PRCA For The Record: Lovington

Matt Naber 

The Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo has been around longer than the PRCA has existed.

The strike at Boston Garden that started the Cowboys’ Turtle Association (the precursor to the Rodeo Cowboys Association) happened in 1936, one year before Lovington’s rodeo started. Although there is plenty of history behind this iconic Southwestern rodeo, the Lovington rodeo’s PRCA record book dates to 1954.

Now celebrating its 84th year of competition, this iconic rodeo in Lovington, N.M., has played host to some of the biggest names in professional rodeo but only the best left their mark by setting a record.

Prior to last year, steer roper Rocky Patterson had a double-entry in the Lovington record book with his 8.7-second runs from 2011 and 2016. His record was broken by nearly half a second when Trevor Brazile clocked in at 8.3 seconds in 2018.

This record-setting run marked Brazile’s 10th time winning the Lea County Fair & Rodeo (2003, 2005-06, 2008-11, 2013, 2014, and 2018).

Brazile is one cowboy who needs no instruction, with a ProRodeo résumé that includes:
• 24 world titles (AA 2002-04, 2006-15, 2018; TD 2007, 2009-10; TR 2010; SR 2006-07, 2011, 2013-15)
• 31 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifications (TD 1999-2011, 2013-15, 2017, 2018; TR 1998, 2003-04, 2006-15)
• 21 Clem McSpadden National Steer Roping Finals qualifications (1997-2015, 2017-18)

Since his rookie year in 1996, the Texas cowboy has won more than $6.8 million and continues to compete as he’s currently ranked second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings for steer roping.

Cowboys have from Aug. 7-10 to break Brazile’s record, and the rest while earning valuable ProRodeo Tour points.

Rodeo records

Total payout: $246,783, 2013
All-around: $8,051, Joe Beaver, 1998
Bareback riding: 90 points, Will Lowe, 2007; Orin Larsen, 2017
Steer wrestling: 3.2 seconds, Nick Guy, 2015; Joshua Clark, 2016 (7.4/2, K.C. Jones, 2013)
Team roping: 3.8 seconds, Daniel Green/Kory Koontz, 2003 (8.8/2, Erich Rogers/Kory Koontz, 2012)
Saddle bronc riding: 90 points, Rusty Allen, 2008
Tie-down roping: 7.2 seconds, Marty Yates, 2017 (15.3/2, Jesse Clark, 2013)
Barrel racing: 16.99 seconds, Sydni Blanchard, 2011
Steer roping: 8.3, Trevor Brazile, 2018 (30.5/3, Colby Goodwin, 1999)
Bull riding: 96 points, Felipe Aragon, 1999

PRCA