The Cowboys are coming!

The Bayou State Trialriders have left Monroe and are in route to the Southern University Ag Center's annual horse show. Other trailriders from Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi will meet Bayou State in Baton Rouge for the April 4 show. The association will present their annual scholarship to Southern University agriculture students. Read the News Star's article on the group's sendoff below:

Cow pokes hit the 'Bayou Trail' on today

By Johnny Gunter, The News Star

Published March 29, 2009

The Bayou State Trailriders Association will make its fifth annual 125-mile journey from the Monroe Civic Center Baton Rouge campus of Southern University beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday. (March 29,2009)

The purpose of the trail ride is to raise scholarship dollars for students enrolled in Southern University’s agriculture program.

Sgt. Justin January, the association’s founder and president, said the group over the past four years has given out more than $5,000 in scholarship money.

This year’s honorary trail bosses are Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and Monroe native and Minnesota Vikings All-Pro defensive lineman Pat Williams.

“You know Williams is a big man so we’re going to have a big wagon for him to ride in,” January said. “They’re both going to ride out with us from Monroe.”

The ride will begin at 8 a.m. so January said those interested should arrive early.

“This is all about helping kids. We truly look forward to this event each year and we are excited to see that it continues to grow in popularity,” January said. “Combining the pleasures of horse riding and the worthy cause of helping promote education makes for a magnificent event.”

January said the Trailriders’ event has grown from seven riders the first year to 55 last year counting horses, wagons and buggies.

He expects more than 70 cowboys and cowgirls from Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi to participate in this week-long journey from Monroe to Baton Rouge.

They will travel Louisiana 15 and camp in Archibald, Winnsboro, Sicily Island, Ferriday and St. Francisville.The ride is open to anyone who enjoys the outdoors and horses.

This year the trail ride will make stops at Winnsboro Elementary School on Monday and Ferriday Elementary School on Wednesday to visit with children. Both stops will be between noon and 1 p.m.

Anyone interested can register on site Sunday morning. The cost for participation is $10 for one day; $15 for two days; or, $35 fee for the week’s journey.

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For more information on the horse show, contact Christie Monroe, livestock show programs assistant director, at 225-771-2242 or christie_monroe@suagcenter.com.