PRCA MADNESS WINNIE STYLE!!!

By Gloria Way

  Six years ago, Robert “Blue” Jeanes, Blue Jeanes Productions Professional Rodeo Announcer and Sound Company and his wife Jen, visited several businesses and local leaders in our community about staging a rodeo at the new Lilton Sonnier Arena in Winnie at The Winnie Stowell Park. It would be named The Johnny Ackel Memorial Rodeo in memory of Johnny Ackel who was a well-known professional cowboy in the region who helped hundreds of young men and women in agriculture and rodeo. The purpose of the rodeo was to provide scholarships to students at Hamshire Fannett FFA and East Chambers FFA in Johnny Ackel’s name.

    A lot of excitement was created within the community and in August 2021, Blue Jeanes Productions produced its first rodeo in Winnie. It was a huge success! And every year, The Johnny Ackel Memorial Rodeo became bigger and better!

 The Johnny Ackel Memorial Rodeo has provided $48,000 in scholarship money over the last five years. This year alone, The Johnny Ackel Memorial Rodeo is providing $40,000 in scholarship money to be divided equally between Barbers Hill FFA, Anahuac FFA, East Chambers FFA, and Hamshire Fannett FFA.

  This year, the sixth annual Johnny Ackel Memorial Rodeo gained Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) designation. The bull riding and saddle bronc riding brought out the competitiveness of PRCA riders.  The rodeo events included the very popular mutton bustin’, barrel racing, and bull riders and saddle bronc riders.

 The festivities included IBCA sanctioned BBQ cookoff, a classic car show, carnival, and the Tristan Parker Invitational for junior bull riders. There was a carnival for the kids at Lil’ Buckaroos’ Kid Zone. The rodeo provided entertainment that included Los Rangerz, Tyler Farr, Thomas Babiak, Blake Whitten, Mud Creek Revival, and Trent Cowie.

  Many thanks to the Winnie Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC) President Chaysen Wischnewsky for her leadership in putting all the “pieces” together to produce a great rodeo. Thanks to Debbie Breaux, executive director of the WACC, and the WACC ambassadors for all the hard work. And thank you to Blue Jeanes Productions for bringing the dream to Winnie!

  See pages 6 and 10 for more pictures and sponsors list.