WT Rodeo to Host Home Contest Since 2018; ‘Let ’Er Buff’ Rodeo Set for April 16-18

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - For the first time in eight years, the West Texas A&M University rodeo team will host its own contest.

WT's "Let 'Er Buff" College Rodeo will take place April 16 to 18 at the Spicer Gripp Arena, 1206 E. New York Ave. in Hereford.

The Spicer Gripp Memorial Youth Foundation is a longtime supporter of WT Rodeo. Its namesake, a Hereford native and Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Famer, was a respected farmer and rodeo athlete who won a steer roping round at the 1949 Cheyenne Frontier Days. Inspired by teaching his son, Kim Gripp, to rope, Spicer Gripp had a passion for helping youth in rodeo. The foundation makes an annual $100,000 donation for scholarships in WT's Department of Agricultural Sciences using proceeds from the Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping contest.

Spicer Gripp, posthumously, was one of the first inductees into WT Rodeo's Hall of Fame in May.

The University's return to hosting a home college rodeo comes following WT's reassignment in June to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association's new Caprock Region in June alongside nine other area schools.

"This is something we've been looking forward to for a long time," said Cody Bonds, WT Rodeo head coach. "We're grateful for the support of the Spicer Gripp community and the opportunity to bring a college rodeo back to our area."

The rodeo will include performances at 7 p.m. April 16 and 17, with the championship short round at 7 p.m. April 18.

Tickets are $10 at the gate for general admission and free for WT students, faculty and staff with a Buff Gold Card.

For information, call 806-651-3491.

The team includes Avery Aaron, a freshman animal science major from Edgewood; Isabella Ayers, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Pueblo West, Colorado; Camryn Beinhaur, a freshman equine industry and business major from Dillsburg, Pennsylvania; Sydney Bracher, a senior agricultural business and economics major from Pendleton, Oregon; Rylynn Bradford, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Tomball; Acelyn Brink, a senior agriculture major from Buffalo, South Dakota; Kaydence Carroll, a freshman agribusiness major from Placerville, California; Madison Clark, a graduate student in agriculture from Canyon; Karsen Collier, a freshman equine industry and business major from Happy; James Colvin, a senior agricultural business and economics major from Uvalde; Shaylee Edmiston, a freshman animal science / pre-vet major from Mason; Kelli Frazier, a senior agribusiness major from Gruver; Sage Gaillard, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Gruver; Dillon Hall, a freshman agribusiness major from Lipan; Kiley Hargrave-Batten, a sophomore equine industry and business major from Trinity; Heath Harkins, a freshman agriculture major from Beeville; Markee Hawksworth, a junior equine industry and business major from Elizabeth, Colorado; Jake Herndon, a senior agriculture major from Clines Corner, New Mexico; John Hisel, a senior agribusiness major from Elida, New Mexico; and Tori Huddleston, a junior health sciences major from Childress.

Also, Tryce Johnson, a junior agribusiness major from Happy; Henry Jones, a freshman agribusiness major from Spur; Lainey Konetzki, a senior equine industry and business major from Sheridan, Wyoming; Trinity Kruse, a junior marketing major from Pretty Prairie, Kansas; Jaylee Lane, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Morse; Tyla Maness, a graduate agriculture student from Boise City, Oklahoma; Ruy Martinez, a freshman agribusiness major from La Vernia; Abby McCreary, a freshman agribusiness major from Canyon; Marquel Moser, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from Las Vegas, Nevada; Corbin Nix, a freshman agriculture major from Hugoton, Kansas; Weston Peters, a senior agricultural business and economics major from San Antonio; Sierra Pimm, a senior animal science major from Olds, Alberta, Canada; Preslie Poling, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Clayton, New Mexico; Cash Robertson, a freshman equine industry and business major from Edna; Dallee Robison, a freshman animal science / pre-vet major from Stephenville; Bella Saulan, a freshman equine industry and business major from Happy; Maci Seals, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Canyon; Lexi Shedd, a senior mechanical engineering major from Amarillo; Kashli Stouard, a senior animal science major from Spring Creek, Nevada; Kaiden Stricklen, a freshman agricultural business and economics major from Durant, Oklahoma; Taylor Thompson, a senior health sciences major from Amarillo; Ransom Tiffany, a freshman agricultural business and economics major from Grove, Kansas; Clayton Veldhuizen, a sophomore agricultural business and economics major from Woodburn, Iowa; and Justin Wright, a senior agribusiness major from Walsh, Colorado.

This spring, the team has scored several top 10 placements at the Odessa College Rodeo in February and the Western Texas College Rodeo in March, where Hisel was named champion heeler and Moser was reserve champion in breakaway roping.

Team competition is one way in which WT creates in its students a commitment to being self-reliant, courageous, resourceful and part of something larger than one's self, as laid out in the University's long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign, which is now winding down, has raised more than $175 million.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M University is redefining excellence in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: The 2026 West Texas A&M University Rodeo Team includes, front from left, Head Coach Cody Bonds, Madison Clark, Cash Robertson, Karsen Collier, Corbin Nix, Jake Herndon, Clayton Veldhuizen, Tryce Johnson, James Colvin, Weston Peters, Justin Wright, Sierra Pimm, Marquel Moser, Heath Harkins, John Hisel, Ruy Martinez, Maci Seals, Ransom Tiffany, Dillon Hall, Henry Jones, Kiley Hargrave-Batten and Assistant Coach Paige Brandon and, back from left, Bella Ayers, Kaiden Stricklen, Markee Hawksworth , Dallee Robison, Sage Gaillard, Kelli Frazier, Jaylee Lane, Kashli Stouard, Rylynn Bradford, Abby McCreary, Preslie Poling, Kaydence Carroll, Lexi Shedd, Tori Huddleston, Trinity Kruse, Tyla Maness, Sydney Bracher, Bella Saulan, Lainey Konetzki, Shaylee Edmiston, Taylor Thompson, Camryn Beinhaur and Avery Aaron.

-WT-