XIT Rodeo & Reunion

10/14/2026

Next up, we're proud to introduce our 2nd Year Director and XIT Vice President, Gavin Valdez!
Gavin also serves as our Rodeo Director, and that's a BIG job! The rodeo is at the heart of the XIT Rodeo & Reunion, and bringing it all together takes countless hours of planning, coordination, and hard work. From the contestants and livestock to the action in the arena, there are a lot of moving parts that go into producing a great rodeo!
We're grateful for Gavin's leadership, dedication, and commitment to carrying on XIT's proud rodeo tradition!
Get to know Gavin and his family!
Gavin Valdez was born and raised in Dalhart and is a 2012 graduate of Dalhart High School. He attended West Texas A&M University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Plant and Soil Science in 2016. While at WTAMU, he met his wife, Alex, and the couple married in 2017.
Gavin and Alex are the parents of two children, Violet and Colter. He is currently employed as a feed salesman at Stockmen’s Feed Bunk. Deeply rooted in the western lifestyle, Gavin team ropes and trains horses in his spare time and brings that firsthand experience and passion to his role as Rodeo Director.

10/13/2026

Next up, we're proud to introduce our 2nd Year Director, Ryan Walker! Ryan is back overseeing the Free Pork Chop Feed, one of XIT's biggest fan favorites! Those famous pork chops are a tradition thousands look forward to every year, and making it all happen is no small task. We're grateful for Ryan's hard work and dedication to keeping this beloved tradition going strong!

Ryan Walker was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. In 2009, he began working in Dalhart while supporting an expansion project at Hilmar Cheese. Shortly thereafter, Ryan and his wife, Melissa, relocated their family from Amarillo to Dalhart, where they have since made their home.
Ryan and Melissa are high school sweethearts and have been married since 2008. They are proud parents to two wonderful children, John and Lucy.
In 2014, Ryan founded Anzco Industrial, LLC alongside his family in Dalhart, where he serves as Owner and Chief Operating Officer. Anzco Industrial is a full-service industrial company providing services across Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The company specializes in electrical, instrumentation, controls, process piping, and has recently expanded to include a civil construction division.
Ryan is deeply grateful for the warm welcome his family has received from the Dalhart community and is honored to be part of the XIT Rodeo and Reunion family. As a second-year director, he is thankful for the opportunity to contribute to the long-standing XIT tradition and help carry on its outstanding legacy.

Excited to have Ryan and Melissa back for the best Pork Chops all year!

10/11/2026

Next up, we're excited to introduce our 2nd Year Director, TJ Trimble! TJ is back overseeing Dance & Merchandise for another year, bringing experience and dedication to two important parts of the XIT celebration! We're grateful for his continued hard work and commitment to making XIT a success. Get to know TJ and his family!

TJ Trimble has called Dalhart home for the past 18 years. He and his wife, Melanie, are proud parents to Emarald, Tripp, and Lanie and are deeply rooted in the Dalhart community. TJ works for Western Equipment, while Melanie is employed with Dalhart Funeral Home.
TJ previously served 11 years with the Dalhart Volunteer Fire Department, where he held multiple roles and demonstrated a strong commitment to service. The Trimble's are active members of First Baptist Church, and TJ grew up in Briscoe, Texas.
As a 2nd year XIT Director, TJ oversees Dance & Merchandise.
We are so happy to TJ and Melanie back this year! What bands will be here in 2027 🤔?

10/11/2026

It is our honor to introduce our third 1st Year Director, Wes Ralston!

Wes will serve as Assistant Director of the World’s Largest Free BBQ—and feeding thousands is no small task! He’ll also oversee Watermelon, Parade, and Hoopie. He’s got a full plate (pun intended!), but we know he’s up for the challenge! We’re excited to have Wes on the team!

Wes Ralston has called Dalhart home since 1991 and graduated from Dalhart High School in 1997. He and his wife, Sarah, are proud parents of three children: Parker, Payton, and Preston. Sarah serves as the Director of Surgery and Pharmacy at C**n Memorial Hospital in Dalhart.
Wes works for Western Equipment as an Integrated Solutions Consultant, where he enjoys helping farmers overcome challenges and find solutions through precision agriculture technology. He takes pride in working with area farmers and helping them make the most of the technology available to improve their operations.
As a second-generation director of the XIT Rodeo & Reunion, Wes is proud to continue his family's involvement in an event that celebrates the rich history, western heritage, and community spirit of the Texas Panhandle. The XIT Rodeo & Reunion holds a special place in the community, bringing families and friends together while preserving the legacy of the legendary XIT Ranch for future generations.
Wes is honored to carry on this family tradition and serve an organization that means so much to Dalhart and the surrounding area. He looks forward to helping preserve the history and traditions of the XIT Rodeo & Reunion for years to come.
Let’s give a big warm welcome to Wes and Sarah!

10/10/2026

Help us in wishing our Queen, Josey Dunavan a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!🎉

10/10/2026

Our next 1st year Director has a big job ahead of him with Assistant Hospitality and this year’s Queens! We know we have the right man for the job! Let’s meet Will Perkins…

Will Perkins was raised on his family’s farm near Sedan, New Mexico, and has spent his entire life in the Dalhart area. From an early age, Will was raised in agriculture and spent most of his life caring for cattle before taking over the operations of Perkins Auctioneers, a family business that has served the Dalhart area since 1969.

