Monthly Archives: September 2012

Muncy, Maier earn big money at American Royal on final day of the 2012 season KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Taos Muncy knows what it takes to compete in ProRodeo’s elite class. He’s a two-time and reigning world champion saddle bronc rider from Corona, N.M., and in two months will be competing at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the fifth time in his seven-year career. On Sunday afternoon during the final performance of the American Royal Rodeo, Muncy spurred Three Hills Rodeo’s Rockin Baby for 85 points to finish in a tie for second place, earning $2,041 in the process. “You always want to place at a rodeo, and to end the season with a good check in Kansas City couldn’t be any better,” said Muncy, who earned $10,784 over the last four days of competition, the lion’s share of which came while competing at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha. “It seemed to have taken me a little bit to get started this season, but since the Fourth (of July), it’s been real good.” Yes, it has. The Midwest run moved Muncy’s season earnings past the $100,000 mark. He is fourth in the world standings heading to ProRodeo’s championship event, which takes place Dec. 6-15 in Las Vegas. “I just try to ride every horse the same, no matter if it’s in the practice pen in my back yard or at the NFR,” he said. “I just try to stay calm and keep the same routine. Every time I get on, I’m trying to win a round and trying to win the world title.” Bull rider Ardie Maier of Timber Lake, S.D., doesn’t own a world champion’s gold buckle just yet, but he knows how special qualifying for the NFR is – he earned a trip two seasons ago and is firmly in the top 10. On Sunday, he posted an 87-point ride on Smith Harper and Morgan’s Smilin Bob to move into third place, just behind co-winners McKennon Wimberly of Cool, Texas, and John Young of Orient, Iowa. “It’s a great feeling,” Maier said. “It’s been a long season, and to come in here on the last day and finish strong means a lot. Now I’ll take a little break, do some hunting and get ready for the finals.” Maier suffered a knee injury in 2010 but still played in Vegas. Last year, an injury kept him from finishing the regular season among the top 15 in the world standings. “This is the best year I’ve had as far as being healthy,” he said. “The last time I went, I had knee surgery, and I hadn’t been on a bull in three months. “I’m looking forward to it. Now it’s time to go down there and let the dice fly. American Royal Rodeo Kansas City, Mo. Final results Bareback riding: 1. Heath Ford, on Brookman & Hyland Rodeo’s Smiling Bob, and Ryan Gray, on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s R.D. Mercer, $3,097 each; 3. (tie) Jared Keylon and Clint Cannon, 82, $1,636 each; 5. (tie) Justin McDaniel, Josi Young, Tim O’Connell, Logan Corbett and Kyle Brennecke, 81, $444 each. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Bray Armes and Todd Suhn, 3.6 seconds, $2,326 each; 3. Trell Etbauer, $1,938; 4. Travis Carnine, $1,680; 5. Riley Duvall, 4.1, $1,421; 6. Jeff Miller, 4.2, $$1,163; 8. (tie) Brad Johnson, Justin Smith and Chance Carlson, 4.4, $388 each. Team roping: 1. Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, 4.4 seconds, $3,159 each; 2. Chad Masters/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 4.5, $2,826; 3. Quista Lopez/Buddy Hawkins, 4.6, $2,494; 4. Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz, 4.8, $2,161; 5. David Key/Bucky Campbell, 4.9, $1,829; 6. (tie) Brant Spugin/J.W. Beck and Adam Newcomb/Chad Harper, 5.0, $1,330 each; 9. Logan Olson/Matt Kasner, 5.2, $831; 7. (tie) Dustin Chohon/DustinHarris and Adam Rose/Gabe Gwaltney, 5.5, $333 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brad Rudolf, 86 points on Smith Harper and Morgan’s Rattle Snake Shake, $3,061; 2. (tie)  Ty Atchison, 85, $2,041; 4. Jake Wright, $1,122; 5. (tie) Will Smith and Luke Butterfield, 82, $612; 7. Jesse Wright, Cole Elshere and Cody Rud, 81, $238 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Tyson Durfey, 7.4 seconds, $2,622; 2. Justin Maass, 7.6, $2,280; 3. Trent Creager, 7.8, $1,938; 4. Bryson Sechrist, 8.0, $1,596; 5. Jeremy Kempker, 8.3, $1,254; 6. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Clint Kindred and Cody McCartney, 8.4, $570. Barrel racing: 1. Kenna Squires, 14.43, $2,512; 2. Trula Churchill, 14.50, $2,135; 3. Lindsay Sears, 14.54, $1,758; 4. (tie) Brittany Pozzi and Kaley Bass, 14.56, $1,381; 6. Benette Little, 14.61, $879; 7. Angie Meadors, 14.64, $628; 8. Shada Brazile, 14.65, $502; 9. Robyn Herring, 14.67, $440; 10. Natalie Foutch, 14.70, $377; 11. Carolyn Uhler, 14.74, $314; 12. (tie) Christina Richman and Lisa Lockhart, 14.75, $126. Bull riding: 1. (tie) McKennon Wimberly, ono Wild Card Rodeo’s King Pen, and John Young, on Brookman & Hyland Rodeo’s Canadian Club, 88 points, $2,971; 3. Ardie Meier, 87, $1,906; 4. Tim Bingham, 85, $1,233; 5. Cody Whitney, $785; 6. (tie) Tyler Stoltz, Bobby Welsh, Chris Roundy and Lucas Guilbeau, 82, $336.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – It’s about time. Tyson Durfey has been to the American Royal Rodeo almost every year since he was born nearly 28 years ago. He’s been in the field of Kansas City’s rodeo virtually every season since he turned pro in 2003. “This is the best luck I’ve ever had at the hometown rodeo,” said Durfey, a tie-down roper raised near Savannah, Mo., just 65 miles straight north of the West Bottoms. “You always put more pressure on yourself than you need to, because you see all the people you grew up with, and they expect you to do well.” With plenty of family and friends packed into Hale Arena on Saturday night, Durfey roped and tied his calf in 7.4 seconds to take the lead in his event. Now he’ll await the results of tomorrow’s final performance to see if his time holds up for the top spot; the event kicks off at 2 p.m. “I actually have never won a lot here, so this is going to mean a lot,” said Durfey, a five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has won three Canadian Professional Rodeo Association titles. But Durfey failed to qualify for the NFR and the Canadian finals this year; it’s the first time he hasn’t made the field in ProRodeo’s championship event in Las Vegas since 2007. “It was a rough year, but I’m going to finish it off well,” Durfey said. “Typically in a year, a guy gets seven or eight chances to win big money. This year, I had two chances, and I didn’t capitalize on them.” That’s part of the equation in rodeo. “I was at one in Texas yesterday,” he said. “I’ll be at one tomorrow, then I’ve got five next week. I rodeo for a living. It’s what I do; it’s what I love, and it’s what I’m going to do whether I make the finals or not.” Bareback rider Ryan Gray is on the outside looking in at qualifying for this year’s NFR, but he’s doing everything he can in order to change it on the final weekend of the 2012 season. Gray, a seven-time NFR