| The crowds continued to pour into the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds Monday, and fair manager Travis Boeker said he expects the gate count to remain high throughout the remainder of the nine-day event, which draws to a close Saturday night.
In the meantime, the gates and midway open at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with agricultural mechanics projects awards to be presented at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the Brazos Stage. Lamb judging also begins at 6:30 p.m. in the A.P. George Barn, and county barrel racing and team roping will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the O.D. Tucker Arena. Scramble heifer judging begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the A.P. George Barn.
A highlight of the fair will be the rough-and-tumble fun of the invitational calf roping, which starts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the O.D. Tucker Arena.
Scoot Shook, chairman of the event, said it promises to be a wild and woolly, fast-moving show no one is soon to forget.
"We've got some of the top calf-ropers from around the U.S. coming - 20 of the top 50," he said. "They'll be roping for more than $26,000 in prize money."
Among them are Joe Beaver, Cimmaron Boardman, Trevor Brazile, Blair Burk, Ricky Canton, Clay Cerny, Jeff Chapman, Jade Conner, Clint Cooper, Brad Goodrich, Houston Hutto, Scott Kormos, Cody Ohl, Doug Pharr, Stran Smith, Cade Swor and Fred Whitfield.
Ohl is the champion roper who is an Orchard native.
Top local calf ropers included in the event are Mark Giese, John Klier, Justin Macha, Justin Nulisch, Tony Reina, Clayton Sebesta, 2005 Steer Roping World Champion Scott Snedecor, Coby Sonnier, Stephen Stransky and James Zant.
Serving as announcer will be Eldon "Mouth of the South" Elliston, who is famous among the southeast Texas rodeo circuit.
"It's going to be a fun-packed four hours of watching some of the top calf-ropers in the world," said Shook.
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