Pete Carr’s great bucking horse, Dirty Jacket, has had a legendary career. The two-time Bareback Horse of the Year
that bucked at 12 consecutive National Finals Rodeos performed for the final time of his long career during the
Saturday night performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo.
(PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – In the 15 years of professional rodeo during the Waller County Fair, the constant has been showcasing exceptional athletes.

World-class bucking animals from Texas-based stock contractor Pete Carr Pro Rodeo have leapt out of the chutes in Hempstead. Among them was Dirty Jacket, a two-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year that has bucked 12 times at the National Finals Rodeo.

“I remember the first time we had a PRCA rodeo here, that was one of the best-known horses Pete brought,” said Clint Sciba, a longtime member of the Waller County Fair Board and a co-chair of its rodeo committee. “Dirty Jacket’s been an amazing horse for a long time and has been a staple of our rodeo since 2011.”

During the final ProRodeo performance of the 2025 fair, Dirty Jacket bucked for the final time. True to his championship nature, the powerful bucker guided Parker Fleet of Axtell, Texas, to the victory. The horse has been a winner his entire career, dating back to his first out in 2008. Over that 17-year stretch, he has been a major factor to dozens of victories.

“I think it really says something about that horse that he went out a winner,” said Paul Shollar, also co-chairman of the rodeo committee. “For him to buck the final time at Waller County is a pretty special honor to us.”

That was just one of many honors bestowed upon fair organizers. The biggest came just west of the rodeo arena on the same day, where the livestock auction raised a record $1.6 million.

“There was a lot of bidding,” said Susan Shollar, chairwoman of the auction committee. “A big part of that was what we call the ‘scholarship lot,’ and the money raised there goes to a scholarship fund. In the middle of the auction, we auction an item – which was a Kawasaki Mule – and we usually get $5,000-$10,000 there, then what we do is take add-ons from anybody that’s there.

“The Mule brought $76,000, and with add-ons, we hit $104,000.”

There were 220 lots involved in the auction, and the average price per lot was $6,400. It didn’t matter if the lot was the grand champion steer or a rabbit that earned a ribbon, the giving nature of fair supporters shined.

“Our auction has gotten to where it brings such big bids that it leaves a lot of people out,” Shollar said. “We encourage people to combine their money, so we had a lot of group purchases.”

The consolidation worked, and it helped the bottom line while perpetuating a growing trend. It marked the sixth time the auction has brought in more than $1 million, including each of the past five years.

While the auction brought out supporters, attendance for the exposition was high across the board. It was highlighted by the four nights of concerts.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what our gates did, but it was a successful fair as far as the concerts,” said Michelle Gaston, chairwoman of the entertainment committee. “We started out with William Clark Green and Southall on the first Saturday, and the pavilion was packed before the rodeo was over. Easton Corbin closed the fair out with a packed house and a great show.

“It was a big success, and we’re already working on artists for 2026.”