ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

PRCA AWARDS BANQUET

A Legacy Lives On Late Brenda Crowder wins Secretary of the Year award Children of Brenda

Crowder, son and daughter: Billy Jack Ray and Shawna Ray accept the award on their mother’s behalf. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Clay Guardipee

BY TANNER BARTH B renda Crowder’s impact on the sport of ProRodeo was felt far and wide. Her dedication to rodeo dates to 1974 when she began her PRCA career as a longtime secretary and timer. Crowder passed away Aug. 21 at 69 years old. Her legacy lived on Dec. 2

2021 PRCA AWARD WINNERS • Nutrena Horses of the Year presented by AQHA – Ima Fresnos Dee “Annie,” owned by Cody Snow (team roping heading); Nita Win Playboy “Drago,” owned by Logan Medlin (team roping heeling); Sort of Popular “Paraguaia,” owned by Marcos Costa (tie-down roping); RBS Badger Tigger “Tigger,” owned by Cole Patterson (steer roping); Dashing Haze “Tyson,” owned by Curtis Cassidy (steer wrestling); Famous Lil Jet “Rollo,” owned by Justin and Jordon Briggs (barrel racing); No Wimpy “Onna,” owned by Shelby Lynn Boisjoli (breakaway roping) • John Justin Standard of the West Committeeman of the Year – John Dady • Pendleton Whisky Let ‘Er Buck Stock of the Year Calgary Stampede’s Xplosive Skies (bareback) Korkow Rodeos’ Onion Ring (saddle bronc) Powder River Rodeo’s Chiseled (bull) • Media Award – Excellence in Journalism Justin McKee, The Cowboy Channel • Media Award – Excellence in Multimedia RFD-TV, Rural Media Group • Polaris Remuda Awards – Stock Contractor - Calgary Stampede; Rodeo Committee - Red Bluff Round-Up • Hesston Sowing Good Deeds – Burke (S.D.) Stampede Rodeo • Coors Man in the Can – John Harrison

at the 2021 PRCA Awards Banquet at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas. She was posthumously awarded the 2021 PRCA Secretary of the Year, an honor that left her family speechless. “This is something that honestly she worked her entire life for,” said Brenda’s son Billy Jack Ray. “She started being a secretary at rodeos at a really young age and that’s all she ever wanted to do. It showed because it wasn’t just a job to her it was a passion to her. “It didn’t matter what she was going through. It didn’t matter if she was hurting or tired when it was time to rodeo, she was ready to get out there and work.” Crowder was a timer at the National Finals Rodeo in 2001 and was named the 2019 PRCA Secretary of the Year and 2020 Timer of the Year. Her connection with the athletes went far beyond the arena. “She truly loved those guys, they could call her at 2 a.m. and say they needed sheets for a rodeo, and she would get up and do it,” said Shawna Ray, Brenda’s daughter, a PRCA timer. “She never hesitated because she knew they needed it and they knew they could depend on her.” Brenda worked the RAMTexas Circuit Finals Rodeo for years and was most recently working as a secretary and timer for Stace Smith Pro Rodeos. Her death stunned the rodeo community from top to bottom, but the overwhelming support shown to the family is something they will never forget. “All the Facebook posts and messages honoring her when she passed were truly remarkable,” said Shawna. “The love that the rodeo family showed us you can’t describe it,” Shawna said. PRCA announcer Mike Mathis, a friend of Brenda’s for more than 30 years, praised what she did in the rodeo business during an interview with ProRodeo.com on Aug.21 “I know of no one who loved rodeo more than

• Photographer of the Year – Robby Freeman • Music Director of the Year – Jill Franzen Loden • Clown of the Year – Justin Rumford • Timers of the Year – Molly Twitchell, Michelle Corley • Dress Act of the Year – Bobby Kerr • Comedy Act of the Year – John Harrison

• Small Rodeo of the Year – Will Rogers Stampede, Claremore, Okla. • Medium Rodeo of the Year – Black Hills Roundup, Belle Fourche, S.D. • Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year – Rodeo Rapid City, Rapid City, S.D. • Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year – Pendleton Round-Up, Pendleton, Ore. • Pickup Man of the Year – Matt Twitchell • Bullfighter of the Year – Cody Webster • Announcer of the Year – Garrett Yerigan • Stock Contractor of the Year – Frontier Rodeo • Donita Barnes Contract Personnel Life Achievement – Kay Gay

cowboys and cowgirls. She did so many things for me from fixing programs to finding information for me. She was an amazing friend. She was so dedicated to this sport and the PRCA.”

Brenda,” Mathis said. “It was her life. She was not only an amazing secretary and timer, but she loved every aspect of rodeo, and was fiercely loyal to

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

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