The Dixie National Rodeo won’t happen until February, but the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce is inviting people to participate in the event’s accompanying livestock and equine shows that will begin over a month in advance of the main event.
Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson announced Tuesday that the first Dixie National event will be the Southern Cutting Horse Futurity from Jan. 2-4. It will be held inside the Kirk Fordice Equine Center at the state fairgrounds in Jackson and include horse shows in which competitors try to guide their horse to separate and control a single cow from a herd. Cash prizes will be available with the Southern Cutting Horse Futurity paying out millions in prize money over the years, according to event organizers.
January will also be full of other equine and livestock shows, including the annual Dixie National Junior Round-Up, and agricultural expos. The Kirk Fordice Equine Center, which recently had new seating installed, will play host to some of the slate, along with the Mississippi Trade Mart and Livestock Facilities, before the Dixie National Rodeo is held inside the Mississippi Coliseum from Feb. 13-15 and Feb. 18-21. All of the events will have a special Americana spin to them, per Gipson, as 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“Join us for the America250 Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo, which will kick off with the Southern Cutting Horse Futurity,” Gipson said in a news release. “This equine show began in 1982 and is a proud tradition of the Dixie National. It’s an incredible example of the American spirit and the original sport of rodeo. Top competitors from around the world will travel to our capital city in the coming weeks for shows just like this, as well as the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.”
In September, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce announced the following entertainment lineup for the Dixie National Rodeo:
- Ole 60 (Feb. 13): The Kentucky-based band will bring a taste of southern rock to Mississippi’s capital with songs like “Smoke & Light,” along with “Brother Joe.”
- Bayker Blankinship (Feb. 14): The young, up-and-comer will showcase his talents on Valentine’s Day, with “Maxed Out” and “Tennessee Sunset” marking two of his best-known songs.
- Joe Nichols (Feb. 15): The award-winning artist and household name in country music spheres is best known for his catchy hits, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” “Broken Heartsville,” and “Sunny and 75.”
- Tanya Tucker (Feb. 18): The wildly popular country singer will bring the heat with some well-known throwbacks like “Delta Dawn” and “What’s Your Mama’s Name.”
- Waylon Wyatt (Feb. 19): The 18-year-old from Arkansas will have the chance to win over a Mississippi crowd with his songs “Smoke & Embers” and “Everything Under The Sun,” among others.
- Muscadine Bloodline (Feb. 20): The indie-country duo, who once toured alongside hit singer Post Malone, will show the Jackson audience what it’s all about with songs “Porch Swing Angel” and “Me On You.”
- Mark Chesnutt (Feb. 21): The country star will bring folks back to his golden age of the 1990s with hits “Bubba Shot the Jukebox” and “Too Cold at Home.”
Tickets for the Dixie National Rodeo are available and can be purchased either at the coliseum’s box office or online. More information and a full schedule of events can be found here.