Citizen Staff Writer
BRYAN LEE
brylee@tucsoncitizen.com
Another Parsons family review . . . nine riders named Cody, including roper Cody Buffalo . . . world-famous parade . . . all nine world champions, including the “Tiger Woods of roping” . . . and, are cowboys tough enough to wear pink? . . .
Those are some of the story lines for the 84th La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, which beings Saturday.
“We have the great competitors and ticket sales are on pace with last year, when we did real well,” said spokeswoman Joan Liess. “If the weather holds up, we’ll be all right.”
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros is one of the top 25 professional rodeo events in North America, with prize money exceeding $320,000.
The featured contestant will once again be Trevor Brazille, who last year won a Tucson record eighth all-around title and second consecutive tie-down roping title. He won his sixth all-around title in seven years at the National Rodeo Finals in December.
Other world champions competing are Matt Sherwood, team rope header; Randon Adams, team rope heeler; Justin McDaniel, bareback rider; Luke Branquinho, steer wrestler; Cody Wright, saddle bronc; Lindsey Sears, barrel racer; and J.W. Harris, bull rider.
“Sherwood is now an Arizonan,” Liess said. “He has moved to the Tucson area.”
Leading the other locals will be the Parsons family of Marana.
They are brother and sister Joseph and Erin Parsons and their uncles Cutter and Clay. All are team tie-down ropers.
Cowboys, cowgirls and fans will wear pink Sunday for breast cancer awareness. The Tucson Rodeo Committee is pledging $10,000 of the day’s proceeds to the Southern Arizona Susan G. Komen Foundation.
84th ANNUAL LA FIESTA DE LOS VAQUEROS
• Where: Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 S. Sixth Ave.
• Saturday: Pro competition, 2-4:30 p.m.
• Sunday: Pro competition, 2-4:30 p.m.
• Monday-Tuesday: Pro time even slack competition, begins 8 a.m.
• Wednesday: Pro barrel racing slack competition, 8 a.m.; Gold Card team roping, 10-11:30 a.m.; Mike Cervi Jr. Memorial Team Roping, noon-5 p.m.
• Thursday: Tucson Rodeo Parade, 9 a.m.; Pro competition, 2-4:30 p.m.
• Friday: Pro competition, 2-4:30 p.m.
• Feb. 28: Pro competition, 2-4:30 p.m.
• March 1: Pro competition finals, 2-4:30 p.m.
• Tickets: Advance, $12-18, call 520-741-2233 or 800-964-5662
• Web: tucsonrodeo.com