Down home

Published 11:55 pm Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The rodeo has been coming to Dalton for more than 50 years, and several people with local ties will be in action this weekend at the North Georgia Fairgrounds.

With events such as calf-roping, barrel racing and bull riding, ropers and riders from around the Southeast will compete in the circuit for the International Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association this Friday and Saturday during the Dalton Pro Rodeo. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for kids 12 and younger. David Phipps, a former professional who has organized the local rodeo for 24 years, said the event brings in talent from several states east of the Mississippi River.

“We’ll have professional cowboys in what we call ‘weekenders,’” Phipps said. “They do what I did. They have a job during the week and are in rodeos on the weekend. But we’ll have some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the Southeast converging on Dalton.”

In addition to the visitors, local cowboys Corey Mosley, Justin Raburn, Tanner Phipps, Jacob Raburn and Hayden Phipps will participate in action that starts at 8 p.m. each night. And singer Paul Ruark, whose mother is a native of Dalton, will perform before the events each night, a little after 7 p.m.

For Mosley, a senior at Coahulla Creek High, this weekend is another chance for him to improve his skills after finishing sixth at the National High School Rodeo Association Tie-down roping (formerly calf-roping) finals last month in Gillette, Wyo. He earned his spot at the national event by finishing third in the state competition in Perry earlier this summer.

Mosley credits his brother, Curt, who competes for the Southern Arkansas University rodeo team, for getting him interested in competing in calf-roping, team roping and steer wrestling. Going against professionals in events like this weekend, will only help improve Mosley prepare for his final year in the high school division, he said.

“It’s better for me to be roping against somebody better than me,” he said.

And since Mosley already has offers to ride in college, Phipps said going against more experienced cowboys can pay off down the line.

“It’s always a little intimidating for the high school riders to go against professionals,” Phipps said. “But it will help prepare him for his high school career and college by learning how to handle that pressure.”

Mosley said when he began rodeo in the seventh grade he had to build up his horsemanship and continues to hone his skills in saddle through frequent practice with the horse he’s had since the eighth grade.

“I have to work my horse to keep him tuned,” Mosley said. “He’s a big part of calf roping … I try to do something every day. I rope the dummy every night. There’s a bunch of work that goes into roping.”

And while the competition of rodeo got Mosley into the sport, he has developed an interest in working the job that created rodeo in the first place.

“That’s how rodeo started,” Mosley said. “Somebody said, ‘I’m better than you. I can rope this calf faster than you.’ And they started a competition. My brother worked at a ranch, and he had some stories you won’t believe. (Being a working cowboy) is a big draw for me. That’s something I’d like to do.”

But competing in Dalton mean’s Mosley’s family won’t have to travel to see him compete this weekend. The night before he competed in Wyoming, he finished another competition in Oklahoma. His parents made the 16-hour drive to get him signed in for the national finals in Gillette.

“I wouldn’t be able to do anything I’ve done if it weren’t for them,” Mosley said.

That kind of travel will help bring a different show to Dalton each night, Phipps said.

“We’ll have the same stock, but different cowboys,” Phipps said. “You could come each night and see something different.”

Phipps said the event will continue even if more rain hits the area this weekend.

“Instead of a rodeo, we’ll have a ‘mudeo,’” Phipps said. “Last year, we had a little rain on Saturday. As long as we don’t have lightning, we’ll continue right on.”