Monthly Archives: January 2026

Heeler Dawson McMaster stops the clock in 6.3 seconds with partner Dexton Hoelting to win the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. McMaster won the title a year ago with Hoelting’s older brother, Cam, when it was the final PRCA rodeo in Jim Norick Arena, then won this weekend at the first ProRodeo in its replacement, OG&E Coliseum. (PHOTO BY NICOLE STEVENS)   OKLAHOMA CITY – Heeler Dawson McMaster has the rare distinction of being a two-time champion of the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. in its first two years of existence. He’s also won in two buildings with two headers who share the same last name and the same genetics. Last January, McMaster won the team roping title with Camden Hoelting at the last PRCA rodeo in Jim Norick Arena. On Sunday afternoon, he repeated but with Dexton Hoelting at the first PRCA rodeo in OG&E Coliseum. “This is just his second (ProRodeo) ever,” said McMaster, 36, of Madison, Kansas. “I was lucky enough to win the last one with Cam at the old building, so it’s pretty cool to win this one for the first time in here. “Deston is a lot younger than Cam, just a freshman in college, but he’s been learning off his brother. We practice together every day, so it sure works out good for us. He’s been learning, trying to figure it out and just trying to get a little bit better every day. He sure works at it.” It’s paying off, the two stopped the clock in 6.3 seconds for the fastest run of the rodeo. “Roping with Dawson has been great,” said Hoelting, 19, a student at Western Oklahoma State College from Olpe, Kansas, just a few minutes’ drive from McMaster’s home in the Flint Hills. “Cam decided to go strictly ProRodeo, so him and Dawson split ways. I called Dawson and asked if he could do it with me, so here I am.” It’s a good start to a new partnership. The duo competed Saturday night in Park City, Kansas, but were unable to score a time. They took their time driving through packed snow conditions to make it to Oklahoma City, so the adventure was a success. “I didn’t know if we were going to be able to make it,” McMaster said. “We waited until this morning, then decided to try to make it. I’m glad we did.” McMaster will return to action with Cam Hoelting next weekend during the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo at Pawhuska, Oklahoma, to wrap the 2025 campaign. After that two-day rodeo is complete, McMaster will jump back in with Dexton Hoelting, who a year ago at this time was in the middle of a basketball season that saw Olpe High School win the Class 1A state title – he finished with 24 points in the championship-game victory. His focus now is on rodeo, though he’s not afraid to test his talents in pickup basketball games. “I’d like to make the circuit finals and be up there at the top of (a couple amateur associations),” he said. “I’m really excited to be with Dawson, because he’s a veteran. He’s been around it for forever, and he knows where to go. He’s done really good with me and helped coach me along the way, so I’m hoping I can keep making strides, and we can just keep getting our run faster.” It was fast enough in Oklahoma City, and Hoelting and McMaster have a title to prove it. Oklahoma City ProRodeo Oklahoma City Jan. 23-25 Bareback riding: 1. Jade Taton, 82.5 points on McCoy Rodeo’s Rachel, $880; 2. Tristan Hansen, 80.5, $670; 3. Blayn Hughston, 77, $440; 4. Kash Martin, 76, $220. Steer wrestling: 1. Hazen Sparks, 4.2 seconds, $968; 2. Adam Musil, 4.3, $801; 3. Chris Bechthold, 4.6, $634; 4. Colton Swearingen, 4.7, $467; 5. (tie) Laramie Warren and Shawn Musil, 4.9, $234 each. Team roping: 1. Dexton Hoelting/Dawson McMaster, 6.3 seconds, $1,107; 2. Kyler Kreder/Joe Day, 6.4, $917; 3. Paul Tierney/Tyrel Larsen, 6.9, $726; 4. Jhett Vander Hamm/Shannon Frascht, 7.0, $535; 4. Britton Grinstead/Clint Heller, 7.1, $344; 6. Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, $191. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Justin England, 84.5 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Timex, $1,247; 2. Christopher Nelson, 84, $945; 3. (tie) Trygg Madsen and Clay Greenslade, 77, $567 each; 5. (tie) Roper Kiesner, 76.5, $227 each. Tie-down roping: 1. McKade Wickett, 10.5 seconds, $1,307; 2. Paul Tierney, $1,138; 3. Ryler Allred, 13.4, $967; no other qualified runs. Barrel racing: 1. Kallie Gates, 16.00 seconds, $1,414; 2. Emily Griffin, 16.24, $1,212; 3. Jaycee Pritchett, 16.36, $1,010; 4. Rachel Werkmen, 16.40, $876; 5. Robbie Stearns, 16.51, $674; 6. Crystal Glidden, 16.55, $539; 7. (tie) Darla Hoover and Suzanne Van Ness, 16.63, $337 each; 9. Katie Chism, 16.69, $202; 10. Sherry Assmann, 16.75, $135. Bull riding: No qualified rides

