December 20, 2023 • 5 mins
Scott Stevens talks to Rodeo Director Kevin Debusk about this year's rodeo at the Salem Civic Center January 5th through 7th! Professional cowboys and cowgirls, many from the Virginia area, will be competing in rodeo’s most popular events, sanctioned by the International Professional Rodeo Association. The IPRA competition features bull riding, bronc busting, and barrel racing, and it is not unusual to have contestants from across the United States and Canada, including current or former world champions, utilizing this event as a final tune-up for the International Finals Rodeo.
The crowd-pleasing mutton busting is back with cowpokes ages 5 - 7, who weigh 50 pounds or less, seeing how far they can ride a sheep!
All 3 events sold out last year so don't wait! Get your tickets ONLY from the Salem Civic Center Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Avoid the scammers! Don't buy from scalpers or outside organiztations.
The crowd-pleasing mutton busting is back with cowpokes ages 5 - 7, who weigh 50 pounds or less, seeing how far they can ride a sheep!
All 3 events sold out last year so don't wait! Get your tickets ONLY from the Salem Civic Center Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Avoid the scammers! Don't buy from scalpers or outside organiztations.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
New Country one O seven nine YI D and iHeartRadio. I'm Scott Stevens.
We're going to barrow into the newyear in twenty twenty four, like
we always do. Happens real quickafter the first of the year. It
is the twenty twenty four Salem StampedeRodeo. Davis Heating and Cooling, Plumbing
and Electric as the sponsor January fifththrough the seventh, and we want to
(00:22):
talk a little bit about the rodeoright now. We've got Kevin DeBusk on
the line, the rodeo promoter.How you doing, buddy, Well,
I'll tell you what. If Iwas inventor, I'd be twins or triplets.
I'm so excited to be headed backfor our fifty sixth time out to
the Salem and Civic Center that inall of the Roanoak Valley. Kevin,
the Rodeo has been coming to ourarea for a whole lot of years,
(00:43):
and you know last year it's soldout, didn't it. I tell you
what. Since COVID, it hasbeen wild. We've always done really well
and with the community, but sinceCOVID, four out of the sixth performances
have sold out, and we basicallysay five out of six, because there
were so minimal seats on that Fridaynight performance two years ago, so it
(01:03):
has become even more popular since COVID. Well, let's talk to some of
the folks that maybe have not beento a rodeo or haven't been there in
a long time. A lot offolks know rodeo, I mean we see
it on TV, we watch Yellowstone, But tell them what they can expect
if they come out to the SalemCivic Center for the Stampede Championship Rodeo.
What's really exciting is it's a familyoriented event. It's not just cowboys and
(01:26):
cowgirls. It's a full entertainment value. For about two hours, we have
high packed action, people sitting onthe edge of their seats, and then
we send them back and let themenjoy some comedy from our great rodeo clown
Mike Wentworth. And this year we'vegot an amazing trick rider on our way
in. She just finished up asone of the specialty acts at the National
(01:48):
Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas that peoplemay have seen, and that's going to
be miss A Dusty Crane Dickerson.So many great events, the bull riding
brockbusting, barrel race, the ropingcompetitions, and you know you took me
backstage a couple of years ago tolet me get real up and close and
personal with those bulls. And letme tell you, they are pretty mean
looking from the stands, but they'rereally meaner looking from three feet away.
(02:13):
People see them at distance, theydon't realize we're talking about fifteen hundred to
two thousand pounds of animals. Theperson that you know, one hundred and
fifty or two hundred pounds is gettingon top of. So they are definitely
large scale animals. And you knowthey come out and mean business for eight
seconds. Well, I'll tell youwhat I bet eight seconds feels like a
long time when you're riding on topof a two thousand pound bull. A
(02:36):
lot of these contestants, it does, you know, a lot of them.
