds north of Phillipsburg. Tickets can be purchased by phone or in person at Heritage Insurance in Phillipsburg (685 Third; 785-543-2448) or at the gate the nights of the rodeo.
One Phillipsburg man has seen both sides of rodeo. Tommy Hadley was a rodeo contestant for years and now serves on the Phillipsburg Rodeo Association. Hadley, who grew up in Hill City, began riding bareback horses in high school, and connected with Danzey Price, another Phillipsburg man who also rodeoed. Together, he and Price, a bull rider, competed in the amateur associations and in the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Hadley rode barebacks at the Phillipsburg Rodeo several times, and joined the Phillipsburg Rodeo Association in 1995. For thirty years (before he joined the association), he ran the out-gate. His duties also include lining up 26 volunteers to help in and around the arena, and if one of them doesn’t show up, he takes their place. During the day, he helps wash bleachers and chute gates, and makes sure the chutes and the pens are all functioning. He’s at the rodeo grounds most of the day during the week of rodeo, helping with whatever tasks need to be done.
This year’s rodeo features two rodeo clowns: Slim Garner and Mark Swingler. Garner has entertained in Phillipsburg before. This will be Swingler’s first year. Bennie and Rhett Beutler return with their bucking horses and bulls, and Randy Corley will take care of announcing duties. Bullfighters will be Dusty Tuckness and Weston Rutkowski.
A barbecue for all ticket holders will be held on August 4, and live music by the Dirty Bourbon Band will entertain after the rodeo on August 5-6. The annual parade will be at 2 pm on August 6. Slack, the extra competition that doesn’t fit into the performances, is at 7 pm on August 2-3.
Associate memberships are available through First National Bank and Trust in Phillipsburg, Cliff’s Welding, Matteson Motors, and any committee member. They are $125 and include reserved parking for the rodeo, a rib cookout on August 3, and the chance to win a 2016 John Deere Gator or one of two trips to the National Finals Rodeo. Only 300 associate memberships are sold each year.
Hadley still rides, but it’s saddle horses now, and “I hope they don’t buck,” he laughed. “Sometimes they do, and it kind of gives you a thrill, but I don’t want to hit the ground, that’s for sure.”
Tickets for the rodeo are $16 for reserved adult seating and $12 for reserved child seating .General admission tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for children. For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at KansasBiggestRodeo.com or find the rodeo on Facebook and Twitter.