OKLAHOMA CITY – Jade Taton returned to that familiar Oklahoma red dirt, and he felt right at home during Saturday’s second performance of the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. An alumnus of the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo team, Taton rides bucking horses as a second job. He handled his business, matching moves with McCoy Rodeo’s Rachel for 82.5 points to take the bareback riding lead with one day remaining in OG&E Coliseum at OKC Fair Park. Tickets for the 2 p.m. Sunday show are available at McCoyRodeo.com. “That horse came from (National Finals Rodeo qualifier) Rod Hay, and (his son) Devon talked to me about her and showed me some videos,” said Taton, 27, originally from Kersey, Colorado, but now living near Weatherford, Texas. “She looked really good, so I was pretty excited to have her. “I haven’t really been anywhere for a while, so to show up and do that feels pretty good.” He is well-traveled. While he was in college, Taton competed in the Prairie Circuit, which is made up of rodeos and contestants primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. After college, he tried his hand in the Texas Circuit before returning to the Mountain States Circuit, which consists of Colorado and Wyoming. He’s made the regional championship in all three circuits and even represented his home state at the national circuit finals rodeo, now known as the NFR Open, this past July. He’d like to get back, and being matched with horses like Rachel can go a long way toward that qualification. Of course, he’ll have to do it at rodeos closer to his family’s ranch, but he’ll take the momentum he gained in Oklahoma City. “She felt really good, but she was kind of weird leaving (the chute),” he said. “She tucked her head in the gate, so it felt a little goofy right out of there. Once she got going, she felt really good. She was just bailing in the air and stacking up underneath me, so that made it a lot of fun.” That wasn’t his only duty on a cold Saturday, one that featured windchills whipping through Oklahoma at negative-9 degrees. He also competed in saddle bronc riding, where he was matched with Generations Pro Rodeo’s Red Hot Rod; together they marked 71 points. Taton has done well at McCoy Rodeo-produced events, so finding a bit of success in Oklahoma City is a nice step forward. “I entered a few of those McCoy Rodeos last year, but then I tore my groin and wasn’t able to go,” Taton said. “I’ve had some pretty good luck at some of his. “This new building is nice, and I think it can get pretty loud if they pack people into it. It has a really cool feel to it, and it’s pretty nice. It sure makes it fun to ride here.” Oklahoma City ProRodeo Oklahoma City Jan. 23-25 Bareback riding: 1. Jade Taton, 82.5 points on Cian Daly, 74; 2. Koltdyn Heath, 73; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Chris Bechthold, 4.6 seconds; 2. Colton Swearingen, 4.7; 3. Laramie Warren, 4.9; 4. Stetson Thompson, 5.5; 5. Hadley Skaggs, 6.9; 6. Cooper Orr, 13.5; no other qualified runs. Team roping: 1. Jhett Vander Hamm/Shannon Frascht, 7.0 seconds; Britton Grinstead/Clint Heller, 7.1; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Justin England, 85 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Timex; 2. Christopher Nelson, 84; 3. Dylan Suhr, 73; 4. (tie) Clay Greenslade and Trygg Madsen, 77; 6. Brady Irvine, 75.5; 7. (tie) Blain Pengelly and Quirt Carroll, 73. Tie-down roping: 1. McKade Wickett, 10.5 seconds; 2. Ryler Allred, 13.4; no other qualified runs. Barrel racing: 1. Kallie Gates, 16.00; 2. Emily Griffin, 16.24; 3. Rachel Werkmen, 16.40; 4. Robbie Stearns, 16.51; 5. Crystal Glidden, 16.55; 6. (tie) Darla Hoover and Suzanne Van Ness, 16.63; 8. Katie Chism, 16.69; 9. Elena Bowling, 16.88; 10. Lakota Elkins, 17.15. Bull riding: No qualified rides

College life didn’t pan out for Colton Swearingen, but that hasn’t stopped him from gaining an education from the best in the business while he’s in Oklahoma. He stopped the clock in 4.7 seconds to take the steer wrestling lead at the Oklahoma City ProRodeo. (PHOTO BY NICOLE STEVENS)   OKLAHOMA CITY – Colton Swearingen moved to Oklahoma for an education. His time in college didn’t last that long, but he’s been learning a lot more about his selected trade by remaining in the Sooner State. He showed that those in-person classes are paying off with a 4.7-second run to take the steer wrestling lead during Friday’s opening performance of the Oklahoma City ProRodeo at OG&E Coliseum. “I’ve been really lucky to be around really good guys,” said Swearingen, 25, from Cowlesville, New York, but living in Coleman, Oklahoma. There is a ton of steer wrestling talent in Oklahoma, including world champion Tyler Pearson and another National Finals Rodeo qualifier, Sean Mulligan. Both live in southeastern Oklahoma and have joined another NFR bulldogger, Bray Armes, in helping Swearingen further his education on the rodeo trail. “We bulldog at Sean’s or go to Tyler’s, and those guys help you with your hazing or your bulldogging or your horses or anything like that,” Swearingen said. “Those guys have been there and done that, and they can help guide you a little bit, point you in the right direction. “They’re just good guys to be around because they know how to win.” Winter weather hit Oklahoma on Friday afternoon, but Swearingen and a trio of other steer wrestlers – Laramie Warren, Tyler Ravenscroft and Logan Mullin – braved the conditions to battle for the bucks in the state’s capital city. “We wanted to come anyways, and it wasn’t really going to get bad until this evening,” Swearingen said. “It’s not too far, so we’ll just creep on home.  