Monthly Archives: March 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sometimes karma works out quite well; just ask Blair Burk. The Oklahoma cowboy returned to his old stomping grounds at Jim Norick Arena and found it to his liking on Saturday afternoon. Burk, of Durant, Okla., roped and tied his calf in 8.5 seconds to take the second-round lead in tie-down roping and move closer to his goal of winning the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. “Competing here at the State Fair Arena is really a special feeling for me,” said Burk, a 14-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo whose father, Barry, was a 16-time NFR qualifier who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1994. “My dad and them all competed here. My Uncle Roy is in the stands. They’ve all competed here in the National Finals. “It’s been a great arena for me. I’ve won the world championship horse show here on the horse Sweetness. I’ve roped a lot in this arena.” Being able to compete in the historic arena is just one of the motivating factors for Burk to compete in his home region, the Columbia River Circuit – even though he lives in southeastern Oklahoma, Burk claims the region in the Northwest because it’s close to his in-laws and because he spends so much time in that part of the country. He earned the right to be in this weekend’s field by doing well. “My wife is from Oregon, and we go up there and stay all summer,” he said. “I made it a priority to do well in my circuit because I wanted to be right here in Oklahoma City this day and competing for this prize money right here in front of my hometown fans. They moved the circuit finals here, and that’s why I told my wife I wanted to make it a priority.” Burk’s two-run total of 19.6 seconds has him third in the aggregate. He needs to remain near the top if he wants to continue to battle for his first national championship on Sunday – only the top eight in each event advance to the semifinals. “I rode a young horse in the first round,” Burk said. “The stress the noise and everything and the competition here was a little bit too much for him. I had to get on an old veteran today, TC. He’s been here and done it all. He’s just what I needed to tie one fast.” He’ll wait through Saturday night’s fourth performance to complete the second go-round to see how he finishes in the round payout and if he can move into the round of eight. It helps that TC is one of the best horses in the business, voted as such last year by the ProRodoe tie-down ropers. “He’s just a winner,” Burk said of TC. “He’s just a horse that lets you win. He does his job and lets you go fast.”

Bareback riding: 1. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 82 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Lights; 2. Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., 81; 3. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 78; 4. Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., 77; 5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 75; 6. (tie) Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., and Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 74. Average leaders: 1. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 156 points on two head; 2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 155; 3. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 154; 4. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 153; 5. Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., 149; 6. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 145; 7. Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 144; 8. Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., 137 Steer wrestling: 1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.4 seconds; 2. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 4.6; 3. JBD Davis, Argyle, Texas, 4.8; 4. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.9; 5. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 5.4; 6. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 5.6 Average leaders: 1. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 9.0 seconds on two head; 2. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 9.1; 3. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 10.2; 4. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 10.4; 5. JBD Davis, Argyle, Texas, 10.8; 6. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 18.5; 7. Adam Strahan, Vonfield, Ill., 19.0 8. Clayton Tuchscherer, Dona Ana, N.M., 19.6 Tie-down roping: 1.     Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 8.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., and Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 9.0; 4. Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 9.2; 5. Brad Hartt, Sebring, Fla., 12.6; 6. Tim Naylor, Hancock, Md., 14.7 Average leaders: 1. Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., 18.4 seconds on two head; 2. Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 18.6; 3. Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 19.6; 4. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif., 21.0; 5. Brad Hartt, Sebring, Fla., 21.8; 6. Tim Naylor, Hancock, Md., 30.0; 7. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 8.9 on one; 8. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.0 Saddle bronc riding: 1. Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, Mont., 81.0 points on Western Rodeos’ Hippy; 2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 80; 3. (tie) Doug Aldridge, Carthage, Mo., and Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 78; 5. Jess Williams, Paso Robles, Calif., 77; 6. (tie) Justin Browning, Sulphur, La., Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 75, Lyle Welling, Crawford, Neb., 75. Average leaders: 1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 157 points on two head 2. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 154; 3. Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., 153; 4. (tie) Justin Browning, Sulphur, La., and Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, 150; 6. Doug Aldridge, Carthage, Mo., 135; 7. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82 on one; 8. (tie) Travis Sheets, Hyannis, Neb., and Josh Reynolds, Ekalaka, Mont., 81 Team roping: 1.Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Jason Thompson, Ozark, Mo., 4.8 seconds; 2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 5.0; 3. Miles Kobold, Shepherd, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., 5.2; 4. Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 7.3; 5. Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 10.3; 6. Nathan McWhorter, Telephone, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., 11.1. Average leaders: 1.Tyler Schnaufer, Pueblo, Colo./Cole Cooper, Grand Junction, Colo., 12.3 seconds on two head; 2. Blaine Linaweaver, Leavenworth, Kan./Jake Twisselman, Santa Margarita, Calif., 13.8; 3. Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 15.9; 4. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Madison, Ga./Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., 17.3; 5. Cody Graham, Everton, Mo./Jason Thompson, Ozark, Mo., 19.8; 6. Nathan McWhorter, Telephone, Texas/York Gill, Memphis, Tenn., 21.0; 7. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 5.1 on one; 8. Miles Kobold, Shepherd, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, Mont., 5.2 Barrel racing: 1. (tie) Sabra O’Quinn, Ocala, Fla., and     Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.39 seconds; 3. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 15.52; 4. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 15.55; 5. Briana Reynolds, Ellsinore, Mo., 15.70; 6. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., 15.75. Average leaders: 1. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 30.82 seconds on two runs; 2. Sabra O’Quinn, Ocala, Fla., 30.92; 3. Nikki Steffes, Vale, S.D., 30.93; 4. Linda Vick, Hesperia, Calif., 31.28; 5. Brenda Mays, Terrebonne, Ore., 31.63; 6. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 35.85; 7. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 36.17; 8. Jeanne Anderson, White City, Kan., 36.58 Bull riding: 1. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 82 points on Burns Rodeo’s Break Dance; 2. Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., 77; 3. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 76; 4. A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., 75. Average leaders: 1. Sunshine Schwartz, Anoka, Minn., 157 points on two head; 2. Bobby Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., 82 on one; 3. Dustin Hall, Republic, Mo., 77; 4. A.J. Hamre, Chico, Calif., 75; 5. Paul Coppini, Kuna, Idaho, 68.

