Inaugural Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo Set for Jackson. Everything you need to know

The Dixie National Rodeo may be over but, never fear, a new rodeo is coming to the Mississippi Coliseum on July 28-29 — the Inaugural Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo.

In addition to bull riding, bareback bronc, saddle bronc, ranch broncs, calf roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, bullfighting and bull poker, the rodeo also will feature live performances from Chapel Hart on July 28 and Drake Milligan on July 29.

The rodeo will be held in conjunction with the Mississippi AG and Outdoor Expo put on by the Mississippi Wildlife Fisheries and Parks Foundation that will also be set up at the Fairgrounds July 28 and 29, organizers said.

The rodeo was established in honor of Keath Killebrew, a Delta farmer, father, artist and entrepreneur who died in an airplane crash while exploring new farming opportunities in Paraguay, organizers said. Proceeds will benefit the Keath Killebrew Charisma Award Fund, which awards scholarships to young men and women interested in working in the agricultural field, according to a press release.

“A lifelong Mississippian, Keath Killebrew farmed cotton, soybeans, rice, peanuts, wheat and watermelon across six counties throughout the Delta and surrounding hills from Senatobia to Flora,” the press release states.

Keath, described by friends and family as a true renaissance man, also raised cattle, tended bees and taught welding at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. He later expanded his passion for the Delta by capturing landscapes in photography and paintings, a hobby he shared with his wife, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Alyssa Killebrew, the press release states.

“Keath truly lived his life like he was preparing for a bull ride,” Alyssa said in the press release. “He was always creating new ventures with his businesses and always excited to work hard, and that's what bull riding and preparing for rodeos is all about. You know you're gonna get bucked off, and he did many times as he was trying to build a farm operation, but he always got back on and always kept trying.”

Poplarville natives, Chapel Hart, will perform opening night. Chapel Hart became overnight national sensations in July 2022, when the family trio performed an original song, “You Can Have Him Jolene,” on the audition episode of “America’s Got Talent” season 17.

Since then, they have collaborated with Darius Rucker and toured internationally, while CMT named Chapel Hart to the 2021 class of Next Women of Country, the press release states.

Country singer Drake Milligan, of Mansfield, Texas, will perform the second night of the rodeo, organizers said. Milligan landed the role of Elvis Presley in the 2017 CMT series “Sun Records,” and placed third in season 17 of “America’s Got Talent.”

The Killebrew Ag Foundation is a non-profit established with the Community Foundation of Mississippi to educate and train future farmers in modern, innovative techniques throughout the Mississippi Delta and abroad. The foundation awarded its first scholarships to four young Mississippians at the 2022 Mississippi State Fair, and plans to grant educational scholarships every year, the press release states.

The rodeo is in partnership with the Mississippi State Fairground Foundation. For more information, visit killebrewfoundation.org.

If you go

• When: July 28 and 29

• Where: Mississippi Coliseum, 1207 Mississippi St., Jackson

• Tickets: Available at Ticketmaster start at $80 each for two-day passes.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: A memorial rodeo will honor the late great Keath Killebrew