The new bronze statue sculpture of Casey Tibbs riding The Old Grey Mare was unveiled over the weekend at the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center in Fort Pierre.
Sculptor Tony Chytka says he’s been working on it for the past six months.
Chytka says he met Tibbs when he was a kid, so it’s an honor to make Tibbs’ sculpture.
Tibbs’ daughter Beth Donely came from California to attend the unveiling and she brought one of his saddles with her.
The Casey Tibbs bronze sculpture joins one of Billy Etbauer. A sculpture of Clint Johnson is scheduled to be added next year. Rodeo center director Cindy Bahe said about 100 attended the unveiling. She says 17-hundred to 18-hundred people watched the 25th annual Casey Tibbs Match of Champions Xtreme Broncs event Saturday night. Bahe says reserved seating was sold out.
Wade Sundell won the bronc riding event for a fourth time, including last year, taking home just shy of $2-thousand. Total payout for the night was over $14-thousand.
Results of the PRCA Xtreme Bronc Riding:
First round: 1. Rusty Wright, 84 points on Sutton Rodeos’ Electric Avenue, $1,279; 2. Wade Sundell, 81, $980; 3. Isaac Diaz, 80.5, $725; 4. Allen Boore, 78.5, $469; 5. (tie) Bradley Harter and Ryder Wright, 78, $256 each; 7. (tie) Peter White II and Jade Blackwell, 77, $149 each.
Finals: 1. Wade Sundell, 87 points on Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic From Hell, $938; 2. (tie) Ryder Wright and Rusty Wright, 85, $611 each; 4. Peter White II, 83, $341; 5. Isaac Diaz, 81.5, $199; 6. Allen Boore, 80, $142. Average: 1. Rusty Wright, 169 points on two head, $2,131; 2. Wade Sundell, 168, $1,634; 3. Ryder Wright, 163, $1,208; 4. Isaac Diaz, 162, $781; 5. Peter White II, 160, $497; 6. Allen Boore, 158.5, $355; 7. Bradley Harter, 157, $284; 8. Jade Blackwell, 147, $213.
Total payoff: $14,208.
Tibbs statue replica photo credit: Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center.
Tibbs saddle:
