THIS year will mark 81 years of bucking horses, bull riding, high-waisted jeans and buckles in Warwick and while the Rodeo program has changed little – technology means a step forward.

Newly-appointed Warwick Show and Rodeo Society president Neville Fanning said the venue was eagerly waiting for a 13 metre rig's load.

“This year we've got a big screen TV so people can see all the action,” Mr Fanning said.

“It'll be like the big ones at major sporting events and this will be the first year we have this sort of technology at the rodeo. So it's all new to us.

“There'll be a film crew so we can do slow motion and replays. We're expecting the rig to drop it off next Thursday.”

Watching the action with a cold beverage in hand has – for some people – become synonymous with rodeo but you'd better make it a mid-strength ale.

Last year was the first time mid-strength alcohol was the strongest grog that could be consumed during evening entertainment at the Matt Geraghty Bar and Jack Fanning can bar, but now the tentacle of responsible consumption has gone further.

“The McConville Bar – sometimes known as the campdrafting bar – will also have mid-strength alcohol from 7pm,” Mr Fanning said.

“Mid-strength alcohol is something we have to live with.

“There'll still be live entertainment next Wednesday and Thursday with it hotting up on the Friday and Saturday nights.”

Last year between 25,000 and 30,000 people pushed through the Warwick Rodeo turnstiles and the committee hopes for similar figures.

“If the weather stands up, that is,” Mr Fanning said.

“I was president for 15 years from 1982 to 1996 and it's gotten a lot bigger.

“For the show and rodeo we have about 300 volunteers. We heavily rely on volunteers to keep these events going strong.”