POCATELLO — Professional rodeo is returning to the Bannock County Events Complex this coming weekend, with the Big Bucks ProRodeo scheduled for two performances: Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m.
The event is sanctioned by both the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), bringing a full slate of competitive rodeo disciplines to Southeast Idaho. Admission for advance general admission tickets is $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Friday evening is designated Family Night, with a complimentary child’s ticket included with each adult purchase.
A Legacy Built on Four Generations of Rodeo Competition
Big Bucks ProRodeo launched in 2024, drawing on the combined heritage of the Flitton and Burnside families, whose roots in professional rodeo and bucking horse breeding stretch back to the 1940s. The Burnside family alone carries four generations of PRCA competition history, and the partnership has focused on developing and refining the quality of bucking stock through careful genetics and year-round training programs.
“There are years in genetics and breeding when you look at the bucking horses,” said Gretchen Kirchmann, publicist and owner of Kirchmann Media Group. “This is something that the Flitton and Burnside families work on all year round.”
Weekend competition will cover the full spectrum of classic rodeo events, including bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.
Entertainment Beyond the Arena
The weekend’s entertainment lineup extends well beyond the competitive events. Utah sisters Kate and Tera Flitton will perform their “Stellar Trick Riding” act, showcasing high-speed precision stunts — including riding at full gallop while hanging upside down — dressed in eye-catching performance attire. The sisters credit daily flexibility work and ranch chores for maintaining the strength and conditioning required for the demanding routines.
Missouri-born Dustin “The Jester” Jenkins brings more than two decades of experience as a rodeo clown and professional barrelman. Known for blending humor with genuine athletic skill, Jenkins keeps the energy high between events while also serving a vital safety function in the arena.
“Rodeos are one of the few places left where three or four generations can sit together and all find something to enjoy,” Jenkins said.
Rider safety inside the bull pen will be the responsibility of elite bullfighters Andrew Mellencamp and Lelo Garcia, whose primary role is protecting competitors from bulls following each ride.
Following Saturday afternoon’s performance, the Fort Hall Indian Relay Association will hold a special exhibition race, adding a culturally significant local element to close out the weekend.
Kirchmann, who served on a local rodeo committee in the late 1990s, expressed personal enthusiasm for bringing professional rodeo back to Pocatello. “Pocatello holds a very special place in my heart,” she said. “I’m delighted to see the Big Bucks ProRodeo Company bringing back a PRCA rodeo to the community.”
Organizers are encouraging attendees to arrive at least 30 minutes before each performance to take in the full atmosphere of rodeo culture, including food vendors on-site throughout the event.
The Bannock County Events Complex has long served as a hub for large-scale community gatherings across the region. For families looking for a weekend activity with broad appeal across age groups, the Big Bucks ProRodeo offers a classic slice of Western tradition right in Pocatello.
What Comes Next
The Big Bucks ProRodeo runs Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at the Bannock County Events Complex in Pocatello. Tickets are available in advance, and organizers recommend securing seats early ahead of what is expected to be a well-attended event. For other community and sports happenings around the region, see the latest high school baseball tournament scores from the state championships and keep an eye on local weather — Bannock County was recently under a freeze warning issued by the National Weather Service in Pocatello.