The Parson family moved to Marana in 1972.  Clay attended Marana Elementary, Marana Junior High and graduated from Marana High School in 1979.

Clay was a three-letter athlete at MHS.  He was All City Point Guard in basketball on the 1978-1979 Regional championship team.  He played four years of MHS football.

Clay loved team sports, but really excelled in the rodeo arena.  He was a member of the Marana Rodeo team and in 1979 was the National High School All-Around Cowboy, National High School Team Roping Champion, and National High School Calf Roping Champion.

Clay continued his rodeo career at Central Arizona College, The University of Arizona, and the professional circuit for several years.  He won numerous championship awards in calf roping, team roping, and All-Around Cowboy categories.  Clay still rodeos today in the Grand Canyon Professional Rodeo Association, where he recently won the All-Around Champion Cowboy.

In the early 90s, Clay took a break from rodeo to focus on family, ranching, and his growing business.  In 1993, Clay opened Marana Stockyards and Livestock Market which is now the largest cattle auction in the state of Arizona and one of the most well-respected auctions in the nation.

One of Clay’s greatest joys is giving back to the community by supporting MHS football and basketball programs, FFA steak dinners, and FFA and 4-H programs.  He purchases animals from Marana students and donates the money back to families and programs.  In addition, Clay conducts roll-over auctions to raise funds for community causes.

Clay has a passion for agriculture and supports students interested in a future in farming and ranching, helping to promote and sustain agriculture in the Marana community.  Clay is a successful business person, a man of his word, and loves to give back to his community.