PAGE 38 ROPERS SPORTS NEWS JULY-AUGUST 2024 nals Rodeo and founded the immensely popular Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping. Feild’s Day caps at ProRodeo Hall of Fame Kaycee Feild’s greatness as a PRCA bareback rider was unmatched. The Utah cowboy won an event record six PRCA World Championships in his decorated career and it didn’t take long for him to be immortalized into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. After retiring following the 2023 season, Feild got the Hall call on April 8 and he didn’t expect it. “I’m kind of surprised this came so fast,” said Feild, who retired following the 2023 PRCA regular season. “What an amazing honor. I think of my display next to my late father Lewis Feild (a ProRodeo Hall of Famer), a guy who was my hero. To look back on my career and to be inducted into the Hall of Fame it is goal you don’t really have control of, but at the same time if you accomplish your goals, you can cross that goal off someday. This is a big win for me.” Lewis, a five-time PRCA World Champion in the allaround 1987-89; and bareback riding 1985 and ‘86 was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1992. Lewis passed away Feb. 15, 2016, at the age of 59. Kaycee got his PRCA card in 2007 and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 13 times (2008-15, 2018-22) - tied for fifth most ever for bareback riders. The Genola, Utah, cowboy won the average four times in 2011-14. “I’m so grateful for the sport of rodeo,” Feild said. “What I have from the sport, the opportunities it presented me with are humbling experiences. I’m extremely grateful for the career I had and the success I had and the friendships I developed with the committeemen, cameramen, traveling partners, competitors, pickup men, gatemen, you name it. I have friendships that are special to me. My family was a big part of every bit of it. My wife (Stephanie) was the best teammate a guy could have.” Kaycee and his wife have three children, daughters Chaimberlyn, and Remi; and son, Huxyn. Kaycee also captured a bareback riding record 29 NFR round wins. “I was blessed with a durable body and blessed with my dad as long as I had him (before he passed),” Feild said. “My resiliency, grit, determination all those things played into what I did.” Late bull rider Blue Stone enters HOF Blue Stone didn’t have a lengthy PRCA career, but it was quite memorable. Stone qualified for the National Finals Rodeo twice in 2001 and 2002 and proceeded to win back-to-back PRCA World Championships and the NFR Average twice. Stone, who passed away March 13, 2022, at the age of 43, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with the 2024 class. “This is one thing that I know he always wanted to have done and it’s a huge honor,” said Chris Willard, Stone’s cousin. “I just wish he was here for it. His try and will is what really set him apart. He never quit, not until his head hit the ground. He was always going at ‘em.” Stone captured his first world championship by earning $174,772 to edge Cody Hancock by less than $10,000. He followed that up in 2002 by earning $157,707 and defeated Myron Duarte by less than $9,000. Stone was the first cowboy to win back-to-back PRCA Bull Riding World Championships since Don Gay won three straight from 1979-81. Stone shares the NFR Round 1 bull riding record with Gay. Gay had a 94-point ride in 1974 and Stone equaled that score in 2001 on Gilbert Diamond G Rodeos’ Mr. Skoal’s USA. In his two NFR appearances, Stone rode 14 of his bulls and earned a combined $205,851 – $112,322 in 2001 and $93,529 in 2002. “Blue was like Sage Kimzey, the bigger the stage, the better he rode,” Duarte said. “Blue was a competitor and he brought me to my best level, and he made everybody’s game better. That’s what world champions do. When you are around world champions day-in and ProRodeo Hall of Fame Inducts Star-Studded 2024 Class Courtesy PRCA COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Kaycee Feild, who set the gold standard for PRCA bareback riders, winning an event record six PRCA World Championships, headlined the 2024 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class inducted Saturday. Feild, who won consecutive PRCA World Championships in 2011-14, and 2020-21, is joined in the class by contestants – team roper Art Arnold, a 1968 RCA World Champion; the late bull rider, Blue Stone, a PRCA World Champion in 2001 and 2002; stock contractor Sammy Andrews; bullfighter Darrell Diefenbach, who worked the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 12 times (2001-12), notable J.D. Yates, who made the NFR as a team roping header and heeler; standout bull Mr. T of Burns Rodeo Company (1986 PRCA Bull of the Year, and Bull of the NFR in 1986 and 1989); the rodeo committee from the Tri-State Rodeo in Fort, Madison, Iowa; and barrel racers Marlene (Eddleman) McRae, the 1983 WPRA World Champion and Jeana Day, the 1974 WPRA World Champion. Bob Feist awarded Ken Stemler Pioneer Award The 2024 Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which recognizes those who have provided groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward thinking that help the development, advancement and success of the PRCA and or the Hall of Fame was awarded to Bob Feist. He was a contestant and announcer at the 1979 National Finals Steer Roping and 1980 National FiThe ProRodeo Hall of Fame “Class of 2024” was filled with stars of the rodeo world including World Champion Bareback Rider Kaycee Feild, World Champion Barrel Racers Marlene Eddleman McRae and Jeana Day, and the late Blue Stone, World Champion Bull Rider. – PRCA Photo by Greg Westfall The 2024 Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which recognizes those who have provided groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward thinking that help the development, advancement, and success of the PRCA and or the Hall of Fame and their missions was awarded to Bob Feist (l) of Lodi, California. Presenting is Miss Rodeo America, Emma Cameron and Kent Sturman, Director of The ProRodeo Hall of Fame. – PRCA Photo by Greg Westfall See PRORODEO 2024 HALL OF FAME On Page 39
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