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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
| I have seen posts from people on FB about this rodeo.. Why have I never heard of it and what makes it so 'tough'? Anyone have details about this rodeo etc. |
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  Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
   
Location: Displaced Iowegian | In the late 70's (1978-9?), the World's Toughest Rodeos were started as a series of rodeos (mostly in the Midwest and PRCA approved) put on by the stock contractor, World's Toughest Rodeo Company of Williamsburg, Iowa. Now it is, more or less, a series of rodeos run under the same umbrella of the name (WTR) with expanded area and stock contractors.
Edited by NJJ 2015-02-02 11:26 AM
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 Veteran
Posts: 209
| It's technically not a full rodeo, its bulls, saddle bronc, bareback and barrels. It's put on by Three Hills Rodeo company out of Iowa and the rodeos are almost exclusively in the Midwest. It's neat because they put them on at big venues, in Minnesota it's at the Excel Energy Center where our professional hockey team plays. There really isn't much tough about them as it's open to anyone to enter but it does draw in a lot of good competitive people! |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | They come here to NC once a year.
Too many entry rules. You have to have won money previously, entered previously, &/or live within a certain radius of the venue. And it's only for 18 and older.
Several people tried calling in when they came here in January and were denied entry. I think it's a little ridiculous when you only let a few people enter and it's the same people just about every year.
Nothing really "tough" about it, unless you count the entry process.
It's a rough stock event with a few barrel racers thrown in.
Edited by hlynn 2015-02-02 2:25 PM
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Actually World's Toughest Rodeos started by a producer, Steve Ganter, that hired a producer, Latting Rodeo Productions, with stock and had rodeos heavily in the Midwest and some on the East Coast and were approved by the IPRA. It later became affiliated with the PRCA until what it has become today. |
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A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Nevertooold - 2015-02-02 3:57 PM
Actually World's Toughest Rodeos started by a producer, Steve Ganter, that hired a producer, Latting Rodeo Productions, with stock and had rodeos heavily in the Midwest and some on the East Coast and were approved by the IPRA. It later became affiliated with the PRCA until what it has become today.Â
I believe the Lucia family runs at least the producing side of things.
It's a huge over the top production with autograph sessions and huge grand entry with lots of pyrotechnics. Big spectator show for sure. Lots of stuff going on. They were only here for one night I believe |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | hlynn - 2015-02-02 3:09 PM Nevertooold - 2015-02-02 3:57 PM Actually World's Toughest Rodeos started by a producer, Steve Ganter, that hired a stock contractor, Latting Rodeo Productions and had rodeos heavily in the Midwest and some on the East Coast and were approved by the IPRA. It later became affiliated with the PRCA until what it has become today. I believe the Lucia family runs at least the producing side of things. It's a huge over the top production with autograph sessions and huge grand entry with lots of pyrotechnics. Big spectator show for sure. Lots of stuff going on. They were only here for one night I believe
Edited by Nevertooold 2015-02-02 5:02 PM
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | hlynn - 2015-02-02 1:57 PM They come here to NC once a year. Too many entry rules. You have to have won money previously, entered previously, &/or live within a certain radius of the venue. And it's only for 18 and older. Several people tried calling in when they came here in January and were denied entry. I think it's a little ridiculous when you only let a few people enter and it's the same people just about every year. Nothing really "tough" about it, unless you count the entry process. It's a rough stock event with a few barrel racers thrown in.
