Building a Buckaroo: Iconic sculpture installed on West Walker
Weighing in at about 3,000 pounds, sculpture pays homage to all Buckaroos — past and present
Cindi Woodward poses for a picture with sculptor Joe Barrington and the crew that helped install the Buckaroo sculpture late last month, Ted Tidwell, Dylan Box and Trent Tankersley. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
From the initial concept to the recent installation, the giant Buckaroo metal sculpture in front of Cindi Woodward’s house on West Walker Street has taken more than three years.
In March 2023, Woodward, a former Breckenridge High School cheerleader and host of the Buckaroos Live Facebook page, contacted metal sculptor Joe Barrington and with the concept of a creating a large Buckaroo to place on display in the grassy area in front of her house.
“We just talked about it, and he drew it off. I still have the original drawing that he did, and I’m treasuring that,” Woodward said about her initial meeting with Barrington. “But he drew it off, just immediately knew what it would be, what it could be. And he drew this original thing and had it slanted already, had the ‘B’ on it, had the limestone. He was just amazing…the inspiration to create the thing, and I just was on board with it from the get-go.”
Barrington created the Buckaroo in his Albany studio last year, but he had to wait until the base was constructed at Woodward’s place before he could install the sculpture in its permanent home. Everything was in place by mid-August, and Barrington and a crew used telescopic forklifts, large chains and a lot of hard work to place the horse on the base and then to put the Buckaroo on the horse. Later, the lights were added.
Ted Tidwell operates the forklift on the left, while Joe Barrington, at right, lifts Trent Tankersley and Dylan Box to help get the Buckaroo adjusted on the horse. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Woodward said she wanted to do something to support the Breckenridge community in general, as well as the BHS Class of 2027, which includes her nephew Hudson Woodward.
“I think it’s going to be an icon for Breckenridge. I was one of the six cheerleaders that put the ‘B’ on top of the bank, and so that’s kind of where my inspiration came from,” she said, referring to the “B” that was installed on the top of what was then First National Bank (now, Clear Fork Bank) in the mind-1970s and is lit up each time a Buckaroo team wins a game. “I was just supporting the town, the community, and that’s what I would love to do: is be a part of something big, and I appreciate that.”
The Buckaroo is fabricated from welded steel, is 30 feet tall and weighs about 3,000 pounds, Barrington said last year when he was still working on the sculpture at his Albany studio. It will be left unpainted and allowed to develop a natural rust patina.
Barrington built the Buckaroo in Albany and had it transported to Breckenridge last month. He and a crew installed it on the limestone-clad base Woodward had constructed for the sculpture. On the front of the base is a back-lit green “B.” The sculpture also is lighted at night with spotlights shining on the Buckaroo.
The Breckenridge Texan has been following the progression of the Buckaroo, from its construction in Albany to the installation last month and finally the lighting ceremony after the BHS Homecoming parade earlier this month. Take a look at the video below to see how it all happened:
Dylan Box, from left, Trent Tankersley and Joe Barrington work to make sure the horse part of the sculpture is in place, while Ted Tidwell operates the fork lift on the other side of the base. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Sculptor Joe Barrington created the giant Buckaroo in sections at his studio in Albany before having it transported here and reassembled on West Walker Street. Overall, the sculpture weighs about 3,000 pounds, with the cowboy hat weighing in at about 100 pounds. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Over time, the Buckaroo will weather to a dark red patina. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The Duran family — Ashley, Jeremy and Case — pose for a picture with the lighted Buckaroo sculpture after the Breckenridge High School Homecoming Parade. Jeremy handled the lighting of the sculpture, which is located in front of Cindi Woodward’s house on West Walker Street. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cindi Woodward wanted to do something for the community when she had the idea for a large Buckaroo metal sculpture. She said she hopes it becomes an icon for Breckenridge. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Working to set the Buckaroo upright on the horse are Dylan Box, left; Trent Tankersley, center; Joe Barrington, in the forklift at right; and Ted Tidwell, in the forklift on the other side of the base. The giant Buckaroo was created by Barrington in Albany, transported to Breckenridge and then installed in front of Cindi Woodward’s house on West Walker Street. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
