Monthly Archives: July 2011

Anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about many things: God, family, friends, rodeo and storytelling are among them. I developed Rodeo Media Relations and TwisTED Rodeo because I see a need for the rodeo stories to reach as many people as possible. I believe in the concept of good media relations, that presented in a way that’s easy to understand and easy to use will eventually reach the public. I’m blessed with tremendous storylines, some that are heartwarming, some that are heart-aching. Some are even a combination of the two. That’s the case on the pieces I’ve done about benefits for Craig Latham, a nine-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and coach of the rodeo team at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. A cancer diagnosis is always heart-aching; in this case, it involved a friend. But the story is also heart-warming, because so many have reached out to support the Latham family as they fight this disease. Brent Shoulders, who is organizing an online auction through www.gatlinauction.com, sent me word tonight that the folks at Gatlin Auction are reporting big numbers. In fact, Shoulders said, Gatlin typically sees about 100-150 visitors to its website per day. Once the story about the Latham benefit auction broke, Gatlin reported nearly 600 visitors in one day. That’s a good indication of what media relations can do, and it’s what I envisioned when I founded Rodeo Media Relations; it’s why I believe the product is a perfect way to help the sport continue to grow. More importantly, I pray that it means outstanding contributions to the Lathams, who have been so giving for so many year.

Bull riding fans will find a familiar name among the Cheyenne Frontier Days leaders. Steer roper Justin McKee of Lenapah, Okla., is leading the second go-round with a 13.2-second run and sits third in the two-run average with 30.7. McKee has done well in Cheyenne before, and it looks as though he’s in position to cash some pretty nice paychecks by the end of the week. Good for him.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – A $5 bill doesn’t go nearly as far as it did even a decade ago. The organizers of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo are trying to give its patrons a taste of the past with a $5 admission fee. That’s packing a whale of a wallop into the entertainment punch for folks eager to celebrate their community in the eight-day affair from Aug. 5-13. “Our gate admission is just $5, and that’s for everything … the rodeo, concerts, exhibits,” said Dean Jackson, the fair board chairman. “You get to enjoy our small stage acts, which are the Hambone Express Pig Races, hypnotist Susan Rosen and Aaron Stone, a magician. If people want to see diversity, we’ll definitely have it.” This is the 76th year for the Lea County festivities, and it’s a major deal, whether it’s the exciting shows in Jake McClure Arena or on the main stage or the great 4H and FFA activities. “Our junior livestock sale runs second or third in the state as far as revenue,” Jackson said. “At one time, we were bigger than the state fair, but the state fair upped the ante. We’ve got 300 kids involved, including the inside exhibits and everything. “Every year Farm Bureau does a lunch feed for the exhibitors on Tuesdays. This year we’re having the awards assembly on Friday before the rodeo. It’s sponsored by Hi-Pro Feed and Hungry Critters Feeders.” In fact, it takes many great sponsors to help make an event like this happen. The reality is, a $5 admission fee wouldn’t be possible without sponsors or the Lea County Commission’s commitment to the annual festivities. “We’ve got a fantastic partnership with Tate Branch Dodge, who have really gone above and beyond in helping us every year,” Jackson said. “They’re our biggest sponsors, by far. They give us vehicles to drive during the week of the fair, and they contribute to us financially, which helps us put on the best show we can possibly put on.” “For every vehicle they sale in the months of June and July, they are donating $100 to our junior livestock kids. That’s pretty special.” Chesapeake Energy provides a hefty partnership with its Livestock Pavilion sponsorship, and there are several other businesses that put their identity behind the county fair. Of course, they get plenty of high quality exposure in that sponsorship, with about 70,000 people rushing through the turnstiles over the course of the fair each year. “This is the biggest event in Lea County every year,” Jackson said. “The commissioners underwrite this thing, and they do it for the people of Lea County. “We’ve brought in Wright Amusements, which has probably one of the best carnivals I’ve seen. They run a good show, and everyone is very professional. They bring new rides every year. In fact, I know they’re bringing us a new ride this year; they’re not telling us what it is, but they said that it’ll knock your socks off.” For $5, those who go surely can get some new socks.

SILVERTON, Texas – It’s quite fitting James Lann is the headline Texas Country concert act on the final night of Silverton’s Buck Wild Days Rodeo. Lann is a cowboy, the fifth generation of his family to be such. Raised on a ranch where he rode horses, roped livestock and handled many of the other duties everyone in this part of the country is familiar with, Lann has been playing and singing since the age of 14. The sweet country crooner will be the final act of three nights of entertainment in Silverton, a community of about 600 residents. It’s a whale of a way to close the three performances of rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 20. The weekend will feature a free dance after Thursday’s rodeo and six great Texas Country concerts after Friday and Saturday nights’ rodeos. “Who better to headline the Silverton Buck Wild Days Rodeo than someone who understands the sport,” said Corey Johnston of 106.1 KFLP-FM. “James Lann is that guy.” Lann, who has released two phenomenal albums, will be joined “on the diamond” Saturday night by the Zack Walther Band and Jason Nutt & Highway 70. Lann will carry with him an outstanding repertoire, which features four No. 1 songs on the Texas Country charts. His most recent, “Halfway To Houston,” went No. 1 this year. In 2009, he reached No. 1 with “Honky Tonk Two Step Queen,” then followed that with “The Talent Requires” and “Every Kiss Goodnight” in 2010. From his beginnings on the music scene – where he opened for acts like Chris LeDoux, Pat Green, Wade Bowen, Clay Walker and Darryl Worley – to where he is today, Lann has found a comfortable place in Texas Country. That’s quite convenient for Zack Walther and his band, who reside in the genre. In fact, Walther brings new musical twists to the Texas music scene, and his talent has been accepted inside the renowned Gruene Hall in New Branfels, Texas. The band’s most recent album, “Into The Fray,” includes 10 songs that features Walther’s hard-hitting lyrics. Walther began playing at the age of 13 but didn’t get a “real” guitar until he was 15. As for songwriting, he continues to hold tight to his influences, Jimi Hendrix and Simon and Garfunkel – with a Texas Country twist, of course. “The Zach Walther Band is one of the most refreshing acts I’ve heard is years,” Johnston said. “Those guys are talented enough to shut Piers Morgan up for good.” Jason Nutt & Highway 70 is based in Lubbock, and their upbeat, catchy style has been a hit with fans. Nutt, a singer and songwriter, had formed a number of bands before he teamed with fiddle player Tanner Evans, bassist Dub Wood, drummer Tyler Richardson and lead guitarist Clint Chapman. Each artist brought his own background into the act to form the talent that will be on display in Silverton. “Jason Nutt & Highway 70 is the perfect fit for Saturday night’s show,” Johnston said. “He’s a local guy with big talent.”

