clowns are strictly focused on keeping the
crowd entertained throughout the competition,
while barrelmen will often tag-team with
the bull riders, distracting the bulls after each
ride and allowing the cowboys to safely exit the
arena.
Nabers said the importance of a rodeo clown
in sometimes underestimated.
“Nobody wants to get hooked (jabbed) or
trampled on,” he said. “These guys (clowns) get
the attention of the bull which gives you a
chance to get out of the arena.”
Team roping is a two-man event where the
cowboys run after a young steer. A herder and
Venice and Tampa who competed in rodeos.
Florida was a lot smaller back then, so you had to
travel to different areas to meet people with
common interests."
Guests attending the rodeo will get a chance to
check out the new $9 million dollar arena at the
91st Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship
Rodeo four-day event starting on March 8, 2019.
The new venue has almost 8,000 seats and is
107,000 square feet.
The competition begins with an opening
procession of cowboys that lead the parade with a
U.S. flag.
Next there is “The Shootout” – where locals dress
up as crooks and stage a robbery.
“They get all dressed up as robbers, and some
wear sheriff deputy outfits … it’s really a kick,”
Hoffman said.
The first day will open with a crowd favorite, a
children’s event called mutton busting. This is a
special family-friendly rodeo event for little
cowboys and cowgirls.
A pen full of sheep will be released as children
ride on their backs. Most kids will wrap their arms
around the sheep’s chest and hold on to the sides
of the sheep with their legs.
The last one to stay on wins. Regardless of how
long each child can hang on, this is a fan favorite
event that brings thrills and smiles to both the
young and old.
When most people attend a rodeo, they’re
expecting to see cowboys in ten-gallon hats and
bucking bulls. But imagine also seeing a clown on
the dirt, complete with an oversized costume and
a painted face. It’s no blunder, he’s right where he’s
needed. These “clowns” are referred to as rodeo
clowns or barrelmen, and they play an important
role during each performance. Typically, rodeo