K-State Opens the Chutes: Bilbrey Family Event Center Kicks Off a New Era
- Ely Burroughs
- Oct 9
- 4 min read
Cowboy boots and cowboy hats shuffle into the brand new $20 million Bilbrey Family Event Center as K-State cuts the ribbon on the future.
The new LED lights light up the fresh rodeo dirt, purple chutes, shiny bleachers, and the smiles of donors, students, faculty, and alumni. A loud, constant murmur from friends and family celebrating a great achievement for K-State and its students. A future of hosting classes, livestock events, and the new home for K-State Rodeo. Madeline Meyer, a senior on the ASI Pre-Vet track and president of the K-State Rodeo team, is excited to see the arena open.
“I think this is just leaps and bounds where the, you know, agricultural sector of the college, and the whole,” Meyer said. “As a member of the rodeo team and the college of agriculture, I think this is just, you know, signifying the university’s commitment to both rodeo and the equine sector within the college.”
From Tradition to Innovation
A part of the university’s $220 million agriculture innovation initiative left Weber Arena in memories and pictures. After almost 80 years, K-State has transitioned from the beloved Weber Arena to the new Tee Jay Quarter Horses Walker Family Arena, a state-of-the-art indoor arena that K-State plans to host 40 events annually. The new features include bleacher seating for 3,000 people, top-of-the-line rodeo and livestock equipment.
“You just become a magnet,” said Marshall Stewart, Executive Vice President for External Engagement for Kansas State. “When you get a facility, it's part of the equation. Facility, state and federal support, bringing in great minds that really help our young people understand, that next generation, what agriculture about. That’s what this is about, it's about creating the future for Kansas, agriculture, and literally the world.”
Dan Moser, interim Eldon Gideon dean of the College of Agriculture, loves the new facility and is excited to see what is next.
“I just think it's beautiful,” Moser said. “If you've been in facilities of this size, a venue, the quality you think about, a student out here competing, hearing their name called over that PA system, so crisp and clear and celebrate with this big crowd behind them when they have success and whatever event they're competing in. I can't wait for the K-State rodeo in February. It's going to be one to remember.”
Moser and Stewart give all the credit to the individuals and corporate partners, including JP and Teresa Bilbrey of the Doubling Gap Ranch and Marty Vanier, who made the first ride in the arena, of Tee Jay Quarter Horses, for this facility.
Their First Rodeo
K-State Rodeo has been without an on-campus facility since the spring of 2024, when Weber Arena was demolished. Now with a new arena, the team and rodeo fans can not wait until February. Meyer, who is also Miss Rodeo K-State, is excited to host the rodeo in the new arena.
“But this facility is just so impressive,” Meyer said. “They've really outdone themselves with all the details from the new chutes in this amazing ground that they put so much effort into. All the little details that just make that that's easy to run, are going to be so helpful, and we're so excited to utilize when it comes to the rodeo.”
The new arena is a breath of fresh air for the contestants. Plenty of parking, a full-size arena, and new equipment are all improvements from the old Weber Hall. After the ribbon cutting, the K-State Rodeo team delivered a sneak peek of what the rodeo will offer: barrel racing and roping. The annual K-State Rodeo is scheduled for February 19 through 21.
Classrooms to the Chutes
The new event center will be critical for the College of Agriculture in recruitment and hands-on learning. K-State staff is expecting more students in the future, to one up an already 10 percent rise in enrollment coming from 43 states this year. With an in-house classroom and plenty of space to learn crucial techniques and concepts, Avery Engle, a Sophomore studying ASI, looks forward to learning in Bilbrey.
“As an ASI student, it means a lot to see all the supporters and people in the community come out to show their K-State pride,” Engle said. “It makes me confident knowing that I chose K-State Animal Science, and that we got a strong foundation and strong people backing us up.”
With the Bilbrey Family Event Center now open, K-State is setting its sights on how the facility will continue to shape the future of agriculture and rodeo education.
Future
University leaders see this opening as just the beginning of larger plans to expand hands-on opportunities and strengthen community partnerships across campus. Just a small portion of the $220 million in the Bilbrey Family Event Center, Moser describes what is next for the College of Agriculture.
“Our next on-campus New Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation,” Moser said. “Is another world-class teaching and research center to bring together all kinds of activities related to grain science, bakery, milling, animal science, dairy products, meat products, all the science around all those products and those industries.”
K-State was the first land-grant university and is leading the nation as the next-generation land-grant university. As the dust settles on the first day inside the Bilbrey Family Event Center, one thing is clear: this is more than a new building. It’s a symbol of K-State’s dedication to preserving its agricultural roots while embracing the future of education. From classrooms to chutes, the facility ropes together tradition and innovation, giving students and the community a place to gather, learn, and celebrate Kansas State.
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