SDSU Rodeo Program
ºù«Ӱҵ's rodeo program has a rich history of over 1,200 rodeo team alumni dating back to the first meeting held in the livestock pavilion (now South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum) in 1952. The program has produced multiple NFR qualifiers, CNFR qualifiers and regional championships. The Jackrabbit Stampede, our home rodeo, has been named the Great Plains Region Rodeo of the Year eight times.
SDSU Rodeo is affiliated with the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, which is represented on more than 200 college and university campuses throughout the United States.
The rodeo team has indoor and outdoor practice facilities, scheduled practices, practice stock for every event, a full-time coach and part time assistant coach, scholarship opportunities, travel reimbursements for the top six men/women and limited boarding for horses. SDSU is also centrally located in the Great Plains region and has the shortest driving distances to the Great Plains regional college rodeos during the season.
Most importantly, every SDSU Rodeo team member has a wide variety of degrees they can study. SDSU offers the broadest and most competitive academic program in the state with more than 200 majors, minors and specializations. Combining SDSU's two- or four-year degrees, with a competitive rodeo team, is the best of both worlds for anyone serious about their future in and out of the rodeo arena.
To schedule a meeting with Coach Skovly during a campus visit, please note your interest in SDSU Rodeo in the comments section of the campus visit form.
Every rodeo team member is eligible for scholarships earned based on points awarded at NIRA rodeos, club participation, and college GPA. Limited incoming freshmen scholarships are earned based on past rodeo achievements, video submitted and applications submitted.
TJ Waller Memorial Scholarships – $1,000
TJ Waller, brother of Penny Waller Skovly, passed away from Mesothelioma Cancer at the age of 33. TJ enjoyed rodeo and loved to follow it without ever competing himself as a farmer and cattle producer. For over 60 years the SDSU Rodeo team has been supported by non-competing club members that enjoy helping the team succeed. This yearly scholarship is designed and awarded by Coach Ron Skovly to give a $500 scholarship to two deserving SDSU Rodeo Club members that have not participated in NIRA rodeo. These members volunteer their help with SDSU Rodeo practices, chores, jackpots and the Jackrabbit Stampede. The scholarship is funded every year by TJ’s parents Richard and Sue Waller with 37 Cattle Co. of Holdrege, Nebraska.
Stephanie Anderson-Williams Memorial Scholarship – +/- $1,400
SDSU Rodeo alumni and 1997 Great Plains Region Breakaway Champion, Stephanie Anderson-Williams lost a short battle with brain cancer in 2013. She competed for the SDSU Rodeo team all four years while receiving her bachelor’s degree in education. In 1997, she married SDSU rodeo teammate Marty Williams from Wall, South Dakota, where she taught and coached volleyball for 13 years. As a former teammate of Stephanie’s, it is an honor for Coach Ron Skovly to pick the yearly scholarship winner. The recipient must be an incoming Junior or Senior member of the SDSU Rodeo Team or Club that intends to participate during the upcoming season and has a 3.0 GPA or better. The team or club member will be picked based on their leadership, support of other members, volunteering and willingness to assist with chores or other duties associated with the rodeo program. The scholarship has been established through an endowment in Stephanie’s name through the SDSU Foundation.
Marcie Locken Memorial Scholarship – $500
The Marcie Locken Memorial Scholarship fund was established in 2013, by her family and friends, to honor the life and courage of Marcie Locken. Marcie grew up in Isabel, South Dakota and attended ºù«Ӱҵ, where she was a member of the Jackrabbit Rodeo Team. In 2007, Marcie qualified for the National College Rodeo Finals in the Goat Tying. She also competed in Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing throughout her rodeo career. In December 2011, Marcie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and fought her battle at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. On Nov. 7, 2012 at the age of 26, Marcie lost her battle to cancer, but her spirit lives on. Marcie was dedicated to her family, friends, rodeo, school and church. She always had a smile on her face and could always bring out the best in others. Throughout her battle with cancer, Marcie was a strong, fearless woman that fought her heart out. In memory of Marcie, an annual scholarship will be awarded to a student that shares the same qualities, dedications and dreams that Marcie was passionate about.
Dorothy Aaberg Kennedy Scholarship – $1,500
Dennis J Kennedy designated a portion of his estate for the creation of a scholarship at ºù«Ӱҵ, in honor of his mother, Dorothy Aaberg Kennedy. This gift creates the fund and pays tribute to his mothers love of horses. Recipients will be students who are members of the Rodeo Team and preferably also taking courses in equine studies in the Department of Animal Science. First preference will be given to students from Philip, South Dakota. Second preference will be given to students from the Western Region of South Dakota. The recipient will be selected by the rodeo team coach.
Bonnie Korkow Memorial "Top Hand Scholarship" – +/- $1,500
The Bonnie Korkow Memorial Top Hand Scholarship is donated by four time CNFR Bareback Riding qualifier and SDSU Rodeo 2015 alum Nick Schwedhelm, and the Craig Korkow Family in memory of Bonnie Korkow. This scholarship will be awarded to a SDSU competing team member based on cumulative GPA and total points from the previous college rodeo season. It will be open to both the SDSU men's and SDSU women's teams to be put toward the following year's NIRA entry fees and travel expenses. The recipient must be NIRA eligible and a returning team member for the SDSU Rodeo Team. As in all SDSU Rodeo scholarships, half will be awarded in the Fall semester and the second half will be awarded in the Spring semester.
Jim and Reyna Martin "New Team Member Scholarships" – $2,000 x 2
Jim and Reyna Martin are local to Brookings and have followed SDSU Rodeo for many years. They donate a $2,000 scholarship to two incoming rodeo team members each year. This support is appreciated for helping recruit top student athletes to the SDSU Rodeo program!
With over 25 years of rodeo experience in 4-H, High School, Little Britches, Amateur and PRCA rodeos, Skovly still competes and enjoys helping young rodeo athletes. Much in the same way that he was helped by names such as Todd and Troy Pruitt, Brian Fulton, Roger Branch and his dad, Leonard Skovly, when he was growing up. Over the years, this helped Ron to two High School National Finals qualifications in calf roping and team roping, two College National Finals qualifications in calf roping and team roping, a Badlands Circuit Finals qualification in calf roping, and several amateur association finals qualifications in MRA, SDRA, NPRA and the MSRA.
Coaching highlights:
* 2009 Great Plains Region Coach of the Year
* 2010 Reserve National Champion Women's Team
* 4 - Great Plains Region Men's Team Championships - 4 Reserve Championships
* 3 - Great Plains Region Women's Team Championships - 5 Reserve Championships
* 31 - SDSU Great Plains Region Individual Event Champions
* 115 - College National Finals Rodeo Qualifiers
* 19 - College National Finals Rodeo top 10 Short-go qualifiers
* 6 - Great Plains Region "Rodeo of the Year" awards for the "Jackrabbit Stampede" home rodeo
Visit Jackrabbit Central to purchase SDSU Rodeo apparel.
The SDSU Rodeo Boosters are committed to spreading camaraderie and support for the rodeo program through a network of interested alumni, former and current team/club members, parents of current team/club members and friends of SDSU and rodeo.
