Achieving the First-Place Rodeo Buckle

Joe Sansone and girlfriend Wendy Watkins competed in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Ranch Sorting Competition. Pictured (on left) Joe Sansone on Bella and (on right) Wendy Watkins on Boo. 

Buzz resident Joe Sansone, who’s featured in Rodeo Horsepitality: The secret show within the livestock show by Michelle Groogan (and on the cover of The Bellaire Buzz’s March issue), won two first-place buckles at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Ranch Sorting Competition. There were a total of 10 classes and Joe and girlfriend Wendy Watkins won three of them. 

“It was more than we had ever dreamed of,” Joe said. For the last three years, he did not place in the top 10 in a class, so he was thrilled to receive two first-place buckles, and he also placed second and third as well. Impressively, after sorting for less than a year, this was Wendy’s first-ever rodeo, and she won a class at the Houston Rodeo. Joe’s daughters Mary Sansone and Rose Sansone placed in the top 10 in the Youth sorting class as well.  

Although it wasn’t Joe’s first rodeo, he only climbed in the saddle just five years ago, after retiring from his career in orthopedics. 

Congratulations to Joe and Wendy, and all of those who competed in or volunteered for the 2016 Rodeo Houston. Hats off to another successful rodeo season in Houston!

Read more about how Joe got involved in the rodeo, plus other Buzz residents who compete in the Horse Show.