Phillipsburg, Kan. (June 26, 2017) – Tickets go on sale July 3 for the 88th annual Phillipsburg Rodeo.
Kansas Biggest Rodeo, as it is known, runs August 3-5 at the rodeo grounds one mile north of Phillipsburg. Tickets can be purchased by phone or in person at Heritage Insurance in Phillipsburg (685 Third Street; 785-543-2448) or at the gate the nights of the rodeo.
Entertainment at this year’s rodeo includes repeat favorite barrelman and rodeo clown Justin Rumford. Rumford, Ponca City, Okla., has won the PRCA’s Clown of the Year award five consecutive years (2012-2016). He is only the third rodeo clown to string together that many titles in a row. Rumford has been involved in many aspects of the Phillipsburg rodeo: as a contestant, in high school and pro rodeo, as a laborer, working for Beutler and Son Rodeo, and as an entertainer. This is Rumford’s second time to work the rodeo as a clown; the other time was in 2013.
The specialty act for this year’s rodeo is new to Phillipsburg. Rider Kiesner, who hails from Ripley, Okla., is a trick roper, trick rider and western showman. The cowboy grew up in a family who entertained at rodeos, and when he became an adult, he struck out on his own. Since then, he has worked such prestigious shows as Cavalia, a world-wide touring equestrian show, the National Finals Rodeo the last three years, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and more.
A new face and a new voice will call the action at the Phillipsburg rodeo. Because long-time rodeo announcer Randy Corley will be unable to be in Phillipsburg due to his induction into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame August 4-5 in Colorado Springs, Wayne Brooks will fill in for him this year. Brooks, a native of Lampasas, Texas, has been selected to work the NFR six times.
Bennie and Rhett Beutler of Beutler and Son Rodeo Co. will provide the bucking horses and bulls, and bullfighters Dusty Tuckness and Weston Rutkowski will work as cowboy protection during the bull riding.
A barbecue for all ticket holders will be held on August 3, and live music by the band Country Highway will entertain after the rodeo on August 4-5. The annual parade will be at 2 pm on August 5. Slack, the extra competition that doesn’t fit into the performances, is at 7 pm on August 1-2.
Associate memberships are available through First National Bank and Trust in Phillipsburg, Cliff’s Welding, Matteson Motors, Heritage Insurance, and any committee member. They are $150 and include reserved parking for the rodeo, a rib cookout on August 2, and the chance to win a 2017 John Deere Gator or one of two trips to the National Finals Rodeo. Only 300 associate memberships are sold each year.
Tickets for the rodeo are $18 for reserved adult seating and $14 for reserved child seating General admission tickets for Thursday, August 3 are $15 for adults and $11 for children. General admission tickets for Fri., August 4 and Sat., August 5 are $16 for adults and $12 for children. For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at KansasBiggestRodeo.com or find the rodeo on Facebook.
For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at KansasBiggestRodeo.com, its Facebook page (search for Kansas Biggest Rodeo) or call 785.543.2448.
