ALAMOSA — Honeycutt Rodeo Company is the 2019 recipient of the Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. This accolade has brought new attention to the family-run professional Rodeo Stock Contracting Company that runs several generations deep with rich San Luis Valley history.
The story of Honeycutt Rodeo began with a man by the name of Walt Alsbaugh (1918-1992). Alsbaugh is considered one of the pioneers of the sport. Rodeo was Walt Alsbaugh’s life for more than 60 years. During that time, he competed in every event except bareback riding, becoming one of the first men to ride bucking horses “Midnight” and “Five Minutes to Midnight.” He was also the first bull rider to use a braided handhold in his bull rope.
He founded Walt Alsbaugh Rodeo with the purchase of three professional stock contracting companies and produced his first rodeo in 1953. Alsbaugh raised 75% of his bucking stock. His bucking horses and bulls were selected for the National Finals Rodeo every year but one since the first National Finals Rodeo in 1959.
Walt also provided stock for many county fairs, high school, college, and all-Indian rodeos. He was the Turquoise Circuit Stock Contractor of the Year three times. He was named the 1981 International Rodeo Fans Man of the Year, 1986 PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year, was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1990 and The Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2009.
In 1963, Walt’s daughter, Virginia, married Roy Honeycutt. Roy already had a background in rodeo, having entered his first at the age of 17. He also had spent time in the U.S. Army, along with traveling to Japan with personalities such as World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider, Casey Tibbs. Honeycutt later went to work for his father in law and thus entered the family business, partnering with him until he was then able to build his assets.
In 1976, Roy and Virginia officially founded the Honeycutt Rodeo Company. They had no idea what the venture would become. Since 1976, Honeycutt Rodeo has been one of the few rodeo stock contractors to be a part of every National Finals Rodeo. Also, Honeycutt Rodeo has seen approximately 30 horses and bulls go to the NFR. The tradition continues today thanks to their children Jerry, Scott and Janet, along with their grandchildren.
“Heritage means a lot to my family and me,” said Jerry.
Four generations of bucking horses are seen on the Honeycutts’ Alamosa ranch that boasts around 200 horses and 40 bulls on 3,000-plus acres. The bloodlines on some of the Honeycutt colts go back to Alsbaugh’s Spark Plug, who was a bareback horse at the National Finals Rodeo in 1974. In 2,000, the Honeycutts established their Bull Breeding Program with “Candy Man.”
The Honeycutts consider the award an honor. Jerry also expressed gratitude to the PRCA for recognizing those who have helped to make the sport what it is today. He went on to recount how his father’s acceptance speech at the awards ceremony had the audience “on the edge of their seats.” The family patriarch ended his speech with a hearty “God Bless America and God Bless the PRCA!” Jerry observed that the presentation was an extraordinary moment because the entire family was able to be present for the occasion.
He concluded that he is motivated every day by the work that he and his family do. The family has no plans to slow down any time soon.
The Honeycutts are grateful for the opportunities they have and look to make every day count by helping those that they can along the way. Jerry said, “It’s the legacy that you leave: That’s what matters in the long run.”
