PRORODEO Sports News - June 1, 2026

SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 1 JUNE 2026

THE COWBOYS’ CHOICE SINCE 1952

ADA SHOWCASING WESTERN ROOTS GRASSROOTS PRORODEO DONNIE LANDIS ONE MORE RUN CHET HERREN CAPTURES NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS STEER ROPING TITLE FOR FIRST TIME

RODEO CORPUS CHRISTI BUCCANEER DAYS ENERGY SINCE 1938

JUNE 1, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 1

HOW THE WEST IS WORN

RYDER WRIGHT 2024 WORLD CHAMPION SADDLE BRONC RIDER

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MANAGER’S MESSAGE P. 4 WORLD CHAMPS MEDIA DAY BY TRACY RENCK 8 PSN HQ MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA Tracy Renck PSN EDITOR AND DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Zach Alvira MEDIA REPORTER Alex Dodd DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS MANAGER Lisa Cush

CONTENTS

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE

JUNE 1, 2026

COVER STORY

Rodeo Corpus Christi, Buc Days bring coastal flair back to PRORODEO

BUCKIN’ ON THE BAY Rodeo Corpus Christi made its return to the PRCA this year. The setting of the event, right on the water of Corpus Christi Bay, surrounded by palm trees, chirping seagulls and the aroma of saltwater, positions it as a destination rodeo for contestants and fans alike. BY ALEX DODD

PRCA photo by Click Thompson

ON THE COVER Since 1938, the Buccaneer Commission, has annually staged the Buccaneer Days festival in Corpus Christi, Texas. In the early 1990s, Buc Days sought to expand its footprint in the area with a rodeo. PRCA photo by Click Thompson 19 NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS STEER ROPING Veteran Chet Herren captures National Circuit Finals Steer Roping title for first time BY TRACY RENCK PRORODEO COVERAGE PRCA’S 90TH ANNIVERSARY P. 34 NFR QUALIFIERS SHARE MEMORIES BY TED HARBIN

GRASSROOTS PRORODEO P. 22 ADA, OKLAHOMA 125TH BIRTHDAY BY ZACH ALVIRA

ONE MORE RUN P. 30

DONNIE LANDIS ISN’T DONE YET BY KELSI OPAT

CHET HERREN NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS STEER ROPING CHAMPION

JUNE 1, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 3

MANAGER’S MESSAGE

PRORODEO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA DAY

JAKE LONG TEAM ROPING (HEELER)

KASSIE MOWRY BARREL RACING

STETSON WRIGHT ALL-AROUND COWBOY AND BULL RIDING

ROCKER STEINER BAREBACK RIDING

RILEY WEBB TIE-DOWN ROPING

ANDREW WARD TEAM ROPING (HEADER)

STATLER WRIGHT SADDLE BRONC RIDING

TUCKER ALLEN STEER WRESTLING

PRORODEO World Championship Media Day Photos Courtesy of Las Vegas Events

PRORODEO World Championship Media Day was a great experience. On Tuesday, May 19, at the Voodoo Lounge at the Rio in Las Vegas, the PRORODEO Sports News was able to pull back the curtain and get to know the 2025 PRCA World Champions even better. Those champions in attendance were Stetson Wright (all-around, bull riding); Rocker Steiner (bareback riding); Tucker Allen (steer wrestling); Andrew Ward (team roping header); Jake Long (team roping heeler); Statler Wright (saddle bronc riding); Riley Webb (tie-down roping); and Kassie Mowry (barrel racing). They all spent time making stops at media stations remi niscing about their gold buckle memories. After the longform interviews, the PRORODEO Sports News took a moment to ask some other questions to some

of the champs that were outside the box. HERE ARE SOME OF NUGGETS THAT CAME FROM THAT INTERACTION. Riley Webb’s favorite cartoon character is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, “Because they are fast.” Actor Webb would want to play him in a movie: Matthew McConaughey. Celebrity Webb would love to meet: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow Person Webb would love to have dinner with: the late Roy Cooper. Allen’s picks for his steer wrestling football team: Will Lummus, J.D. Struxness, Ty Erickson, and Jacob Elder as linemen, receiver Justin Shaffer, running back Tyler Waguespack, and quarterback Jesse Brown.

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MANAGER’S MESSAGE

Allen’s crazy story from the road: “Me, Luke Branquinho, Justin Shaffer and Jacob Talley were leaving Lovington, N.M., driving to Heber City, Utah, and we were driving through Roswell, N.M., and we thought what we saw was trash in the middle of the road and it was a dude who was sleeping. We swerved around and almost (hit him). I had to jump out and drag him off the road and he said, ‘I was just taking a nap.’ I told him you’re taking a nap in road and he said he was hun gry so I gave him one of my protein bars and he started complaining about how bad it tasted and I told him I just saved your life buddy you should be little more grateful.” Roswell? Did you see any UFOs? “We were talking about being in Roswell and how spooky that was. It was just wild.” really terrible spot. “I pulled him over off the

a

a

Brothers Statler and Stetson Wright get silly during a photography session at the World Championship Media Day.

Statler Wright doesn’t eat spinach, but his favorite cartoon character is Popeye. Who is the better driver of the rig? Ryder, Stetson, or you? Statler didn’t hesitate, “Ryder. Ryder is a great driver.” What does 8 seconds feel like to you Statler?

“It depends on the ride. When it is going good it feels amazing. When it is not going good, it is the worst 8 seconds of your life. And, now to finish the tidbits let’s hear from 10-time PRCA World Champion Stetson Wright. Favorite Cartoon Character: Sponge Bob What song do you know all the words to? (Survivor’s) Eye of the Tiger Who’s the funniest guy in the rig? You, Ryder or Statler? “That would be me,” Stetson said. “I’m

the one

who is always jok-

ing.” meet:

Celebrity you want to

Connor McGregor.

