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Jennifer Eddington/Contributing Photographer Bailey White – son of Jason and Melissa White who run the Great American Rodeo – rides their bull, Brandon, at the first Abbeville (S.C.) Shriners Great American Rodeo on June 14. Bailey, 23, is an electrical engineer from Mineral Bluff, Ga.
Andrews – The Great American Rodeo returns to Cherokee County at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday for the second annual Cherokee County Wild West Show & Rodeo at Andrews Recreation Park, 160 Parks St.
The rodeo will showcase various events – such as saddle bronc, bareback and ranch bronc – as well as fan-favorite bull riding at the two-night event. Different cowboys and cowgirls will compete each night, with the events being the same.
Tickets are $20, cash only, kids ages 5 and under free. The gates open at 6 p.m., with the show at 7:30 p.m.
Jason and Melissa White run the Great American Rodeo along with their sons.
“We are sanctioned with the IPRA, which is the International Pro Rodeo Association, it’s one of the longest-running rodeo associations in the U.S., so the top cowboys and cowgirls across the country come and compete for world titles,” Melissa White said.
“It’s bulls, broncs and barrels, which means broncs is saddle bronc, bareback and ranch bronc events, barrel racing and bull riding events. It’s an action-packed weekend full of fun and competition for cowboys and cowgirls.”
This weekend’s event will have competitors from all over the country and is co-sanctioned with the National Cowboy Association, which allows for more competitors to enter. The event is also open to those with permits, which allows those who are not IPRA or NCA members to compete.
The cowboys and cowgirls who are a part of the IPRA are competing for prize money , but also to make it to the National Finals Rodeo in January. Those who accumulate the most money in each event over the course of the season earn a spot in the championship.
Hayden Phipps, who at press time is in third place in the world in the saddle bronc event, will be competing at the rodeo this weekend, White said. Her favorite part of the rodeo weekends is seeing her sons compete and do what they love.
“My favorite part is watching my boys, I have all sons, who also compete and my husband actually come together and produce this entire event. They are producers, stock contractors and they do everything in the back end, so watching them do what they love is my absolute favorite,” White said.
“My oldest son, Bailey, and my youngest son both ride bulls, so they will actually compete as well for the weekend, so watching them do what they love is one of my favorite things. And, honestly, watching the local community come out and support such a fun event is amazing.
“We have a mascot, and he comes out and shakes hands and takes pictures with the kids. Just seeing people let loose for a night of fun is probably one of my absolute favorite things.”
White praised the area as well as town employee Brian Wilson.
“The Town of Andrews and the county of Cherokee have been amazing as far as bringing this event. It’s not an easy task to do, but they have always reached out to us, before we produced last year, and wanted to make sure they bring something to their hometown that would give them something to do,” White said.
“They have always gone above and beyond to accommodate us. I just want to thank Brian Wilson for bringing us back again this year for a bigger and better event, and we’re really excited about it.”