Get ready to rodeo as the Killebrew Ag Foundation prepares to present the second Killebrew International Pro Rodeo on June 6-8.
The rodeo honors the memory of its namesake, the late Keath Killebrew Sr., who was a Delta cotton farmer and who grew up just outside of Tchula.
“What started out in its inaugural year in 2023 as a memorial for Keath Killebrew has evolved to an internationally recognized rodeo attracting over 600 contestants from all over the world for action-packed rodeo excitement and family fun,” the foundation said in a release.
The Killebrew International Pro Rodeo is sanctioned by the International Professional Rodeo Association and National Cowboys Pro Rodeo Association and is produced by Deep South Rodeo Productions.
After its first year, the Killebrew International Pro Rodeo was named the Best New Rodeo of the Year and Best Indoor Rodeo of the Year in 2023 by the International Professional Rodeo Association.
The Mississippi State Fairgrounds will be hosting the Killebrew International Pro Rodeo and related events inside the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
“We are proud to have hosted the inaugural Killebrew Rodeo last year at the Mississippi Fairgrounds and excited the International Professional Rodeo Association awarded it the No. 1 Best New Rodeo of the Year as well as the No. 1 Best Indoor Rodeo of the Year,” said Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson in a press release. “We’re excited to host it again this year, and I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy some rodeo fun and support Mississippi agriculture.”
According to the foundation, attendees can expect the “full rodeo experience,” and guests will have the chance to experience a Bull-Stravaganza and Bull Poker.
The three-day event starts with the Bull-Stravaganza on June 6 and only features bull riding competitions. Tickets are $20 each and only available at the Mississippi Coliseum Box Office. A $5 discount per ticket is given showing proof of purchase of Friday or Saturday night tickets.
The Killebrew International Pro Rodeo will be held June 7-8 at the Mississippi Coliseum.
More than 600 contestants will compete in the two-day event for up to $200,000 in bareback, saddle broncs, bull riding, calf roping, breakaway roping, team roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Both nights will also feature Bull Poker with participants from the audience.
The event will also include rodeo clowns, motocross jumping and Spanish bull jumping.
The pre-show begins at 6:45 p.m., and the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online through TicketMaster or in-person at the Mississippi Coliseum Box Office.
The Killebrew International Pro Rodeo is a fundraising event for the Killebrew Ag Foundation, which has a mission to train and educate the next generation of Mississippi farmers.
According to the foundation, “the Killebrew family has been rooted deeply in agriculture with the passion, hard work and love of the land for many generations.”
Killebrew and his twin brother, Heath, founded Killebrew Cotton Co., headquartered on Horseshoe Lake near Tchula, in 2000.
He died in 2021 during an agricultural business mission in Paraguay. He was planning to build a community around cotton farming in the impoverished region.
After his unexpected death, his family, including his wife, Dr. Alyssa Killebrew, and many friends established the Killebrew Ag Foundation.
Killebrew’s wife was originally approached with the idea for a memorial rodeo by friend Mack Ginn of Deep South Rodeo.
“In July 2023, the Inaugural Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo was held to honor and pay tribute to the life and legacy of Keath Killebrew Sr., and to raise money for KAF’s mission,” the foundation said.
This year, however, the Killebrew Ag Foundation has rebranded the rodeo as the Killebrew International Pro Rodeo “to reflect the foundation’s forward mission to focus on inspiring young Mississippi farmers to dream big and achieve by providing hands-on farming education while remembering Keath’s motto, ‘Never give up.’”
The foundation gives young adults a pathway into agriculture through scholarships for post-secondary education and certification programs.
It is also launching a new two-year paid land-based apprenticeship program on working Mississippi farms.
Jacob Dodd of Sunflower and Donovan Shoemaker of Walnut Grove were recipients of the Keath Killebrew Charisma Scholarship Award on April 23. Riley Patton of Kosciusko was selected as the foundation’s first apprentice in April.
Jacob Dodd of Sunflower was a recipient of the Keath Killebrew Charisma Scholarship Award on April 23. He is congratulated by Dr. Alyssa Killebrew.
Donovan Shoemaker of Walnut Grove was also a recipient of the Keath Killebrew Charisma Scholarship Award. He is pictured with his parents.
Riley Patton of Kosciusko was selected as the Killebrew Ag Foundation’s first apprentice.
The Killebrew Ag Foundation also honored two men who have dedicated their lives to agriculture and ranching by presenting Lifetime Achievements Awards. Denon Braswell Sr. of Belzoni was the recipient of the Agriculture Award, and Jack “Bubba” Warner Jr. of Louisville received the Rancher Award.
The Killebrew Ag Foundation also honored two men who have dedicated their lives to agriculture and ranching by presenting Lifetime Achievements Awards. Jack “Bubba” Warner Jr. of Louisville received the Rancher Award.
Denon Braswell Sr. of Belzoni was the recipient of the Agriculture Award.
For more information about the Killebrew Ag Foundation and Killebrew International Pro Rodeo, visit www.killebrewfoundation.org.
To sponsor a rodeo event, email info@killebrewfoundation.org.
To become a Friend of the Rodeo, visit www.killebrewfoundation.org.
Tickets for the June 7 and June 8 rodeo performances can be purchased in-person at the Coliseum Box Office or online at https://tinyurl.com/29xaspky.
- Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7233 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