Team Ropers Jake Long and Andrew Ward toss their hats to a Media Day assistant.

TRACY RENCK MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS & MEDIA

JUNE 1, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 5

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA DAY W hen a PRORODEO contestant wins a coveted world cham pionship it comes with many BY TRACY RENCK before the NFR (during the North west run), and I got hot in Ellensburg

roping heeler); Statler Wright (saddle bronc riding); Riley Webb (tie-down roping); and Kassie Mowry (barrel racing) – were all in attendance and spent time reflecting on their memo rable seasons. “Winning last year was really cool,” said Webb, who won his third world championship in a row. “I had a lot of eyes on me since I won it the two previous years, and Shad (Mayfield) had a good year, and we were going to battle it out. I just knew I needed to do my job. I put in a lot of hard work

(Wash.) and started placing every where and winning everywhere and rolled into the NFR with that momen tum. It felt really good.” Allen came to the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo fifth in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Stand ings, but he was an underwhelming underdog to capture a gold buckle. That only inspired the California native. “Not that I needed to get excited, but that lit a fire under

perks. One of those perks is attending the world championship media day. That day came May 19, 2026, at the Voodoo Lounge at the Rio. The 2025 PRORODEO World Champions – Stetson Wright (all around, bull riding); Rocker Steiner (bareback riding); Tucker Allen (steer wrestling); Andrew Ward (team roping header); Jake Long (team

me,” Allen said. “When it was over I won the average and the world champion ship, it was a dream come true. Ever since then (after Round 10 on Dec. 13) it has been a whirlwind for me. I’ve done a lot more interviews and we (the world champions) got to meet President Donald Trump (at the Oval Office) earlier this year. It has just been incredible. It is a great time to be a world champion, and I love the responsibility of promoting the sport (of rodeo).” Like Allen, Ward/Long were also first-time PRCA World Champions in Ward’s sixth trip to the NFR and Long’s 15th.

World Champions Riley Webb and Stetson Wright interviewed at PRORODEO World Championship Media Day.

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World Champion steer wrestler Tucker Allen being interviewed by PRORODEO Films Videographers Jaron Lunsford and Taylor Brown.

really didn’t have much of a race. So, going into (2025), Wacey (Schalla) was part of it, and it was really excit ing. Everybody kind of overlooks the all-around race when you are blowing everybody out of the water, so it was super fun having Wacey part of the race last year. “It was super awesome winning an other bull riding world title. It seems like everyone you get feels that much more special. It was so cool to win my first bull riding world title in 2020

nearly ended his career. However, the Beaver, Utah, cowboy was back to being Superman at the Thomas & Mack Center and walked away with two world titles. Wright has 10 world championships – six in all-around, 2019-23, and 2025; one in saddle bronc riding 2021; and three in bull riding, 2020, 2022 and 2025. “It was super awesome to win the all-around,” Stetson said. “My rookie year (in 2019) I had a race to win the gold buckle, but after my rookie year I

“It seemed like everything went our way that week and I was having a ball,” Ward said. Long concurred with his partner. “It was just a magical week,” Long said. “When you get the ball rolling out here (in Las Vegas), there’s noth ing like it. The electricity every night, going for $30,000 (to win the round). It is the most fun 10 days of your life.” Stetson Wright missed the entire 2024 season with a hamstring injury that happened at the 2023 NFR and

and 2022 felt good because I showed that it wasn’t a fluke. Then, when I did it on my return (to the NFR in 2025) to win it for the third time, I was pumped. I felt like 2026 has set me up for another one and I’m just going to keep chip ping away.” The 2025 world champions will try and put themselves in a position, not only to return to the NFR, but also walk away with gold buckle memo ries – again. The 2026 NFR takes place Dec. 3-12 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Reigning Miss Rodeo America 2026, Olivia Favero, interviewed at the PRORODEO World Championship Media Day in Las Vegas.

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RODEO CORPUS CHRISTI, BUC DAYS BRING COASTAL FLAIR BACK TO PRORODEO BUCKIN’ ON THE BAY BY ALEX DODD

R odeo Corpus Christi is more than just another stop on the PRORODEO road. What began as a way to create an additional revenue stream at the Buc Days Festival on Texas’ Coast al Bend has transformed into one of PRORODEO’s most unique premier events and provided more than $3 Mil lion in scholarships for area students to pursue a college education. The Buc Days Festival is a lot more than just a rodeo. It’s a cultural event. The festival grounds surrounding the Hil liard Center are right on the water. There’s fresh seafood, a barbecue cook off, a shopping experience, a robotics competition for area students and so much more. But Rodeo Corpus Christi, held during the final week of the festivities, wraps up the nearly two-week-long extrav aganza. “It’s truly a chance for the community to come togeth

er,” said Johnny Philipello, President and CEO of the Buccaneer Commission. “There’s something for everyone, whether it’s shopping, fun or Western sports. The tradition dates back to 1938. Just with the parade itself, there are families that have set up at the same spot on the parade route every year, carrying on that tradition. “But we also push the boundaries and say, ‘What can we do to grow and do things differently and add to it?’” A SHOT IN THE DARK That spirit of always looking for ways to improve ulti mately led to the inception of Rodeo Corpus Christi. Buccaneer Days existed for over half a century in Cor pus Christi without a rodeo. The event began as a cultural festival in 1938 with a parade down Chaparral Street in downtown Corpus Christi. From there it expanded to include entertainment,

