For the Record: Lovington

The Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo has been around longer than the PRCA has existed.

Now celebrating its 83rd year of competition, this iconic rodeo in Lovington, N.M., has played host to some of the biggest names in professional rodeo.

The strike at Boston Garden that started the Cowboys’ Turtle Association (the precursor to the Rodeo Cowboys Association) happened in 1936. The Lovington rodeo started in 1935. Although there is plenty of history behind this iconic Southwestern rodeo, the Lovington rodeo’s PRCA record book dates to 1954.

Cowboys have from Aug. 8-11 to win their share of the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo prize money and possibly top one of the rodeo’s records.

Lovington’s biggest payout was $246,783 in 2013.

Joe Beaver set the record for most money won in all-around in 1998 with $8,051.

Two bareback riders share the Lovington record of 90 points. Will Lowe set the record in 2007. A decade later Orin Larsen matched it in 2017.

Two steer wrestlers share the Lovington record of 3.2 seconds. Nick Guy set the record in 2015, and Joshua Clark matched that time in 2016. K.C. Jones set the two-head average record of 7.4 seconds in 2013.

Team ropers Daniel Green and Kory Koontz set the Lovington record of 3.8 seconds in 2003. Koontz set another record in 2012 when he and team roping header Erich Rogers set the two-head average record of 8.8 seconds.

Saddle bronc rider Rusty Allen set the Lovington record of 90 points in 2008.

Tie-down roper Marty Yates set the Lovington record of 7.2 seconds in 2017. Jesse Clark set the two-head average record of 15.3 seconds in 2013.

Barrel racer Sydni Blanchard set the Lovington record of 16.99 seconds in 2011.

Steer roper Rocky Patterson set the Lovington record of 8.7 seconds in 2011 and equaled that again in 2016. Colby Goodwin set the three-head average record of 30.5 seconds in 1999.

Bull rider Felipe Aragon set the Lovington record of 96 points in 1999.

Courtesy of PRCA