Benny Beutler on the Woodward Elks Rodeo in 2020

Benny Beutler of the Beutler and Son Rodeo Company looks back at the 90 history of that Woodward Elks Rodeo — as well as what made this year a little different.

With so many rodeos still being canceled across the country, Woodward had some 800 contestants enter this year, and more contestants means more stock. Additionally, coming out of the shut down, roping calves are few and far between.

“Nobody had any roping calves because nobody’s having any rodeos, so our roping calves are a little big. The calf ropers are all mad at me,” Beutler says, “but I’ll get better calves at the next rodeo. But other than that, everything’s been really good here.”

“Hats off to the Woodward rodeo committee because they were the ones, they worked... brought everything together and stuck their necks 10 feet out,” Beutler says. "...Maybe we opened the gate. So maybe the rodeo business will start back up.”