The USS Lexington is an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1943. It served in the Pacific theater during World War II. Corpus Christi secured the USS Lexington as a museum through community support and a bond sale. It has been open to the public since 1992 and is a significant attraction in the Coastal Bend area. Photos for this feature story are by 4x PRCA Photographer of the Year Click Thompson

8 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE JUNE 1, 2026

The Buc Days parade and festival continued to grow in the 1960s as seen in this photo in downtown Corpus Christi during the parade in 1965. Photo Courtesy of the Buccaneer Commission

educational and cultural events for the surrounding population. In the early 1990s, Buc Days sought to expand its footprint in the area and find additional revenue sources to support its philanthropic work in town. The answer from several committee members: start a rodeo. After the proposal to launch the rodeo, a group of seven, David Crow, Bill Lath rop, Pat Horne, Jeff Lundquist, Robert Anderson, Tommy Dubois and Fred Dotts, formed the original Buc Days Rodeo com mittee and hit the ground running to try and make it happen. Their first call, eight time PRCA Bull Riding World Champion and rodeo icon Donnie Gay. “David Crow was a rancher, and he fol lowed rodeo,” Dotts recalled of those early conversations amongst the group tasked with starting the rodeo.

Frontier Rodeo’s top-tier livestock ready for performances at the 2026 Rodeo Corpus Christi at the Hilliard Center Arena.

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Rodeo Corpus Christi famously awards its champions surfboards. The unique rodeo award reflects the event’s coastal location.

“THE REST OF US WEREN’T PARTICULARLY INTO RODEO, BUT DAVID KNEW TO CALL DONNIE.” At the time, Gay owned the All-Star Rodeo Company and produced the Mesquite (Texas) Championship Ro deo about 400 miles north of Corpus Christi on the fringe of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Gay was already well known in the PRORODEO world as an eight-time gold buckle winner in bull riding, the most in that event in PRCA history. But he’d also begun to rise in pop ularity as a Texas rodeo superstar by serving as a commentator for the Mesquite Championship Rodeo. The weekly event was widely distributed on television nationwide (including ESPN in the early 1980s, TNN from 1986-99, and Fox Sports Network in the early 2000s) from the 1980s through the 2000s. Today, the event is still broadcast nationally on The Cowboy Channel. “That’s how David knew (who I was) and he called the Mesquite

Gay. But he wasn’t exactly chomp ing at the bit to add another event to his calendar and tried to relay the difficulties of starting a rodeo from scratch, even in the heart of cowboy country. “I spent the first hour trying to talk them out of having a rodeo,” Gay said. “Because of how much money it costs, how hard it is to produce a rodeo and they weren’t sure where we were going to keep the livestock. You know, all of the logistical things that people generally sitting in the grandstands have no idea about. “Finally, I don’t know if it was Fred or David who said, ‘We’re going to have a rodeo.’ And I said, ‘Enough with being Nelly Negative.’ And we got down to brass tacks.” From there, the committee worked with Gay to settle all of the details. They booked the Memorial Coliseum (demolished in 2010), Gay brought the portable rodeo arena set, bucking chutes built by Harry Tompkins used at the first National Finals Rodeo, gathered the stock, loaded up his trucks and ventured to South Texas. Despite the logistical challenges,

Rodeo offices,” Gay said. “I had the All-Star Rodeo Company, and my dad (ProRodeo Hall of Famer Neal Gay) was scaling back at the time. And we produced other rodeos, and I wound

DONNIE GAY

ProRodeo Hall of Famer and 8x World Champion bull rider

up with about ten other contracts. I signed a deal with these guys, and I’ve been here ever since.” After the phone call, the committee drove up to Mesquite to meet with

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A parade of riders on horseback heads down Chaparral Street in downtown Corpus Christi, Texas, during Buc Days in 1947. Photo Courtesy of the Buccaneer Commission

the skeleton crew and Gay pulled it off. That first year of Rodeo Corpus Christi, they sold out the 2,765-seat arena for all three performances. The original purse included $1,500 in prize money for every event, including the team roping, for a total payout of $10,500. “From our perspective as the guys who were expected to produce some

thing that gave us another revenue stream: that first year we cleared,” Dotts said. “We were in the black by $50,000, and every year we did a little better, a little better and a little better. So we accomplished our goal.” Everything wasn’t always smooth sailing for Rodeo Corpus Christi. But the committee has managed to keep the event alive and constantly growing

for the last 35 years. “Those first few years we had a lot of hiccups,” Dotts said. “One of the things that really helped us is that the San Antonio (Stock Show and Rodeo) guys and (Rodeo) Houston guys were always trying to give us good advice. They actually got us to join the Asso ciation of Rodeo Committees. We got really active in that, and we cured lots

and lots of those little glitches by talking to ro deos across the country.” Dotts ac tually served as the vice chairman of the ARC and as an ARC board member for 12 years.

Buc Days takes place on the Corpus Christi bayfront, featuring a carnival, rodeo, and parades, with major events centered on Water Street.

JUNE 1, 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 11

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CONSTANT GROWTH Since those early days, the Buccaneer Commission has grown to include more than 300 volunteers, 16 committees and seven full-time employees, all with the goal of giving back to the local community in South Texas. And the rodeo this past year paid out $450,000 from May 5-9, with equal money in the team roping and breakaway roping. “The group of volunteers put on an awe some event that’s contestant forward and fan forward,” Philipello said. “One of the challenges we struggled with, I think every event goes through, is how do you engage a fan that’s not interested in Western sports. And we’ve been able to tap into that. “We’ve seen growth in our ticket sales because of that, which translates into more prize money for contestants. Where we’ve really been successful is engaging our corporate community and sponsors and giving them value to bring their families and employees to come have fun. It’s taken the whole group to rally and focus and say, ‘Let’s go do it.’” The Buccaneer Commission always looked to invest in bettering Corpus Christi and the surrounding communi ties. But when the rodeo began, they didn’t have a scholarship program, instead they had a pageant to crown a Pirate Queen and took her and her family to Disneyland as a reward. But through the ARC, Dotts and other committeemen decided to invest in education instead. “All these rodeos that we were talking to Houston, San Antonio, Cheyenne, every body said you guys ought to do scholar ships,” Dotts said. “You wouldn’t believe how much that helps your sponsorships because all of those companies in our area have a bucket for education. So we institut ed our scholarship, and we’ve already given away about $3 Million in scholarships so far.” The Buccaneer Commission has also purchased houses for veterans and made mortgage payments on their behalf. This year, it partnered with Habitat for Hu manity to build a safe, affordable home for a Coastal Bend family on the festival grounds. The festival also hosts the Buc Days VEX Robotics Competition, which allows area middle and high school students to design, build and program robots to inspire the next generation of innovators.

Rocker Steiner dominated Rodeo Corpus Christi, winning the bare back riding cham pionship and becoming the new No. 1 bare back rider in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. The Weatherford, Texas native sealed his victory with a 91-point ride on Penthouse Pro Rodeo’s Watermel on Moons.

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tioned again. But that doesn’t change the bottom line of the task that the Buccaneer Commission has, and me being able to continue to still be part of it is pretty special.” Rodeo Corpus Christi’s reunion with the PRCA allowed several PRCA World Champions to compete at this year’s event, including defending champs tie-down roper Riley Webb and bareback rider Rocker Steiner, who claimed their first Buc Days championships on May 9 at the Hil liard Center. “We’re super excited,” Philipello said ahead of the event. “Not just that we have world champions, but the stock and knowing that everything counts toward NFR (qualification) is going to be great. We’ve got what I believe is the best stock contractor in Frontier Rodeo Company, too. That combination is going to be a fun, fun time here in Corpus Christi.” Three-time PRCA World Champion

With his sweep in Corpus Christi, three-time reigning PRCA World Champion Tiedown Roper Riley Webb is on pace to break his own regular season earnings record.

BACK IN THE FOLD After the 2021 PRORODEO season, Rodeo Corpus Christi left the PRCA and spent five years in another asso ciation. Five years later, the event is back in the fold. “We always wanted to be recog nized by the PRCA, but the opportuni ty we took, we just couldn’t pass up,” Dotts said. “But we stayed in touch with the PRCA and told them, ‘We like you. We want to be with you.’ We al ways felt that at some point we could once again become a PRCA rodeo, and we’re just tickled pink (to be back).” Gay has remained with Buc Days and Rodeo Corpus Christi since that first event in 1992 and has stood by the event through a slew of changes over the years. But as a PRCA member for the majority of his life, he’s happy to see the event regain its status as a PRORODEO. “I tried to keep an open mind about it, but I’ve been in the PRCA longer than they’ve had the P in front of that,” Gay, a 1979 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee, said. “Rodeo is my life, and it’s special that we’re sanc

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bareback rider Tim O’Connell com peted in Rodeo Corpus Christi before it left the association and even made the trip during its hiatus from PRO RODEO.

But he’s happy to see it back and made the most of his opportunity at the beach with a third-place finish in the bareback riding. “This rodeo belongs in the PRCA. This is a PRCA event,” O’Connell said. “THEY’VE ALWAYS TREATED US WITH THE BEST HOSPITAL ITY. THIS IS RODEO COUNTRY DOWN HERE. AND YEAH, I’M VERY HAPPY. THE OTHER THING IS, THEY CAME BACK IN A BIG WAY. THEY ALMOST TRIPLED THEIR PRIZE MONEY. THIS IS GOING TO BE A PRE MIER EVENT FOR YEARS TO COME.”

ONE OF A KIND Several factors made Rodeo Corpus Christi one of the most exciting ad ditions to the PRORODEO slate this season. For starters, the setting of the event, right on the water of Corpus Christi Bay, surrounded by palm trees, chirping seagulls and the aroma of saltwater, positioned it as a destination rodeo for contestants and fans alike. “I love this little arena,” Rocker Steiner said of the Hilliard Center. “It’s really cool and small, kind of like the Thomas & Mack (Center in Las Vegas), so it gives you kind of that NFR feel. . . It’s good to be in Corpus Christi, near the beach and near the water. I come from a water sports background, so it’s good to be on the beach.” In addition to the added money,

TIM O’CONNELL

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Noah Lee salutes the crowd with his championship surfboard after winning the bull riding title at Rodeo Corpus Christi on May 9.

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Three-time PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider (2016-18) Tim O’Connell earned an 87-point score on Championship Pro Rodeo’s No. 350 at Rodeo Corpus Christi.

the timing of the event during the second week in May made it a can’t-miss opportunity for cowboys looking for a leg up in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings before the start of the summer run. “I’ve always loved this rodeo,” O’Connell said. “It’s one of the last indoor rodeos of the winter. When it was a one-header back in the day, it was a $15,000 one-header for the rough stock. It was cool because there weren’t a lot of $15,000 added rodeos back then.” Gay said it’s not uncommon for people to travel 75 or 80 miles from other parts of the Lone Star State to attend the rodeo and partake in the surrounding Buc Days festival and carnival.

