{"id":132401,"date":"2026-01-21T20:43:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:43:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/132401\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T20:43:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:43:22","slug":"billy-and-pam-minick-all-around-award-debuts-at-fwssr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/132401\/","title":{"rendered":"Billy and Pam Minick All-Around Award Debuts at FWSSR"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new challenge has arrived at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, and it\u2019s set to crown the most complete rodeo athlete in the arena. The inaugural\u00a0Billy and Pam Minick<\/a>\u00a0All-Around Award will reward versatility, grit, and mastery across multiple events, a test designed to separate specialists from true all-around competitors.<\/p>\n

For generations, rodeo has rewarded those who excel in a single lane. The Minick award deliberately disrupts that tradition. To contend, an athlete must qualify in at least two events and out-earn every other multi-event competitor by the tournament\u2019s conclusion on Feb. 7. The reward is tangible, $10,000 and a custom belt buckle, but the real prize is recognition as the most versatile athlete at the Stock Show.<\/p>\n

The award\u2019s namesakes understand that kind of challenge better than most. Billy and Pam Minick have spent decades embedded in the Fort Worth rodeo, not as distant benefactors but as hands-on participants, storytellers, and advocates for the sport\u2019s future. Billy built a career shaping rodeo productions and cultivating talent behind the scenes. Pam became one of the sport\u2019s most recognizable voices, spending thirty years on the FWSSR sidelines translating arena chaos into human stories for fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cBilly and Pam\u2019s impact on the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has been a major ingredient of our success, not just for our rodeo but for supporting and encouraging youth competitors and exhibitors, too,\u201d said Stock Show President Matt Carter. \u201cTheir decades-long involvement, paired with this generous sponsorship, is a testament to their commitment to this sport and this community.\u201d<\/p>\n

That commitment now takes form in a field of contenders that spans disciplines and regions. Entering the inaugural race are:<\/p>\n

Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas \u2014 Tie-Down Roping and Team Roping (heeler)
\n\tWacey Schalla, Arapaho, Oklahoma \u2014 Bareback Riding and Bull Riding
\n\tStetson Wright, Beaver, Utah \u2014 Bull Riding and Saddle Bronc Riding <\/p>\n

The storyline could grow more complicated. Rookie Thayne Elsher of Sturgis, South Dakota, is entered in bull riding and saddle bronc riding and can qualify for the\u00a0PRORODEO Tournament<\/a>\u00a0through the\u00a0FWSSR Rookie Rally<\/a>\u00a0on Jan. 22. A strong performance would immediately place him in contention for the Minick award and inject new volatility into the standings.<\/p>\n

The Minicks\u2019 $100,000 commitment secures the award for the next decade, a long-term investment meant to encourage competitors to broaden their skills and rethink what excellence looks like in modern rodeo, according to a release. The couple was recognized with the 2025 Legend of PRORODEO Award from the PRORODEO Hall of Fame, but this new honor creates something forward-looking, a living standard for the sport\u2019s future.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has been a part of my life since I was seven,\u201d Billy Minick said, recalling his first visit in 1947, when Gene Autry performed in the arena. \u201cThe proudest moment of my professional rodeo career was leading the grand entry at the FWSSR as the rodeo producer in 1970.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pam Minick, a National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honoree, framed the award as both a challenge and an opportunity. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to add to the prestige of the Fort Worth Stock Show by providing additional incentives to the pro rodeo athletes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Fans can witness the pursuit of all-around excellence beginning with the FWSSR Rookie Rally at Dickies Arena on Jan. 22, followed by all 18 PRORODEO Tournament performances running Jan. 23 through Feb. 7, where versatility, not specialization, will decide who leaves Fort Worth with a new title.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A new challenge has arrived at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, and it\u2019s set to crown…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132402,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[56681,64,116,118,117,32909,894,18376,56680,6419,6795,92],"class_list":{"0":"post-132401","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fort-worth","8":"tag-billy-minick","9":"tag-events","10":"tag-fort-worth","11":"tag-fort-worth-headlines","12":"tag-fort-worth-news","13":"tag-fort-worth-stock-show-and-rodeo","14":"tag-fwtx-staff","15":"tag-livestock","16":"tag-pam-minick","17":"tag-prize","18":"tag-rodeo","19":"tag-top-story"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}