GOODWELL, Okla. – The giving nature is one of the greatest things in society. It’s also one of the most contagious. Just a few weeks after the establishment of the Craig Latham Medical Fund and a benefit at Bob’s Cowboy Bar and Rodeo Room in Guymon, others in the Oklahoma Panhandle are stepping up to the plate to offer their gifts, talents and financial support to Latham and his family with an online auction. In June, Latham was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Tests from the visit a week ago were good. The tumor that was removed during surgery was an isolated plasmacytoma, meaning it had not spread into the bone marrow. Doctors warned Latham and his wife, Lori, that plasmacytoma can easily advance. Therefore, the family will be returning to Baltimore every six months so doctors can keep a close eye on the disease. That’s why family and friends have reached out to others to help Latham, a nine-time qualifier to the National Finals Rodeo who now coaches the rodeo team for his alma mater, Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Brent Shoulders, an assistant professor of art at Panhandle State, is organizing the online auction, which will take place Aug. 5-Sept. 16 at www.gatlinauction.com. “I have known Craig and Lori for many years, and they are great people who do all they can for the community of Goodwell and the OPSU community,” Shoulders said. “I also had a brother who passed away from cancer, and the whole fight is almost personal. Being so close to someone going through treatments, my family understands the extreme cost of treatment, and we also understand the generosity of our home community. “We never lacked for help with anything because our community pulled together to help us, and I feel that it’s important to help others. It’s a Christian principle that I believe in.” The benefit will feature award-winning artists from the region and Panhandle State art students, faculty and alumni. “It will also feature merchandise donated from the great people of this area,” Shoulders said. “I want to thank everyone who has donated thus far and ask anyone else interested in donating to this great cause to do so.” Friends from the rodeo community are donating items, too. Cervi Rodeo, a Colorado-based livestock firm, is providing four plaza tickets to the 10th go-round of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, which will be Saturday, Dec. 10, in Las Vegas. The Cervis also are donating two stud fees, which will allow for two mares to be bred to a super-bred bucking horse. Therese Renault is donating jewelry, Best Bet Taxidermy is donating a $250 gift certificate and Chris Roe is donating an annual membership to Roe Hunting Resources. More donations will be piling in over the next few days, and information can be found at the Gatlin Auction website. Those who wish to donate to the Craig Latham Medical Fund can do so through the account set up at the Bank of the Panhandle, P.O. Box 2180, Guymon, OK 73942. “I knew of Craig before I ever came to Goodwell, and it didn’t take long to see their importance to the community,” Shoulders said. “The family is tremendously wonderful, and the amount and caliber of donations coming in is proof that Craig and Lori have touched this community. Craig has done a great deal of work in the sport of rodeo, and now he heads a celebrated rodeo program at OPSU. He works tirelessly to keep things going in a positive direction and is continuing to make great strides in rodeo and as an educator. “If you’ve ever been around Craig, you know him from the start. Everything he says and does is that of a genuine person. Those who know Craig and Lori know how special they are, and we’re just trying to help them any way we can.”

SILVERTON, Texas – The chances are good that William Clark Green will find a lot of comfort in Silverton, a community of about 600 residents You see, Green was raised in Flint, Texas, a town that boasts a “sparse” population. That’s tiny. But Green’s music isn’t, and that’s why he’s the headlining act Friday night’s action-packed concert list at the Buck Wild Days Rodeo, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. The concert, which will also feature Hogg Maulies and No Dry County, will follow on the baseball diamond adjacent to the rodeo grounds shortly after the last bull is bucked. Green began writing music at age 13 and was opening act for The Dragliners at age 14. Now accompanied by his band – bass guitarist Cameron Moreland, drummer Jay Saldana and banjo player Austin Davis – Green recorded his first album, “Dangerous Man,” which released in September 2008. But he garnered some valuable lessons along the way. As a freshman at Texas Tech, Green began playing the Monday night spot at Recovery Room and worked his way up to the headlining show on Thursdays. He played at the Blue Light in Lubbock, Texas, and after many acoustic shows, he found the band that carries his name. “The fact that the Buck Wild Days Rodeo in Silverton has William Clark Green headlining Friday night’s concert moves the summit of local entertainment to an elevation that will leave those in attendance gasping for air,” said Corey Johnson of 101.6-FM KFLP in Floydada. “Texas Country music is on the rise and I can’t think of anyone better to lead this event than someone as ‘dangerous’ as William Clark Green.” Built in Rotan, Texas, the Hogg Maulies are based in Lubbock and share a vibrant sound that is reaching listeners. Formed by lead vocalist Rode Morrow and drummer David Mullins, the five-member band boasts of strong roots in the Texas Country genre, thanks in part bass guitarist Craig Tally, lead guitarist Jeff James and electric rhythm guitarist Parker Morrow. The band is on its third album, August Rain, which has released the single “Good Heart.” It’s a nice addition to the band’s other two albums, Here To Stay and Live At The Blue Light. In its purest form, Hogg Maulies is proud of the roots dug deep into the Texas Country soil. From their first shows at a hanger in the Rotan airport to their regular sets at the Blue Light in Lubbock, the band has found a zone that fans have come to enjoy. “I can assure you of two things: this year’s rodeo will be ‘Buck Wild’ and the music, well … it’ll be ‘Hogg Wild,’ ” Johnston said. With its country and Americana music touched by classic rock ’n’ roll, No Dry County is leading the way for a younger generation of artists involved in Texas Country. Led by lead singer Trent Langford, No Dry County performs heartfelt music with lyrics that are about real life experiences. It’s fitting the four-person band is reaching out to fans of the Buck Wild Days Rodeo, where their songs about real places and real people will be well received. It’s why Langford, Mitchell Rambo, Monte Ebeling and Matt Newsom have No Dry County gaining popularity. “With No Dry County leading off the Texas Country trifecta at this year’s Silverton rodeo, you can bet that this will soon be the premier event in the Texas Panhandle,” Johnston said.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – To win in the game of rodeo, it takes equal doses of talent and luck. It also takes having a good dance partner. Wesley Silcox believes in that sentiment. It’s what’s guided the Payson, Utah, cowboy through his eight-year career, including that magical 2007 season when he won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s bull riding world championship. Just in case he needed a refresher course, he got one at last year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “He just stepped out of the chute and turned back to the left,” Silcox said of Charlie’s Bandito, the Carr Pro Rodeo bull he rode to win the 2010 Lovington rodeo. “He moves a little, and He’s not real smooth. He’s just a good one to have, and you know you can be a lot of points on him.” Silcox was a lot of points, scoring an 89. That was worth $4,389. More importantly, it secured Silcox’s place in both the Justin Boots Playoffs in Puyallup, Wash., and the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb., events that take the top contestants in each event from the tour standings. “It meant a lot, because it bumped me up in the tour standings, and I was able to go to Puyallup and Omaha,” he said. “Winning the tour rodeos is good for the end of the season.” It definitely was for Silcox, who earned $30,882 in Omaha. That catapulted him to No. 1 in the world standings heading into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He finished the season second only to three-time world champion J.W. Harris. It was a very successful season, and he plans to return to Lovington again this August in order to get on some of the greatest animal athletes in the sport. “Pete Carr’s a really good guy who works hard,” Silcox said. “I don’t know him real well, but he’s trying real hard and trying to get us good stock we can get on. That’s what makes us want to go to his rodeos. He’s doing his best trying to get a bunch of good guys to come to his rodeos.” Carr is one of the rising stars in the stock contracting business, and it has an established name in the world of bucking horses. The cowboys know it as well as anyone. “He’s got some of the best horses out there,” said Louie Brunson, the reigning Lea County Fair and Rodeo saddle bronc riding champion from Interior, S.D. “He tries hard to get the best stock, tries to make it as good a deal for the cowboys as possible.” Brunson won the Lovington rodeo with an 88-point ride on Carr’s True Lies, one of the top horses in the PRCA. In fact, Scott Miller of Boise, Idaho, also rode True Lies, finishing in second place with an 87. “I rode that horse once at an amateur rodeo before Pete owned him,” Brunson said. “I didn’t recognize him until I saddled him up, then I realized and got pretty excited. He’s a really nice little horse.” For several years, Brunson has been on the brink of a berth to the NFR, which features the top 15 contestants on the money list at the conclusion of the regular season. “Winning that rodeo felt pretty good,” he said. “I was in a little slump, and it just felt good to ride good again. Winning really helped out a lot, some for my confidence because it was a really good score, but also because it helped me get to Puyallup. I don’t think I had any tour money won until that rodeo. That win gave me a legitimate shot at the NFR.” He’d love to repeat and knows he’ll have a chance. “Pete’s got an even pen of bucking horses, which means that no matter what horse you draw, you have a chance to win,” Brunson said. “That’s real important. It keeps it fair. At some rodeos you go to, there’ll be that one top horse, and if you get him drawn, then you’ve got first place. With Pete’s you can win on anything, because everything’s good.