Marshall Pro Rodeo boasts top animals in the country

It's three nights of roping, tying, bucking in Marshall. The 22^nd Pro Rodeo kicks off Thursday at the city arena.

"Each night will have a full slate of regular rodeo events," said Joe C. Hall, Marshall Rodeo Committee.

Hall is part of the rodeo committee who organizes the three night event.

"My favorite part is actually what we call steer wrestling.  I grew up calling it bull dogging," said Hall.

They've got some big name cowboys on the roster this year, but the animals may be the biggest draw.

"This last couple of years they've had more animals at National Finals rodeo in Las Vegas than any other stock contractor," said Hall.

Scotty Lovelace produces rodeos all over the country.  He's also a world renowned stock contractor.

"We bring all the livestock from roping cattle, the steer, the calves, the bull dogging cattle to buck stock - the bucking steers and bucking horses," said Lovelace.

He and his wife's ranch is in Waskom, but Marshall is their hometown, and they hope to put on a show.

One of the bucking horses, Wise Guy, is on his final rodeo circuit this year.  This could be his seventeenth year to make the National Finals.

"He's a legendary horse.... We're going to retire him at National Finals.  I'm bucking him here at Marshall and I don't buck him but seven or eight times a year," said Lovelace.

For Lovelace, it'll be bittersweet watching Wise Guy's last performance in Marshall.  For rodeo fans, it's going to be an opportunity to see one of the best bucking horses in the country.

"Everybody gets together, it gets loud.  When the cowboys come out buckin' they really get loud," said Hall.

The rodeo starts at 7:30 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Click here for more information.