Military Cowboys, Cowgirls coming to Topeka for World Championship Rodeo

These cowboys and cowgirls love their country and love the sport of rodeo.

What’s more appropriate than a rodeo just for them? It’s the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association (PAFRA) World Championship Rodeo, 7 o’clock nightly, Oct. 24-26, at Domer Arena, Stormont Vail Events Center, Topeka.

“This is a unique rodeo unlike any other,” said Steve Milton, retired Army 1SG and PAFRA marketing director from Fort Riley.

“All of the contestants are active in the military, retirees, veterans or are their direct dependents,” according to Milton.

“Every branch of the service will be represented in the rodeo, recognized and participate in the grand entry,” he said.

“Those serving in the military face unique challenges to qualify for an event like the National Finals Rodeo,” Milton said. “With station transfers, deployments and the like it’s impossible for them to accumulate qualifying points for a rodeo.

“Everybody with direct military ties desiring to compete in rodeo is welcome to enter our world championship. We don’t require points to qualify,” he clarified.

The first rodeo uniquely for military personnel and their families originated in Fort Worth, Texas, in the early 2000s.

“That’s how I became involved when my wife, Sharon, was barrel racing in 2014,” Milton said. “It had been moved to Midland, Texas, in 2007 and continued there several years.”

Texas was not as an enhancing a location for rodeo contestants from around the country and world to participate.

“In 2016, we decided to bring the PAFRA World Championship to the Flint Hills,” Milton said. “It’s here in the center of the country and close to the Big Red One at Fort Riley.”

From a somewhat meager beginning, growth has been substantial, according to the promoter. “We had about 65 contestants starting out, and it’s increased to 110 cowboys and cowgirls this year,” he said.

“That’s been largely due to such strong support from the Flint Hills region and our partners,” Milton said. “We certainly appreciate Indiana Wesleyan University as our presenting sponsor. The values of faith and dedication to excellence are shared by both organizations.”

Yet, from the military, to the participants, to the many volunteers, everybody has helped.

“It’s strictly a volunteer effort for the love of our country and love for the sport of rodeo,” Milton said. “Operations are funded entirely from donations, volunteers, in kind assistance, services and memberships. Nobody gets paid.

“We strive to provide a worthy moral and welfare outlet for our members,” Milton said.

It’ll be a “full-fledged rodeo” with bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, calf roping, bulldogging, team roping, and barrel racing. There’ll also be breakaway roping at the rodeo.

“An added attraction event is cowboy mounted shooting which has proven very popular,” Milton said.

Quality rodeo livestock has been contracted in addition to professional rodeo secretaries, announcers and other officials. “It’s a partnership rodeo with the best the sport has to offer,” Milton said.

There are 148 entries from throughout the nation and the world coming to Topeka. “We have service men and women deployed overseas taking their furloughs to be here to rodeo,” the promoter informed.

Every cowboy and cowgirl will have two rounds of competition on Thursday and Friday. “Before, they’ve all competed during the rodeo performances,” Milton said. “However, due to our increased participation, some of the events will have contestants competing during rodeo slack time.”

The top point earners from the two go-rounds will compete in Saturday evening’s short-go finals rodeo.

Each rodeo performance will begin at 7 p.m. “We hope to pack the stands with spectators cheering on cowboys and cowgirls who love their country and rodeo,” Milton said.