They don't want a lot of entries as they would then have to run slack and it costs them money to run slack. LOL |
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Veteran
Posts: 231
Location: OK | Steve Gander |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1008
| Nevertooold - 2015-02-02 5:00 PM
hlynn - 2015-02-02 3:09 PM Nevertooold - 2015-02-02 3:57 PM Actually World's Toughest Rodeos started by a producer, Steve Ganter, that hired a stock contractor, Latting Rodeo Productions and had rodeos heavily in the Midwest and some on the East Coast and were approved by the IPRA. It later became affiliated with the PRCA until what it has become today. I believe the Lucia family runs at least the producing side of things. It's a huge over the top production with autograph sessions and huge grand entry with lots of pyrotechnics. Big spectator show for sure. Lots of stuff going on. They were only here for one night I believe
Yes Steve Gander sold the name of the rodeo and now Three Hills rodeo company puts it on but it is no longer a PRCA rodeo. |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | racer4267 - 2015-02-02 6:20 PM Steve Gander
Thank You...I started to question myself as I thought something wasn't right with the last name. How I even got close after all these years is beyond me..LOL |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | ImaSparkyAce - 2015-02-02 7:19 PM Nevertooold - 2015-02-02 5:00 PM hlynn - 2015-02-02 3:09 PM Nevertooold - 2015-02-02 3:57 PM Actually World's Toughest Rodeos started by a producer, Steve Ganter, that hired a stock contractor, Latting Rodeo Productions and had rodeos heavily in the Midwest and some on the East Coast and were approved by the IPRA. It later became affiliated with the PRCA until what it has become today. I believe the Lucia family runs at least the producing side of things. It's a huge over the top production with autograph sessions and huge grand entry with lots of pyrotechnics. Big spectator show for sure. Lots of stuff going on. They were only here for one night I believe Yes Steve Gander sold the name of the rodeo and now Three Hills rodeo company puts it on but it is no longer a PRCA rodeo.
Thanks for that info..It seems so long ago that it was a huge part of my life. Sure brings back fond memories. Best part of my life! |
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 Ones with the Hotties
Posts: 1451
Location: Centerburg, OH | I went to the ond in Columbus OH last year. It was the worst rodeo ever. Seriously I have ben to backyard pee wee rodeos that are tougher and better run. Hated it. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| When Steve owned it, it was an excellent rodeo series. I believe that Steve is now involved in The American, which doesn't surprise me one bit. I worked for them for a couple of years back in the day. Jerome Robinson (now with the PBR) was arena director. Stock contractors at the time were Three Hills and Dorenkamps and yes they were PRCA approved at that time. Eventually they became open rodeos because of the financial demands of the PRCA on the Producer. WPRA continued to approve them for a few years after that. To date myself even further, I entered some of the WTRs back when they were IPRA approved.......sigh, I am old...... and I miss all those winter building rodeos we used to be able to go to. Tiny pens but I loved competing at them.
Yes, Gander sold the company and I do believe that Tommy Lucia bought the name and who knows what else. It has became a Bulls and Broncs with 10 or 12 barrel racers thrown in on an almost invitational basis. It is not the same completion wise as it was. World's Toughest Rodeo is the name of the company producing the rodeos, not an indication of level of completion. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 725
| I went to watch the one in Des Moines, IA and the ground was 100% clay, cement hard, they didn't even bother to work around the first and second barrels. It seems like they are more focused on roughstock then anything. I think they are mainly indoors, and are in the midwest. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | hlynn - 2015-02-02 1:57 PM They come here to NC once a year. Too many entry rules. You have to have won money previously, entered previously, &/or live within a certain radius of the venue. And it's only for 18 and older. Several people tried calling in when they came here in January and were denied entry. I think it's a little ridiculous when you only let a few people enter and it's the same people just about every year. Nothing really "tough" about it, unless you count the entry process. It's a rough stock event with a few barrel racers thrown in.
Oh I LOVE this one!!!   |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | rodeoveteran - 2015-02-03 4:16 PM When Steve owned it, it was an excellent rodeo series. I believe that Steve is now involved in The American, which doesn't surprise me one bit. I worked for them for a couple of years back in the day. Jerome Robinson (now with the PBR) was arena director. Stock contractors at the time were Three Hills and Dorenkamps and yes they were PRCA approved at that time. Eventually they became open rodeos because of the financial demands of the PRCA on the Producer. WPRA continued to approve them for a few years after that. To date myself even further, I entered some of the WTRs back when they were IPRA approved.......sigh, I am old...... and I miss all those winter building rodeos we used to be able to go to. Tiny pens but I loved competing at them. Yes, Gander sold the company and I do believe that Tommy Lucia bought the name and who knows what else. It has became a Bulls and Broncs with 10 or 12 barrel racers thrown in on an almost invitational basis. It is not the same completion wise as it was. World's Toughest Rodeo is the name of the company producing the rodeos, not an indication of level of completion. It seems like when ever something gets sold it goes down the tubes.
