SILVERTON, Texas – Have you ever seen a population explosion up close?
It’s something you’ll want to see, and it’s about to happen in Silverton. The annual Buck Wild Days Rodeo will help jump start the celebration on the plains, featuring the top athletes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association during three performances set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 20.
“This is one of those times where we get people coming to Silverton from all over the Panhandle,” said Ken Wood, chairman of the volunteer rodeo committee. “We’ve got about 1,500 people who live in Briscoe County, and they’ll all be here. Of course, so will a lot of people from a lot of other counties.”
That’s how a town with a population of around 600 people expands by thousands over three August nights. It’s also how thousands of people turn up the heat through top-flight competition and entertainment.
In addition, this year’s Buck Wild Days Rodeo will feature a dance “On the Diamond” after each of the rodeo performances. Thursday’s dance is free, but there will be six top Texas Country acts playing over the final two nights of the rodeo for just $15 each night. That’s a whale of a bargain, considering Friday night will feature William Clark Green, Hogg Maulies and No Dry County; Saturday’s show is James Lann, the Zack Walther Band and Jason Nutt & Highway 70.
“We’ve got some outstanding Texas Country artists, and they’re excited to be coming to Silverton,” said Corey Johnson of 106.1 KFLP-FM in Floydada, the station helping produce the concerts during the Buck Wild Days Rodeo. “It’s definitely going to be a good time.”
Word about the annual community celebration has been getting out all over the Texas Panhandle and surrounding regions. A year ago, the volunteer committee upped the ante a little in making the rodeo part of the PRCA, the top sanctioning body in the sport. It provided a place to play for some of the very best contestants in ProRodeo as well as the outstanding animal athletes from Carr Pro Rodeo.
“That place was standing room only on Saturday night,” said Pete Carr, owner of the Dallas-based livestock firm. “People came from everywhere. It’s pretty incredible.”
That’s what makes Buck Wild Days Rodeo even more of a celebration. Taking place in conjunction with the 119th Briscoe County Celebration, those former residents who now live elsewhere return to town for the reunion and entertainment.
“I’ve been working Silverton a few years, and each year I’m impressed with that rodeo and the people that come to town for that weekend,” said Ken Stonecipher, a professional rodeo announcer from Guymon, Okla., who will call the action this year with Louisianan Andy Stewart. “It’s pretty spectacular, and everybody comes to get a little buck wild.
“It’s definitely a good time.”