Chilhowee Shrine Club Rodeo is this weekend – The Daily Post-Athenian

The "greatest show on dirt" makes its return with the annual Chilhowee Shrine Club Rodeo this weekend.

Hosted by stock contractor H-Bar-M and sponsored by L&M Motors, the Southern Rough Stock Association-sanctioned rodeo will feature bull riding, barrel racing, mutton bustin', mechanical bulls, stick horse racing, and rodeo clowns.

The rodeo will be held Friday, June 2, and Saturday, June 3, in the Layman Building at Athens Regional Park. Gates will open each day at 5:30 p.m., with the show beginning at 8 p.m., rain or shine.

"This is always an action-packed event from start to finish," said Mike Moore of H-Bar-M Rodeos.

Part of the Ram Rodeo Series, the event will feature "Hollywood Slinger," the bull actor Scott Eastwood rode in the movie "The Longest Ride."

A number of events will be held for the little cowgirls and cowboys, including stick horse races and Mutton Bustin'.

"Mutton Bustin' is really a big draw for the kids," said Moore. "They love riding those sheep."

Two lucky kids will be able to take home their own calf - or cash -during the rodeo. Athens Stockyard will again donate one calf each night during the Calf Scramble, which is open to children ages eight and under.

"The first kid to get a ribbon off the calf's tail gets the calf," Moore said. "They can keep the calf or sell it on the spot for cash each night."

Proceeds from the rodeo will be used by the Alhambra Shrine Temple for its community and humanitarian service projects in the region.

Among those are the Chilhowee Shrine Club's transportation program for children receiving care at Shriners Hospitals, which treat youngsters with serious conditions - particularly orthopedic issues, spinal cord injuries, burns, and cleft lip and palate - regardless of their families' incomes.

Each week, the club transports children to Shriners Hospitals in Lexington, Ky., Greenville, S.C., and Cincinnati, Ohio, to receive treatment for orthopedic conditions and burns, respectively.

"About three to four times per week, we're taking children from this area to Cincinnati or Lexington," said Brian Trammell with Chilhowee Shrine Club. "We have about 40 children from McMinn County receiving treatments in Lexington, eight in Cincinnati at the burn unit for burns, scarring, and bites, and several going to Greenville for the hip specialist there. The rodeo funds help keep the temple running so we can transport these children back and forth."

"This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and this year our sponsors and donors have really stepped up to make this one the best year ever so far," added J.C. Rogers, president of the Chilhowee Shrine Club. "We're adding new kids each year to our transport list, which means we're always in need for new vehicles and travel expenses. The Shriners Hospitals are some of the best in the world, and we thank everyone for their generous support in helping us get these children the care they need."

Those wishing to learn more about the program can call skin services at 1-800-875-8580 or orthopaedics at 1-800-444-8314.

To make a donation to the program, or learn more about Chilhowee Shrine Club, contact Max Scarbrough at 745-2849 or Brian Trammell at 252-9014. You can also contact the Alhambra Shrine Temple at 423-892-0223 for more information.

Rodeo tickets will be sold at the gate both nights, with children four and under admitted for free. Admission is $10 for youngsters ages five to 12 and $15 for those ages 13 and older.

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Chilhowee Shrine Club Rodeo is this weekend - The Daily Post-Athenian