LAWTON — Gov. Kevin Stitt sat high in the saddle Saturday as he joined the grand entrance during the final night of the 84th Lawton Rangers PRCA rodeo, showing off his cowboy skills.
Earlier in the evening, Stitt talked about the advantages of the rodeo life and the values cowboys exhibit.
“It’s kind of a hard way of life,” he said. “I grew up going to rodeos and it is fun for us to be out here. It’s great for young people.”
Stitt has been hitting the rodeo circuit during his reelection campaign with stops in Guymon and Woodward.
“They are my people with the values they have. This is life. This is who I am with Wranglers and boots. It’s wholesome family entertainment and as Oklahomans we embrace it,” Stitt said.
As the governor continued talking about rodeos and the cowboy way of life, he mentioned that bull riding and team roping are his favorite rodeo events.
Turning to agricultural issues that affect ranchers and cattle operations, Stitt said he’s trying to protect the ranching industry by battling against left-leaning politicians who seek to tax cattle production and put a damper on agriculture.
“We believe in freedoms in Oklahoma and I’m working to fight for the cattle operators,” he said. “These people don’t understand that Oklahoma feeds the world.”
Also attending Saturday’s finale was Education Secretary Ryan Walters, who is a candidate in the state school superintendent’s race. With his young daughter in tow, Walters said the rodeo life instills discipline at an early age “whether it’s on horses or with cattle.”
“We want to keep this culture going because there are a lot of life lessons to be learned,” he said.
Walters’ grandparents owned cattle and horses and kept him involved in 4-H programs as a youngster.
“I think this rodeo is great for the community,” he said. “There are a lot of young people who work very hard, and I will work to ensure we have strong ag programs in our state.”
State Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) said this year’s event was the best he’s ever seen.
“More than anything, this rodeo allows us to put our best foot forward on a national scale and puts Lawton in a positive light for people outside the immediate area,” he said, in reference to the national telecast by the pro rodeo circuit. “It shows off a certain lifestyle and helps us tell our story as rural Oklahomans and rural Americans.”
Caldwell attended the rodeo on opening night and again on Thursday “talking to people, making the rounds and seeing constituents.”
Caldwell, an honorary Lawton Ranger, grew up less than a mile from the rodeo arena and has witnessed the event’s peaks and valleys.
“I’ve seen it grow and I’ve seen some downturns, but I think this year’s event was the best rodeo we’ve ever had,” he said.
Lawton Rangers President Kelly New estimated the attendance for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s four-day event in Lawton to be more than 40,000 people with Saturday bringing in about 12,000 fans.
“The crowds were amazing all week,” he said. “I was in awe how many people turned out. Plus, the competition was great, and the quality of cowboys was tremendous. It was really fierce and competitive.”
The 2022 version of the Lawton Rangers PRCA Rodeo — considered to be one of the largest sporting events in southwest Oklahoma — may well go down in the books as one of the best ever at the LO Ranch arena.
“I would definitely rank it in the top five,” New said. “The governor was extremely complimentary about the crowd and the competition.”