We ain’t got anywhere else to be, so we can go slow and take out time.” The poor weather is supposed to remain through most of the weekend, but organizers are planning to continue the rodeo through the final two performances, which begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are available at McCoyRodeo.com. Once Swearingen figured out the steer he’d been matched with via a random draw, he and the others tried to do a little homework on the animal. “Tyler Ravenscroft called J.J. Miller about him and let me know, and that steer was just what J.J. said he was,” the New York cowboy said. “With the snowstorm and stuff and not everybody coming, I knew I just had to catch and throw him down. I’m glad it worked out.” He will remain in the region for a few more months, hitting what rodeos he can. When the summertime arrives, he’ll return to the Northeastern United States to handle some business and rodeo when his schedule allows. “I’m going to go where I can and just have fun doing it,” Swearingen said. “I’ve rodeoed hard the last few years, and I’m taking a year to get my things back in order. I’m sure I’ll venture off to some rodeos and stuff when I want to, and I’ll sure enjoy doing it.” As a lifelong cowboy, there are gold-buckle dreams and playing the game on the biggest level. That means qualifying for the NFR. “I’ve just got to keep putting my head down and win more,” he said. “I think that time’s coming. I need to get my things in order, get some horses and get back to rodeoing. “Wherever God puts me, that’s where I’m at right now and going with that.” Oklahoma City Jan. 23-25 Bareback riding: 1. Cian Daly, 74 points on McCoy Rodeo’s Transient Grandf; 2. Koltdyn Heath, 73; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Colton Swearingen, 4.7 seconds; 2. Laramie Warren, 4.9; no other qualified runs. Team roping: 1. Britton Grinstead/Clint Heller, 7.1 seconds; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Justin England, 85 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Timex; 2. Christopher Nelson, 84; 3. Dylan Suhr, 73; 4. Zane Magner, 72; 5. Jake Schlattman, 71; 6. Bryett Larsen, 79. Tie-down roping: No qualified runs. Barrel racing: 1. Rachel Wrkmen, 16.40 seconds; 2. Katie Chism, 16.69; no other qualified runs. Bull riding: No qualified rides.

Trick rider Dusti Dickerson will bring some of the heat to the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co., which takes place Friday-Sunday at OG&E Coliseum. With winter weather expected to hit central Oklahoma, producer McCoy Rodeo expects the action to keep all spectators warm in new building at OKC Fair Park. (PHOTO FROM DUSTI DICKERSON SOCIAL MEDIA)   OKLAHOMA CITY – Break out every cliché possible, but the folks at McCoy Rodeo are ready for every scenario this weekend. “The Show Must Go On” is a longstanding motto in the entertainment industry. There is also an old saying about neither snow nor rain would interrupt a postal service carrier. The hope is that nothing is going to rain, nor snow, on the parade that is the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. “We’ve got the perfect remedy for wintertime blues,” producer Cord McCoy said of this weekend’s rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at OG&E Coliseum inside OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City. Tickets are available at McCoyRodeo.com. “The great thing about rodeo is we can have one anytime anywhere, and that means having it inside a brand-new building that was made for it.” It’s going to be a reprieve from the chilly temperatures and wintry moisture that is expected to his Oklahoma over the weekend. It will be an opportunity to witness world-class rodeo competition in a warm and cozy setting. Rodeoing in the winter is nothing new. Denver is well known for a having Jack Frost nipping at its toes in January, but that’s also when the city’s National Western Stock Show and Rodeo takes place annually. The Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo is a fixture this time of year, with stops in Iowa and Ohio and Minnesota. The rodeos continue, primarily because people still seek high-quality entertainment. It’s going to be adrenaline-pumping, high-intensity action over three days. Rodeo offers a glimpse of the Old West in heart-pounding fashion, and the athleticism is displayed in both human and animal form. Nearly 400 cowboys and cowgirls have signed on the dotted line in order to compete at Oklahoma City, and McCoy Rodeo will have top bucking horses and bulls ready for the fray. “The cold and the snow is just part of January, but those of us that are from Oklahoma are tough,” McCoy said. “If you take care of yourself getting here, we’re going to take care of you once you’re here. That building is going to give us a chance to put on a good rodeo for a lot of people no matter what the weather is like outside.”