Bareback riding: 1. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 82 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Lights; 2. Mac Erickson, Sundance, Wyo., 81; 3. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 78; 4. Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., 77; 5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 75; 6. (tie) Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., and Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 74. Average leaders: 1. Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 156 points on two head; 2. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 155; 3. Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 154; 4. Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 153; 5. Bo Casper, Fort Scott, Kan., 149; 6. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 145; 7. Wyatt Hancock, Taylor, Ariz., 144; 8. Troy Vaira, Richey, Mont., 137 Steer wrestling: 1. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.4 seconds; 2. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 4.6; 3. JBD Davis, Argyle, Texas, 4.8; 4. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.9; 5. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 5.4; 6. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 5.6 Average leaders: 1. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 9.0 seconds on two head; 2. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 9.1; 3. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 10.2; 4. Juan Alcazar Jr, Kissimmee, Fla., 10.4; 5. JBD Davis, Argyle, Texas, 10.8; 6. Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 18.5; 7. Adam Strahan, Vonfield, Ill., 19.0 8. Clayton Tuchscherer, Dona Ana, N.M., 19.6

OKLAHOMA CITY – The nostalgia of rodeo in this city was a major motivator for the reigning world champion tie-down roper. You see, Tuf Cooper wasn’t even born yet when his father, legendary roper Roy Cooper, won the first of eight ProRodeo world championships inside Jim Norick Arena during the 1976 National Finals Rodeo. Now this fabulous arena is home to another great championship, the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, and Tuf Cooper is glad to be part of it. “Tonight was a special night for me because it was the first time that I’ve ever roped a calf in this arena, this historic arena,” said Cooper, 22, of Decatur, Texas, a four-time NFR qualifier himself. “This is the arena my dad won all his championship buckles in. This is the arena where he made a name for himself.” Tuf Cooper is making his own name, from winning the coveted Montana Silversmiths gold buckle this past December, to tying down his calf in 9.0 seconds during the second performance of ProRodeo’s National Championship on Friday night. It was the fastest run of the night, but it is second best in the opening round – New Mexico roper Seth Hall was one-tenth of a second faster during Thursday’s opening performance and earned the lion’s share of the money, $4,515, while Cooper pocketed $3,428. “It was special for me to come out here tonight and win the performance,” he said. Roy Cooper was on hand to watch his youngest son compete Friday night, just 35 years after he sent notice to the rodeo world inside the State Fair Arena. “He goes to a lot of the big ones, like this is one of them that is really hard to qualify for,” said Tuf Cooper, noting that this is just the second year the championship has taken place in the Sooner State after a 24-year reign in Pocatello, Idaho. “Once it moved to Oklahoma City, he really motivated me. “We’re off to a good start, so we’ll pull our hats down and keep after it.” Contestants qualify for this event by how well they did during the 2011 season in their respective regions. The year-end and circuit finals average winners in each event from the 12 ProRodeo regions qualify for the RNCFR. In order to make the logistics work, 12 competitors (or teams in team roping) compete in each of the four preliminary performances. Each will compete in two go-rounds – the opening go-round was split between Thursday and Friday’s performances. The second round will be in the two shows, set for 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The top eight in the two-run aggregate qualify for the semifinals, which will kick-start the 1 p.m. Sunday performance. “My friend, Shane Hanchey, and I were talking that this event is harder to qualify for than the NFR,” he said. “In calf roping, some say it’s tougher to win the Texas Circuit than it is to win the world championship. I won the world championship before I won the Texas Circuit.”

