Attendance at the Second Annual Ole Brook Frontier Days PRCA ProRodeo, sponsored by The DAILY LEADER, exceeded expectations,according to an organizer of the event.

Linda Case, who with Dr. William Kimble, Carla Dunaway andSheila Britt, organized the event, said she was very pleased withthe first night’s attendance. The event concluded Saturdaynight.

Case estimated more than 800 vehicles were parked at the LincolnCounty Multi-Use Facility on Beltline Road Friday. Many of thevehicles, she said, were loaded with families and not singleoccupants.

“I think we’re having a great turnout,” Case said Friday. “Ibelieve the attendance tonight is better than last year’s. Tomorrownight, if it goes like last year, will be standing room only. Ofcourse, we hope it will be bigger and better each year.”

The rodeo was a hit among visitors.

“I like it,” said Sawyer Smith, 12. “I haven’t seen thebull-riding yet, but I liked the steer wrestling.”

Bronc riding was the favorite of Ali Wallace, 9, who alsothought the bulls were funny.

“It’s cool watching the horses buck,” she said.

Shoncye Boyd, 8, said her favorite event was the barrel racingand her second favorite was calf roping, but admitted she had anulterior motive. She and her mother barrel race while her fatherropes. Neither parent was competing this weekend though.

Virginia Case, who worked in the ticket booth and had a daughtercompete in the Rodeo Queen’s parade, said she had not been to arodeo in quite some time and really enjoyed the activities. Herfavorite thing about the rodeo, however, was not tied to theevents, but rather the people who worked and attended therodeo.

“They’re really nice and considerate,” she said. “Real goodChristian people. It’s a great family event.”

Among Friday night’s activities was the selection of the juniorand senior Old Brook Rodeo Queens. Katie Shackelford was selectedas the senior queen while Ellanie Davis was chosen as juniorqueen.

The event brought some of the biggest names in rodeo to the areafor a chance to score points in their efforts to reach the nationalPRCA finals.

Top-ranking participants competed in calf roping, bull riding,barrel racing, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team ropingand bareback riding.

At least two to three cowboys in each event both nights wereamong the top 15 in the nation, Linda Case said, and each event hada minimum of 20 contestants, 10 each night.