38th Dixie National Livestock Show and Western Festival Opens January 24th by Tom Burriss "The Greatest Show On Dirt!" is quickly approaching time to kick up the dust. The 38th Annual Dixie National Livestock Show and Western Festival will begin the 24th of January and run through February 16th at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Jackson, Mississippi. The second largest livestock show East of the Mississippi River expects to have up to 1200 entries and exhibitors from at least 40 states and probably some from Canada and Mexico. The livestock events still hold the biggest portion of the show, where exhibitors of cattle, horses, swine, and goats compete for $50,000 in cash and prizes. "It is not so much the money as the trophies, ribbons, and plaques which are much more important because they help add value to the livestock and help the [exhibitors] advertise their livestock," says Tommy Strickland, retired show manager. Greg Young, new show manager, points to the return of many Livestock Show favorites including the Collegiate and Community College Judging Show. "One of the better ones in the U.S." The Boer Goat show will return for its third year, as will the horseshoeing contest. Among the highlights is the rodeo, the second largest PRCA event this side of the Mississippi. For 37 years, one rodeo clown has been there, Lecile Harris of Collierville, Tenn., but this year his absence will be noticed as he slowly works into retirement. A crowd favorite, "It would be hard to have the rodeo without him," says Tommy Strickland. Debra Morgan, of Harper Morgan Rodeo Productions has filled the bill with funny man and barrelman Keith Isley. "He has a fantastic comedy trick riding show that he puts on," says Morgan. Accompanying Isley in the arena will be bull fighters Travis Adams and Clay Collins. Another focus is the Western Festival, traditionally held the weekend of the rodeo, and this year will be February 7th-8th. Included in the weekend are the parade and trade show, not to mention the arrival of the wagon train. The conestoga wagons will begin descending upon the festival the sixth and seventh, some having travelled for two weeks and coming from as far away as the Gulf Coast. The Dixie National began in 1966 and has run continuously since then. Originally a ten day event, it was established by cattlemen as an educational event and exhibition for farmers to observe and buy from a showcase of the nation's finest cattle. Of course, the show would not be complete without a rodeo, a mainstay with the Dixie National since it began. The show has continued to grow over the years. 130, 000 people and $20 million will descend on Jackson for the 24 day event. The Dixie National also boasts the second largest Quarter Horse show in the world. Friday, Jan. 24 8:30 AM - Appaloosa Horse Show - Expo Center 6:00 PM - Miss Rodeo Pageant - Horsemanship Competition - Free Admission Saturday, Jan. 25 8:30 AM - Appaloosa Horse Show - Expo Center 6:00 PM - Miss Rodeo Pageant - Clarion Hotel. $5.00 Admission Sunday, Jan. 26 8:00 AM - Arabian Horse Show - Coliseum 8:00 AM - Arabian Horse Show - Coliseum 9:00 AM - Team Penning & Sorting - Expo Center 6:00 PM - Arabian Horse Show - Coliseum Monday, Jan. 27 8:00 AM - Team Penning & Sorting - Exp Center 8:00 AM - Arabian Horse Show - Coliseum 6:00 PM - Arabian Horse Show - Coliseum Tuesday, Jan. 28 8:00 AM - Team Penning & Sorting - Expo Center 8:00 AM - Arabian Horse Show - Coliseum 6:00 PM - Arabian Horse Show - Coliseum Wednesday, Jan. 29 8:00 AM - Team Penning & Sorting - Expo Center 7:00 PM Team Penning & Sorting Finals - (Admission $5.00 adults - 12 & under free) Thursday, Jan. 30 1:00-6:00 PM - Stalls assigned for early arriving - dairy cattle and market swine (pens assigned by management) 2:00 PM - Paint Horse Show - Coliseum 2:00-6:00 PM - Weigh & classify market swine - swine scales 6:00 PM - Deadline for arrival of market swine Friday, Jan. 31 8:00 AM - Paint Horse Show - Coliseum 8:00 AM - 12:00 Noon - Process dairy entries -livestock office 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Weigh & classify market swine - swine scales 9:00 AM - Palomino Horse Show - Expo Center 11:00 AM -Deadline for corrections in swine & dairy showmanship entries 11:00 AM -Deadline for arrival of dairy cattle 1:00-3:00 PM - Premier Dairy & Swine Exhibitors Contest (skill-a-thon written exam & interview phases) 2:00-4:00 PM - Weigh commercial dairy heifers 3:00 PM - Swine Showmanship contest - Swine Arena Saturday, Feb. 1 8:00 AM - Paint Horse Show - Coliseum 8:00 AM - Market Hog Show - Swine Arena 9:00 AM - Palomino Horse Show - Expo Center 9:00 AM - Purebred Dairy Show - judging arena Commercia Dairy Heifer Show (at conclusion of purebred dairy show) (all dairy cattle must be removed from barn at the end of the show) 10:30 AM - Beefmaster Cattle Sale - Sales Arena 1:00 - 6:00 PM Stall assignments for early arriving beef animals (stall assignments to be made by show manager) Sunday, Feb. 2 8:00 AM - Paint Horse Show - Coliseum 8:00 AM - Arrival of beef breeding cattle 9:00 AM Palomino Horse Show - Expo Center 9:00 AM Devotional Service - Sales Arena 12:00 Noon - Deadline for arrival of market steers & commercial heifers 12:00 Noon-2:00 PM - Weigh & classify steers - Barn #11 1:00-6:00 PM - Arrival of market lambs (Note: No lambs to arrive before 1:00 PM) 1:00-6:30 PM - Process Beef Breeding Entries - Livestock Office 2:00-3:00 PM - Weigh and classify Commercial Heifers - Barn #11 3:00 PM - Beef Grooming Individual Contest - Judging Arena 5:00 PM - Beef Grooming Team Contest - Judging Arena 6:00 PM - Deadline for arrival of Beef Breeding cattle 7:00 PM - Junior Cattlemen's Association Dance - Swine Arena Monday Feb. 3 8:30 AM - Market Steer Show - Coliseum 9:00 AM-2:00 PM - Weigh and classify Market lambs - Swine scales 9:00 AM - Junior Brangus Show - Judging Arena 9:00 AM - Deadline for corrections in Beef Showmanship entries 11:00 AM - Deadline for arrival of market lambs 12:30 PM - Angus Showmanship Coliseum 1:00 PM - Beef Showmanship - Coliseum 11:00 AM-4:00 PM - Premier Beef & Lamb Exhibitors Contest (skill-a-thon written exam & interview phases) 2:00 PM - Deadline for corrections in lamb showmanship entries 6:00 PM - Junior Sheep Assn. Dance - Swine Arena Tuesday Feb. 4 8:30 AM - Market Lamb Show - Judging Arena 9:00 AM - Special Needs Horse Show - Expo Center 1:00 PM - Commercial Heifer Show - Coliseum Beef Breeding - Coliseum (immediately following Commercial Beef Heifer Show) Wednesday Feb. 5 8:30 AM - Beef Breeding Show - Coliseum 10:00 AM - Deadline for arrival of Goats 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon - Weigh Market Goats 12:00 Noon - Deadline for corrections in goat showmanship entries 1:00-3:00 PM - Premier Goat Exhibitors Contest (skill-a-thon written exam & inter view phases) 4:00 PM - Market Goat Show - Judging Arena Thursday, Feb. 6 10:00 AM - Rodeo Slack - Coliseum 12:00 Noon - Sale of Junior Champions - Sales Arena 7:30 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum Friday, Feb. 7 9:00 AM - Dixie National Western Festival School Day - Trade Mart 10:00 AM - Rodeo Slack - Coliseum 5:00 PM - Deadline for arrival of Open Cattle 5:00 PM - Deadline for arrival of Boer Goats 7:30 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum 10:00 PM -Dixie National Rodeo Dance - Trade Mart Saturday, Feb. 8 7:00 AM - Collegiate Beef Judging Contest - Expo Center 9:00 AM - Dixie National Parade - Capitol Street 9:00 AM - Dixie National Western Festival - Trade Mart 9:00 AM - Boer Goat Show - Swine Arena 10:00 AM- Open Brangus Show - Judging Arena 12:00 Noon - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum 3:00 PM - MS Hereford Association Show - Judging Arena 4:00 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum 6:00 PM - Simmental/Simbrah Cattle Sale - Sales Arena 8:00 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum 10:00 PM-Dixie National Rodeo Dance - Trade Mart Sunday, Feb. 9 7:30 AM - R.O.V. Angus Show - Coliseum 7:30 AM - M.O.E. Limousin Show - Coliseum 9:00 AM - Texas Longhorn Youth Show - Judging Arena 9:00 AM - Dixie National Western Festival - Gospel Music - Trade Mart 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon - Farriers Competition - Trade Mart 10:15 AM - Cowboy Church Service - Sales Arena 10:00 AM-5:00 PM - Receive Open Swine Entries - Swine Arena (scan boars, gilts and weight barrows) 12:00 Noon - Stockdog Demonstrations - Judging Arena 1:00 PM - MSU Block & Bridle Alumni Meeting -Expo Center 2:00 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum 5:00 PM - Release Angus, Brangus & Limousin cattle 6:00 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum 7:00 PM - Market Barrow Show - Swine Arena Monday, Feb. 10 8:00 AM - Super Point Santa Gertrudis Show - Coliseum 8:00 AM - Gelbvieh Show - Coliseum 9:00 AM - Gilt Show - Swine Arena 12:00 Noon - Simmental Show - Coliseum 1:00 PM - Hereford Show (horned & polled) - Coliseum 1:00 PM - Swine Boar Show - Swine Arena 7:30 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum Tuesday, Feb. 11 8:00 AM - Brahman Show - Coliseum 8:00 AM - Texas Longhorn Show - Coliseum 10:00 AM - All Breed Swine Sale - Swine Arena 1:00 PM - Charolais Show 1:00 PM - Simbrah Show 7:30 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum Wednesday, Feb. 12 8:00 AM - Dixie National Quarter Horse Show - Expo Center 7:30 PM - Dixie National Rodeo - Coliseum Thursday, Feb. 13 8:00 AM - Quarter Horse Show - Coliseum & Expo Center Equine Expo - Trade Mart Friday, Feb. 14 8:00 AM - Quarter Horse Show - Coliseum & Expo Center Equine Expo - Trade Mart 6:30 PM - Free Style Reining - Coliseum ($5.00 per person admission charge - 9 & under free) Saturday, Feb. 15 8:00 AM - Quarter Horse Show - Coliseum & Expo Center Equine Expo - Trade Mart 10:00 AM - "The Southern Classic" Horse Sale - Trade Mart Sunday, Feb. 16 7:00 AM - Quarter Horse Show - Coliseum & Expo Center 8:00 AM - Equine Expo - Trade Mart Dixie National Parade Saturday, Feb. 8 - 9:00 a.m., Capitol Street Dixie National Wagon Train Arrival, Thursday, Feb. 6 and Friday, Feb. 7 Equine Expo Wednesday, Feb. 12-16 - Trade Mart Miss Dixie National & Miss Rodeo Mississippi Pageant Friday, Jan. 24, Horsemanship 6:00 PM Saturday, Jan. 25, Fashion Show/Awards Presentation 6:00 p.m. the Clarion Hotel Ballroom Admission $5.00 Pageant deadline Jan. 15, 2003 Information contact: 601-824-5102 Mississippi Junior Roundup Jan. 31 thru Feb. 6, Mississippi 4-H and F.F.A. members exhibit their beef cattle, hogs, sheep and dairy cattle for the coveted award of "Grand Champion" Dixie National Rodeo Dance Friday, Feb. 7, 10:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, 10:00 p.m. Cowboy Breakfast Saturday, Feb. 8, 6:00-8:00 a.m. Sponsored by: Pioneer Flour and MISS 103 Todays Best Country