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The popular 34th Annual Bullmania Rodeo will return to the Walters State Community College’s Great Smoky Mountain Expo Center in White Pine Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at 8 p.m. both days.

There are plenty of activities for the whole family including Bulls and Barrels, children’s events and a dance contest.

Tickets are $15 for ages 12 and over, $10 for ages 7 to 11, and free admission for children ages 6-under, as well as free admission for veterans and the disabled.

Terry Hackney, 36-year board member of MATS, discussed how the rodeo came about.

“Wayne Nesmith is on Hamblen County Commission,” Hackney said. “He came to me last year and said that he wanted to help MATS. We get the chute sponsor money. This is an established event before Turkey Smoking (around Thanksgiving). It’s also the best rodeo.

Chute Sponsors for the event include Anytime Bail Bonds, Carlyle Capital, Citizens National Bank, Morristown Iron and Metal, Rapid Dry Restoration and Wright Property Marketing Group.

MATS started in 1986 with five churches and pastors after a homeless man was found dead under a Morristown bridge. Hackney came on in 1989.

“Rev. Ned Hollingsworth came to the Lion’s Club and spoke about MATS,” Hackney said. “I got involved through a phone call from Ethel Rhodes, one of the original charter members who wrote the charter. She asked me if I wanted to join the board. We also got the car dealers in the community involved. At one time, Bob DeWitt of Sonic, donated 5-cents for every Route 44 Drink sold.”

MATS started by using three hotel rooms at the Kingmyer Hotel, one for men, one for women and one for an office. A shelter later opened on Hill Street and served as its home until 2017 when the shelter moved into its present location on West Main Street.

A few years ago, MATS owed $15,000 on its mortgage on its shelter. A local doctor wrote a check for $15,000 to pay off the mortgage.

“We have served 14,000 people recently,” Hackney said.

MATS’ mission is to provide shelter, food and clothing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness to help clients gain sustainable income and permanent housing. MATS also provides counseling, education and advocacy assistance to help clients to obtain independent housing and self-sufficiency. MATS also aims to educate and raise the public’s awareness of the myriads of problems faced by people experiencing homelessness. Residents work closely with a case manager to address the root causes of homelessness, find sustainable income, save money, create a budget and transition into affordable housing.

Services include providing clients with immediate access to shelter, food, hygiene items, showers, laundry facilities and clothing. Through case management, MATS understands what clients have experienced leading up to and during homelessness and the barriers to regain stability by developing an action plan toward self-sufficiency.

Clients are helped additionally by job readiness training, budget/financial coaching, obtaining legal identification documents and getting appropriate resources, such as Families First, SNAP Benefits, Insurance and Veteran’s benefits. MATS’ ultimate goal is to offer a “hand-up” during challenging times and to teach clients skills that will keep them successfully housed for years to come.

The shelter also conducts the Point in Time (PIT) count of the homeless each January. Volunteers bundle up, head out into the community and bring goodie bags that include hats, gloves, hot hands, individual juices or water and individual snacks to the homeless.

MATS is located at 733 West Main Street in Morristown. For more information, call 423-587-9215. MATS is an operating agency of the United Way of Hamblen County.