The OSU Rodeo Team and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University are proud to present the third annual Cowboy Stampede rodeo Oct. 20-22. Performances will take place each evening at 7 at the Payne County Fairgrounds, Highway 51 and Fairgrounds Road.

Special guests during the weekend's events include: OSU President Burns Hargis and First Cowgirl, Ann; DASNR vice president Thomas Coon and his wife, Rhonda; Pistol Pete; the Homecoming Executive Team; and the Homecoming Royalty Court.

Each evening's performance will feature nine events. The students will be competing as individuals and as a team. Championship buckles will be presented to event and all-around winners at Saturday night's championship performance.

On Saturday night, children can participate in a Kids' Corral starting at 6 p.m. They can enjoy stick horse races, pin the tail on Bullet, coloring a Homecoming coloring sheet and roping a dummy. Children also will receive an orange OSU bandanna for joining in on the fun.

In support of the Stillwater Junior Service League and their Harvest II philanthropy, there will be a Harvest II food barrel set up at the rodeo. Attendees are invited to bring non-perishable food items to help fight hunger in Payne County.

A variety of food trucks will be set up at the rodeo including Okie Spuds and More, The Hungry Duckling, I Don't Know & I Don't Care and PurdyQ Sweet Treats.

Children ages 5 and younger are free and discounted tickets are $5 with an OSU ID, school ID or OSU Alumni Association membership. Tickets are available online at rodeo.okstate.edu, at Cavender's in Stillwater or on campus Oct. 17-18 in Ag Hall and Oct 19-20 at Chi-O Clock. Tickets will be sold at the gate (while supplies last) prior to each performance. Gates will open at 5 p.m.

The Cowboy Stampede is sanctioned by the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. The NIRA includes 11 national regions, and OSU participates in the Central Plains Region, which features 18 colleges and universities from Kansas and Oklahoma, totaling more than 500 regional competitors.