By RYAN CHRISTNER

rchristner@dailynews.net

McCRACKEN -- As a stranger traversing the grounds at the McCracken Rodeo, which ended Saturday after celebrating its 23rd year, expect a friendly tip of the head or welcoming smile when you catch a local's eye.

Concerning typical Kansan behavior, that's not necessarily odd by any stretch, but for a few days every summer -- as stock starts coming down the highway and gathering on the north edge of town -- it's more than just a simple "Glad to see you could make it."

There's a deeper meaning to it, a pride that people carry about the product they help put together.

After all, if you do something for that many years, you get a little attached to it.

It's that sense of tradition, or continuing the legacy of local rodeo enthusiast Jack Wilson, who died in 2006 after helping found the rodeo, that keeps people from all around these parts coming back every year.

"It's a gathering," said Jerilyn Stull, treasurer of the rodeo committee. "It's very much a community event."

And a big one, at that.

Stull guesses that probably every McCrackenite participates somehow, either as a spectator or as a volunteer, and many more from throughout Rush and surrounding counties.

Which leads to her assessment of the rodeo as the largest event in town. At first, that might not sound like much for a town of about 191 people, according to 2007 U.S. Census statistics, but when the sun goes down and the dirt starts flying, "it's standing room only," she says.

Add to that a list of accolades from the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association -- seven times honored as rodeo of the year and for four years in a row as having the committee of the year -- and the image of a small-town rodeo starts to get a little fuzzy.

It takes a bit of help to handle all the traffic -- Stull estimated a Friday crowd of about 1,000 people -- but somehow that never seems to be an issue.

"Everybody just steps up and does stuff," Stull said, without seeing a penny as compensation.

"I think the biggest thing that sets our rodeo apart maybe from some other rodeos is all of our volunteers that help. It's kind of amazing that something like this can still happen with volunteers."

And then there's the more than 300 sponsors, donating their time, money and equipment.

It's an atmosphere that even an outsider can appreciate.

"What I like about it is it's a family atmosphere," said Robert Arnold, a rodeo clown from Pueblo, Colo., who was experiencing his first McCracken Rodeo. "The people seem real nice. They're not scared to talk to you, like what I was raised around."

To be sure, the rodeo itself is certainly the big draw, but there's an underlying thought that compels people, year after year, to come back.

As McCracken resident Paula Greenway put it: "Following Jack's dream."