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Passing the barrel
SIKESTON -- The torch -- er, barrel -- has officially been passed.
After a decade of entertaining Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo fans as the rodeo's barrel man, Rick "The Ragin' Cajun" Young handed off the role to Rudy "The Crazy Cajun" Burns Wednesday evening.
"Rick and I both are from Louisiana, so that's where the 'Cajun' comes in," Burns said. "I'm originally from Gonzales, La., -- that's about 30 miles south of Baton Rouge. Now I make my home in Smithdale, Miss."
"I don't talk to him anymore because he moved to Mississippi," Young joked. "He married a Mississippi woman."
The two actually go way back.
"I've known him ever since he was a kid. He's always wanted to be a rodeo clown and he's turned into being one of the best in the country," Young said. "Rodeo is a close knit family. If you're good everybody knows it and if you're sorry everybody knows it."
"Rick signed my card 37 years ago to get me into the PRCA. We work probably two or three rodeos a year together," Burns said. "I've learned from the best -- he's always been my idol."
Having turned 73 years old this year, Young decided last year was his last for the barrel.
"Now I'm the 'Agin' Cajun,'" he said. "When the bull hits the barrel, it used to just make me mad. But at my age it got to where it hurt."
When it came time to choose a new barrel man for their rodeo, the Jaycees turned to Young for advice.
"They asked me who I thought they'd like and I said, 'Rudy Burns, one of the best barrel men in the business,'" Young said. "'He's one of the best specialty acts in the business -- I recommend you get him.'"
"I like to have fun. I like to make people laugh," Burns said.
"We love comedy, and he's one of the best in the business and that's why I recommended him," Young said.
Young won't be in the barrel anymore but he will continue to be out clowning alongside Burns this year as well as in future Sikeston rodeos -- one of the few he has picked to continue performing in on an annual basis in addition to raising horses and running his trailer and hay businesses at home.
"I feel good -- I work every day," Young said. "When you quit, that's what gets you."
"Rick's going to be a rodeo clown till they close the coffin on him," Burns said. "He's already in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. He was inducted a number of years ago. That's probably one of the highest honors you can get as a rodeo clown. He's probably worked every major rodeo there is in this country. When Rick started you had to do everything -- comedy, bullfighting, the barrel. He was good at all three and that's what's kept him in the business this long."
When Burns learned he was picked to take Young's place in the barrel and would be working alongside Young at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo, "it tickled me to death," he said. Burns said he has heard good things about this rodeo ever since he started in the business 37 years ago. "Sikeston is one of the most sought-after rodeos for rodeo clowns," he said.
"The Jaycees are one of the best clubs in the country. They work from the time it's over until the next year," Young said. "They don't wait until the last minute."
Young said unlike some other rodeos, the Jaycees keep adding to the purse for the competitors and keep investing in the rodeo grounds as well. "The grounds are beautiful," he said.
But as for the best part of the Sikeston rodeo: "It's the people -- you can't beat the people," Young said. "I know everybody in town. I know the kids and the kids that have grown up and have kids -- it's my family. I look forward to coming here every year. I just want to thank everybody in Sikeston and all the surrounding counties, thank everybody for being there for me. When you make them smile it really makes you feel good."
While visiting nursing homes, among other places around Sikeston with Young, Burns has seen how dear he is to the community. "The first thing people do is hug Rick," he said.
"It makes you feel good, too," Young said. "We've been going there for years. I love it; I love people."
Burns said he hopes the crowd takes to him so he becomes a regular here, too.
"That's what I'm pluggin' for," Burns said. "This weekend here at Sikeston will let them know whether I make it or break it."