Wichita Falls PRCA Rodeo
Written by Taylor Grimm | Photos by Bobby Rosales NLP 87015
The Wichita Falls Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association’s (PRCA) Rodeo was held August 19th and 20th at Kay Yeager Coliseum. Bobbi Loran, the rodeo’s official spokesperson and former Miss Rodeo Texas said the rodeo is incredibly important in Wichita Falls. “First and foremost, this is not just an average rodeo,” she said. “This is a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo. This is the oldest and largest sanctioning body of rodeo, and the most elite. It’s judged with the highest standard you can experience in rodeo. It’s really a big deal.”
Entertainment was also provided by The Texas Spirit Riders, a mounted drill team from East Texas. “They are phenomenal,” Bobbi said. “It’s beautiful, they carry flags and ride their horses to a choreographed routine.” Their music and outfits were inspired by the rodeo’s two themed nights. The first was the military night. Bobbi said, “This is when we honor our service men. We have a big military display, speakers from the air force base come and talk to us, and we actually have an enlistment ceremony for those here in Wichita going into the air force, so it’s a really special night for a lot people.” She said that night all active military can get into the rodeo free with their ID, and it’s important that they are given the glory they deserve.
The importance of western heritage is undeniable in Wichita Falls’ culture, and the rodeo is instrumental in preserving that. “When you look at Wichita Falls, it was basically founded on cattle ranching, and the western way of life and farming. It has always had deep western roots, and that’s something we exhibit here at the WF PRCA rodeo.” While rodeo was formed based on ranching practices, it is now also a beautiful, more public ode to those practices that are seldom seen by the public eye.
“There’s so many core values in rodeo, like what we call the “cowboy code:” always doing what’s right, and working hard for what you want in life. It’s really cool to be apart of it,” she said.
Adding to the prestige, The Wichita Falls PRCA is a qualifying event for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Bobbi said the cowboys and cowgirls that win will get a free ticket to go compete at Fort Worth in January—an opportunity to compete for 1.2 million dollars. †
Rodeo Committee:
Kurt Tucker; President, Sonny DeLuna; Vice President, Jan DeLuna; Secretary and
Treasurer, Chuck Cox, Kathy Dickey,
JT DeLuna, Becky Cotton, Marla Tucker, Shayne Owen, Ryan McDermott, Blake Gulley, Tom Libby, Bobbi Loran, Tim Thomas
Stock contractors: Hi Lo ProRodeo and Coy Thompson
Rodeo secretary: Jennie Murray
Officials: Glenn Sullivan and Travis Howe
Timers: Bonnie Kelly and Jennie Murray
Announcer: Garrett Yerigan
Specialty act: Stutzy Stutzman
Bullfighters: Jake Geiger and Joshua Hernandez
Clown/barrelman: Stutzy Stutzman
Flankmen: Khakie Holland and Travis Adams
Chute bosses: Dustin Murray and Sam Kelly
Pickup men: Tel Honeycutt and Justin Pender
Music director: Dakota Riggin
Photographer: Bobby Rosales
Rodeo Results
Bareback riding: 1. Yance Day, 84 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo's Square Bale
Steer wrestling: 1. Cade Goodman, 3.3 seconds
Team roping: 1. Cash Duty/Clay Futrell, 4.1 seconds
Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Logan Cook, on Hi Lo ProRodeo's Jojo,
and Gus Gaillard, on Hurst & TNT Pro Rodeo's Crossroads, 82 points
Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Tanner Green, Monty Lewis, Mesquite Mahaffey and Cooper Mathews, 8.8 seconds
Barrel racing: 1. Rainey Skelton, 14.95 seconds
Bull riding: 1. Trevor Kastner, 84 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo's Swamp Ghost
All Around: Tanner Green, tie-down roping and team roping