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – In a world filled with children playing video games and turning themselves into couch potatoes, there are programs that offer youth much more. In southeast New Mexico, many of the youngsters find plenty of things to fill their days while being involved in 4H and FFA livestock showing. It involves hard work and fortitude. It means learning to be selfless and caring. “I think it’s important to have kids busy and active in something they’re interested in,” said Wayne Cox, a Lea County Extension Agent. “The main thing is we teach them responsibilities. You’ve got to learn to take care of something. What the kids are learning is that their animals are like they’re taking care of stuff as if they were parents taking care of their kids. “These animals can’t take care of themselves, so they need someone to take care of them.” All that care will be put on display during Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for Aug. 5-13 in Lovington. It’s one of the biggest livestock exhibitions in New Mexico. The shows begin Tuesday, Aug. 9, with the market swine and dairy heifer shows. The shows Wednesday, Aug. 10, will feature poultry judging, meat goat show and the market lamb show; rabbit judging, the beef heifer show and the market steer show will take place Thursday, Aug. 11. “We have probably 300 kids involved in our 4H and FFA programs, inside exhibitions and everything,” said Dean Jackson, chairman of the fair board. That’s impressive, but is the care the animals are receiving. It’s all in the value of life lessons that can’t be taught in a textbook. “These kids learn that they have to go out there during the heat of the day and make sure the animals are cared for instead of lying on the couch playing video games,” Cox said. “With my kids, our philosophy is that we don’t eat until the animals eat. That means we don’t eat our breakfast until we feed our animals. “When they get old enough to go out in the work force, they need to get up in the morning and take care of their chores. They’ll need to have that responsibility by then.” The culmination of all that work comes Saturday, Aug. 13. The 4H Awards presentation will take place at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Sale of Champions at 8 a.m. “Our junior livestock sale consistently runs second or third in the state as far as revenue for the kids,” Jackson said. “We used to be bigger than the state fair. Last year we had $170,000-plus on 100 entries. It’s amazing. “It’s unreal to watch what they give these kids. I remember when I was showing, lambs would bring $2 a pound. Now they’re bringing $25 to $30 a pound.” Once an animal enters the sale ring, it is no longer eligible for another New Mexico show. Most of the animals sold at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo sale are donated to charitable organizations. “Ten to 12 years ago, it was the largest hog show in the state,” Cox said. “There were over 400 hogs at the county fair at one time. That’s one of the reasons we got the new facilities, because we outgrew the old facilities. “In terms of pure community support, we’ve got one of the best county fair sales around. There are some counties that can compete with us in terms of what we sell, but year in and year out we’re on of the top sales in the state. Our county has been very gracious in how they support our youth here.” While it seems the youngsters get a great benefit from the sale of their animals, the rewards are greater in the years that follow. “By far the most important thing in showing livestock is the responsibilities the kids learn through it,” Cox said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a recap of the Fort Smith, Ark., rodeo that appears in the July 2011 issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News. There was something magical in the air surrounding Kay Rogers Park’s Harper Stadium on May 31, the second night of the Old Fort Days Rodeo. The Fort Smith, Ark., rodeo is a regular stop for the top barrel racers in the business, and it has hosted its fair share of phenomenal horseraces over the years. But on that Tuesday night, it got really good. Benette Barrington, fresh off her first trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, blistered the cloverleaf pattern in 16.59 seconds. Better yet was that she was the 11th out of 12 girls to run. But Barrington had nothing on Carlee Pierce, the final lady to run that night, also posted a 16.59. Better yet, nobody passed the duo over the course of the six-performance rodeo. Each woman pocketed $2,763 for their work in western Arkansas. But that’s just a small part of the story. That Dillon is Rare Rare Dillon helped Annesa Self to circuit titles and a qualification to the 2008 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Now Pierce is hopes the 11-year-old buckskin gelding can lead her to the same green pastures. Since the two have teamed together, they’ve found their way to the pay window often – not bad for a relationship that’s just a few weeks old. “I was at a rodeo in Longview, Texas, and Annesa approached me after I ran and asked if I was interested in looking for more horses,” said Pierce, of Woodward, Okla. “I’m always looking for something nice. She said, ‘I’ve been watching you; I’m going to sell Dillon, but it’s going to be hand-picked.’ ” It seems Self saw something magical in Pierce, and several days after their meeting, the two cowgirls gathered together for a test drive, of sorts. “I rode him, and I loved him,” Pierce said. “He was not advertised. She decided she needed to stay closer to home and work more of the circuit rodeos.” Self, a regular in the top 45 in the world standings who won the Dodge Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo this past January, has decided to spend more time with family and less time on the rodeo trail. But she knew Dillon was too good to stay with her. “I fit him really, really well,” Pierce said. Their first rodeo together was in Corpus Christi, Texas, on April 22, where they posted a 13.05-second run for second place and $4,001. “It’s been a match ever since,” she said. “We went to Guymon, where I hit a barrel in the first go to win it and finished third in the second-go.” Pierce and Dillon have reached the pay window quite often. Just a few days before their sprint to the finish in western Arkansas, the pair earned the title in Claremore, Okla., with a 16.96 – the only run of the weekend that was less than 17 seconds. With every run, every turn, Pierce shares it all with Self, just as it should be. “Neesa’s still a huge part of his life and my life,” said Pierce, who is married to Steve Pierce, owner of Jack’s Casing Crew in Woodward; they have three children, a son, Kale, 13; and daughters Makala, 13, and Jacy, 5. “We usually talk every second or third day, at least every rodeo. She’s a proud mom to him.” Winning on the fly Barrington spent a lot of time in Canada the end of May and early June. In fact, she flew back to the Oklahoma-Arkansas region just to make her run in Fort Smith. “It’s a big win for me right now,” said Barrington, who, on March 29, married Jud Little. “It was darn sure a confidence booster.” Barrington has her top horse, Smooth My Credit – a 7-year-old sorrel mare by PESI Stallion Cash Not Credit out of Smooth My Feathers – but she rode JL Dash Ta Heaven to the split victory in Fort Smith. The latter is a 6-year-old sorrel stallion by PESI Stallion Dash To Fame out of Dyna’s Plain Special, the athletic mare Janae Ward rode to the 2003 world championship. “I took him on the road and seasoned him a little bit, and that helped me make the NFR last year,” Barrington said. “We had some good wins on him, but I hadn’t been on him since last fall.” Dash Ta Heaven has breeding obligations to uphold, so he won’t be back in the competition arena for several weeks. Still, Barrington plans to work hard in an effort to return to the Wrangler NFR and the Canadian Finals Rodeo. She knows it’s going to take everything she and the horses have if they’re going to make it. “At this point, the horses that I’m riding are young, so I have to just go,” she said. “I don’t have that hard-knocking horse that you can pick your 30 to 40 rodeos and win on, so I just have to be on the road and see where it leads.”

