Hundreds of people came out "to dream about being a cowboy" at the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Association first central Arkansas professional rodeo event at the Don Owen Sports Complex this past weekend.
Laura Latch and family sat in camp chairs around the dirt floor ring on Saturday night. Latch, who's from Vilonia, said she's came out for the rodeo for the past few years and that her favorite part of the rodeo is the bull ride.
"My favorite part is the people riding the horses," Valerie Adelman, 12, who sat with the Latch group, said.
Latch's crew said they've previously had a little bit of mud kicked on them during the rodeo, but they weren't deterred from sitting in their own comfy chairs near the ring.
Springhill Concessions of Greenbrier served up Petit Jean Polish Sausage and hot dogs, chicken-on-a-stick, jumbo corndogs, hamburgers, funnel cakes, shaved ice and fresh-squeezed lemonade and sweet iced tea.
Standing in line for lemonade, Shawn Lowry of Prim said though he's not came to the rodeo in Conway, he enjoyed this weekend's rodeo.
"I've been away 20 years from the state, I just got back in November," Shawn Lowry said as he stood in line with his friend, Zach Farley.
Lowry said he's served in the military for the last two decades and now lives in Primm.
Munching on a funnel cake while sitting in the bleachers, Billy Teague of Romance said this was his first rodeo in Conway.
"I didn't know they'd ever had it. They told me about it up there at that Toad Suck. Young ladies said, 'Go up there to that rodeo.' So I've been looking for a big rodeo and I was going to come up here and try it out," Teague said. "I hope it's a big one."
Merchants were lined up along the back of the arena selling leather wares, wall hangings, belt buckles and trailers.
Henry Brewster with Woodland Trailer Sales of Batesville showed a Exiss Trailer.
"It has a living quarter and a place to haul three horses," Brewster said of the all aluminum trailer on display. He explained that trailers such as these were a money-saver for cowboys and cowgirls on the rodeo circuit or weekend trail riders because it acts as a second home with its sleeping quarters, toilet and shower.
Stacey Rutledge worked a booth for B.F. Smith and Sons Saddlery of Floral in which she sold handmade leather goods.
"I do the handmade stuff ... I've got purses that I've made. All the chinks and things that I've made myself, so most of our stuff is handmade," Ruttledge said. "And I bring albums full of my custom work that I've handmade."
Rutledge said that she that they also do custom orders that they sell all over the United States.
"We've seen a lot of old friends, a lot of old rodeo friends because I rodeoed in Arkansas for years. It's good to kind of come see everybody and people know our store because we've been in business for so long," Rutledge said. "People know our reputation and know we carry good quality stuff."
Also selling wares were Belah Stock of Vilonia and Erica Bradshaw of Redbud a mother-daughter duo selling "Purses and More" in their booth of purses, jewel-studded belts and cell phone covers.
Selling belt buckles, cowboy hats and wall hangings was Patrick Andrus of Ville Platt, La. He said that he was having a great weekend at Conway.
The Arkansas Teenage Rodeo Association also had a booth set up to sell raffle tickets for $1 each or six for $5. The first place winner in the raffle will receive a 15 inch OTT roping saddle. Second place will win a $250 Wal-Mart gift-certificate. The thrid place winner will get a $100 First Security Bank Cash Card.
ATRA will draw for the raffle at the end of August.
The association, for cowboys and girls ages 19 and under, runs strictly off proceeds from fundraisers such as the raffle and donations. The group will appear at 10 a.m. today in the Don Owens Sport Comple, a represenative of ATRA said. For more information or to buy a raffle ticket, visit www.atrarodeo.com.
Jack's Music provided the official sound system for the rodeo sponsored by the Log Cabin Democrat, Y107.1, Conway Copies, Petit Jean Meats, Onda Lay Pipeline Construction, Russaw Heating and Air, Superior Automotive Group, Fureigh Electric, Jr.'s Hobby Horse and Packers Plus.
