OKEECHOBEE – The Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Association hosted the Pete Clemons Memorial Labor Day Rodeo, Sept, 1, 2 and 3 at the Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Rodeo Arena on U.S. Highway 441 N.

The event was a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned competitition. Results and payouts were:

• All-around cowboy: (tie) Juan Alcazar, steer wrestling and team roping, and Jerry Easler, tie-down roping and team roping, $733 each.

• Bareback riding: 1. Owen Brouillette, 83.5 points on Big Water Pro Rodeo’s Tartop, $451; 2. Jacob Raine, 81.5, $338; 3. Montana Duvall, 68, $226; no other qualified rides.

• Steer wrestling: 1. Juan Alcazar Jr, 5.4 seconds, $733; 2. Patton Perdue III, 7.9, $550; 3. Joshua Ellison, 15.9, $367; 4. Bay Etheredge, 17.8, $183.

• Team roping: 1. Travis Dorman/Brady Barretine, 6.5 seconds, $1,128 each; 2. Bradley Massey/Reno Gonzales, 7.3, $846; 3. Koby Sanchez/Zack Mabry, 7.9, $564; 4. Spunk Sasser/Parker Carbajal, 12.6, $282.

• Saddle bronc riding: 1. Kaul Runfola, 85 points on Big Water Pro Rodeo’s Ivy League, $481; 2. Michael Womack, 77, $361; 3. Stephen Graefen, 61, $241; no other qualified rides.

• Tie-down roping: 1. Jerry Easler, 8.7 seconds, $733; 2. Jobe Johns, 9.8, $550; 3. Cole Walker, 11.0, $367; 4. Artrell Carmouche, 13.7, $183.

• Barrel racing: 1. Erin Wetzel, 15.65 seconds, $478; 2. Ashley Parks, 15.77, $415; 3. Samantha Kaufman, 16.11, $353; 4. (tie) Wendy Culberson and Addison Roberts, 16.21, $260 each; 6. Rylee Butler, 16.22, $166; 7. Lois Shelley, 16.50, $104; 8. Kalgary Johns, 16.53, $42.

• Bull riding: * 1. Jake Roddy, 83 points on Big Water Pro Rodeo’s Amigo, $864; 2. Lija Gore, 82, $664; 3. Lane Ladner, 78, $465; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).

Total payoff was $15,707. Stock contractor was Big Water Pro Rodeo. Rodeo secretary was Jody Cox. Officials were Dusty Whidden and Martin Culligan. Timers were Haylee Glasscock and Cathy Culligan. Announcer was Jerry Todd.

The rodeo featured specialty act Rider Kiesner.

Bullfighters were Ben West and Mike Driver. Clowns/barrelmen were Bryan Hope and Rider Kiesner. Flankman was Seth Louthan. Chute boss was Dudley Kirton. Pickup men were Hunter Holley and Jake Anuez. Music director was Kye Todd.

The PRCA sanctions more than 650 top-of-the-line, multiple-event rodeos in 44 states and four Canadian provinces. These rodeos represent the cream of the crop among thousands of rodeo-related events that take place each year across North America. As a membership-driven organization, the PRCA works to ensure that every event it sanctions is managed with fairness and competence and that the livestock used are healthy and cared for to the highest standards.

Unlike most other professional sports, where contestants are paid salaries, regardless of how well they perform, cowboys generally pay to enter each rodeo. If they place high enough in the performance to win money, they probably make a profit, but if they don’t, they’ve lost their entry fee and any travel expenses. Every entry is a gamble, pitting the chance for loss and physical injury against the opportunity for financial windfall and athletic glory. Also unlike most sanctioned professional sports, the hundreds of “playing fields” – rodeo arenas – of PRCA-sanctioned rodeos vary widely. The size, shape and perimeter of an arena, as well as the chute configuration and whether it’s indoors or outdoors, all significantly affect times for timed events and, to a lesser extent, scores for roughstock events. The differences are so significant that some timed-event cowboys own different horses for different types of arenas. For that reason, the fairest way to measure cowboys’ success in competition across the varied settings is by earnings. The total payout at PRCA rodeos in 2022 was $50 million.