I mean, this is their dayto day life, so it just
feels like going out and doing theirjob and coming off and enjoying the rest
of the day. Now, theprofessional cowboys and cowgirls that'll be performing,
a lot of them are from theVirginia area, but actually a lot of
them come from all over the country. Right, That's what The wonderful thing
(02:57):
about this rodeo is it brought bringscowboys and cowgirls from across the country,
sometimes Canada and Mexico. It alsobrings current and former world champions and a
lot of cowboys and cowgirls from thatSalem Ronoke Valley area out and we've seen
them take home some pretty good paychecksover the years. You don't want to
miss the Salem Championship Rodeo, professionalcowboys and cowgirls, the bull riding,
(03:23):
bronc busting, calf roping, barrelracing. It's all a lot of fun
and of course it's January fifth,sixth, and seventh. Get your tickets
at the Salem Civic Center box office, go to Salemciviccenter dot com or through
Ticketmaster. Do not buy your ticketsfrom individuals. There's been a history of
some scamming tickets out there. Makesure the source of your tickets is right
(03:46):
from the Salem Civic Center or fromTicketmaster and nobody else. You'll want a
plan to come on out. Iknow I'm going to be there. I
had to miss it last year becauseI ended up getting sick at the last
minute. Yeah, unfortunately, theday of the rodeo I got a message
from you saying that you had comedown with something and wasn't going to be
able to make it. But youknow, like you tell people they better
get out and get those tickets earlybecause we did sell out last year all
(04:11):
three performances. Tickets are ahead ofschedule this year, and the Salem Civic
box Office and ticketmaster dot com aregoing to be the best place. In
reality, they're the only place toget those tickets. So if you're getting
them somewhere else, you're not gettingofficial tickets, don't miss it. Go
to Salemaciviccenter dot com to find outmore. I'll be there again on Friday,
(04:32):
looking forward to it and get tomaybe do a backstage interview with the
bulls again there, Kevin. Absolutely, we'll get you back there and meet
some of the cowboys cowgirls, takeanother up close look at those bulls,
and we just want everybody to havea very merry Christmas and a happy New
Year. That way, when theycome to that first weekend of next year,
(04:53):
they are ready to get out andenjoy in wonderful family time. Yes,
as gifts, that's a great reminder. Last minute stocking stuffer would be
a great gift get your tickets andput them in the stocking, and your
little cowboys and cowgirls, or yourwife husband whoever likes to go to the
rodeo, they'll have a great time. I wouldn't wait because I don't know
if there's going to be tickets availablevery long after Christmas, so go get
(05:15):
them. Kevin, look forward toseeing you at the rodeo coming up January
fifth, sixth, and seventh atthe Salem Civic Center. Thank you,
sir. We look forward to seeingyou in and again. Merry Christmas everyone,
New Country one O seven nine YI D and iHeartRadio. I'm Scott Stevens.
We're going to barrow into the newyear in twenty twenty four, like
we always do. Happens real quickafter the first of the year. It
is the twenty twenty four Salem StampedeRodeo. Davis Heating and Cooling, Plumbing
and Electric as the sponsor January fifththrough the seventh, and we want to
(00:22):
talk a little bit about the rodeoright now. We've got Kevin DeBusk on
the line, the rodeo promoter.How you doing, buddy, Well,
I'll tell you what. If Iwas inventor, I'd be twins or triplets.
I'm so excited to be headed backfor our fifty sixth time out to
the Salem and Civic Center that inall of the Roanoak Valley. Kevin,
the Rodeo has been coming to ourarea for a whole lot of years,
(00:43):
and you know last year it's soldout, didn't it. I tell you
what. Since COVID, it hasbeen wild. We've always done really well
and with the community, but sinceCOVID, four out of the sixth performances
have sold out, and we basicallysay five out of six, because there
were so minimal seats on that Fridaynight performance two years ago, so it
(01:03):
has become even more popular since COVID. Well, let's talk to some of
the folks that maybe have not beento a rodeo or haven't been there in
a long time. A lot offolks know rodeo, I mean we see
it on TV, we watch Yellowstone, But tell them what they can expect
if they come out to the SalemCivic Center for the Stampede Championship Rodeo.
