ProRodeo Sports News - June 23, 2023

CONTRACT PERSONNEL

James Fain photo

Kenny Clabaugh Second pickup man named to the Hall BY TANNER BARTH K enny Clabaugh has always been known for helping others, whether that was inside the arena or out of it. By nature, Clabaugh wasn’t about the spotlight at all. He didn’t seek attention nor boast about his accomplishments throughout the years. That was just who he was. was inducted in 1999 after 10 trips to the Finals. “I feel like at one time or another I picked up a majority of the guys that are in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame,” he said. “I picked up Butch Knowles, who’s going into the Hall with me as well. So, it’s pretty special to now be there right beside them.”

The Wyoming cowboy worked many rodeos throughout his ProRodeo career, which came to an end in 2000. He was a pickup man at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D. with partner Steve Sutton for nearly 30 years. Clabaugh said fellow ProRodeo Hall of Famer Bob Tallman put it best when describing a job in the sport of rodeo. “I think Bob Tallman put it best a lot of years ago, ‘you don’t choose to be in rodeo, you’re chosen’,” Clabaugh said. “It’s one of those deals that just happened for me, you know. “I was a pickup man off and on quite a bit throughout my life. My latest start came when they were in trouble at the state high school finals in Buffalo, Wyo. I jumped right in and helped. That kicked off that latest push of rodeo for me. This is one of those things that never crossed your mind that you would be in this position.”

However, after being selected as a pickup man for the National Finals Rodeo seven times, he didn’t go unnoticed by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee. Clabaugh got the call of a lifetime on March 27. “Oh my gosh, are you serious? This means everything to me, I’m really in shock,” Clabaugh said. “This isn’t even something that I thought would be possible when I was picking up at rodeos. It was quite a life and an enjoyable life that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to getting out to Colorado Springs (Colo.), but right now I’m still in shock this is happening.” Clabaugh was selected to work the NFR in 1983, 1986-88, 1990-91, and 1994. He had the opportunity to pick up a handful of guys who are already in the Hall and even one joining him in 2023. The honor makes him only the second pickup man to ever be inducted, joining Charles “Lefty” Wilken, who

ProRodeo Sports News 6/23/2023

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