For the second year in a row, Will Bradley, a senior at Troy University, made the long drive from Alabama to Armuchee to compete in the Silver Hill Rodeo.

And although he didn’t have one of his best performances on Saturday night, he said the liveliness of the crowd made it worth the trip.

“It’s a good rodeo,” said Bradley, 23.

“The town really gets behind it. … There are grand stands on both sides, and the crowd really gets into it.”

Bradley said the two-day rodeo — which opened on Friday night — is one of the smoothest-run events that he competes in.

“At a lot of rodeos, you’ve got to just wing it,” he said. “But (at this one) … there are a lot of volunteers.”

Bradley, who competes in calf-roping, was disappointed in his showing after he missed on his throw. “I didn’t do any good tonight,” he said.

Bradley said the event featured some of the top competitors from around the South and beyond.

He said several of the participants are ranked near the top of the Lone Star Association’s standings in their respective events.

Bradley, incidentally, has a local connection to Rome. He is a close friend of former Rome High multi-sport star Auston Thomas, who also attends Troy.

Bradley is set to graduate from Troy in 13 days.