Local Cowgirls Saddle Up and Give New Meaning to Girl Power at the AMERICOM Pro Rodeo Classic Presented by MIDFLORIDA Federal Credit Union

Lakeland, Fla. - Grab your boots, hats and get out the door to come support your local female barrel racers at the AMERICOM Pro Rodeo Classic presented by MIDFLORIDA Credit Union at The Lakeland Center January 16-17 at 8pm. These brave cowgirls will be competing in the only female event and are ready to show off their athleticism, fierce competitive spirit and extreme talent.

The rodeo will kick off each night at 8:00 pm featuring top cowboys and cowgirls competing in 8 professional rodeo events. Tickets are on sale now and are $45 for Gold Buckle seats, $33 and $20 for reserved seats and $16.50 for general admission.

Barrel racing requires a sharp mind for both the horse and rider in order to safely and successfully maneuver the cloverleaf pattern. Some of our own Polk County cowgirls will be proving their skills Friday and Saturday night as they compete for points towards the national PRCA finals later this year in Las Vegas.

Lake Wales High School student, Jamie Barrow, winner of the 2008 Twenty X High Stakes Barrel Race, is a crowd favorite and one of the biggest contenders in the state. This seventeen-year-old currently competes in the Florida High School Rodeo Association in barrel racing, pole bending, and break-away calf roping. Barrow hopes to qualify again this year in barrel racing and pole bending. She will continue her rodeo career into college with a scholarship eventually competing nationally at a professional level.

Also a Lake Wales High School senior, Seventeen-year-old, Kallie Johnson, has been barrel racing for most of her life and has competed at rodeos throughout the state of Florida. Johnson started her winning career at the age of six with her first trophy belt buckle. Today, she holds over two-hundred trophy belt buckles, a trophy saddle, and thousands of dollars in winnings. She hopes to qualify again for the Florida High School Rodeo Finals and enter the southeastern circuit finals after graduation. While she is considering rodeo colleges in Texas, Johnson’s main goal is a professional rodeo career as a top barrel racing contender.

As Polk County natives, The Drotos sisters, Maisy and Tiffany, will also be showing their talent in the barrel racing event. Sixteen-year-old, Tiffany Drotos, has been barrel racing since she was nine and takes a great deal of pride in her horses that she trains, especially her prize winning mare Pam. The Drotos sisters have won many titles and both look forward to competing again against rival Polk County contestants.

The Lakeland Center offers a full variety of sporting events, concerts and shows. Located minutes between Orlando and Tampa in Lakeland, Florida off I-4 on Lime Street, The Lakeland Center is a short drive from anywhere in Central Florida. For complete directions call 863-834-6142. Regular box office hours are Monday-Friday 9:30am-5:30pm. For ticket information, call the Box Office at (863)834-8111 or visit our website at www.thelakelandcenter.com.Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, by phone 863-682-5300 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.