Stace Smith Pro Rodeos of Henderson County was named the Stock Contractor of the Year at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Wednesday night for the 11th consecutive year.
With the award, Smith ties Harry Vold for the most times named Stock Contractor of the Year.
Smith told the ProRodeo Sport News:
“It’s an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as Harry Vold. He’s everybody’s hero and he will always be, until the day I die, the icon of rodeo. That man did it when they trailed horse down the road. He rodeoed a long time when they didn’t give this award out, so he might have it won it 25 times if he would’ve had the chance.”
Voting is by all contract personnel (announcers, pickup men, etc.), along with the stock contractors, rodeo committees (one vote per committee) and the top 100 contestants in each event.
According to the company’s website, Smith produces more PRCA rodeos than any other stock contractor in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
A longtime Henderson County resident, Smith has been a rodeo contestant, worked as a chute boss and was also a pickup man before becoming a stock contractor. In 2005, he was chosen as pickup man for the Texas Circuit finals.