The People Who Make it Happen!

Camarie Roorda
Mar 5
4 min read

It's a good idea to have an idea of how an event works and all of the people and things that go into it. We're in a place in time where it seems, too often, contestants only understand their side of the arena. This makes it hard for them to understand the whole picture which can cause problems for everyone.

Take some time to learn about all the roles that need to be filled at an event. You'll gain a new appreciation for the producers who organize everything so we can enter up, show up the day of and have fun doing what we love! You might even decide to chip in here and there when you're waiting your turn!

Judges

Judges ensure that all participants follow rules; determining the time for run in the timed events and scores for riding in the roughstock events; record penalties for any infractions of the rules; and inspect the arena, chutes and livestock before each competition.

Being a rodeo judge is a hard and thankless job. They’re in the arena all day, watching every single competitor, making spur of the moment calls and doing their best to give everyone a fair chance, but they are still human. At most youth events, the judges volunteer or get paid little to be out there all day. Be Thankful. Be KIND. Be PATIENT!

Roughstock Events:
- Two judges: One for each side of the horse or bull.
  - Watches to make sure the rider “marks out” the horses correctly
  - Determines if the horse left in a way to give the rider the best chance to succeed
  - Each judge scores one side. The combined points equal total score.
    - ½ the points go to the rider (control, spurring action, free hand)
    - ½ the points go to the animal (how well they buck, kick, move)

Makes sure the free hand doesn’t touch the horse or the bull

Roping events:
- Line Judge: Officiates everything in the box and/or chute and timeline. They make sure the stock is loaded in order according to the draw. *
  - Make sure the barrier works effectively. Determines if the roper is “fouled at the line” due to barrier malfunctions
  - Monitors anyone assisting in the box to make sure they don’t give the roper an unfair advantage. (i.e. calf pusher “tripping the barrier”)
  - Coordinates with field judge when calls are contested

Field Judge:
- Calf Roping:
  - Drops the flag to stop the clock when the calf is tied, and the ropers hands are in the air.
  - Starts the clock that determines the six seconds the animal must stay tied.
  - Makes sure all ties are legal according to the rule book.

Team Roping:
- Drops the flag to stop the clock when the heeler is dallied on the back end and the headers horse is facing the steer with both ropes tight. (Rules can vary on when the flag is dropped. Make sure to clarify before the event.)
- Determines if one or two feet were caught (one leg results in a 5 second penalty).
- Checks to make sure head catch is legal.

Steer Wrestling:
- Makes sure the steer is thrown completely

Stock Contractors

Rodeo stock contractors purchase, care for and sell animals, such as bucking horses, bulls, calves and steers that are used in rodeo competitions. Sometimes they even produce their own rodeos. Many are self-employed and raise, train and feed the animals on ranches or farms.

Producer(s)

A person or group of people who create and implement the event. Producers are responsible for finding a location, sponsors, stock contractors, advertising, vendors, affiliating the rodeo with associations, and everything that goes into creating an event.

Contract Personnel

The non-contestant personnel working a rodeo include the bullfighters, who help bull riders escape from powerful rodeo bulls; the barrelmen, clowns and specialty acts, who entertain the crowds; pickup men, who help bareback and saddle bronc riders dismount, then prepare and assist bucking stock to leave the arena; announcers, who call the action; arena secretaries, who handle extensive administrative duties; and timers, who operate the clocks for the timed and roughstock events.

Sourced from the PRCA. About The PRCA | PRCA Sports News (prorodeo.com)

Committees

Local rodeo organizations who typically consist of volunteers who facilitate rodeo competitions. They are responsible for making the rodeo happen by acquiring sponsors and awards. They also find staff for setting up, cleaning, tearing down and maintaining the grounds before, during and after the event.

Rodeo Secretary

The rodeo secretary takes entries for the event beforehand. He or she records the times, figures the payoff and pays the winning cowboys.

Often a thankless job. Be patient and understanding of your secretaries, they too are human!

Rodeo Timers

Timers keep the official time of the timed events and sound the buzzer after eight seconds in the roughstock events.

Specialty Acts

Specialty acts entertain the audience with vaudeville routines, animal acts and trick riding.

Pickup Man

Pickup men assist the saddle bronc and bareback riders to dismount after their rides, and to help free cowboys who get hung up in their rigging.