It's Time for a Bit of Roping Fun at 63rd Annual CINCH Roping Fiesta

SAN ANGELO, TX - According to the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association's website, there are "100  days until Rodeo." If you can't wait that long, you'll be glad to know the 63rd Annual CINCH  Roping Fiesta will be held this weekend, Friday through Sunday, October 28-30,  at the outdoor roping arena in San Angelo.

Brittni Kaczyk, Livestock Director of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association said, "It's the longest running event of its type--a stand alone roping event."

To start the weekend off, Kaczyk said, "We will have our preliminary roping on Friday morning, which starts at 10 a.m. at the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena. It's free admission, and just a qualifier for contestants that want to try and advance to the invitational calf roping on Saturday." 

Competitors have to be able to rope a calf, dismount a horse, 'throw' the calf, and tie the calf. These contestants are competing for prize money, so the ones competing on today are doing so for a spot tomorrow.

"The Invitational Calf Roping on Saturday is what most people need to know about," said Kaczyk. "We have about 40 ropers who will be here that are ranked nationally and will compete at 1 p.m. at the outdoor roping arena."

For those people interested in attending, that's a $12 ticket.

"On Saturday, we also have another event where two contestants go head to head on 10 calves," explained Kaczyk. "It's a unique deal, and there's not too many of them around. Cody Ohl will be competing in his 21st match, roping against Ryan Jarrett."  

Kaczyk also noted that, on Saturday night, at the Buffalo Social club (recently remodeled, and more commonly known as the 'Beer Barn'), there will be a free concert.

"We encourage everyone to come out and see Sam Williams open up for Case Hardin," she said. "The doors open at 7:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8:00 p.m." 

Additionally, on Sunday, a steer roping and double mugging event, which is a $10 ticket and starts at 1 p.m., will take place. For those who aren't familiar with this event, Kaczyk explained,  "A double mugging is a yearling calf, which will be about a 500-550 pound animal, and it takes two guys to rope her; and then they tie her like they do the calves and the steers. It goes back to ranch work, so there's a lot of real ranch hands who come to participate in that event."

Additionally, Kaczyk said there will be over 40 vendors throughout the Foster Communications Coliseum and Housley Communications Cattle Barn areas. The vendors will be selling everything from food, clothing, household items and more. 

Rockin' R.E. (Rusty Emmons) said, "I have been going to this event many years and setup in the cattle barn. I created an event on my business Facebook page to advertise that I will be a vendor and attract shoppers. Many vendors do this to let their followers know where they will be setting up."

Rockin' RE provides stylish clothing, jewelry, candles and home decor to those who live the Western lifestyle.

Kaczyk said, "There is no charge to enter the vendor areas, and all of the events in the Spur Arena are free as well. The only thing that is ticketed is the 1 p.m. events on Saturday and Sunday; $12 on Saturday and $10 on Sunday. Tickets will be available at the gate."

As far as attendance, she added that Friday should consist of a few hundred (spectators), but throughout the weekend, that number will definitely increase.

"It's a very big deal; a pilgrimage," Kaczyk continued. "People come to it every year from all over. We even have a guy who comes from either New York or Pennsylvania every year just to watch." 

For the younger kids, and those 'city slickers' unfamiliar with 'country' life and ways, Kaczyk explained the history of 'roping.' 

"It's how cowboys would manage their herd," she said. "When we had big cattle herds out here across the plains, if they would have to go take care of a sick one, they would have to rope it so they could care for it. The same with branding their cattle. With men, everything becomes a contest, so then it became kind of an event to see who was the best and fastest at it. Today, that is where a lot of our rodeo events come from are the traditional ranch practices." 

Overall, this is a family-friendly event, so whether you're a regular fan, participant, or have never been, now is your chance to go check it out.

For more information on the SASSRA and this event visit, visit http://www.sanangelorodeo.com.