By RYAN CHRISTNER

rchristner@dailynews.net

The story goes, whenever cowboys descend upon Plainville to rodeo, it's guaranteed to rain.

With precipitation predictions ranging from 30 percent to 90 percent, the tradition is certain to continue when competitors gather at 7 p.m. today and Saturday for the Plainville Saddle Club Rodeo.

Open to novices, amateurs and professionals this year, the rodeo is a one-of-a-kind experience, PSC board member Billie Ayers said.

"It's just a mixture of different levels of skill getting in on level ground here," she said.

While registration for the majority of the events -- bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, bull riding and team roping -- closed earlier in the week, Ayers said timed events can be entered until the last minute.

Helping bring the rodeo into a chapter of its 60-year existence is local stock contractor Roberts Pro Rodeo, which will bring in some of the top talent in the business, including Scott City native and Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee Lance Brittan, Oklahoma professional Frank Newsom and Norton rider Deb Christy, whose father competed in the first Plainville rodeo in 1949.

"Her coming to Plainville is just pretty gosh darn cool," Ayers said.

Roberts Pro Rodeo is owned by Jared Roberts, a fourth-generation rodeo competitor who owns the Short Go western wear and tack store in Hays.

Roberts has a distinguished rodeo pedigree -- his father, grandfather and great-grandfather all had successful professional careers -- but is just getting his feet wet as a contractor. The Plainville Saddle Club Rodeo will be the first his company has helped with.

"It's my first rodeo, but it ain't my first rodeo," Roberts said, referencing his own professional riding experience. "I'm actually pretty excited about it."

That makes two of them.

Ayers said she also is excited Roberts has incorporated so many activities for children, such as the Mutton Bustin' sheep riding challenge, a boot scramble and a cutest cowboy/cowgirl contest at Plainville City Park.

A downloadable Mutton Bustin' registration form is accessible on the PSC Web site, www.plainvillesaddleclub.com. Registration for the event begins at 6:45 p.m.

From his own lifelong experience attending and participating in rodeos, Roberts said he knows how much kids look up to riders and didn't want to make them feel excluded.

"The kids are the main deal for the rodeo," he said. "Any way we can get kids involved in it is good."

The PSC arena is located east of the U.S. Highway 183 and Kansas Highway 18 intersection in Plainville. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children older then 4.