Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis has seen numerous sheriffs’ departments in Alabama and across the United States hold rodeos in their communities over the years.

This year, Davis and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office will follow suit and host their first rodeo Friday and Saturday in an effort to have positive interactions with the community while raising money for the sheriff’s office and local charities.

“It’s a good way to do something positive in the community,” Davis said. “We’re excited about it. I hope this is something we do yearly.”

The rodeo will have three parts to it, starting with a rodeo event Friday morning for about 150 special needs children from across the county.

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the children will have an opportunity to spend time with members of the sheriff’s department and learn about their jobs in law enforcement, as well as see their vehicles and equipment they use on a daily basis.

Alabama Power will provide a free lunch for the children from 11 a.m. to noon, and rodeo participants from all over the U.S. will compete in events involving animals from 12–2 p.m.

“They’ll get to see some local cowboys and cowgirls ride,” Davis said. “It also will give the sheriff’s department an opportunity to be around those children.”

The rodeo is a sanctioned Professional Cowboys Association event and will be held at the Central Alabama Horse Club Arena, located off Interstate 65 Exit 212 on Highway 145 in Clanton.

According to its website, PCA is “a non-profit organization established to promote the sport of rodeo and as the Southeastern leader in professional rodeo.”

The rodeo will continue Friday and Saturday with gates opening at 6 p.m. and competitions starting at 8 p.m. each night.

General admission is $10 per person and free for children ages 6 and under.

Tickets may only be purchased at the gate.

Davis said the Central Alabama Horse Club will sell concessions both nights.

All proceeds from admission sales will go to the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office to be used for purchasing law enforcement equipment such as bullet-proof vests, or the funds will be donated to local charities the sheriff’s office supports including Chilton County Relay For Life and United Way, Davis said.

Since the rodeo is not being funded by any entity other than the sheriff’s office, Davis said he hopes to not only meet but exceed the total amount of money his department will have spent to have the rodeo.

“It’s a pretty big step,” Davis said. “We’ve got to at least break even. Our hope and our plan is to take the rodeo and if we make money off the rodeo, this would be our sole promotion for the year.”

Although Davis hadn’t calculated how much the rodeo would cost, he said his office sold sponsorships to local businesses and will display sponsors on signs at the rodeo Friday and Saturday.

Davis said the biggest rodeo sponsor thus far is Roger Littlefield with Century Bonding.

“As far as the public goes, we’ve had a lot of response, a lot of people interested in it,” Davis said. “(It’s) good, clean, family fun. We’re expecting a great turnout.”