What's really exciting is it's a familyoriented event. It's not just cowboys and
(01:26):
cowgirls. It's a full entertainment value. For about two hours, we have
high packed action, people sitting onthe edge of their seats, and then
we send them back and let themenjoy some comedy from our great rodeo clown
Mike Wentworth. And this year we'vegot an amazing trick rider on our way
in. She just finished up asone of the specialty acts at the National
(01:48):
Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas that peoplemay have seen, and that's going to
be miss A Dusty Crane Dickerson.So many great events, the bull riding
brockbusting, barrel race, the ropingcompetitions, and you know you took me
backstage a couple of years ago tolet me get real up and close and
personal with those bulls. And letme tell you, they are pretty mean
looking from the stands, but they'rereally meaner looking from three feet away.
(02:13):
People see them at distance, theydon't realize we're talking about fifteen hundred to
two thousand pounds of animals. Theperson that you know, one hundred and
fifty or two hundred pounds is gettingon top of. So they are definitely
large scale animals. And you knowthey come out and mean business for eight
seconds. Well, I'll tell youwhat I bet eight seconds feels like a
long time when you're riding on topof a two thousand pound bull. A
(02:36):
lot of these contestants, it does, you know, a lot of them.
I mean, this is their dayto day life, so it just
feels like going out and doing theirjob and coming off and enjoying the rest
of the day. Now, theprofessional cowboys and cowgirls that'll be performing,
a lot of them are from theVirginia area, but actually a lot of
them come from all over the country. Right, That's what The wonderful thing
(02:57):
about this rodeo is it brought bringscowboys and cowgirls from across the country,
sometimes Canada and Mexico. It alsobrings current and former world champions and a
lot of cowboys and cowgirls from thatSalem Ronoke Valley area out and we've seen
them take home some pretty good paychecksover the years. You don't want to
miss the Salem Championship Rodeo, professionalcowboys and cowgirls, the bull riding,
(03:23):
bronc busting, calf roping, barrelracing. It's all a lot of fun
and of course it's January fifth,sixth, and seventh. Get your tickets
at the Salem Civic Center box office, go to Salemciviccenter dot com or through
Ticketmaster. Do not buy your ticketsfrom individuals. There's been a history of
some scamming tickets out there. Makesure the source of your tickets is right
(03:46):
from the Salem Civic Center or fromTicketmaster and nobody else. You'll want a
plan to come on out. Iknow I'm going to be there. I
had to miss it last year becauseI ended up getting sick at the last
minute. Yeah, unfortunately, theday of the rodeo I got a message
from you saying that you had comedown with something and wasn't going to be
able to make it. But youknow, like you tell people they better
get out and get those tickets earlybecause we did sell out last year all
(04:11):
three performances. Tickets are ahead ofschedule this year, and the Salem Civic
box Office and ticketmaster dot com aregoing to be the best place. In
reality, they're the only place toget those tickets. So if you're getting
them somewhere else, you're not gettingofficial tickets, don't miss it. Go
to Salemaciviccenter dot com to find outmore. I'll be there again on Friday,
(04:32):
looking forward to it and get tomaybe do a backstage interview with the
bulls again there, Kevin. Absolutely, we'll get you back there and meet
some of the cowboys cowgirls, takeanother up close look at those bulls,
and we just want everybody to havea very merry Christmas and a happy New
Year. That way, when theycome to that first weekend of next year,
(04:53):
they are ready to get out andenjoy in wonderful family time. Yes,
as gifts, that's a great reminder. Last minute stocking stuffer would be
a great gift get your tickets andput them in the stocking, and your
little cowboys and cowgirls, or yourwife husband whoever likes to go to the
rodeo, they'll have a great time. I wouldn't wait because I don't know
if there's going to be tickets availablevery long after Christmas, so go get
(05:15):
them. Kevin, look forward toseeing you at the rodeo coming up January
fifth, sixth, and seventh atthe Salem Civic Center. Thank you,
sir. We look forward to seeingyou in and again. Merry Christmas everyone,
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