The event at Chiltern racecourse is expected to receive a bumper 300 entries across a full program of action-packed riding, racing and roping, according to committee member Michael Phibbs.

Spectators will have the opportunity to see the fastest barrel racing horse in Australia when Tamlin Osborne saddles up in the ladies open barrel event while Wodonga's Jared McCain will be hoping to retain his leading status in the open bareback saddle bronc event.

And the heart-stopping thrills of the bull riding is expected to hit fever pitch when Australian record-breaker Brad Pierce braves some of the toughest animals in the business during the main event of the evening.

But amidst the competitors, clowns and crowds will be the knowledge this will be the town's first rodeo without its number one supporter.

Kelvin Duke was the face of rodeo in the North East; he was best known for founding and then tirelessly promoting the annual Chiltern event.

He passed away on Christmas Eve, 2019 at the age of 67, following a gutsy cancer battle.

Mr Phibbs, a long-time friend of Kelvin's who helped him establish the rodeo, said the town had rallied behind this year's rodeo.

"The town has come together and the community is right behind us," Mr Phibbs said.

"We all want to make sure it keep going (for Kelvin)."

Next year marks the 25^th anniversary of the Chiltern rodeo and Mr Phibbs said Kelvin had been planning a bumper celebration.

"I love the sport, I love the town and I love seeing people enjoying rodeo," he told The Border Mail in 2017, after the rodeo arena was named in his honour.

A crowd of more than 250 people gathered at the racecourse to surprise the notoriously humble gentleman man with an honour befitting his years of service to the town and the sport.

Kelvin was also presented with life membership to the rodeo committee and an engraved Eddie Fisher Ridetuff trophy belt buckle.