I loved going to their rodeos. They always had good added money or what was considered good added back then. I must be even older then you as I only competed when it was IPRA rodeos.
Edited by Nevertooold 2015-02-03 9:57 PM
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I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| Nevertooold - 2015-02-03 7:39 PM
rodeoveteran - 2015-02-03 4:16 PM When Steve owned it, it was an excellent rodeo series. I believe that Steve is now involved in The American, which doesn't surprise me one bit. I worked for them for a couple of years back in the day. Jerome Robinson (now with the PBR) was arena director. Stock contractors at the time were Three Hills and Dorenkamps and yes they were PRCA approved at that time. Eventually they became open rodeos because of the financial demands of the PRCA on the Producer. WPRA continued to approve them for a few years after that. To date myself even further, I entered some of the WTRs back when they were IPRA approved.......sigh, I am old...... and I miss all those winter building rodeos we used to be able to go to. Tiny pens but I loved competing at them. Yes, Gander sold the company and I do believe that Tommy Lucia bought the name and who knows what else. It has became a Bulls and Broncs with 10 or 12 barrel racers thrown in on an almost invitational basis. It is not the same completion wise as it was. World's Toughest Rodeo is the name of the company producing the rodeos, not an indication of level of completion.
It seems like when ever something gets sold it goes down to the tubes.
I loved going to their rodeos. They always had good added money or what was considered good added back then. I must be even older then you as I only competed when it was IPRA rodeos.Â
I was just a baby back then........  |
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | rodeoveteran - 2015-02-03 7:59 PM Nevertooold - 2015-02-03 7:39 PM rodeoveteran - 2015-02-03 4:16 PM When Steve owned it, it was an excellent rodeo series. I believe that Steve is now involved in The American, which doesn't surprise me one bit. I worked for them for a couple of years back in the day. Jerome Robinson (now with the PBR) was arena director. Stock contractors at the time were Three Hills and Dorenkamps and yes they were PRCA approved at that time. Eventually they became open rodeos because of the financial demands of the PRCA on the Producer. WPRA continued to approve them for a few years after that. To date myself even further, I entered some of the WTRs back when they were IPRA approved.......sigh, I am old...... and I miss all those winter building rodeos we used to be able to go to. Tiny pens but I loved competing at them. Yes, Gander sold the company and I do believe that Tommy Lucia bought the name and who knows what else. It has became a Bulls and Broncs with 10 or 12 barrel racers thrown in on an almost invitational basis. It is not the same completion wise as it was. World's Toughest Rodeo is the name of the company producing the rodeos, not an indication of level of completion. It seems like when ever something gets sold it goes down the tubes.
I loved going to their rodeos. They always had good added money or what was considered good added back then. I must be even older then you as I only competed when it was IPRA rodeos. I was just a baby back then........
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 886
Location: Where its cold and hot | I've ran at the MN one the last 4 years. Yes the entry process is tricky, but every year there is at least 4 new girls running along with people that have previously ran. And the people that have previously ran and are lucky enough to get entered again are the girls that have placed or have had decent runs. It is a huge spectator show, so they want to have girls go out and lay down a run. They do make the contestants "famous" for a day with the autographs and whatnot. But to see the little kids face's that come through the line in aw and you get to make their day is priceless.
The ground at the excel has always been great, although I do know two girls that drove down to the IA one and were horrified by the ground down there.
In MN they limit the entries to 12 girls each night strictly because of lack of parking. We park under the excel in about 11 loading docks, 1/2 of which are filled with livestock trailers. Payout is determined from the combined results from both nights, so 24 entries total. Considering that, it pays around $400-$500 to win it which is pretty good IMO. |
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