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LAWTON – Sellout crowds are expected at the 84th annual Lawton Rangers PRCA event that will feature some of the top cowboys across the nation.
About 300 of the best bull riders, bronc riders and calf ropers will give southwest Oklahoma rodeo fans the show of their life when action begins Wednesday, Aug. 10 and continues through Saturday, Aug. 13 at the rodeo arena, 2004 SE 60th in Lawton.
“We’ve had great crowds the last few years with near sellouts on Friday and Saturday nights,” Lawton Rangers President Kelly New said.
Already entered in the rodeo are several top cowboys, including some current and former world champions. Some of the contestants are Shad Mayfield, current world champ in calf roping; Tyler Waguespack, former world champion in steer wrestling; Tuff Cooper, calf roping world champion; Will Lowe, former world champ in bareback riding; Coleman Proctor, fifth in the world overall standings and Paul David Tierney, who ranks eighth in the world overall standings. Proctor is from Pryor and Tierney makes Oklahoma City his home.
“We’ve got several of the top 15 in the world and we’ve got quite a few from the area who are entered,” New said.
Contestants hail from several states, including Florida, South Dakota, Tennessee, Iowa, Mississippi, North Dakota and Oklahoma. This rodeo has $10,000 added money per event, New said.
The event, which is the longest running rodeo in Oklahoma and one of the top 50 in the United States, serves as a fundraiser for the Lawton Rangers who distribute scholarships to area 4-H and FFA students.
“They will be people here from all over with groups coming from Washington state and Canada,” New said.
The rodeo events will be bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, calf scramble (ages 12 and under), team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and two specialty acts.
Oklahoma’s rodeo queens will also attend the rodeo. They are Miss Rodeo Oklahoma 2022 Anna Woolsey, Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen 2022 Myranda Kistler and Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Princess 2022 Dalli Moore.
Lawton’s annual rodeo serves as a large economic driver for the city with cowboys and fans coming from all parts of the U.S.
On Aug. 10, the ticket prices will be $5 per carload at the gate. Prices will be $5 per person at the gate on Aug. 11 and $15 on Aug. 12, which also serves as Military Night. Prices on the final night will be $20 per person at the gate. Children 6 and under will be admitted free. Prices for children 7-12 will be $7 Thursday through Saturday.
Entertainment is also on tap after the rodeo action Thursday through Saturday. A disc jockey will spin some tunes Thursday night while The Dayne Ledford Band will perform Friday and Saturday nights after the rodeo action has concluded.