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Taylor Deere, director of membership and programs for the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce and Regional Economic Development Corporation, reviews for the past year. (Leonna Heuring/Standard Democrats)
The format announced this year for the upcoming Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo entertainment lineup will be slightly different.
While the announcement will still be made in partnership with the Sexton Area Chamber of Commerce and will be released in March, it will be held in the evening and open to the public.
Taylor Deere, Chamber Membership and Program Director, highlighted the change at a Chamber Membership Luncheon Thursday, Jan. 19 at the Clinton Building in Sikeston.
“This is the most exciting announcement I’ve made,” Deal said Thursday. “I love the way the Jaycees are always willing to try new things.”
For years, the Jaycees have announced the entertainment lineup for upcoming rodeos at the Chamber Members Luncheon in March.
“Probably one of our most well-attended lunches was working with them on their rodeo entertainment announcement,” Dill said. “They’re going to move it to an evening event. So that’s going to replace our March luncheon. It’s still going to be with the chamber of commerce.”
Doors open for Chamber members only at 4:30pm on Friday, March 24th with an exclusive special social hour. Dinner and show will begin at 6:30 pm followed by live music.
“Hopefully this is a new and exciting way to start the rodeo season,” Dill said. “You’ll get your entertainment announcement, there will be live music to follow, and I think it’s going to be a really fun event. It’ll be open to the public after Chamber mixer hours.”
This year’s rodeo is August 9-12.
According to Deere, other small changes the Chamber is making in 2023 include: reinstating after-hours bartenders during luncheon’s off months (i.e., February, April, June, August, October and December); and Added a blog.
“Watch out for posts about events, chamber luncheons/ribbon cuttings, member spotlights, corporate sponsor features, etc.,” says Diehl.
Deere also noted that 2022 will be a big year for the chamber.
In other Chamber Luncheon news, Chamber and Regional Economic Development Corporation President/CEO Marcy Lawson provided an update on economic development. She noted that work by Carlisle Construction was continuing. It has over 490,000 square feet of space under one roof.
“They’ve put over $100 million in capital investment into this building and into Sexton,” Lawson said. “It’s exciting for our community.”
Lawson noted that the new construction firm has brought more than 100 new jobs to Sexton and that they are more than halfway through the hiring process. Carlisle aims to be in full production by April, she said.
Lawson also briefed the crowd on the strategic planning process for economic development, while Chamber Administrator and SOAR Director Katie Merideth gave Sikeston High students an update on the SOAR program. SOAR stands for Student Observation Area Resources.
Kathy Medley, executive vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and director of the Sexton Convention and Visitors Bureau, briefed the crowd on upcoming events and programs.
The inaugural Sikeston Balloon Fest will be held June 16-18 at the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo in Sikeston. Currently, 57 suppliers are registered. Friday and Saturday, vendor fees are $35 per space. Sponsorships are also available.
Work is underway on the Veterans Park Sikeston Honors Banner and Light Project, a partnership with Sikeston CVB, Veterans Park Committee and Sikeston Parks and Recreation. Medley said 16 era light poles will be installed along the east and west sidewalks bordering Veterans Park, each with a banner honoring local veterans. A QR code will also be displayed on each pole, directing users to the SRC website and reading the veteran’s story.
The Tourism Advisory Committee will present this year’s winners with the Sexton Tourism and Hospitality Awards at a luncheon at Lambert’s Cafe on March 2nd at noon. The guest speaker was Stephen Foutes, director of the Missouri Department of Tourism. The award will recognize companies, organizations or individuals who have made significant contributions to the tourism and hospitality industry.
Past winners include Lambert’s Cafe, Sikeston Parks and Recreation and Sikeston Jaycees.
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