Bad Company Rodeo has been a trend setter since they started producing rodeos in the early 1980’s.
Under the direction of owner Mack Altizer, they were the first to bring rock ‘n’ roll music and rodeo together. Their productions have always been full of excitement with attention to detail. The focus of every event is to make sure that every person who attends, no matter how young or old they are, has a good time.
As a ranch cowboy, Altizer has been around livestock all of his life. That background is complemented by his love for competition and experience in the rodeo arena. He is a second generation rodeo competitor that started in the American Junior Rodeo Association (AJRA), the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and is still involved as a roper in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).
As a competitor, he understands what it takes for today’s rodeo contestants to go down the road and is always looking for ways to make his events better and more profitable for the contestants. His ranch and rodeo background gives him the knowledge and desire to always seek out better livestock.
Innovation and setting trends started early for Altizer. He was president of the AJRA and as student president of the NIRA, he helped negotiate taking the College National Finals Rodeo to Bozeman, Mont. That was the beginning of growth for college rodeo that continues today.
All of those experiences have contributed to Bad Company Rodeo’s success and are setting a path for the future. They also helped Altizer start one of the premier bucking bull breeding programs in the industry. Not only is he raising future bucking bull stars, he is taking their progress further through his junior bull riding series, giving young bull riders the opportunity to test their metal against the young bulls.
“It’s a great way to give those young bulls the confidence to grow up and become superstars,” Altizer said. “It also lets rising star bull riders get on some buckers and figure out if that’s what they really want to do. And, these young bulls aren’t just hoppers. They really buck and give those kids a taste of what to expect in their future.”
To prove that point, McKennon Wimberly from Cool, Texas, was the first “Whose Your Daddy” junior bull riding champion. In February of 2007, he competed at his first Built Ford Tough Series event in the Professional Bull Riders. Sam Wyatt, from Fittstown, Okla., won the Junior bull riding tour in 2005 and along with the reigning champion Colby Scallions from Itasca, Texas will be forces to be reckoned with in the future.
In 1998, Altizer received the coveted “Stock Contractor of the Year” award from the PRCA for his efforts with Bad Company Rodeo. The company’s business ventures have changed since then and while they are not as involved in as many rodeos, the qualities that earned them the title are still in place.
“We are excited about the future,” Altizer said. “We’re more focused on raising our own animals and we have some young bulls and horses that have the potential to be outstanding.”
Bad Company Rodeo has also been sending bulls to the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series events. One of the bulls with the most notoriety in the PBR is Walk This Way, who was ridden only one time in 2006 by world champion Justin McBride.
Change is coming in 2007. A new company, Rodeo Ranch Genetics will be marketing genetics from Bad Company Rodeo’s top bucking bulls. Bad Company Rodeo is taking a step back from rodeo production, analyzing the future and gearing up to make a statement again. Rodeo fans can “Expect the Unexpected” from Altizer and Bad Company Rodeo as they make plans to bring cowboy traditions back to the rodeo arena.
e-mail Mack Altizer: rockin@badcompanyrodeo.com
Bad Company Rodeo
999 Qualia Drive
Del Rio, Texas 78840
(830)395-2261
Click Here to For Amanda Brown
Miss Bad Wear 2007