The 115th edition of the world famous Cheyenne Frontier Days has begun with the first performance Saturday afternoon. Over the next week, the biggest names in rodeo will try to add a (or another) Cheyenne title to their resume. It’s a coveted championship. And the prize money isn’t too shabby either. In fact, the overall purse is several hundred thousand dollars. Placing at Cheyenne brings contestants prestige. It also boosts bank accounts. It’s all important to those who make their livings on the rodeo trail. The prize money can and, most likely, will be spent, but the memories of winning The Daddy of ’em All will last a lifetime.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – In every community, there are children who would love the opportunity to be a cowboy or a cowgirl, even for a day. Without events like the Special Rodeo, many children never would get the opportunity. Physical disabilities don’t allow for them to rope or ride. They still dream nonetheless. That’s why the organizers at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo love putting on its annual Special Rodeo, set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Jake McClure Arena. It’s just another fabulous event that’s part of the eight-day county celebration that runs Aug. 5-13. “That is one of the most humbling experiences you’ll ever go through,” said Dean Jackson, chairman of the fair board. “We don’t realize how fortunate we are. The thrill you see on those kids’ faces just from roping a dummy or riding a horse … that is unadulterated happiness. “Until you’ve done that for someone, you can’t explain it. It brings a chill over my body every time.” The event takes place a little before the start of the third night of the rodeo, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10-Saturday, Aug. 13. The actual rodeo will feature most of the top hands in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The Special Rodeo will, too, because the best cowboys in the business enjoy bringing that kind of light into a youngster’s life. “The funny thing is the parents have the same attitude these kids do … just happiness,” Jackson said. “To me, it’s amazing. We don’t have any problems finding volunteers for the Special Rodeo. It’s a life-altering event. You can’t imagine what it does to you.” It might just be the most special event happening during the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, but there are plenty of outstanding things going on. Another hot topic for the youngest rodeo fans is mutton busting for children who weigh less than 50 pounds. The pre-performance competition featuring all entrants will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the arena. Entry fee is $7, and the child must be present at registration. The top 40 scorers advance, and 10 contestants will be featured before each of the rodeo performances beginning at 7 p.m. “The mutton busting has always been a big hit for us,” said Greg Massey, chairman of the rodeo committee. “It’s a lot of fun watching those kids, and it really helps get the crowd excited for the rodeo.” Fair festivities kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5, with the Local Team Roping, a No. 13 handicapped event for Lea County residents only. Entry fee is $150 per roper, and teams will compete in a four-round progressive. The top 12 teams then qualify for the short go-round, which will follow the regular roping. The 4H Horse Show will take place Saturday, Aug. 6. See www.leacounty.net for more information. The open 4D barrel race is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 8, and the queen contest will help crown the fair and rodeo’s queen and princess. The 31st annual Fiddler’s Contest is planned for the final two days of the fair. A jam session is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, while registration for the contest begins at noon Saturday, Aug. 13. The contest will begin at 1 p.m. “These great events are things a lot of people love to watch, and a lot of others love to take part in them,” Jackson said. “It makes it a lot of fun for everyone.”

Rodeo people are the greatest in the world. The rodeo committee at Pretty Prairie, Kan., tops my list right now. We limped into Pretty Prairie at 45 mph (which is really tough on me) at 3:30 a.m. for slack Wednesday morning. After slack, several of the rodeo committee men helped me figure out what was wrong with the truck, tried to find parts and a place to fix it, etc. One of the air hoses blew a hole, and we had to order a new hose from Chicago. It was shipped to Pratt, Kan. (another friend/roper picked them up Thursday on his way to Cheyenne). The guys at Pretty Prairie, with a little cowboy ingenuity, spliced the hose so we could drive the truck and make it on to Woodward. Thanks so much! God sends us angels everyday dressed in Wranglers, so don’t forget to thank Him and pray blessings on those who go out of their way to help others! Marty came to Pretty Prairie, and Jeanne went onto Manhattan, Kan., and Hardtner, Kan., with her husband, Rick. Marty and I are headed back to Cheyenne, Wyo., so he can rope in the morning. I am making the short round at Nampa, Idaho, so I will head west Friday to run there Saturday. Marty ropes at Deadwood, S.D., on Tuesday, so I’ll go up there to watch him. We don’t run there until Thursday morning, then it’s a fast drive to Burwell, Neb., for the performance that night. Amigo did so good our first run at Cheyenne! We split fourth/fifth with a 17.66; a 17.50 won the round. That puts us in the Saturday performance on July 30. We are running well, our timing is back and finally feel like we are where we should be! Rodeo – it’s a marathon. Sometimes you just have to ride through the bad times, have faith in God and what He is doing and keep on going.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The terrain that is part of the southeast New Mexico is rugged; so are the cowboys that make this their home. This is ranching country, and the men who work this land know their business. That’s why some of the greatest timed-event cowboys in ProRodeo history come from this neck of the woods. It’s why the best in the business today will make their way to Lovington for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, which will have four performances set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10-Saturday, Aug. 13. Hometown cowboy Guy Allen won the steer roping at last year’s event. He’s done that hundreds of time over his storied career, which is highlighted by his 18 world championships, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association record for most gold buckles by one cowboy. Allen also owns 32 consecutive qualifications to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, also a PRCA record. “Lovington is roping country,” said Pete Carr, owner of Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo. “There are a lot of great ones from around there, that’s for sure.” There are a lot of great ones who will come to town to compete every year. There’s a big purse and championship dollars on the line, so that’s a drawing card. But so is Carr and his crew of experts. “To me, Pete Carr is one of the new wave of stock contractors as much about one end of the arena as he does the other,” said Trevor Brazile, an eight-time all-around world champion who has added three tie-down roping, two steer roping and a heading titles. “There have been stock contractors that don’t really have a complete rodeo. In my opinion, Pete puts on a complete rodeo.” Being complete is the foundation for Carr’s livestock firm. Since its inception, Carr Pro Rodeo has had some of the greatest animal athletes in the sport, from Real Deal, the 2005 bareback riding horse of the year, to River Boat Annie, the reserve world champion bareback horse in 2007, to Air Up There, the top bucking bull in the Texas Circuit in 2008. “The rough-stock events are just a small part of a rodeo,” Carr said, referring to bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. “Don’t get me wrong; they’re an important part of the rodeo, but I believe the best rodeos feature the best contestants and the best animals, and that goes for the timed events. I care about the