Prepare to get out of your seat as some of the southeast's best cowboys try to stay in theirs.

The 18th Annual Crenshaw County Rodeo is just around the corner, slated for May 13-14 at the Tom Hardin Farm Center. This year's event will once again be produced by Bo Campbell Rodeo Productions of Robertsdale, Ala. and will be sanctioned by the Professional Cowboys Association.

The event, sponsored jointly by the Luverne Kiwanis Club and the Crenshaw Saddle Club, will start each evening at 7:30 p.m.

What person wouldn't like to come to a rodeo? Asks Wayne Rolling, a member of Kiwanis Rodeo Committee.

"It's exciting and pure family entertainment," said Rolling. "It's man against beast. And the young kids who come and perform are just trying to build their careers. They do it because they love it. They're not guaranteed anything but what they win here."

Rolling said Crenshaw County's annual rodeo typically attracts the top talent in the southeast, including cowboys and cowgirls from Crenshaw, Lowndes, Montgomery, Pike, and Butler counties. They compete in bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and the crowd favorite, bull riding.

Rolling said people who annually attend the rodeo numbers in the 'thousands.' Once again this year, the rodeo will offer free admittance on both Friday and Saturday night to any youth 12 and under wearing a team jersey when accompanied by an adult. Those same youths can compete in the 'mutton busting' (sheep riding) event with the winner receiving a prize. Rolling said last year's rodeo was the first to feature this event and it was a huge success.

Providing entertainment between rodeo events this year will be Bill McEnaney of Rossville, Tenn. McEnaney's career has spanned over 40 years and includes performances at nearly every major stock show and rodeo in the United States. He began his career as a trick rider, Roman rider, and trick roper. A natural comedian and athlete, said Rolling, McEnanaey's entertaining antics will be worth the price of admission alone.

Also this year, said Rolling, the street dance, usually held in downtown Luverne, has been moved to Saturday night immediately following the rodeo. The dance will be held under the pavilion next to the rodeo arena.

"We wanted to give people an incentive to come to the rodeo," said Rolling. "This way, they don't have to leave the arena to go to the street dance."

The Kandu Band will kick of their performance as soon as the last bull is ridden, said Rolling.

Advance tickets go on sell starting on May 1. Ticket costs are $8 for adults and $4 for youth, 12 and under. Tickets can be had at First Citizen's Bank, Luverne Hardware, Crenshaw Animal Clinic and other locations soon to be announced. For rodeo information, call 334-335-3285, or 334-335-6172.