qualifier from Cheney, Wash., rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s horse R.D. Mercer for 84 points on Saturday to own a share of the lead with Heath Ford of Slocum, Texas, who rode Friday. “I think, mathematically, I still have a shot to make it,” said Gray, who rode in Poway, Calif., on Friday and will ride in San Bernadino, Calif., on Sunday. “I’m winning Poway right now, but I knew I needed to win about $5,000-$6,000 to get in to the finals.” He, too, has had his share of struggles this year. “I just didn’t bring home the big checks when I need them,” he said. “It’s just one of those years.” But earning a nice check at a rodeo like the American Royal is a good way to wrap up a tough season. American Royal Rodeo Kansas City, Mo. Leaders through Saturday Bareback riding: 1. Heath Ford, on Brookman & Hyland Rodeo’s Smiling Bob, and Ryan Gray, on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s R.D. Mercer; 3. (tie) Jared Keylon and Clint Cannon, 82; 5. (tie) Justin McDaniel and Kyle Brennecke, 81; 7. Joe Gunderson, 79; 8. (tie) Chase Erickson and Tanner Aus, 78. Steer wrestling: 1. Bray Armes, 3.6 seconds; 2. Riley Duvall, 4.1; 3. Jeff Miller, 4.2; 4. (tie)Brad Johnson, Justin Smith and Chance Carlson, 4.4; 7. Beau Clark, 4.7; 8. (tie) Tait Kvistad, Kody Woodward and Brent Sutton, 4.8. Team roping: 1. Quista Lopez/Buddy Hawkins, 4.6 seconds; 2. Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz, 4.8; 3. David Key/Bucky Campbell, 4.9; 4. (tie) Brant Spugin/J.W. Beck and Adam Newcomb/Chad Harper, 5.0; 6. Logan Olson/Matt Kasner, 5.2; 7. (tie) Dustin Chohon/DustinHarris and Adam Rose/Gabe Gwaltney, 5.5; 9. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 9.6; 10. Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper, 9.9. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Brad Rudolf, 86 points on Smith Harper and Morgan’s Rattle Snake Shake; 2. Ty Atchison, 85; 3. Will Smith, 82; 4. Cody Rud, 81; 5. (tie) Louie Brunson and Chuck Schmidt, 80; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 79; 8. Logan Allen, 76. Tie-down roping: 1. Tyson Durfey, 7.4 seconds; 2. Justin Maass, 7.6; 3. Trent Creager, 7.8; 4. Bryson Sechrist, 8.0; 5. (tie) Clint Kindred and Cody McCartney, 8.4; 7. Justin Scofield, 8.6; 8. Bradley Bynum, 8.8. Barrel racing: 1. Kenna Squires, 14.43; 2. Trula Churchill, 14.50; 3. Brittany Pozzi, 14.56; 4. Benette Little, 14.61; 5. Angie Meadors, 14.64; 6. Shada Brazile, 14.65; 7. Robyn Herring, 14.67; 8. Natalie Foutch, 14.70; 9. Carolyn Uhler, 14.74; 10. Christina Richman, 14.75; 11. Lee Ann Rust, 14.80; 12. Aimee Kay, 14.81. Bull riding: 1. (tie) McKennon Wimberly, on Wild Card Rodeo’s King Pen, and John Young, on Brookman & Hyland Rodeo’s Canadian Club, 88 points; 3. (tie) Tyler Stoltz and Lucas Guilbeau, 82; 5. Jessie Michael Fischer, 71; no other qualified rides.

Texas steer wrestler hoping his run Friday at American Royal qualifies him for Vegas KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For Bray Armes, the fate of his 2012 season came down to one run at the American Royal Rodeo. Armes is the 18th-ranked steer wrestler in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. He needs to move up three spots to be among the elite 15 men to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. To do that, he needs to win money. His 3.6-second run on Friday night moved him to the lead in Kansas City with two performances remaining in Hale Arena. “God’s great, and I’ve had a lot of amazing stuff happen this year,” said Armes, 30, of Gruver, Texas. “I’m very blessed to be in this situation.” Armes knew the task at hand before he arrived at the American Royal Complex: He needed to win the rodeo and hope for a little luck. Armes has earned $43,526 and is $2,271 behind the No. 15 man, Jason Miller of Lance Creek, Wyo. There are two other cowboys ahead of Armes in the standings, Jake Rinehart (17) of Highmore, S.D., and Nick Guy (16) of Sparta, Wis. But Armes did all he could. He’ll wait out the final two performances – set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. “A couple years ago I went pretty hard and finished in the top 30,” he said. “That’s the closest I’ve ever been.” Now he travels like all the other contestants who make their living on the rodeo trail, hauling from one rodeo to another with two-time world champion Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb. “The hardest part about it is being away from my wife and kids,” Armes said. “Other than that, I’m rodeoing with a great friend who is pretty much like my brother now.” Now he’s hoping for a last-chance miracle to earn that coveted spot in the NFR field when it kicks off Dec. 6-15 in Las Vegas. “That would mean everything in the world,” he said. “I’ve always dreamed about it.” It’s the goal of every contestant who has tried their hand in the rodeo arena. The NFR is ProRodeo’s grand finale. Saddle bronc rider Ty Atchison of Jackson, Mo., earned his first trip to the Nevada desert last year. Even though he won’t be there this December, he knows what it is going to take to get back. “This rodeo has always been cool for me,” said Atchison, who suffered an injury in July and never got back to his top form. “I’ve got a lot of support up here from when I high school rodeoed and college rodeo, so it’s always good to come up and see all those people. To do well here is even better.” Atchison took the lead after posting an 85-point ride on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat. “Anytime that a guy gets old Top Hat, you know you’ve just got to do your part and she’ll take care of the rest,” Atchison said of the paint mare that has been selected to buck at the NFR. Even though the 2012 campaign didn’t turn out as great as he had hoped, Atchison sees nothing but the positives in what he does. “Everybody dreams of being something when they’re a kid, and my dreams have come true,” he said. American Royal Rodeo Kansas City, Mo. Leaders through Friday Bareback riding: 1. Heath Ford, 84 points on Brookman & Hyland Rodeo’s Smiling Bob; 2. (tie) Jared Keylon and Clint Cannon, 82; 4. Kyle Brennecke, 81; 5. Austin Foss, 77; Evan Jayne, 73. Steer wrestling: 1. Bray Armes, 3.6 seconds; 2. Riley Duvall, 4.1; 3. Jeff Miller, 4.2; 4. (tie) Justin Smith and Chance Carlson, 4.4; 6. Beau Clark, 4.7; 7. (tie) Tait Kvistad, Kody Woodward and Brent Sutton, 4.8. Team roping: 1. Quista Lopez/Buddy Hawkins, 4.6 seconds; 2. Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz, 4.8; 3. David Key/Bucky Campbell, 4.9; 4. Adam Newcomb/Chad Harper, 5.0; 5. (tie) Dustin Chohon/DustinHarris and Adam Rose/Gabe Gwaltney, 5.5; 7. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 9.6; 8. Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper, 9.9. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ty Atchison, 85 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat; 2. Will Smith, 82; 3. Logan Allen, 76; 4. (tie) J.T. Hitch and Lucas Wilson, 74; 6. Byron Gilliland, 69. Tie-down roping: 1. Justin Maass, 7.6 seconds; 2. Trent Creager, 7.8; 3. Bryson Sechrist, 8.0; 4. (tie) Clint Kindred and Cody McCartney, 8.4; 6. Justin Scofield, 8.6; 7. Bradley Bynum, 8.8; 8. Shane Slack, 9.6. Barrel racing: 1. Trula Churchill, 14.50 seconds; 2. Brittany Pozzi, 14.56; 3. Benette Little, 14.61; 4. Angie Meadors, 14.64; 5. Shada Brazile, 14.65; 6. Robyn Herring, 14.67; 7. Natalie Foutch, 14.70; 8. Carolyn Uhler, 14.74; 9. Christina Richman, 14.75; 10. Lee Ann Rust, 14.80; 11. Kellie Hill, 14.84; 12. Whitney Baker, 14.84. Bull riding: 1. Tyler Stoltz, 82 points on Stace Smith Rodeo’s Pawn Star; no other qualified rides.

