The 56th annual Kueckelhan Ranch Rodeo announced today that a new rodeo announcer will be calling the competitors to the arena at this year’s annual rodeo. Anthony Lucia of Weatherford, TX will staff the microphone throughout the rodeo. Lucia, the 25-year-old son of well-known performer Tommy Lucia, is a Parker County celebrity in his own right as a trick rider and trick rope exhibitor.

In addition to the names and statistics being played out in the arena, the rodeo announcer gives generous credit to the sponsors of the rodeo, and informs both seasoned rodeo event followers and novice spectators the details of how the livestock and competitor are judged, the equipment they are using, and the technique required to achieve success in the event.

Once again, the Wing Rodeo Company of Bogata, TX, will be bringing some of its toughest rodeo horses and bulls to the Kueckelhan Rodeo arena. Owner Jerald Smith will be a familiar face on the arena floor as he and his men serve as pick-up men for the cowboys who attempt to ride the award-winning broncs and bulls of Wing Rodeo Company. Rough rodeo stock from this company competes in nearly every professional rodeo finals event in America, champion stock for champion competitors.

Judges for the competition Phil Sanders of Hodges, OK, and Mark Smith, Bogata, TX, will be assigning scores for both livestock and the cowboy or cowgirl. As a rodeo sanctioned by several professional rodeo associations, the cash and titles won or lost at the Kueckelhan Ranch Rodeo are sometimes secondary to the important points the competitors win or lose toward eligibility to compete in end of season championship events. Only the highest point winners of the season are invited to compete for national and world titles after succeeding in local and regional sanctioned events all year.

Always the last weekend in July, the dates of the rodeo for this 56th year event are Thursday, July 28 through Saturday, July 30. Parking is free anywhere on the ranch grounds. Advance single night and Season tickets are available at discount prices until noon on opening day, Thursday, July 28, at the following locations:  Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce and Bonham Visitors Center; in Sherman at Baskin’s Western Store at on the US 75 northbound Service Road parallel to Loy Lake Road, Dennards in the Midway Mall, Teners on Texoma Parkway; in Paris at Cavenders on NW Loop 266; in Greenville at Cavenders on Wesley Street; in Durant at Larry Dyson Motors at 2005 West Main.

Advanced single-performance tickets are available through noon on Thursday, July 28 at $8 adult, $3 Child age 6-11; age 0-5 free. Tickets are available at the gate each night for $4 children age 6-11. Thursday and Friday night gate tickets are $10 Adult and $12 on Saturday night. Grand Entry riders purchase their discounted tickets each night when they are mounted and in the parade staging area behind the chutes. All tickets are open seating.