Council Bluffs PRCA Rodeo to Feature Thrilling Trick Riding, Bucking Horses, and Bulls
Kate and Tera Flitton, sisters from a renowned rodeo family, are coming to Iowa on March 21-22, 2025. The duo will perform at 7:30 p.m. nightly during the Council Bluffs PRCA Rodeo at the Mid-America Center. Their daring stunts, and exceptional gymnastic skills on horseback, will captivate fans attending the Big Bucks ProRodeo production. The teenagers from Utah perform under the name Stellar Trick Riding Cowgirls.
Each trick performed on horseback requires a high level of coordination, strength, and trust between the rider and the horse. The athleticism of the Stellar Trick Riding Cowgirls involves years of training and continued practice. Their horses run the perimeter of the arena while they perform daring acrobatic stunts.
“We aren’t gymnasts. We have to practice our flexibility daily and we keep our strength up by doing chores,” stated Kate. “We carry five-gallon buckets of feed, throw haybales, little bales, quarter bales, and even have rolled a whole ton-size bale back on a trailer for strength training while we feed (our bucking horses and bulls).”
The Stellar Trick Riding Cowgirls dedication is evident in their training, horsemanship and performances. Kate’s horse, Mike, and Tera’s horse, Asari, have been integral to their success, with their father, Cody Flitton, playing a significant role in their training.
Kate’s horse is an eight-year-old gelding. He was a colt raised on the family ranch as part of their born to buck program. Mike looks like a majestic bucking horse with feathered feet paying tribute to his draft horse bloodlines. His dam and full brother are bucking horse standouts competing at past Wrangler National Finals aka Superbowl of ProRodeo level. Mike selected not to buck. He became a skilled trick riding horse taking a different path to success and performing in the rodeo arena.
“We have different tricks with our abilities and horses,” stated 13-year-old Tera. Her favorite tricks are the side back bend and the one leg stand. 18-year-old Kate’s favorite tricks are the side drag and shoulder stand. Trick riders wear flamboyant costumes in bright colors made from shiny fabrics. “It depends on what we both are feeling as to the costumes we select each performance,” continued Tera, “If there is a certain theme we match the rodeo.” Stellar Trick Riding Cowgirls was a featured specialty act during the city-wide 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo festivities this past December. “Our Royal blue costume was specially made for our performance during the National Finals Breakaway Roping,” added Kate.
Kate began her trick riding journey at the age of seven after watching the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls perform. She was hooked and took lessons in Texas soon afterwards. Tera started trick riding at the age of eight with encouragement from her sister and family.
Performances and Achievements
Kate and Tera Flitton inspire and entertain audiences across the country with their remarkable trick riding skills. Their journey is a testament to their hard work, passion, and the unbreakable bond they share as sisters.
In 2023, they officially became members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and a career highlight was performing in Las Vegas twice. Their first performance was at the historic Helldorado Days rodeo in downtown Las Vegas at the Plaza Hotel arena in November 2024, and again at South Point Hotel & Casino arena in December 2024.
Today, they work alongside their parents Cody and Linda Flitton producing rodeos across the country. The Flittons’ are business partners with Jody Burnside and his family, including son Cache. Cache Burnside works as a pickup man at Big Bucks ProRodeo events.
Media Contact: Gretchen Kirchmann
Publicist for Big Bucks ProRodeo Company
Kirchmann Media Group
Phone: 406-396-7316
Email: [email protected]
Editor’s Notes: advance online tickets www.councilbluffsprcarodeo.com for $25 general admission, $12.50 children’s admission. No processing fee for tickets purchased at the box office. The Wrangler voucher program is in the market at select retailers including Boot Barn locations. Buy $75 in Wrangler merchandise in-store and receive a free rodeo ticket to redeem at the box office.
About Big Bucks ProRodeo: It began in 2024, but its history goes back to 1940. Big Bucks ProRodeo carries two legendary bucking horse bloodlines, bred to buck from two different families in two different rodeo circuits. Cody Flitton partnered with Jody Burnside, to purchase the Mosbrucker Pro Rodeo Company. The Burnside family, with four generations of PRCA competitors, have competed in bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and calf roping.
Flitton’s great grandfather, D.A. Swanny Kerby wrangled wild horses from the slick rocks of Moab, Utah. Swanny had a dream of putting on wild west shows. He became part of the PRCA in 1940 with his bred to buck horses and bulls. The Kerby’s livestock selection dates back to the first National Finals Rodeo in 1959. Flitton was born and raised into the Kerby rodeo company.
About the Council Bluffs PRCA Rodeo: The rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA). It will include the seven standard rodeo events including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, and barrel racing. The ProRodeo started in 2017.