Southpoint Rodeo back for second year at Alpena County Fair
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ALPENA – Cowboys, cowgirls, and their horses take center stage at the Alpena County Fair today and Thursday as Southpoint Rodeo returns for a pair of performances at the fairgrounds.
Kelly O'Heran, an organizer and producer for Southpoint Rodeo, said the company is excited to be back for a second year and plans to deliver two distinct styles of competition that showcase different aspects of the cowboy lifestyle.
"Tonight's rodeo is going to be a traditional rodeo. It's an open rodeo, so there is going to be barrel racing, bull riding, bronc riding, team roping and breakaway roping," O'Heran said. "It's more of an individual test. The riders all compete against each other for added money."
Thursday's performance will shift to a ranch-style format built around teamwork.
"The rodeo on Thursday is going to be a ranch-style rodeo, which is more of a team competition with trailer loading, wild cow milking and the stampede racing, which is four or five teams competing with four guys on each team," O'Heran said.
Both rodeos are scheduled for 7 p.m. start times. The cost of admission into the grandstands are $15 for an adult, $10 for a person 12 years old or younger. Kids three years old and younger can get in free.
Several local competitors from Alpena are entered in the barrel racing, team roping and breakaway roping events, giving hometown fans a chance to cheer for familiar faces in the arena.
Southpoint has deep roots in Michigan's rodeo scene. O'Heran said the company worked in conjunction with Twisted K Rodeo for the past 18 to 20 years. This season marks Southpoint's first year producing rodeos independently.
"Southpoint strives to have good quality family fun," O'Heran said. "We want everyone to come out and have a good time watching the cowboys and cowgirls with their horses, experiencing the cowboy way of life."
The performances are expected to last about two hours each. O'Heran encouraged fairgoers who have not yet decided whether to attend to make the trip to the grandstand.
"It will be two hours of action-packed fun," she said. "We are very grateful that the Alpena County Fair is having us come back for a second year."
The rodeo has been a popular part of the fair's lineup in recent years, drawing strong crowds for both traditional and specialty events. Last year's performances were well attended, and organizers have continued to feature rodeo as a highlight of the week.
Traditional open rodeos test individual skill and athleticism. Contestants in roughstock events such as bull riding and bronc riding must stay aboard for eight seconds while judges score both the rider and the animal. Timed events such as barrel racing, team roping and breakaway roping emphasize speed, precision and partnership between horse and rider. Added money creates a competitive purse that attracts riders from across the region.
Ranch rodeos, by contrast, focus on practical skills used on working ranches. Events such as trailer loading require teams to move cattle efficiently into a trailer. Wild cow milking challenges riders to rope a cow and extract milk under pressure. Stampede racing and similar team events reward coordination, horsemanship and quick decision-making among four-person crews. These competitions often produce a more freewheeling, high-energy atmosphere that many spectators find entertaining.
O'Heran said Southpoint's goal remains consistent regardless of the format: deliver quality family entertainment that lets audiences experience the cowboy way of life. The presence of local Alpena riders in several events adds a community connection.
Fairgoers can combine the rodeo with other attractions on the grounds, including carnival rides, food vendors, agricultural exhibits and animal shows. The fair continues through the weekend with additional grandstand events scheduled.
Southpoint's return as an independent producer marks a new chapter for the Michigan-based company. After nearly two decades of collaboration, the group is now handling full production responsibilities, including livestock, equipment and event coordination. O'Heran expressed appreciation for the fair's decision to book the company again and said the team is focused on putting on strong shows both nights.
Whether fans prefer the individual intensity of a traditional open rodeo or the teamwork and ranch skills on display Thursday, O'Heran said both evenings offer the same core experience: two hours of high-energy competition rooted in Western tradition.
"We want everyone to come out and have a good time," she said.