The first performance of the renewed and refined American Royal Rodeo begins at 7:30 tonight, and it promises to kick-start a fantastic finish to the 2012 ProRodeo season. Of the 13 rodeos this weekend that count for Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifications, the Kansas City, Mo., event features the second largest purse – only the Justin Boots Championships during the River City Rodeo in Omaha, Neb., is bigger, and the 12 contestants in each event had to qualify to be part of that field. I’ve been working for several weeks in promoting the American Royal and telling stories about this fantastic event. The people putting it on are outstanding, hard-working and caring. Whether they are staff members or the volunteers who donate their time, talent and/or financial resources, they take pride in the rodeo and the American Royal brand, which helps raise money for children’s charities. I visited with two writers from the Kansas City Star yesterday. They will be covering the rodeo this weekend. Zachary Spain put together THIS story, which ran in this morning’s editions of The Star. Spain will cover the final two performances, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Dawn Bormann will be at the American Royal tonight, so look for her story in tomorrow’s publication or on the newspaper’s website. I know there has been coverage on TV this week, and I’ve tried to get even more. I believe all the reporters would have tremendous storylines to share with their readers, viewers and listeners if they’d take the time to visit rodeo folks. That’s the goal, here, and that’s what I want to see happening with our sport. The tour finale is taking place just three hours north of Kansas City, and it’s huge for rodeo. But on this weekend with so much at stake, I firmly believe the bigger storylines will take place inside Hale Arena. Why? Most of the 96 competitors in the field in Omaha are locked in to the NFR; there will be dozens of cowboys and cowgirls hoping to secure big checks at the American Royal in order to qualify for Las Vegas. Three days in Omaha can be quite lucrative for many contestants, but one run or one ride in Kansas City can pave a major highway to the Nevada desert for several excellent competitors. This is their chance to shine.

DUNCAN, Okla. – Do you remember that guy that could make you laugh no matter what? Whether it was in the classroom or work site or just hanging out, he was always funny. Actions. Antics. Personality. It all came together in one package. Welcome to the world of Justin Rumford of Ponca City, Okla., who will serve as the barrelman/funnyman and add his flavor of fun to the overall entertainment package that is the 2012 Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Stephens County Expo Center in Duncan. “People want to laugh at each other more than they want to laugh at something,” said Rumford, who worked the Chisholm Trail PRCA Rodeo this past May. “When I’m in the arena, I’m saying the same stuff I’d say if I wasn’t clowning. It’s just me being me.” Rumford grew up in Abbyville, Kan., and is the third generation of his family in the rodeo business. His grandfather, Floyd, established Rumford Rodeo Co., and his father, Bronc, continues to be an integral part of rodeo; in fact, he’s the chairman of the Prairie Circuit board. Justin Rumford has done just about everything a person can in rodeo, but he seems to have found a home in the barrel. In fact, in just his second year at it, Rumford has been nominated for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Clown of the Year. “I t means a lot because I’ve been involved in rodeo my whole life,” Rumford said. “I’ve never done anything else, and I’ve never wanted to do anything else. I’ve always wanted to be successful. A couple of years ago when I started this venture, I knew if I worked really hard and tried really hard that I could get to the top in the hurry.” It helps to do something you love. “This clowning deal is the best thing I’ve ever had,” said Rumford, who competed in college rodeo at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. “It’s something in rodeo that I can have longevity in. There’s not just a ton of risk, and it’s something I enjoy so much.” In his lifetime, Rumford has been a contestant, a stock contractor, a bullfighter, a flankman, a pickup man, a truck driver; you name it, he’s done it. In fact, this isn’t his first Prairie Circuit Finals. He worked the finale last year when it took place in Weatherford, Okla. More importantly, he was a three-time qualifier in steer wrestling. “I don’t think I’ve ever missed a Prairie Circuit Finals,” he said. “It’s just something I’ve always done. I’ve flanked bucking horses there, been the chute boss, flanked calves, untied calves. I’ve made the full circle. So has his family. His sister, Haley Schneeberger, has been named the PRCA’s Secretary of the Year each of the past five seasons; she’s nominated again this year. She has worked with her brother in an orchestrated opening, and she’s served as the finale’s secretary. Schneeberger has been named the PRCA’s Secretary of the Year each of the past five seasons; she’s nominated again this year. The rodeo lifestyle is that of a gypsy – there’s no staying in one place for long. For contestants, the bulk of the rodeo season is spent traveling from one event to another. That means lots of miles. Contract personnel – announcers, stock contractors, clowns, bullfighters, secretaries, etc. – don’t travel nearly as much, but they’re on the road plenty. Most work in a different locale every week. “I don’t mind it, and I get to do it with Ashley,” Rumford said of his wife, who is a PRCA timer. “We bought a fifth-wheel, and we rodeo nine moths solid throughout the year. This year we’ve only had two weekends where we haven’t been at a rodeo. “It never gets old. When one rodeo’s over, one committee is disappointed that the rodeo is over, so you drive to the next place. It starts all over again, and everybody’s excited again.” There are many things that come with the rodeo lifestyle, and Rumford seems to enjoy them all. From meeting new people daily to hanging out with friends, family and friends who seem like family, there are many reasons he loves what he does. “My main goal is to work the NFR, whether it’s flanking or bulldogging or being in the barrel,” Rumford said. “I just feel blessed to do something I love this much.