ProRodeo Sports News - June 10, 2022

of us had done this in two years,” she said of a successful 2022 event, RodeoHouston’s 90th anniversary. “It takes a lot of patience and remembering that it’s not just skill set that gets it done but having the heart for it.” “We’ve been through a lot together,” Scates said of her work family. “I love what this organization does on so many fronts.” Owens grew up on a West Texas ranch that her great grandparents homesteaded after arriving there in a wagon in 1887. She grew up participating in livestock shows with her goats and sheep and worked through college for the San Angelo Stock Show. “My grandfather, Buck Owens, was a past president of San Angelo,” she said. “Supporting the ag industry is always at the top of my mind. That’s my passion.” Owens came to San Antonio after a brief stint in Ohio with Certified Angus and two years at RodeoHouston, running their Livestock Show. After working with both Keith Martin and Glen Allen Phillips during her six years, Owens was offered the newly created position of Rodeo Director in 2018. “No one was over the rodeo alone,” she said, which was one of many changes instituted by new CEO, Cody Davenport. “He wanted to progress our show and up our community involvement so we’re doing more events in our off time. We want to be part of the fabric of our community.” One of Owen’s big responsibilities is overseeing the 150-man, volunteer Operations Committee that transforms AT&T Center from the San Antonio Spurs’ basketball court to a rodeo arena and back, a process that takes three days. She also chooses all the livestock hired to compete with the cowboys during the rodeo, a process that requires months of study. “We want the best opportunity for our contestants,” she said. Calling San Antonio, a blue-collar town of rodeo fans, she added, “they expect a good show, and we take pride in producing a high-quality performance every time.” Lukens grew up in the Denver suburb of Golden and got into rodeo through cousins. Calling tying goats “her jam,” she competed in high school and college as a roper and goat tying. “My parents were super supportive,” she said. “They got me a horse and just let it snowball.” Through junior rodeo, Lukens first met her National Western boss, Leon Vick, whose daughter was the same age. Vick was impressed with the grit and try of Lukens, who showed improvement year to year despite starting the sport at a later age. Years later, he chose the familiar name off a list of interns because he knew she wouldn’t quit. After her two-year internship, Lukens stayed on as a contractor for the National Western, worked as an Assistant Commodities Buyer for Pilgrim’s, and stepped up when Vick was promoted. Today, Lukens is the Rodeo Operations Coordinator, the first female to hold that title. “I work with all of our contractors, making sure everything is happening as it’s supposed to,” she said. “I oversee everything in the Denver Coliseum; if it’s happening on the arena floor, I’m responsible.” In January 2022, the NWSS held its first rodeo since 2020. “The biggest highlight to me was the fan response,” Lukens said. With COVID mandates more stringent in Denver than many other rodeo cities, the NWSS had to work through those issues as well as public perceptions. “It started a little slower, but word spread that it was the same National Western and we were sold out, every performance, on the last weekend. “It was a killer year, a little scary going in, but once it was rolling, it was a great show.” While women have always played important roles in ProRodeo, this may be the first time that so many major rodeo events have had female leadership. And all three ladies appreciate the chance to work together to improve the sport, often sharing ideas and experiences. “It’s really fun being able to bounce ideas off of them,” Lukens said. “I think we do feel a closer connection, just being females in the industry.” “Those are fun connections and enlightening,” Scates agreed. “We can call and ask questions and there’s no competition, no judgement. That community is growing.” “Women are getting strong opportunities in all industries and that’s awesome to see,” Owens said. She added that she felt women were uniquely suited to the task in rodeo. “I think we can study and learn the rules and keep the feelings out of it. Women can navigate personalities. There’s less ego, more about what skills a person can bring to the table.”

Photo courtesy Darci Owens Darci Owens, the Rodeo Director of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo since 2018, talks with personnel before an event, including country music star Brad Paisley.

Photo courtesy Caroline Lukens Caroline Lukens, the Operations Coordinator for the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, is the first female to hold that title.

ProRodeo Sports News 6/10/2022

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