This year’s Central Point Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo will mark a return to three full days of bronc busting, bull riding and barrel racing.

Jackson County fairgrounds officials Thursday announced the 2023 rodeo, set for May 18-20. The rodeo is part of the National Finals circuit, and contestants travel around racking up points before heading to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas each December.

Helen Baker, director of The Expo, said she was excited to have three days of events this year after cancellations and reduced participation since the pandemic.

“We can’t wait to see which of the nation’s highest-ranked cowboys and cowgirls are going to be here to compete,” she said.

The Expo holds the distinction of the only 100-point bull ride in rodeo history. Washington cowboy Wade Leslie made the ride in 1991 at the fairgrounds. Baker said The Expo is a big stop for cowboys and cowgirls headed for the finals in Vegas.

“The Redding rodeo is that same weekend, so we have a rallying pattern for all these phenomenal cowboys and cowgirls. They can start with us or end with us — it doesn’t matter. With two events, they have the choice to draw for both rodeos and determine which place they’ll have a better chance of winning big,” she said.

Baker said offering a Thursday night rodeo in Central Point would give riders a better chance of hitting up other events over the weekend, with some rodeo schedules following a Friday-Sunday pattern.

“If you’re thinking about how much money you can make in a weekend, being able to start on a Thursday is a really good thing,” she added.

“Our rodeo is very attractive to some of the nation’s best. People don’t realize we have some of the best-ranked cowboys on Thursday because they can hit us and then hit Redding or go north or south.”

Baker said staff at The Expo had been busy in recent weeks with announcements focused on three major events slated for summer: Rogue Music Fest, the Jackson County Fair and the rodeo.

“Heck yes, we’re on a roll. Events are being set like crazy right now. We’re all really excited,” she said.

Baker teased staff Thursday about the limited options for fairgrounds staff to sneak away for downtime.

“May through July is blacked out for anyone taking off,” she quipped. “We might have to all plan our downtime in October next year.”

Rodeo gates will open each night at 6 p.m. The rodeo starts at 7 p.m.

Tickets will be on sale at the Sherm’s Food 4 Less self-service kiosk, Expo offices and online at wildrogueprorodeo.com.

General admission tickets are $20, and reserved tickets are $25. Prices go up $5 at the door.