Oct. 5, 2007

RUSK - - Pioneer Days in Rusk is what Rene McCracken calls her "little cowboy" event.

While there will be a stick-horse rodeo for the little cowboys, the even is really a full-fledged event for full-sized cowboys and cowgirls as well, said McCracken, Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension agent for Cherokee County.

Set Oct. 13 at the Jim Hogg Park in Rusk, Pioneer Days will start at 9 a.m. and last until 4 p.m. Children under 16 will be admitted free. Admission for adults will be $1 or one canned food item. The canned food will be donated to Rusk's local food pantry.

Activities will start with a cowboy breakfast courtesy of the Circle C Cowboy Church.

In addition to the stick-horse rodeo, there will be live music by local artists plus "DJ'ed" classic country favorites, McCracken said. Other activities will include a horseshoe pitching tournament, "cow-patty" bingo, gunfight reenactments, a goat-meat cook-off, a karaoke showdown by "Boogie Butt Productions," and a hay ride.

"For those adventurous horse owners, there will be a challenging trail ride through the piney woods from the Rusk KOA campgrounds to the Jim Hogg Park," McCracken said.

There will also be a jam and jelly contest, dog show and more, she said.

"And mamas, if you have to let your babies grow up to be little cowboys and cowgirls, then you should enter them in the Little Mr. and Miss Pioneer Contest," McCracken said.

For more information or to obtain a vendor space, contact Connie Brown at the Rusk Chamber of Commerce at 903-683-4242 or McCracken at 903-683-5416 orlrmccracken@ag.tamu.edu.