Dacotah Stampede Rodeo nominated for Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association's best small rodeo

The Dacotah Bank Stampede Rodeo, a popular two-day event that generally draws sell-out crowds at The Brown County Fair, has been nominated for national recognition.

The local rodeo, put together by Sutton Rodeo Company, is one of five small rodeos nominated as best in the nation through the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association.

Aberdeen's rodeo is in the company of rodeos in Coulee City, Wash., Abbyville, Kan., Yuma, Colo., and Claremore, Okla., each of which is in contention for small rodeo of the year.

Karen Treeby, co-chairperson for the Rodeo Committee, said being nominated is a big honor for Aberdeen's rodeo.

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"It's never happened to us before," Treeby said. "It's a huge honor just to be nominated."

The winner will be announced at the PRCA awards banquet Dec. 1 in Las Vegas. Awards will be given for small, medium, large indoor and large outdoor rodeos of the year. Individual awards are also given for lifetime achievement, announcer, clown/barrelman, bullfighter, comedy act, dress act, music director, photographer, pickup man, secretary, stock contracting firm and timer.

Brent Sutton, from Sutton Rodeo, is among the individuals nominated for pickup man of the year. The Dacotah Stampede Rodeo features two pickup men who are out in the arena during the events like bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding, where competitors attempt an eight second ride on a bucking animal.

Sutton Rodeo Company plans out the entire evening.

"They really put on quite the production," Treeby said. "They're down to the second on what to expect."

More: Dacotah Stampede returns to Brown County Fair after COVID-19-imposed break

But, Treeby said, it's not just the rodeo events, a host of components come together from quality announcers and clown entertainment to children's events like the candy toss, boot scramble and mutton busting.

Aberdeen's rodeo most recently added a breakaway roping contest to its schedule.

"Women's breakaway is getting huge," Treeby said.

Treeby said she's proud of Aberdeen's rodeo pointing out that each year someone big in the rodeo circles has been at the local event.

"We get NFR riders every year," she said, referring to National Finals Rodeo riders.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Dacotah Stampede Rodeo nominated for best small rodeo national award