Cotton Rosser and the Flying U Rodeo Company are names that have become synonymous with the sport of rodeo and for years that included being the primary contractor for military rodeos. Cotton was born in Long Beach, CA and attended Cal Poly University-San Luis Obispo where he competed as part of the college rodeo team. After a promising contestant career was cut short due to a ranch accident, he purchased the Flying U Rodeo Ranch in 1956 and as so many like to say, “The rest is history!” His stock has been featured at some of the largest rodeos in the country including multiple times at the PRCA National Finals Rodeo. He is also a former Stock Contractor of the Year winner and member of the PRCA board of directors.
Flying U rodeos are well known for their elaborate and well choreographed openings and this usually includes honoring military members at many of their rodeos. Cotton realized early on that rodeo and the military were as American as you could get and has always tried to involve military cowboys and cowgirls in his shows. He has included them in military rodeos and PRCA rodeos in the traditional events, but also in special competitions such as Bucking Mules, Cowboy Poker, Bull Teeter-Totter and other exotic endeavors that were always crowd pleasers.
Cotton has produced some of the largest military rodeos such as MCB Camp Pendleton, Beale AFB, Travis AFB and NAS El Toro. His relationship with MCB Camp Pendleton allowed him to leave stock on the base most of the year which provided practice stock for the Marines stationed there. During the 1990’s, Cotton produced over half of the MRCA rodeos each year which provided opportunities for military contestants to compete in some of the biggest venues on the west coast. He has continued to promote military rodeos and is a great supporter of our military cowboys and cowgirls.
Born: 1928 in Long Beach, CA
