Tri State Rodeo gets tapped by ProRodeo HOF

Hall of Fame induction

We are honored to be alongside the great of the sport and grateful for this prestigious acknowledgment of our event's impact on the rodeo community.”

Bobby Holtkamp, TSR General Chairman

FORT MADISON - A legacy that began in 1948, the Tri-State Rodeo is set to make history. After 76 years of thrilling performances and unwavering dedication, it will be immortalized in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor will be bestowed upon the Tri-State Rodeo during the Colorado Springs, Colorado ceremony in July 2024. It's a momentous occasion to be inducted alongside the likes of "The Daddy of Them All" Cheyenne Frontier Days, The Calgary Stampede, The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, The National Western Stock Show, The Pendleton Round-Up, and The Ram National Circuit Finals. 
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame opened in 1979 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Hall of Museum was opened to preserve the cowboy contest's legacy and culture and the competition's culture. Since opening, 294 people have been inducted, 38 livestock athletes, and 32 committees.
Being nominated and inducted into the Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor. The rodeo season officially ends at the end of September, placing the Tri-State Rodeo toward the end of the season. Over the 75 years of the Tri-State Rodeo, we've always seen the competitors "sitting on the bubble" trying to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals in Las Vegas, which is the "Super Bowl" of Rodeo. After competing in Fort Madison and realizing the quality of the rodeo offered, the committee has always heard positive comments about the rodeo's hospitality, the fans, and the community. Fort Madison sees the "best of the best" competing and continuing to return year after year to the Tri-State Rodeo. That's truly a testament to the hard work of the Tri-State Rodeo Operating Committee, which are all volunteers working year-round to produce a Hall of Fame rodeo. The Tri-State Rodeo brings a world-class announcer selected four times as the PRCA announcer of the year and an award-winning music director and award-winning cowboy protectors (bullfighters) each year to the arena. Their partnership with long-time stock contractor Cervi Championship Rodeo has brought tremendous livestock athletes consistently nominated to perform at the Wrangler National Finals.
“We are thrilled that our event is being inducted into the esteemed Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. This recognition is a tribute to the dedication and hard work of our past chairman, our current and past committee members, and all the volunteers who have poured their hearts into making our event a standout in the rodeo world," said Bobby Hotkamp, Tri-State Rodeo Chairman.
"We are honored to be alongside the great of the sport and grateful for this prestigious acknowledgment of our event's impact on the rodeo community.” 
Rodeo Committe secretary Bob Huffman echoed the comments.
“We are very excited to have our rodeo receive this prestigious recognition. It would not have been possible without all the past and present Tri-State Rodeo General Chairman, Tri-State Rodeo Committee Chairman and assistants, and finally, all the wonderful community volunteers who put in countless hours every year to make this event a tremendous success for Ft. Madison and the surrounding region," Huffman said.
"For a city of just over 10,000 people, we draw a crowd from across the Midwest and the country, for that matter. We are awfully proud of that," said Chuck Kempker, the Tri-State Rodeo Board of Directors president.
"The volunteers, sponsors, and the community of Fort Madison are a huge asset to our rodeo every single year. We wouldn't have this honor without them."
Other 2024 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductees include: Kaycee Feild, who set the gold standard for PRCA bareback riders, winning an event record six PRCA World Championships, and won PRCA World Championships in (2011-14, 2020-21); team roper Art Arnold, a 1968 RCA World Champion; bull rider, the late Blue Stone, a PRCA World Champion in 2001 and 2002; stock contractor Sammy Andrews; bullfighter Darrell Diefenbach, who was selected to work the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 12 times (2001-12), notable J.D. Yates, who made the NFR as a team roping header and heeler; standout bull Mr. T of Burns Rodeo Company (1986 PRCA Bull of the Year, and Bull of the NFR in 1986 and 1989); the rodeo committee from the Tri-State Rodeo in Fort, Madison, Iowa; and barrel racers Marlene (Eddleman) McRae, the 1983 WPRA World Champion and Jeana Day, the 1974 WPRA World Champion.