Cord McCoy had heard that twins Dayna and Madison Eilert might be the best women to have ever ridden bulls. He saw it for himself, which is why he wanted them to be part of the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co., set for Friday-Sunday at OG&E Coliseum at the OKC Fair Park. (PHOTO COURTESY OF EILERT TWINS SOCIAL MEDIA)   Eilert twins to help bring an adrenaline rush to OKC rodeo OKLAHOMA CITY – Rodeo is already an entertaining piece of Americana, but there are times a spark of enthusiasm just ignites the overall experience. Dayna and Madison Eilert are going to make it happen when they compete at the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at OG&E Coliseum inside OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The bull-riding twins will be featured in a woman-vs.-beast showcase of athletic talent, and their involvement will certainly be a spectacle of women’s toughness in a sport typically dominated by men. Tickets are available at www.McCoyRodeo.com. “I had heard about these bull-riding cowgirls, so I started to follow them,” said Cord McCoy, the rodeo’s producer who co-owns McCoy Rodeo with his wife, Sara. “I heard a famous bull rider say they are the best female bull riders he’d ever seen, and there are two of them.” McCoy had to check it out for himself. He caught the competitors at an event, watched them ride and offered them a shot to show off their talents. “I just asked, ‘How would you like to ride in your first PRCA rodeo in Oklahoma City?’ ” McCoy said. “They both lit up and said, ‘Yes.’ “History is going to be made in the brand-new building in Oklahoma City.” The Eilerts were just looking for some fun as 12-year-old girls. They climbed on the backs of bucking steers for the first time with no equipment. They weren’t even wearing gloves, which is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to having the right grip on a rope that’s wrapped around the bovine’s chest. Why do such a thing? They were just looking for that surge of adrenaline that drives all athletes toward extreme sports. It’s that rush of chemicals through the body that happens at a skateboard park or speeding down a snowy mountain. It’s the feeling motocross racers have flying through the air from one jump to another. “I’ve spent my life in rodeo, and I never expected to see girls ride bulls that well, much less them being twins,” McCoy said. “This hasn’t been seen on a stage like this, so it’s exciting to bring another facet of rodeo to the fans here in Oklahoma.” Adrenaline is what bull riders feel when they wrap their hands to 1,600 pounds of bucking bovine flesh. McCoy has experienced it. He rode bulls for a couple decades, earning IPRA world championships, then qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo and the PBR World Finals. Haing young ladies excel at bull riding is another level of McCoy producing an event for all fans to enjoy. Rodeo is like other professional sports in that its equal parts competition and entertainment. In addition to seeing some of the biggest stars in the game, ticket-buyers will be in awe at the overall production. It starts with announcer Brandon McLagan and sound director Mark Evans, who establish the tone with the sounds electrifying OG&E Coliseum. That energy is then passed on to the cowboys, cowgirls, pickup men, bullfighters and other aspects of each of the three shows. Whether it’s the Eilert twins riding bulls or Dusti Dickerson displaying her trick-riding talent and her ability to maneuver two-, four- and six-horse teams while standing astride two of them in Roman riding. “In my opinion, there are trick riders, then there’s Dusti,” McLagan said. “She is wide-open from the time she comes in that gate to the time she leaves. There’s a reason she’s performed at the NFR. The girl does an outstanding job, and she’s just a great entertainer.” So is the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co., which will be adding a bit of flair to an already entertaining experience.

