The 2009 rendition of the Central States Fair Range Days Rodeo begins this evening at the WW Grandstand Arena with the first chute scheduled to open at 7 p.m.

And despite the economy, Central States Fair director Ron Jeffries expects to see good crowds, and lots of familiar faces.

"We always draw great crowds to the Range Days Rodeo," Jeffries said. "And the nice thing about it for me personally is that many of the people come back to the Fair year after year, and they work and trade in Rapid City all year long so it is always nice to see those familiar faces."

The rodeo promises to be another Badland's Circuit rip-snorter according to Wade Voss, Chairman of the rodeo committee.

"The Range Days Rodeo is NFR caliber to my way of thinking," Voss said. "You are going to see some of the best cowboys and cowgirls around, and the best bucking horses, bulls, and timed stock to go with them thanks to the Burch Brothers Rodeo Company our primary stock contractor. Most importantly, the rodeo is guaranteed to be good family entertainment. Folks can bring the whole family and know there will be something for everybody to enjoy at our show. We are in the entertainment business and we want to make sure that people get their money's worth."

In addition to the rodeo performers, intermission entertainment will also be provided by rodeo clown Cody Sosebee, better known in rodeo circles as the "skiing Elvis." Sosebee's antics will take center stage during lulls in the action during which he will also trade barbs and rodeo repartee, with veteran rodeo announcers Boyd Polhamus, a two winner of the PRCA rodeo announcer of the year award, and Rory Lemmel, a familiar voice to area rodeo fans.

The opening performance tonight will include what has become a tradition at the Range Days Rodeo, military appreciation night. The honoring of military personnel will feature a flyover from a B1 stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

A new addition to the Range Days Rodeo arena this year will be the finals of the first annual Mutton Bustin' Contest. Qualifiers from daily trials being conducted at the Rounds Arena will take to the big arena as the opening act of Friday night's rodeo performance and compete for the top prize.

And for the main event beginning tonight, a cast of over 300 cowboys and cowgirls will take the spotlight in a one-head competition for over $70,000 in prize money.

Among some of the local cowboys and cowgirls on hand the Range Days Rodeo are:

- Dustin Reeves, the 2008 Range Days Bareback champ from Owanka.

- Bryce Miller, the defending Saddle bronc champ from Buffalo currently second in PRCA World rankings.

- Jay Mattson, the defending Tie-down roping title-holder from Deadwood.

- Jessica Painter, winner of the 2008 barrel racing event, who will be challenged in the event by little sister Joey, the reigning state high school all-around cowgirl. Brother P.J., a BHSU cowboy who will compete in roping events.

- Scott Montague, current Badlands Circuit bareback leader and a former NFR competitor and a Rapid City resident.

- Paul Tierney, Badlands All-around leader from Oral.

- The saddle bronc riding Elshere's - J.J., Ryan, and Cole.

- Tyler Haugen, Sturgis steer wrestler and recent winner of Days of '76 rodeo.

- Joesy Hauser of Meadow , saddle bronc winner at the Days of '76.

- Lisa Lockhart from Oelrichs, a NFR barrel race finalist currently fifth in the world.

- Charles Zoss, bull-rider from Forestburg and another 2009 Days of '76 winner.

- Other Rapid City contestants competing in a variety of disciplines include Clint Hufty, Krista Minow, Kel-C Nordvold, Tim Nutter, Ora Taton, & Travis Bechen.