UTM will host its 37th annual college rodeo April 14, 15, and 16 in the Ned Ray McWherter Agricultural Complex.

Rodeo Week events will begin Wednesday, April 13, at the American Legion in Martin with the annual crawfish supper. This event is hosted by the rodeo booster club.

“The rodeo is an exciting time for old friends to get together, and that each year the rodeo family likes to put on an event for good clean family fun,” said head coach John Luthi.

The rodeo, sponsored by Dodge, gets under way on Thursday, April 14, at 7:30 in the Ag pavilion.

Included in the week’s rodeo competition are the women’s events of barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping.

The men compete in steer wrestling, tie-down roping, saddle bronc, bareback, and bull riding, and team roping events.

“As a freshman I look forward to my first UTM college rodeo, we practice in the arena and it will be nice to compete in a familiar setting,” said Matt Carroll, an Adamsville, Tenn. native who competes in the team roping event.

During Thursday night’s 84 Lumber Company Performance three lucky audience members will receive the chance to win an MTD riding lawnmower by participating in the horseshoe toss.

Thursday night is also discount ticket night, with prices set at $5 for everyone.

Friday’s performance will be sponsored by Martin Paving Company. The entertainment for the pre-performance will be Weakley County’s 4-H Mounted Drill Team.

The chance for the lawnmower will still be available at this performance if it was not won by an audience member on Thursday.
Saturday’s events will begin early with the Junior Mr.& Miss Rodeo for children from kindergarten through the 8th grade. Following this will be the kid’s rodeo from 10 a.m till noon.

The traditional celebrity scholarship auction sponsored by the rodeo booster club and Pa-Ha Stables Feed and Tack, will be held at 12:30 p.m.

In years past the auction has included such things as TV scripts, show tickets, and personal items from celebrities.

All proceeds from the auction go to the UTM Rodeo Scholarship Fund.

The final event of the week is the Vanderbilt Sports Medicine Championship Finals beginning at 7:30 on Saturday, April 16. Something new to the finals this year will be a contest hosted by Taylor Automotives in Martin.

A name will be drawn from audience members who have registered for the opportunity to kick a football into the bed of a Dodge truck. If the task is accomplished the winner will have the choice of $9,000 or a trip to the 2006 Super Bowl.

Tickets can be purchased at Wood Communications Cellular Source, Weakley Farmers Co-op, and in the UC.

All student tickets will be $5 in advance or $6 the night of the show.
For more information go to www.utmsports.com