calves and the steers and what they mean for our rodeo, just like I do the horses and bulls.” If it’s ever been roped, Brazile knows about it. He’s one of just two to have qualified for the national finals in all four roping disciplines – he’s been to the steer roping finals each of the last 14 years and has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 20 times in team roping, tie-down roping and team roping (both heading and heeling). Last year, he set the rodeo world on fire, earning coveted Triple Crown for the second time in his career by winning the all-around, tie-down roping and heading world titles in a single season – he’d won the Triple Crown in 2007 by winning the all-around, calf roping and steer roping gold buckles. Brazile also set earnings records, pocketing $507,921 in 2011, $211,509 of which came from the NFR. “Pete has the best livestock there is to offer at both ends of the arena,” he said, referring to timed events and rough-stock events. “That’s something most stock contractors don’t have to offer … mostly that they don’t care enough to go the extra mile to do what Pete does. It costs him a little more for him to put on a rodeo because he wants it to be right.” Carr counts on plenty of people to make it right, like timed-event chute boss John Gwatney, a timed-event contestant. “We want to have good, even pens of livestock to give the cowboys the best chance at winning,” Gwatney said. “That’s something the contestants see when they come to one of our rodeos, and I know, from my experience, how much they appreciate that.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Community is the foundation for the eight-day Lea County Fair and Rodeo. It’s why ticket prices are just $5. It’s why the Lea County Commission underwrites the event, which begins Friday, Aug. 5, and has been a southeastern New Mexico showcase for 76 years. It’s why the rodeo is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Wrangler Million Dollar Tour. “I think it helps with our entries and with the quality of the contestants,” said Greg Massey, a fair board member who serves as chairman of the rodeo committee. “You get the top 20 percent of the contestants in each event; for our spectators, I think that’s important. You get to see the best of the best.” It’s also one of three tour rodeos that take place the week beginning Monday, Aug. 8, joining Hermiston, Ore., and Sikeston, Mo. There are 24 tour rodeos across the country, and all are recognized for the large purses available to contestants. That’s a major drawing card for the top cowboys and cowgirls in ProRodeo. “The tour saved my backside last year,” said 2008 world champion bareback rider Justin McDaniel, who won $80,000 in just four months last season while recuperating from back surgery. “Those tour rodeos offer a lot of money, and I won enough at those to sneak into the playoffs. Then I did pretty well there, too.” He got a major boost in Lovington. The four performances of this year’s rodeo will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10-Saturday, Aug. 13. Most of the biggest names in the sport will be on hand fighting for every dollar they can get. Not only does money won in Lovington count toward the world standings and qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, also it counts toward the tour standings. The top 24 contestants in each event qualify for the Justin Boots Playoffs from Sept. 9-11 in Puyallup, Wash. From there, the top 12 on the money list earn a spot in the Justin Boots Championships from Sept. 22-24 in Omaha, Neb. Both events feature high-dollar opportunities for the contestants in the field – that not only helps pay bills, but it’s also how gold buckles are won; the contestant in each event with the most money earned at the end of the season is crowned world champion. “Being on tour helps fill our rodeo with national champions,” Massey said. “It brings the best of the best. The contestants want to follow the tour rodeos, because the money they earn in a tour rodeo leads them to the first playoff stop in Puyallup. That’s big for them.” It’s also big for the fair, rodeo and Lea County communities. “A few years ago, the attendance was down, entries were down,” he said, noting that Pete Carr’s Carr Pro Rodeo became the primary stock contractor a few years ago. “Since we changed the format with our rodeo and got Pete in with us, we’ve maxed out on all of our entries and our attendance is up.” That, too, makes it fun for the cowboys and cowgirls who make their livings on the rodeo trail. “Lovington has been a good rodeo, and I really like that it’s part of the tour now,” said McDaniel, who last year placed third at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, earning $2,520 in the process. “That moved me into the top 24 on tour.” McDaniel didn’t begin his 2010 season until early June, so he was still making up ground by early August. By the time the season concluded at the end of September, the 24-year-old cowboy had moved into the top 15 in the world standings and earned a fourth straight trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Once there, he placed in eight of 10 go-rounds, winning the average with the best cumulative score and earning $103,189 to move to No. 2 in the final standings. And the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour got the Porum, Okla., cowboy to that point. “You’ve got to take advantage of every opportunity you can get,” McDaniel said. “In Lovington, I got on the best bucking horse in the world, Real Deal. That’s the opportunity I needed at that time, and it helped me on down the road.” Every cowboy has his gold buckle dreams, and they must follow McDaniel’s lead in realizing them. Being in southeastern New Mexico in August is critical for most, and that falls back on the organizers and volunteers who work all year to bring the best show to Lovington. “There are a lot of ranch people around there, so they know a lot about the rodeo,” said Paul Peterson, one of the pickup men in Lovington who has worked the Wrangler NFR three times. “It’s always been a pretty good rodeo, but the committee has stepped up and added a lot of money. That’s been a good drawing factor.”

I just got into the good ol’ USA. It was a good trip to Canada. I have a rodeo Thursday and Friday, then I’m heading home. Highs were unusual, 70s and lots of short-lived storms. There were even some tornadoes.

It was 11:15 p.m., dark and raining as I made my way to TeePee Creek, Alberta. I was on the sixth hour of my drive and less than 20 miles from my destination. I was on the phone with the head committeeman for the rodeo there when I came across four teens in a car that was going all over the place. In fact, I had to slow down as they erratically darted in front of me. Less than a minute later, they went into the ditch at probably 65 mph, seemingly maintaining their speed. As they came back onto the highway just a few car lengths in front of me, they were nearly sideways. They rolled one and a half times, and on the second roll, the vehicle spun on its top. It came to rest upside down in the opposite lane of the highway. I told the committeeman what I’d just witness and had him send an ambulance immediately. Thank the Lord no immediate traffic was on the road. The vehicles contents were scattered everywhere, including the female passenger. The driver was more interested in trying to convince me he wasn’t driving and that I needed to be on his side and tell that to law enforcement. Ignoring him, I conducted a brief search before finding the female passenger in the ditch. She was pretty messed up, suffering extensive neck, collar bone, rib, abdominal pain and having a scalp all torn up. I grabbed a sleeping bag that was laying in the debris and one of my rain coats to keep her warm and from getting any wetter. She lay in the ditch with a passerby that was a fireman, as well as a Canadian Mountie, stabilizing her head. I heard she had surgery the next day, but I don’t know the extent of her injuries. And, yes, the kid that was driving was arrested for his role in the wreck. I heard he and his friends spent the night in jail. Please, people, don’t drink and drive. I don’t care to experience that again.

