Washington County Enterprise-Leader
65th Annual Lincoln Rodeo
CONTRACTOR BLISARD BLOWS INTO TOWN FAMILIAR WITH AREA RODEO
LINCOLN — When Lincoln Riding Club ordered Blisard for the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo, it didn’t expect exotic flavors of ice cream selling in the concession stand or windblown snow.
What’s expected and what the club is getting is quality rough stock supplied by Blisard Rodeo Company, managed by Justin Blisard, of Kansas, Okla.
Blisard was born and raised between Siloam Springs and Lincoln in the Cincinnati area, so he is no stranger to the Lincoln Rodeo.
Blisard Rodeo Company is a certified American Cowboys Rodeo Association (ACRA) and Cowboys Regional Rodeo Association (CRRA) stock contractor formed in 2009. Blisard returns to Lincoln after a one-year hiatus, having provided stock for the event in 2015 and 2016. Blisard said the rodeo company will bring in several top ARCA broncs and bulls for the events.
Date Changes
Switching the rodeo dates from May 17-19 to Aug. 9-11 didn’t have much direct impact on Blisard Rodeo Company.
“There was not a lot, we had to change one judge and our secretary — that was about it,” Blisard said.
In hindsight, Blisard said those changes have worked out for the better. Rodeo secretary Tracy Carter and her husband, Allen Carter, who serves as one of the judges weren’t available in May because their son was graduating. The tandem is available for the August dates and will fill two important roles because the original rodeo secretary and one of the judges, who were available in May aren’t in August.
“I’ve never done a Lincoln Rodeo in August,” Blisard said.
One logistical challenge is in May there’s a lot more cowboys looking to compete. By the time August rolls around many cowboys are broke and want to go home. During the 2015 and 2016 Lincoln Rodeos, Blisard notes Lincoln was the only Thursday night rodeo in the second week of June, which made that night a big draw; while filling the Friday and Saturday slots was tougher. This year the Pawnee, Okla., Rodeo will be held at the same time in direct competition with Lincoln.
“We’ll get through it the best possible way for sure,” Blisard said. “As long as it doesn’t rain, it’ll be a great rodeo.”
Hallowed Colors
Hallowed colors will be presented during the Lincoln Rodeo in the form of the flag that was draped over the casket of Blisard’s late uncle, Rex Blisard, who was killed during the Vietnam War in 1967. Blisard Rodeo Company uses the same flag for all of its rodeos to honor those who gave the ultimate price to preserve the privilege of Freedom of Assembly.
“We feel like it means something to our veterans that come to our rodeo,” Blisard said. “Because of them, we’re free to do this sport we love.”
Stick Around For Slack
Blisard notes during slack competition might well be worth watching, although many rodeo fans tend to leave the arena after the regular performance concludes.
“Usually in the slack it’s just the cowboys there and their families,” Blisard said.
Fans, who stick around for the slack during the 65th annual Lincoln Rodeo are likely to see highly-ranked competitors.
“There will be some top cowboys and cowgirls there, there always is at Lincoln,” Blisard said. “They might be in the slack.”
Blisard explains the company doesn’t position competitors based on their current rankings.
“We draw positions which is the fairest way to do it,” Blisard said. “It’s the way all rodeos do it.”
Bucking Stock
Tell a cowboy it can’t be done and a likely response might be “Watch me work.”
Blisard said the rodeo company will bring in several top ARCA broncs and bulls for the events during the Lincoln Rodeo.
“We’ve got some ACRA finals horses,” Blisard said.
Among the broncs are Iron Maiden, No. 521, who has twice been voted “Bucking Horse of the Year” and “Bucking Horse of the Finals” once.
“We really enjoy the bucking horse aspect of it,” Blisard said. “We always try to find the best bucking horses we can get.”
Blisard said he has been able to acquire bucking horses out of North Dakota that are descendents of the Tooke bloodlines. According to a history of Feek Tooke and his bucking horses online, Tooke, a horseman from Ekalaka, Mont., had a vision to change the way horses were bred for bareback and saddle bronc.
“They crossed Shires to Thoroughbreds and raised these 1,500-pound to 1,700pound bucking horses that nobody had,” Blisard said. “It’s a family deal. They are responsible for producing most of the bucking horses used in rodeos now days.”
Historical Horse Names
The tiny town of Ekalaka was named after a Sioux girl, Ijkalaka, the wife of the town’s first postmaster. The Sioux name means restless or moving about which is appropriate for a source of bucking horses.
Ironically, the Tooke bloodline produced a horse named “Custer,” whom the Sioux and Cheyenne defeated after he attacked their village on the Little Bighorn in Montana on June 25, 1876.
“Custer was probably the biggest bucking horse-producing stud,” Blisard said.
In keeping with the western tradition, other famous Tooke horses were named “Grey Wolf” and “Painted Valley.” During the 1880s, the Apache referred to Indian fighter Gen. George Crook as “Nantan Lupan,” which means “Grey Wolf.”
Other Events
Blisard is also looking forward to bull riding competition. His company gets bulls from PRCA stock contractor Jack Simmons.
“It (rodeo) is my favorite thing to do,” Justin Blisard said. “I just enjoy every aspect of it.”
The Lincoln Rodeo remains family-friendly with specific events which appeal to younger members of the audience.
“We will have mutton busting nightly,” Blisard said. “It’s real popular with the kids.”