Family event may bring show to town every year
Andrews The Great American Rodeo Company would go on rain or shine. But when the gates opened Saturday at 6 p.m. for the final night of the two-night event, a steady rain was still falling.
Thankfully the rain stopped shortly after, paving the way for another fun evening of mutton busting, bucking broncos and bull riding. The rodeo went on in front of a packed house at Andrews Recreation Park, with full bleachers as well as a few fans going up to the fence to get as close to the action as possible.
“We’re selective where we go because it’s family oriented,” said Melissa White, who runs the rodeo company with her husband, Jason. “And we like doing it in small towns, places where it’s an annual event, and we can come back and people can look forward to every year. That’s kind of the goal for us.”
Though the idea for the rodeo company started during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jason has been in the rodeo business for decades. His dad was a rodeo announcer, and he started bull riding at 13 and produced a rodeo at 21.
The couple have three sons, and Jason got out of the business when his two oldest sons were younger. When they went to college, they said they were interesting in helping put on a rodeo.
Even the youngest White, 10-year-old Levi, participated in bull riding during the local event.
“My boys eat, breathe and sleep rodeo,” Melissa said. “They absolutely love it.”
During the early stages of the pandemic, the White family realized there was an appetite for outdoor events, sparking the idea for the Great American Rodeo Company. They toured for the first time last year, and before coming to Andrews made stops in Copperhill, Tenn., and Helen, Ga., in 2023. They also did a show at rapper Rick Ross’ house in Fayetteville, Ga.
“That was insane, honestly,” Melissa said. “I felt like it put us on the map, and had people asking us and calling us.”
The event featured three events sanctioned by the national Cowboy Association. First was ranch bronc, where riders had to stay on a horse for longer than eight seconds. The second was cowgirl barrel racing, where riders tried to weave their horses around three barrels in the arena as quickly as possible.
The final and main event of the night was bull riding. The company put up an added fee of $1,000, with contestants also paying entry fees to contribute to the $1,000 jackpot for each event.
There was mutton busting for ages 2-7, too, which is when youngsters try to stay on a sheep for as long as possible. Colter Shields of Murphy was the winner, getting a custom Great American Rodeo Company belt buckle. Lefty the Rodeo Clown filled in the gaps in between events with some offbeat humor.
Following a successful two days, the organization posted on its Facebook page that it’s looking to come back to Andrews in 2024.
“I actually feel like for a moment, for an hour and a half get-together, be outside and enjoy life,” Melissa said. “I think until the good Lord sends us somewhere else, we’ll be doing it for that main reason.”