Every year the field next to the Good Ol’ Boys Restaurant in Auburn turns into a parking lot surrounding a small arena. In the arena an all-day rodeo is followed by a night full of music.
The events featured at the Alpha Psi Rodeo include bull riding, bareback riding, team roping (from ground) and steer wrestling (from ground). Although the event is not sanctioned by any of professional rodeo’s governing bodies, it is a great opportunity for amateur rodeo cowboys and cowgirls to strut their stuff.
The Alpha Psi Rodeo is the tailgate event of the spring. However the tailgating apparel is a little different. Auburn T-shirts and polo shirts are replaced by shirts emblazoned with NASCAR logos sometimes even a plaid button-up shirt, most without the sleeves. Khakis are replaced by jeans or jorts (jean shorts). Most girls rock a similar look, but ad in some braided pigtails. Some girls may even wear a country style dress, but almost everyone wears boots. Last year the entire town of Auburn sold out of all but one pair of cowboys boots the week before rodeo.
Cars, trucks and trailers wait hours to inch down Sandhill Road to get to the Alpha Psi Rodeo blasting country music the entire way. Cross Canadian Ragweed will be gracing the stage this year. Don’t be fooled by the name, Cross Canadian Ragweed is an all-American band. Started in Yukon, Oklahoma, Cross Canadian Ragweed is a southern rock band with a western swagger. The name is of the band is a simple conglomeration of the last names of some members of the band. The band is composed of Grady Cross, guitar; Cody Canada, guitar and vocals; Randy Ragsdale; drums and Jeremy Plato, bass.
Some of the members of Cross Canadian ragweed have some sort of rodeo experience. Find more videos like this on The Loveliest Village “I watched Grady [Cross] get thrown off a mechanical bull once,” said Ragsdale. “I think Grady used to be in rodeos as a kid.”
Other musical acts that have played the Alpha Psi rodeo include John Anderson, Luke Bryan, Joe Diffie and Pat Green. This year’s Alpha Psi Rodeo will take place on Saturday, April 10. rodeo is held every year by the Alpha Psi Veterinary Fraternity to raise money for charities including Storybook Farm and for the Veterinary School’s mission trips.
This year 11,000 tickets will be sold.
Tickets will be available at:
TK’s store 17 on South College Street TK’s Store 72 on the corner of Farmville Road and Donahue TK’s store 22 on North College Street Bread and Buggy Shell station across from tiger town Gentilly Exxon on Webster road Alpha Psi Fraternity house on:
April 5th-7th 12-1pm April 8th 12-6pm April 9th 10-6pm If you are interested in competing at this year’s rodeo, contact John Laster By email: jhl0007@uburn.edu Or By phone: (270)839-9157