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Royal Rodeo begins its three performances tomorrow night, and the annual event is a showcase of the richest talent in the sport. This is where world champion’s come to play. Already this week, the some of the biggest names in the sport roped, raced and wrestled during Wednesday’s specialized competition to accommodate the high number of contestants who are part of the American Royal. But there are plenty of other great champions and regular qualifiers to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo who are scheduled to compete this weekend, with performances set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Hale Arena on the American Royal Complex. BAREBACK RIDING Will Lowe, a three-time world champion who grew up near Olathe Clint Cannon, a three-time NFR qualifier Heath Ford, a three-time NFR qualifier Justin McDaniel, a four-time NFR qualifier, two-time NFR average winner and 2008 world champion Brian Bain, a 2011 NFR qualifier Ryan Gray, a seven-time NFR qualifier Jason Havens, a five-time NFR qualifier Joe Gunderson, a 2010 NFR qualifier Chris Harris, a six-time NFR qualifier BULL RIDING             Jarrod Ford, a two-time NFR qualifier Trevor Kastner, a 2011 NFR qualifier Corey Navarre, a four-time NFR qualifier Chandler Bownds, a 2011 NFR qualifier Cody Whitney, a three-time NFR qualifier Seth Glause, a three-time NFR qualifier Ardie Maier, a 2010 NFR qualifier Kanin Asay, a four-time NFR qualifier and two-time Xtreme Bulls champion TIE-DOWN ROPING             Clint Cooper, a four-time NFR qualifier and son of champion Roy Cooper Jerrod Hoffstetter, a three-time NFR qualifier Ryan Jarrett, the 2005 all-around world champion Josh Peek, a seven-time NFR qualifier in tie-down roping and steer roping Tyson Durfey, a five-time NFR qualifier and three-time Canadian champ originally from Savannah, Mo. Houston Hutto, a three-time NFR qualifier Cody Ohl, a six-time world champion Tuf Cooper, the 20111 world champion Blair Burk, a 14-time NFR qualifier BARREL RACING             June Holeman, an NFR qualifier Jeanne Anderson, a two-time NFR qualifier who grew up in Kansas City, Mo. Lisa Lockhart, a five-time NFR qualifier and two-time Canadian champion. Lindsay Sears, a two-time and the reigning world champion SADDLE BRONC RIDING             Jesse Kruse, the 2009 world champion Ty Atchison, a 2011 NFR qualifier from Jackson, Mo. Jacobs Crawley, a 2011 NFR qualifier Jesse Bail, a 12-time NFR qualifier in bronc riding and bull riding Bradley Harter, a six-time NFR qualifier Cody Martin, a two-time NFR qualifier Isaac Diaz, a three-time NFR qualifier Taos Muncy, a two-time and the reigning world champion Cort Scheer, a 2010 NFR qualifier Heith DeMoss, a four-time NFR qualifier Cody DeMoss, an eight-time NFR qualifier Chet Johnson, a three-time NFR qualifier STEER WRESTLING             Dru Melvin, a 2006 NFR qualifier Casey Martin, a 2011 NFR qualifier Todd Suhn, a 15-time NFR qualifier Jason Miller, the 2007 world champion K.C. Jones, a five-time NFR qualifier Sean Mulligan, a four-time NFR qualifier TEAM ROPING Luke Brown, a four-time NFR qualifier Martin Lucero, a 14-time NFR qualifier Nick Sartain, the 2009 world champion header Kollin VonAhn, the 2009 world champion heeler Clay Tryan, the 2005 world champion header Travis Graves, a three-time NFR qualifier Keven Daniel, a three-time NFR qualifier Logan Olson, a 2005 NFR qualifier Chad Masters, the 2007 world champion header Clay O’Brien Cooper, a seven-time NFR qualifier who also played in two John Wayne movies, “The Cowboys” and “Cahill U.S. Marshall.” Kaleb Driggers, a 2011 NFR qualifier Jade Corkill, a four-time NFR qualifier Ty Blasingame, a 2010 NFR qualifier Rich Skelton, an eight-time world champion heeler Brad Culpepper, a seven-time NFR qualifier Ryan Motes, a 2007 NFR qualifier Travis Tryan, a 10-time NFR qualifier Jake Long, a two-time NFR qualifier

If you can’t tell by the variety of stories I’ve posted lately, my schedule’s been rather full. It is an awesome blessing. It’s also nice that as I write, I can watch my 3-year-old daughter play – not many dads get that opportunity. Fortunately for us both, she goes to preschool three days a week; she needs that interaction with other children, and Daddy needs the time to work. In addition to reading the stories I’ve been producing for the American Royal and the Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo in Stephenville, Texas, which take place this weekend, I also put together stories for the Omaha World-Herald in its coverage of this weekend’s Justin Boots Championships. You can read the lead piece on those stories HERE, then just scour around the World-Herald’. I’ve also been putting together stories for the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, scheduled for next week in Hempstead, Texas, and the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for Oct. 18-20 in Duncan, Okla. I’m about to get busy helping friends and other contract personnel with their promotional pieces to take to the PRCA convention in Las Vegas. See why I’m so blessed? Not only do I have an abundant of opportunities, but I’ve got a ton of good friends and an awesome family.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Justin Maass has been one of the hottest cowboys in the business much of this season. He leads the tie-down roping world standings with more than $138,000 in season earnings, heading to his seventh appearance at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. On Wednesday evening during competition at the American Royal Rodeo, Maass took the steps needed to pad his lead on the final weekend of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association season. The Giddings, Texas, cowboy roped and tied his calf in 7.6 seconds to take the early lead at the American Royal. He holds a two-tenths-of-a-second lead over the No. 2 roper, Trent Creager of Stillwater, Okla. Now he’ll have to wait out the three performances of Kansas City’s rodeo to see if his score holds up; the performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Hale Arena at the American Royal complex. Maass is one of four contestants who took the early leads in their respective events during Wednesday’s competition; the others were steer wrestler Riley Duvall of Checotah, Okla., 4.1 seconds; team ropers Quista Lopez of Beeville, Texas, and Buddy Hawkins of Columbus, Kan., 4.6 seconds; and barrel racer Trula Churchill of Valentine, Neb., 14.50 seconds. American Royal Rodeo Kansas City, Mo. Leaders through Wednesday Steer wrestling: 1. Riley Duvall, 4.