Leather bronc halters hang on the walls, a tangible tribute to a legacy built on grit and passion. Each noseband is hardened from years of sweat, weather, and the relentless haul to rodeos and bucking chutes. These halters bear names that echo through arenas: Crazy Train, Grey Goose, Hippy Chick, Lunatic Fringe, Lunatic from Hell, and Mullen Hill. Together, they form a personal hall of fame for the Burch Rodeo Company—a family-owned, award-winning stock contracting firm with deep roots in rodeo tradition.

The Burch family has ranched their land in Gillette, Wyoming, for over a century. The homestead, established in 1916, became the foundation for generations of ranching and rodeo excellence. In the 1980s, Max Burch—patriarch and visionary—along with his wife George Ann, began breeding and raising bucking horses. What started as a small operation with 25 head of horses soon grew into a premier rodeo stock enterprise. Max supplied horses to local rodeos—high school, college, amateur, and ranch circuits—gradually building the Burch brand into a household name in rodeo circles.

In 1998, Max’s twin sons, Chad and Matt, secured their PRCA cards, marking a new chapter for the family business. Around the same time, Matt expanded into raising bucking bulls, further diversifying their operation. The Burch Rodeo Company quickly gained a reputation for producing top-tier bucking stock.

The Burch legacy includes some of the most celebrated animals in rodeo history. Lunatic from Hell, a son of the legendary Lunatic Fringe, earned the coveted title of PRCA Bucking Horse of the Year in 2018 and made ten consecutive appearances at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) from 2014 to 2023. Lunatic Fringe himself, the cornerstone stud of the Burch breeding program, sired numerous NFR bucking horses. Blood Brother, another standout, was named PRCA Bucking Horse of the Year in 2008.

Most recently, the Burch Rodeo Company added another prestigious accolade to their storied history—the 2023 PRCA Remuda Award. This honor, bestowed upon the stock contractor with the most consistent and outstanding pen of bucking horses, underscores the Burch family’s enduring dedication to excellence.

For over a hundred years, the Burch family has poured heart and soul into the land and livestock they love. Their bronc halters, hanging proudly on the walls, are more than relics of rodeo glory—they are the enduring symbols of a legacy built on family, tradition, and the unbreakable spirit of the American West.