Bareback riding: 1.(tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., on J-J Rodeo’s Freckled Doll, and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on J-J Rodeo’s Bar Bandit, 81 points, $3,976 each; 3. (tie) Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 80.0, Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Cody DeMers, Kimberly, Idaho, 80.0, $1,440 each. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., and Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.2 seconds, $3,977 each; 3. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.3, $2,468; 4. Clay Cowan, Highmore, S.D., 4.4, $1,645; 5. Shane Henderson, Winfield, Kan., 4.6, $960; 6. (tie) Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., and Ethen Thouvenell, Napa, Calif., 4.7, $343 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 8.9 seconds, $4,525; 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 9.0, $3,428; 3. Brad Hartt, Sebring, Fla., 9.2, $2,468; 4. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 9.3, $1,645; 5. (tie) Joseph Parsons, Marana, Ariz., and Nate Baldwin, Blackfoot, Idaho, 9.4, $823 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82.0 points on J-J’s Sweatin Bullets, $4,525; 2. Travis Sheets, Hyannis, Neb., 81.0, $3,428; 3. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, Sam Spreadborough, Snyder, Texas, and Ryan Elshere, Elm Springs, S.D., 79.0, $1,440 each.

We’re just moments away from bucking the first bareback horse at the second performance of the 2012 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. This will conclude the first round, and I’ll plan on updating information as I can get it and as time allows. At the end of the night, we’ll have the first-round payouts in the results.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The world champions proved their gold buckle talent on the opening night of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. Of the seven events that are part of the competition, three were won contestants who have won multiple titles in their respective disciplines – three-time steer wrestling world champion Luke Branquinho, three-time barrel racing world champion Sherry Cervi and two time saddle bronc riding world champion Cody Wright. “It’s really important to get off to a good start,” said Wright, of Milford, Utah, who rode the J-Bar-J Rodeo horse Sweatin Bullets for 82 points to take the first-round lead in bronc riding. “It seems like the more momentum you get built up throughout the rodeo, the better you do.” That works quite well in the RNCFR’s format. Each competitor will compete in two go-rounds – only half the field performed Thursday, so the others will ride during the second performance, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday. The second round will take place over two performances on Saturday, beginning at 1 and 7:30 p.m. The top eight in the two-run aggregate in each event qualify for the semifinals, which will open the final performance, set for 1 p.m. Sunday. At that point, the scores are thrown away, and the top four from the semifinals round advance to the championship round. The scores are removed again, and the best score or time in the final round will be crowned the national champion. Branquinho knows the format quite well; he won the title before on his main horse, Spiderman. “I won the 2010 Ram finals on him,” said Branquinho, of Los Alamos, Calif., who posted a 4.2-run to take the top honor in steer wrestling. “I brought him back here in Oklahoma City to hopefully win another title on him.” Branquinho actually made two runs Thursday night. On his first, his steer sprinted out of the chute and put up a good fight with the big California cowboy before falling to the ground; but Branquinho suffered a foul in the chute area, so he was awarded a re-run. “The second steer was slow and stopped hard and was pretty good on the ground, so I went from  one extreme of the pen to another,” he said, noting the difference between the two animals. Sometimes a world champion has to call upon his or her experiences to make the best of things. Sherry Cervi has had that in her 10-year-old palomino mare, Stingray. The two posted the fastest barrel racing run, a 15.46. “This is a good barrel race,” Cervi said. “There are a lot of tough horses here.” That’s true. Of the top six leaders in barrel racing, four competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this past December. Carlee Pierce of Stephenville, Texas, sits second with a 15.52, while Lisa Lockhart of Oelrichs, S.D., is fourth in 15.58 and Christina Richman of Glendora, Calif., is sixth with 15.61. “There are a lot of horse functions here,” Cervi said. “Oklahoma City is a horse community. There’s a lot of horse people in Oklahoma. It is fun to be back here running barrels and competing in Oklahoma City.”

Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo First Performance First-round leaders Thursday, March 29 Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., on J-J Rodeo’s Freckled Doll, and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on J-J Rodeo’s Bar Bandit, 81 points; 3. (tie) Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, and Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 80; 5. Codi Myers, Samnorwood, Texas, 79; 6. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 76. Steer wrestling: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.2 seconds; 2. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.3; 3. Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., 4.7; 4. (tie) Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., and Clayton Morrison, Cavalier, N.D., 5.3; 6. Seth Murphy, South Heart, N.D., 5.9. Tie-down roping: 1. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 8.9 seconds; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 9.3; 3. Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, 9.8; 4. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., 10.0; 5. Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., 10.5; 6. E.J. Ropers, Stephenville, Texas, 10.8. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 82 points on J-J Rodeo’s Sweatin Bullets; 2. Travis Sheets, Hyannis, Neb., 81; 3. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 79; 4. Ty Manke Team roping: 1. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 5.1 seconds; 2. Clay White, Shandon, Calif./John Chaves, Los Alamos, Calif., 5.5; 3. Adam Newcomb, Benton, Ark./Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 6.0; 4. Travis Dorman, Dade City, Fla./Brad Culpepper, Poulan, Ga., 6.1; 5. Darren Morgan, Fort Edward, N.Y./Shawn Quinn, Schuylerville, N.Y., 7.8; 6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 9.4. Barrel racing: 1. Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 15.46 seconds; 2. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.52; 3. Sammi Bessert, Loma, Colo., 15.53; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.58; 5. Kim Schulze, Elbert, Colo., 15.60; 6. Christina Richman, Glendora, Calif., 15.61 Bull riding: No qualified rides.

With a tie in bareback riding, the three horses that lead cowboys to the winners circle in the two bronc events all came from the same stock contractor: J-Bar-J Rodeo. Three-time saddle bronc riding world champion Cody Wright rode Sweatin Bullets for 82 points to take the lead in his event; Brian Bain rode Bar Bandit and Seth Hardwick rode Freckled Doll for 81 to take the lead in bareback riding. The first round is halfway over; the remaining field of 24 contestants in each event will have their first runs Friday. The second round will take place during two performances on Saturday.

Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Seth Hardwick, Laramie, Wyo., on J-J Rodeo’s Freckled Doll, and Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., on J-J Rodeo’s Bar Bandit, 81 points; 3. (tie) Luke Creasy, Brownfield, Alberta, and Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 80; 5. Codi Myers, Samnorwood, Texas, 79; 6. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 76. Steer wrestling: 1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 4.2 seconds; 2. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., 4.3; 3. Tom Farrelly, Cayuga, N.Y., 4.7; 4. (tie) Kyle Whitaker, Chambers, Neb., and Clayton Morrison, Cavalier, N.D., 5.3; 6. Seth Murphy, South Heart, N.D., 5.9. Tie-down roping: 1. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 8.9 seconds; 2. Jerome Schneeberger, Ponca City, Okla., 9.3; 3. Bill Huber, Albia, Iowa, 9.8; 4. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., 10.0; 5. Roger Nonella, Klamath Falls, Ore., 10.5; 6. E.J. Ropers, Stephenville, Texas, 10.8.

We will have the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo covered. I’ll keep up with it here as much as possible, but you can also keep up with it by following RNCFR and the Lazy E Arena on Facebook and Twitter. You can also catch video interviews of the evening winners; just click HERE. Oh, and don’t forget about Steve Kenyon’s broadcast of all five performances at ProRodeo Live.   http://www.youtube.com/rncfr

There are eight world champions in this year’s Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo field, and that’s a huge indication of what a wonderful championship this weekend’s festivities will be. Below is information I provided for a special section that ran earlier this week. Enjoy. If 2011 was any indication, Kaycee Feild is following quite well in his famous father’s footsteps. Feild, the son of five-time world champion Lewis Feild, clinched the first of what should be many bareback riding gold buckles during a magnificent run at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this past December. Kaycee Feild dominated the competition, winning six of 10 go-rounds, setting the average record with a cumulative total of 860.5 points and smashing the NFR and single-season earnings mark for bareback riders – the Utah cowboy won $179,327 in Las Vegas and finished the season with $319,986. Now he’s chasing another prestigious buckle as the winner of ProRodeo’s National Championship during the four days of competition at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which takes place in historic Jim Norick Arena, the NFR’s first home during it’s 20-year run in Oklahoma City from 1965-1984. Feild is one of eight contestants representing 17 world champions who will be part of this year’s race for the national championship. Tie-down roper Tuf Cooper Like Feild, Cooper also comes from world champion stock. His father, Roy Cooper, is an eight-time world champion. But Tuf Cooper is doing just fine making a name for himself. He’s just 22 years old and won the 2011 world title in just his fourth trip to the NFR. Bareback rider Will Lowe He was just 20 years old the first time he qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2002, and he won the world title just a year later. Since then, he hasn’t missed the NFR and has added gold buckles in 2005 and 2006. Steer wrestler Luke Branquinho He’s qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 10 times since 2001, and the one time he missed was because of an injury. He’s clinched three world titles, 2004, ’08 and last season. Saddle bronc rider Cody Wright He has been a fixture in Las Vegas since 2003. In that time, he has won the 2008 and 2010 world championships in saddle bronc riding. This season marks the seventh time he’s qualified for the RNCFR. Saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy Taos Muncy was just 20 years old when he won his first world title in 2007, the same year he won the college saddle bronc riding championship. He clinched his second gold buckle last season. Barrel racer Brittany Pozzi Brittany Pozzi is a veteran, an eight-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and a two-time world champion (2007-2009). Oh, and she’s just 28 years old. But she’s got a barn full of great horses to help. Barrel racer Sherry Cervi She owns the all-time earnings record in the WPRA; of course, that comes with the territory of 14 NFR qualifications and three world championships, the last of which she won by dominating the 2010 ProRodeo season.

