Aug. 27, 2009 - At the age of 14, Jerald Smith began a life long passion in the rodeo industry that has lasted over 63 years.
"I started riding bulls and bucking horses when I was 14 years old," said Smith, owner of Wing Ranch Rodeo Company in Bogata. "Over the years of rodeoing, I became too crippled to ride and went to work for a local stock contractor."
Finally in 1967, with the help of some investors, Smith took over the stock contractors' business and began hauling bucking stock and cattle for timed events across the country.
"We haul stock to all the major rodeos throughout the country, but started out with a focus on the four states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana," he said. "We have also provided stock for many of the prison rodeos, such as the Huntsville Prison Rodeo.
"Now we provide stock for rodeos throughout the country in the Cowboys Regional Rodeo Association, United Professional Rodeo Association (UPRA) and the Arkansas Rodeo Association"
Through the years, Wing Ranch Rodeo Company has bought, sold and traded stock with other contractors to provide animals for the rodeos. In the last few years, they have begun breeding and raising their own rodeo stock.
"My grandson, Payden Franks (22), will eventually take over the business," said Smith. "He has taken over much of it already and began developing his own breeding stock for bucking bulls and horses.
"My step-son Pookey Navia (48), also helps Payden on our 1,000-acre ranch. I hope that they too can run the business for 40 years, just as I have managed to do."
Today, Wing Ranch Rodeo Company not only provides stock for rodeos throughout the nation, they also breed and raise stock to sell to other stock contractors.
"I have used bulls that have provided proven genetics to be good buckers," said Franks. "Our brood cows are also from bucking stock bloodlines. I am breeding bulls with good conformation and the correct size and hot temperament to make a good bucker. A few years ago, stock contractors were breeding bulls that were well over 2,000 pounds. Now the ideal bull is about 1,600 pounds. They seem to be more energetic and athletic.
"Most of my bulls originated from older bloodlines such as Pan Handle Slim and Bone Collector. These bulls are long gone, but I have some stock with their bloodlines. Last year, our bull Hostage was named bull of the year and we are planning on contending for bull of the year again this year."
Franks said if he gets a bull calf that does not make a good bucker, then it is taken to the sale barn.
"We never know what sex of calf we are going to get," he said. "A heifer calf isn't as valuable to us, but if we think she will make a good replacement heifer for our breeding program, then we might keep her, otherwise she is taken to the sale barn too. We have 40 brood cows in our breeding program and all of our cows are bred in the pasture by our own bulls."
Between breeding bulls and traveling, the family doesn't get much time down.
"We generally leave each week on Tuesday and will not be back until Sunday," said Franks. "A few years ago, we were going to 50 to 60 rodeos a year, now we are going to only 25. It got to the point that it wasn't cost-effective for us to attend two rodeos in one week. Fuel just got too high, and being on the road that long was hard work."
Decreasing the numbers of rodeos also gave the bucking stock a break.
"We rotate the stock that we use every trip," he explained. "We usually give our bulls about a weeks rest and then put them back in the rotation, but the horses take longer to recuperate. They need a few weeks to get back on their feet after traveling. Most of our horses originally came from up north, so they are not quite use to our climate and it takes a lot out of them when they perform."
Keeping the business alive has been a family affair. Smith started the stock business but will soon pass it down to his step-son and grandson. Through the years of providing stock for numerous rodeos and hosting several rodeos, Smith's wife JoAnne and granddaughter, Jesi, have been behind the scenes working with promotion and handling all of the books and finances. Just as the boys, when it is time to hit the road JoAnne is right along with them taking care of business.
"It has been a blessing to do what we have been able to do for so many years," Smith said. "It has been a family business since the beginning and I hope the family can keep it going for many years to come."
