Stephens Co. Rodeo Assoc. celebrates newly finished arena, hosting UPRA Rodeo this weekend
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
On Thursday afternoon, June 5, the Stephens County Ag Association Rodeo Arena, along with the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, other supporters and community leaders, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the rodeo arena that the organization has been building since 2020. The community will have a chance to see the arena in action tonight and Saturday night, June 6-7, when the SCAARA hosts the Stephens County UPRA (United Professional Rodeo Association) Rodeo at the arena.
What started out as just a few fences and an announcers’ stand has evolved into an arena complex with covered bleachers, chutes, bathrooms and more after years of continuous work by the SCAARA board and a group of dedicated volunteers. The original arena was in poor condition, described as rusted and rundown, and by mid-2019, the board had plans for a new arena in the same spot on County Road 245, off of U.S. Highway 180 East, behind the Stephens County Ag Center.
Last month, the SCAARA hosted the annual Stephens County Ranch Rodeo during Frontier Days, and the organization regularly hosts play days for kids. This summer, they will have a Play Day Series on Thursday nights — June 19, July 3, 17 and 31 — at the arena. They offer barrels, poles, flags, ribbon pulling, stick horse races and leadline for $10 per contestant. The kids are divided into classes: 7 and under, 8-10, 11-14 and 15-18. Cash prizes are awarded in every class. Entry begins at 6, and the event starts at 6:30 p.m.
The rodeo this weekend is the second annual Stephens County UPRA Rodeo, and tonight’s events will include an appearance by Miss Teen UPRA Ronica Norwood, aka “Roni.” She will be on hand at the rodeo, signing autographs, snapping pics, and holding the winning prize at the grand finale of the boot run event.
Roni is the 15-year-old daughter of Dee and Josh Mayes of Bogata, Texas, and Jase and Beth Norwood of Benton, Louisiana. She is a fourth generation member of the UPRA and has followed in her two older sisters’ footsteps to become Miss Teen UPRA. She is an active member of the National Little Britches Rodeo Association, where she has qualified for National Finals in goat tying the last two years. Roni is a student at Northhills private school and a member of Double R Cowboy Church of Clarksville.
On Saturday night, following the rodeo, Slade Coulter, a singer/songwriter from Lubbock, will perform following the rodeo, at about 9:30 p.m.
The rodeo is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. each night and will include bareback, saddle bronc, ranch bronc, bulls, tie down, ladies breakaway, ladies barrels and team roping. There will also be a calf scramble for kids age 12 and younger ($50 cash prize), and a boot run, offering participants a chance to win a new pair of boots from Greer’s Western Store.
Despite the recent rains, the SCAARA has been working to minimize the mud at the arena, scraping up the mud and bringing in loads of sand.
During the rodeo, the concession stand will be open. Additionally, there will be a crawfish boil and a beer tent by Truman’s Beverage Barn.
For tonight’s rodeo, tickets cost $20/cash or $23 when purchased online. For Saturday night’s rodeo and concert, tickets cost $25/cash or $28 when purchased online. Children age 8 and younger can get in free with an adult each night. To purchase tickets online, click here.
The SCAARA board includes Jeff Kanady, Seth Shortes, Ky Kennedy, John Peterson, Ashly Miles, Jason Hash, Waylon Davis, Reese Clark, Neil Fambro and Graham Reaugh. Atlana Harris is the marketing director.
For more information about the SCAARA or the Stephens County UPRA Rodeo, visit the SCAARA website or Facebook page.
Cutline, top photo: The Stephens County Ag Association Rodeo Arena board members gathered at the rodeo arena east of Breckenridge on Thursday afternoon, June 5, along with members of the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, other supporters and community leaders, for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the newly finished rodeo arena. The SCAARA will host the second annual Stephens County UPRA Rodeo on June 6-7. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Editor’s Note: This article was updated at about 3:30 p.m. June 6, 2025, to correct the name of the organization to the Stephens County Ag Association Rodeo Arena (SCAARA).
