Wade Sankey is a third-generation stock contractor and a couple of years ago he teamed up with Phenom Genetics. In 2022, the two had the World Champion Saddle Bronc horse with Black Tie.
The two met in 2018 via an introduction through Shane Proctor. Sankey focuses more on bucking horses while Matt Scharping of Phenom Genetics focuses on bucking bulls.
In 2022 the pair sent five bulls to the NFR. None of them were ridden for the full eight seconds.
Sankey Pro Rodeo continued its tradition of providing some of the best bucking horses in 2022 and it paid off with the Bucking Horse of the Year crown for Black Tie.
“There is such a great story behind Black Tie being the bucking horse of the year,” Wade Sankey said. “That horse worked through some injuries last year and when he came back it was breathtaking. I don’t know how else to explain it. I feel like that horse was absolutely the best horse in rodeo this year.”
Last year the marquee ride of Black Tie’s season came at the Pendleton Roundup where Kolby Wanchuk went 90 points in the Finals to win the rodeo.
For Sankey and Scharping it has always been about one thing. Growing the sport of rodeo.
“We want to build the sport and take the sport of rodeo to people who have never been around rodeo and make it better that way,” Sankey said of their goals.
Scharping added, “Rodeo is just different if you love that type of thing... you’re about man versus beast you’re going to love rodeo.”