Don and Sandy Buffington began their business over thirty years ago with a small band of horses; some raised on their ranch; others were gathered from a wild herd roaming in the Badlands.  This herd developed into a complete rodeo stock contracting business providing enough stock and personnel to entertain a fascinated public with a “top-notch” rodeo.

Sandy and Don Buffington are widely known for their popular and colorful rodeo performances, as well as their excellent rodeo management.  They have won numerous awards for their fine bucking stock.  The great “Wounded Knee” was voted by the cowboys as Bucking Horse of the Year in both the saddle bronc and bareback events in the IPRA.  “Sad Sack” and “Bomber” and others were also powerful saddle bronc horses and received top awards by many Associations.

Don & Sandy have also received many awards for the “Best Rodeo of the Year” and “Best New Rodeo of the Year”.  The Minnesota Rodeo Association has voted Buffington Rodeo Company as having the Best Bareback, Best Saddle Bronc and Best Bull of the Year for several years.

Don and Sandy have been very instrumental in keeping the sport of rodeo alive, especially in Minnesota . The MRA (Minnesota Rodeo Association) was re-established in 1993 when Don and Sandy Buffington recognized the need for a state association. Sandy contacted Tom Sonenstahl and together they worked on organizing the association. Tom worked on the Articles of Incorporation and the non-profit status while Sandy worked on organizing the members and rodeos to be counted for points. The first year it was strictly a points association but changed to a dues-paying association in 1994. Sandy and Tom incurred all costs and expenses out of their own pockets that first year and donated countless hours to the setup of the association. The MRA grew rapidly from a 70-member association to a peak of over 500 in a period of four years and has since backed off to an association of about 350 members with 25-30 rodeos per year.

Click HERE for photo and news article on Don Buffington.

 1996 Bull of the Finals “Casper”

1997 Bull of the Year “Dirty Deeds”

1998 Bull of the Year “Star Wars”

1998 Bareback Horse of the Year “Spark Plug”

1998 Saddle Bronc of the Year “Miss Molly”

1999 Saddle Bronc of the Year “Cryin’ Bob”

2000 Saddle Bronc of the Year “Cryin’ Bob”

1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Best Rodeo of the Year, MN Rodeo Association:  Superior, WI

2003 WI Rodeo Association Awards
Bull of the Finals “Buster”
Saddle Bronc of the Finals “Jet Ski”
Best New Rodeo of the Year—Tomah, WI

2004 WI Rodeo Association Awards
Saddle Bronc of the Finals “Jet Ski”
Saddle Bronc of the Year “Jet Ski”

2003 United Rodeo Association Awards
  Bull of the Finals “Buster”
Bull of the Year “Buster”
Saddle Bronc of the Finals “Pickles”
Saddle Bronc of the Year “Jet Ski”
Best New Rodeo of the Year

2004 United Rodeo Association Awards
Saddle Bronc of the Year “Jet Ski”

2003 South Dakota Rodeo Assiciation
Best New Rodeo of the Year - Wessinton Springs

2003 Iowa Rodeo Association
Best New Rodeo of the Year, Zimmerman, MN

Click on any image for an enlarged view.