ProRodeo Sports News - Dec. 20, 2024

PRCA AWARDS BANQUET

2024 PRCA AWARD WINNERS Fighting Dress Act of the Year Bobby Kerr continues to cowboy up NUTRENA HORSES OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY AQHA • Espuela Bro “Spur” owned by Tyler and Jessi Wade (Team Roping Header) • Kadabra King “Turbo” owned by Patrick and Christi Smith (Team Roping Heeler) • Unbreykable “Big Country” owned by Kelton McMillen (Steer Roping) • Finding Meno “Crush” owned by TC Equine LLC (Steer Wrestling) • Figure to Fly “Lollipop” owned by Shad Mayfield (Tie-Down Roping) • Force The Goodbye “Jarvis” owned by the late Michael Boone (Barrel Racing) • Stylish Drifter “Dutch” owned by Josie Conner (Breakaway Roping) • Guys High on Fame “Tuffy” owner by Tyler and

STOCK CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR • Frontier Rodeo, Freedom, Okla. PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR • Christopher ‘Click’ Thompson ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR • Anthony Lucia COORS MAN IN THE CAN • John Harrison COMEDY ACT OF THE YEAR • John Harrison BARRELMAN OF THE YEAR • John Harrison MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR • Bradley Narducci TIMER OF THE YEAR • Molly Twitchell PICKUP MAN OF THE YEAR • Shawn Calhoun SECRETARY OF THE YEAR • Eva Chadwick BULLFIGHTER OF THE YEAR • Cody Webster JOHN JUSTIN STANDARD OF THE WEST COMMITTEEMAN OF THE YEAR • Matt Weishoff EXCELLENCE IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM • Teton Ridge, Rodeo Roadtrip EXCELLENCE IN MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM • Kendra Santos, Equine Network VETERINARIAN OF THE YEAR • Dr. Gregg Knape DONITA BARNES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD • Edie Longfellow

BY ALEX DODD T he phrase cowboy up is often thrown around in the rodeo world. But Bobby Kerr’s journey over the last three and a half years exemplifies the saying perfectly. In May 2021, the specialty act performer received life-altering news. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. For the last three years, Kerr has been fighting for his life, but he’s continued to bring smiles to the faces of countless rodeo fans across the country. During the PRCA Awards Baquet on Wednesday, Dec. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Click Thompson Kerr

Vanessa Kraft (Pickup Man) POLARIS REMUDA AWARD STOCK CONTRACTOR • Pickett Pro Rodeo, Fairfield, Texas POLARIS REMUDA AWARD RODEO COMMITTEE • Black Hills Roundup, Belle Fourche, S.D. HESSTON BY MASSEY FERGUSON SOWING GOOD DEEDS • California Rodeo Salinas, Salinas, Calif. SMALL RODEO OF THE YEAR • Cowtown Rodeo, Woodstown Pilesgrove, N.J. 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.

to the veins, leading to his liver. Since then, he’s received two stints, one for chemotherapy and the other for his liver, while he continues to fight for his life. “Bobby Kerr is a special human, and it puts all this stuff into perspective,” PRCA Announcer of the Year Anthony Lucia said. “Because every day is a gift. It’s so easy to get caught up in the rigamarole, the hustle and bustle, the busyness of the National Finals Rodeo and the business of the whole year. “But when you see Bobby, who’s literally in the fight for his life, he still gets up there. He wears his cowboy hat, smiles and is thankful. That’s the greatest inspiration a person could ever have.” Kerr remains committed to getting healthy and returning to the rodeo road in 2025. He’s undergoing several forms of prescription and over-the-counter treatment but says his best therapy every day is saddling his horse for a morning and evening ride. “I can’t wait to get home and get my horse saddled and get a couple of rides,” Kerr said. “Maybe the next day I’ll have to take it off, and then I’ll get back at it the next day. So, it’s one day at a time, but also my life has turned into one weekend.”

4, members across the country honored Kerr with the Dress Act of the Year Award for his contributions to PRORODEO fans, committees and contestants. “It’s everything,” Kerr said of the honor. “It’s been a tough year and this helps. The support from the PRCA is incredible and I don’t just mean right here. I mean the texts and phone calls every day from everybody at all levels. “I’m blown away that people took the time to text me or call me. It means the world to me. I love what I do and I live for goals. And my goal is to be back out doing this.” After the initial diagnosis, Kerr underwent radiation for six weeks to shrink the mass for a potential surgery. The risks associated with the surgery and the lifestyle change led Kerr to opt for treatment, and the problem subsided until this summer. When Kerr was on the rodeo circuit this summer, he began experiencing unbearable back pain. He returned to the doctors, and they discovered a second mass wrapped around the initial cancer. After more radiation, he hit the road again for the Norco Mounted Posse PRCA Rodeo from Aug. 23-25 and noticed jaundiced skin. The cancer spread

ProRodeo Sports News 12/20/2024

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