The 149th Silver Spurs Rodeo, played out to near-capacity Silver Spurs Arena crowds Friday and Saturday, was not just a chance for professional rodeo cowboys to compete at what they love and earn some money doing it.
It also showed off the months of work put into another biannual event by the Silver Spurs Riding Club, from the ranchers who raise the rough stock for the events, to the chutemen, judges, timers, and all the volunteers working the hospitality room to keep the cowboys — and all the other volunteers — fed.
With the landmark 150th rodeo on the horizon in February that follows an Oct. 1 rodeo event — Stay tuned for details! — it’s time for Big Boss Dustin Bronson to hand over the bridle and saddle to an other Club member.
Bronson has served as Big Boss of the rodeo for the past year, overseeing the operation through two major rodeos and an October bullriding event, and the money raised and good work done in the community. He’s the third member of his legacy Osceola ranching family to serve that role.
Next month, Little Boss Clifton Chapman will “step up” to the position — and he’ll be the third member of his family to serve as Big Boss.
“This last year’s been a kind of a whirlwind, by the time you get started it’s over,” Bronson said. “But it’s been a great year and an honor serving, since my grandfather and uncle were Big Bosses. And Clifton and I both have kids who are interested and are already involved with the Quadrille and the rodeo. It all started with families, ranching families started the Spurs in the 1940s, it’s our heritage and always been a family tradition. So we’re keeping it going.”
With 2022 being a return to “normal” (or closer to it) since the pandemic, the year’s two rodeos were successful production.
“The rodeo crowds we’ve had in February were great; we were more than sold out on Saturday,” Bronson said. “And I feel privileged that we welcomed the Governor (Ron DeSantis) here that Friday. But even better is that we’re welcoming new people, who’ve never seen a rodeo before.”
Chapman said he knows he has a big team behind him.
“With our association, we all do it together so one person doesn’t have to carry the torch. The Big Boss just makes sure not to screw it up,” he said with a wry laugh.
He said his main thing is to highlight the work of dozens of volunteers.
“I want people to know what goes into the rodeo, the number of people it takes to put this on,” he said. “It’s grown way beyond what I remember as a kid. I never imagined we’d be in an indoor arena.”
And with a big-round-number event coming up, the 150th Silver Spurs Rodeo in February, Chapman said the planning begins as soon as this rodeo wraps up.
“We’ll definitely have some special things planned,” he said. “That’s something huge to celebrate.”
The 149th edition was a pretty special event as well, considering the June rodeo is generally a more low-key event than the February edition. On Friday, the Junior Bulls program, part of the future of the pro rodeo circuit, opened the festivities (and the chutes).
Saturday night, the riding club honored the Team Florida Special Olympics USA Games equestrian team, which will be competing at the Silver Spurs Arena through Friday.
Here are the rodeo results, with over $10,000 in prize money going toward the cowboys’ Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) year-long standings (note the winners of bull riding were, you know, the bulls):
Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Mose Fleming and Justin Thigpen, 5.1 seconds, $666 each; 3. Joshua Moore, 6.0, $381; 4. (tie) Steve Gladding and John Manson, 6.1, $95 each.
Team roping: 1. Spunk Sasser/Juan Alcazar Jr, 6.4 seconds, $538 each; 2. Travis Dorman/Ty Chancey, 11.7, $404; 3. Cody Gornto/Troy Weekley Jr., 13.1, $269; no other qualified runs.
Tie-down roping: 1. Justin Thigpen, 8.6 seconds, $611; 2. Bryan McClellan, 11.2, $458; 3. Tom Mangus, 12.4, $306; 4. Ben Mayworth, 13.5, $153.
Barrel racing: 1. Sarah Williams, 15.91 seconds, $575; 2. Wendy Culberson, 16.02, $500; 3. Bobbie Alcazar, 16.08, $425; 4. Lois Shelley, 16.20, $350; 5. Brandi Heath, 16.34, $275; 6. (tie) Layna Kight and Melissa O’Connor, 16.43, $163 each; 8. Dallas Sawczak, 16.44, $50.
Bull riding leaders: No qualified rides.