Steer wrestling world champion Jacob Edler is one of the 384 contestants who entered next weekend’s Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. and is also part of the more than one-third who reside in Oklahoma. After graduating from Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Edler has remained in Alva and also owns a business there. (PHOTO BY JAMES PHIFER)   OKLAHOMA CITY – The word about the Oklahoma City ProRodeo is spreading. The event is building a case for fans to enjoy the inaugural PRCA-sanctioned Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. at the OG&E Coliseum, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City. The evidence is the hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls that want to be part of the mix, so that just adds to the excitement in a state with a massive history. World champions have been crowned here, and world champions were born here, have lived here and have died here. So, it’s no surprise that Oklahoma continues to be a rodeo hotbed and why 384 contestants have entered for a chance to compete in the state’s capital city next week. “We were blown away from the response we got last year,” said Cord McCoy, who owns Lane, Oklahoma-based McCoy Rodeo with his wife, Sara. “I know a lot of people wanted to be part of the last PRCA rodeo at Jim Norick Arena, but to see that we have so many who want to be part of this one tells me we’re doing something right.” McCoy Rodeo produces several events nationwide, from Illinois to Utah and Phoenix to New Orleans. Along the way, the company mixes world-class competition and family-friendly entertainment, the perfect breeding ground for rodeo. But cowboys and cowgirls are in it for the money. The elite will travel tens of thousands of miles in a given year to battle for the big bucks. Many of them will be at OG&E Coliseum. In fact, there are a couple dozen National Finals Rodeo qualifiers who are expected to be in the competition, from world champions like Clay Tryan and Jacob Edler to men and women who have been to ProRodeo’s championship multiple times. “The level of competitors and the level of stock we’ll have in Oklahoma City is going to be pretty incredible,” said Brandon McLagan, the voice of Oklahoma City ProRodeo. “It’s a week ahead of the Prairie Circuit Finals, so there are going to be guys and girls that are going to be getting tuned up to go to Pawhuska (Oklahoma) for that. “On top of that, everybody wants to get their year started off on a good note, and three days in Oklahoma City – right in the middle of the country – is going to be outstandings.” There are a lot of top players from the state in general. Edler lists State Center, Iowa, as his hometown, but he has lived in Alva, Oklahoma, for more than a decade. He was the runner-up to his national champion steer wrestler teammate, J.D. Struxness, at the 2016 College National Finals Rodeo. Edler then went on to advance to the 2020 NFR, where he won the aggregate title and the gold buckle. In all, there are 147 entrants from the Sooner State ready for next week. That’s more than a third of the field, which also consists of Oklahoma greats like Paul David Tierney, who has won the Timed Event Championship three times; Emily Beisel, a seven-time NFR qualifier; Riley Duvall, who has made four NFRs; and Dona Kay Rule, a five-time finalist. How big is rodeo in the state? Of the 118 qualifiers to the 2025 NFR this past December, 19 ties to the state, including nine who chose to be part of one of the college rodeo programs. Take the 2025 team roping world champions: Header Andrew Ward is from Edmond and has competed in this area all his life, and his partner, heeler Jake Long, was raised just north of the border in Coffeyville, Kansas, but was a Ranger at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. It’s ties like that that help maintain Oklahoma’s place in rodeo lore, sharing the spotlight with names like Jim Shoulders, Roy Duvall, Freckles Brown and the Etbauer brothers, South Dakota transplants that have lived most of their lives in the familiar red dirt. “Shoot, I’m pretty stinkin’ proud of what we have here in Oklahoma, and that’s the reason why I wanted to have a rodeo in Oklahoma City,” McCoy said. “This is the state that built me, built my family, and this is just one of the ways I can give back.”

Jet McCoy is all cowboy and has been from the day he was born. Raised on the family’s ranch near Tupelo, Oklahoma, he still works daily with horses and trusts them in another aspect of his job. He’s one of the pickup men for McCoy Rodeo, a livestock production company owned by his brother, Cord, and Cord’s wife, Sara. He will be working next week at the Oklahoma City Pro Rodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. (PHOTO BY CASEY THARPE PHOTOGRAPHY)   OKLAHOMA CITY – In his lifetime, Jet McCoy has held many titles, from son and brother to husband and father to champion and reality-television star. Through each layer of each job, one description stands out: Cowboy. It’s a title he’s had for all 46 of his years, and he’ll show it off during the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at OG&E Coliseum inside OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City. “My mom always said if you didn’t have kids horseback by the time they were 4, it was too late,” said McCoy of Ada, Oklahoma, who will be one of three pickup men next week. “That experience on the ranch has played such a huge role in being a good pickup man, because you have to be able to read livestock and know where they’re going before they get there. “You also have to know how to handle livestock. What a lot of people don’t realize is that, obviously, our first priority is the safety of the cowboy. Once that’s taken care of, the safety of the livestock is a close second.” It’s vital, and it’s why he’s part of the mix. The rodeo’s producer is McCoy Rodeo, which is owned by Jet’s baby brother, Cord, and Cord’s wife, Sara. Jet