OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) — Preparation has officially begun at the AG Arena in Opelousas, as the highly anticipated Acadiana junior high and high school rodeo returns.

Brandon Guillot, a parent of two participants and President of Rodeo Club spoke on the schedule for the event.

“We’re going to start with the junior high on Friday night, and Saturday morning we’ll have the second half, and Saturday night we’ll start with the high school kids,” said Guillot.

But this is so much more than just a rodeo. It is also the accomplishment of a big goal set forth by Parish President Jessie Bellard three years ago to reinvent the AG arena to make it the center of equestrian activity. It also creates opportunity for the youth of the parish to get involved with equestrian activity.

“If they want to be off the streets, we’ve got to give them something to do to be productive,” said Bellard. “And this right here is a good example. You want to do a rodeo, or you want to learn how to ride a horse or whatever that may be. We set that up for you now.”

With the recent addition of a long row of horse stalls, there is plenty of room for horses and therefore plenty of opportunity for young members of the Rodeo Club to put on a show.

“And it’s just good to give these kids opportunity,” said Guillot. “You know, they can learn a lot about life in rodeo, taking care of their animals and working towards a goal. At the end of the day, they learn a lot about life.”

The rodeo will take place at the AG Arena, April 11-13 in Opelousas.

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