This week, contestants from all over the country have converged on Kay Rodgers Park in Fort Smith, Ark. for the 2008 Old Ford Days World’s Richest Barrel Futurity & Super Derby. This year’s Futurity purse is expected to exceed $360,000! In 2007, Cody Bauserman was the rider of both the futurity winner (LA Fame) and the Super Derby winner (VF Red Bully). The futurity win paid $56,936 and the Super Derby win paid $21,168. The Futurity went out 30 places with a total purse of $258,803.20 and the Super Derby went out 20 places with a total purse of $70,560.

On Saturday the finals for 2008 will begin at 6 p.m. with the Derby first, then the futurity.

When the barrel racers clear out, the rodeo crew moves in for the 75th Annual Old Fort Days Rodeo. It will run May 26-31. Performances are nightly at 7:30 p.m. This year’s barrelman is Cody Sosbee from Charleston, Ark. For more information on the rodeo or the futurity go to www.kayrodgerspark.com.

On Memorial Day, Kenneth Burnes will be leading a trail ride that will benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The gathering place will be at Country Boy Deer Processing, 1-1/4 miles north of Old Taft Road on 104th St. West. The ride will begin at 10 a.m. and end at approximately 2 p.m. Lunch will be furnished (Barbecue brisket and beans). The ride will be on pasture and along the river, so if your horse does not have shoes – that’s okay. No stallions please! Donations will be accepted – there is no set fee. It all goes to benefit the kids at St. Jude’s. For more information, please contact Kenneth at 441-0067. Hope to see you at the trail ride!

Things to do

WEEKLY EVENTS

MONDAYS — ABRA sanctioned barrel series at Hilltop Arena, outdoors/indoors, rain or shine, Gates Productions, 409-8121. Tuesdays, Checotah Round-Up Club, barrel series, exhibitions at 6 p.m. and jackpot at 8 p.m., call Betty at 284-5462;

TUESDAYS — team roping practice, 6 p.m. with a #12 slide jackpot at 8 p.m., King’s Pen Arena, Inola.

WEDNESDAYS — steer wrestling practice, Kings Pen Arena, Inola, call Brock Mibb, 373-3413.

THURSDAYS — 10-week barrel series at Muskogee Round-Up Club, exhibitions at 6 p.m. and jackpot at 8 p.m., Gail Ward and Cindy Scott, 682-2581 or 684-7026;

FRIDAYS — Arena sorting, Muskogee Round-Up Club, books open at 7 p.m. and sorting at 8 p.m., call Rick or Gail Ward at 682-2581 or 684-7026;

SUNDAYS — buckle team roping at Bill Lanterman’s Arena, 3 p.m. (until July 1 – then 6 p.m.), $35/enter twice, $5 buckle fee, for more information call Bill at 808-6404.

SENIOR RODEOS

Thursday-Saturday, 62nd Annual Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo, David at 798-3201 or www.willrogersstampede.com. Friday-Saturday, Andy Downs Memorial Open Rodeo, Sand Springs RUC, River City Park at Sand Springs. Loose Rowel Rodeo Company. FMI, call John at 431-2301.