ONIDA, S.D. – Sutton Rodeo Company received the inaugural Secretary’s Award at the 2026 Governor’s Ag Summit, presented by Hunter Roberts, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR).
The prestigious award recognized the family-owned company for its 100 years of excellence in the rodeo industry and its deep contributions to South Dakota’s agricultural heritage.
Known for producing events like the award-winning Rodeo Rapid City at The Monument, the Sutton family operates out of Onida, South Dakota, and has been a staple in the region’s agricultural and rodeo communities for a full century.
The 100-year history of Sutton Rodeo Company began in 1926 on a hillside ranch in Sully County near Onida, South Dakota. Founder Edwin Sutton purchased a quarter horse named Sunup that bucked off every ranch hand. Recognizing an opportunity, Edwin lined up Model T automobiles bumper-to-bumper to form a makeshift arena, launching the first Sutton ranch rodeo for neighboring families. Over the course of a century, this small family past-time evolved into a six-generation professional rodeo dynasty.
A Legacy of Innovation and Milestones
Edwin initially partnered with George Fairbank to start a touring rodeo, though the Great Depression temporarily paused productions. In 1958, Edwin’s son, James Sutton Sr., partnered with Erv Korkow to enter the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA). Utilizing Korkow’s trucking business, they became early innovators in hauling livestock via trucks rather than trailing them.
Sutton Rodeo livestock performed at the very first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Dallas in 1959. The company holds a legendary streak, having sent elite roughstock to perform at every single National Finals Rodeo since its inception.
Operating a herd of bucking horses on their ranch, the family is recognized as elite roughstock breeders. They have raised multiple PRCA Award winners, including “Baldy” (1961 Bull of the Year), “Deep Water” (1979 Saddle Bronc of the Year), “Big Bud” (1985 Horse of the Year), and the iconic “Chuckulator” (2012 PRCA Horse of the Year).
In 1968, James Jr. “Jim” Sutton took over management and officially incorporated Sutton Rodeo Company. Jim and his wife, Julie (both inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame), introduced massive innovations to rodeo entertainment, including debuting freestyle Wrangler Bullfights and establishing Rodeo Rapid City, which has won the PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year award seven times.
The Sutton family’s multi-generational excellence has earned them placement across multiple prestigious halls of fame. Their historic inductions recognize individual family members, their game-changing rodeo innovations, and their legendary bucking livestock.
The family has achieved rare multi-generational recognition in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Inducted in 1982 as a stock contractor, James Sutton Sr. was celebrated for his foundational work expanding the company from a local ranch asset to a powerhouse regional provider. He earned widespread respect across the industry for his dedication and fairness to cowboys, committees, and audiences alike.
James “Jim” Sutton Jr., was inducted in 2020 as a stock contractor following a lifetime of major entertainment and operational upgrades to the sport. After famously turning down a basketball career with the Minneapolis Lakers to return to the family ranch, Jim engineered a highly modern roughstock breeding program and was nominated four times for PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year.
The junior Sutton was also inducted into the Original Wrangler Bull Fights Hall of Fame. Alongside Wrangler executive David Allen, Jim Sutton was part of the very first, inaugural class inducted into The Original Wrangler Bull Fights Hall of Fame. He received the Resistol Supporting Legend Award for his foundational role in inventing and pioneering freestyle bullfighting events at professional rodeos in the early 1980s.
James Sutton Sr. was inducted in 1981 into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. He was honored for his lasting contributions to both the sport of rodeo and the state’s agricultural framework. Beyond his stock success, he was inducted for his local philanthropic impact, which included organizing benefit rodeos to entirely fund and construct the Onida Hospital.
Legendary livestock inductions included “Yellow Jacket”, in 1981. This standout bareback bucking horse was co-inducted alongside James Sr. into the South Dakota Hall of Fame. Known across the country for an incredibly tough bucking style, Yellow Jacket finished as the runner-up for national bareback horse of the year in 1964.
Today, the business remains completely family-owned and operated, with Jim, his son Steve, daughter-in-law Kim, and their children and grandchildren continuing Edwin’s century-old bucking tradition.
Rodeo Rapid City will officially celebrate its 50th anniversary from January 29 through February 6, 2027. The milestone event will take place at The Monument arena, Rapid City, S.D., marking a half-century of rodeo production in the facility since its construction. This milestone directly follows the Sutton family’s 100th anniversary in the rodeo business.
