Arcadia Rodeo is back and bucking strong

 Photos and article by Tony Mangia

Sunday was the final day of the 94th Annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo and it was good to see the crowds back in force. The nationally renowned event is the largest and longest-running rodeo in Florida. It’s been called the best rodeo east of the Mississippi by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and draws some of the top cowboys and cowgirls in the country.

The $155,000 payoff isn’t hay either. So they don’t call it “The Grandaddy of ‘Em All” for nothing.

Nearly 20,000 rodeo fans passed through spacious Mosaic Arena to catch the excitement which ran from Thursday through Sunday. And, after COVID thinned out the crowds, the past two years, it was good to see smiling faces in the stands. They got to witness some of the best Bareback Bronc Riding, Barrel Racing, Calf Roping and back busting Bull Riding in the world.

The Arcadia Rodeo started in 1929 as a fund-raising event by American Legion members. In 1952, it became its own nonprofit. Now it has a 20-acre arena and a 100-acre civic center owned by DeSoto County. The rodeo gives $60,000 per year to local organizations, including Future Farmers of America, 4H and JROTC.

“Everybody can come here and get here and get to relax, and enjoy just some good professional rodeo,” said Arcadia Community Rodeo Executive Director Carl McKettrick.

And that they did.

RESULTS:

All-around cowboy: Zachary Jongbloed, $3,243, tie-down roping and steer wrestling.

Bareback riding: 1. Jess Pope, 89.5 points on Frontier Rodeo's Tip Off, $4,124; 2. Ty Pope, 87, $3,162; 3. Mason Clements, 85.5, $2,337; 4. (tie) Pascal Isabelle and Bodee Lammers, 85, $1,237 each; 6. Cooper Cooke, 84.5, $687; 7. (tie) Ben Kramer and Tim O'Connell, 84, $481 each.

Steer wrestling: 1. Marc Joiner, 4.3 seconds, $2,858; 2. Justin Kimsey, 4.5, $2,557; 3. (tie) J.W. Ery and Nick Guy, 4.6, $2,106 each; 5. (tie) Caden Camp and Eli Lord, 4.7, $1,504 each; 7. (tie) Kalane Anders and Talon Roseland, 4.8, $902 each; 9. Zack Jongbloed, 5.0, $451; 10. Clint Thomas, 5.3, $150.

Team roping: 1. Shay Dixon Carroll/Evan Arnold, 4.9 seconds, $3,158 each; 2. (tie) Braxton Culpepper/Brad Culpepper, Keven Daniel/Adam Plyler and Dalton Turner/Trent Vaught, 5.0, $2,707 each; 5. (tie) Justin Pruitt/Blaine Turner and Clint Summers/Ross Ashford, 5.1, $2,143 each; 7. Clint Keller/Morgan Jones, 5.2, $1,805; 8. (tie) Jake Cooper/Sid Sporer and Bradley Massey/Reno Gonzales, 5.3, $1,466 each; 10. Karter Kagel/Jacob Goddard, 5.4, $1,128; 11. (tie) Thomas Braman/Justin Delagarza, Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson and Arky Rogers/Kyle Lawrence, 5.5, $376 each.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 89 points on Frontier Rodeo's Wolf Pup, $4,258; 2. Ryder Wright, 86.5, $3,265; 3. (tie) Mitch Pollock and Zeke Thurston, 86, $1,987 each; 5. (tie) Jake Finlay and Dawson Hay, 85.5, $852 each; 7. Chase Brooks, 85, $568; 8. Kolby Wanchuk, 84.5, $426.

Tie-down roping: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 7.7 seconds, $4,822; 2. Ty Harris, 8.7, $4,315; 3. (tie) Kale Comeaux and West Smith, 9.1, $3,553 each; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 10.2, $2,792; 6. (tie) Randall Carlisle and Macon Murphy, 10.5, $2,030 each; 8. (tie) King Pickett and David Walker, 10.7, $1,015 each; 10. Blake Ash, 11.0, $254.

Barrel racing: 1. (tie) Kristin Hanchey and Taycie Matthews, 16.74 seconds, $4,113 each; 3. Sissy Winn, 16.97, $2,971; 4. Kim Matthews, 16.98, $2,285; 5. Ashley Rogers, 17.02, $1,828; 6. Sarah Waguespack, 17.08, $1,371; 7. (tie) Bayleigh Choate, Wendy Culberson and Christine DeRenzo, 17.09, $1,028 each; 10. Alex Dollar, 17.11, $800; 11. Bailey Mcilwain, 17.14, $686; 12. Sandi Brandli, 17.18, $571; 13. Katie Allred, 17.19, $457; 14. (tie) Shelley Kennemer, Ashley Parks and Megan Swint, 17.20, $190 each.

Bull riding: * 1. Koby Radley, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo's Bonanza, $4,395; 2. (tie) Gage Gay and Cullen Telfer, 85, $2,985 each; 4. Shane Proctor, 84.5, $1,716; 5. Josh Frost, 83.5, $1,152; 6. Jesse Hopper, 83, $870; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).

Total payoff: $155,433.