Equine herpesvirus concerns cause cancellation of Prairie Circuit Finals rodeo

J.R. Stratford, who was slated to compete in the Prairie Circuit finals later this week, rides bull Jim Dandy out of the chute at the Linn County rodeo last summer. Stratford's ride, which was a thrill to watch for local rodeo fans, won the event with a score of 94. (Terri Abrahamsen / Chute Rodeo Images).

Press release

Ruth Nicolaus, spokeswoman

After careful consultation with veterinarians, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association (WPRA), we have made the difficult decision to cancel this weekend’s Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo due to confirmed cases of equine herpesvirus (EHV) in the region.

The health and safety of every horse, along with the well-being of our contestants and their animals, is our highest priority. We cannot risk exposing any animal to this virus, and we believe this is the most responsible choice to protect our rodeo community.

We know this is a disappointment and an inconvenience for our ticket buyers, contestants, and fans. Please know this decision was made with heavy hearts, but with clear conviction that our horses’ safety must come first.

Ticket buyers who purchased online through Ticketmaster will be refunded. Ticket buyers who purchased tickets through the Kansas Star Casino box office must go to the box office to get their refund.

According to John Teagarden, Linn County Fair board member, the Kansas Star Casino Arena at Mulvane, Kan., was slated to host the event beginning Thursday, Nov. 20.

Teagarden said the Linn County Fair Rodeo would have been connected to many of the Prairie Circuit Finals contestants as 40 of the 120 that are qualified for the Mulvane rodeo competed at Mound City rodeo last August.

Included among the qualified Prairie Circuit finalists are four event winners at Mound City: Colt Eck, Redfield, Kan., bareback; J.R. Stratford, Byers, Kan., bull riding; Trent Burd, Madison, Kan., saddle bronc, and Ivy Hurst, Springer. Oklahoma., barrel race.

Both Eck (bareback) and Stratford (bull riding) are year-end event winners and automatically qualified for the National Circuit Finals in Colorado next July.

Two contestants in each event — the season ending leader and the winners of the three performance circuit finals — advance to the lucrative National Circuit Finals next July. The 2025 total payout for the National Circuit Finals totaled $688,000.

Tie-down roper Mason Stueve, Newton, Kan., a regular competitor at Mound City, is the season end winner in his event and is qualified for the national rodeo.

Local contestants qualified for the Prairie Circuit Finals, in addition to Colt Eck, include Trenton Johnson, Blue Mound, steer roping; Bryce Eck of Redfield, bareback riding; and Colton Byram of Mound City and Tate Pollmeier, Coy Pollmeier and Brayden Lamb of Fort Scott, bull riding; .

The rodeo has not been reschedule yet, but Teagarden speculates it will be postponed until next February or March.