The generosity of donors brought five significant improvements to the Don Campbell Rodeo Complex, including the installation of arena lights, the addition of 20 horse stalls, a water wagon, a John Deere utility vehicle and a newly constructed gated entrance.
Donors include Beaver County Feeders, Charles Morton Share Trust, Community Bank of Alva, Dr. Mark and Gena Denton, Brent Diel, Dietz Welding, Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma, Foote’s Farm Supply, Dr. Bo and Tara Hannaford, K&S Tire, Lee Mackey and Paul Transportation.
"I want to thank the donors who stepped up to help elevate our rodeo program," said Brad Franz, Vice President for Athletics. "These additions will allow us to expand our opportunities, whether in practice or in providing better safety and care for our students and their livestock."
Fundraising efforts began October 2024 and by February 2025, a total of $210,500 had been raised to support these additions.
The Northwestern rodeo team currently has 80 student-athletes on its roster, making it the largest program within the Central Plains Region. With nine events and many of the athletes competing in more than one event, practice can take several hours.
“These additions have made a tremendous impact on our program,” said Cali Griffin, Northwestern rodeo coach. “They allow us to be more intentional with practice, improve safety for both our student-athletes and livestock, and create a better overall experience day in and day out. These upgrades also strengthen our ability to recruit future student-athletes by showing Northwestern is invested in rodeo and committed to helping them succeed. We’re very grateful to everyone who contributed to making this vision a reality.”
Prior to the installation of arena lighting, practices began as early as 1:00 p.m. and continued until dark, often during the hottest part of the day. The team would practice in two separate locations to ensure all student-athletes were was able to practice before sunset. With the addition of lights, student-athletes are now able to practice after sunset in cooler conditions and in one location. This benefits both athletes and livestock.
The addition of the new lights was the beginning of a much-needed revamp. With a large roster of student-athletes housing multiple horses, the need for 20 additional horse stalls was essential.
To further improve arena conditions, a water wagon was added to maintain proper moisture levels in the soil within the arena. This helps bind the arena surface, creating safer footing for livestock while also reducing dust and minimizing respiratory concerns for both livestock and student-athletes.
A John Deere utility vehicle for pulling dummies and sleds during practice was another improvement. Being able to pull sleds and roping dummies for practice is a safe way to have consistency and build muscle memory without overusing livestock.
In addition, a new gated entrance to the facility will be completed in August 2026. The redesigned entrance will be positioned farther from the highway, allowing student-athletes traveling with horse trailers to safely and completely turn off the county road before entering the complex. The new gate will also provide security in keeping horses and livestock safely contained.
“I can’t thank our donors enough,” said Dr. Bo Hannaford, President, Northwestern Oklahoma State University. “Stepping up with these gifts has such a positive impact on our rodeo program and our student-athletes. I know Coach Griffin and her staff will utilize these upgrades to make our program even better. It is a great day for this university and our rodeo teams.”
For more information about the Northwestern Don Campbell Rodeo Complex additions, contact Brad Franz at (580) 327-8632 or [email protected]. For questions about investing in Northwestern, contact Skeeter Bird, CEO, at (580) 327-8593 or [email protected].