DU QUOIN - After a long winter at pasture, the bulls are done daydreaming about those eight seconds of fame; they're ready to charge into the rodeo season, beginning with The Southern Stampede.

"They're rested and they're ready to get back to what they were bred to do," said Linda Daniel, secretary of D Bar D Rodeo Co. in Elsberry, Mo.

The fourth annual Southern Stampede comes to the Du Quoin State Fairground at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 and 2 p.m. Feb 10. Professional bucking bulls and bull riders from around the country will be vying for top scores in the event sanctioned by the Bull Riders of America.

"Since we're planning on having around 60 bull riders each day," Daniel said, "we need to have at least that many bulls, and to do that we need to bring in other bulls from other companies.

The event is sanctioned by both the Bullriders of America and the National Federation of Professional Bullriders. Top riders of both organizations will be competing at The Southern Stampede. NFPB riders will be trying to pick up a little extra money and qualifying points before the NFPB finals in early April, Daniel said.

"Bull riders are really great guys and we're bringing some of the best bull riders in. These guys really enjoy coming in for this rodeo," she said.

Bob Daniel, producer of D Bar D Rodeo Co., said Du Quoin is a great venue for a rodeo. The people are friendly and really turn out to see the competition.

"All the cowboys look forward to this one," he said, "since this is in the winter months and all the great things that the Du Quoin area offers to them and all the things the paper does for them, the extra added money and support. All that type of thing really does mean a lot to the contestants this time of year.

Local women will also be participating in barrel racing and while there will only be around 15 barrel racers the event is more open to the local population.

"We try to keep the barrel racing more of a local flavor to basically offer it to local people to enter," Linda Daniel said.

Barrel racing involves three barrels placed in the arena and each racer shows just how nimble a rider she is as they cover a cloverleaf pattern through the barrels at a sprint.

"Texas Kid" Rodney R. Hayes will also be entertaining the audience with his trick riding, said Norm Hill, state fair assistant manager.

Hill said Hayes rides horses and he even has a trained bull he rides. Hill said he thought the trick riding would be an interesting intermission from all the bull riding.

"We want this to be an event to help get people out during this cold winter season," Hill said. "We want to see kids and parents having a good time here since we're working real hard to make sure they enjoy themselves."

Hill said that they really need to thank the sponsors of the Southern Stampede since they were able to bring in and pay for the free children's events before the show.

The state fairground staff is planning on having free pony rides, a free mechanical bull and a calf scramble.

"The calf scramble is where we tie a ribbon onto calves and set them free in a pen, then we have kids chase the calves around and try to get the ribbons off. The children who get the ribbons win a prize. We wanted to have a bunch of events for the family so we could have a big crowd," added Du Quoin State Fair Manager John Rednour Jr.

Southern Stampede

When: On Saturday the gates open at 6 p.m. with the rodeo starting at 7 p.m.; on Sunday gates open at 1 p.m. with the rodeo starting at 2 p.m.

Where: Du Quoin State Fairground

Cost: Adult tickets are $15, $8 for children under 12.