I got the daysheets for the upcoming Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo today from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and you can see them, too, by clicking HERE. If I wasn’t already looking forward to the four days of competition, this would get me going. The field is first class, and that means the first four performances will be incredible. Each competitor will compete in two go-rounds, then the top eight in the two-run aggregate will advance to Sunday’s clean-slate semifinals. The times and scores will be put to the side, and only the top four then advance to the finals — the previous rounds will serve as tie-breakers. The top score or time in each event in the “four round” will be crowned champion. It’s a great format. Good luck to all the qualifiers.

Monty Goodwin isn’t a native Oklahoman, but he loves the Sooner State just the same. Goodwin was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle community of Sunray, just a stone’s throw away from Oklahoma Panhandle. He moved to Weatherford, Okla., in 2006 to attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University on a rodeo scholarship. He’s stayed here ever since. “I like it here,” he said. “I just fell in love with Oklahoma. Oklahoma is home.” Goodwin will be one of 24 bareback riders in the field for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for Thursday, March 29-Sunday, April 1. He qualified for ProRodeo’s National Championship by winning the average title at the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo last October in Weatherford – it was the fifth time Goodwin had qualified for the regional championship, which features the top 12 contestants in each event primarily from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “I just always wanted to be a rodeo cowboy,” said Goodwin, whose full time job is as an animal health representative for Invesco, a company that distributes animal medicine to veterinarians and ranchers. His work schedule allows Goodwin the opportunity to compete, but he stays closer to home. One of the great things about the circuit system is allowing those who rodeo part time to still compete for championships. The year-end and finals average winners in each event from each circuit qualify for the national championship. Goodwin will test his skills against world champions like Kaycee Feild and Will Lowe, as well as several other Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers who are in the bareback riding field. It’s a great opportunity, and he knows it.

Steve Kenyon is bringing his award-winning broadcast back to Oklahoma City for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. Kenyon, the 2009 winner for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Media Award for Broadcasting, will call the action for all five performances of ProRodeo’s National Championship on ProRodeoLive.com; broadcast times are 7:15 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 12:45 and 7:15 p.m. Saturday; and 12:45 p.m. Sunday. Kenyon, of Pendleton, Ore., owns and operates the website and the broadcasts, which will provide the exclusive live coverage. In addition to his PRCA honor, Kenyon was named the 2010 announcer of the year by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. For four years, ProRodeoLive has been providing fans with the first words on the biggest events in ProRodeo, including the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo, the Timed Event Championship and the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Kenyon also produces The ProRodeo Report, a weekly broadcast that reaches radio stations and Internet sites. Click HERE to listen to this week’s broadcast, which features news and information on ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee Billy Etbauer, RodeoHouston barrel racing and reigning world champion barrel racer Lindsay Sears, two-time reigning national champion saddle bronc rider Jesse Wright and more information about TwisTED Rodeo and the RNCFR. It’s an awesome 30-minute show, and you’ll be happy you listened. The RNCFR will also be four days of action-packed rodeo, and you won’t want to miss it. But if you can’t make it to Oklahoma City, then I suggest you listen to Kenyon’s play-by-play HERE.

