Morgan Co. Sheriff's Rodeo event set for Friday, Saturday

MORGAN COUNTY, AL (WAFF) - The sixth annual Morgan County Sheriff's Rodeo is will began Friday and Saturday nights at Celebration Arena to benefit people with special needs.

The traditional warm-up for the weekend event, the Special Needs Rodeo, drew a record crowd.

"We are incredibly blessed. We have about 1,500 special needs guests and about 500 community volunteers," Sheriff Ana Franklin said.

The rodeo features cowboy and cowgirl competitions, and a multitude of games and activities.

Jessie King attended the rodeo with her son, Christian. It was the second time the Sparkman Middle School student came to the event.

"I love it. I think it's neat. Special needs kids, this is really what they need. I'm glad the community is coming together and can see how special these kids are," King said.

The Disco Dance Party, led by Deputy Jarvis Moore every year, is a crowd favorite that always gets people moving their feet.

"We just want to have fun with all our special needs kids and for them to have a wonderful time. So this dance group is for them," Moore said.

"We started this to have a day that this group of people could come and enjoy things that they may normally not get to do, but we quickly found out that we're the ones that enjoy the day. There's no way you can come to this event and not feel touched and blessed," Franklin said.

Each night the gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 dollars for adults and $10 for kids.

Proceeds from the Morgan County Sheriff's Rodeo go to community nonprofit organizations, help fund items for the sheriff's office, and pay for the Special Needs rodeo.

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