Ken Stonecipher, an announcer and production manager, joined Western Sports Round-Up on Thursday night to give an overview of the Guymon Pioneer Days.
Overall, 998 contestants will compete to earn spots in the Top 40 for the weekend’s performances. It is one of the biggest years the rodeo has ever had.
According to Stonecipher, this is the largest event in the town of about 11,000 in the Oklahoma panhandle and he says their sponsors are more than sponsors.
Last year, they set a record for sponsor money despite the COVID-19 pandemic and this year, Seaboard Foods stepped up and bought out the tickets for Saturday and Sunday’s performance so anyone who wanted to go could get free entry. They also do more than donate money, their employees are also volunteering and cooking on the grounds.
The rodeo runs through Sunday and will pay out more than $150,00.
“That’s like asking me which one of my kids is my favorite, it’s all my favorite,” Stonecipher said when asked what his favorite part of Guymon is. “It’s like a little mini NFR in the spring for us.”