Cowboys and cowgirls saddle up. The Ole Brook Rodeo is coming to the Lincoln Civic Center on May 12-13.

Lincoln Civic Center Director Quinn Jordan is excited about hosting the event. “We ask the public to come out and support events like this and others, so they will continue to happen here in Lincoln County,” Jordan said.

Founded in 1966, the Tri-State Rodeo Association is a nonprofit organization that covers a three-state area: Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. In recent years the memberships have reached as far as Arkansas, Florida and Texas. “Our association continues to grow from year to year. The Tri-State Rodeo Association has grown into one of the top southeast regional professional association,” said rodeo producer Jennifer Calhoun.

Calhoun said, “A typical rodeo consist of eight events. The events for the upcoming rodeo are saddle bronc riding, bare-back riding, bull riding, barrels, calf roping, team roping, breakaway roping and steer wrestling. Cowboys and cowgirls will travel here from Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, with some of them being world champions.”

The top 15 contestants and one high school contestant will compete to capture the top spot and become the champion in their respective events.

The festivities will begin on Friday night and the gates open at 5 p.m. The Bridge Band performs at 6 p.m. and the rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s events include “A Day at the Farm,” mutton busting (sheep riding) and a performance from American Idol finalist Lindsey Cardinale.

“Day at the Farm” will be from 1-4 p.m. with mutton busting at 2 p.m. Cardinale performs at 6 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m. Each night will feature rodeo clown Trent McFarland of Montgomery, Alabama. “He will be an awesome performer. Trent is a top PRCA rodeo clown,” Calhoun said.

“A Day at the Farm will consist of a petting zoo with all kinds of animals and pony rides. This event is free except the mutton busting will be $10. The top five riders from mutton busting will ride in the rodeo Saturday night and the winner receives a belt buckle,” Calhoun said.

Saturday will have a local feel in the air as Farm Bureau will be grilling corn on the cob. Miss Rodeo Mississippi McKenzie Richardson of Brookhaven will be at the rodeo both nights signing autographs and Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis will be singing the national anthem May 13.

Ole Brook Rodeo was named the new rodeo of the year in 2015 and runner-up in 2016 by the Tri-State Rodeo Association. “Two days of rodeo action packed fun, with champion cowboys and cowgirls, this is a great event full of family entertainment,” Calhoun said.