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Justin Smith and Chance Carlson, 4.4; 4. (tie) Kody Woodward and Brent Sutton, 4.8; 6. Chancey Larson, 5.6; 7. Nick Guy, 5.9; 8. Shane Henderson, 8.3. Team roping: 1. Quista Lopez/Buddy Hawkins, 4.6 seconds; 2. Derrick Begay/Cesar de la Cruz, 4.8; 3. David Key/Bucky Campbell, 4.9; 4. Adam Newcomb/Chad Harper, 5.0; 5. Adam Rose/Gabe Gwaltney, 5.5; 6. Chace Thompson/Chad Williams, 9.6; 7. Charly Crawford/Jim Ross Cooper, 9.9; 8. A.J. Horton/Kyle Horton, 10.2. Tie-down roping: 1. Justin Maass, 7.6 seconds; 2. Trent Creager, 7.8; 3. Bryson Sechrist, 8.0; 4. (tie) Clint Kindred/Cody McCartney, 8.4; 6. Justin Scofield, 8.6; 7. Bradley Bynum, 8.8; 8. Shane Slack, 9.6. Barrel racing: 1. Trula Churchill, 14.50 seconds; 2. Brittany Pozzi, 14.56; 3. Benette Little, 14.61; 4. Shada Brazile, 14.65; 5. Robyn Herring, 14.67; 6. Christina Richman, 14.75; 7. Lee Ann Rust, 14.80; 8. Julie Erkamaa, 14.87; 9. Fallon Taylor, 14.91; 10. Jordon Talbot, 14.94; 11. Jeannie McKee, 14.98; 12. Hailey Sheldon, 15.00.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – When fair officials in Waller County wanted to take it’s rodeo to the next level, they had a short list of top stock contractors to consider. Atop that list was Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo. Pete Carr and his crew are in their second year of preparing a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event that’s part of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 6, in Hempstead. “I love Pete Carr rodeos, and that’s one of the reasons his name came up first on my list,” said bareback rider Clint Cannon, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Waller, Texas. “He always brings good horses to rodeos. He runs a good show.” That’s important to guys who ride bucking horses for a living. In saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and bull riding, half the score is given to the athletic animals. Bronc busters know it takes quality mounts if they want to earn the lion’s share of the prize money. “We know that when we go to one of Pete’s rodeos that you don’t have to get on a piece of junk,” Cannon said. “You know you’re going to have a chance to draw a good horse, and it’s going to come down to who rides best to decide who wins.” Cowboys seem to get a little more excited when they know Carr Pro Rodeo is going to be the livestock producer at a rodeo. “Anytime I draw a Pete Carr horse, I know I will probably win money,” said bareback rider Cody DeMers, a four-time NFR qualifier from Kimberly, Idaho. “That’s why I go to his rodeos.” It doesn’t matter in what event they compete, the contestants know what to expect with Carr animals. “Pete’s got an eye for good horses and is always trying to make his stock better,” said saddle bronc rider Isaac Diaz, a two-time NFR qualifier from Desdemona, Texas. “Pete’s constantly worried about whether we’re happy, which is good. There are a lot of contractors out there who could care less if we’re happy. Pete’s the opposite. He does what he can to keep us happy. “At most of the smaller rodeos we go to, you don’t have a chance to draw good. At least at Pete’s rodeos, you know you have a good shot of getting on something you can win on. Then it’s just up to you to ride well enough to do it.” Pete Carr has made his name with bucking horses – Real Deal was named the 2005 Bareback of the Year, and River Boat Annie was selected as the reserve world champion bareback horse in 2007 – but Carr takes great pride in having high quality animals for every event, whether for ropers, steer wrestlers or roughstock cowboys. “I’ve always tried to get the best animals I can get, whether they’re bulls, horses, calves or steers,” said Carr, owner of the livestock company. “Everybody thinks I’m a horse guy, and I am; but I want to be known as a bull guy, too.” The contestants see that. “The bulls are awesome,” said Chandler Bownds, the 2011 rookie of the year from Lubbock, Texas. “Pete brought in some great subcontractors to juice up his great pen of bulls, and there were a bunch of bulls that bucked really hard.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – When Clint Sciba went to Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo to watch the sports spectacle, he knew that’s what he wanted to see in his hometown. “My main basis on that deal was that if we were going to spend that much on a PRCA rodeo, I really wanted to make it the best in the Southeast, whether it’s southeast Texas or the Southeastern United States,” said Sciba, the rodeo co-chairman with Paul Schroeder on the Waller County Fair board. “We wanted to produce the most non-stop, action-filled rodeo within the constraints of our finances, so that’s what we set out to do.” The early results have been fantastic, which is good reason why the Waller County Fair and Rodeo is preparing for its second straight year of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association action beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 6. The top names in ProRodeo will be on hand, which is an enticing addition to a community that is already loaded with great rodeo talent. “I’d gone to Vegas, in part, to watch Clint Cannon ride there at the finals,” Sciba said, referring to the three-time NFR qualifier from Waller, Texas. “Clint had already come in and talked to the board about making our rodeo a PRCA rodeo and gave us the three stock contractors he wanted us to consider bringing in. “He really wanted us to look at Pete Carr and what he does, so when I went to Vegas, and when I’d gone to RodeoHouston that year, I really paid attention to how much stock was Pete Carr’s. He had the animals that we were looking for, and he understands the Vegas-type of entertainment we wanted. He has the stock to get the cowboys there, and that’s the one thing we learned: If you don’t have the stock, the cowboys aren’t going to be there.” Carr owns Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo, and he’s become one of the most sought-after livestock producers in the sport. “It’s really special for us to be involved in an event that wants to grow and be part of professional rodeo.” Carr said. “Clint Sciba took a chance on us and we will continue to try and exceed his and everyone’s expectation in Waller County. The entire fair and rodeo team are excited about what all is going on in Hempstead. They want to continue to grow the whole fair and rodeo, and I think they’ve got the community support and enthusiasm to make it happen.” It helps considerably that Waller County is becoming known for its elite ProRodeo contestants. Not only does Cannon live nearby, but so do tie-down ropers Cory Solomon, a two-time NFR qualifier from Prairie View, Texas, and Fred Whitfield, an eight-time world champion from Hockley, Texas – Whitfield is closing in on his 20th qualification to ProRodeo’s championship event. With that type of high-caliber firepower in the rodeo’s back yard, it makes for an easy transition to producing an NFR-quality event. “We’re flooded with a ton of great ropers in our area, and the competition so tough,” Sciba said. “Not only do we have great guys like Fred and Cory, who are at the top of the game this year, but we’ve got a lot of other ropers in this area. Now you bring in Clint Cannon, and you have someone