Record crowd, returning champions expected at 65th Isa rodeo

With only a month to go to the biggest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere, the 65th annual festival is promising thrills and spills at Kalkadoon Park from August 8.

Natalie Flecker, CEO of Isa Rodeo, said event organisers were expecting a record crowd for this year's festival, with spectators and competitors travelling from around the world to be part of the dusty action.

"Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is the third largest rodeo in the world, and this year champions will return to battle for the famous buckles, newcomers will become legends, juniors will rise up, eight seconds will seem like a lifetime and the heritage and importance of rodeo in the Outback will be celebrated," Ms Flecker said.

"But there's more: riders are coming from across the world to literally throw their hats in the ring."

Ten American junior bull riders will be travelling all the way from Texas to compete in a Junior Bull Riding Championship created exclusively for them, before taking on young Australians in the Junior Bull Ride.

For the third year, the Indigenous Rodeo Championships will also be held during the festival, with the competition rapidly becoming a 'must do' event in Northern Australia.

"A unique blend of rodeo sport and cultural celebration, (the rodeo) is an opportunity ... to come together and celebrate our Indigenous competitors," Ms Flecker said.

The event aims to shine a spotlight on Indigenous rodeo athletes, and give "greater visibility to their skills", with all eyes on the expected return of Northern Territory champions Jason Craigie, who won last year's Saddle Bronc and the Bareback events, and Katherine man Darcy McBean who took home the coveted buckle open bull ride buckle.

Both competitors embarked on a nearly 3,000km journey to Mount Isa last year, showcasing the NT's rodeo skills in the Queensland dirt.

Tickets for the much-loved rodeo festival are now on sale via the Isa Mines Rodeo website.