Every spring, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame announces its newest class of inductees and this year’s class is exceptional.
Among the inductees included six-time World Champion bareback rider Kaycee Feild. Claiming the most Gold Buckles in bareback riding history, Feild is in a class of his own in the event. He and his father are also assumed to be the first father-son duo inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as contestants.
J.D. Yates is a household name in roping. He was the youngest to ever qualify for the National Finals Rodeo at the age of 15 and he went on to make it 20 times as a team roper while qualifying for the National Finals Steer Roping 11 times as well.
Blue Stone might have only had two National Finals Rodeo appearances, however, they were Hall of Fame worthy as he left Las Vegas both times with a Gold Buckle. He sits atop the record books in multiple ways including sharing the NFR Round 1 record with Don Gay at 94 points. Stone passed away in 2022.
Art Arnold made an appearance at the NFR as both a header and heeler in the team roping. He made 10 total trips and Arnold is also a Reserve World Champion who is known as a trailblazer for team roping.
Third generation stock contractor Sammy Andrews established Andrews Rodeo in 1980 and still has some of the best bucking stock today. Andrews is joining the animal that he most known for in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame as the one and only Bodacious, who was inducted in 1990.
Darrel Diefenbach is contract personnel who hails from Australia, but has left him mark on professional rodeo in the States. Diefenbach has not only worked the NFR, but also the National Circuit Finals Rodeo and the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Finals.
Burns Rodeo Company’s #171 Mr. T was the 1986 PRCA Bull of the year and a two-time Bull of the NFR. Hal Burns credits Mr. T with taking Burns Rodeo Company from a small operation in Wyoming to a small operation with a famous bull.
Marlene Eddleman McRae has many accolades including being a ten-time NFR barrel racer and claiming a Gold Buckle in 1983. Her passion for rodeo continued after her career inside the arena to include sitting on the Board of Directors twice.
Barrel racer Jeana Day led a similar path clinching six trips to the NFR and a World Title in 1974 and she did it all with one special equine partner, Poco Excuse. She went on to serve 11 years on the Board of Directors and was part of the initiative that got barrel racers equal pay.
The Tri-State Rodeo in Fort Madison, Iowa brings in a crowd from all across the country and has crowned champions like young guns Rocker Steiner and Emma Charleston along with the legendary JB Mauney.
The Ken Stemler Pioneer Award goes to Bob Feist. Before starting the now iconic Bob Feist Invitational team roping, Feist competed and announced the NFSR in 1979 and announced the NFR in 1980.
A ceremony will be held July 11-13 at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado to honor the greats of the sport.