124 | The Next Era of Rodeo with Linsay Rosser Sumpter

In Today’s Episode:

This week on Leaders Of The West, we’re joined by one of the most respected voices in Western sports: Linsay Rosser Sumpter, Commissioner of the Women’s Rodeo Championships.

Linsay’s resume reads like a blueprint of rodeo itself—athlete, coach, producer, secretary, marketer, stock contractor, and now, commissioner. She has literally seen every side of the sport, and she’s using that experience to help create real opportunities for women in rodeo.

In the episode, Linsay shares:

• Her rodeo roots (shoutout to the legendary Cotton Rosser)
• How she became commissioner of one of the fastest-growing rodeo events in the world
• Why she believes innovation and inclusion are key to the future of the sport
• Breakaway roping, equal payouts, fan experience, and how she balances deep respect for rodeo’s heritage with a clear vision for what’s next
• Animal welfare, Title IX, competing rodeo calendars, and what the rodeo industry can learn from women’s basketball and even Taylor Swift

Resources & Links:

• Subscribe to Of The West’s Newsletters
• Need Resume assistance? Of The West has your back!

Connect with Linsay:

• Visit Women’s Rodeo Championships
• Follow Linsay on Instagram @linsaylee

Connect with Jessie:

• Follow on Instagram @ofthewest.co and @mrsjjarv
• Follow on Facebook @jobsofthewest
• Check out the Of The West website

More About Linsay

Linsay Rosser Sumpter is a woman of many hats. Born and raised within the rodeo business, a wife of a six-time NFR steer wrestler Wade Sumpter, mother of two, rancher, horse trainer, Women’s Rodeo Championship Commissioner, and collegiate agriculture professor, Sumpter has a full plate. With a passion for preserving the western lifestyle and rodeo, she determined to continue and expand on the opportunities for women in rodeo. She has been involved in various aspects of the rodeo scene, including acting as a spokesperson and advocate for the sport appointed as the WRC Commissioner in February 2022, Sumpter also served as the head rodeo coach of Otero College in La Junta, CO. With 15 seasons under her belt as head coach, Sumpter utilizes her skillset to develop the knowledge of rodeo to her college athletes simultaneously molding their skills in the classroom and arena.  She is also the Assistant Coach for the Kid Rock’s Rocken Rodeo team FreeRiders. They were the inaugural winners in 2024.  

A graduate of California Polytechnic State University in Agriculture Science, and a master’s in mass communications, Sumpter had a successful rodeo career herself. Prior to joining Otero College in June 2009, Sumpter held positions with PBR (Professional Bull Riders) as a PR and Marketing Manager. Sumpter is a third generation of the famous Rosser family of Marysville, CA. She assisted in all aspects of the production of rodeos with her hall-of-fame grandfather Cotton Rosser’s Flying U Rodeo Company. Sumpter continues her career as a professional breakaway roper while maintaining her duties as mom to all her son’s baseball games, wrestling tournaments, and flag football games. She was the recipient of the Western Sports Foundation Gritt award as well as the winning of the Montana Silversmiths 2024 Trailblazer recipient. 

More About Leaders Of The West

Leaders Of The West is a podcast for innovators and change-makers in the ag and western industries. Hosted by Jessie Jarvis, the Founder of Of The West, our mission with Leaders Of The West is to foster a community of pioneers, innovators, and leaders who want to be at the forefront of what’s next. 

Whether it’s a guest episode where we’re digging into the blueprints behind our favorite industry businesses, discussing the innovation and strategies that have allowed family farming and ranching operations to continue on for another generation, to episodes with honest conversations from entrepreneurs who have risked it all on their dreams, or leaders detailing how to create a company culture so strong that you couldn’t pay your employees to leave. 

These conversations are meant to encourage the leaders of today and inspire the next generation of trailblazers. 

In addition to bringing in guests, you’ll also find some solo episodes, where Jessie shares the lessons she’s learned throughout her journey as a rancher, entrepreneur, wife, and mother. 

Whether you’re a farmer, a rancher, an equine lover, someone headed up the leadership ladder, an ag business owner, a western sports athlete, an entrepreneur, or someone who just loves the western way of life—this is the place for you.

You’ll find new episodes every week. Don’t forget to subscribe, so you never miss a show!