Barnes, Bob

Bob Barnes has been called the premier rodeo producer in America’s heartland. Known as the “Colonel,” Barnes prides himself on being able to produce what he advertises – a top professional rodeo. Barnes, born April 19, 1929, in Cherokee, Iowa, started his rodeo career as a teenage amateur bareback rider. In 1950 he and his sister, Marj, decided to try their hand at producing rodeos. Their first professional rodeo was produced after the Korean War. By 1953 they hit the road with a full string of stock and the Barnes Rodeo Company was on its way. Barnes Rodeo Company is the longest running, individually owned and operated stock contracting company in the country and the major contributor to developing rodeo in the Midwest. Barnes, the 1984 Stock Contractor of the Year, says the greatest enjoyment he gets from rodeo is seeing the results when the top stock is matched against the better cowboy. He was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994.