Aiken High School's Future Farmers of America is bringing a new fundraiser to the area that the group's adviser, Waylon Priester, believes will receive the community support it needs to be successful.
Priester said this year will be the first Aiken High Rodeo, sponsored by the school's FFA and the South Carolina High School Rodeo Association. The event will be Friday and Saturday at the Aiken County Fairgrounds, 1566 Columbia Hwy.
On Friday, the rodeo will begin at 8 p.m. and will feature the senior high school division competition.
On Saturday, the junior rodeo will begin at 11 a.m. and the high school rodeo later that night at 8 p.m.
Priester said there will be a total of 10 events each night, including bareback riding, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, break away roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, team roping and bull riding.
The festivities also will include food and souvenir vendors, a free kids calf scramble for a $25 prize and a $10 adult calf scramble for a $100 prize.
Tickets will free for kids 6 and younger, $10 a day for students, $12 a day for adults or $40 for a family pack of four tickets. Tickets are only sold in advance and can be purchased from an FFA member.
Priester added that the sponsor of the event is Walther Farms.
"We asked them for a sponsorship and they agreed because they believe in supporting the local community and FFA," he said. "It's our first year trying this so we're kind of learning as we go. But we've gotten great support and we hope that continues."
For more than 39 years, the South Carolina Rodeo Association has been an organization for students all over South Carolina who want to participate in the sport of rodeo.
Derrek Asberry is the SRS beat reporter.