Mr. NMSU Rodeo

by Callie Gnatkowski Gibson

Frank DuBois has worn many hats throughout the years – husband, father, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture, legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, and staunch advocate for agriculture and the Western way of life - just to name a few. Since 2000, he has been raising funds to build and support the rodeo team at New Mexico State University, putting a lifetime of hard work and experience to work to build a championship rodeo program.

DuBois, who grew up spending summers on the ranch homesteaded by his grandfather near Corona, became New Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture in 1988 and was

diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1990, just a year after he started riding and roping again. “When I turned 40, I decided to go be a cowboy again, got out from behind my desk, joined a roping club,” DuBois said. “I knew things weren’t quite right health-wise, but I kept on roping, winning four trophy saddles and seven buckles.”

“I always thought I would be smart enough to know when to stop, but I wasn’t,” he continued. “Eventually, I suffered an injury and realized that with my diagnosis I would not be able to rope any more. After I sulked for four or five months, I decided to try something new.”

DuBois who rodeoed in college, earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from New Mexico State University (NMSU). “I had always been one who was critical of NMSU for its lack of support for rodeo athletes,” he noted. “If you looked around, you saw other colleges with coaches, scholarships, and practice stock for their rodeo teams. NMSU had none of that, and I just decided that I needed to do something about it.”

“You don’t talk about NMSU rodeo without Frank’s name coming up,” said NMSU rodeo coach Brice Baggarley. “He has been a great ally to the program and does anything and everything he can to help. If you need something, or have a question, if he can’t do it or doesn’t know, he will find out or find someone to make it happen.”

DuBois put his plan in motion, raising money through mailers, dinners, and word of mouth. In 2000, he was able to award two scholarships to rodeo athletes, and the next year he awarded four. At the same time, he went to the New Mexico State Legislature for funding for a coach, then practice stock,

and worked with NMSU to create a coaching position. “Within two or three years, we had 80 student athletes. We became men’s and women’s champions in the Grand Canyon Region, and had a number of individual championships and All-Americans - rodeo athletes who maintain a 4.0 GPA,” DuBois noted.

Jim Dewey Brown was hired in August of 2002 as NMSU’s first full-time rodeo coach and held that position for thirteen and a half years. Although NMSU has had a rodeo team for many years, and was one of the founding members of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA), the team didn’t have the organization or direction that DuBois established with getting a coach hired, Brown explained.

“Establishing scholarships was huge. That’s what it takes to recruit talent - especially the caliber that I was looking for - good students and good rodeo athletes,” he continued. “You have to have the money to dangle out there to get those students to choose to attend NMSU over another school. We were successful from the get-go. Both the men’s and women’s teams won the region that first year, and that success helped us recruit the next set of champions to build the program. The kids were my best recruiters, and it was definitely Frank’s initial planning that made it all happen.”

Brown is currently serving as Commissioner of College Rodeo, overseeing college rodeo at a national level. “Frank is a great supporter of the program and of myself. As long as NMSU Rodeo is around, Frank will be there to help.”

DuBois has continued to advocate for the NMSU Rodeo program, establishing an All-Around Cowboy and Cowgirl Award for the team, determined by NIRA points. Recipients receive a bronze with artwork donated by New Mexico sculptor Curtis Fort. He also started an award for the team’s Outstanding Student Athlete, based on both NIRA points and their GPA. Fundraising continues, including a new effort between DuBois, the Lineberry Public Policy Center, and the Dubois Western Heritage Foundation

April 21 through 24 will be a big weekend for the NMSU Rodeo Team. The Aggie Cowboy Gathering is set for April 21 in Las Cruces. First held to honor members of NMSU’s original rodeo team, it has become an annual event. The Frank DuBois Rope - N- Ride, featuring tie-down roping, bronc riding, and new this year - breakaway roping - will be held April 22 to raise money for the rodeo team. NMSU’s NIRA rodeo will round out the weekend on April 23-24, 2022.

Baggarley first came to NMSU as a student in 2011. “Since taking this job in May, I have learned that if I mention an idea to Frank, whether I am ready or not, he will put it in motion. His heart is 1000 percent with NMSU rodeo. There is no question, he just wants to see NMSU’s rodeo program succeed. And he does it without asking anything in return – his support is unconditional.”

With the successes the team has seen the past few years and the growth of the program, DuBois’ investment is paying dividends in a big way. The future of NMSU’s rodeo program is super bright, according to Baggarley. “From the top to the bottom, seniors to new members, everyone is raring to go. My kids are recruiting, I am recruiting, and next year will be even more exciting than this year has been.” ▫ Rodeo Roundup