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Santa Fe Trail Rodeo organizers named 2026 Committee of the Year
Santa Fe Rodeo committee award 2026
The Santa Fe Trail Rodeo Committee received a “Committee of the Year” award from the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association. The committee received a plaque and a sign it can post at events. Pictured, from left: Debora Fox-Johnson, Erin Josefiak, Summer Neeland, Nick Snyder, KPRA Representative, David Snyder, Rocke Foster, Chance Snyder and Tyson Atteberry.

LARNED — The Santa Fe Trail Rodeo Committee of Larned was honored recently by the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association for its added money and other factors that make the annual event a hit with card-carrying cowboys and cowgirls. The committee was named the 2026 KPRA Region 1 Tier A Committee of the Year. Chairman Rocke Foster accepted the award at the KPRA Finals, which took place Sept. 25-27 in Dodge City.

KPRA members choose the winners by voting on the rodeos they competed in during the season. Contestants evaluate committees on factors such as the condition and quality of the rodeo grounds, hospitality, added money, and professional, well-mannered staff. The awards covered 52 rodeos in six states.

Awards are divided into tiers and categories based on size, region and added-money thresholds. The Lane County Rodeo won overall for added money exceeding $20,000. Larned’s rodeo ranked first in the tier for added money of $10,000 or less.

The Santa Fe Trail Rodeo is one of the first of the season, held every Memorial Day weekend, Foster said.

“This was our seventh year, and we’re starting our eighth,” Foster said. He has more than a decade of experience helping organize rodeos, as well as experience as a roping contestant.

Added money is a top factor in the award, Foster said. The rodeo offers at least $500 to each winner in nine to 11 events. The money comes from sponsors’ donations to the nonprofit organization.

“That’s who the thanks go to, the sponsors behind it,” Foster said. “By the time we sing the National Anthem, the rodeo is paid for.”

In addition to boosting the prize money, the 11-person rodeo committee donates to several community projects.