INVISIBLE AT THE RODEO: Texas Pickup Man Works Phillipsburg Rodeo

INVISIBLE AT THE RODEO
Texas pickup man works Phillipsburg rodeo

Phillipsburg, Kan. (July 13, 2015) - He's got the best seat in the house, and he's had it for nearly the past fifteen years.

He's Shandon Stalls, one of the two pickup men at Kansas' Biggest Rodeo, and if things go smoothly at the rodeo, you'll never realize he's there.

The McLean, Texas man has one of the toughest and most invisible jobs in rodeo: after the eight second buzzer sounds in the bareback and saddle bronc riding, he rides in next to the bucking horse, ready to help the cowboy dismount safely, and make sure the horse is safe as well.

In addition to those two events, the pickup men also help get "unruly" bulls out of the arena during the bull riding, and run steers and calves out of the arena after steer wrestling and roping runs.

Most fans never notice the pickup men, and that's how it should be, Stalls says. "Nobody notices our job till we make a mistake," he says. "If you're doing a good job, nobody should notice you."

The pickup man's job is not always easy, dealing with 1500 pound horses and bulls that buck. Being able to read livestock is important, Stalls says. "You need to know where that horse is going before he gets there, or you're late. That's something my dad taught me with cows years ago. You've got to know what a horse is thinking and be there."

Stalls also learned by watching one of his heroes, former PRCA saddle bronc rider and pickup man Paul Peterson, who worked for Beutler and Son Rodeo Co., as Stalls does. "Watching Paul pick up, I noticed he didn't have to run his horse, he didn't have to hurry," Stalls says. "He was always in the right spot, and that's why. A lot of people run their horse into the ground and they're still not in the right spot, because they don't know where that horse is going."

The 35 year old grew up on the family ranch near McLean, about 75 miles east of Amarillo. He attended New Mexico Junior College, where he began to pick up at college rodeos. He'd always watched Peterson and Billy Ward, both well-respected pickup men, and "got fortunate enough to pick up with both of them," he said. Peterson, who would ride saddle broncs at the rodeos at which he worked, asked Stalls to fill in one day while he rode, and for that, he's grateful to Peterson. "I thank Paul for giving me a shot," Stalls said. "He taught me a lot about picking up." Peterson retired from picking up a few years ago. "He's still the best," Stalls said.

It was at a rodeo in Hinton, Okla. that Stalls connected with Bennie Beutler, co-owner of Beutler and Son Rodeo and stock contractor for the Phillipsburg rodeo. It was in 2001, and after Stalls worked the rodeo, "that night Bennie hired me," he said.

Since then, he's worked for the Beutlers at many of their rodeos, including Greeley, Colo.; Austin, Lubbock, Weatherford, Vernon, and Abilene, Texas; Woodward, Lawton, and Elk City, Okla.; Burwell, Neb., and Phillipsburg and Coffeyville, Kansas.

Stalls also is a steer roper, and finished second in the world in the rookie steer roping standings in 2005. He finished two years as seventeenth and nineteenth in the world, with the top fifteen making it to the National Finals Steer Roping. "Dang, getting so close (to the Finals) twice, I just about quit," he said. "I haven't roped much in the last few years."

There were three years when Stalls didn't pick up at Phillipsburg as he was steer roping and trying to make the Finals. Now the steer roping takes a backseat, as he and his wife Larenda have a six year old son, Slade, who is beginning to junior rodeo. Slade sometimes travels with his dad, which he loves. "He'd rather come and help sort and chase bucking horses than go to junior rodeos," Stalls said. "He's good help, too."

Stalls and his father run about 500 black Angus cows and feed out yearlings. They don't hire outside help, which keeps them both busy. Winter is busiest, with weaning and feeding.

When he goes to a rodeo to pick up, he'll take five or six horses with him, and ride some of Beutler's. "Bennie's got probably four or five I like," he says. "I've worked there long enough, I'm the one who gets to ride them." Nearly all of his horses are ranch raised. "I probably haven't bought four horses in my whole life," Stalls said. "Everything I ride, we raise."

The requirements to be a good pickup horse are different than for a bucking horse or saddle horse. "They have to be broke and somewhat gentle," Stalls say. "Some horses just won't do it. I have four or five horses that won't do it, it's just not going to happen." Then he has horses that don't know anything else. "And I have three horses that I've never done anything else on," he said. "They just love it. They have to want to do it. If they don't want to, there's nothing you can do to make them do it."

Stalls loves coming to Phillipsburg. "I love that rodeo," he says. "They've got great plug ins there, 50 amps to run both air conditioners in the trailer. Gosh dang, they built that new office and place to eat, with great meals. Everybody is happy to see us. If it doesn't get too hot, you can't beat that place." They make it a family affair. Last year, Slade, Rhett Beutler's children and world champion roper Cody Ohl's kids were in Phillipsburg. "We had the slip and slide out there," Stalls said.

Now days, Stalls only works ten Beutler rodeos. He's worked for Bennie and Rhett about fifteen years, and figures he has five more years in him. "At twenty years (of working for Beutlers), I'm going to quit. It's so hard on your body, your shoulders, knees, everything. Basically I'm worn out already."

There's nothing that beats watching the bucking horses, though. "I love watching them buck," he says. "I like watching them make a good ride on them, but I love watching them buck. How free they are. They're fun to watch.

And on July 30, 31 and August 1, he'll be in the Phillipsburg arena, doing his job. And if things go smoothly, the fans will hardly notice him.

Kansas' Biggest Rodeo takes place in Phillipsburg July 30-August 1 at 8 pm each night. Tickets range in price from $13 to $15 for adults and from $10 to $11 for children ages 3-12. Tickets are available at Heritage Insurance in Phillipsburg (785-543-2448) and at the gate. For more information, visit the website at KansasBiggestRodeo.com or call 785-543-2448.

Other News

Beloit, KS 67420, USA