PRORODEO Sports News March 2026 Digital Edition

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