In July, 2013, Kellie Wells assumed the duties as the Arkansas Cowboys Association Rodeo Secretary. There was a lot to do in the next few weeks with the finals only being two and half months away. However, she was no stranger to rodeo and bull riding productions. In 2006, after completing their week long course and testing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was awarded her Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) secretary card. Just a few months later, she was working marketing for a Professional Bull Riding (PBR) and was approached about working some events as the secretary. A few weeks later, she was flying to Pensacola, Florida, to work her first PBR event and soon thereafter, obtained her PBR secretary card. This was the beginning of her working career for SuperBull Entertainment and the late George Marshall. “Over the past seven years I have worked with numerous events with George and his crew. It was always a great time and there was never a dull moment! I learned so much about rodeo production during these years. I was fortunate to have the opportunities I have had to work in this business and with many different producers including the American Bucking Bull, Inc. (ABBI) and the PBR. I have met many great people and made life-long friends. I have been able to travel all over the United States and been to places I would never would have been able to go to otherwise.”
Kellie and her husband, Billy, make their home in Bakersfield, Missouri. A small rural community just minutes north of the Arkansas border. Billy rode bulls in the Arkansas Cowboys Association (ACA) in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. After completing his bull riding career, he started team roping. Kellie was competing in barrel racing during this time as well. Billy was working at Cloud 9 Ranch located in Caulfield, Missouri, while Kellie was finishing college. In 1993, Kellie graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. They were also busy during this time, raising their two children, Johnny and Taylor. Johnny rode steers for a while and he team roped. However, his interests moved to hunting and fishing. Taylor continued to rodeo and she competed in Little Britches and ACA rodeos in goat tying and Jr. Barrels. This year she was rookie of the year and finished sixth in cowgirl barrels, reserve champion in goats, and third in all-around for cowgirls. “Rodeo is a great way to raise your children. We spent many hours traveling many miles with our kids going to rodeos. There was a lot of talking, singing, joking, and yes even arguing but would not have changed a thing! Rodeo helped them to learn to be responsible, respectful, and to know what you put into something is only what you will get out. Billy and I consider ourselves very successful in that we raised two wonderful children who have morals and values and continue to say yes ma’am and yes sir. They both have respect for others and are so kind hearted. Although Johnny stopped rodeo in his early teens, he wants his little girl Ellie, 4, to have the opportunities to rodeo. She already has a huge love for horse. Billy has worked for Missouri Department of Transportation for 20 years and Kellie is a juvenile officer for the 37th Judicial Circuit of Missouri for 18 ½ years. Billy and Kellie both stopped participating in rodeo while they were raising their children. They are returning to the ACA as contestants this year and are looking forward to team roping together.
Kellie stated that she is honored to serve as the secretary for the Arkansas Cowboys Association. “I believe the finals was a great success this year and am looking forward to an even better rodeo year in 2014,” she stated.
