February 11, 2018
East Mississippi Community College will host its 7th Annual Intercollegiate Rodeo Feb. 21-23 at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center in Meridian.
Gates open at 7 p.m. nightly during the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) sanctioned event sponsored by HMR Veterans Services, Inc.
Tickets are $10 at the door and $5 for students. Admission is free for children age 5 and younger. This will be the third year EMCC has hosted the event at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
“We have had a really good turnout the last two years and encourage everyone to come
out again this year to support our athletes and enjoy a night of good family fun,”
EMCC head rodeo coach Morgan Goodrich said.
About 250 cowboys and cowgirls are expected to compete in bareback riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, goat tying, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding. The rodeo will also feature a calf scramble for children ages 6-10 and a pig scramble for children 5 and younger.
EMCC’s rodeo team competes in the NIRA’s Ozark Region, which is comprised of teams from 10 colleges and universities in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri.
The rodeo is the spring opener for the Ozark Region and it is the seventh of 10 rodeos slated for this season. The contestants compete for points in hopes of making it to the College National Finals Rodeo to be held in June in Casper, Wyo.
EMCC’s rodeo team has earned Top 10 national finishes the last three years.
Going into the rodeo, EMCC rodeo team member Carli Hodges is ranked first in barrel
racing in the Ozark Region, while Jadi Gibbs is in the number two spot in breakaway
roping. On the men’s side, the tandem of Clay Green and Weston Pender are among the
top contenders in team roping and Myles Neighbors, a transfer from Northeast Texas
Community College, is the reigning Junior Ironman Champion.
“We have a talented group this year and they keep getting better so we are hoping for another good finish this year,” Goodrich said.
"East Mississippi Community College has been an incredible launching pad for my future! I'm so grateful for the knowledge and experiences I've gained here!"
“I chose EMCC because it gave me the best opportunities coming out of high school. I got plenty of scholarships because the school offered so many. An Education is a very powerful tool.”
"EMCC isn't just a place to learn, it's home. Passionate instructors around every corner offered an opportunity to grow. Remember - there's a whole community invested in your success."
"At first no one was really concerned about me going to college. When I decided to go on my own it put a lot of pressure on me because I'm the first one in my family to go to college. This idea made it all the more reason for me to succeed."
"East Mississippi Community College has provided an exceptional foundation for my academic and personal growth. The professors' dedication has fostered my development into a stronger student. EMCC offered numerous opportunities for me to excel, both in academics and extracurricular activities. Here, I've built incredible friendships that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. The knowledge I gained and the memories I made at EMCC will forever be a part of me when I embark on my journey to a four-year college."
1512 Kemper St., Scooba, MS 39358
662.476.5000
8731 South Frontage Rd., Mayhew, MS 39753
662.243.1900
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