story by Michele Toberer
Allen McCloy has been producing rodeos for the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association since 1992, when he started doing the McCracken, Kansas rodeo, which he’s produced ever since. With a lifetime of experience handling stock, Allen began on his family’s feedlot business, where he and his three brothers passed time riding calves when they weren’t doing ranch chores. Allen graduated from Oklahoma Panhandle State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 1969, and from Texas Tech University with his master’s degree in ruminant nutrition in 1970. He competed on the rodeo team for both colleges as a saddlebronc, bareback, and bull rider. “I got along pretty good in the NIRA, in grad school, I was one place out for making the national finals in saddlebronc riding.”
Allen rodeoed for 5 years after college, before focusing his energy on raising his family and working with his father-in-law, L.D. Ward, in the L.D. Ward Rodeo Company. Allen worked at his parents’ feed yard in Morse, Texas and in 1988, started McCloy Rodeo. In 1990, Allen and his wife bought the L.D. Ward Rodeo Company and took over many of the longstanding contracts for rodeos that were established, growing his business from there.
Allen’s daughter Kelly, and son, Marty, both attended Oklahoma Panhandle State; Kelly competing in breakaway roping, barrel racing, and goat tying, and Marty as a calf roper, saddlebronc rider, steer wrestler, and team roper. Marty was the 1994 NIRA Champion Tie-Down Roper. The McCloy’s have 7 grandchildren, and Kelly and Marty often still help with rodeos when they have time.
McCloy Rodeo has been producing KPRA rodeos since 1992 and are currently producing 8 rodeos each season. “The Trinidad Roundup at the Las Animas County Fairgrounds in Trinidad, Colorado started in 1910, and L.D. was the rodeo’s contractor for 50 years before I took over, and now McCloy Rodeo has been producing it for 29 years. The last three years it’s now been sanctioned with the KPRA.”
Allen and Janice McCloy have been married since 1999, and live in Morse, Texas, although they spend an incredible amount of time traveling the roads to multiple rodeo commitments. “We provide rodeo committees with everything they need; from stock, to announcers, secretaries, pick-up men, and judges.” McCloy Rodeo has approximately 150 head of horses they’ve raised in their bucking horse program. They also have a herd of steer wrestling cattle but lease other stock from reputable companies they trust. “We lease calves from 2X world champion saddle bronc rider, Robert Etbauer, and roping steers from Zane Edminson. We’ve cut back on our bull program, and lease some great bulls from our friend, Chris Cox of 6C Bull Company.”
“An outfit is only as good as its crew, and we have one of the best.” Often Janice is with a crew at one rodeo, and at the same time Allen is running another. “Our crew’s been with us a long time and they’re skilled cowboys that know what they’re doing. They work hard, so that anymore we don’t have to do much but show up.” Their main crew includes Yandy and Bobbi Yarbrough and their daughters, Yaleigh and Y’leigh, of Elk City, Oklahoma. Yandy and Yaleigh pick up broncs while Bobbi secretaries and even runs the neck rope in timed events when needed. Ronnie Mullen of Lawton, Oklahoma is a flank man, chute boss, “Ronnie is a leader and when I’m not there, he runs the crew. Todd Adams of Guyman, Oklahoma is a pick-up man, and Wes Kirton of Hardesty, Oklahoma is a partner who helps anywhere we need him. J.C. Bonine of Channing, Texas is our main truck driver and as a former world champion saddlebronc rider, he really studies our horses and is a good advisor.” McCloy Rodeo has been honored with over 60 awards for their bulls and broncs in various associations since 1992, as well as being named the NIRA Central Plains Region Rodeo of the Year several times.
“It’s a busy life, but I’ve always enjoyed it. I just love bucking horses and enjoy the people that are involved. I’ve got a lot of friends in rodeo, old and new.”
