SOUTHAVEN, Miss. – Lecile Harris has his hands in everything involved in the Rodeo of the Mid-South.
He organizes every aspect of the show, and he does it because he loves this event, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Landers Center in Southaven. But when the weekend comes, he hands the reins over to the crew from Pete Carr Pro Rodeo.
“I have so much confidence in Pete Carr and his company that once they drive up and once the crew goes to work, I don’t have to worry about that part of the rodeo,” said Harris, a longtime rodeo clown that has been named PRCA Clown of the Year four times; he also is enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
“I don’t have to worry about the production of the rodeo once. I never have to worry about his crew, and I don’t have to worry about the stock. He’s got some of the best livestock in rodeo. I know when Pete and his crew get here, it’s going to be first class and everything’s going to be done right.”
That is a winning formula for rodeo fans and the cowboys and cowgirls who make a living in the sport.
A key ingredient will be the Carr animals. Each of the past two season, no other stock contractor in the PRCA has had more animals selected to the year-end championship, which takes place in December in Las Vegas.
After years apart, the rodeo returned to be in conjunction with the Mid-South Fair. It’s the perfect fit for fairgoers and rodeo fans, who can enjoy all the family fun that comes together in a spectacular weekend.
“One of the things that makes our rodeo special is the fact that this year its back with the fair,” Harris said. “I moved the dates of the rodeo from April back to September so it could be with the fair.
“It’s indoors at one of the most up-to-date venues. It’s a beautiful coliseum, and it’s got all the sound, electronics and light show to help make for great production of the rodeo.”
The Carr team understands production. In fact, it’s one of the many reasons the firm has been nominated for ProRodeo Stock Contractor of the Year five straight times and why many consider Carr the top contractor in the game.
It all will be on display in two days of a magical experience called the Rodeo of the Mid-South.