Bronc Riding Nation

09/04/2026

Farewell, good sir. Our prayers are with the Sutton Rodeo family.

James (Jim) Sutton Jr.
4-20-1935 ~ 9-3-2026

Today, we said goodbye to our patriarch, an innovator, record setting athlete and a true cowboy legend.

Our legend.

He believed in hard work, high integrity, superior performance and had a true love for competition, quality livestock, production & entertainment.

His wisdom was earned through a lifetime of experiences on the ranch, in the arena, on the court, the field and the rodeo road.

His influence was felt throughout the Western industry, leaving behind a legacy that is far from finished. It lives on in the values he taught, in the land he loved, and the stock he raised.

A great man.
A great cowboy.
A great dad and grandfather.
A great leader.
A life well lived.

We say farewell with sorrow, but also with gratitude.

May he make this final ride knowing he leaves behind a family who loved him deeply and a legacy that they will strive to carry on.

Rest easy, your work here is done.

Jim’s services are pending and in preparation for this day, he has requested that in lieu of flowers any memorials be sent to the following organizations that were so important to him throughout his life;
- SDSU Athletic-Rodeo/Basketball
- Casey Tibbs Hall of Fame, Ft Pierre, SD
- ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs, CO

09/04/2026

Our hearts are heavy as we join the surviving Benson family cowgirls and cowboys in mourning the loss of Annie Rae Benson whose light burned bright and hard for the 46 years she walked this world.

Annie Rae lit up arenas and rooms across the PNW and well beyond. She was handy with a rope, in the wood and the arbor. Her love was warm, her fire was legendary and her talent knew no bounds.

May Creator welcome you Home, Annie Rae and may your family and friends — every single soul you touched — speak your name forever.

09/04/2026

ELLENSBURG starts tonight!

ELLENSBURG, Washington — SCARY!

Shortly after Larry Mahan nodded for Paper Doll, he found himself hung up to her in ba****ck riding hell.

The Vold brothers were right there but nothing was going right and Mahan was in real trouble when Doug Vold took an unorthodox action that likely saved Mahan's life.

“Wayne couldn't get his hand out so I jumped on Paper Doll to get a better crack at it," Doug said.

Photographer John P. Foster stood his ground and kept shooting as the wreck unfolded.

Mahan was sidelined for the rest of the season with a badly broken leg and happy to be alive.

Foster's photo was chosen to hang in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in an American rodeo exhibit called 'Champions of the Sport'. As for the Volds? Just another great story to tell.

riding wreck Vold Pro Rodeo CO Ellensburg Rodeo horses dangerous cowboy angels smithsonian Smithsonian Americana grassroots Hooey (OFFICIAL) resistol1927_

09/04/2026

ELLENSBURG starts tonight! This iconic image is circa 1971.

ELLENSBURG, Washington — SCARY!

Shortly after Larry Mahan nodded for Paper Doll, he found himself hung up to her in ba****ck riding hell.

The Vold brothers were right there but nothing was going right and Mahan was in real trouble when Doug Vold took an unorthodox action that likely saved Mahan's life.

“Wayne couldn't get his hand out so I jumped on Paper Doll to get a better crack at it," Doug said.

Photographer John P. Foster stood his ground and kept shooting as the wreck unfolded.

Mahan was sidelined for the rest of the season with a badly broken leg and happy to be alive.

Foster's photo was chosen to hang in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in an American rodeo exhibit called 'Champions of the Sport'. As for the Volds? Just another great story to tell.

09/03/2026

Congratulations to the one and only Covy Moore who traveled hard, shot beautifully, properly catalogued his body of work and so, defended his Canadian Professional Rodeo Association Photographer of the Year title for the second consecutive time.

Well done, Cowboy Artist. Well done!

PICTURED: Covy Moore's shot of Kolby Wanchuk and Got Your Goat (Big Stone) from Zeke Thurston's Xtreme Bronc Match and Futurity in Stettler, Alberta.

CovyMoore.com Pro Rodeo Canada Kolby Wanchuk Zeke Thurston

09/02/2026

Hell On Hooves (J Bar J) circa 2018.
J Bar J ProRodeo Jackie Jensen

08/31/2026

FOR THE RECORD — Today's SB standings AND last week BEFORE XBF.

08/31/2026

RAPID CITY, South Dakota — The world standings say Rusty Wright has opened a $20,000 lead over the second place guy, his little brother Ryder, while Ryder holds his $2,000 lead over Stetson.

Not a force in the 'Verse can keep Rusty away from those famous yellow bucking chutes. Holding STAY HEALTHY thoughts for every cowboy in contention.

Rusty Wright Ryder Wright Stetson Dell Wright