3rd annual Memorial Barrel Race set for Nov. 1

CULLMAN, Ala. – The third Annual Sydni Helms-Hipp Memorial Barrel Race will take place Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center. The event honors the life and legacy of Sydni Helms-Hipp, a beloved member of the local barrel racing community whose kindness and love for others continue to inspire those who knew her. Proceeds from the event benefit the Sydni Helms-Hipp Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides educational scholarships to local students.

Gates will open at 7 a.m., with exhibitions running from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. for $5 per ride. A special tribute ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by the main barrel race at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with children 5 and younger admitted free.

Riders can register for several categories, including PeeWee ($5 entry at the show), Youth 4-D ($30 entry), Open 4-D ($40 entry) and Poles ($15 entry). The Youth 4-D division features $1,000 added to the payout, while the Open 4-D offers $3,000 in added funds. Each class pays back 75% of the entry fees to winners, with 25% benefiting the scholarship fund. Registration is available through Saddlebook, where participants can pay online or in person at the event (processing fees apply).

Buckles will be awarded to winners in each division and a $2,000 educational scholarship will also be awarded to a participating competitor  —applications and additional paperwork are required. Additionally, a night ride will be available on Friday, Oct. 31, from 4-8 p.m. for $10 per rider.

Beyond the arena, visitors can enjoy a variety of vendors, concessions and a silent auction. Vendors this year include Blue Ridge & Co, Palm Beach Tan, Cross Creek Studio, Swanky Cow, Bugaloo’s Creations, Beautified, Lollars Dollars, Joes Shirt Shop, Brandy Peterson & Scentsy, Tracy Frost & Mary Kay, Kristie’s Korner, and The Willow Bar Co, among others. Silent auction items include gift certificates, baskets, tack, tools, soaps and handmade décor, with new items added daily. Stall rentals and RV sites (electric only) are still available for $25 each.

Kristie Martin, event organizer and close family friend of Sydni and her family, said the scholarship fund and community support continue to grow each year. “The first year we were able to award two scholarships, and the second year we awarded three,” she shared. “One went to a Curry High School senior, Sydni’s alma mater; one to a Cullman County senior, where she lived and served with a volunteer fire department; and one to someone who competed in the second show. We hope to expand that even more in the years to come.”

For Martin, the event is about more than competition; it’s about community and carrying on Sydni’s spirit. “As with everything we do, we hope the takeaway from this is always love and community,” she said. “Sydni was a force to be reckoned with. She loved God, animals and people. She never met a stranger, and when you walked away from meeting her, you had made a friend for life.”

For more information on the third annual Sydni Helms-Hipp Memorial Barrel Race, contact event organizers at sydnihelmshippmemorial@gmail.com. Additional contacts can be found on the attached flyer.

The Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center is located at 17645 U.S. Highway 31, Cullman.