The Stampede is ready to go

The Marysville Stampede has been a fixture in the area for 75 years.

The rodeo's promoter, Hall of Fame cowboy Cotton Rosser and his Flying U Rodeo, have been equally rooted in the region.

And fans won't have much trouble recognizing other names when the parachutist Mark Schlatter brings his giant American flag down from 8,000 feet for the traditional start of the Stampede at Cotton Rosser Arena in Beckwourth Riverfront Park this weekend.

The PRCA rodeo runs Saturday and Sunday. It gets under way at 5:30 each evening.

Fourteen local cowboys are scheduled to compete.

At the top of that list is Jesse Egan of Gridley, the nine-time California Circuit calf roping champion and defending winner from last year's Stampede.

C.J. DeForest of Wheatlland placed third in the event last year, and returns to take another shot at the Gridley legend.

DeForest was a two-time District 3 high school all-around champion, winning the title in 2004 and 2005. Right on his heels in 2006 was Jeremy Garner, who will compete in steer wrestling and team roping at the Stampede.

Another two-time high school champion, Levi Rosser of Gridley, will team up with his father, Lee Rosser, in the team roping competition.

The grandson of Cotton Rosser, Levi will not, however, compete in steer wrestling, the event in which he has made his name in the state's professional circuit in recent years.

Another famous bulldogger, Doug Houston of Sutter, also will compete in team roping. He is a past National Finals Rodeo cowboy who finished seventh in the world in 1993, the highlight of an 18-year professional career.

Julio Moreno of Marysville, a 15-time National Finals Rodeo roper and the man behind the Flying U Rodeo's champion stock program, will team with his longtime local partner, Tony Amaral of Wheatland, in the team roping event.

Jeff Shearer of Loma Rica, the man Moreno calls the "best cowboy" in the area, will compete in team roping as well. He is a past National Finals Rodeo saddle bronc rider.

Spencer Mitchell of Colusa (2004) and Blake Hirdes of Turlock (2006) are past high school state champions in team roping, and they return to the Stampede as well.

Josh Vurgburg of Fresno won the state high school bull riding championship in 2003 and will be among the 20 cowboys who will challenge some of the best rodeo stock in the world.

Some of the youngest of those bulls will be in their own competition on Saturday.

A futurity for 2-year-old bulls will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday. An electronic dummy is placed on the bulls for a 6-second ride. The animals are judged, and the winners earn points toward the big national futurity championship held in Las Vegas at the PBR Finals.

The event is free for anyone who wants to come out and learn a little bit about how buckling bulls are trained, and get a look at some of the best young stock on the West Coast.

Making the call at the futurity, as well as both days at the Stampede, will be the familiar voice of Ed Kutz.

He will call the action and be part of the entertainment that will include the return of John Payne, "The One-Arm Bandit." His new act includes buffaloes.

Charlie "Too Tall" West, a longtime rodeo clown and barrel man, will be back, as will the Folsom-based Painted Ladies Drill Team.

West's barrel work will be the only barrels fans will see this year, however. There will be no barrel racing at the Stampede this year. The bareback riding event also has been canceled.

Still, there is plenty of excitement at the event, which will be part of the sport's "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" program in support of the fight against breast cancer and other forms of cancer.

There will be a raffle with a number of prizes in support of the program.

Marysville stampede information

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m. both days

WHERE: Cotton Rosser Arena, Beckwourth Riverfront Park, Marysville

TICKETS: $10.50 children 12 and under; $15.50 adults. Save $4 per ticket by purchasing tickets at the following outlets: Cotton’s Cowboy Corral, 320 Fifth St. Marysville; Silver Dollar Saloon, 330 First Street, Marysville; AAA Awards, 855 Gray Ave, Yuba City; Round Table Pizza, 828 Gray Ave., Yuba City

TICKETS ONLINE: www.flyingurodeo.com

INFORMATION: Call 742-8249; or e-mail flyingu@pacbell.net