The streets of Madill will soon be crowded with horse trailers and fans headed to the 75th Annual Madill Round-Up Rodeo. Madill Round-Up Club members have been working since last August, making plans and improvements for this year’s extra special celebration. Flying C Rodeo Company, who is based in Madill, will bring the wildest broncs, battling bulls and, of course, their funny man, Cameron Keeton. Keeton is no stranger to Marshall County, as he called this area home for many years.
Seventy-five years is a long time – a gallon of gas was 21 cents, a gallon of milk was 67 cents, a loaf of white bread was 10 cents, Zip-a-dee-doodah was playing on the radio and suntan lotions, developed for troops during WWII, was just being marketed to consumers for the first time. Closer to home, the community of Madill was gearing up for their first rodeo – a legend that would continue to be the longest running event held in Marshall County.
Events around town kick off with a business-decorating contest. Prizes will be given to the top two businesses. To enter, send a photo or photos to the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce. Judging will be done by a secret panel and winners will be announced during the rodeo. One of the highlights of all rodeo scenes is the rodeo parade. Parade line-up will be at the William Ray Park Saturday morning. The parade will leave the park at 10:00 a.m. – entrants must be ready and lined up by 9:30 a.m. Paul McClendon, life-long club member, said that friends and family at Brookside Manor Nursing Home enjoy setting outside their facility as the parade riders stream past their front door.
“There is nothing like seeing their smiles and big waves as we pass by,” McClendon said. “Hopefully, it reminds them of their past and they can share stories with others.”
The parade route will wind back through the park, heading back to the city square. Members are hoping families will highlight their family names – by decorating a golf cart with poster boards of past queen/princess, showing off their side-by-side with their family who served as an officer or loading up their family of all ages and show their rodeo pride. Misty Cook, club member and queen committee said there are no fees to allow everybody to enjoy in the festivities.
“There is no registration, no entry fee -- we hope to see lots of people out for the parade,” Cook said. “Whether you are horseback, riding on a float, decorated vehicle or lining the streets to see the sights and maybe catch a piece of candy or two, we just want people involved.”
Following the parade, everyone needs to make their way to the arena for an oldfashioned celebration of cowboys, kids and country from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Kid activities include face painting, a dunk tank, inflatable jump houses, dummy rop-ing, stick horse barrel races, braids, animal adoptions and things are still being added.
Food trucks/tents will be available for those needing food and/or drinks. Who doesn’t like a good corn hole tournament? Corn hole starts at 12:00 p.m. and proceeds go to local fire departments. Event coordinators, Jennifer Cook and Rachel Moore, said the more the merrier.
“We are encouraging any business, club or willing set of hands to set up a fun activity booth for the kids,” they said.
Youth rodeo events, mutton bustin’ and calf riding, will begin at 7:00 p.m. (books open at 6:30 p.m.) both Friday and Saturday night with actual rodeo performance kicking off at 8:00 p.m. Parking is a suggested $10.00 donation and admission to the rodeo is free.