SPRING VALLEY-Some people go to Spain to run with the bulls, other come to Muscle Shoals to ride one. The Spring Valley Firefighters Rodeo is Friday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 30 at North Alabama State Fairgrounds, 65 Sportsplex Dr., Muscle Shoals. Gates open at 6 p.m. both nights with the rodeo getting under way at 8 p.m. The rodeo, which is sanctioned by the Professional Cowboy Association, will feature bull, bareback and saddle bronc riding, team, calf and breakaway roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and activities for children. Cowboys and cowgirls from throughout the Southeast will compete. Admission is free for children 6 and younger, $10 for ages 7-12 and $15 for 13 and older. The rodeo will raise money for the Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department. Assistant Fire Chief Carlton Utley said the firefighters plan to make the rodeo an annual event. “We’ve been looking for a new way to raise money for our department,” Utley said. “There’s too much competition in
Carlton Utley
the fish fry business. We wanted to do something that no one else was doing to raise money so we decided to have a rodeo.” Utley said rodeos are family entertainment. “I remember going to rodeos when I was just a kid and having lots of fun. Everybody loves a good rodeo.” The activities for children at the rodeo include mechanical bull rides, a calf scramble and kid’s gold rush. Susann Hamlin, executive director of Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said rodeos always generate excitement in the community. For more information about the rodeo, call Colbert Tourism at 256-383-0783 or visit www.facebook.com/FireDeptRodeo. The firefighters chose 3R Rodeo Co., of Jemison, to produce the rodeo. “It’s a family-
owned, Alabama based company. It was very important to us to have an Alabama company as a partner for our rodeo,” Utley said. In addition to raising money for the fire department, the rodeo will collect non-perishable food for Sidney’s Safe! Foundation, which assists Shoals residents affected by addiction, depression and physical abuse. Colbert County Animal Control will have a display at the rodeo and pets available for adoption. “The community supports us and we support our community,” Utley said. 
