#175 The Buckhorn Recordings – Kelly Clark: That’s the Best I’ve Ever Seen It Done.

Feb 10, 2026

Recorded on the Texas Swing, host Doug Simcox steps inside The Buckhorn—Kelly Clark’s one-of-a-kind “man cave” that turned into a full-blown rodeo museum. Walls covered in championship saddles, a U.S. map marked with the places Kelly’s competed, and artifacts that stretch back to the early days of organized rodeo… it’s overwhelming in the best way.

In this first conversation with Kelly, we start at the beginning: the Clark family story, the 1955 moment that lit the fuse, and the grit it took to build a life in rodeo. Kelly shares the remarkable legacy of his dad, John Clark—an IRA great with the Hall of Fame résumé—and the reality behind chasing world titles when rodeo isn’t a hobby… it’s a lifestyle.

You’ll also hear Kelly’s perspective as a true rodeo historian: how the IRA/IPRA evolved, why “cards in your pocket” never mattered as much as talent, and how rodeo got better (and why it still needs people who care enough to leave it better than they found it).

And then—right at the end—Kelly lands an unforgettable story that ties champions, family, and legacy into one word Doug can’t help but say out loud: “Wow.”

📍 Bonus: You can see The Buckhorn in our Buckhorn Reels on the Behind the Chutes Facebook page.

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