Will married his wife, Lydia, a native of South Dakota, in 2008. Together they have four daughters: Elise, Lillian, Evelyn and Sandra.

Outside of the auction business, Will remains closely connected to agriculture, rural life, and the communities that have shaped him. His background in farming, horses, cattle, and the equipment business gives him a firsthand perspective he hopes will serve him well as a XIT Director.

Let’s give a warm and embracing welcome to Will and Lydia! We are so happy to have them on board!

10/09/2026

Let’s meet our new 1st year Directors! They have big shoes to fill and we are confident they will do just that.
We’re going to start off our introductions with Jake Beecher. He will be in charge of concessions and the Hoopie.

Jake Beecher is a lifelong resident of Dalhart, Texas. Born and raised in the community, Jake graduated from Dalhart High School in 2008. His deep roots in the Dalhart area have shaped his strong work ethic, appreciation for his community, and pride in the Texas Panhandle.

Jake is married to his wife, Alissa Beecher. Together, they share their home with their four dogs, who are an important part of their family.

Professionally, Jake works as the Shop Foreman at Deer Creek Feeding, where he puts his hands-on experience, mechanical skills, and dedication to work every day. He takes pride in solving problems, keeping things running, and getting the job done right.

Outside of work, Jake enjoys spending time in his shop, working on old cars, and tinkering with just about anything that catches his interest. Whether he’s bringing an old car back to life or working on a project in the shop, Jake enjoys the satisfaction that comes from building, fixing, and figuring things out.

A proud Dalhart native, devoted husband, hardworking professional, and lifelong tinkerer, Jake Beecher embodies the independent and hardworking spirit of the Texas Panhandle.

Let’s give Jake and Alissa a big XIT WELCOME!

10/04/2026

Out with the old and in with the new! ❤️💙

Last night we celebrated one of our favorite XIT traditions — the annual In & Out Party!

We said goodbye to our outgoing 3rd Year Directors and their wives, welcomed our new 1st Years and their wives, and spent the evening doing what this group does best — eating good food, telling stories, laughing way too much and maybe shedding a few tears along the way.

A very special thank you to Tyler & Tina Carnesecca and Alex & Sadie Quiroz for three years of hard work, dedication and service to XIT Rodeo & Reunion. There are countless hours behind the scenes that go into making XIT happen, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you’ve given to this organization and our community.

And to our newest XIT family members — welcome! We’re glad you’re here and can’t wait for the memories ahead. We will be introducing them soon!

Another year, another chapter, and the tradition continues. ❤️💙

Here’s to XIT #91!

08/26/2026

Thank you The ARENA Press for featuring Kelly Kenney Pro Rodeo Announcer! He is family around here and XIT would not be the same without him.

THE VOICE IN THE ARENA
Kelly Kenney brings the sound, rhythm and personality of ProRodeo to the XIT Rodeo & Reunion
There is a particular kind of voice that belongs to rodeo.
It has to rise above the noise of an arena without competing with it. It explains what's happening to the first-time fan without talking down to the person who has spent a lifetime leaning over arena rails. It celebrates a great ride, fills the inevitable pauses and knows when a moment is important enough to simply get out of its way.
At the XIT Rodeo & Reunion in Dalhart, Texas, that voice belongs to Kelly Kenney.
And quite often, so does the horse underneath it.
Rather than spending the entire performance removed from the action in an announcer's booth, Kenney can be found horseback in the arena, microphone in hand, talking directly to the grandstands while the rodeo unfolds around him.
Raised in southwest Missouri, Kenney competed in rodeo through high school and college while also playing in a country band. His announcing career began almost accidentally when a scheduled announcer failed to appear at a local rodeo and Kenney stepped in. He later became a rodeo coach at Missouri Valley College before building a career as a professional rodeo announcer and becoming a PRCA Gold Card holder.
The XIT Rodeo has been one of his stops for more than two decades.
That longevity matters.
A rodeo announcer doesn't simply call names and scores. He becomes part of the rhythm of the performance—introducing contestants, explaining the action, recognizing sponsors, navigating delays and knowing when to build excitement and when to let the arena speak for itself.
And then there is the rodeo clown.
At XIT, Kenney's exchanges with Ronald Burton become part of the show. Burton can set up the joke, derail the conversation or turn the announcer himself into the punchline, and Kenney gives him something essential in return: someone willing to play along.
The straight man is funny precisely because he isn't trying to steal the joke.
For all the polish that comes from decades of professional rodeo, there remains an accessibility about Kenney. The man speaking to thousands of people still seems perfectly capable of having a conversation with one.
Perhaps that's why horseback suits him so well.
He's down there with the contestants, pickup men, bullfighters, entertainers, livestock and arena crew—another moving piece of the production.
A good rodeo announcer tells you what you're watching.
A very good one helps determine how it feels to watch it.
At XIT, Kelly Kenney helps stitch those moments together.
Sometimes he's calling the action. Sometimes he's telling the story.
And sometimes he's just trying to survive whatever Ronald Burton has decided to do to him next.

Photo provided by Imagehounds

Kelly Kenney Pro Rodeo Announcer XIT Rodeo & Reunion Imagehounds Where Rodeo Meets the Road Wrangler Zoetis Equine Young Living USA PRCA ProRodeo

08/23/2026

We loved having The ARENA Press and Ronald Burton Rodeo Clown in Dalhart!