The annual Thanksgiving Rodeo School was started and led by Wes and Francie Stevenson in 2004. The mission of the Thanksgiving Rodeo School was to raise money to donate to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. This is an organization that “provides need-based financial assistance to athletes injured through their participation in professional rodeo”. Wes was once a cowboy who relied on the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund and was able to receive the help he needed to continue on being one of the best in the world, and now he wants to help others get that chance. The school started with the help of Stace Smith of Smith Pro Rodeos as he was one of Wes‘s sponsors and understood the need of an elite rough stock school. We are continuously so grateful for the love and support which gives us opportunity to be able to do this every single year!

Coming to this school brings you the opportunity of a lifetime. Learning everything there is to know about bareback and Saddle bronc, including but not limited to chute procedure, arena etiquette, equipment setup, unlimited horses and steers, and a positive learning environment. The school is not exclusive to age, gender, or skill level. Students come every year of all different skill levels ranging from beginner (never being around a horse) to those who are in college rodeo and want to work with the best in the world. Before getting on horses, instructors take the first half of day one to really dive into the students and teach them the proper technique to get on, ride, and get off the horses in order to ensure safety for all of our athletes and livestock.

In 2000, Wes Stevenson was in his second year at Western Texas College. He was on his way to his first National Finals Rodeo sitting in the top 15 of the World Standings. August 25th, 2000, in Bremerton, Washington, Wes was care flighted out of the arena with a career-ending injury, nearly severing his lower left leg. Seven surgeries later, a metal rod, several screws, and seven months of rehab, he came back to finish 18th in the 2001 World Standings. In 2002, he dominated the competition by sitting number one in the World Standings, until the end of September. A horse ran him into the chutes, causing the bone to re-break. Wes was resilient to ride at the National Finals Rodeo and fought his way back. He competed at The Texas Stampede, with a hole in his leg, where he tied Joe Alexander’s record of 93 points and went on to set a new world record of 94 points, on Kessler’s Cover Girl, the very next night. Wes competed at his first NFR after dropping down to 130 pounds. December 16th, 2002, the day after the 10th round, Wes was lying in an operating room. Nine surgeries later, one and a quarter inches of his bone length removed, and an external fixator attached, he left the hospital. During his time off to rehab and regrow his bone, Wes completed his degree from Texas Tech University. He also decided during that time to get in the bucking horse business by purchasing four mares and a stud from J-J Rodeo Company. Those Bloodlines continue to build the Stevenson Ranch herd and go down the rodeo trail. After being off over a year from rodeo, Wes came back to compete at the NFR a total of nine times. All of this was possible due to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, and since then, Wes has made it his mission to support the organization that made it possible for him to reach his dreams.

Cowboy Spirit TV, Episode 12, Wes Stevenson and Stace Smith

Cowboy Spirit TV Episode 13, JW Harris

Cowboy Spirit TV Episode 14, Justin McDaniels