GAINESVILLE – The North Central Texas College Agriculture Department continues to grow. Starting in the Fall 2016 semester the department is adding a Rodeo Team.

All of the programs within the department, including Agriculture, Farm & Ranch Management, Equine Science and Horticulture, have experienced growth and student success over the past several years and are healthy programs. The rodeo team, however, will add another opportunity for students while contributing to the overall growth of the college and our community.

“We are very excited to bring Rodeo back to NCTC Gainesville,” said NCTC President, Dr. Brent Wallace. “This program will not only provide further opportunities for students, but will assist in continuing to build the on the strength of our Equine and Agriculture programs.”

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA), the sanctioning body for College Rodeo, has a rich history of over 50 years. The NIRA hosts events all over the United States, divided into eleven different regions. Texas itself has nearly 30 colleges and universities that field men’s and women’s rodeo teams. Texas is divided into two regions for competition, the Southern region, which includes schools mostly east of I-35 down to Uvalde and Kingsville, and the Southwest Region, which includes schools west of I-35 out to Hobbs, NM. NCTC will be competing in the Southwest Region. Each year the team will compete in 10 college rodeos hosted by schools in the region. The top two teams from each of the eleven regions qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo which is currently being held in Casper, WY the first part of June each year.

Steve Keith, Agriculture Department Chair, has been busy for months raising money and planning for this team. Keith is no newcomer to rodeo himself, being a three-time qualifier for the College National Finals, a four-time Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) circuit finals qualifier and a college rodeo coach for six years before joining NCTC as the Agriculture Department Chair.

“This is both an exciting opportunity and an exciting challenge,” said Keith. “Our norm will no longer be the norm when we return to school this Fall as we plan for housing practice cattle for the team, as well as provide trailer parking and horse stalls for team members – those are great problems to have. This team will truly be a great asset for our college and for local youth coming up through the ranks of junior and high school rodeo to be able to attend college and compete locally while honing their skills at the next level in pursuit of lucrative rodeo scholarships from universities once they complete their degree at NCTC. What better place for a rodeo team than in North Texas – the heart of horse country.”

The NCTC Ag Department has already seen wild success with other Equestrian teams and looks forward to adding another opportunity for students to succeed.

“Over the past four to five years, our Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) and Ranch Horse teams have experienced growing success from trainer awards, to Hi-Point riders and students traveling coast-to-coast to compete in semi-finals and national finals competition,” said Keith. “We expect our Rodeo Team to grow and develop into the same caliber program as our other teams”

NCTC is accepting students now for the Fall 2016 Rodeo Team. Students may be eligible for scholarships.

“We truly appreciate those who are making contributions of time, money and resources to aid in first year of this program and look forward to its continued growth and success in years to come,” said Wallace.

For more information about the Rodeo Team, one of the other Equestrian teams, or available scholarships contact Steve Keith at [email protected] or visit www.nctc.edu/agriculture.

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