By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
The bulls have been ridden, the calves roped and plenty of hot dogs and hamburgers served to hungry fans.
The Rotary Club’s 2025 Independence Day Rodeo proved to be another major success, drawing an unofficial enthusiastic crowd of more than 5,000 people turning out for the two-night event and showcasing aspiring rodeo stars from across Southwest Texas.
Held over two nights at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds, the event featured a full lineup of traditional rodeo events. Spectators packed the stands Friday and Saturday night, cheering on contestants as they battled for bragging rights and belt buckles.
Friday night’s winners included Eli Espy in bareback bronc, Sandon Uribe in ranch bronc, and Dustin Specht in calf roping. Diego and Edgardo Contreras teamed up to win team roping, while JR Burns blazed through the barrels to take the top spot.
Saturday night saw Jaspur Farris take home the bareback bronc title, while Zeth Hastings topped the ranch bronc event. Garret Nalley impressed in the mini bareback category, and Cash Sellman claimed victory in saddle bronc.
In timed events, Sam Griffin won calf roping and Mindy Warner took the breakaway roping title. Quisto Lopez and Joel Galvan teamed up for a strong performance in team roping, while JR Burns repeated as barrel racing champion. Josh Coston finished out the night with a winning ride in open bull riding.
While competitors who get to take home a buckle or check are deemed the winners, Rotary is focused on the students graduating in 2026 and hope to successfully help them transition into the college ranks with a scholarship.
“We try to put on a family-friendly event,” said Cheryl Simmons, this year’s Rotary president and 2025 Rodeo coordinator. “We want people to be able to bring their family out for an affordable time and leave with smiles on their face. We also want to help many local high school students start their academic careers at the next level.”
Simmons said the club hopes to use the proceeds from the sales of hamburgers, hot dogs, beverages and tickets to give away $25,000 of scholarships to 2026 graduates.
“What I must always point out is it’s the sponsors who will enable us to make all this goodness happen,” said Simmons. “Everyone from our title sponsor to our smallest sponsor, we couldn’t do it without them. Thanks to them, we are able to give Del Rio two great nights of fun as we help some local students start their college careers.”
Simmons had a long list of “thank you’s” to those who made the event possible.
“This event would not be possible without all of the non-Rotary volunteers that come out year after year to help. Thank you to Judge (Lewis G.) Owens Jr., Val Verde County judge and the county commissioners for donating the fairgrounds this year, to all the Val Verde County employees that were there helping keep the place looking good, thanks to GEO for donating food, thank you to Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez and the deputies for their work both nights and thank you to Colonel Benavides and the Junior ROTC for helping with the parking,” she said. In the end, she threw a last thank you in.
“Big thanks to the Texas Army National Guard and Laughlin volunteers,” she said.
Simmons the rodeo helps fund other Rotary projects like school supplies for local schools, improvements to Rotary Park and Rotary Pocket Park, supporting senior residents at Rotary Village and Pump Track design.
During the 20-year history of the event, the Rotary Club has given away more than $400,000 in scholarships alone, Simmons said.
The writer can be reached at JoelALangton@gmail.com .
