NATCHEZ — Cowboys and cowgirls heading out to the Adams County’s Sheriff’s Pro Rodeo this weekend may not realize they could be helping sheriff’s deputies catch a few outlaws.

All proceeds from the rodeo go to the ACSO’s fund used to purchase equipment for the sheriff’s office that it may not otherwise be purchased, Deputy Buddy Frank said.

Frank said the fund receives several thousand dollars from the rodeo each year, and a committee made up of sheriff’s office employees votes on what to spend the money.

“The way it works, someone will come up with an idea for what to buy, and we’ll take a vote … and if the majority approves, that’s what we buy,” Frank said. “The committee has at least one person from every division, Metro Narcotics, the courthouse, jail, investigators, patrol, administration.”

In the past the money has been used to purchase digital cameras for patrol officers, Frank said, to take photographs for evidence of crime scenes, car accidents, domestic violence and other cases.

The fund has also been used to buy video cameras, GPS systems, Rosetta Stone language learning software, Breathalyzer devices and other equipment, totaling approximately $18,000 in the three years since the rodeo began.

Nothing is purchased, Frank said, without a majority vote.

“That’s what I like about it, it’s not a slush fund for anyone,” he said.

If no equipment is needed, Frank said, the committee has previously voted to donate the money to charity, including WQNZ’s Christmas toy drive.

An exception to the equipment-only rule, Frank said, is that the money can be used to send flowers or food to the family of a deceased employee or an employee who is ill or dealing with a death in their family.

Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said he is hands-off when it comes to deciding how the money is spent.

“I don’t have anything to do with it,” he said. “I just kind of oversee it. I let them do it, and they use it for whatever their needs are — some type of equipment maybe the county doesn’t want to pay for.”

This weekend the rodeo will bring a good time to the community and sheriff’s office, Frank said. The rodeo allows the sheriff’s office staff to purchase equipment that doesn’t make it into the budget.

“It’s big thing because we get money for non-budgeted items, but it’s fun, too, having the rodeo.”

Rodeo events begin at 6 p.m. at Wayne Johnson arena today and Saturday.

The rodeo will have a variety of contests including bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, team roping and bull riding.

The event is sanctioned with the International Professional Rodeo Association and the Southeastern Professional Rodeo Association. Entertainment, children’s events and more will also be available at the event.

The rodeo queen contest has been canceled because of impending inclement weather that could affect the travel of out-of-town contestants, ACSO Spokeswoman Courtney Taylor said. ACSO will hold future rodeo queen workshops and host contests for various age groups, including young children and teens, Taylor said.

Advance tickets are available at the ACSO and at Double-C Ranch Western Store.

Advance tickets for adults are $10, and tickets for children ages 12 and younger are $7.

Tickets at the gate for adults are $12, and tickets for children ages 9-12 are $8. Children 8 and younger get in free to the rodeo.