11th Cowboy Day sees good turnout

Published 3:04 pm Monday, February 25, 2019

By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Organizers of the 11th annual Cowboy Day on Feb. 23 reported a successful day despite a change in location and heavy rain in the days prior to the event.

“It ended up being a pretty day,” City of Columbiana Marketing Director Elizabeth Smith said. “We had a good turnout with a good parade.”

The family oriented event featured food, arts and crafts and information vendors, along with live entertainment, the Balloon Man, a petting zoo, and the customary high noon Wild West Shootout and Lasso Demonstration on Main Street.

Winners of the cornhole tournament, pictured with Mayor Stancil Handley (center), were: first place team Tristan Chandler and Shannon Chandler, right, and second place team Thomas Freeman and Kevin Jones. (Reporter Photo/Keith McCoy).

“We definitely want to thank the Lay Lake Cornhole Association,” Smith said. “They were instrumental in making the cornhole tournament successful. They managed it from A to Z. They were awesome.”

Vendors and entertainment were stationed in the Columbiana United Methodist Church parking lot this year.

Entertainers included the Randy Glenn Band, Leah Slaughter, Willie Traywick and country line dancers.

“All the entertainment was really good,” Smith said.

The second night of the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association Rodeo took place on Feb. 23, after Cowboy Day.

Also an annual event, the rodeo showcased cattlemen’s skills in events such as bull riding, bronc riding, steer roping, team roping and barrel racing.

The event included a softer version of the rodeo designed for people with special needs.

The next big event for Columbiana is Liberty Day, the city’s annual celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.

The 2019 Liberty Day Celebration is set for the last weekend in June.