story by Michele Toberer
Big Horn Rodeo Company of Lamar, Oklahoma has been proudly offering quality rodeo livestock and full personnel and rodeo options for committees since 2009. Kyle Robison always knew as he grew up on the competitor side of the rodeo business, that working as a stock contractor was what he wanted to do one day in his future. Big Horn Rodeo Company has been a part of International Professional Rodeo Association events for 5 years now, and they’ve had the honor of bringing their bucking horses to the IFR for the past 3 years.
Growing up, Kyle mainly competed as a team roper and tie-down roper. He was a member of the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association, and after graduating high school he went on to compete at the college level at Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Kyle graduated from Bacone College in 2006 with an associate degree in natural resource management and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After competing in amateur rodeos for a few years, he started his rodeo company and does approximately 23 rodeos each year. “We own everything, the horses, bulls, steers, and calves. We used to lease some bulldogging steers or bulls when we started out, but now we own most everything that we use.” Big Horn Rodeo Company keeps approximately 15 to 18 hauling bulls, plus about 60 horses for the saddlebronc and bareback events. “Four years ago, we started our own bucking horse breeding program, and we have about 8 mares that we breed. So far, we have a lot of young horses that we are just starting to buck, but we’re looking forward to seeing this generation of our bucking horses in the rodeo arena soon.”
Kyle, and his longtime girlfriend, Amber Butler have three children: 4-year-old daughter, Liz Robison, 2-year-old son, Leigh Robison, and their newest addition, 2-month-old daughter, Anelle Robison. “I couldn’t do what I do without the support of my family and all the great people that work for me.” Their oldest daughter, Liz, helps them gather stock from the back of her little bay roan pony, Mighty Mouse. “Liz will help run a gate when we are sorting; the kids love being out there with us. This is a lifestyle I always liked and knew I wanted for my own family from the time I was a little kid myself.”
Each rodeo that Big Horn Rodeo Company is a part of, has its own special significant value to Kyle. They are generally gone about 40 weekends per year between the IPRA rodeos, junior rodeos, ranch rodeos, and other events they are a part of producing. “This year we have 9 IPRA-first rodeos and 14 that are IPRA co-approved. It was really neat being a part of the IFR50 at the Lazy E Arena and always feels like a reward to be included at the IFR. One of the best things about the IPRA is seeing how hard they work to always make the association better.”
Of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic on everyone’s mind, Kyle is discouraged with the rodeo cancellations that are taking place and what that means for a family in the industry his is in. “It doesn’t scare me or bother me; we will keep going on with what we have to do to take care of the stock and we just hope and pray that we will all resume like we were soon.”
