If you are in the Antelope Valley area this evening, please stop by "The BLVD"

[info]Reprinted Courtesy of The Antelope Valley Times[/info]

LANCASTER – Country music fans may want to head to Lancaster’s Farmers Market on The BLVD this Thursday.

Jacob-Nelson-and-The-Tone-Wranglers

Jacob Nelson and the Tone Wranglers will perform great line dancing music from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Bex Bandstand (outdoor stage) as part of a Pre-PRCA Rodeo celebration.

Miss Rodeo California 2013 Dakota Skellenger. Photo by Wayne Capili of Interface Visual

Miss-Rodeo-CaliforniaThe band will also introduce Miss Rodeo California, Dakota Skellenger, who will be available for photos and autographs. Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Skellenger is taking a year off from her studies in Agriculture at Bakersfield College to travel as Miss Rodeo California.  Her future plans include pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Communication at Fresno State.

In addition to being crowned Miss Rodeo California 2013, Skellenger was also presented with awards for placing first in all of the judging categories, which included Horsemanship, Speech, Appearance, Personality, and Miss Photogenic.  Being Miss Rodeo California is a symbol of the western way of life, and one of the responsibilities as Miss Rodeo California is promoting the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.  Skellenger will return to the Antelope Valley to reign over the 2013 PRCA RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo – October 18, 19, 20, 2013 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.

A different side of the PRCA Rodeo will be represented by Cesar “Kid” Banuelos, a Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) – California Home Circuit Bareback Rider from Los Angeles.  Baneulos has traveled all over the United States and France competing in the Professional Rodeo Circuit.  His most recent competition was in the Campeonato Nacional De Rodeo Pesqueria N.L.

Banuelos believes in giving back to the community and demonstrates this passion by making appearances at local elementary schools to teach young kids about the life of a Professional Cowboy.

From professional rodeo cowboy to roping cowboy-to-be, 9-year-old Brody Manness will also join the fun.  Manness lives on a ranch in Tehachapi  and takes great pride in his western heritage – he is a cowboy.  In addition to his ranch chores (taking care of the livestock, cleaning stalls, etc.) he also rides horses.  Manness became interested in roping at a very early age.  He would watch his uncle rope and try to emulate him.  His family made him a “roping dummy”, made out of hay with a plastic set or horns on one end.

Brody Manness (left) Photo by Shawna Nelson.

Brody practiced and practiced on this dummy until he mastered the art of roping.  Brody has been a great ambassador for both the Showdown Rodeo and the PRCA RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo.  He will be on hand to show other kids (and adults too!) how to rope, and he will share his passion for everything cowboy.

Hours for the City of Lancaster’s Farmer’s Market are 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8, on Lancaster Boulevard, between Date and Fig Avenues.  “Country Night” entertainment takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.

Miss Rodeo California, Cesar “Kid” Banuelos and Brody Manness will return to participate in the PRCA RAM California Circuit Finals Rodeo – October 18, 19 & 20, 2013 at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds.   Jacob Nelson and The Tone Wranglers will also perform at the PRCA Rodeo as the headline band at the Van Dam Barn Dance, Friday and Saturday nights, Oct. 18 and 19th.

Go to the following websites for more information: