PRORODEO Sports News March 2026 Digital Edition

SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE MARCH 2026

1952

THE COWBOYS’ CHOICE SINCE

Jeter Lawrence wins San Antonio Xtreme Bulls

BOB TALLMAN THE VOICE OF FORT WORTH SUTTON RODEO COMPANY CELEBRATING A CENTURY IN PRORODEO

MARCH 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 1

HOW THE WEST IS WORN

RYDER WRIGHT 2024 WORLD CHAMPION SADDLE BRONC RIDER

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CONTENTS

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE MARCH 2026

MANAGER’S MESSAGE The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association celebrating 90 years ������������������������� 5 Jeter Lawrence defying odds after his 2025 injury, wins San Antonio Xtreme Bulls ���������������������������������� 6 Braxton Whitesell picks up career-high win at Brighton Field Days Festival Xtreme Bulls 8 100 years of Sutton Sutton Rodeo Company celebrating a century in PRORODEO ������������������������� 15 Sutton Rodeo Company raising the next generation of NFR bucking stock ������������������������������������ 21 Stetson Wright makes history as second cowboy to reach $4 million in career earnings ������������������������� 24 Bob Tallman ends 50-year run as announcer at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo ��������������������������������������������� 25

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on the cover Jeter Lawrence rides Pete Carr’s Richard Slam for 89 points in PRCA photo by Hailey Rae. The

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls on Feb. 22, 2026, part of the Rank 45 Xtreme Bulls was Lawrence’s first rodeo back after his 2025 injury. Defy ing the odds after doctors said he may never ride again, the twenty-year-old walked away the champi on with a $12,000 check.

SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE MARCH 2026

1952

THE COWBOYS’ CHOICE SINCE

LISA CUSH • MANAGER DIGITAL PUBLICATIONS

Lisa holds a BFA from LSU. Geaux Tigers! She's the creative behind PRCA publications, including the PSN. She's no rodeo queen but she knows a few and leans into her Western roots to ensure the PSN reflects the PRCA’s mission, vision, and values.

Jeter Lawrence wins San Antonio Xtreme Bulls

BOB TALLMAN THE VOICE OF FORT WORTH SUTTON RODEO COMPANY CELEBRATING A CENTURY IN PRORODEO

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MANAGER’S MESSAGE

PRORODEO’S 90TH YEAR WILL BE CELEBRATED IN PAGES OF PSN

Rodeo has a rich sto ried history that some say was born in 1869 when two groups of cowboys from neighbor ing ranches met in Deer Trail, Colo., to settle an argument over who was the best at performing everyday cowboy tasks, including breaking wild horses to ride for ranch work – a common cow boy task that evolved into rodeo’s saddle bronc riding event. The PRORODEO timeline started on Oct. 30, 1936. By joining ranks to boycott a rodeo in Boston, a group of

Trevor Brazile is the King of Cowboys with 26 world titles – (All-Around 2002-04, 2006-15, 2018; Tie-Down Roping 2007, 2009-10; Team Roping Header 2010; Steer roping 2006-07, 2011, 2013-15, 2019-20). Trevor’s father Jimmy was a four-time qualifier for the National Finals Steer Roping (1979, 1980, 1982, 1983). Some other historical nuggets to chew on are below: 1959: The year the National Finals Rodeo

The Cowboys’ Turtle Association signaled the birth of what is now the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. This year, the PRCA is celebrating its 90th anniversary. (PRCA File Photo)

was created. The NFR had only six rounds and took place in Dallas, Texas. However, team roping, steer roping and barrel racing were held that year in Clayton, N.M. 1962: The first-time father and son team roping teams competed together at the NFR. The NFR was eight rounds and Carl Arnold (father) and Art Arnold (son) from Arizo na were in the field and earned $72 each at the NFR. They were joined by the California father/son duo of Byron Gist (father) and Gary Gist (son). The Gists earned $414 each at the NFR. 1979: The PRCA tried an 11-round NFR. This was done to try and increase attendance. It worked, but because of the increasing popularity of the sport they determined they did not need the 11th round. That was the only year NFR qualifiers competed in 11 rounds. 1985: The NFR was moved from Oklahoma City, Okla., to Las Vegas, Nev. The NFR celebrated its 40th year in Vegas in 2025. The one gap in the Vegas

cowboys and cowgirls forced the promoter to improve judging and increase the prize money. They picked the name Cowboys’ Turtle Association in reflection of the fact that they had been slow to act but had finally stuck their necks out for the cause. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association offi cially became the sanctioning body’s name in 1975. Fast-forward to the present and PRORODEO is cele brating its 90th birthday in 2026. Throughout the year, the PRORODEO Sports News will have stories about the history of PRORODEO over the past 90 years. One thing for sure is PRORODEO is rooted in family. The Steiner family is the only family to have three generations of world champions in father Bobby Steiner (bull riding, 1973), son Sid Steiner (steer wrestling, 2002) and grandson Rocker Steiner (bareback riding, 2025). The Wright family now has 18 world championships to their name. Stetson has 10 world championships – six in all-around (2019-23, 2025); three in bull riding (2020, 2022, 2025); and one in saddle bronc riding (2021). The rest of the family have all won world titles in saddle bronc riding. Ryder (2017, 2020, 2024); Cody (2008, 2010); Jesse (2012); Spencer Wright (2014) and Statler (2025). Fun Fact: the Wrights don’t have the most PRCA world championships for families who have competed in PRORODEO. That honor goes to the Braziles.

NFRs was in 2020. The NFR was moved to Globe Life in Arlington, Texas, because of COVID-19 restric tions in the state of Nevada. This trip down memory lane is a sample of what you can

read in the pages of the PSN the rest of this year – enjoy.

TRACY RENCK • MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Tracy has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last decade-plus consumed by PRORODEO. He previously served three years as editor of PRORODEO Sports News.

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JETER LAWRENCE DEFYING ODDS AFTER INJURY,WINS SAN ANTONIO XTREME BULLS By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

A comeback is something fans look forward to seeing unfold. Twenty-year-old Jeter Lawrence delivered one worth remembering. After a 2025 season clouded by the uncertainty of whether he would ever ride bulls again, Lawrence returned to the chutes with something to prove. At the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls Feb. 22, part

ous. There were no dramatic training montages or head line-grabbing breakthroughs, just patience. “Recovery really was a lot of sitting around at home and time passing by to let it all heal up,” he said. The path to recovery tested him physically, but it also became a mental proving ground. The motivation to return didn’t come from outside noise, but rather, it came from within. “It’s just a mind game,” Lawrence said. “If you

of the Rank 45 Xtreme Bulls Tour, he defied all odds and walked away the champion and collected over a $12,000 check from the event’s earnings. Matched against Stockyards ProRodeo’s Insurrection in the first round, Lawrence climbed into the chute with clarity and matched the NFR bull for an 87.5-point ride, to qualify for the final round. “I knew I needed to come here and win,” Law rence said. “I’d seen some videos of that bull, and he looked good, like he’d fit me good, so I knew I could ride that bull.” It was a reassuring statement from a rider who, not long ago, wasn’t sure he’d ever nod his head in the chutes again. In January 2025, Lawrence fractured his forehead at the Oklaho ma City ProRodeo. The impact resulted in a brain bleed that abruptly halted

want to do it bad enough, your mind will make you do it.” When he finally eased back into practice pens at home in Council Hill, Okla., there were mo ments of hesitation. Nod ding his head felt different at first, but those doubts faded with time, replaced by the muscle memory and the confidence that carried him here. By the time the final round rolled around at the Xtreme Bulls in San Antonio, Lawrence looked like the rider he’d been before the injury. He matched his sec

ond bull, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Richard Slam, move for move, sealing the championship in just his second outing of the 2026 season, and being one of three qualified rides. A night earlier, he finished fourth at the Georgia National Rodeo with an 86.5-point ride. In 2024, when Lawrence qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, San Antonio had been a turning point, where he finished third with an 88-point ride and earned a $5,000 paycheck. Standing in the Frost Bank Center arena again, victorious after a season on the side lines, felt like a full-circle moment. “It’s a good feeling to be back here and being able to do it again,” Lawrence said.

Jeter Lawrence didn’t let grim odds defy him after an injury nearly derailed his career. Instead, the 20-year-old bull rider challenged himself and it paid off, winning the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls championship. (PRCA photo by Hailey Rae)

his momentum and cast doubt over his career. At one point, doctors told him he might not ride bulls again. Just one month removed from competing as a rookie at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Lawrence was facing the uncertainty that was its own kind of battle. “This win means the world,” Lawrence said. “They told me I couldn’t do it ever again, and now I’m here doing it again. I’m just blessed to be able to do it. Can’t thank God enough.” The road back to the bucking chutes wasn’t glamor

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BULLDOGGER GARRETT OATES CLINCHES DIXIE NATIONAL RODEO AVERAGE TITLE WITH IDENTICAL RUNS By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

C ompeting in the performance rounds at the Dixie National Rodeo for the first time, steer wrestler Garrett Oates made the most of the opportunity that came his way in Jackson, Miss., Feb. 21-22. The 26-year-old bulldogger delivered back-to-back 3.8-second runs to finish with 7.6 seconds on two head to claim the average title and a significant boost in the ear ly-season standings, now placing him No. 5 in the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford world standings. “It’s been a

first round aboard Casper. Twelve months later, the pair returned more seasoned. The first steer he faced was part of a fresh set, requiring quick adjustments from Oates in the box. By the second round, he simply needed to execute. “This set was pretty fresh, so we kind of had to run at the steers and see what they were going to be, but it worked out,” Oates said. “Casper has definitely been a game changer

in my career. Without him, we couldn’t do anything.” As a PRORO DEO Playoff Series rodeo, the Dixie National Ro deo carries significant ings and points have a great im pact, espe cially when contenders are building a founda tion for the long season ahead. For Oates, the win put him at the highest point in the standings he weight in February. The earn

pretty good win ter so far,” Oates said. “We’ve had pretty good luck at Fort Worth and have been getting to practice around the house. This year was the first year I was in performances at Dixie. I’ve been a couple of times to compete in the Dixie National, but I’ve always gone into slack.” The stage may have been bigger, but the approach remained steady. The consisten cy, however, was no coincidence. Oates credited preparation and horsepower, particularly his

Steer wrestler Garrett Oates clinched the title at the Dixie National Rodeo with identical 3.8-second runs in rounds 1 and 2. (PRCA photo by Darlena Roberts)

palomino gelding, “Guys Best Effort,” commonly known as Casper. The veteran steer wrestling horse has carried mul tiple gold buckle winners in his career, including five-time PRCA World Champion Tyler Waguespack, and Casper has quickly become a cornerstone in Oates’s rodeo career. “I bought him from Jacob Talley (a five-time NFR qual ifier) last year,” Oates said. “Actually, Dixie was the first rodeo I took him to last year. It’s kind of a full circle deal to come back and have success again on the same horse.” Last season in Jackson, Oates finished second in the

has ever been in this early in the year. “It’s pretty cool,” he said. “I’ve never had the opportu nity to be that high in the standings this far. It’s still early in the year, so we just have to keep the ball rolling. It’s a blessing from the Lord, truly.” That perspective continues to guide him each time he backs into the box. “The Lord blesses us with opportunities every day,” he said. “Nothing’s given, and we can’t take anything for granted.”

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BRAXTON WHITESELL PICKS UP CAREER-HIGH WIN AT BRIGHTON FIELD DAYS FESTIVAL XTREME BULLS By Tierney Myers, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

A mong NFR qualifiers and some of the top 18-year-old Resistol Rookie Braxton Whitesell came out on top of the Brighton Field Days Festival Xtreme Bulls with a 91.5-point ride on 5 Star Rodeo’s Bucknasty. Whitesell cashed out for more than $13,000 at the Rank 45 Xtreme Bulls Tour event in Okeechobee, Fla. He won an additional $7,000 from a boun ty placed on Bucknasty. When there’s a bounty of that quantity on a bull, stock contractors are bound to keep a closer eye on the cowboy who drew it. Paul Bowers, the co-owner of 5 Star Rodeo, said he got a call from the people who placed the bounty when the draw came out. “They asked me, ‘Can he ride him?’” Bowers said. “I had to tell them, ‘Honestly, I don’t know this kid.’” Whitesell is sure to be known now after an electric ride and a big payday. Bowers added that Whitesell was fully confi dent when he learned he was matched up with Bucknas ty. Bowers and his wife told Braxton he’d win $7,000 if he managed to cover the bull. “Good,” Whitesell said. “That’s just what I want.” bull riders in the world,

the ropes and help him get his PRORODEO career rolling. “It helps when you’re with a good group of guys,” Whitesell said. “Iron sharpens iron.” Boquet also finished with a solid after he finished sixth with an 83.5-point ride on Silver Spurs Club’s Wild Bill. This win marks the biggest of Whitesell’s young career. Earli er in February, he dominated at the Fort Worth Rookie Rally and earned a spot in the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, the first PRORODEO Playoff Series rodeo of his career. Whitesell shined in the tour nament-style rodeo, winning his bracket with an 84.5-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Peaky Blinders. He made a run to the champi onship round and while he was bucked off, the earnings in Fort Worth put him inside the Top 15 of the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings for the first time in his career. Currently 13th in the standings, his win in Okeechobee marked another pivotal moment in his career as he takes a small step toward his goal of qualifying for the NFR. “It feels great to be in the Top 15,” Whitesell said. “I started a little slow this winter, then Fort Worth turned things around. I just want to make the NFR and make those gold buckle dreams come true.” Whitesell’s 91.5-point ride wasn’t just a victory for him. Bucknasty had a rough out in Las

Whitesell said he wasn’t ner vous when he climbed aboard the National Finals Rodeo bull, but his hauling partner, Dustin Boquet, cut in. “Don’t lie,” Boquet said with a laugh, “you were as ner vous as all get out.” Boquet, a fellow Louisianan and four-time NFR quali fier, started hauling with Whitesell this year to show him

Resistol Rookie Braxton Whitesell shined in Okeechobee, Fla., taking the win at the Brighton Field Days Festival Xtreme Bulls, part of the Rank 45 Xtreme Bulls Tour. (PRCA photo by Darlena Roberts)

Vegas in December, which was crushing to 5 Star Rodeo. “He hipped himself at the finals, and I almost cried,” Bowers said. “Watching [Bucknasty] today was awesome. Glory to God he really blessed us.”

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shapes his approach. “When I get on the back of the chutes, I’m just trying to soak it all in and not take any of it for granted,” he said. The draw against the seasoned Calgary Stampede horse only added to the moment. Hooper had long hoped to get on Disco Party but had never drawn the horse before. “I went to bed last night and woke up this morning to check my phone and saw that I had him,” he said. “I was really excited.” Even after the horse slipped slightly after leaving the chute, Hooper never lost confidence. “I knew what I had, and I knew it was going to be fun one way or the other,” Hooper said. “I didn’t know what the score was going to be, and I didn’t care. I just knew tonight I was going to let it all hang out.” Hooper fought his way through Bracket 5, stacking consistent rides to build his momentum in Fort Worth. He opened with 86 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Notch for a $1,900 paycheck and an early foothold in the round. He stayed sharp in Round 2, posting an 85.5-point ride on Pickett Pro Rodeo Trouble At The Top to earn $2,500 and secure his spot in the semifinals. The semifinals proved pivotal after Hooper matched with Calgary Stampede’s Bucking Knight and delivered an 87-point ride to split first with Jacob Lees, pocketing $3,000 and advancing to the championship round. The result of the final round was the highest-marked ride of the rodeo, though Hooper was quick to credit the matchup. “You have to have the horse,” he said. “There are seven other guys that, if they’d have had the horse I had tonight, there’s a good chance you’d be talking to them right now. So, I’m just thankful it was me.” While this marks the beginning of the 2026 season for Hooper, Fort Worth has proven he plans to make noise for the remainder of the year. “There’s still a lot of season left,” he said. “I’m just go ing to go to the rodeos I want to go to, get on the horses I want to and have fun when I do it.” STEER WRESTLERS KALAWAIA, ANDERSON SPLIT FORT WORTH WIN Backed into the box with everything on the line, 23-year-old Trisyn Kalawaia emerged from the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo as both a champion and a history maker, becoming the first Hawaiian cowboy to win the legendary rodeo after splitting the steer wres tling title with 27-year-old Bridger Anderson at 3.8 seconds, a victory worth $16,000 apiece. “Winning here is awesome,” Kalawaia said. “This is my biggest win in my career, and to be able to stay with Bridger, it’s just a happy feeling. It’s a great start to the

TILDEN HOOPER ELECTRIFIES FORT WORTH CROWD WITH

92-POINT RIDE By Kensie Darst-Todd, Special to PRORODEO Sports News

Tilden Hooper shined during the championship round in Fort Worth, posting a 92-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party to win the title. (PRCA photo by James Phifer)

Nearly two decades into his PRORODEO career, 38-year-old Tilden Hooper proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with after opening the 2026 winter season with a 92-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo on Feb. 7. Hooper matched the horse Rocker Steiner won the world championship with to collect $20,000, his first win of the 2026 season. “What a fun night,” Hooper said. “I don’t take this stuff for granted. It’s a special night anytime you get to win one of these big rodeos.” The win vaulted the 10-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier into the top five of the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings early in the season. Nearly two decades after earning his PRORODEO card, Hooper continues to compete with a sense of appreciation that

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Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Culley, a 25-year-old header from Lawton, Iowa, rebounded from an early miscue in Bracket 6, where he broke the barrier in the opening round. In the finals, he stayed aggressive and regrouped quickly. “I missed the barrier and just went and caught him,” Culley said. “I figured he was going to throw pretty fast. When he got him down, and I turned and saw we were 5.4, I thought we had a chance.” Vaught, a 31-year-old heeler from Mena, Ark., said the win exceeded his expectations entering the week. “When we rode in the arena, I never thought we’d win it. I was just hoping to win a good check,” Vaught said. “It’s crazy how it works sometimes.” Horsepower played a role in Fort Worth. Vaught rode his 11-year-old horse, Gunner, whom he has owned for four years, while Culley competed on Pistol, a recent pur chase from David Beck that has performed well in recent weeks. For both ropers, the victory stands as a benchmark moment. “This is for sure my biggest PRCA win,” Vaught said. Pressure was no match for team ropers Corben Culley/Trent Vaught with their win in Fort Worth. (PRCA photo by James Phifer) RUSTY WRIGHT CONTINUES HEATER WITH FORT WORTH WIN Rusty Wright couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2026 winter season. On Feb. 7, he added another milestone to his near two-decade career in PRORODEO, winning the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo with a 91-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Dandy Delight. Wright split the title with Australian cowboy Darcy Radel, who shined in his ride on J Bar J’s Shady Jacket. “It’s always awesome to be 91,” Wright said. “And to do it here at Fort Worth, and to do it with one of your bud dies, you can’t ask for much more. This is what rodeo’s all about.” The matchup carried history. Dandy Delight had al ready been tested by the Wright family at the 2025 Wran gler National Finals Rodeo, where Ryder Wright posted

season.” Anderson, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, delivered his championship run aboard his trusted partner “Whiskers,” who has been by his side since high school. Together, the pair topped one of the most demanding rodeos in the Texas Swing. “Anytime you can win Fort Worth, it means some thing,” Anderson said. “There’s no easy rounds here, and you have to show up every time.” The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo marks one of the opening legs of the Texas Swing, where winter rodeos stack opportunity on top of pressure. With $1,272,000 added money on the line from Jan. 23 through Feb. 7, every run demanded precision. Athletes battled through a bracket-style format that rewarded consistency and speed, ultimately crowning champions who survived one of the deepest fields in PRORODEO. Standing in the winner’s circle in Dickies Arena, Kala waia carried more than a buckle; he carried his culture. “It’s pretty cool to be here in Texas and represent (Ha waii),” he said. “There are a lot of people back home in Hawaii, so to represent up here means a lot.” CORBEN CULLEY/TRENT VAUGHT CLAIM BIG WIN IN FORT WORTH Corben Culley and Trent Vaught delivered when the pressure tightened, stopping the clock in 5.4 seconds in the championship round to secure the team roping title at the Trisyn Kalawaia became the first Hawaiian cowboy to win the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Bridger Anderson matched Kalawaia’s time to share the Fort Worth crown. (PRCA photo by James Phifer)

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“That was my first one, biggest win of my career so far,” Radel said. “It’s still kind of sinking in right now. I’m just taking it all in.” The victory not only delivered a career-defining buckle but also a significant early-season payday, positioning Radel well as the 2026 season gains momentum. Still, the Australian emphasized that the reward goes beyond the check. “At the end of the day, we do what we love,” he said. “The money helps, but this right here — that’s what it’s about.”

KINCADE HENRY STAYS MENTALLY DISCIPLINED IN FORT WORTH

A winter storm kept tie-down roper Kincade Henry from preparing for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo to the degree he would have liked. But when he backed into the box in the championship round on Feb. 7, none of that mattered. Henry and his 20-year-old gelding, Mario, delivered a 7.5-second run to win $20,000 and the Fort Worth title. “Everything I own, is because of him,” Henry said of Mario. “Without that horse, I’m not standing right here.” Henry started his Fort Worth run in Bracket 2, runs

Rusty Wright’s strong start to the 2026 season continued in Fort Worth. (PRCA photo by James Phifer)

Australian cowboy Darcy Radel picked up the biggest win of his career by splitting the title with Rusty Wright. (PRCA photo by James Phifer)

an 89.75-point ride in Round 10 and Stetson Wright had an 87-point trip on the horse in Round 5. Rusty Wright expected fireworks. His focus narrowed to fundamentals: A sharp mark out, square shoulders and control through every jump. “I was really focused,” Wright said. “I’m a little picky, and I always have stuff I want to do better, but I’m pretty pleased with my ride.” Radel captured the biggest victory of his career in Fort Worth. It was the first time in his career he claimed the title at the iconic rodeo that kicks off the Texas swing.

Kincade Henry had to be perfect in the championship round in Fort Worth, and he was with his trusted gelding Mario. (PRCA photo by James Phifer)

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talizing when the opportunity finally aligned. “Fort Worth has always been kind of a tough one to get through the bracket system,” Kimzey said. “It’s just so awesome to finally come through and actually draw a good bull in the short round and get it done.” On a night when only two riders covered their bulls, Kimzey’s poise separated him from a field stacked with talent. The bulls were strong and the margins slim. A handful of riders left points on the table, but Kimzey made the most of his chance when the gate cracked. “There was a great set of bulls out, a great set of guys,” he said. “Just kind of got it all worked out for sure.” KASSIE MOWRY SETS NEW ARENA RECORD IN FORT WORTH Kassie Mowry is once again proving she is one of the best barrel racers in the world. Not only is she well on her way to defending her WPRA Barrel Racing World Championship for the second year in a row, she’s setting records in the process. Mowry won the title last year without her star horse, Jarvis, as she elected to keep him home and out of Las Vegas due to the EHV-1 outbreak ahead of the NFR. But Jarvis didn’t skip a beat in Fort Worth, as the two set a new arena record with a 16.04-second run inside Dickies Arena for the title.

of 9.0 and 11.0 seconds helped him earn a spot in the semifinals. With only four advancing, Henry knew he needed a clean, controlled run. He placed second with an 8.5-sec ond run. But his final run was what he needed to clinch the title, despite the calf slipping by. “If I wouldn’t have kept hustling, she’d have probably gotten all the way by me,” Henry said. TREY KIMZEY PICKS UP MAJOR BULL RIDING WIN IN FORT WORTH Four years removed from his last appearance in the finals at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, four-time Wrangler National Finals qualifier Trey Kimzey returned to Dickies Arena with unfinished business and left with the buckle to prove it after an 88.5-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Hermes. Fort Worth’s bracket-style format is notoriously unfor giving, a winter test that can end a cowboy’s week before it ever truly begins. For Kimzey, navigating it this year meant more than just advancing. Rather, it meant capi Trey Kimzey was one of just two cowboys to cover their matchup in the championship round of bull riding in Fort Worth. (PRCA photo by James Phifer)

Kassie Mowry hasn’t skipped a beat in December as the two-time defending world champion barrel racer set a new arena record in Fort Worth. (PRCA photo by James Phifer)

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NO SIGNS OF STOPPING SUTTON RODEO LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AS IT CELEBRATES 100-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

By ALEX DODD • MEDIA REPORTER

Alex has worked in sports media for over a decade and most recently served as a sports editor in Rapid City, S.D. Alex is a proud Clemson University alum.

R odeo has changed dras tically over the last 100 years. But in many ways, the sport doesn’t look too dissimilar to its humble begin nings. This year, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association celebrates 90 years as the largest and oldest sanctioning body of professional rodeo. The PRCA started as the Cowboy Turtles Association during the Boston Gar den Rodeo in 1936, when cowboys banded together to ensure fair prize money, equality in judging and hon est advertising of the sport. But before the formation of the CTA, rodeo was already a way of life in the American West. In Sully County, S.D., at the Sutton Ranch, rodeo was a family tradition. On Sundays, Edwin and James Sutton welcomed friends from the surrounding area to their rodeos, which started in 1926. A century later, the fourth, fifth

THE SUTTON FAMILY

PRCA photo by Clay Guardipee

Early Days The first rodeo on the Sutton ranch in the river hills of Sully Coun ty in 1926 sought to see which local ranch had the best cowboys. But by the following year, en tertainment for spectators became central to the operation. Those early rodeos featured specialty acts such

and sixth generations of his family are still producing world-class events as the Sutton Rodeo Company. “What’s most special is that the family was all involved and all inter ested,” ProRodeo Hall of Famer Jim Sutton said. “It makes it pretty easy when what’s turning out is happen ing the way you wanted it to.”

MARCH 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 15

Out Here, we may buckle, but we never break

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as a cowboy riding a bison, a horse jumping a car and even people jumping out of air planes. Edwin’s wife, Jesse, also made teacups to give away as souvenirs to attendees. “In 1927, we had specialty acts and swag,” said Kim Sutton, Jim Sutton’s daughter-in-law and wife of Sutton Rodeo

JULIE AND JIM SUTTON

President Steve Sutton. “That’s just like today. So yes, it’s been 100 years but that was already happen ing in the 1920s.” Edwin Sutton, Jim Sutton’s grandfather, saw potential in the rodeo business and sought to grow the company from a family pastime to a profit center. He quickly partnered with George Fairbank and began a successful touring rodeo before the Great Depression slowed operations until the 1940s. Jim’s father, James H. Sutton Sr., launched the next iteration of the firm in the 1950s by partnering with fellow South Dakotan Erv Kor kow to form Sutton-Korkow stock. Sutton-Korkow was one of the first contractors to join the Rodeo Cowboys Association – predecessor to the PRCA – and in 1959 hauled bucking stock to the inaugural Na

Photo Courtesy of Sutton Rodeo Company

tional Finals Rodeo in Dallas, Texas. “I still run into people, and the most popular comment about grand pa is that he was a good person, but he was always positive,” Steve Sutton said of James Sutton Sr. “He never ran anybody down. I never heard him raise his voice, never. He’s just one of those people who comes to your mind who was a good ol’ boy.” James H. Sutton Sr.’s son, affec tionately known as Jim, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2020. The 90-year-old South Dako tan was raised in the stock contract ing business, but it wasn’t his only option. The Minneapolis Lakers – now the Los Angeles Lakers – selected Sutton, a South Dakota State University grad uate, with the 65th overall pick in the 1957 NBA Draft. He attended the team’s preseason camp but ultimately

Jim Sutton said of knowing his calling from a young age. “You didn’t have to worry about anything to do. It was all right there.” Going all in James and Jim formally partnered in 1968 and launched Sutton Rodeo Company, transforming the contrac tor into one of the top firms in the PRCA. “They went out first and bought some horses and tried to increase the bloodlines,” Steve Sutton said. “The cowboys loved (James Sutton Sr.), too. And back in the early days, the contractors weren’t loved by contes tants. They weren’t enemies, but they were dueling each other. Now, as the world’s changed, we’re trying to help them make a good living.” James Sutton set the moral fiber of Sutton Rodeo, which continues to this day. In 1982, he was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, and he also received an award of merit from the RCA in 1970 for his contributions to the sport. “Whether it was a committeeman or the waitress at the table when we were in town, he just had something about him that everybody was attract ed to him and had a good impression of him,” Steve Sutton said. “But the cowboys really backed him.” James Sutton eventually passed management responsibilities to his son, Jim. But he remained intimate ly involved in PRORODEO until his death on Feb. 1, 1991. Jim’s wife, Julie, also took on a lot

decided to return home to work on the family ranch with his father,

James Sutton Sr., and grand father, Edwin Sutton.

3 GENERATIONS OF SUTTONS: JAMES, JIM AND STEVE Photo Courtesy of Sutton Rodeo Company

“It just gave you something

to think about,”

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death on Feb. 1, 1991. Jim’s wife, Julie, also took on a lot of responsibility in Sutton Ro deo. In addition to helping support operations, she served as an NFR timer in 1970 and passed the skill on to her daughter-in-law, Kim Sutton. Jim and Julie received the Donita Barnes Lifetime Achieve ment Award in 2017. Julie Sutton died at 85 years old on July 21, 2021 – four days after Jim was in ducted into the Hall of Fame – after a prolonged battle with cancer. Jim Sutton still hits the road for Sutton Rodeo’s biggest produc tions, including Rodeo Rapid City, which he started in 1978 as the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. The rodeo has been nominated 25 times as the PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year, winning the title seven times (2002-03, 2020-21, 2023-25). “I wish I had a few more years,” Jim Sutton said. “This show in Rap id City, there are no better rodeos anywhere. We always get the top cowboys and try to bring the best stock we can. That’s just the way it is. “All my life, we’ve tried

Today, Steve serves as the presi dent of Sutton Rodeo Company with his wife, Kim, and their children, Brent, Brice and Amy, are intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of the family business. “We all wear a hat,” Steve Sutton said. “And at the end of that hat, you do everything.” Steve Sutton grew up in the family business. He can’t remember the first rodeo he went to, but he picked up a lot of wisdom from his father and grandfather on the rodeo road, and he always loved rodeo and the live stock business. “The reason I enjoy it so much is because I have had good coaches,” Steve Sutton said. “Grandpa and dad, they taught us how to do it the right way. The right way is usually to do what you think the person you’re do ing the job for wants it to be done.” Steve Sutton got his PRCA card between his eighth grade and fresh man year of high school, and went on to be a pickup man at the National High School Finals Rodeo the same summer. Steve became one of the top

lasted a long time and I had the best seat in the house.” Steve and Kim started dating in 1978, the first year of Rodeo Rapid City and the same year that Steve picked up at the NFR. Kim had been involved in the rodeo world as a high schooler in 4H, but saw a whole other side of the rodeo business that year. “It was a whole different world on the backside of rodeo contracting and production,” Kim Sutton recalled. “All of a sudden, I was rooting for the horse and not the cowboy. I learned as I went under Jim and Julie, and Steve and James Sr., Steve’s grand pa. They were really close, and he (James Sr.) was a wonderful man who encouraged us both a lot.” Steve and Kim got married in 1983, and in the following years, they be came more and more essential to the operation of Sutton Rodeo Company. Today, the couple oversees the operation with their kids. Kim han dles timing and marketing with her daughter, Amy Mueller, while Steve runs the livestock program and rodeo production with his two

sons, Brice and Brent, and his son-in law, Steven Mueller. Kim

pickup men in the PRCA.

to get rodeos like this and keep them going. Rapid City is (the result) of what

He was selected to

the National

we’ve been trying to do for years. It’s all kind of fallen into place.” Sutton Rodeo Today

Finals Rodeo twice in Oklahoma City, Okla. (1978, 1981) and three times after the event moved to Las Vegas (1986, 1993, 1995). “I enjoy the PRCA. It’s a great world to be involved in, the rodeo world,” Steve Sutton said. “If I had to start all over again, I would do the same thing. I started picking up at a very early age, and I was lucky that I

said she would almost describe

herself more accurately as the Sutton Rodeo gopher, because a title can’t really describe what any of the family members do to produce rodeos and raise some of the best bucking stock in PRORODEO. “We don’t have offices in our orga nization,” Steve Sutton said. “We all

Steve Sutton, Jim’s son, joined the PRCA in 1976 and became a stock contractor in 1982.

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wear a hat that we might be a little better at than another. But we all pitch in and do every job that needs to be done.” The Future of Sutton Rodeo The fifth generation, Steve and Kim Sutton’s children, of the Sutton Rodeo Company is already on the job. Recently, Steve Sutton had the family over for dinner and asked whether they still wanted to stay in the rodeo business. “I did ask the question about a month ago, when we were all sitting around the table,” Steve Sutton said. “I said, ‘You know, we’re at the top, but the world’s changing. Would you like to get out of this business?’ And I got three ‘Nos’ so fast. That made me feel good.” Brent and Brice Sutton spend most of their time tending to the family’s bucking horses on the pasture and on the road. They also assist in rodeo production.

but I’m sure there were probably jobs that I got that I was maybe too young for, like driving the pickup while dad threw square bales on when I could barely see over the dash.” Brent made the NFR as a pickup man in 2020 and at the National Circuit Finals Rodeo (now the NFR Open) in 2014 and 2017. He retired as a pickup man recently and focused his attention more on production and being a flankman when he’s on the road. Brice also works with the livestock and rodeo production and joined the PRCA as a contestant, pickup man and flankman in 2010. Amy

more extended family involved day to day. There are five of us running the ranch and running the rodeos, so you have to divide and conquer to get it done. So maybe you have to do 12 jobs instead of one.” Amy served as a timer at the NFR three-straight times from 2015-17. Her mom, Kim Sutton, held that position six times (1988, 2011-12, 2017-19). “Every one of our offspring has done something at the NFR,” Steve Sutton said. “We take this business seriously. We appreciate the PRCA. And (our kids) have all worked their different categories and they’ve all excelled enough to get the No. 1 job at the Finals. I blame that all on Kim, not me, but we have three really good kids.” Sutton Rodeo Company doesn’t plan to shut the doors anytime soon. The sixth generation of the contract ing firm, Brent, Brice and Amy’s children, are already getting plenty of experience in the Western way of life. “You’re not going to get rich in this game. You have to love it. You have to not be afraid of hard work and take risks,” Brent Sutton said. “As far as us moving forward from here, once you get involved it’s kind of hard to walk away. So I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere.” Kim Sutton said she and Steve didn’t force their children to get involved in the family business, they picked it up on their own. She hopes the same will be true for their six – soon to be seven – grandchildren. She wants them to fall in love with Sutton Rodeo Company, raising livestock and producing rode os on their own. As for Steve Sutton, he hopes this is just the beginning for the family business. “I’m thinking that I can’t wait for the next 100,” he said.

Mueller has followed in her mom’s footsteps as a timer and of fice manager who also

helps with the mar keting efforts, while her husband Ste ven spends his time with the livestock and assisting with rodeo production. “We all do have our own little de partment, and we all try to take that lead and that responsibility,” Amy Mueller said. “Part of it is that we’re a really small family in relation to peo ple with cousins, second cousins and

“I don’t remember what age (I started) but there were always odd jobs,” Brent Sutton said. “At the rodeos, I loaded calves and steers and picked up flanks in the arena. At home, you do a little bit of ev erything, but I fixed fence and fed. I don’t remember how old I was

MARCH 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 19

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SUTTON RODEO COMPANY RAISING THE NEXT GENERATION OF NFR BUCKING STOCK By Alex Dodd F or the last century, Sutton Rodeo has produced some of the best rough stock in the world.

Under James Sutton’s leadership, the Suttons had Baldy, the top bull in 1961, the runner-up for 1964 Bareback Horse of the Year, Yellow Jacket and the 1979 Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year, Deep Water. Jim Sutton continued the legacy with the 1985 Bareback Horse of the Year, Big Bud. He also bene fited from the achievements of the 2012 Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year, Chuckulator. Chuckulator also won the top saddle bronc horse of the NFR in 2012.

The Sutton Rodeo breeding program has produced some of the top roughstock in PRORODEO over the last 100 years. PRCA photo by Clay Guardipee

Most recently, saddle bronc horse South Point has car ried on the legacy of the Sutton Rodeo breeding program. During Rodeo Rapid City on Feb. 7, South Point took his final ride around the arena, officially retiring to the family ranch. “We fold our mares out in five pastures that I can see from my front porch,” Steve Sutton said. “I see the day they’re born and they’re 3 or 4 (years old) before they leave the ranch. It’s just a really good feeling. We’ve raised 100 percent of the horses we’ve hauled the last five years, and the last two bucking horses of the year (we had) were raised on our ranch. It’s a pretty great feeling.” Steve Sutton’s sons, Brent and Brice Sutton, followed in their father’s footsteps, taking particular interest in the family’s breeding program and raising the next generation of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo bucking horses. Like their dad, they’ve both spent time in the arena as pickup men to get the best seat in the house closest to the action. “I always joke with my dad because he didn’t like to be like my grandpa going out to meet people and do the

work he’s doing now,” Brent Sutton said. “He’d rather be out here feeding with us.” Steve Sutton lit up, reminiscing on the accomplish ments of South Point throughout his storied career. “He’s had one bad trip in his life and it’s when he was a 4-year-old at the NFR,” he said. “Now he’s 19 years old and we haven’t seen a bad trip since. … His last trip was as good as he’s ever been in the NFR. … He has five more years in him probably, but he’s given us all he’s supposed to. So he gets to sit on the ranch and watch us come and go.” Brent Sutton said the Sutton Rodeo horses aren’t just their livelihood, but they’re part of the family. And he doesn’t mind getting up early to divvy out feed. “My dad would rather be out here,” he said after a morning feed during Rodeo Rapid City. “I like being with these horses in the elements and watching them interact with each other. To me, that’s almost better than being at the rodeo.”

MARCH 2026 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE 21 FEBRUARY 2026

PRCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING RELOCATING HEADQUARTERS, HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN COWBOY TO CHEYENNE, WYOMING PRCA Staff

T he Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Board of Directors approved a non-bind ing memorandum of understanding to seriously consider relocating the organization’s headquarters, along with the PRCA Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy, to Wyoming. The move would bring professional rodeo’s premier organization to the Cowboy State, where rodeo is officially recognized as Wyoming’s professional sport, by vote of the Wyoming Legislature. The process was thorough and included produc tive conversations

incredibly exciting.” Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon praised the decision and highlighted its significance for the state’s economy and cultural identity. “Rodeo has been a part of Wyoming since before we were a state. It is in our DNA. I grew up roping a dum my at every PRCA rodeo, first my dad and then myself, competed in,” Gov. Gordon said. “There is no better place on Earth than right here in the Cowboy State for

the PRCA to be headquartered. We have the leg acy, respect the tradition, and will always honor the cowboy way and Code of the West. Powder River, Let’er Buck!” The relocation is contingent upon approval of project funding by the Wyoming Legislature. In December, the Cheyenne LEADS

from multiple locations and a proposal from Colorado Springs leadership. In addition to a friendly business climate and no state income tax, Cheyenne offered to build a Hall of Fame and an administrative building to host

the PRCA national headquarters with upgraded office space, first class conference rooms and other amenities. The relocation represents a strategic move for the PRCA and underscores Wyoming’s deep-rooted connection to western heritage, rodeo and the cowboy way of life. The transition is anticipated to occur early in 2029. The proposed PRCA campus will be located near the highly visible intersection of Interstate 25 and Interstate 80, positioning it at one of the most traveled crossroads in the region. The approximately 35-acre site is envi sioned as the anchor of a new western-themed entertain ment, cultural and shopping district, creating a year round destination for fans, families and visitors from around the world. PRCA leadership emphasized the long-term benefits of the move for the organization and its members. “This is a strategic decision that positions the PRCA for the future,” said Tom Glause, CEO of the Profes sional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “Wyoming lives and breathes rodeo, and Cheyenne offers authenticity, visibility and alignment with our sport’s values. The opportunity to build a purpose-driven campus that celebrates rodeo’s history while supporting its growth is

Board of Directors voted to commit $15 million from its reserves as matching funds toward the project. Addition al public and private funding sources will be pursued to support development of the campus and surrounding district. “This announcement reflects both Wyoming’s lega cy and its future,” said Betsey Hale, CEO of Cheyenne LEADS. “Rodeo is woven into the fabric of our state, and welcoming the PRCA, its headquarters, and the Hall of Fame to Cheyenne is a natural fit. The Cheyenne LEADS Board strongly believes in this opportunity and voted to invest $15 million as a show of commitment. We look forward to partnering with the City of Cheyenne, Lara mie County, along with the PRCA, and other stakehold ers to bring this visionary campus to life.” The future PRCA campus will house administrative offices, the Hall of Fame, and the Museum of the Ameri can Cowboy, creating a centralized home that honors the sport’s legacy while supporting innovation, education, and fan engagement. Additional details regarding funding, design, and development timelines will be released as the project moves forward.

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STETSON WRIGHT MAKES HISTORY AS SECOND COWBOY TO REACH $4 MILLION IN CAREER EARNINGS By Zach Alvira

S tetson Wright continues to make history. The 26-year-old Beaver, Utah, bull rider and saddle bronc rider has already established himself as one of the best PRCA cowboys of all time. He has 10 gold buckles and counting to prove it. But Wright now has the career earnings to prove he’s one of the best. Following his win at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver in January, Wright’s ca reer earnings surpassed the $4 million mark. He’s just the second cowboy ever to accomplish such a feat, joining the King of Cowboys Trevor Brazile. “To be in any conversation with Trevor Brazile is insane,” Wright said. “He’s the greatest to ever do it without a doubt. The way he holds himself, the person that Trevor is, that’s a guy that I look up to and in a lot of ways I try to do a lot of things that he did.” Brazile won a PRCA record 26 world championships and collected just under $7.1 million in earnings. As of Feb. 27, Wright’s total career earnings were at $4,052,846. Wright is coming off a banner year in 2025. After missing all of the 2024 season due to injury, he led from start to finish in the all-around race with Wacey Schalla. At the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Wright won seven total rounds – four in saddle bronc and three in bull riding. Brazile was the last cowboy to win seven rounds at a single NFR. He finished the year with $940,929 – a new PRCA single-season earnings record – just short

His 10 world championships – six in all-around 2019 2023 and 2025; three in bull riding (2020, 2022 and 2025); and saddle bronc riding (2021) – put him in the same conversation with PRORODEO legends. Only Bra zile (26), Guy Allen (18), Jim Shoulders (16), Dean Oliver (11) and Everett Bowman (10) have won at least 10 PRCA World Championships. Wright’s six all-around world titles tied him with Larry Mahan (1966-70, 1973) and Tom Ferguson (1974-1979). But he’s not slowing down anytime soon. “I feel like I haven’t even hit the prime of my career,” Wright said. “My dad (Cody Wright, ProRodeo Hall of Fame saddle bronc rider) made his first NFR when he was 26 years old. So I feel like I’m just starting. I feel like the older I get, the wiser I get and the better I get. “Everything is coming to me naturally. So I’m super hap py with where I’m at and sky’s the limit. I’m not setting the limit on anything I’m going to do.” Wright’s win in Denver built momentum for the start of the Texas swing. A good showing at those rodeos will once again put him in position to become the first-ever million-dollar cow boy in a single season. He finished just shy in 2025 but is ready to chase it once again in 2026. He’s also not counting himself out of making a run at Brazile’s world title count before his career is over.

“I know I’m on the opposite end of the arena, but when it comes to winning, it doesn’t mat ter what sport you’re doing or what you’re doing in life,” Wright said. “Trevor’s always had one of the best winning mindsets, so to be up there with him is pretty awesome. “Hopefully we’ll keep chipping away at him, maybe a little bit more.”

of becoming the first-ever PRCA cowboy to win $1 million in a single season. The mark surpassed his previous record of $928,568 won in 2022. In the all-around, Wright finished with $817,088 to win the gold buck le by $205,379 over Schalla. The total surpassed Wright’s previous record of $758,829 set in 2022.

Stetson Wright joined The King of Cowboys Trevor Brazile as the only two cowboys to hit $4 million in career earnings. (PRCA photo by Click Thompson)

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