Local Innovators Launch App to Enhance Rodeo Livestock Tracking

MARYVILLE, Mo.—Two residents of Maryville have developed a mobile application aimed at assisting rodeo participants in efficiently tracking their timed-event livestock. As detailed in a recent announcement, much like how football teams analyze footage of their rivals, rodeo contestants strive to gather insights about the animals they will compete with. For years, competitors have relied on handwritten notes and phone consultations to accumulate information on livestock behavior, hoping that this knowledge would translate into success during competitions.

Recognizing this challenge, Gary Shipps, alongside the late Rob Espey, created Calf Tracker, an app designed to provide rodeo contestants with instant access to livestock data. “I just saw a need,” Shipps remarked. “I watched Rob use his phone to write down cattle. He was using the notebook app on his phone, and I thought, ‘That’s got to be incredibly hard to find a specific number, especially in the heat of the moment. It cannot be that hard to solve.’” With determination, Shipps enlisted a developer who quickly delivered an initial version of the app, which Espey was able to test and refine.

Tragically, just as Calf Tracker was gaining popularity, Espey lost his life in June 2024 due to a lightning strike. Shipps has continued to advance the app as a way to honor his late friend. “I’d just like to see the app become prevalent,” he shared. “I wanted to see it succeed for him. He knew how to make it work. He knew how good it was.” Today, Calf Tracker is well-received among rodeo athletes, offering features that allow users to retrieve specific animal profiles. If there are no pre-existing notes, competitors can begin creating a profile from scratch.

Jackie Crawford, a renowned 23-time world champion roper from Stephenville, Texas, praised the app, stating, “We use it all the time. It’s a great app.” The app has found a particularly enthusiastic audience among breakaway ropers. Christi Braudrick, a former Prairie Circuit breakaway roping champion and current rodeo coach at Kansas State University, described how her husband first downloaded the app, leading to its widespread adoption among their peers. “It’s super convenient and way better than writing stuff down,” she noted.

Users can input an animal's identification number to access its profile, allowing competitors to prepare strategically. Braudrick’s husband, Kyle, enters a calf’s brand digits to view its details and assist in gaining an edge over other ropers. The app has proven to be a faster and more efficient alternative to conventional note-taking methods, particularly useful for competitors who encounter the same calves throughout the rodeo season.

Moreover, because many rodeos feature the same stock contractors, livestock may appear at different locations within a short timeframe. “It’s just so simple to use,” Shipps emphasized. “I showed this to some team ropers way back in the development, and their eyes just bugged out of their heads.” Over time, Calf Tracker has been refined to better serve its users, with features being added and adjusted based on feedback. Braudrick expressed her hope that more participants across various events will embrace the app, saying, “I’ve thought about telling the bulldoggers on my rodeo team that they should download that so they can keep track of their steers better. I think everybody would benefit from it.”