Rodeo in the South: Savannah's Big Night at the Hi Lo Pro Rodeo

Savannah, Georgia is a charming Southern city known for its Spanish moss, fine dining, and coastal charm. Once a year it gains another claim to fame: the pro rodeo comes to town. This weekend was that annual event, with the Savannah Pro Rodeo produced by the Hi Lo ProRodeo Company in connection with fellow stock contractors JJ Miller and Strawberry Pruitt. Held at the Enmarket Arena, the rodeo drew a crowd despite the freezing temperatures as winter storm Fern took over the lower half of the United States.

  The day may have been cold, but the competition was hot and the payout plentiful. Georgia native Justin Thigpen won the All-around Cowboy Title with $2,092 between the tie-down roping and team roping. 

 The tie-down roping saw a top time of 9.2 seconds in the first round from Bo Brown, which awarded him $881. Randall Carlisle was next with a 9.9 second run and a $661 payout, and Justin Thigpen was in third with a 10.7 second run and a $440 payout. In the second round, Randall Carlisle came in first with a 9.0 second run and a $881 payout, followed by Justin Thigpen in second with a 9.3 second run and a $661 payout, and Colt Papy in third with an 11 second run and a $440 payout.

  The team ropers kept it quick with father-son duo Braxton Culpepper and Brad Culpepper clocking in at 4.7 seconds, earning $1,160 each. Travis Dorman and Craig Stevens took the second place win with a 5.5 second run and a $960 payout.

  The timed events continued with the steer wrestlers turning steers and stopping the watch. The first round winner was Trey Weekley with a 3.4 second run that earned him $752.2 and Troy Troyer taking first in round two with a 3.9 second run that won him $752. 

  The barrel racing was open to local girls who displayed the talent of the south alongside the nation’s cowboys. The bucking horses were proud to show off their athleticism and put some high scores on the board.

  In the bareback riding, Houston Herbert won $558 for first place in the first round with a 78 point ride on HiLo ProRodeo’s South Crop. In the second round, Grant Worthington came in first place and took home $558 after going 80 points on HiLo ProRodeo’s Charlotte Flair.

  The saddle bronc cowboys upped the points board with Tyler Pruitt having an incredible 87.5 point ride on HiLo ProRodeo’s Beau Knows, taking home $1,805.

 The bull riders closed out the night. In round one Ryan Albers went 79 points on HiLo ProRodeo’s Bubblegum, leading to his taking home $1,629 with no other qualified rides in the round. In round two, Carson Watford scored an 83.5 point ride on HiLo ProRodeo’s Little Hat, also earning $1,629.

   The South showed out and the total payoff was $36,204. Another fine rodeo on the Georgia coast.