RAPID CITY, S.D. --- When the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center opened in 1977, few would have guessed that the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo would become one of the premiere events of the entire region attracting more than 300,000 fans.
Just a few months after opening their doors they played host to a rodeo produced by the Sutton family from Onida, S.D. The already established Black Hills Stock Show became part of the festivities in the early 1980’s.
When this year’s activities kick off on Jan. 29th, it will mark 33 years of a rodeo produced by a family who is continuing their ranching and rodeo legacy in the state of South Dakota. The rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and is the first event of the 2010 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour.
The rodeo has consistently been one of the best on the circuit, has twice won the PRCA’s Indoor Rodeo of the Year award twice and has been nominated 12 other times. In 2009, rodeo contestants competed for over $200,000 in prize money.
With over 700 rodeos sanctioned by the PRCA, the Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo is consistently among the best 50 in the nation and was ranked 33rd in 2009. Every year, the Sutton family works to make the rodeo better, for the fans, contestants, and sponsors.
In 2010, stock will be provided by Sutton Rodeos and Dakota Rodeo Company (Chad Berger/Joe Simon); Burch Rodeo Company; Burns Rodeo Company; Mosbrucker Rodeo’s Inc.; and Southwick’s Rocky Mountain Rodeo Company.
“We have some outstanding livestock coming for the rodeo this year,” said Steve Sutton. “South Dakota is well known for saddle bronc riders, and that tends to get the guys from the rest of the country to come here. This rodeo consistently gets good contestants and we work to make it good for them. When it all comes together it’s good for the fans and everyone is happy.”
While keeping the cowboys happy with good stock is important to the rodeo’s success it is just one element in an entertaining production. Keeping fans informed throughout will be the 2006 PRCA Announcer of the Year, Wayne Brooks from Lampasas, Texas.
Entertainment will be provided by Keith Isley from Goldston, N.C., who will bring his antics to the arena in specialty acts and during the bull riding as the barrel man. Isley’s spontaneous sense of humor will be seen throughout every performance.
Lloyd Ketchum from Miles City, Mont., will return to the arena for cowboy protection in bull riding at the Black Hills Stock Show beginning with the Xtreme Bulls and continuing through the rodeo. Ketchum broke his back when a bull hit him at the Ellensburg Rodeo last September. Doctors performed surgery fusing two of his vertebra together and inserting a rod in his back. They expected him to be out of competition for six months.
“It’s great for rodeo fans to see Lloyd coming back here,” Sutton said. “It lets you know just how tough he is. He has a lot of fans in this area and we’re glad to have him here.”
Ketchum will be joined by Josh Rivinius from Elgin, N.D., and “Hodge” Aman from Caputa, S.D. The Xtreme Bulls will be Jan. 29-30 and will be webcast live for all overseas troups.
Rodeo action also starts on Jan. 29 with tie-down roping slack at 10 a.m. and the first Xtreme Bulls performance at 7 p.m. Tanya Tucker will perform in the Sutton Rodeo Zone following the bull riding in a ticketed performance. On the 30th, it will be steer wrestlers making their showing in the Civic Center at 10 with the second Xtreme bulls performance starting at 7.
Team roping fans will want to be at the arena at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Jan. 31st to catch all of the action. The South Dakota High School 20X Extreme Showcase will take place at 2 p.m. The KHBH Bucking Horse and Bull Sale will be featured on Feb. 3.
PRCA and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association action gets underway on Feb. 4th with barrel racing slack and the remainder of the timed events at 10 a.m. The first performance of the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. There are matinee and evening rodeo performances on Feb. 5 & 6 at 1 and 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 7 will see another new event come to the Civic Center. Fifteen top timed-event cowboys will compete in an Iron Man competition featuring tie-down roping, team roping heading and heeling and steer wrestling. The one-round, sudden-death format promises excitement and drama as the man who has the fastest total time in these four events will win the championship.
New this year is the Gold Buckle Club where fans can watch the action, order food and drinks and mingle with rodeo contestants, personnel and queens. Tickets are available by calling (800) Got-Mine,www.GOTMINE.com, at the Civic Center ticket window, ticket kiosks and at the Silverado in Deadwood, S.D. Free admission to the Sutton Rodeo Zone with interactive displays, games and giveaways will be open daily beginning at 10 a.m.
2010 will see South Dakotans electing a new governor to replace Mike Rounds who has been in office since 2003. The new governor will start his term in 2011 and a forum in the Sutton Rodeo Zone has been organized for candidates to give their views on tourism being a tool for economic development for the state of South Dakota. Each of the candidates has been invited to participate.
“We are always looking for ways to make our event better,” Sutton said. “We have a lot of loyal fans and they know rodeo. Everything we do is with them in mind.”
