The Butler County Sheriff’s Office is back in the saddle again for the fourth annual Professional Cowboy Association Championship Rodeo.

Friday and Saturday at the Butler County Fairgrounds, there will be bull riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, bareback riding and a host of other activities.

“This is our fourth annual rodeo that we’re putting on, and people get their money’s worth,” said Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden.  “It’s good family fun.”

The PCA Championship Rodeo leads up to the final event, which will be held in Mississippi next January.

Participants in the rodeo earn points to make it to the final level of the competition.

But despite the competitive spirit of the rodeo, it’s also an environment that small children can enjoy completely independently of the competition in the arena.

“We’re also going to have pony rides,” Harden said. “I think kids may even get more enjoyment out of it than adults will. During the intermission, we’re going to have two calves (in the arena) and put ribbons on their tails, and we let the kids get out and try to catch them. Whoever gets catches them gets a prize.”

The proceeds earned in previous years went toward a number of different programs, including Project Lifesaver.

Project Lifesaver is a bracelet made specifically for individuals suffering from Alzheimers and other related mental illnesses who may wonder away from home, and the bracelet sends out a signal that alerts authorities in such an event.

Funds have also been used for the Yellow Dot program, which involves labeling a vehicle with a yellow dot on the back window that notifies first responders to the scene of an accident that all pertinent information, such as relevant medical conditions and emergency contact information, is kept in the vehicle’s glove compartment.

Although this year’s proceeds aren’t going toward any particular program, Harden ensures that it will be used for the good of the county.

“Whatever we need to put back into the county to make our job better, that’s what we’ll use the proceeds for,” Harden said. “If we need to buy equipment to make our jobs easier, then we’ll use it for that.  But if it’s something else that we need to do for the community, we’ll use it for that, too.  So come out, have good family fun, and support the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.”

The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, and children four and under are free.