Locals are hoping to keep RNCFR championships home where they belong Oklahoma has a strong legacy in rodeo, from Jim Shoulders and Tom Ferguson to the National Finals Rodeo. That’s why Oklahoma City is the perfect fit to be the home of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday at Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. This is a showcase of ProRodeo’s circuit system, the greatest cowboys and cowgirls from the 12 regions across the United States. Oklahoma is well represented in this championship, too. Whether it’s veterans like Charles Pogue or newcomers like Riley Duvall, there’s a good mix of top-caliber contestants who take great pride in qualifying for ProRodeo’s National Championship, where the very best competitors in the sport earn the right to play for one of the largest purses in the sport, more than $525,000. “Since the circuit finals moved to Oklahoma City last year, I made that a priority,” said Blair Burk, a 14-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Durant, Okla. “My No. 1 priority was to qualify for the circuit finals. I’d been to the one up in Pocatello a few years back, then they moved it back down here. “It looked like it was the perfect fit for Oklahoma City.” It is a great fit, and the Oklahomans are ready to make it their showcase. Burk is one of three Oklahoma tie-down ropers in the RNCFR, qualifying for Oklahoma City by winning the Ram Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo average title last fall. The other two tie-down ropers, Jerome Schneeberger of Ponca City and Hunter Herrin of Apache, qualified through the Prairie Circuit – Schneeberger won the year-end title, and Herrin won the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo average last October. “That’s where I started, and I always enjoy those rodeos,” Schneeberger said of the rodeos in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “Most of them are smaller, but they’ve always been good to me.” A lot of rodeos have been good to Schneeberger, an 11-time NFR qualifier who won the average title at ProRodeo’s grand finale in 2001. Herrin, who just had a solid run at RodeoHouston, has qualified for the NFR five times in the last six years. While the Prairie Circuit features contestants and events from mid-America, the Columbia River Circuit encompasses Oregon, Washington and the northern tip of Idaho. Although he’s from Oklahoma, Burk claims that region as his home circuit. “I go to more good rodeos in the Columbia River Circuit,” Burk said. “There are four tour rodeos that are in that circuit, and there’s only one tour rodeo in the Prairie Circuit, and that’s Dodge City. I just tend to go to more big rodeos in the Columbia River Circuit than I would be able to get to in the Prairie Circuit. “My family and I are always in Oregon in June anyway, so it makes it easy for me.” Besides the tie-down ropers, the other Oklahomans in the RNCFR field are team ropers Pogue of Ringling and his partner, Jett Hillman of Purcell; Duvall, a third-generation steer wrestler from Checotah, whose father, Sam, and uncle, Spud, are NFR qualifiers and whose great-uncle, Roy Duvall, is a three-time world champion who qualified for the NFR 24 times; bareback rider Monty Goodwin of Weatherford; saddle bronc rider Hardy Braden of Welch; and barrel racer Carlee Pierce, a Freedom High School graduate who qualified for the 2011 NFR. “First of all, I’m happy that the national circuit finals is in Oklahoma,” said Pierce, who parlayed a second-place finish at RodeoHouston a week ago into a move to the top spot in the barrel racing world standings. “It’s not so far to drive, and I’m excited to go. Plus that’s another finals that not everybody gets to go to. “I’m also excited that I qualified for this finals in the same year I qualified for the NFR.” The event provides another prestigious championship event for rodeo-savvy central Oklahoma, the longtime host of the NFR and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. The 2012 event marks the second straight year the RNCFR is part of Oklahoma’s storied rodeo legacy, a place that knows what makes a true champion. “I love Oklahoma, and I’m happy the finals got to move back here,” Burk said. “It’s going to be great for the state. “I’ve carried the flag for Oklahoma at the national finals, and I’d love to do it again.” Until that happens, Burk would be quite content to keep the tie-down roping national championship in Oklahoma. “You have a lot of national finals qualifiers coming out of this state, and at this event, you’re going to have us three,” Burk said. “You’re also going to have the new world champion, Tuf Cooper, and a lot of other guys that are great ropers. It’s going to be a good roping. If Oklahoma has an advantage, it might be that we have three guys in it. “We have three guns, and most of those other guys have just two.” That’s a great advantage. Of course, they’d love to have a biased crowd on their team inside the arena that once housed the NFR. “I’ve always liked that arena,” Pierce said. “It’ll be my first time to rodeo there. Every other time has been in jackpots, so I’m anxious to see how that is.” So is everybody else.

Today is the short go-round at Rodeo Austin. Like most championships, the finale in Austin is a star-studded spectacular. Just looking at the average leaderboard, bareback riding will feature four cowboys who were part of the 201 NFR, four-time world champion Bobby Mote, Casey Colletti, Brian Bain and Tilden Hooper. And the list goes on and on … Steer wrestling: Seth Brockman, Shawn Greenfield, Jake Rinehart, three-time world champion Luke Branquinho, Trevor Knowles and Todd Suhn Team roping: World champions Trevor Brazile/Patrick Smith, world champion Chad Masters/Jake Long, Kaleb Driggers/Jade Corkill and Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz Saddle bronc riding: Two-time world champion Cody Wright, Cody DeMoss and world champion Chad Ferley Tie-down roping: Tyson Durfey Barrel racing: Lisa Lockhart and Tammy Fischer Bull riding: World champion Wesley Silcox, Cody Whitney, Tyler Smith and Bobby Welsh Good luck to them all.

I’m a huge sports fan. I love to see the incredible feats of athleticism, from Tiger Woods’ potent golf swing to Aaron Rogers throwing motion to the awesomeness of the NCAA Tournament. It all translates quite simply into the world of rodeo. To be a good long-range shooter in basketball, it’s best to shoot better than 30 percent; if a tie-down roper shoots 30 percent (while riding a speeding horse that’s chasing a runaway calf), he’ll spend his reserve funds on entry fees and traveling expenses. And while Kobe Bryant can be called tough for playing with a bruise on his cheek or a strained calf muscle, he gets to live in comfort at five-star hotels while enjoying fine dining on the team’s dime, all the while collecting $25.2 million from the Los Angeles Lakers. The Denver Broncos this week signed the great Peyton Manning to a five-year, $96 million contract. If he stays healthy over the term of the agreement, Manning will make in excess of $19 million a year. Both the Manning and Bryant contracts are just for playing the game – that money does not include the endorsement deals that come with their popularity. I can’t eat an Oreo without thinking of Peyton and his brother, Eli. Meanwhile, ProRodeo’s richest contestant ever is Trevor Brazile, who has earned a little more than $4.2 million in the PRCA since he joined the association in 1996. It’s taken him 16 years to earn a salary that is about one fourth of what Manning will make THIS YEAR. And while Brazile lives a relative comfortable life compared to most rodeo cowboys who travel the rodeo circuit, he’s not a Laker or Bronco. He still pays an entry fee, and oftentimes he pays the fee for three events, tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping. If Brazile struggles, he doesn’t win any of his money back. If he’s injured to the point he can’t compete, Brazile won’t get paid. Manning, meanwhile, made $6.4 million in 2011, even though a neck injury kept him from playing a single down for the Indianapolis Colts. Every football pundit in the world will talk about the toughness it takes to play the game, and I can agree with that. But football players have nothing on rodeo contestants. Cowboys ride with broken bones and torn ligaments, then they get in their van or car or semi tractor-trailer and drive all night to get to the next rodeo. This week I saw Tiger Woods roll his eyes and scoff at a “professional photograher” who dared to snap an image during Woods’ downswing. I listened to “experts” talk about entitlement as Manning signed a overwhelming deal in Denver. I learned where wealthy professional football players were playing for even more money by trying to knock out an opponent in order to receive a coach’s “bounty.” And it made me thankful that I work in rodeo, where even the most entitled contestants in the game work their tails off and are typically congenial and caring to their fans. Way to go, cowboys and cowgirls. You are great role models, and I’m proud of you for that.

I posted a nice little rant about the exclusion of Dan Etbauer and Craig Latham when talking about the ProRodeo Hall of Fame induction of Robert and Billy Etbauer. Make no mistake: Robert and Billy are overwhelmingly deserving of this honor, just as all those others that are enshrined in the Colorado Springs museum. My opinion, based on what I knew and what I believe, is that Dan and Craig are just as deserving. I have learned why Dan and Craig will not join Robert and Billy as they are presented to the hallowed hall – neither Dan nor Craig won a world championship during their ProRodeo careers, and a minimum of one world title is part of the current induction criteria in the contestant category. For instance, cowboys like Ote Berry and Marvin Garrett were inducted before their careers had ended, but one of the criteria now is that the contestants must be retired. There are numerous reasons for this change, from financial to trying to make the hall of fame a true showcase of the ProRodeo’s greatest stars. I appreciate that, too. But I stand by my sentiment that the great things in ProRodeo history that these four men accomplished together is deserving of great honors. Maybe the criteria will keep half the foursome out of Colorado Springs, but their greatness together needs to be part of rodeo’s history and lore in some way. They all deserve it.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced the 2012 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class, and all the inductees have earned the right to their place in that magical building in Colorado Springs. Congratulations to Robert and Billy Etbauer, three-time world champion Frank Schneider, three-time Bareback Horse of the Year Khadafy Skoal, five-time National Finals Rodeo barrelman John Taylor, rodeo administrator Hal Littrell and the Dodge City (Kan.) Round-Up, a nine-time winner of the PRCA Rodeo Committee of the Year award. Between them, the Etbauers own seven saddle bronc riding world championships and 33 NFR qualifications – Billy owns five gold buckles and made 21 straight trips to Las Vegas from 1989-2009. But there are a couple of names missing from this list: Dan Etbauer and Craig Latham. They were part of that fabulous quartet that helped raise awareness to ProRodeo and its classic event, saddle bronc riding. Dan is the youngest of the three Etbauers and a 10-time NFR qualifier; Latham is a nine-time qualifier. In addition to the gold buckles, all four of the cowboys finished as reserve world champions at least once in their storied careers. Dan Etbauer and Latham have remained a big part of the sport since they quit riding broncs about a decade ago. Dan Etbauer is one of few men to have competed in and picked up at the NFR, and Billy Etbauer credits Latham for being a major player in Billy’s $3 million career. You see, even after Latham focused his attention on his family and coaching the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo team, he still did all the entering for Billy. The men were recognized as the four Etbauers because of what they did together. They revolutionized the sport by pooling their winnings, sharing a true team atmosphere in a sport that focuses on individual accomplishments. At a time when sponsorships were just slipping into rodeo’s mainstream, the Etbauers and Latham secured identical sponsorships with Express Ranches and wore matching attire throughout the remainder of their rodeo careers. In fact, Billy Etbauer still wears the Express brand wherever he goes. While I agree that Robert and Billy have the credentials to get in by themselves, the best part of that story is what the four of them did together. Dan Etbauer and Craig Latham should be enshrined in July, too.

