Eight seconds is the goal for many participants in the upcoming Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assocation Brookings Rodeo, but it takes many more to organize and produce the best event. 

Every year, the first weekend of November is set aside at the Dacotah Bank Center, for the PRCA Rodeo in Brookings. It is organized and produced by Sutton Rodeo, a sixth-generation family rodeo business. According to Steve Sutton, the general manager, they hosted their first rodeo back in 1926 on the family ranch. 

Planning, between the Sutton Rodeo and the Dacotah Bank Center begins about six months out from the event weekend. They work together on contracting, along with planning the advertising, marketing and budgets needed. 

For the Dacotah Bank Center preparation for the rodeo begins a few weeks in advance. General manager of the Dacotah Bank Center, Michael Logan said, “We begin setting up the north barn, and all the horse stalls a few weeks out from the rodeo.” 

Next, the dirt must be laid down before the Sutton Rodeo arrives for the arena setup. “It takes about 80 truckloads of dirt inside to get the desired 14 inches deep, which makes the barrel racing and other events safe,” Sutton said. 

Once the dirt is down and the two semis full of steel have arrived, set up begins a few days in advance. Sutton Rodeo oversees the setting up of all the bucking shoots and all other steel setups, along with the animal pens outside. “It takes about five to six hours to set up everything, and then we would be ready to rodeo,” Sutton said. 

Once all the shoots are up, the sponsorship banners are hung, the barrel markers are placed and the numerous little details that add to the rodeo experience are completed, the animals begin to arrive. 

While that’s happening inside, there’s much more happening outside as well. “We use 75 to 80 panels for the livestock pens and then we lay down cornstalks for bedding,” Sutton said. Once all livestock is placed in their pens, they are fed and watered. 

The number of entries the PRCA has for the rodeo will then determine how much rough stock Sutton Rodeo will need to provide. “The number of livestock we will bring is dependent on entries,” Amy Muller, who does pre-event planning and advertising for Sutton Rodeo, said. “But it will be around 150 to 200 animals.” 

The following day, the final touches are finished, and the livestock is familiarized with the setup. “We like to run all the animals through the shoots prior to the rodeo so they are familiar with the entry and exit points,” Muller said. 

With the animals and crew now prepared to rodeo, all that’s missing is the crowd. “Rodeo is an entertainment now, so it’s really great that the public gets interested and enjoys it,” Sutton said. “Everyone thinks it happens at the snap of your fingers and it doesn’t.” 

So, while it takes a lot of moving parts and time, Sutton Rodeo and Dacotah Bank Center are excited to produce the 2023 PRCA Brookings Rodeo and hope to see a great crowd out Nov. 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. to witness those eight second rides.