who has pushed the bucking horse riding and the importance of having a good overall rodeo. “We’re quickly becoming a rodeo community, not just at our fair, but throughout our region. It’s a natural fit for us to step up to the PRCA ranks. The PRCA brings us a lot of publicity, not just local, but regional and national.” Cannon will be unable to compete at the NFR this December after sitting out some time with a groin injury, but he will be a big part of his hometown rodeo. Still Solomon and Whitfield will be in the grand entry along with dozens of other Texans that will ride in behind the Lone Star flag as the state’s representatives are introduced to the crowd of nearly 18,000 each of the 10 nights in Las Vegas. “You get chills when you see 16-time world champion Trevor Brazile as he flies into that arena carrying the Texas flag and they introduce all those Texans,” Sciba said. “It’s even cooler to know you have a chance to see three guys who are part of that introduction that are from right here in our area. Just seeing all those Texans is cool; that’s even cooler to know how well we’re represented here in Waller County.” That same sentiment goes into every run and every ride that takes place in the Waller County Fairgrounds Arena. It’s no wonder why Sciba is so excited.

Contestants on the bubble hope American Royal pushes them toward the NFR KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is a major goal of every cowboy and cowgirl who has ever competed in the sport. There’s just one problem: Only the top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for ProRodeo’s grand finale, which takes place each December in Las Vegas. With the 2012 campaign winding to a close on Sept. 30, there is a mad scramble to fill those coveted spots. “It’s a little scary, especially for someone like me who’s never made it to the finals before,” said Jared Keylon, the 15th-ranked bareback rider from Uniontown, Kan., near Fort Scott. “It can add a lot of pressure. I don’t feel like I’ve had it bad in any regard, but it hasn’t went real well lately.” He’s hoping a little hometown karma will cure what’s been ailing him late this season during the American Royal Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Hale Arena in the American Royal complex. Keylon spent much of the season in the top 10 in the standings and only fell to the bottom hole this week. “It’s pretty frustrating, because I’ve been in this position before and had a chance to make it to the finals,” said Keylon, who finished 16th in 2009, just one spot out of a trip to the Nevada desert. “I’ve been in there all year long, and now I have to win everything I can to go. It’s definitely been hard, but it’s been fun. “When you’re in this position, it’s very exciting.” Yes, it is. Josh Peek can attest. Peek, a six-time NFR qualifier from Pueblo, Colo., has competed in Las Vegas in both steer wrestling and tie-down roping. This year, he’s trying to move up just a few spots in both events – he is 20th in steer wrestling and 19th in tie-down roping. “The American Royal is in a position that it’s a last-chance rodeo for a lot of guys,” Peek said. “It gives the guys that are from 20th to 13th in the standings a chance to make up some grounds. At the end of the year, Kansas City is a very good rodeo to be able to attend.” The rush that comes with the chase has worked for Peek in the past. But he knows it’s better to secure a spot in the NFR much sooner as to avoid the anxiety. “The end of the year has always been great for me, but this year’s been tough,” he said. “I’m definitely going to these next few rodeos with everything I can. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll just have to work harder.” Bareback rider Justin McDaniel of Porum, Okla., knows how important a strong finish is. In each of his four NFR qualifications, McDaniel has utilized a late-season push to earn his spot in the top 15. “The first time I went to the finals in 2007, I was 15th in August,” said McDaniel, who moved up from 19th to 14th in the last three weeks. “It’s nothing new to me. The fall has always been good to me. “I’ve had years where I’ve been injured earlier in the year, then it comes to clutch time, and I have to make it work at the end. You’ve just got to lay it all on the line and go for it.” That’s going to happen in every event each of the three nights of the American Royal Rodeo. It’s just more flavor to an already exciting event. “It’s going to come down to the last day, so it’s going to be exciting,” McDaniel said. “It’s going to be a knife fight down here at the bottom to get those last few spots to make it to Vegas, that’s for sure.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Youth who have an interest in rodeo have an opportunity to learn even more about the sport. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo is hosting an event that’s part of the PRCA Championship Rodeo Camp Series from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at Roundup Arena in Dodge City. The free training is set for participants of all abilities who are 8 year old or older. “PRCA Championship Rodeo Camps are great for beginners and have proven to be very beneficial for advanced riders,” said Julie Jutten, who is with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s industry outreach department. “If you are new to the sport, the camp will get you off to the right start, which will help your long-term success in the sport.” The curriculum includes an introduction to all three roughstock events – bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding – and will cover the basics: safety and fundamentals, livestock safety, injury prevention, tips from professionals, chute procedures, riding equipment overview, goal setting and an introduction to the PRCA. “We’re very excited to be part of this program that is designed to help teach people about rodeo,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, chairman of the Roundup committee. “I think this is an outstanding way to draw young people to the sport and teach them the skills they might need if they want to pursue rodeo in their future.” It’s been a banner year for Dodge City Roundup, which takes place annually during the community’s Dodge City Days celebration. It was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame this past July. In August, the community hosted a rodeo that featured the very best in the sport and saw a record-breaking attendance. “Hopefully we’ll have a number of the campers who come back and compete at Roundup in just a few years,” Trotter said. Students can register in all three roughstock events and may do so online HERE. Students also can register by calling Jutten at (719) 304-1471. “The classroom will include sessions on preventing and managing injuries, which will prolong careers, and understanding the PRCA, which will ease an athlete’s transition into ProRodeo,” Jutten said. “The camps are free and a great chance to learn from the best of the PRCA.”