SILVERTON, Texas – Some people are always searching for that one thing that will make their lives complete. That’s not Troy Lerwill, a Utah man who lives his life on the rodeo trail entertaining hundreds of thousands of fans a year. Lerwill gets to laugh and carouse and, what might be most impressive, is that he leaves them amazed at the end of the evening. “It’s just one of those things that I found that I really enjoy doing,” said Lerwill, who married his passion for rodeo with his interest in motocross and created his alter ego, “The Wild Child,” a daredevil who does wonders on the back of a motorcycle. Lerwill is one of the most sought-after specialty acts in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and he’ll be in the Texas Panhandle for the three performances of the Silverton’s Buck Wild Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 20. It’s the second straight year Lerwill will bring his award-winning show to the Texas community. “Silverton was a fun rodeo,” said Lerwill, a six-time PRCA Comedy Act of the Year, a two-time Coors Man in the Can and a three-time barrelman at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. I didn’t know what to expect since it was the first ProRodeo when we got there, but it was a really nice community, and there were really nice people there. It was a lot of fun. I hope it turns into a real big thing for their community.” The rodeo has been around for 119 years, but 2011 is just the second year it’s been part of the PRCA, the premier sanctioning body in the sport. That’s just one of the pieces of the puzzle involved in making the Buck Wild Days Rodeo the biggest event in this part of the state. “We’re pretty excited to have the best specialty act in the business coming to our rodeo,” said Ken Wood, chairman of Buck Wild Days Rodeo committee. “If people haven’t seen what Troy does in the arena, they’re going to be amazed.” Lerwill has been around ProRodeo for 13 years and has proven himself time and time again. It’s a way he can share his talent for entertaining with his passion for motorcycles. “My family was into rodeo, and I always enjoyed the bullfighting and clowns,” he said. “That’s how I was introduced to the business. I just found a niche in rodeo where it works really well. I enjoy the people, and it’s nice that it’s a family oriented sport.” While he has fun at his job, it’s his professionalism that is a drawing card for producers. “We want to bring the very best talent we can every night to every rodeo we produce,” said Pete Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo, the primary stock contractor in Silverton. “One of the keys to putting on great events is having a team of extremely talented individuals.” Whether it’s his sense of humor or his daredevil nature on a motorcycle, Lerwill is definitely talented. Fans that get to see it not only are entertained, but also they are part of the package Lerwill presents. “I really enjoy when I do my act and people get to take a break from the everyday bump and grind in life and smile a little bit,” he said. “When I put a smile on people’s faces, it makes me smile. That’s the funnest thing about it.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – When the Eli Young Band announced itself to the music world, it did so with great gusto. Its debut album, Jet Black & Jealous, entered the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart at No. 5; it was No. 2 on iTunes. It featured the band’s first Top 10 song on country radio, “Always The Love Songs.” That gusto will be on display when the Denton, Texas-based band performs at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, an eight-day celebration in this southeastern New Mexico community that will feature four top music acts, a generous helping of other entertaining shows and one of the biggest and best events in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association from Aug. 5-13. The Eli Young Band will showcase its brand of country music at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, just after the conclusion of the final performance of the PRCA rodeo. It’s an outstanding way to close the annual community celebration. “We’ve got a really good lineup this year,” said Dean Jackson, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “It opens with Jars of Clay, which will be playing on Faith and Family Night on Wednesday (Aug. 10). “We’ve also got Chris Cagle on Thursday, Smash Mouth on Friday and Eli Young Band on Saturday. I think it’s an outstanding lineup, and we’re all very excited about it.” So are the fans. The Eli Young Band has been well received nationwide, enjoying a piece of the pie on Gary Allan’s Get Off On The Pain tour and the Country Throwdown tour, which included Eric Church, Jack Ingram, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Montgomery Gentry. The band was formed by James Young and Mike Eli, Eli & Young, when they attended the University of North Texas. Chris Thompson and Jon Jones joined the band later. The concert series kicks off on Wednesday night with Jars of Clay, a Christian rock band from Nashville. The core part of the group – Dan Haseltine, lead vocals; Charlie Lowell, piano/keyboard; Steven Mason, guitar; and Matt Odmark, guitar – met while attending Greenville (Ill.) College in the early 1990s. Since then, the group has produced 10 albums. “We’ve had a lot of response about them,” Jackson said. “People are telling us great things about them.” People are saying great things about Cagle, too. In fact, the song “My Love Goes On and On” quickly became a hit. The song, off his debut album, Play It Loud, reached No. 15 on the country charts. Cagle’s “I Breath In, I Breath Out” reached No. 1 in 2001. It is one of seven hits for the Louisiana-born artist; four of those songs reached the Top 10, including “What A Beautiful Day,” “Chicks Dig It,” and “What Kinda Gone.” “I think Chris Cagle is an outstanding act to lead us into the weekend,” Jackson said of the Thursday, Aug. 11, show. Smash Mouth will bring its popular sound to the fair’s main stage on Friday, Aug. 12, and that seems to be a popular call among the group’s contingent of fans and those who have enjoyed the band’s No. 1 songs, “Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star,” as well as a plethora of other catchy hits like the cover of The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer,” which was on the soundtrack for the movie “Shrek.” Steve Harwell’s raspy vocals lead the sound that was established in 1994 – the 1999 release of Astro Lounge reached No. 6 on the American charts. Bassist Paul De Lisle is the other founding member, and he makes up the strong contingent that is rounded out by drummer Randy Cook and guitarist Mike Krompass, who have joined the group in the last two years. Smash Mouth is coming off a fantastic tour, where this past February the band performed for U.S. Troops serving in the Middle East. The band performed at military bases throughout Iraq and Kuwait, and Harwell called the adventure, “One of the best things we’ve ever done.” “This is the first year we’ve gone that way as far as that kind of music,” Jackson said. “We’ve had some input from people who have asked for this kind of music. We think this year’s lineup of concerts includes acts everyone wants to see.”

