EVENTS
Rodeo Livestock Contractor
Born in 1900 in California, rodeo producer, rancher, and bucking stock supplier Bob Barmby spent most of his life in a rodeo arena. At first he contested as a roper, but in 1922 he began contracting. In 1932 he pioneered a breeding program for Brahma bulls and other bucking stock on his California ranch.
For most cowboys the BB brand on a bull meant trouble when the chute opened. Barmby’s string included the infamous bulls Oscar, Kilroy, Tojo, and Old Hitler, as well as broncs Rag Mop, Hell Bent, and Hoot’s Hooter (once owned by movie cowboy Hoot Gibson). Barmby’s formula for raising a bronc was to “let ‘em run and feed hell out of ‘em.”
For nearly 35 years Bob Barmby also produced rodeos in California, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. Said an admirer, “Bob’s life was completely devoted to rodeo, either production, watching a rodeo, or talking about rodeo. Bob was a friend of rodeo and the rodeo cowboy.” After retiring, he continued raising and breeding bulls until his death in 1990.