and Cord are the two youngest children born to Janet and the late Denny McCoy, two lifelong ranchers who raised rodeo hands. Justen is the oldest of the quintet at 58, and Nikki came next. JoRay is the middle child at 52, then there are six years between him and Jet, who’s 13 months older than Cord. Yes, it’s a family business, but Jet McCoy is a hired man. “As a rodeo producer, it’s my job to get the best people on my team, and I’d be a fool to overlook Jet just because he’s my brother,” said Cord McCoy, who pointed out that Jet McCoy will be joined in the arena by J.J. Hatcher and Dillon Cox in serving as the rescue team. “When you’re looking for pickup men, you want cowboys, and we’ve got that with those three.” In addition to being raised on the family’s ranch near Tupelo, Oklahoma, Jet McCoy has been involved and around rodeo all his life. He was a four-time International Professional Rodeo Association champion – he won the 1997-98 saddle bronc riding titles, then added all-around crowns the following two years – and competed at an elite level from his teens to his 30s. He’s raised and trained horses and has spent considerable time in recent years competing in reigned cow horse competitions. Each step he has taken has been a reflection of being a cowboy, but it’s also about bettering himself in that capacity. Being a pickup man is an extension of that. “I think any pickup man would tell you it’s the adrenaline,” he said. “There’s a little bit of an adrenaline rush that goes along with riding next to a bucking horse and being in the chaos of it all. It’s also about being a cowboy. During the course of the rodeo, the pickup man is the only guy that’s horseback the entire rodeo, and I really don’t like to get off my horse.” His role, and that of his compadres, is to keep every person and every animal in the arena as safe as possible. Having been around livestock is important, but he has a little extra knowledge that comes from his time as a rodeo cowboy. “All those years of riding broncs and competing, you understand what it’s like from the contestant viewpoint, and you know what they’re expecting,” Jet McCoy said. “You also have situational awareness. You can see when a guy is in a bind, and you can almost see the wreck coming before it happens. There’s no question that it makes a big difference for a pickup man.” He will join Hatcher and Cox as the men on the job at the first PRCA-sanctioned rodeo at OG&E Coliseum; it replaces the historic Jim Norick Arena, which was home to rodeo and Western-related sports since the 1960s. That’s where Jet McCoy won all four of his IPRA titles, but his history at OKC Fair Park. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a continuation of a long story,” Jet McCoy said. “I can remember I’ve rode broncs in that arena. I started showing horses there. I’ve shown cow horses and reiners in that arena. Last year, I picked up at the last ProRodeo in that arena, so it was part of my journey that centers around horses in one way or another. “There’s a lot of stuff that’s happened in that arena, and it’s been a blessing just to be part of it. Now, I get to pick up at the first ProRodeo at OG&E Coliseum.” It’s a maturation, of sorts. It’s the next phase of being a cowboy to Jet McCoy, just like it was for his father and brothers. He’ll share the stage with two other men who share the same title. “Having three guys helps us split the work up three ways instead of two ways, so it helps to save pickup horses and makes it easier to do your job in an arena that size,” he said. “The biggest reason is because of the number of horses we’re bucking. I mean, last year we had slack in saddle bronc riding,  Continue Reading »

McCoy Rodeo’s Pegasus was named Bull of the 2025 National Finals Rodeo after bucking off Stetson Wright in the fifth round and Tristen Hutchings on Night 10 in a combined 7.02 seconds. The nearly 1,700-pound gray bull had suffered an infection and had his right horn removed. Pegasus recovered well enough to join the elite field of athletes in Las Vegas, then outshined them all. (PRCA PHOTO BY CLICK THOMPSON)   OKLAHOMA CITY – As he was inside the yellow bucking chute synonymous with the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, the gray bull without a right horn stood motionless. Pegasus was familiar with his surroundings. It was the 8-year-old bull’s third straight December being at ProRodeo’s grand finale, and he’d shown off his athleticism once five days before, when he overpowered 10-time world champion Stetson Wright in 4.99 seconds. “He’s been the rankest bull of all 10 days,” said Don Gay, an eight-time bull riding world champion and television analyst said before the 1,685 pounds of explosive bovine muscle exited the chute Dec. 13, the final night of the NFR and the 2025 season. Pegasus was poised, much like a prize fighter in the corner before the referee calls the combatants to the center of the ring. On his back was Tristen Hutchings, a 25-year-old Idaho cowboy who just happens to be the only man to have lasted a qualifying eight seconds on the gray wonder during the bull’s ProRodeo career. That happened during the 2023 NFR, when Hutchings won the eighth round after posting an 89-point ride. The four-time qualifier to the sport’s biggest stage didn’t stand a chance. Pegasus looked out the opening between the slats before Hutchings nodded his head, a call to open that yellow gate and allow the bout to begin. The animal leapt out of the box and made one and a half revolutions to the left while jumping and kicking three times. That’s all that Hutchings could handle, and he hit the ground 2.03 seconds after the chute gate opened. In his two performances at the most recent NFR, two of the greatest bull riders in ProRodeo lasted a combined 7.02 seconds. For that, Pegasus was crowned the Bull of the NFR, an honor when considering only the top 100 bovine athletes were featured in Sin City. “That is one special animal,” said