Giddy up

Before the riders can flail and the stock can buck, almost a week of transformation and preparation is necessary in the Ector County Coliseum to get it from a hockey rink to a rodeo ring.

"We started even before the last hockey game (Dec. 26) putting up sky boxes for VIP seating," said Monty Flippin, president of the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo. "Then, when they turned off the machines for the ice, we started dragging out ice and setting up roping boxes and bringing in dirt."

And it's a lot of dirt.

"We have enough dirt to at least fill the floor up 18 inches - maybe 1,200 to 1,500 yards of dirt," Flippin said. "It's a long process of getting everything together, and it's all volunteer, making this rodeo one of the largest all-volunteer-type rodeos in the country."

Certain challenges, as one would expect, arose during the transition process.

"We've had to revamp the way we get the animals in and out. Since (the Coliseum) got new ice machines, we've had to move the holding pins outside and change what door the animals use," Flippin said. "As the Coliseum improves, we have to get our heads together and deal with what's changed - but this has been our biggest challenge so far."

Animals, like humans (well, not exactly), have to use the bathroom too. So where does all of it go? The answer isn't for the squeamish city slickers.

"It pretty much stays in the dirt," Flippin said. "We own a big hole and put the dirt back in the hole and recycle the dirt. We're going green! We recycle the organic material left in it and use it again. We also till in some sand to keep the dirt from packing too hard."

On top of all the physical reconstruction, the secretarial offices have been busy as well with accounting, supplying general information and registering livestock.

"We're especially busy, and it's been non-stop. Our biggest concern right now is registering the livestock because the show starts (Friday)," Brandie Jones, secretary with the SandHills Stock Show and Rodeo said. "The reason our office stays so busy is to give out information and to get the promotional information lined up."

SandHills Rodeo schedule of events

Today

>> 1 to 6 p.m.: Bulls, Blood and Heroes Blood Drive - Coliseum.

Friday

>> 8 a.m.: Lamb show - Barn E.

>> 8 a.m.: Steer/Heifer show - Arena.

>> 7:30 p.m.: First Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Saturday 

>> 7 a.m.: Horse Show - Coliseum.

>> 8 a.m.:  Goat Show - Barn E.

>> 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.:  Bulls, Blood and Heroes Blood Drive - Coliseum.

>> 11 a.m.:  Livestock Sale - Arena.

>> Noon:  Kids Rodeo - Mall.

>> 7:30 p.m.: Second Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Sunday

>> 7 a.m.: Quarter Horse Show - Coliseum.

Monday

>> 8 a.m.: Half Tie Down Slack and Girls Barrel Racing Slack first go - Coliseum (following Tie Down).

Tuesday

>> 10:30 a.m.: Super Tuesday Roping - Coliseum.

>> 6:30 p.m.: Team & Match Roping - Coliseum.

Wednesday

>> 8 a.m.: Girls Barrel Racing Slack - Coliseum.

>> 1-6 p.m.: Bulls, Blood and Heroes Blood Drive - Coliseum.

>> 5:30 p.m.: Christian Youth Night program - Building G.

>> 7:30 p.m.: Third Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Jan. 8

 >> 9 a.m.: Steer Wrestling Slack - Coliseum.

>> Half Tie Down roping slack - Coliseum.

>> 7:30 p.m. Fourth Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Jan. 9 

>> 9 a.m.: Team Roping Slack and Steer Roping Slack - Arena (following TR Slack).

>> 7:30 p.m.: Fifth Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.

Jan. 10

 >> 9 a.m.: Special Kids Rodeo - Coliseum.

>> 9 a.m.: Steer Roping Slack - Outback.

>> 7:30 p.m.: Sixth Rodeo Performance - Coliseum.