Rodeo Corpus Christi leans into its coastal positioning by embracing the “Coastal Cow boy” aesthetic. The rodeo’s logo features a cowboy riding a marlin instead of a bucking bull or bucking horse. The smells of Texas barbecue and fresh seafood permeate the grounds. And instead of a belt buckle or saddle, for the last eight years, the committee has award ed surfboards to winners in each discipline. “We’ll have guys showing up at our bar becue with their cowboy hats and flip-flops barbecuing right outside on the bay front,” Philipello said. “It’s fun. It’s who we are down here in South Texas. Why not embrace it?”

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Chet Herren adds another line to his impressive PRORODEO resume at the 2026 NCFSR in Torrington, Wyo. PRCA photo by Clay Guardipee

VETERAN CHET HERREN CAPTURES NATIONAL CIRCUIT FINALS STEER ROPING TITLE FOR FIRST TIME

BY TRACY RENCK

V eteran steer roper Chet Herren can add another line to his impressive PRORODEO resume. Herren, a 20-time qualifier for the National Finals Steer Roping and average winner, now is a national champion. That became a reality when the Pawhuska, Okla., cowboy clocked an 8.7-second run to win the Final Four sudden-death round April 26 at the National Circuit Finals Steer Rop ing at the Goshen County Pavilion in Torrington, Wyo. “I just knew I had to let my hair hangout a little bit,” said Herren, 46, who was the sec ond cowboy out in the finals. “That run (8.7 seconds) felt like they were going to have to get it on to get (past me). It definitely feels great to be a national champion.” In the finals, Tanner Stec was first out, and was 10.6 seconds, followed by Herren’s time which was the fastest of the weekend. Riley O’Rourke, the 2025 PRCA Reserve World Champion, missed, setting the stage for the final contestant Cody Lee to try and unseat Herren. Lee, a fellow 20-time qualifier for the NFSR, made a strong run at 9.8 seconds, but it wasn’t enough for the victory. This is the second year in a row Lee has finished second at the NCFSR. Herren earned $7,396 in Torrington. “When I made my run, I felt I did all I could do, and if they got me, they got me,” Herren said. “I haven’t always made it to Torrington, but when I have the committee here has treated us like royalty. Everybody here is glad to see you, and they want you to do well. They work their butts off to make this a great production.”

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CHET HERREN CONTINUED

There were 32 cowboys competing at the Goshen County Pavil ion on April 25-26. competed in four rounds Saturday, before finish ing the final two rounds Sunday. Then, the top eight The cowboys

Lee won the semis with a 10.9-second run, followed by O’Rourke (11.0 seconds). Herren (11.5 seconds) and Stec (11.6 seconds) finished third and fourth to move on to the Final Four round. Lohse, the last cowboy out in the semis, appeared to win the round with a 9.8-second time, but the time was negat ed because of an illegal head catch. Sorey (12.1 seconds); Waters (13.3 seconds); and Deckard (14.7 seconds) round ed out the semifinal finishers. The top four finishers at the NCFSR automatically qualified for the Cinch Playoffs Governor’s Cup presented by Texas Precious Metals in late September in Sioux Falls, S.D. Last year, Herren won the inaugural steer roping event in Sioux Falls and earned $15,500. “I’m just hoping lightning strikes again in my favor in Sioux Falls,” Herren said. Lohse, who earned an event-best $8,679, did receive a fi nal bit of good news after he missed advancing to the Final Four as his horse, Rez Dog, 10, was chosen as the 2026 NCFSR Horse of the Year. Quite the honor since Rez Dog was making his PRORODEO debut in Torrington. “He did exceptional, I’m really proud of him,” Lohse said. “He’s come a long way in the last year. He’s got a good mind for it and he’s on my team.” Four-time and three-time reigning PRCA World Cham pion Steer Roper Cole Patterson concluded his competi tion in Torrington by winning (Round 5, 9.7 seconds); and Round 6 (9.5 seconds). Patterson had a 47.2-second time on four head and didn’t advance to the semifinals.

finishers in the six-head average moved on to the 8-man semifinals with the top four semifinal finishers advancing to the Final Four sudden-death round. Reo Lohse, the leader after Day 1, stayed consistent winning the average with a 77.2-second time on six head. Lohse earned $3,503 for capturing the average crown and he also received a $2,500 bonus provided by Douglas (Wyo.) Tire Center that will count in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. Lohse was joined in the semis by O’Rourke (84.1 sec onds on six); Blake Deckard (84.1 on 6); Lee (85.3 on 6); Tyler Waters (96.5 on 5); Trent Sorey (102.5 on 6); Stec (65.4 on 5) and Herren (66.7 on 5).

Herren receives the coveted buckle at the 2026 National Circuit Finals Steer Roping in Torrington, Wyo. (from left to right) Blair Newman, National Circuit Finals Steer Roping Committee; Marty Winchell, Eastern Wyoming College Foun dation; Chet Herren, 2026 National Circuit Finals Steer Roping Champion; Steve Knowles, PRCA Chief Operating Officer and Scott Dorenkamp, PRCA Administrator of Circuits & Rodeo Administration. PRCA photo by Clay Guardipee

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GRASSROOTS PRORODEO:

ADA SHOWCASING WESTERN ROOTS DURING 125TH YEAR

BY ZACH ALVIRA

Like many cities and towns across the United States, Ada, Okla., has gone

through its share of upgrades, modernization and revitalization.

Main Street, which runs right through downtown Ada, is a prime example.

Modern establishments have meshed with some of the town’s classic businesses,

looking toward the future of Ada while still honoring the past.

But through all the modern upgrades, Ada remains a town rooted in its Western

culture. And in the year Ada is celebrating its 125th birthday, its Western history

is more apparent than ever thanks to the hometown PRCA rodeo and the

blue-collar townspeople who wear their hearts and love for the small Eastern

Oklahoma town on their sleeves.

