Memorial Day gave the summer rodeo season a jumpstart to the Old Fort Days Rodeo at Harper Stadium in Fort Smith, Ark. Action gets under way at 7:30 p.m. CT each day, with the six-performance rodeo ending on May 31.
The Old Fort Days Rodeo offers $5,000 in added money per event, making the rodeo second only to the Rodeo of the Ozarks in terms of prize money awarded in Arkansas.
A former member of the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour (summer 2000), the Old Fort Days features the best in contract personnel, with 11-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year Harry Vold of Avondale, Colo., supplying his livestock, specialty act and home-state entertainer Cody Sosebee of Charleston, Ark., keeping the action going when the cowboys aren't competing, and 11-time Wrangler NFR announcer and reigning PRCA Announcer of the Year Boyd Polhamus of Brenham, Texas, providing the commentary.
On May 29, the Super Kids Rodeo is being held, and events such as barrel racing, tie-down roping and bull riding are scaled down to make it possible for special-needs children to compete.
Rodeo contestants and volunteers assist the children so they can participate in the events.