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April 29, 2008

Taking stock

Andrews has brought the some of the best to rodeo

By Lauren Ricks

Sammy Andrews will kick off his 23rd year providing excitement to one of the most popular events in Athens.

Andrews has been the only stock contractor for the Elder Dodge Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Henderson County Stampede.

The stampede began Thursday night with a kick-off ceremony, and rodeo action will be Friday and Saturday night.

“I think he is what people who don’t live in Texas think a Texas gentleman is,” said Hayden Elder, owner of Elder Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Athens, the main sponsor of the rodeo.

Andrews said his first rodeo in Athens was a free event at the Black-Eyed Pea Festival at the Henderson County Fairpark Complex in 1985.

“It was a hot day then, I know that,” he said. “It was in July.”

In 1987, Andrews was certified by the PRCA as an official stock contractor.

“Hayden Elder got me to go for the PRCA card because he wanted the rodeo to be PRCA,” Andrews said.

Andrews, 61, and his son James Andrews, 33, operate Andrews Rodeo Inc., from their ranch in Addielou. The business is a family tradition, started by Andrews’ father and grandfather.

“I was kinda raised in it,” Andrews said. “(My grandfather) and my dad were in it together, like me and my son are in it together.

“I make sure the rodeo goes smooth and I have everything there.” Andrews said. “The main thing is to make sure the guy who buys the ticket gets his money’s worth.”

Andrews said he provides the animals for about 40 rodeos a year. The company operates mostly in Arizona, South Dakota, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

According to Probullstats.com, his bulls have also made appearances in New Mexico, Missouri, North Carolina, and Nevada.

He said he will be providing the PRCA Stampede with 28 bulls, 50 bucking horses, 40 steers and 40 calves.

Andrews said he breeds about 90 percent of his stock for rodeos and purchases the other 10 percent from many sources.

“I kind of shop around and buy a few good ones each year, especially horses,” he said.

Andrews has two young bulls he said are promising, Banty Rooster, 2007, and Hot Toddy, 2008. He also said his older bulls, Rompus, 2003, and Hot Spot, 2006, have performed well. Rompus is one of his top-rated bulls.

“We are into breeding our own horses and bulls. It’s kinda like watching your kids perform,” he said.

Andrews was the owner of the world-famous bull, Bodacious, according to Don Howell President/CEO of Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.

“Everyone knows who Bodacious was,” Howell said.

Andrews was one of 32 people inducted this year into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held on April 11-12 at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton.

“He was selected by the board of directors to be inducted into the Hall of Fame because of his prestigious record of being a stock contractor,” Howell said.

“I felt it was a pretty special honor. It shows that you must have impressed someone over the years,” Andrews said. “I enjoyed seeing the people I looked up to as a child.”

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