Lampasas rodeo busts out of ruts
Posted On: Friday, Jun. 19 2009 02:06 AM
By Evan Mohl
Killeen Daily HeraldThe Lampasas Riata Roundup is undergoing a major face lift.
Rodeo chairman Lisa Simpson said the annual event, which gets underway for the eighth time at 7:30 this evening, needed to change. Simpson, like her previous roundups, delivered on her message.
Nearly everything at the eighth annual roundup is different from the location to the producer.
"We felt like we were stuck in a rut," Simpson said. "So we decided to do a major makeover and everything is new this year. To us that's exciting."
Lometa Regional Park will hold the rodeo for the first time. Little Bear Ranch had hosted the event for the past seven years free of charge, but an ownership change prevented the same arrangement from taking place this year.
Simpson, who has chaired the Riata Roundup every year but one, said the new location offers better highway access and room for expansion.
"We think ultimately, this was the better move because it allows us to get bigger and better," Simpson said.
The move started the winds of change.
"That kind of got us thinking to try new things," Simpson said. "We thought we needed to offer people something different."
Will Cook of the Flying C Rodeo Company will produce the UPRA rodeo. Based in Oklahoma, the family-owned company has made a priority to increase its Central Texas presence.
Sammy Catalena Rodeo Co. had run the last two Lampasas Riata Roundups.
"We love Sammy Catalena to death and what he did here," Simpson said. "But thought we needed a new show."
West Huggins will serve as the announcer while Cameron Keeton will be the clown and barrel man. Huggins won UPRA announcer of the year in 2008.
A Fort Hood honor guard along with the 1st Cavalry Division Horse Detachment will perform Friday night.
The rodeo kicks off at 7:30 this evening with the introduction of the Riata Roundup Rodeo Queen contestants. Admission is $10 for adults and $6 for military with an ID. Kids 12 and under get free entrance.
Events continue on Saturday at 6 p.m. with an array of children's activities. The queen will be crowned before the rodeo begins at 8 p.m. A dance – free with Saturday night's rodeo admission – will follow featuring The Jarrett Schaub Band. Admission is the same as Friday night, except kids 12 and under cost $5.