The event has had a change to its traditional date so it wouldn't clash with Professional Bull Riding (PBR) events and the Monkerai B and S Ball.

This means Gresford's own Lachie Richardson, seven times world qualifier at the Ford Built Tough PBR world finals in Las Vegas will be in the arena on August 23 and 24, along with his brother Cliff Richardson, Singleton's Cody Heffernan and other Australian PBR competitors.

"It's been a long time since these guys have been at a local rodeo as they've been in the PBR," said rodeo President Kev Kealy.

Tony and Betty Richardson are long time sponsors of the rodeo and all five of their sons - Tim, Cliff, Lachlan, Eric and Billy - will compete in the rodeo.

Rodeo organisers predict 900 to 1000 competitors in the camp draft with 1100 head of cattle supplied by local donors for the event.

"We'll have at least 490 rough riders on the Saturday and the junior rodeo on the Friday night," said Kealy.

"We will easily top last year's numbers".

On the Friday night the junior rodeo kicks off with rodeo action starting at 9am on Saturday and live entertainment from 9pm until midnight.

Kealy is part of a changing of the guard for the rodeo committee with himself and local saddle bronc rider Grant Eldridge leading an enthusiastic committee which attracts at least 30 members to its meetings.

His father, Mick Kealy, along with Trevor Burden was responsible for rejuvenating the rodeo in the late 1990s and both were subsequently awarded life membership for their efforts.

Born and bred in Gresford, Kev left Gresford in 2012 to expand his trucking business.

He returned to town when his father was sick and has bought property locally - restoring the old Gresford Hospital has been his labour of love - aside from the rodeo - for the past two years.

He bought three of the best horses when leading rodeo contractor Nakadoo sold off its entire breeding stock earlier this year due to the ravages of the drought, paying $10,400 for the best one.

"It's a bit of a dying breed, bucking horses," he laughed.

While his business Truck Hire Australia is based in Brisbane he will be in Gresford until the rodeo.

"It takes us about a month to set up for the rodeo, we have the put the fence across the for the campdraft, put up the full area and the back yards for the rodeo."

The committee has built its own arena to build new chutes and bucking arena to cut the $18,000 a year hire cost.

"Rodeo has become a professional sport," he said.

"In America the PBR is second behind grid iron football for the most viewed sport."

Proceeds from the rodeo go to the Westpac Helicopter.