SAN ANTONIO -- Let's rodeo, San Antonio! Thursday is the opening day for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

• Soil was purchased in 1988
• Nearly 2,100 tons of dirt is spread

The hardwoods at the AT&T Center have been removed and tons of dirt have been dumped in as the grounds are set to open.

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The transformation all happened earlier this week.

Seventy truckloads of more than 2,000 tons of dirt was unloaded, then spread out and leveled between 10 and 12 inches.

"The dirt gives a little bit, not as much but it's better than concrete," said Bernie Ramirez, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo chairman of operations.

Within seven hours and with the help of 12 volunteers, it's all ready for San Antonio's rodeo.

 

A construction vehicle flattens dirt inside the AT&T Center ahead of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo (Spectrum News)

"It's a good day's worth of work," said Ramirez.

And this cowboy knows all about it.

"I have been with the rodeo, volunteering my time for 28 years," said Ramirez. "Our main objective is to put the arena in and get it where it needs to be"

In 1988, the more than 2,100 tons of soil was purchased from Charlotte, Texas--which is about 50 miles south of the Alamo City.

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The soil has seen lots of cowboys and cowgirls in those 32 years.

"It's uncovered and every other year it's sifted to clean out all the impurities out of it," said Ramirez.

Once he gets the arena up and running, his jobs becomes walking the grounds. But there's just one thing that keeps him giving his time every year.

"To see the kids smile, see them light up and see their families react the way they do - it's just a great scene," said Ramirez.

When it's all over, the dirt is removed within five hours and stored away to be used for next year.

This year, attendees will get to experience Muttin Bustin on the actual grounds. It's called Bustin’-in-the-Barn. Kids 4 to 7 years old can be preregistered or walk up.