Rodeo this weekend in Princeton

PRINCETON — Come see exciting rodeo action as Amanda Croisant of Princeton, Chelsea Courson and Rachel Tenczar of Putnam, Justin Boers of Seatonville, Hannah Eager of Mendota, Tayler Gage of Bradford, Amanda Illingworth of Granville and Brock Pezanowski of Utica, as well as contestants from all over Illinois will join together for the last qualifying rodeo of their 2007-2008 season at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton. Performance times for the rodeo are 5 p.m. today, Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Spectators age 3 to 10 years old will have an opportunity to join in the action with “Muttin Bustin” after the performances on both Saturday and Sunday. Participation in “Mutton Bustin” is limited to the first 40 contestants to sign up on the day of each rodeo and must have a parent or legal guardian present to sign a release.

Competition is intense at High School Rodeos and on a scale comparable to collegiate and professional rodeo competitors. These cowboys and cowgirls are working hard to earn a place on the team that will represent the state of Illinois at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Farmington, N.M., in July. At the finals, contestants compete for thousands of dollars in college scholarships.

Admissions to the rodeo is $8 for adults, $6 for ages 11-18 and seniors 65 and over. Children 10 and under are admitted free with paid adults. Weekend passes are also available for $15 for adults and $10 for youths and seniors.

Rodeo events, not including bucking events, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. Single-day and weekend passes include admission to the grounds all day, including the District 1 fundraiser auction at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Concessions will be available on the grounds all weekend. Cowboy Church will be at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, followed by breakfast concession by the Bureau County Fair Board. All events will be held — rain or shine. For information about the Illinois High School Rodeo Association visit www.ihsra.org.