“The community makes Ada special,” said Ada City Manager and former PRCA

tie-down roper Tommy Eaton. “It’s a great place to live, raise families and work.

We just continue to enhance the quality of life for our citizens with the things

we’re doing.

“I think the one thing we share right now is everyone is pulling the rope in the

same direction. This town has always been special to me.”

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GOD’S COUNTRY To many Ada natives, the town’s location is ideal. Nearly two hours southeast of Oklahoma City, Ada sits several miles east of Interstate 35, sharing land with the Chickasaw Nation, which has its headquarters in town. The dis tance from a major interstate creates separation in many ways, something the locals enjoy to preserve the small town, blue-collar feel. “It’s a gritty town where people value hard work, family and church,” Eaton said. “We have core values we can instill in all our kids and through generations. We celebrate the hard work and culture that comes from the Ada area.” For some, the hard-working men tality has paid off in major ways. Jeremy Shockey was a star tight end for Ada High School’s football team before he graduated in 1999. He went on to earn first-team All-American honors at the University of Miami and was selected by the New York Giants in the 2002 NFL Draft at No. 14 overall. Shockey was named to the NFL Pro Bowl four times. He’s also a two-time Super Bowl Champion, winning his first with the Giants and second with the New Orleans Saints. Five years before Shockey, anoth er star walked the halls of Ada High

The water tower in Ada, Okla., is a landmark for the small southeastern Oklahoma town, where blue-collar residents take pride in where they come from. Photo courtesy Ada News

School. A 1994 graduate, Blake Shelton has always shared the love he has for his home state of Oklahoma through his music. The country music star still has a ranch with his wife, Gwen Stefani, 45 minutes south of his hometown. Just like he depicts in his hit single, “God’s Country,” there’s something special about Ada. “Magical things happen in Ada and to the people there,” Shelton said. “There’s been some crazy talent that has come out of Ada. I can’t really sit here and go, ‘Here’s why,’ because I don’t know if anybody can really ex plain it to my satisfaction. I don’t know what it is. People say there’s something in the water. That’s a pretty generic thing to say, but maybe this time, there’s something to that.”

Country music star Blake Shelton, a graduate of Ada High School, shares his love for his hometown and state of Oklahoma in his music. Photos courtesy Ada News

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ceiling in a room in her home. She jokes that she’s a hoarder, but it’s memorabilia she says she will never let get away. Janet and her sons share the same

various bullfighting championship events that were once held in the small Oklahoma town. He looked up to them, wanting to be like them one day. This past

A COWBOY’S PARADISE Beyond the NFL and country music, Ada is also home to some of the most notable names in the PRCA. Cord and Jet McCoy, former ath letes turned stock contractors and Amazing Race contestants, called Ada home. They grew up just outside of the town, learning the ropes of rodeo and ranching that eventually turned into a full-time career. Jet still lives in Ada. The McCoy Ranch, run by Cord, is just 30 min utes outside of town. Their mother, Janet, still lives in the home they grew up in, often showcasing the stacks of memorabilia from her two sons’ rodeo careers. Saddles, buckles and everything in between are piled high near the

passion for Ada. She grew up watching the Western way of life and rodeo envelop the town several years ago in the form of the Firemen’s Rodeo, later taken over by Ken Lance where it flourished. Some of those early memories of the rodeo were often passed down to bullfighter Austin Ashley from his dad and stepdad. The Ada native found a love for bull fighting early on in his childhood, watching the likes of Cody Webster and Dusty Tuckness at

Ada native and 2025 Wrangler NFR bullfighter Austin Ashley takes pride in his hometown. PRCA file photo

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December, he worked alongside them during his first-ever trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. In many ways, Ada helped shape him to be the bullfighter he is today. The home he still has in the town is a constant reminder of where he comes from. Ashley is proud of his roots. “I remember sneaking out of the house and going and fighting bulls I probably wasn’t allowed to step around, it was at that old (Pontotoc County Agri-Plex) arena,” Ashley said. “It’s neat to see it’s all made a full circle and the (rodeo) is coming back. I’m sure glad to be a part of it.” Like Ashley, Eaton’s love for tie-down roping came from his upbringing in Ada. He began compet ing at a young age, eventually joining the PRCA where he roped for nearly 15 years. Some of his career highlights included performing alongside some of the PRCA’s greats, including Pro Rodeo Hall of Famer Cody Ohl, who he finished second to in Cheyenne by four-tenths of a second in 1998. “Guys who you’d looked up to growing up, guys you’d just idolize and then being in the same compe tition, it was neat,” Eaton said. “I think that’s the thing you value, the friendships you make. You do these things and you compete against each other, but then you devel op relationships that are pretty special.” FROM AN IDEA TO A MUST-SEE EVENT Ada’s history with rodeo had humble beginnings.