There’s one performance left in Albuquerque, N.M., and it takes place tonight. Once the final results are in, it will help us get an idea of what happens in the world standings with just one week left in the 2012 season. The New Mexico State Fair Rodeo offers the biggest purse of all event that took place over the last few days, so it will be a difference-maker heading into the stretch run of 13 ProRodeos. Yeah, it’s coming down to the wire, and it’s awfully fun to watch. If you’re anywhere close to one of the rodeos scheduled for the next week, I suggest you make your way there. I’ll be at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., and it’s the second-largest ProRodeo event on the schedule. A lot will be happening inside Hale Arena. Why is it such a big deal? Men and women are scrambling to get one of those 120 spots for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the 15 place-settings for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Take Albuquerque. Bray Armes leads steer wrestling with a 3.7-second run. The Gruver, Texas, cowboy is 19th in the bulldogging world standings, and winning a rodeo with that much money in the purse should move Armes into the top 15. But he’ll need another good run next weekend to stay there. As important as the Justin Boots Championships are, it won’t do much for those contestants on the bubble. Only the top 12 cowboys and cowgirls in the standings get the chance to play in Omaha, Neb. They’re pretty much just padding their income and securing their place in Las Vegas. So it’ll come down to those other rodeos to help us fill out the finals qualifiers. Good luck to all those out there that are chasing their dreams.

From quality entertainment to a feeling of home, the American Royal is attractive KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For many, rodeo and family go hand in hand. Most contestants were raised in the sport and hold tight to familial values as they chase their rodeo dreams. More importantly, though, fans realize that rodeo is quality family entertainment, which is the driving force behind the attraction to the American Royal Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Hale Arena in the American Royal complex. It’s high-flying action featuring the greatest cowboys and cowgirls in the sport, but that’s just part of the equation. There will be mutton busting, in which children ages 7 and younger will have a chance to ride sheep prior to all three rodeo performances. For the first time, children will be able to sign up to mutton bust at the American Royal. Competition will take place at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. before the rodeo Friday and Saturday, and at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. It is $10 to participate, and the top kids from each go will get to compete in the pro rodeo. “We want to provide families with as much entertainment as they can get for their entertainment dollar,” said Alex Lowe, co-chairman of the American Royal’s rodeo committee. “We’ll have a lot going on from the time they park their cars until they’re ready to go home.” Lowe knows the appeal. Growing up near Olathe, Lowe’s family had season tickets to the American Royal Rodeo every year. In fact, it was the annual event in the West Bottoms that burned a fire in the Lowe family that still burns today. “I think family is the best part of rodeo,” said Lowe, whose brother, Will, is a three-time world champion bareback rider. “It’s not only the immediate family, but it’s also the tradition of family. If you look at Kaycee Feild, he’s just following in the footsteps of his dad, Lewis. They’re both world champions.” Yes, they are. Kaycee Feild is the reigning world champion bareback rider from Payson, Utah. Lewis Feild is a five-time world champ – three bareback riding and two all-around titles – and is in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. But there is a long line of greatness throughout the generations, and the legacies continue in Kansas City. You can see it in Roy Cooper, who dominated the 1980s, and his youngest son, Tuf, the reigning world champion tie-down roper, one of three Cooper brothers who have competed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo the last two seasons. There are also the Wrights, from two-time world champion Cody to his talented bronc riding siblings, Jesse, Alex, Spencer and Jake; the team roping Tryans, Clay, Travis, Brady and Chase; and the steer wrestling Duvalls, from world champion Roy Duvall to his NFR-qualifying nephews Spud and Sam to Sam’s son, Riley. They’re just a few of the family ties to the game. Sixteen-time world champion Trevor Brazile, the nine-time and reigning all-around titlist, travels the rodeo trail with his wife, Shada, who has made a name for herself in barrel racing this season. Turtle Powell, the 2012 team roping-heading world champion, is married to Molly, a 10-time NFR qualifier. Though he doesn’t still ride bucking horses like his brother, Alex Lowe understands why it’s such a big deal. “We grew up rodeoing every weekend,” he said. “You’re around the right type of people. You have responsibilities growing up. You learn the things you need to learn, the things that will help you as you get older. “It’s like one big family. Even now, Will has that in his traveling partners. Those guys are traveling down the road every day. It gets long, so it’s important having people around you that you enjoy. They’re almost as close to their traveling partners as they are their real family.” It’s the nature of the sport. When you travel like a band of gypsies, sometimes it’s nice to know there’s always a feeling of home, whether it’s in Puyallup, Wash., or the American Royal. “When we were kids and started in rodeo, my parents didn’t rodeo, so we were really new to it,” Lowe said. “That’s why I have a different perspective than a lot of people. “We just walked in, and we were welcomed with open arms. We had to rely on people who knew a lot more than us, and they helped us along the way.” And that’s why events like the American Royal Rodeo make up quality family entertainment.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – If you ask him to describe the best part of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, Dustin Standley has a quick answer. “It all comes down to youth and educational support,” said Standley, the fair’s sponsorship chairman. “I think a lot of the guys on the fair board realized that if we can continue to prosper and help a child’s education, it not only helps our community better, but it helps us grow as a fair. “We looked around at what was needed, and we realized that the important thing for us was youth and education, and not just college but all forms of education. It takes engineers to design buildings, and it takes fabricators to build that building, and if we can give all those kids a chance to further their education, then we’re doing our part.” That’s one of the many aspects of the nine-day festival that has drawn the appreciation of Pete Carr, owner of Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo, the livestock producer for the rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 6, at the fairgrounds in Hempstead. “You can tell the fair’s leadership really cares about the community and about helping kids with their education,” Carr said. “You can see they’re getting more people behind it, which is great.” It comes in all forms, Standley said. The biggest thing is to continue to look for new and improved ways to help grow the product, from using technology better to adding to the overall entertainment for the fairgoers’ dollars. “I’m taking a huge gamble to overhaul our sponsorship package, but it all comes down to money,” he said. “You get more money from corporate sponsors, and it comes back in the form of giving back to the community. We’re able to get better entertainers and expand our carnival and put on a PRCA rodeo instead of a smaller rodeo. “I think that’s a big plus for our county fair. We’ve been able to develop relationships with corporate people, yet keep it affordable for community business owners to become big players. That has allowed us to invest in the fair, into technology and into the kids’ education.” The feedback has been excellent. Fairgoers enjoy the enhanced experience and the overall entertainment value. “People see that we’re giving to scholarships, and because of that, they don’t mind giving money to the fair,” Standley said. “The fair has grown in the last few years, and everybody’s benefitting from that. Four years ago, we gave about $8,000. Last year, we gave about five times that much.” How does Carr Pro Rodeo impact the bottom line? “Carr production brings something big to our small town,” Standley said. “They bring cowboys and cowgirls from around that are able to be seen. Having professional rodeo in a small town is like a kid looking at a Corvette and knowing that’s what they want to drive. For a young cowboy, it’s a way for the little kids to look up to their Superman. “A production like Carr Pro Rodeo puts on in our rodeo shows our community that had never been showcased before.” The plan is to continue making the strides in order to make the fair and rodeo a showcase for the region, not just Waller County. “We are honored to be part of something like this, where they’re working so hard to raise money for scholarships,” Carr said. “It’s like being on the ground floor of something blossoming, and I hope we can continue to raise the bar as far as how much is paid in sponsorships.” That’s where Standley comes in and works his magic. “I wanted to have a place where corporate people would want to come in and say ‘This is where I want to be, where I want to give my money,’ ” Standley said. “My goal is to eventually get to where we’re giving away $100,000 in scholarships every year.”

