ProRodeo Sports News - April 12, 2024

ProRodeo Hall of Fame announces 2024 class The Hall Call BY PRCA STAFF K aycee Feild, who set the gold standard for PRCA bareback riders, winning an event record six PRCA World Championships, headlines the 2024 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class announced on April 8.

Feild, who won PRCA World Championships in (2011-14, 2020-21), is joined in the class by contestants – team roper Art Arnold, a 1968 RCA World Champion; bull rider, the late Blue Stone, a PRCA World Champion in 2001 and 2002; stock contractor Sammy Andrews; bullfighter Darrell Diefenbach, who was selected to work the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 12 times (2001-12), notable J.D. Yates, who made the NFR as a team roping header and heeler; standout bull Mr. T of Burns Rodeo Company (1986 PRCA Bull of the Year, and Bull of the NFR in 1986 and 1989); the rodeo committee from the Tri-State Rodeo in Fort, Madison, Iowa; and barrel racers Marlene (Eddleman) McRae, the 1983 WPRA World Champion and Jeana Day, the 1974 WPRA World Champion. The 2024 Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which recognizes those who have provided groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward-thinking that help the development, advancement, and success of the PRCA and/or the Hall of Fame and their missions is being awarded to Bob Feist, who was a contestant, announcer at the 1979 National Finals Steer Roping and 1980 National Finals Rodeo and founder of the popular Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping. They will be enshrined July 13 during ceremonies at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo. “I’m kind of surprised this came so fast,” said Feild, who retired after the 2023 PRCA regular season. “What an amazing honor. I think of my display next to my late father Lewis Feild (a ProRodeo Hall of Famer), a guy who was my hero. To look back on my career and to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a goal you don’t really have control of, but at the same time if you accomplish your goals, you can cross that off someday. This is a big win for me.” Feild obtained his PRCA card in 2007 and qualified for the Wrangler NFR 13 times – (2008-15, 2018-22) tied for fifth most ever for bareback riders. The Genola, Utah, cowboy won the average four times in 2011-14. Lewis was a five-time PRCA World Champion in the all-around 1987 89; and bareback riding 1985 and ’86. Kaycee also has a bareback riding record 29 NFR round wins. “I was blessed with a durable body and with my dad as long as I had him (before he passed),” Feild said. “My resiliency, grit, determination all those things played into what I did. I’m kind of at a loss for words because I’m so surprised. I thought I would have five or six years to prepare for this speech.” Arnold, who competed at the NFR in (1959-63 and 1965-68 and 1970) – all as a header except for 1962 – was thrilled to get the call from the Hall. “This means a lot because there are not a lot of people who get to be (inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame),” said Arnold, who was a reserve world champion in 1967. “It took a lot of practice and trying to perfect techniques and just watching guys and learning from guys who did it well.” Stone, who passed away March 13, 2022, at the age of 43, earned his first world championship by earning $174,772 to edge Cody Hancock by less than $10,000. He followed that up in 2002 by earning $157,707 and defeated Myron Duarte by less than $9,000. Those were the only two appearances Stone made at the NFR. Stone was

PRCA ProRodeo file photos

Art Arnold

Blue Stone

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ProRodeo Sports News 4/12/2024

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