LAKEVILLE, Ohio – Winning awards may not be why they do it, but Buckeye Rodeo Company of Lakeville, Ohio, certainly earned many of them at the recent Mid-States Rodeo Association Finals in Lansing, Mich.
The multi-state rodeo organization recognized Buckeye Rodeo Company with all but one of the association’s awards for rodeo stock contractors.
Love the sport. “We put on rodeos because we love the sport; we don’t do it to win awards,” said Butch Taft, president of Buckeye Rodeo.
“The biggest reward to us it to look back after a rodeo and be able to think to ourselves, ‘Boy, that was a good rodeo.’
“But it’s also nice to have the cowboys and cowgirls who compete in your rodeos recognize you with these awards that show they appreciate the quality of your rodeos, livestock, and personnel, too.”
Awards. At the finals, Buckeye Rodeo Company received numerous awards voted on by the association’s general membership, including:
* Stock contractor. Stock contractor of the year- This award is given to the association’s best rodeo stock contractor and producer who has put on the best overall quality of rodeos with the best livestock and personnel.
By winning this award, the Taft family has earned the use of a new stock trailer donated by Haylett’s North Country RV for the 2003 season.
* Best rodeo. Rodeo of the year – The rodeo in Millersburg, Ohio, produced by Buckeye Rodeo Company at the Holmes County Fair was named the best of nearly 30 rodeos sanctioned by the Mid-States Rodeo Association across Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.
This is the third year the Millersburg rodeo has been recognized as rodeo of the year.
* Best bull. Bull of the year – Silent Scope, a bull bred and raised by the Taft family on their farm in Lakeville, Ohio, was recognized as the best bucking bull in the association over the last year.
* Saddle bronc. Saddle bronc of the year – Owned by Taft’s son C.E. Taft, Safari was recognized as the toughest, most consistent saddle bronc horse to compete in the association in 2002.
* Finals bull. Bull of the finals – Not only was Silent Scope recognized as the toughest bull on the rodeo circuit throughout the year, the bull riders competing at the finals also voted him to be the toughest bull to buck at the association’s finals.
* Top secretary. Secretary of the year – Hazel Taft, Taft’s wife and co-owner of Buckeye Rodeo, was voted by the association’s contestants to be the best rodeo secretary throughout the year.
She was also selected to serve as a timer at the association’s finals.
* Top announcer. Announcer of the year – Taft’s daughter, Jane Houin, who has served as an announcer at their rodeos for the past five years, was voted by the association’s contestants to be the best announcer in the association in 2002.
* Contract act. Contract act of the year – Craig Miller, of Millersburg, Ohio, works as the rodeo clown and funny man for Buckeye Rodeo.
He was also selected at the best contract act of the year for 2002.
Buckeye Rodeo was founded in 1987.
For more information on Buckeye Rodeo Company, call 330-378-3955.
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