Fort Pierre, South Dakota
Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center: A Legacy Cast in Bronze
There’s a special kind of pride that comes with being a part of the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center in Fort Pierre. It’s a place where rodeo legends aren’t just remembered—they’re immortalized in bronze. From Casey Tibbs himself, to Billy Etbauer and Clint Johnson, this center pays tribute to the saddle bronc riders who helped define South Dakota’s rodeo tradition.
Back in 1984, I started crafting rodeo bronzes, and the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center has some of my most meaningful work. The first piece I created for the center was a life-size bronze of Casey Tibbs, a man who needs no introduction in the rodeo world. That sculpture stands inside the museum, alongside another piece I sculpted of Mattie Goff-Newcombe, a World Champion Trick Rider and bronc rider herself.
But the work didn’t stop there. In the Sculpture Garden outside the center, you’ll find bronzes of five-time world champion Billy Etbauer and four-time world champion Clint Johnson. These pieces were added to the garden over the years, with Clint Johnson’s statue rounding out the trio in 2019. I’ve known Clint since we were in high school, so it was a real honor to sculpt his likeness. Together, these bronzes stand as a tribute to the greatest bronc riders South Dakota has ever seen.
In fact, when Clint Johnson’s sculpture was installed, I had the privilege of shaking his hand right there by the statue—a moment that captured the pride we both felt. It’s one thing to sculpt a friend and rodeo legend, but seeing his reaction as the piece was unveiled, standing beside it, is something I won’t soon forget.
The Casey Tibbs Center isn’t just about these bronzes—it’s a celebration of rodeo’s heritage and the cowboys and cowgirls who’ve shaped it. From the Casey Tibbs Match of Champions bronc ride to the annual Tribute Dinner, the center is keeping the spirit of rodeo alive for future generations. If you make your way to Fort Pierre, take the time to wander through the center and the sculpture garden. You’ll see that this place is more than just a museum—it’s a living testament to South Dakota’s deep roots in rodeo.
