By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

PHILLIPSBURG -- In just a few days, cowboys and cowgirls from throughout the country will descend on this small northwest Kansas town.

The population is less than 3,000, but from July 30 to Aug. 1, as many as 15,000 visitors are expected to flock to Phillipsburg for a state tradition -- Kansas' Biggest Rodeo.

"The rodeo has turned into a countywide event," Rodeo Committee President Rod Innes said. "It's a time when there's family reunions, class reunions. People come back for the rodeo just to enjoy the companionship, to see their friends."

The total population for all of Phillips County hovers near 6,000. Needless to say, the event brings a huge economic impact to the area, Innes said.

Hotels will be full, stores and restaurants will be busy.

And locals will turn out in full force to help make the weekend memorable to the event's many guests.

About 200 volunteers are needed just to put the show together, and Phillips County residents will be busy serving concessions, manning the gates, directing traffic and performing countless other tasks for the much-anticipated event.

"It's kind of the highlight of the summer," Innes said.

Planning is a year-long event, and the 11-person committee likely will get started on 2010 plans the week after this year's rodeo winds down.

This year's event features new rodeo clowns and specialty acts, including Texas Kid Rodney Hayes, who has trained a 1,800-pound bull to do circus tricks.

Gates open at 6 p.m. each evening, with the show starting at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $11 for adults and $8 for children.

Seven of the nine reigning world champions will be competing, as well as several local talents.

For a complete schedule of the weekend's activities, visit www.kansasbiggestrodeo.com.

Rodeo competitors from the region include Cindy Gillespie, a barrel racer from Ransom; Scotty Harmon, a bareback rider from Norcatur; Adam Keith, a team roper from Belpre; and Kelly Wood, a calf roper from Kinsley.

The 57th annual Jayhawker Roundup Rodeo also takes place this week. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the Graham County Fairgrounds.

McClain's Mutton Busters also will have performances at 7 p.m. each night before the rodeo.

Tuesday will be "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night at the rodeo. All money raised before and during the event will go toward purchasing a new mammography machine at the Graham County Hospital.

Tickets for the Jayhawker Roundup Rodeo are $10 each night or $28 all three nights.