Where the Game Lives On

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

11 hours ago

Jason Farley – Pro Rodeo Clown & Barrelman: Just a few years after the induction of KC Wolf of the Kansas City Chiefs, the Hall of Fame will induct another important entertainer whose work has furthered the growth of the rodeo circuit. A resident of Rogersville just outside of Springfield, Farley is now in his 35th year of being a pro rodeo clown/barrelman, having risen to the PRCA, or Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association. The Colorado transplant has competed in the National High School Rodeo Association and the National Little Britches Rodeo Association in bullriding and bareback riding. He has been named a two-time PRCA Bullfights Barrelman of the Year (2017 & 2018). He also was the PRCA Turquoise Circuit Finals Barrelman in 2023. Just as impressive, Farley is a five-time Showcase Barrelman Champion in the IPRA, the International Professional Rodeo Association (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020) ... See MoreSee Less

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

11 hours ago

Brad Leighninger – Barbecue Champion: The world’s No. 1-ranked barbecue smoking champion can be found in southwest Missouri. The title was bestowed by the Kansas City Barbecue Society two years ago on Leighninger, whose success has punctuated that barbecue competition is its own sport. He has won the KCBS national championship four times (2018, 2020, 2021, 2025) and last year appeared on the Food Network’s BBQ Brawl. He owns Gettin’ Basted, a restaurant in Branson and Nixa, and has won more than 80 Grand Championships. That includes winning Grand Champion at the 2021 Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational BBQ. He also won the 2002 Memphis in May World Championship BBX Grand Champion with Blues Hog, the 2018 King of the Smoker Invitational and the 2025 Grand American BBQ Witld Championship Open. Along the way, he has wins in 30-plus states and multiple countries. Leighninger also is the co-founder of The BBQ League, an online platform offering barbecue education and insider access. He has taught more than 1,000 aspiring pitmasters around the globe about his competition methods, leading to hundreds of grand championships. Overall, he is known for popularizing the “hot & fast” method on the competition barbecue circuit. He is originally from Stanberry in northwest Missouri and graduated from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, later playing football at Washington University. His degree is from Missouri Southern State University. ... See MoreSee Less

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

12 hours ago

Mark Stahlman – Ace Award: In 2023, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame began recognizing individuals who make a meaningful impact in the local nonprofit community with the Ace Award. This year, the honor will be bestowed on Stahlman, the longtime General Manager of Highland Springs Country Club. He is a 1982 graduate of Kickapoo High School and attended Missouri State University. Since Highland Springs opened in southeast Springfield in 1989, its leadership has included Stahlman. He served six years as Assistant General Manager before becoming General Manager, a role he has held for the past 31 years. Overseeing a club with more than 700 members, Stahlman has managed one of the most demanding operations in the Ozarks. Highland Springs hosts numerous internal tournaments, including the Highlander and Tartan Classic, while also welcoming a wide range of outside events. These have included major fundraising initiatives such as Missouri Sports Hall of Fame events, the Price Cutter Charity Championship, and many additional charity and corporate tournaments. Throughout his tenure, Stahlman has overseen every aspect of club operations, including the clubhouse, dining, golf course, pool, and tennis facilities, as well as the hiring and leadership of all executive positions. His responsibilities have also included management oversight of the Highland Springs Community Association. ... See MoreSee Less

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

12 hours ago

Dr. Grant Woods – Deer Hunting: A 1979 graduate of Republic High School, Dr. Woods is a wildlife biologist specializing in deer management and research, with his work centered on increasing deer herds. He earned degrees at Missouri State University, the University of Georgia, and received his doctorate from Clemson University. His success at conducting wildlife research, educating hunters about advanced hunting and management techniques, and designing site-specific management plans to improve deer herd quality is well known throughout the whitetail world. In 2001, he and his wife bought an abandoned cattle ranch, a 1,500-acre spread known as the “Proving Grounds,” and transformed it into a lush habitat for wildlife. He eradicated invasive species and used controlled burns to stimulate the germination of native seeds, ultimately adding food plots to provide forage and cover. He has since moved on to “Proving Grounds 2.0.” Additionally, he shares his passion on a weekly web show called GrowingDeer.tv and through events at Bass Pro Shops stores as part of the RedHead Pro Hunting Team. He has earned numerous awards, including two notables honors from the Missouri Department of Conservation – the 2019 Master Conservationist and the 2023 Pat Jones/York Spirit of the Wilderness National Conservation Award. ... See MoreSee Less

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

13 hours ago

Steve Leivan - Dirt Bike Racer: With a professional career spanning nearly 30 years, Leivan is a Missouri boy turned motorcycle racing legend. He has amassed 36 regional overall championships, won 18 amateur national titles, earned a ranking in the World Enduro Championship (38th in 2007) and finished on the podium in 16 of 19 Endurocross rounds (Vet class 2008-2010). Additionally, he brought home a silver medal at the International Six Days Enduro in New Zealand (2006), finished Red Bull Last Man Standing (2005), earned top five and podium finishes in National Hare Scrambles, National Enduro, OMA National, and WORCS competitions, and finished the famous Blackwater 100. He also was selected as one of the top 100 off-road riders by Dirt Bike magazine. The Golden City resident, 54, also gives back as a promoter through the MORE series (Midwest Off Road Events), which hosts seven races throughout Missouri yearly, along with the Off-Road Cup, a nine-hour, three-man team race held annually. All this from an 1989 graduate of Eldon High School. ... See MoreSee Less

Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

2 days ago

On this day in sports history, Bowie Kuhn, commissioner of Major League Baseball, ordered teams to give equal clubhouse access to female reporters.

Before this decision, many women in sports media were denied entry to locker rooms where interviews and reporting took place, making it difficult to do their jobs. Kuhn’s order helped break down those barriers and helped pave the way for women to cover baseball on equal footing.

⚾ A meaningful step forward for women in sports.

🌟 Celebrate the impact women continue to make in sports by joining us at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Women’s Sports Luncheon, where we honor incredible female athletes, coaches, and leaders who are shaping the future of the game.

🎟️ Get tickets: mosportshalloffame.com/events/womens-sports-luncheon-presented-by-bee-payne-stewart-foundation-6/ ... See MoreSee Less