From the old arena to parades down Main Street, the annual rodeo in Ada was celebrated by residents. Courtesy City of Ada

kick off festivities. It was eventually taken over by Lance, who marketed it even more. The rodeo was moved from the original arena in Ada to the Ken Lance Sports Arena, where it rivaled the likes of Cheyenne Frontier Days by offering a similar – and one year larger – purse, drawing in some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the world. “I think people don’t realize having a PRCA rodeo in your town is like the PGA,” Eaton tournaments and having a PRCA rodeo in your town is like having that classy level of professional sports.” Like all Ada natives, rodeo held a special place in Shelton’s heart. Es pecially when Lance took it over and started Western Heritage Week. A parade lined the town’s Main Street to kick off festivities. Thou sands of spectators filled the Ken Lance Sports Arena to see some of the best PRORODEO had to offer. Today, even with the rodeo moved back to the original grounds where a new venue was built, the Ken Lance Sports Arena still sits on the grounds of the said. “There are golf tourna ments and then there’s PGA

beled as a success, according to Dr. Ann Klepper of the Preserving Area Stories in Time Foundation, who wrote a book about the origins of the rodeo in Ada. The firemen broke even financially. So, they hosted it again. The rodeo took off in popularity and soon became an annual event with a town parade to

In 1935, a group of local fire fighters sat at the station and brainstormed something they could do to pass the time and distract them from the warm August temperatures. Eventually, they came up with hosting a rodeo. Three weeks later, the Firemen’s Rodeo was born. The first year was la

An old flyer for the Firemen’s Rodeo, the first-ever rendition of the Ada Pro Rodeo.

Courtesy City of Ada

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2023, Cord McCoy saw an oppor tunity and took it. He reestab lished his hometown rodeo as the Ada Pro Rodeo and joined the PRCA. The idea began to take off right away. “When you have people celebrating with you, it makes your job a lot easier,” Cord McCoy said. “That’s the reason I do this 52 weekends a year, because it’s all about being able to connect the dots and have things like

Ken Lance revitilized the rodeo in Ada, creating new excitement that matched its birth as the Firemen’s Rodeo. Courtesy Ada News

Ken Lance Sports Complex, honoring the rodeo promoter who was a visionary for taking the Firemen’s Rodeo and turning it into something that helped put Ada on the map. “Western Heritage Week was a big deal back then, and it was the biggest deal in my mind, for the community,” Shelton said. “There was a parade that went through town, and back then, get ting to experience the Ken Lance rodeo, and seeing Ken come out there. He had this suit he would put on, and he had a rope that was lit up. He could do roping tricks, and I remember they had a dog that a monkey would ride. “All those things were a big deal to me. It was the biggest deal for our en tire community, year after year.” RETURNING TO ITS GLORY DAYS As more PRCA rodeos began to pop up in Oklahoma and surrounding states, Ada’s popularity fizzled. But in

this happen.” Cord and Jet McCoy have felt the support from the community grow year after year. The event is held inside the renovated Pontotoc County Agri-Plex, which was built around the origi nal concrete grandstands to

An aerial shot of the Ken Lance Sports Arena, where rodeo promoter Ken Lance moved the Ada rodeo to when he took over. Courtesy Ada News

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come to town and celebrate that and those ideas and the ranches and the competition,” Cord McCoy said. “I know throughout this week, we call it Western week, and the communi ty gets behind it. We get to bring in those people who live the same way of life and celebrate together.” The McCoys have no plans of slow ing down anytime soon when it comes

Brothers Cord and Jet McCoy are the co-owners of McCoy Rodeo, a family-owned stock contracting company based in Lane, Okla., renowned for raising and supply ing championship bucking bulls and performance horses. PRCA photo by Nicole Stevens

maintain the history of the arena. It brings a smile to both of their faces when they see what they’ve been able to accomplish with the rodeo. Not only does it bring the PRCA back to their small Oklahoma hometown, but it is also further en forcing the Western way of life and its importance to Ada, too. “I think the Western lifestyle is something that goes year-round, and rodeo is the time that you get to

to further developing the Ada Pro Rodeo. NFR qualifiers have begun making it a stop on their schedules and the stock provided by McCoy Rodeo features bucking horses and bulls that have performed in Las Vegas. The term “grassroots” often refers to humble beginnings leading to extraordinary circumstances. The McCoys believe Ada and its profes sional rodeo are quickly taking on

that identity. “I’ve met three guys who have won Cheyenne, and none of them in the same event right here for this rodeo,” Cord McCoy said. “So, it’s a special stop. You know, it might be early in April, but it’s big celebration here.”

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BY KELSI OPAT, SPECIAL TO PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS ONE MORE RUN AT 65, DONNIE LANDIS ISN’T DONE YET At 18, he earned his PRCA card at the San Jose Firefighters Rodeo. He went on to work legendary events, includ ing the Pendleton Round-Up, Rodeo Houston, and the Calgary Stampede.

D onnie Landis will tell you there are two types of ‘old school.’ The first type is someone who refuses to evolve, even at the risk of others’ safety. The second is someone with drive, determination and a big heart. Landis is the second type. At 65 years old, the Idaho-based barrelman, rodeo clown, stock con tractor and founder of the Junior Bull Riders, is, by most reasonable mea sures, a man who should be winding down. But not Landis. “I’m just as spry as I was at 35,” Landis said. “It’s different when you’re in your 20s and 30s. You can heal faster, you’re in somewhat good shape, and when you’re older, you have to take care of yourself in a dif ferent way. You’re wiser.” That drive to keep improving has a target. Landis has one goal left on his list: to work the Wrangler Nation al Finals Rodeo one more time. He knows the odds aren’t in his favor – committees booked for the next five years, a body that demands strategy over raw athleticism and a generation of bullfighters who aren’t his peers. But he’s in the gym, he’s studying the angles, and he’s not remotely ready to walk away. It’s the kind of determination that has defined him from the very begin ning. Landis is a fourth-generation rodeo cowboy. His father, Bill Landis, was a

rodeo producer, clown and bullfight er, and his mother, Doreen Landis, was a rodeo secretary. Landis worked his first rodeo at just 12 years old, stepping in for his father’s injured bullfighting partner. Having Bill’s trust meant a great deal to young Donnie. “(My dad) said, ‘If one gets me down, I want you to get him off me. That’s all you have to worry about,’” Landis recalled. After graduating from high school, Landis turned down a full-ride foot ball scholarship at San Jose State University and chose rodeo instead.