Since the last week of June, I’ve been to Clear Lake, S.D., back home, to Park Rapids, Minn., for July 1-3, then drove 900 miles overnight to Choteau, Mont., for a one-performance rodeo on the Fourth. I knew I was going to be rolling in just after the performance started, so I put on my makeup while driving. I made it just in time to unload the fire truck, get it ready and rolled into the arena. After the firetruck act, I did some walking-and-talking humor to finish the rodeo performance. Then I loaded up, collected my check and laid out in the pick up to nap for a bit.  I stayed a couple of days at a friends place in nearby Great Falls, Mont. After that, I rolled across the border into Canada. I was north of Calgary about two and a half hours in a little village of Benalto, which may be as large as Mt. Vernon, S.D. Benalto is rural, and people stayed in campers and tents to make it a week end out of it. It seemed to be primarily an older generation camping. The committee people are down to earth, friendly and helpful. The announcer wasn’t real seasoned but did fair. I’ll take that over an arrogant one any day. The weather is in the high 70s during the heat of the day. The committee put me up in a rented RV. There were no linens or towels, etc. I found a light blanket in the clown trailer and put it to use. It wasn’t plugged in last night, and I woke up shivering. I found the gas was hooked up and on, so I lit the stove for heat for a while. That’s roughing it, I guess. It has been a while since I’ve been awaken by the loud speakers announcing something. In Benalto, it was a kid rodeo. Oh, well; it is what it is. I believe life is what we make it, and I’ll make it a good time.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appeared in the July 2011 edition of Women’s Pro Rodeo News. It was the cover story, and it was great getting to know a little more about a young Texas roper. Jaymee Roach likes to have fun. She likes to smile and laugh, and, her friends say, she likes for others to do so, too. “Jaymee would really surprise people when you finally get to the core of her true character,” said Jackie Hobbs, Roach’s friend and roommate who is also one of the best all-around hands in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. “She’s a goofball and is probably the funniest girl I know. “But when you’re truly around Jaymee and get to the core of who she is, you find out she has more heart and try than most people.” That’s what life’s about for the cowgirl who grew up in Banquete, Texas, not too far from Corpus Christi and Kingsville near the state’s southern tip. On May 23, Roach teamed with Debbie Fabrizio of Pueblo, Colo., to finish second at the Windy Ryon No. 11 Ladies Roping at Saginaw, Texas. In the process, she earned $4,825 and immediately moved to No. 3 in the team roping-heading world standings behind leader Hobbs ($12,930) and Jacque Woolman ($5,900). A lifelong roper Jaymee Roach wasn’t born with a rope in her hand, but it didn’t take long for her to get the grasp. “I’ve been roping since I was 5 years old,” said Roach, who lives in Stephenville, Texas, where she works full time as a sales representative for Ivy Jane clothing line out of Dallas. “I’ve just rodeoed my whole life. I’ve done all the youth organizations, then I did college rodeo in Snyder (Western Texas College) for two years, then went to Tarleton (State University) in Stephenville. My freshman year I made the college finals in breakaway.” The success has continued. Last year, she was the WPRA’s rookie of the year in tie-down roping, heading and heeling. “I’ve always amateur rodeoed, and after college, I started team roping more because there aren’t that many amateur rodeos that offer a lot of roping events for girls,” Roach said. “You can do some breakaway, but you can go to team ropings all the time. I bought my WPRA card last year, and just started heading, heeling, tie-down and breakaway.” She’s pretty good at it, too. In Saginaw, Roach and Fabrizio roped four steers in 46.43 seconds for second place in the average. They posted the fastest time of the short go-round, a 7.61-second run. It all added up to a quick march toward the top of the heading world standings. There’s a glimmer of hope for that all-elusive world championship, but Roach has carried that in her dreams for almost all her life. “One goal of mine is to win a world title in the heading, healing or breakaway,” she said. “Another goal of mine is to win the Wildfire All-Girl roping or win the Windy Ryon. I’ve come close, but I haven’t got it yet.” It’s not for a lack of effort, and in this business, it’s all about hard work, talented ropers and athletic animals. “Jaymee is an awesome friend,” Hobbs said, noting that the two of them lived roping on the Guy ranch near Abilene, Texas, before moving to Stephenville. “This past year when she came and worked on the ranch, she worked really hard on it, and she focused on her roping and working with the horses. “There aren’t very many of us that are lucky enough to do this for a living. Now that she has a job, her roping is almost better, because she has taken what she’s learned and put it to use when she ropes.” It helps, too, that Roach doesn’t have the pressure she once had. Before she began working with Ivy Jane, roping was her only livelihood. “The pressure is now off her,” Hobbs said. “For a while, she was doing this as her job, working at it, trying every day, getting better. When you do that, you go through frustrations and changes with your roping. It’s hard. Then you have to make sure you win to pay bills and cover expenses. “Now she’s gone through all that and she has a full-time job to take care of all that financial stuff. Now it’s fun. She’s actually pretty scary because she can just come out and win. It’s just her talent coming through now. She’s roping awesome.” Getting started The world of rodeo is nothing new to the Roach family. It might just be a south Texas thing, too. “My mom rodeoed and roped when she was younger,” Roach said. “It think she started when she was about 10. My aunt roped, and they ran barrels and all that stuff. “I have an older brother, and he roped and rodeoed all through high school and college as well.” Life, it seems, was spent horseback. Roach can’t remember not being on a horse, growing up riding and roping, just like everyone else in her family. Now in her mid-20s, Roach keeps her eyes on the prize and pays attention to the finest details of the task, from working horses to handling the rope, turning steers or firing at heels. Her mind’s eye sees magnificent things, and she’s worked hard to live up to those images. “I love to watch Trevor Brazile,” she said of the 14-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world champion who has won gold buckles in steer roping (two), heading (one), tie-down roping (three) and all-around (a record eight). “He is just great at whatever he does. He’s a great horseman, and he handles a rope so well. He’s probably my biggest roping role model that I look up to. And he’s such a nice guy, just the way he lives his life and treats people. “He’s a really good person as well as a rodeo cowboy.” Idolizing possibly the greatest roper in the history  Continue Reading »

The Calgary Stampede has been a world-class operation for many years. It might be getting better. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. Central Time Sunday, the top 10 contestants in each event through nine straight performances have earned the right to compete for the $100,000. That’s pretty incredible. What’s more incredible is the list of top names in the bunch. Take barrel racing, for example: Seven of the 10 cowgirls have played on the biggest stage of ProRodeo, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, with world champs Lindsay Sears and Brittany Pozzi headlining the crew. Here’s the breakdown of others: Steer wrestling: Seven of the 10 have been to the NFR, including world champs Lee Graves and Dean Gorsuch. Bull riding: Four NFR qualifiers, eight PBR World Finals qualifiers (including Corey Navarre and Dustin Elliott, who have earned trips to both). Saddle bronc riding: Six NFR qualifiers, including world champs Chad Ferley and Cody Wright. Bareback riding: Nine NFR qualifiers, including world champions Will Lowe and Bobby Mote. Tie down roping: Nine NFR qualifiers, including world champions Stran Smith and Fred Whitfield. It might be worth noting the folks who didn’t make the final performance: Trevor Brazile, Cody Ohl, Ryan Jarrett, Luke Branquinho, Jeff Willert, Justin McDaniel and Kelly Timberman. All those men have wear a PRCA gold buckle. For those who can tune in, go HERE. It’ll be good watching.

A big announcement in the world of rodeo is coming soon. I’ll keep you posted, but I might be releasing it as early as Friday. Keep checking back.

