DUNCAN, Okla. – Early August is always a hot time for rodeo in the Prairie Circuit.
Over the last four weeks, 11 rodeos have taken place inside the boundaries of the circuit, which encompasses Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. It’s a great opportunity for cowboys and cowgirls to cash in and push their way toward qualifications to the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20-Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan.
Cody Doescher of Oklahoma City is at the top of the list, primarily because he pocketed big circuit dollars at the largest event in the region, Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Doescher, who earned $6,457 in Dodge City to claim the all-around championship. “It’s a privilege, a blessing. It’s for sure a blessing, because I filled in for the team roping and didn’t even enter it.”
When Cale Markham needed a replacement heeler, Doescher took that role and ran with it. While he and Markham qualified for the championship round together, Doescher also earned a spot in the finale in steer wrestling.
“I was actually worried about making it back (to the short round) in bulldogging, and I actually ended up winning more money in bulldogging than I did team roping,” he said.
He sits third in the regional all-around standings with $15,045, is fourth on the steer wrestling money list ($9,063) and is eighth in heeling ($5,982). In the all-around, he trails brothers Trell ($17,056) and Shade Etbauer ($15,766).
All three are hoping to be part of the mix in Duncan in multiple events. Whoever has the most opportunities to win money inside the Stephens County Arena will have the best shot at walking away with the Prairie Circuit’s all-around title.
Doescher also earned more than $5,000 at the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo in early May. While he squeezed a check worth $1,191 the first week in May at the Wild Bill Kickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kan., he has found most of his success at the bigger events inside the region.
“I really needed to capitalize here,” Doescher said in Dodge City. “I was a little behind and needed to win some more for sure. This is a good one to do it at. I’m shooting for the all-around in the circuit and making the circuit finals in both events.”
He’s got the tools – and a month left in the circuit’s regular season – to do it.