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Delton O’Steen signs to be on he rodeo team at Murray State College while surrounded by his family and Coach Todd Smith. Crystal Burnezky-Robertson • The Madill Record
On April 9, Kingston High School Senior, Delton O’Steen, signed his letter of intenttoattendMurrayState College for Rodeo, in Team Roping. O’Steen, who is a versatile athlete in football, baseball and rodeo.
He has also been involved in FFA and rodeo for five years and will be one of 30 young students signing to Murray State for Rodeo for 2024-2025. O'Steen expressed his excitement of what is to come and being able to attend college to participate in the rodeo.
“I think it is great. It’s exciting,” he said.
O’Steen offered some advice to the younger rodeo enthusiasts, to let them know what to expect.
“Just keep pushing, don’t give up,” he said. “You're only one spin away from a check.”
O’Steen said he is interested in getting a Safety Degreewithhopesofworking in the Oil Industry. Tamara O’Steen, the senior’s mom, said she is excited to see her sonachieveagoalhehasbeen working towards since he was a kid “It’s very exciting, I’m very very proud of him,” she said.
She said her advice as a mom is to stay focused.
“Keep going and don’t give up.” Tamara said.
O’Steen’s little sister, Joshlin O’Steen, said she will miss her big brother, and how she is very proud of his accomplishment and is inspired by him, “I am super excited and happy for him,” Joshlin said. “It’s very inspiring and I hope that I can be like him someday.” O’Steen’s dad, Josh O’Steen, stated he is more than proud of his son.
“It’s just a proud parent moment, that something he has been working hard towards and proud that he is able to move on and get a better education and hopefully open doors in the future in both his education and roping,” Josh said.
He gave his son some fatherly advice on how to stay on task., “Study hard, pray a lot, and just follow your dreams.”
Todd Smith of Murray State College talked about the Rodeo Program and how much it has grown over the last few years since being offered.
“Right now, we have signed 38 freshmen coming in this year for Rodeo, we should have 56 total when we start the season.” Smith said, “We have grown. In the first year, it was ten kids, last year, it was 31 and this year it was 50 and we should be about 55 to 56.”
Smith noted that they will have students from all over the United States and Canada in the coming 20242025 year. He said that he recruits for the program.
“I actively go and look for kids,” Smith said of the recruitment process. “I go to junior rodeos, I judge pro rodeos.” Smith talked about how those that are in FFA and Rodeo programs like the one at Murray State can open doors for them and how this is one of the only sports outside the NIL that they can still earn while going to school and competing at the collegiate level.
“This is one of the few sports where whatever you get when you win, you keep it,” Smith said. “They can go to shows and win $800, $900, $1000 bucks and they get to keep it. It’s kinds of like the NIL, it works out a good deal for them. They are still getting to do what they love to do and they are still getting a great education. I want rodeo to survive and it will with people like him (Delton). The quality that’s what we are looking for.”