EAGLE, Colo. – For a rodeo cowboy, there are few things that can top winning one’s hometown rodeo. Cody Martin is hoping to find out when the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo kicks off its 2011 run, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 27-Saturday, July 30. Back-to-back wins in the Rocky Mountain community would be great for the Eagle cowboy, who split last year’s saddle bronc riding championship with Texan Bradley Harter. Martin, a two-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, rode the Carr Pro Rodeo bronc Corner Guard for 87 points, matching Harter’s ride on Carr’s Mike & Ike. It was a great weekend for the two cowboys, but it was a better weekend for the animals. “Those horses just love the cool weather that Eagle gets in July,” said Pete Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo, the Dallas-based livestock company that provides the stock for the annual rodeo. “Corner Guard was out twice, and both times was very good.” In fact, Troy Crowser of Whitewood, S.D., finished in a tie for third place with his 84-point ride on Corner Guard – Crowser finished the 2010 season as the Resistol Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year. In two trips inside the Eagle River Center, cowboys earned $3,540 on Corner Guard. Harter, though, found quite a fit in Mike & Ike. In all, the money earned in Eagle went a long ways to helping Harter earn his fifth NFR qualification. Like every other bronc rider in the business, Harter knows the opportunities to win money in Eagle are many, thanks to Carr Pro Rodeo. “You definitely want to go somewhere that you have a chance to win,” said Casey Sisk of Corona, N.M., a rising star in saddle bronc riding. “Pete’s got a great pen of bucking horses, the kind you like getting on.” Money is the root of all rodeo madness, and there’s plenty of that available in Eagle. But the main drawing card for cowboys is the opportunity to get on the great animal athletes. That’s how bull riders can score in the 90s. In fact, that happened twice last year, when Texans Stormy Wing and Jarrod Craig posted 92s. Wing rode China Grove, while Craig matched moves with Ryan’s Express, a bull that has only been ridden 34 percent of the time. But in Eagle last July, Ryan’s Express was electric. “That was the best I’ve seen that bulls,” Carr said. “The judges really liked him both times he was out.” The judges like a lot of Carr animals, which is why the top cowboys in the sport make their way to Eagle. But there are a lot of other reasons, too. “We’re running concurrent with the Cheyenne this year, so I look to pull a lot of roughstock riders,” said Brad Higgins, the fair’s manager, referring to cowboys who compete in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. “It’s only about a three-hour trip to Cheyenne, so that’ll make it fairly easy for the contestants.” And the contestants have taken note. “Pete Carr, in general, is a great stock contractor,” said bull rider D.J. Domangue, a three-time NFR qualifier from Wharton, Texas. “He spends a lot of money and tries real hard to try to improve his stock. He’s already got great horses, and he is trying to put together a good pen of bulls. “Plus he’s a great guy, and that’s hard to come by when you’re talking about stock contractors in rodeo. He listens to the cowboys. He wants to know what we think, and he wants our opinions. He wants to get the top guys.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – There’s a lot to Dale McCracken. The Missouri man has multiple personalities, but it’s not a disorder. Like a superhero donning his cape, McCracken paints his face with greasepaint and enters the world of his alter-ego, Gizmo, a comedian who has entertained rodeo crowds for much of his life. It’s as if Dale drives and Gizmo does all the work, but it works well for McCracken. “The guy that wears the makeup gets paid better, that’s for sure,” said McCracken, who will be one of the featured performers at the 76th annual Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10-Saturday, Aug. 13. “The name came along several years ago. I worked on a music show in Branson (Mo.) for about eight years, and there you’ve got to have a stage name. “So with all the gizmos and gadgets I had, they came up with the name, ‘Gizmo, the Ozarks Greatest Inventor.’ So instead of selling a particular act, I sell a character.” That character carries on several personas, but they’re all comedic. His entertainment includes the Buchin Ambulance, Gizmo’s Sir-rink-in Machine, Mustang Sally, Chicken Rocket and a golf act. During much of the rodeo, he’ll do what is called the “walk and talk,” sharing his comedy with the audiences each night of the four-performance rodeo. “The last time I was in Lovington a few years ago, I got a phone call from the announcer at the time, Mike Mathes,” McCracken said of the rodeo, which is just part of the county’s eight-day fair that begins Aug. 5. “My wife, Janice, and I were on our way to Lovington, and Mike was calling to find out where we were. I told him we were in Hobbs, and he said, ‘You’d better hurry to get here, because we have a performance tonight.’ I could hear the music in the background, so I believed him. “At the next stop, I jumped out and got into the trailer, and Janice started driving. Here I was going down the road in my trailer trying to get my face on, Janice’s driving bouncing all over that trailer. We get to the rodeo, and I come rolling out of the trailer only to find out that it was that special mutton busting they do the night before the rodeo. He got me, that’s for sure.” McCracken joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1992 and has earned several honors in that time: he’s worked several PRCA circuit championships and has been a nominee for the association’s Comedy Act of the Year. He has worked the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, quite possibly the most prestigious regular-season rodeo in the country. “Probably the hardest part of the job is just leaving the house,” said McCracken, who lives in Wheaton, Mo. “You need to read the crowd, and we change our stuff up to blend in. If the crowd is a rowdy bunch, then you have to work a little faster. If the crowd’s laid back, then we’ll slow it down a little.” At each rodeo, there are a variety of duties for McCracken. As a comedian, he will interact with the crowd throughout each performance and put on skits that tend to leave fans in stitches. During bull riding, he continues to provide comedic relief as well as a necessary tool for the bull riders, bullfighters and others that are in the arena. “First of all when I’m in the barrel, my best friend is Jesus, and my second best friend is the barrel,” he said. “It’s your safe haven there a lot. It also has its important part for cowboys and bullfighters to use, a place for them to go in the arena if they’re in a bind. That barrel is like that one tree out in the middle of the desert that gives you a little protection.” And it’s also a heavy object with which some of the feistier bucking beasts love to play. So what’s it like for McCracken to be hit with that much force? “It’s like getting into an aluminum trashcan and put into the back of a pickup going down the road at 35 miles per hour,” he said. “Then when you get up to speed, you have your buddy throw you out of the pickup, and you just bounce along down the road. “The first time they hit you, it’s like a carnival ride. Then they hit you again, and it’s more like a car accident that turns into a carnival ride. It’s a pretty exciting tilt-o-whirl.” So is McCracken’s life as a rodeo clown. He spends many weeks on the road, working events in several states, but he loves what he does. He enjoys the crowds and the excitement that comes with rodeo, and loves to see the smiles and hear the laughter. “I really enjoy seeing people have a good time,” McCracken said. “Maybe there’s a guy that’s had it pretty rough, is struggling some. If we can just get him to the rodeo and use our last American heritage sport to help him forget his troubles, then he’s had a good night, and we, as a rodeo, have had a good night, too. Laughter is pretty good medicine, and the way things are right now, everybody needs a shot.” Gizmo McCracken will be sharing his comedic wit with the great fans who will take in the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, with four performances set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10-Saturday, Aug. 13, at Jake McClure Arena in Lovington, N.M. (TED HARBIN PHOTO)