House Resolution 120

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE 2023 KILLEBREW MEMORIAL RODEO UPON BEING NAMED THE 2023 BEST NEW RODEO AND THE 2023 BEST INDOOR RODEO BY THE INTERNATIONAL PRO RODEO ASSOCIATION.

WHEREAS, the 2023 Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo was held to honor and pay tribute to the life and legacy of Mississippian Keath Killebrew, Sr., a dedicated husband to Alyssa Killebrew, devoted father, farmer, artist and entrepreneur who tragically died in 2021; and

WHEREAS, the rodeo was not only a memorial to Keath, but served as the first fundraiser for the Killebrew Ag Foundation (KAF), which was founded with a mission for one of Keath's greatest passions, to train and educate the next generation of farmers; and

WHEREAS, the Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo was an overwhelming success and has won international honors from the International Pro Rodeo Association including 2023 Best New Rodeo and 2023 Best Indoor Rodeo, selected from over 600 IPRA rodeos; and

WHEREAS, locally, Visit Jackson also named Dr. Alyssa Killebrew and the Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo a winner of the Hometown Hero Award for Meeting and Group Tours Planners; and

WHEREAS, for 2024, the Killebrew Ag Foundation has rebranded the rodeo as the Killebrew International Pro Rodeo, to reflect the foundation's forward mission to focus on inspiring young Mississippi farmers to dream big and achieve by providing hands-on farming education while remembering Keath's motto, "Never Give Up"; and

WHEREAS, KAF provides post-secondary education in agriculture, is implementing two-year paid apprenticeship opportunities on working farms for young Mississippians to get hands-on farming skills, including managerial and business training, and ultimately, KAF has a goal to build a residential Farm Academy; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 Killebrew International Pro Rodeo will be held June 6-8, at the Mississippi Coliseum with over 600 contestants from around the world expected to compete; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor memorial events such as the 2023 Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo, which has raised money to provide training and support to the next generation of farmers in honor of Keath Killebrew's memory and brought honor and glory to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 2023 Killebrew Memorial Rodeo upon being named the 2023 Best New Rodeo and the 2023 Best Indoor Rodeo by the International Pro Rodeo Association and extend best wishes for continued success in all its future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Alyssa Killebrew, the Killebrew Ag Foundation and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.