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World Cup Bull Riding Joins Rio Rancho’s Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship at Santa Ana Star Center

Rio Rancho’s fifth annual Pork & Brew BBQ State Championship in conjunction with World Cup Bull Riding – complete with live entertainment, fun jumps, pig races, kid’s corral, and, of course, food galore – is set March 28-29, 2008, at the Santa Ana Star Center in the new Rio Rancho City Center.

Times are noon-6 p.m. March 28 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 29. For those interested in judging at this years’ Pork & Brew, certification classes are March 27, 6-10 p.m., in the Main Tent at the Santa Ana Star Center.

“The Pork & Brew has quickly become one of New Mexico’s favorite annual events,” said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, “entertaining both family and friends year after year. The folks in Rio Rancho are to be commended for their efforts in creating such a popular attraction.”

The Pork & Brew is sponsored by the Rio Rancho Convention & Visitors Bureau, and is a fully sanctioned Kansas City BBQ Society event - one of the top 10 events on the society calendar. With more than 30,000 in attendance last year, Pork & Brew has become one of the largest two-day events in New Mexico. Winners go on to participate in the national competition in Kansas City, Kan.

A new addition this year is the World Cup Bull Riding All-Star Challenge, featuring two-time IPRA World Champion Jim Meyers and participants from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. There will be three shows each day, March 28 and 29.

Other attractions include Saturday’s feature entertainer Syd Masters and the Swing Riders, performing from 1-3 p.m.

General admission and parking are free. For more information contact Art Perez, Events Coordinator at the Rio Rancho Convention & Visitors Bureau, 505-891-7258 or aperez@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us