PORTALES, N.M. - Eastern New Mexico athletics has announced a strategic partnership with Learfield College Rodeo with plans to elevate the ENMU rodeo programs through national sponsorships, media exposure, and expanded commercial opportunities.

As part of the partnership, the official ENMU Rodeo platform is now live on Learfield's national network at learfieldcollegerodeo.com, marking a significant step forward in positioning the program on a national stage.

This partnership connects ENMU Rodeo to Learfield's extensive portfolio of corporate partners and emerging collegiate rodeo initiatives, including integration into premier events such as the Collegiate All-Star Rodeo and Bulls and Beats.

"This is a transformational step forward for our rodeo program," said Kevin Fite, director of athletics at ENMU. "Partnering with Learfield allows us to extend our reach well beyond Eastern New Mexico. We are aligning ourselves with the industry leader in collegiate athletics revenue generation, and that will create new opportunities for our student-athletes, our fans, and our community."

The timing of the partnership aligns with strong on-the-ground performance from the ENMU rodeo program. The Greyhound men's team recently closed out the regular season with a first-place finish at the South Plains College Rodeo, led by standout Jacob Walters, who secured the men's all-around title behind dominant performances in steer wrestling, tie-down roping, and team roping.

Walters' 445-point performance alone would have placed second in the overall team standings, underscoring the depth and competitiveness of the ENMU program. The Greyhounds placed fourth in the Caprock Region on the men's side and third on the women's side, with multiple athletes advancing to the short round throughout the season.

"This partnership is about growth, exposure, and creating real value for our program," said head rodeo coach John Sharp. "We've built something strong here at ENMU, and now we have the opportunity to showcase it on a much larger stage. Learfield brings relationships and resources that we simply don't have access to on our own. At the same time, the success we're seeing in the arena proves this program is ready for that next level."

Under the agreement, Learfield College Rodeo will serve as the exclusive representative for national sponsorship sales tied to ENMU Rodeo assets, including the ENMU College "Daze" Rodeo. The partnership will focus on expanding sponsorship inventory, enhancing broadcast and digital integration, and driving incremental revenue for the program. Collectively, the overall experience for the ENMU Rodeo fan will be enhanced.

Importantly, ENMU will continue to maintain and grow its strong local partnerships, ensuring that community relationships remain a central component of the program's identity.

"This is about adding horsepower to what we're already doing," Fite added. "We will continue to serve our local partners, but now we have a dedicated national sales arm working to grow the overall pie."

With momentum building both competitively and commercially, Eastern rodeo now turns its focus to the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, where Greyhound student-athletes will compete on the sport's biggest collegiate stage.