He reached the NFR in 1993 and 1995, was an alternate in 1997, and then – after a 12-year gap – returned as an alternate in 2009. Most peo ple call that a successful career, but Landis calls it motivation. Ask Landis what he did this past winter, and he’ll tell you he studied barrel impact: the physics of how a 1,700-pound bull meets a steel cylin der with a man inside. He’s building

An enormous bull chases Landis in the arena. All photos for this story are courtesy of Donnie Landis

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a new barrel right now, retrofit ted with Kevlar on the outside to spread impact

a bull in pursuit. “I tried for years. It doesn’t work.” The Landis the crowds see and interact with is personable and waggish. Landis, one of the few ro deo clowns who wears a classic red sponge nose and makeup, adopted his signature schnoz after fellow clown, “Gordo Bones,” was hit by a bull and jumped up with his red nose in his mouth. “I got to laughing so hard,” Landis said. “And I started wearing a red nose from then on. That way, when I get hit with a bull, I could stuff it in my mouth and jump up (out of the barrel) and spit it out.”

His approach to the crowd is equally intentional. Before every show, he works the

stands: selling toys to kids, cracking side jokes, and

making sure he’s known before ever setting foot into the arena. This way, the crowd doesn’t need to be sold on the clown at the beginning of the show; they already like him. “Red Skelton said you could get away with murder if they liked you,” Landis explained. “And the only way they like you is to get to know you.” His acts have always been original, including a trained flea that climbs a platform, dives into water, and exits

and resist horn penetration, with a center tube made of heavier battle ship-grade aluminum, because once metal dents, it stays compromised. This is the Landis the crowds don’t typically see: the man who has spent decades studying the movements of bull riders, bullfighters, and the bulls themselves. “You can’t outrun them,” he said of

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Landis’ career has put him in many unique situations. But he thrives off of adrenaline.

through a ring of fire, and a giant yellow stuffed “Wild Cantbeatalope” puppet with bouncing, fluid hair that can spray water 50-feet from its back end. He guards his material, rarely letting it be filmed, because he’s seen too many “dime store clowns” try to copy an act. “My stuff doesn’t work that way,” he said. “It’s pretty intricate.” While pushing toward the peak of his performance career, Landis has also spent years building something bigger than himself. His youth min iature bull riding organization, the Ju nior Bull Riders, now operates in five countries: Mexico, Brazil, Australia,

Canada and the United States. He

Whether he makes it back to the NFR or not, Landis has already built something that will outlast any buckle: a family, a legacy, and a sport that is better for his presence in it. He’s not chasing the NFR for the glo ry, he’s chasing it because that’s just who he is. “Maybe I don’t have the peers around that want to hang with the old man,” he said. “But grandpas are pretty cool.”

also produces and stocks rodeo events through Roughstock101. He and his grandsons, Logan, Blake, and Ryder, also breed miniature bulls through Little Bucks Rodeo Co, which shares the same initials as the boys (LBR). The same year Landis started the JBR, he married former rodeo queen Rabecca Landis. The two have six kids (Michael, Robert, Travis, Leslie, Kyler, and Tucker) between them and eight grandchildren, although Landis says it “feels like 90,000” at times.

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CELEBRATING THE PRCA’S 90TH ANNIVERSARY

WORLD CHAMPIONS, NFR QUALIFIERS SHARE FAVORITE RODEO MEMORIES

BY TED HARBIN

IN HONOR OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRORODEO, THE PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS SPOKE TO MULTIPLE COWBOYS ON THE ROAD AND ASKED THEM TO SHARE THEIR FAVORITE MEMORIES – BOTH NEW AND OLD – OF THE WESTERN SPORT. THESE MEMORIES WILL BE SHARED IN THE PRINT EDITIONS OF THE PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS EVERY MONTH LEADING UP TO THE OFFICIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRCA IN OCTOBER.

COLEMAN PROCTOR, NINE-TIME NFR QUALIFIER FROM PRYOR, OKLA.

“There are just so many, like the first back number ceremony or the first time to get a go-round buckle at the South Point

and I moved up to sixth out on my second one. I ran my steer, made a great run, and I won like $11,000 that day. I no more than got my steer untied, the guy hands me my string, and I lope that good gray of mine right out the back. I lope him the length of the arena. “I step off, throw the reins to Tiffany Wagner, who helps me, and jump in the truck with my buddy, who drives me straight to the airport. These guys are in a jet so big that it takes two guys to fly. We peel out, and Tiff doesn’t even have the boots off my horse yet, and this jet comes smoking over the top of Cheyenne. “Tiff’s packed me, and I’ve got a fresh change of clothes and my belt on there. Tiff also always packs a little cooler, so I’ve got my Topo Chico’s … I always open my Topo Chico’s with my buckle, but I don’t have that. They’re not twist-off bottles, so you’ve got to pop them off. I’ve got these Kerry Kelley spurs on sitting on this plane, and I take my spur and just pop the top off, and the bottle doesn’t even fizz. “It was the coolest moments of my life, and nobody was there to see it.”

or the first time walking into the Thomas & Mack, but probably my all-time favorite memory, the coolest moment of my life, was something that nobody saw.

“I’d made the NFR Open in Colorado Springs, which happens to be the same day as the tripping slack in Cheyenne. You can’t drive it, so I looked at planes, but planes were going to take too long, but I just lucked into a deal. I had a friend who

gave me access to a jet. “So, I ran my steer in Cheyenne, and I won second in the first round,

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