Tickets on sale for YAT event

Ropin' and Rockin' for Pennies for the Park, a day-long event combining a rodeo competition and a concert from popular country rocker Jason Aldean, will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Bourbon County Fairgrounds. Opening for Aldean will be Kevin Blake Weldon, country music recording artist and host of the TV show Badbob & Jimmy's Posted Places. Monies raised from the event will benefit Pennies for the Park.

Pennies For the Park is a project of the Ft. Scott Youth Activities Team (YAT) to benefit the Ellis Park project. The major renovation project is designed to develop and expand the park to provide for a family-oriented venue for local youth. Planned improvements call for a miniature golf course, sand volleyball courts, batting cages, a jogging and walking trail, picnic shelters, outside basketball courts and a playground area. Local philanthropists Danny and Willa Ellis donated the park to the City of Fort Scott and Bourbon County in the early 1980s.

The event was created by Atlanta Braves first baseman and Fort Scott High School graduate Adam LaRoche as a way to charitably give back to his local hometown. LaRoche, who made his Major League debut in April, 2004, spent three seasons with the Atlanta Braves prior to being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox on July 22 of this season. After only spending six games with Boston, he was dealt back to his former team, the Braves, on July 31.

Adam and his wife Jennifer, son Drake and daughter Montana spend the off-season at their ranch in Fort Scott. The LaRoche baseball family includes Adam, his younger brother Andy LaRoche, third baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, older brother Jeff, a former minor league pitcher, and his father Dave LaRoche, a former major league baseball pitcher and now a pitching coach in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

The highlight of the day's activities will be a special concert by multi-million selling country music recording artist Jason Aldean. Wide Open, Aldean's third album, was certified Gold after only ten weeks selling over a half a million copies. She's Country, the first single, stayed in the No. 1 spot for two weeks and was certified gold with over a half a million digital downloads sold. His current single, Big Green Tractor, is his fastest-rising single to date currently at #9 after only 9 weeks on the charts. Aldean's first two albums sold more than two million copies with five smash hits and received critical acclaim and numerous award nominations.

General admission tickets are $25 for advance purchase and $35 for tickets purchased at the gate the day of the event. Tickets are available for purchase beginning today.

Ropin' and Rockin' for Pennies for the Park festivities will begin with a United States Team Roping Championship affiliate competition. The entry fee is $100 per roper and participants can enter three times. Entries will be cash only and entrants must have current USTRC 2009 membership. Prizes will include saddles to average winners of the No. 11 event and buckles to average winners of the No. 10. Books will open at 8:30 a.m. and close at 9 a.m. with the roping competition starting at 9:30. Cattle will be furnished by C-S Cattle Company. For more information on the roping competition contact Mike Qualls at (254) 965-0353.

"We're looking forward to beginning the day with an exciting roping competition and to have Jason and his band come out in the evening for a terrific concert," LaRoche said in a press rlease. "Having a great park for kids of all ages and interests is something everyone in the community can enjoy."

Sponsors of "Ropin' and Rockin' for Pennies for the Park" include Priefert Ranch Equipment, Teskey's Saddles, KOMB/KMDO radio and the Fort Scott Tribune.

For more information on Ropin' and Rockin' for Pennies for the Park and to purchase concert tickets visit www.yatfortscott.com or call (620) 223-3566. For more information on Pennies For the Park visit www.yatfortscott.com.