When we go to events the question we get asked the most is, “What is Rodeo Attitude?” A simple answer would be to say it is a web site.  Which it is.  But that would only be about one-tenth of the answer.  Rodeo Attitude is a complete program for rodeo and Western lifestyle industry that has evolved over several years.  It started in 1996 when Diane Davis walked into the sign and graphic shop I was working at.  She had a dream for a rodeo website.  I loved rodeo and her excitement for the project was very contagious.  I convinced my family to help and we agreed to be her first sponsors and a great friendship was formed.  Shortly after we started working together Diane said, “I have a real good friend who is starting a rodeo production company.  I think you could help each other.” Enter Todd and Tammy Crase, White Buffalo Rodeo Productions. They had produced a few events but they had a dream also and knew to reach it they needed to do a lot of promotions. They liked what we had done for Diane and with the shake of hands we were the corporate sponsors of White Buffalo Rodeo Productions and Todd became the newest member of our team.  We started advertising to help rodeo people “Create their Rodeo Attitude” and that was the birth of “Rodeo Attitude”. We sold banners, autograph pictures, tri-folds and helped type articles for the web site. Because we all had other jobs we could be found sitting at computers or working on banners till the wee hours of the morning. But it was worth it. White Buffalo has become one of the top rodeo companies in the Midwest being named the Bullriders of America Producer of the Year 1998-2001and 2003-2005 and for the National Federation of Professional Bullriders 2000. Through Todd and Tammy we started meeting neat people like Mark Ficken, rodeo announcer, Shawn Thompson, rodeo clown, and Jarred Lamma, bullfighter. They needed sponsors and were impressed with what we had done for White Buffalo. We agreed to sponsor them and this was the start of our program to spread our “Rodeo Attitude” by the use of announcers, barrel men and bullfighters. We did the promotional materials and Diane would do the web sites.  We started spending more time at rodeos than at home. Our love for the sport grew and our feeling that this was our place in the world. We loved watching our representatives with the young children at rodeos. We enjoyed seeing how these rodeo performers could have such a positive effect on people’s lives, even if only for an afternoon.  

Sadly Diane was plagued by one family disaster after another. Her brother became ill and passed away, her father was ill and needed her help and then their was his farm. Her brother had been doing the farming and now Diane had to. Trying to do the web site became a struggle after much discussion and Diane’s blessings we started a new site using our “Rodeo Attitude”.

We were fans and sponsors and we wanted the site directed by professionals in the field of rodeo. In order to achieve this goal we set up the an Advisory Board. Of course there was Todd Crase, he had been on our team from the beginning and was a constant source of information. Mark Ficken of Emma, Missouri, who was not only a rodeo announcer but also an elementary school principal. Mark’s love of children and understanding of education has has always made him a good source of advice. We knew we wanted the program to be family oriented and educational and were delighted when Mark agreed to be the second member of our Advisory Board. And then there was Woody. Kent “Woody” Porter of Lowell, Arkansas, became one of Rodeo Attitude’s biggest supporters and after watching him perform and observing him after events talking with children of all ages we knew he was the right person for the third position on the board. The last position was Nightshade Productions, owned by James Meyers, Maxwell, Iowa. James better known as Jimmy or Jimbo is our son and the webmaster for the sites. He is the creative genius behind the computer. Nightshade has become the new production side of Rodeo Attitude. My husband, Larry and I were also members of the board.

By 2004 the program had grown and it became apparent that we need to become a corporation and on January 1st, 2004, Rodeo Attitude LLC was formed.  The members were those people who had contributed to the growth of Rodeo Attitude and stock was issued based on the role and funds each individual had contributed to the project.  The Advisory Board was replaced with a Board of Directors.  We had now established regional directors and event directors and felt we had in place a basic program outline that would benefit the current members as well as have the structural ability to expand and become a major force in the rodeo and western lifestyle industries.  Shortly after incorporating Diane Davis, our founder, killed in a tragic farm accident.  She will always be in our hearts as we watch her dream grow into all that it can be!

So, what is Rodeo Attitude?  It is the spirit that has made the American Cowboy the inspiration for the rest of the world.  Its the drive that turns an ordinary man into a world champion.  Its  the love that makes a rodeo clown stop to talk to a little child.  Its the cowgirl who spends hours working with her horse until they move as one.  Its the stock contractor who scratches the head of his prize winning bucking bull as he feeds him his midnight snack.  Its the fans.  Its the great history we struggle to preserve and it is our dreams for a brighter future.