Brandon McLagan, the voice of the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co., set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at OG&E Coliseum inside OKC Fair Park in Oklahoma City; tickets are available at McCoyRodeo.com. “The McCoy Rodeo gang never ceases to be amaze me that when there’s a good bull out there, they’re going to get him.” From the McCoy Ranch in the southeastern Oklahoma community of Lane, it’s a 1,255-mile quest to the desert city of Las Vegas. Pegasus made that journey just a few weeks ago with a couple of pasture-mates, Blue Duck and Ugly This. They are just a trio of the top bucking athletes from Sara and Cord McCoy, the latter of whom is a retired bull rider with his own pedigree. The six-time PBR World Finals qualifier who earned the right to compete at the 2005 NFR, Cord McCoy has transitioned from being an elite athlete to raising them. His most popular bull is Ridin Solo, which was selected as the PBR’s Bull of the Year twice and was also featured at the NFR. While Ridin Solo rode off into the sunset of retirement, Pegasus has stepped in to fill that void in a big way. He will be one of many McCoy bulls to help kick-start the first ProRodeo inside OG&E Coliseum in a couple weeks. “That bull got a horn infection, and they knew something was wrong,” McLagan said. “Once they got that horn removed, that bull has come back stronger than he was before.” It’s a heroic tale of overcoming adversity to thrive in the spotlight. It’s akin to quarterback Alex Smith returning to the NFL after suffering a lower leg fracture and a life-threatening infection, but this episode came in a man-vs.-beast sport. In the fifth round of this past NFR, Pegasus was the barbarian, but Wright was just as beastly as the winningest cowboy of this generation. If his gold buckles, three have come in bull riding, including the 2025 title; one came in saddle bronc riding; and he’s won six of the last seven all-around titles – since 2019, the only year he didn’t win the all-around was 2024, when an injury that almost ended his career sidelined Wright for the entire campaign. Through that nearly five-second battle, Pegasus’ power was overwhelming, as the G-force generated was too much for Wright. The bull had already overcome the challenge of the infection, so the greatest cowboy in the game today was just another hurdle he cleared. “To have that adversity with the horn infection and have surgery to remove it, it says something about that bull to get back to being healthy in order to make it back to the NFR,” McLagan said. “To win the Bull of the NFR on top of that is very cool.”

OG&E Coliseum is a modern arena at OKC Fair Park and stands as a beacon for future events at the fairgrounds in Oklahoma City, including the Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co., a McCoy Rodeo production that takes place Jan. 23-25. (PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT OKLAHOMA CITY)   OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma-based McCoy Rodeo has a unique distinction. Not only did the company produce the final Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event in the historic Jim Norick Arena, but it will also produce the first PRCA event in its replacement, OG&E Coliseum at the OKC Fair Park. “When we decided we wanted to bring ProRodeo back to Oklahoma City, we wanted it to continue year after year,” said Cord McCoy, a rodeo champion who co-owns the company with his wife, Sara. “To be the first PRCA rodeo in OG&E Coliseum is pretty cool.” The Oklahoma City ProRodeo presented by Tractor Supply Co. is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23-Saturday, Jan. 24, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, in Oklahoma City. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, Jan. 6, at www.McCoyRodeo.com. With nearly 500 contestants entered to compete in last year’s event, expectations are high as McCoy and his team plan for this year’s lineup. “We paid out over $50,000 last year, and I expect that to increase this year,” said McCoy, a five-time IPRA champion who qualified for the 2005 National Finals Rodeo and advanced to the PBR World Finals six times before transitioning to the role of stock contractor. “Our goal is to continue to grow this rodeo, and just moving into this new building is a big part of that.” The fanfare around rodeo is growing, and fans are flocking to arenas across North America, where attendance is up. More businesses are partnering with rodeos, contractors, cowboys and cowgirls, and payouts are increasing. Contestants are setting new standards for single-season earnings because of the sport’s popularity. In all, six cowboys earned more than $500,000 in 2025. That number will likely increase this year. How much has the money improved over the past 20 years? McCoy finished his only NFR 15th in the 2005 world standings with $82,234. The 2025 No. 15 bull rider was Rawley Johnson, who earned $158,778. Two cowboys ended their all-around race in Las Vegas. Stetson Wright won the bull riding gold buckle for the third time and added his sixth all-around championship, clearing $941,429 while also finishing third in the saddle bronc riding standings. Wacey Schalla of Arapaho, Oklahoma, was the reserve all-around champion after earning $741,428 riding bulls and bareback horses. That’s an incredible annual salary, but this is a professional sport that requires a lot out of its players. There are no guaranteed contracts, and expenses aren’t covered by a team. Cowboys and cowgirls must pay their own way, including the entry fees in order to compete. The only way they’re paid is if they beat most of the field. “The money has certainly changed over the years, but you still have to have the fire and passion,” McCoy said. “We rodeo because we love it and because we’re competitive. It’s a lifestyle more than it is making a living. It’s good that we get to do this, but I think we do this because we’re cowboys.”

