ABILENE, KAN. – For the sixth time, the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kansas has been nominated as one of the top five medium sized rodeos in the nation.
Nominees in eleven other categories were also announced, including small rodeo of the year, large outdoor rodeo of the year, large indoor rodeo of the year, and personnel categories.
Along with its rodeo, Abilene rodeo announcer Mike Mathis was nominated as one of the top five announcers in the nation, as well as several rodeo clowns who have worked the Abilene rodeo: Gizmo McCracken (2008, 2012 and 2016), John Harrison (2014), and Keith Isley (1999).
It’s an honor, said Jerry Marsteller, chairman of the committee. “It’s a goal of this committee,” he said, “to be nominated. We try to do everything right. We look to hire people who are able to put on a show, with top quality professionals. We try to have the arena in the best condition for the contestants and the stock contractor, and we make sure we have hospitality for the cowboys.”
Marsteller didn’t believe it when he first got the phone call. “I was so shocked, I had to absorb it all,” he said. There are 161 rodeos in the medium category, Marsteller said, “so to be in the top five out of that many, that’s darn good.”
The rodeo committee strives to put on a quality show. “We are in the entertainment business, so you have to hire the right personnel to entertain the people who buy a ticket.”
The PRCA’s designation of medium sized rodeos includes all rodeos whose added money is between $3,000 and $9,999. The Abilene rodeo added $3,750 per event for the bareback riding, tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, and barrel racing, and $7500 for the saddle bronc riding and the bull riding.
The other four rodeos nominated in the category of medium rodeos are Coleman, Texas, Deadwood, S.D. Lufkin, Texas, and Stephenville, Texas.
Winners will be announced during the PRCA’s Awards Ceremony in Las Vegas on November 30.
The 2017 rodeo is August 2-5. The Abilene rodeo was previously nominated for the award in 1995, 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2011.
PRCA Year-End Award Nominees:
Announcer
- Wayne Brooks
- Randy Corley
- Mike Mathis
- Boyd Polhamus
- Andy Stewart
Bullfighter
- Clay Heger
- Nathan Jestes
- Brandon Loden
- Dusty Tuckness
- Cody Webster
Clown
- John Harrison
- Keith Isley
- Gizmo McCracken
- Justin Rumford
- Cody Sosebee
Comedy Act
- John Harrison
- Keith Isley
- Gizmo McCracken
- Troy Lerwill
- Cody Sosebee
Dress Act
- Bobby Kerr
- One Arm Bandit and Co. – John, Lynn and Amanda Payne
- Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls – Jennifer Nicholson and Spencer Litwork
- Rider Kiesner
- Tomas Garcilazo
Pick-up Man
- Jason Bottoms
- Shawn Calhoun
- Chase Cervi
- Gary Rempel
- Matt Twitchell
- Jeremy Willis
Secretary
- Sunni Deb Backstrom
- Haley Bridwell
- Amanda Corley-Sanders
- Brenda Crowder
- Sandy Gwatney
Stock Contractor
- Beutler & Son Rodeo
- Cervi Championship Rodeo
- Frontier Rodeo
- Pete Carr Pro Rodeo
- Stace Smith Pro Rodeos
Small Rodeo of Year
- Bridgeport, Texas
- Claremore, Okla.
- Elizabeth, Colo.
- Huntsville, Texas
- Monte Vista, Colo.
Medium Rodeo of Year
- Abilene, Kan.
- Coleman, Texas
- Deadwood, S.D.
- Lufkin, Texas
- Stephenville, Texas
Large Indoor Rodeo of Year
- Denver, Colo.
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Rapid City, S.D.
- San Angelo, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
Large Outdoor Rodeo of Year
- Caldwell, Idaho
- Cheyenne, Wyo.
- Dodge City, Kan.
- Pecos, Texas
- Pendleton, Ore.