A 26-year-old bronc rider from Henrietta, Texas, died after an accident at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo on September 9.
Skee Burkes was bucked off his horse and he was subsequently trampled, suffering fatal head injuries.
Beyond the rodeo arena, Burkes pursued diverse passions. He had commitments as an oilfield supervisor, took pride in crafting custom leather artifacts, and performed as a singer at the Blue Light venue. Dee Ann Littlefield, his mother, painted a picture of a young man who was eager to seize every day. “He would get more out of every day than any one of us would get out of a single week,” she remarked.
Starting from his younger days, Burkes was deeply involved in bronc riding. His initiation was in Henrietta during high school when he first climbed onto a ranch bronc. His mother acknowledged his decade-long involvement in rodeo events, emphasizing his proficiency as a horseman and how the incident was not a testament to his skills.
Littlefield, not present during the accident, was devastated upon hearing the news over the phone. Kalico, Burkes’ sister, highlighted that the rodeo events carried on after the incident, something she believes her brother would have endorsed.
The rodeo community is rallying to support the Burkes family by hosting a fundraiser to cover funeral costs.
