The rodeo comes to town

Date	March 29, 2012
Section(s)	Our Town
Byline	By LINDSEY ADKISON The Brunswick News
Danny Hendrick grabbed a bright red-and-white barrel from the flatbed truck. He set it lightly on the ground, wiped the sweat from his brow and readjusted his cowboy hat. Preparing for a rodeo is hard work, but it is something to which Hendrick has become accustomed. Now the Madisonville, Tenn., native is bringing all of his rodeo experience to Glynn County. On April 6 and 7, the Hendrick Co., sponsored by the Exchange Club of Brunswick, will stage Rodeo at the Beach, an event that will rope-in talent from all over North America. Hendrick says that since his events are sanctioned by a national governing association, many cowboys and cowgirls are looking forward to showing their skills. Rodeos like this one allow participants to earn points for the International Professional Rodeo Association finals, in January. The rodeo in Brunswick will be the first chance competitors will have in this year's professional circuit. "Most everyone comes to the first rodeo. We'll have cowboys from all over ... from places like Texas, Colorado and even Canada," Henrick said. "We will have about 120 competitors each day, and they will be different for each day." Among the events will be women's barrel racing, team roping and steer roping. There also will be non-stop entertainment. Hendrick's family will perform some of their trick riding moves. "It's really a family affair from us. We put a big emphasis on family," he said. That's also true for the sponsoring Brunswick Exchange Club. In addition to events in the ring, there will be plenty of excitement for parents and children. Randy Bellflower, co-chair of the Brunswick Exchange Club rodeo committee, says that there will be food, fun and dancing, along with the riding. "We'll have a lot of things for the kids to do. There will be the calf scramble, free pony rides, Chaos the mechanical bull, and we're bringing in a petting zoo that will be free. There will be rock climbing and games. We'll have an inflatable slide set up. Several line dancing groups and the Coastal Cloggers will be here," he said. "We'll have vendors, food booths set up and Relay for Life teams will be selling items." The Exchange Club is raising money to support organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia, Court Appointed Special Advocates and others that aid children. Steve Floyd, vice-president of the Brunswick Exchange Club, says the money also will help to strengthen programs for the group's National Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Month, in April. "It's really all about the kids. The Exchange Club is a strong family-based organization, and so is Danny's organization. That's why it is a perfect fit," Floyd said. If you go Rodeo at the Beach, sponsored by the Brunswick Exchange Club, will be at 7 p.m. April 6 and 7 at the Exchange Club Fairgrounds on Emory Dawson Boulevard, south of Community Road at Altama Avenue, Brunswick. Gates will open at 5 p.m. each day. An adult ticket is $12 and a child ticket is $10. Tickets may be purchased at United Community Bank offices on St. Simons Island and in Brunswick and Waycross, and at Tractor Supply Store, Nalley Honda and McKinna Auto Sales, in Glynn County.