Sheepish event set

Gentry's fall festival to include Mutton bustin'

— This year's fall festival to kick off the fundraising efforts of the United Way of Gentry will have a new event with all the thrill of a rodeo and sure to please spectators and participants alike.

On the Gentry City Park softball field, beginning at 2 p.m. Sunday, will be the first annual Octoberfest Mutton Bustin contest. The event is being organized by Jonathan and Heidi Nance and the Outdoor Adventures 4-H Club. It will be open to the first 50 children to register.

Contestants must be at least 4 years old and weigh 60 pounds or less. The cost per child to enter is $10 and every child will receive a trophy and a backpack. The champion rider will receive a belt buckle, and the second-through fifth-place finishers will receive larger trophies. Parents of participants must sign a release waiver.

"In conjunction with the Gentry Octoberfest, we are excited to announce the first annual Octoberfest Mutton Bustin," said event organizer Heidi Nance. "Please come out and enjoy this fun event and cheer on these little cowboys and cowgirls."

Sponsors of this year's new event include: Farm Bureau, Quality Metal, Arvest Bank, Powell Feed, Rusk Family Feed Store, Farm Credit Services of Western Benton County, Benton County Salebarn, Jade Collision, Smith Drug, Millsap Family Farms (David and Loretta Millsap) (Wally and Kay Millsap), Ranalli Farms Feed and Tack, Tractor Supply Company, Atwoods Ranch andHome, Shook's Used Cars, Cherokee Auto Sales and Siloam Springs Vet Clinic.

For more information, contact Jonathan or Heidi Nance at 549-3303. Registration forms and waiver releases are available at Arvest Bank in Gentry and Farm Credit Services in Siloam Springs.

"I hope everyone is half as excited about this asI am," Heidi Nance said.

"We are going to have 50 of the roughest, toughest, cutest cowboys and cowgirls around. This will be loads of enjoyment for everyone involved. I have some very cute rodeo clowns assisting with the kids ... Please tell your friends and family and help spread the word. We are trying to make this the best Gentry Fall Festival ever!"

Spectators may wish to bring chairs to enjoy this event, Heidi Nance said.

News, Pages 1 on 10/05/2011