First day of 101st Clovis Rodeo attracts large crowd

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- It was a bit windy out at the first night of the Clovis Rodeo but nothing to slow down the action.

Country rock group Parmalee continued the rodeo party late Thursday night, wrapping up a perfect opening night for the 101st Clovis Rodeo.

As usual, night one begins with PBR action. More than a dozen professional bull riders, all ranked in the top 50 worldwide. The purse for these bull riders: more than $12,000.

"This is like year number one of the next hundred years, so there's lots of momentum coming out of that hundred years. We're having great ticket sales. I think we're going to have huge crowds, so we're excited," Clovis Rodeo Association Director Chuck Rigsbee said.

Fresh off its centennial year, the Clovis Rodeo has a lot to live up to. And so far it's succeeding, according to the massive crowd.

Clovis natives, like Marita Catete, are sure to keep the rodeo a long running tradition. She's been coming here a long time.

"Since I was young, probably since I was like 4 or 5," said Catete. "I'm looking forward to the bull riding and the beer."

Well there is no shortage of beer. And with 8,000 pounds of tri-tip on hand, there's no shortage of food either. Vendors also have their spots up and running -- plenty of food and rodeo gear to buy.

Justin Witte comes every year with his boys, teaching them the rodeo tradition and of course letting them see the spills in the arena.

"We just like the bull riding and just seeing the action," said Witte.

The rodeo kicks off each year with the crowning of a new rodeo queen, the bull riding, and to kick it up a notch this year the national anthem by Action News anchor Margot Kim.

And if the rest of the weekend is anything like the perfect bucking backflip and landing, it's going to be a great rodeo.

The rodeo continues on Friday with Frankie Ballard performing at 6:30 p.m. The rodeo parade is on Saturday.