Bareback rider Jess Pope is one of the 46 world champions who is scheduled to compete at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. The event has a long history of drawing rodeo’s best to southeastern New Mexico.
(PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Since its inception in the 1930s, much has changed for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo.
Technology advancements have made a difference. Life was much different 50 years ago than it was in 1936, the inaugural year of the exposition. Things are much more advanced today than they were in 1976.
One thing remains constant: ProRodeo’s biggest stars make their way to southeastern New Mexico every summer for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5-Saturday, Aug. 8; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 4. It was that way when local world champion Troy Fort roped at the first Lovington rodeo, and it’s that way again in 2026.
Some of it’s the lore that comes with a 90-year tradition. Some of it is the big purse that will be featured. Organizers have set aside $27,001 in local dollars – known as “added money” in rodeo terms – per event for the rodeo. The “added money” in the Lea County Xtreme Bulls is set at $44,500. Those dollars are mixed with the contestants’ entry fees to make up the overall purse. That means almost $315,000 is in the kitty before the first gate opens.
Last year, the rodeo distributed almost $450,000 to cowboys and cowgirls by the time the five days of competition ended.
“Lovington’s an awesome rodeo,” said bareback rider Leighton Berry, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Weatherford, Texas. “I really like coming over here, because you see these yellow chutes, and you get a different visual.”
It’s a comparison to the look at the NFR, which takes place each December at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Those yellow chutes are iconic, and it’s where every contestant who makes a living wants to be. The only way to get there is to earn money at rodeos across North America. Big-purse events like the Lea County Fair and Rodeo are quite the attraction. Only the top 15 earners in each event at the conclusion of the regular season will play for the biggest pay in Sin City.
The rodeo inside the legendary Jake McClure Arena will feature 697 contestants who have put their names in the hat to compete. Of those, 179 have qualified for the NFR. There are also 46 world champions representing 142 Montana Silversmiths gold buckles.
That’s a lot of firepower in one place.
“We are always trying to do things to get the to guys to come to our rodeo,” said Kyle Johnston, a Lea County Fair Board member and chairman of the rodeo committee. “We keep increasing our added money, and we’re trying to make it to where they want to come to Lovington.”
It’s working.
“This rodeo sure has gotten good,” said tie-down roper Marty Yates, 32. an 11-time NFR qualifier from Stephenville, Texas. “It’s become a great stop for us.”
The rodeo is set up for the convenience of the cowboys and cowgirls. Most timed-event contestants will make two runs, and they get to do it on the same day. The first round will take place at 8 each morning. The top 10 fastest times will return for the evening performances, while the others will make their second runs later in the morning. Steer roping will feature three rounds, while bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and barrel racing will be one round.
There are 83 women scheduled to perform in Lovington, and there will only be 10 in each of the four performances. That leaves 43 cowgirls, who will make their runs after the Wednesday-Friday shows. There are more than 40 ProRodeo events scheduled the same week as the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, so the format allows competitors to hit as many of those contests as possible.
“I really like Lovington,” said bareback rider Jess Pope, the 2022 world champion and six-time NFR qualifier from Waverly, Kansas. “I had some tough luck the first time I ever came; I tore my hamstring. Other than that, I’ve won a pretty good check out of here every year I’ve been.”