Korkow Rodeos History

In 1947, Erv Korkow produced his first rodeo in his hometown of Blunt, SD. He continued to enlarge his operation, buying more land and establishing a breeding program for bucking horses and bulls. Erv joined the RCA in 1958 and had rodeo stock selected for the very first National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in 1959 at Dallas, Texas. For over 44 years now the Korkow Rodeo Company has continued to have stock selected at every NFR, only two other stock contractors in the nation can say that!

Jim joined the PRCA in 1960, working as a bullfighter and pickup man for 30 years. He bought the rodeo company when his dad passed away in 1993. The ranch is 20 miles east of Pierre, SD where they farm and ranch over 5,000 acres and produce generation after generation of bucking horses and bulls. In their spare time on weekdays, Korkows also run a trucking business, hauling mostly cattle or hay. Jim’s wife Carol, and their son, T.J., play important roles in keeping all this running smoothly. Carol frequently is the rodeo timer or handles the musical production at rodeos, not to mention keeping all the books and records for all operations. Carol has timed at both the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, and the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello, ID. T.J. is their head flankman, and is very knowledgeable about all the rodeo stock and their individual bucking style.

Korkow’s rodeo year includes sub-contracting to World’s Toughest Rodeo at 12 rodeos across the Great Lakes area and the Northeast during January, February and March. Every April they hold the Korkow Ranch Rodeo School, instructing young cowboys in the basics of riding bareback and saddle bronc horses and bulls. This year marked the 17th annual rodeo school, many well-known regional cowboys have been through Korkow’s school. Plus, it is a prime opportunity for Korkows to review the up and coming rodeo animals. The summer months find the Korkow family busy producing 10 PRCA rodeos; 4 youth 4-H rodeos; the Nebraska State HS Finals Rodeo; 3 Bull Ridings; 3 All-Indian Rodeos; and Sub-contracting bucking stock to the National College Finals, the Guymon, OK rodeo, the June USST Cup Finale in Las Vegas, the Salinas, CA Rodeo and the Pendleton, OR Rodeo. The fall months finds our stock at the USST finale in Dallas, TX, the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo near Deadwood, SD, and the WNFR in Las Vegas.

In 1996 Jim was selected as the “Stock Contractor of the Year” for the Women’s Professional Rodeo Assoc.; and in 2000 he was one of only 5 nominees in the whole nation selected for “Stock Contractor of the Year” for the PRCA.

1995 — “Leon” - Saddle Bronc of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1995 — “Desperado” — Bareback of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1996 — “Diehard” — Bull of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1996 — “Little Vegas” — Bareback of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1997 — “Dakota Red” — Saddle Bronc of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1998 — “Vidalia” — Bareback of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1998 — “Desperado” — Saddle Bronc of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1999 — “Anchor Bay” — Bareback of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
1999 — “Little Vegas” — 1st place Saddle Bronc at the Casey Tibbs Match of Champions
1999 —  “Double Barrel” — 2nd place Saddle Bronc at the Dodge Nat. Circuit Finals
2000 — “Hornet” - Bull of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
2001 — “Confused Sheep” - Saddle Bronc of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
2001 — “Little Vegas” 3rd place Saddle Bronc at the Dodge Nati. Circuit Finals
2001 — “Haywire” — 3rd place Bareback at the W NFR
2002 — “Little Vegas” - Saddle Bronc of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
2002 — “Anchor Bay” - Bareback of the Year in the Badlands Circuit
2002 — “Blueberry” - 1~ Place Saddle Bronc at the Casey Tibbs Match of Champions