Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo kicks off with trick riding, family entertainment

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - The annual Nacogdoches Pro Rodeo & Steer Show kicked off Thursday at the Nacogdoches Civic and Expo Center, bringing professional riders from across the country along with family entertainment and arena performances.

One featured performer is 15-year-old Kansas-based trick rider Liberty Cunningham, who is returning to the arena where she made her pro rodeo debut two years ago. “I’ve grown a lot. Well, myself and my skill set,” Cunningham said.

Trick riding involves performing stunts at full speed as a horse circles the arena.

“I’m hanging off a running horse,” Cunningham said. “We go around the arena, and I kind of do my thing. My horse does her thing.”

Cunningham said she hopes her performance encourages other young people to get involved. “I want to show how different every aspect of rodeo can be and how amazing it is,” she said.

Miranda Hoffman, manager of the Nacogdoches Civic and Expo Center, said proceeds benefit the Nacogdoches Jaycees, a nonprofit that supports youth programs. “One of the things they do is purchase items and support improvements here at the Expo, especially for kids involved in livestock shows,” Hoffman said.

Organizers expect about 4,000 people to attend each night. “This has been a long-standing tradition for many years. It’s a very historic rodeo,” Hoffman said.

Contestants are expected from East Texas and beyond. “We’ll have riders and contestants from Nacogdoches, all over East Texas. Plus Idaho, North Dakota and Utah,” Hoffman said.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. March 26-28. For the full event calendar, visit the event’s website.