MISSISSIPPI STATE -- Intercollegiate rodeo competition will return to Mississippi State University on April 9 and 10 when students host the first events on campus in several years.

MSU’s newly organized rodeo team will have seven members competing for points and prizes. About 300 entries are expected from the 15 member schools in the Ozark Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Events will include bareback and saddle bronc riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, goat tying and break-away roping classes. Children will have an opportunity to dance with Clovis, the rodeo clown.

Official events will begin at 7 each night at the Mississippi Horse Park, which is located on Poorhouse Road, south of Starkville. General admission is $8 per person; admission for children ages 10 to 16 is $4; ages 10 and younger will be admitted free. MSU employees and students will be admitted for $5 when they present their identification cards. Weekend armbands are available for $14.

Additional riders not competing during the evening events will take part in “slack” activities, which begin at 9 a.m. both days and are free to spectators.

Students can earn prize money, belt buckles, awards and points to qualify for regional and national competitions. Money raised from the event will go into a scholarship foundation for the rodeo team.