Scott Walton's deep connection to the rodeo world began with his father, Allen Walton, founder of the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) Rodeo in Billings, Montana. In the 1970s, Allen hired Cheyenne Frontier Days™ and ProRodeo Hall of Famer Harry Vold as the stock contractor. Scott assisted Vold at NILE and later at the College National Finals Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana, while attending Montana State University. In 1982, Vold invited Scott to join his operation full-time, making this Scott’s first year working at Cheyenne Frontier Days™.
Scott remained with Vold Rodeo Company until 1996, when he accepted a position with ProRodeo Hall of Famer Walt Garrison and CFD Hall of Famer Darrell Barron at Copenhagen & Skoal Tobacco. Serving as Rodeo Supervisor for 13 years, Scott helped manage everything from logistics to operating the scoreboard, “we ran the scoreboard and everything,” he recalled. One of his consistent stops each year during that time was CFD.
In 2010, following federal legislation banning tobacco advertising, Scott partnered with Rick Sallee to form Walton Scoreboards, Inc. The company took over many former Copenhagen & Skoal contracts, including CFD. What began as a basic scoreboard operation displaying only times and scores has since evolved into a dynamic, multimedia experience. Thanks to Scott’s vision and adaptability, modern rodeo fans now enjoy real-time scoring, replays, standings, and contestant bios—features that, as former CFD Rodeo Committee Chairman Chad Mathews remarked, “make every seat in the house a good one.”
Together, Scott and Rick served rodeos across the country, including major events in Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Cheyenne. They have also provided scoring and timing services for the National Finals Rodeo.
Scott has worked in some capacity at every CFD rodeo since 1982 and is a proud recipient of the CFD Silver Badge. In 2023, he was honored with the prestigious Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award, presented during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.