Announcer Scott Grover has been a big part of the Will Rogers Stampede in Claremore, Oklahoma, for more than 20 years. He’s seen how the rodeo has grown over that time, and he’s experienced why it is so good. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)   Will Rogers Stampede reinvents itself with growth, progress CLAREMORE, Okla. – This isn’t the same, old rodeo. No, the Will Rogers Stampede has been reimagined and reinvigorated over the years, thanks to great community support and an ongoing fascination with the cowboy way of life. This is the Will Rogers Stampede of the mid-2020s, a vibrant, award-winning brand of entertainment. “I’ve watched that rodeo grow by leaps and bounds since the first time I went there in 2005,” said Scott Grover, the voice of the Will Rogers Stampede, set for 8 p.m. Friday, May 22-Sunday, May 24, at RCB Bank Arena in Stampede Park at Claremore. Gates open at 6 p.m., with mutton bustin’ and other entertainment beginning at 7. “It has grown and matured a lot over those years and had a lot of positive changes.” Claremore and the surrounding communities have reaped rewards. Awards and honors have coincided with those adjustments. From 2014-2018 and again in 2021, the stampede was named the PRCA’s Small Rodeo of the Year before stepping up in class to a medium-size rodeo. The event was also nominated among the best in the country in 2022-23, even as it became a higher-paying rodeo. That 2021 event was something special. In addition to the PRCA honor for the sixth time, Will Rogers Stampede was also honored as the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s Small Rodeo of the Year. Awards like that come directly from the competitors. “One of the things we’ve realized over time is that having a better product makes for a better fan experience, so we’ve done the things to step up our game,” said David Petty, a longtime director of the rodeo. “We’ve increased our ‘added money,’ thanks to some incredible sponsors who have been fantastic partners. “With help from the Interlocal Rodeo Arena Cooperative, the facilities are probably some of the best you’re going to see in Oklahoma and most likely across this part of the country.” It’s being noticed. The most recent honor came from regional superstars, those who compete in the PRCA’s Prairie Circuit, made up of events and contestants primarily from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Voters selected the Will Rogers Stampede as the top large rodeo in the circuit for 2025. “That rodeo went from a small rodeo to what it is now and has still been able to hold on to the honors and the nominations it’s had,” said Grover, now in his 21st year calling the action in Claremore. “The cowboys continue to turn out. I think the average has been 750 contestants the last several years. “It’s becoming a very popular place that those guys continue to make sure is on their schedule every year.” Rodeo is a reward-based enterprise, and the “added money” Petty talked about refers to local dollars that infuse the payout. That money is added with the contestants’ entry fees in order to make up the entire purse. Winners in 2015 averaged around $1,800; 2025 champions averaged almost $3,100. “This coming May, we’re going to celebrate our 80th year, and with that, we’re offering over $80,000 in added money as we continue to make Claremore a destination rodeo for top contestants,” Petty said. “With the large number of contestants we expect to get, we should pay out over $200,000 next May to help the contestants start their summer run.” Rodeo is a unique professional sport; there is no guaranteed income for the contestants. They must pay their own expenses, and, on top of that, must pay an entry fee in order to compete. The only way to secure money is to beat most in the field. That’s why big-money rodeos are attractive. “The people in Claremore are doing everything right,” said Jesse Knudsen, who will be the rodeo’s music director for the sixth consecutive year. “When I first showed up, the cowboy hospitality area was a tent, and now it’s a covered pavilion that can be used year-round for different functions. “They also want to put a VIP area over the bucking chutes.” That’s true. Petty said infrastructure improvements continue with what is being dubbed as “Chute Heaven,” allowing for private-access and VIP/sponsor seating that will be new for the 80th edition of the Will Rogers Stampede. “That’s going to be significant to have that VIP deck,” Grover said. “When you can bring in your sponsors and the people who invest in your rodeo for a special thing, it’s always beneficial to the rodeo and to the overall experience. Everybody wants the best seats in the house, and the people that probably deserve the best seats in the house are the companies that pay for it.” It’s a winning combination, but that’s nothing new for the stampede. “Anytime you get nominated or win an award, it shows what you’re doing is working,” Knudsen said. “It shows that the contestants appreciate the hospitality, appreciate the added money, appreciate the nice venue. It shows what we’re doing at Claremore is working and that the contestants are taking notice.” It begins with RCB Bank Arena at Stampede Park, and the redevelopment of that began more than eight years ago. That year of 2018 also marked the inclusion of the Clem McSpadden Tub Handle Classic Steer Roping, which kicks off the Memorial Day weekend festivities with a Thursday evening competition. It is the richest steer roping rodeo in Oklahoma and among the top 10 in steer roping payouts in the PRCA. “For me, I’d say the biggest change I’ve seen is just how the stadium has come together and the increased support of the community with the cooperative getting involved,” Grover said. “From the grounds to helping raise prize money to getting more sponsors, the community has done some things that  Continue Reading »