March 4, 2008
All New Iron Glove Trophy Awaits 2008 Champion
The Stanley Cup, the Heisman Trophy, the Vince Lombardy Trophy — each name represents excellence in the sporting world. To athletes, these trophies symbolize the pinnacle accomplishment in their sport. This too is true for rodeo, and the Iron Glove Trophy represents the crowning achievement for Toughest Cowboy™ competitors.
The Iron Glove Trophy is awarded annually to the Toughest Cowboy Champion. Like the NHL’s Stanley Cup it carries the names of each year’s champion. The trophy is awarded at the conclusion of each Championship tournament to the winning cowboy. In 2008 the deed to the Toughest Cowboy Ranch will accompany the Iron Glove during the award ceremony. After the trophy is awarded, it is returns to the Toughest Cowboy offices to be engraved with the winning cowboy’s name.
The trophy depicts a riding glove grasping barbed wire wrapped around a weathered fence post. Originally designed in 2007 the trophy did not include the base. In 2008 the Iron Glove received a facelift to include the tower (fence post) and an area for engraving of the champions name. Created by minnesota-based sculptor Nicholas Legeros, the trophy represents toughness and grit. The focus being on the one common piece of equipment in all roughstock events — the cowboy’s riding hand.