If you’ve never been to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and want to see what it looks like, all you have to do is make your way to Oklahoma City next week for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. ProRodeo’s National Championship is one of the most prestigious events in the sport, and there’s good reason. Not only is it a chance for weekend warriors to chase their dreams on the big stage, the RNCFR also is where ProRodeo’s elite contestants showcase their talents. Eight national circuit finals qualifiers own those prestigious Montana Silversmiths gold buckles, representing 17 world championships: – Reigning world champion bareback rider Kaycee Feild – Three-time world champion bareback rider Will Lowe – Three-time world champion steer wrestler Luke Branquinho – Two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy – Two time world champion saddle bronc rider Cody Wright – Reigning world champion tie-down roper Tuf Cooper – Three-time world champion barrel racer Sherry Cervi – Two-time world champion barrel racer Brittany Pozzi. Those are the upper-echelon of a terrific field that features numerous other NFR qualifiers. In addition, you’ll get to see some of the greatest animal athletes in the sport, buckers that were featured in Las Vegas this last December and timed-event horses that helped their partners make a bucket-load of money in the Nevada desert. Those are just a few reasons why the 2012 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo is a must-see event.

It looks as though the leaderboard changed a little Tuesday night in Austin, Texas. It was definitely a case in the three roughstock events. Ty Pozzobon of Merritt, B.C., posted the highest score of the rodeo so far, an 89-point ride in bull riding. I can’t publish the animal that helped the cowboys to their scores, because the results page on the Rodeo Austin website doesn’t include that. If I can work my way around that, I’ll let you know. Pozzobon takes over the first-round lead from Trey Benton III, who scored an 87. NFR qualifier Tyler Smith leads the aggregate with a two-ride total of 146 points. Bareback rider Steven Anding of Crossroads, Texas, scored 84 points on Tuesday, surpassing the first-round lead of 82 previously held by Bobby Mote, Winn Ratliff and Jason Havens. Mote leads the two-ride average with a cumulative score of 165 points. Saddle bronc rider J.J. Elshere of Hereford, S.D., scored 83 points, scooting past two-time and reigning world champion Taos Muncy. Justin Browning’s 159 on two leads the aggregate. The three top scores from Tuesday night will try to boost their spots in the average when they compete in the second round Wednesday. Other average leaders are steer wrestler Seth Brockman, team ropers Chad Masters and Jake Long and Cody Graham and Derrick Peterson, tie-down ropers Shane Slack and Justin Maass, and barrel racer Kendra Dickson.

The Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo features some of the best cowboys and cowgirls from every part of the United States. The personnel represents North America, too. Announcer Greg Simas is from Pennsylvania and works many rodeos in the Northeast, while his counterpart, Wayne Brooks, lives in Lampasas, Texas. Brooks is a two-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announcer of the year who has worked some of the biggest events in the country. The secretary is Cindy Rosser, whose family produces rodeos primarily on the West Coast. The specialty act is Troy Lerwill, a Utah man who will keep the crowd in stitches, while the barrelman is Canadian athlete CrAsh Cooper. That’s a pretty good representation, and it doesn’t even include all the others who will work ProRodeo’s National Championship next week.

I love being the bearer of good news. Two Decembers ago, I got to tell Sherry Cervi she’d clinched her third world title after the ninth round of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Today I got to tell Carlee Pierce that she was the No. 1 cowgirl in the WPRA ProRodeo Standings for the first time in her career. Pierce, of Stephenville, Texas, moved to the top spot in the standings after her second-place finish in the RodeoHouston Super Series. She earned $20,000 for that feat. “Holy cow,” Pierce said. “I can’t wait to take a picture of that. I’m excited. I was going to go home and go on a vacation, but now I think I’ll just stay on the road.” It moved her 2012 season earnings to $66,754, about $2,000 ahead of the No. 2 cowgirl, Brittany Pozzi of Victoria, Texas – Pozzi and Benette Little of Ardmore, Okla., have been atop the world standings since the season began last October. Lindsay Sears, who won $59,900 in Houston, sits in third place in the world standings with $60,328. Little is fourth with $53,365. “There are so many good horses right now,” Pierce said. “Look how much money’s been won already.”