Forty years ago, there wasn’t much talk about breeding programs among rodeo stock contractors. Somewhat quietly, it seems, Jim and Maggie Zinser were breaking new ground. On their ranch near Claire, Mich., the Zinsers were in the process of breeding bucking horses in a fashion that has become the trick of the trade four decades later. “I don’t think there are any tricks to it at all,” said Jim Zinser, who operated J-Bar-J Rodeo until selling the firm nearly four years ago. “Ours started back in the early ’70s when we bought a big brown mare out of a riding stable. That horse went on to be the three-time horse of the year in the International Pro Rodeo Association. “She raised six colts, and all but one of them was a world’s champion. They were all that kind of horse. Night line was three times horse of the year in the IPRA, and she sired the great horse, Night Jacket, who bred so many of these great horses we have in rodeo today.” Yes, Night Jacket is a big part of the bucking horse business these days, but so are many other great animal athletes whose foundation is the Zinser ranch. “I got to rodeo at a lot of Zinser rodeos when I was first starting out, so I got to see it first-hand,” said bareback rider Clint Cannon, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Waller, Texas. “He took so much pride into breeding these animals. This guy groomed his horses and made them to where they loved to be alive out there. He had such a pecking order on his breeding program that it makes a difference.” It’s that attention to detail that has reached much of the mainstream. More ProRodeo stock contractors are making a concerted effort in their breeding programs. The results are fantastic. “Jim did a great job of putting together a string of horses that’s unrivaled,” said Will Lowe, a three-time world champion bareback rider from Canyon, Texas. “He did a great job of selectively breeding and also breeding for attributes. You see that at every rodeo we go to and especially at the NFR.” ProRodeo’s championship event not only features the top cowboys each season, but also it is a showcase of tremendous bucking beasts. The animals are selected by the cowboys that ride them, so it is truly one great match-up after another. “There were 29 horses with our brand on them at the finals last year,” Zinser said. Zinser-bred horses have won the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association halter for horse of the year multiple times, and there will be more down the line. Many of the top contractors in the sport today have animals with the original brand. “I’ve known Jim and Maggie Zinser for over 25 years,” said Pete Carr, owner of Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo. “Scotty Lovelace and I used to go to all of their rodeos in the winter, so I’m very familiar with their bucking horses, bloodlines and overall breeding program. They have done an excellent job over the years of paving the way for the rest of us in our industry. I have a tremendous amount of respect for both of them as friends, stock contractors and just good people.” Carr features a few Zinser-bred horses, including the 2005 Bareback Horse of the Year, Real Deal. Carr also features Dirty Jacket and MGM Deuces Night, two Night Jacket-sired athletes that have been featured in the elite pen of bareback horses for the last few years. “Both of those horses are tremendous,” said Cannon, who posted a 90-point ride on Dirty Jacket to finish second in Pecos, Texas; only Steven Dent’s 91-point ride on MGM Deuces Night was better. It’s that type of quality cowboys like to see. “I think Dirty Jacket’s just gotten better,” Lowe said. “But those two horses are exceptional ones. They’re in the top 10 percent of their class.” Zinser said he’s fortunate to have had the right horses at the right time. “Night Jacket’s grandmother was Nightmare, and it just kind of built from there,” he said. “We’ve crossed those horses up with different stallions. We did it long enough that we knew which ones to go back to with which stallions. “There’s just some of those that are going to be outrageous bucking horses by breeding them that way.” Zinser watched what was happening and carefully worked the animals together in an effort to bring out the best of both sides of the genetics. “I watched how I crossed them up. I didn’t cross up a mare that had a disposition with a stud that had the same kind of attitude,” Zinser said. “Then you’d have something you can’t handle. “I watched the confirmation and what I thought they ought to look like if they did buck. The mares took care of that. We went through a lot of different mares to get to that set of mares.” It helps to have a stud like Night Jacket, a horse that sold for a record $200,000 just a few years ago. “The Night Jacket thing was luck,” Zinser said. “There was nothing planned that year. I bought a stud at Texarkana, Ark.; he wasn’t a lot of money, but he cost a lot for no better than he was. He didn’t buck, but everything we bred him to bucked. “I had several horses by him that were astronomical. I was fortunate enough to get that stallion and keep him a stallion. That was just luck, but from there on, you did some things to make it work.” Why was Zinser’s scheme so revolutionary? “For years, a breeding program was just putting a stud out there in the pasture, then bucking all those colts,” Cannon said. “In the old days, it was a numbers game just like the military. You’d send as many as you could to the beach, then you win the war. In rodeo, you buck all your horses  Continue Reading »

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – When Chad Decker looks around Lone Star Arena, he knows what will happen the final weekend of September. “I know the contestants will be ready and the animals will buck,” said Decker, chairman of the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo committee, which produces the event set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30. If he sounds confident, he should. Decker knows rodeo, and he expects the knowledgeable fans in the area that make their way to the arena for the three performances will enjoy the show. He also has a lot of confidence in Carr Pro Rodeo, the event’s livestock producer. “Pete Carr always has good stuff at our rodeo,” Decker said. “You don’t have to worry about the stock being top quality.” The Dallas-based stock company has been a fixture at Stephenville for several years and provides some of the top animals in the business. Last year, Carr Pro Rodeo had 12 animals perform at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Bareback riders won three rounds on Carr horses last December – Clint Cannon won the eighth round on Real Deal, the 2005 Bareback Horse of the Year; while MGM Deuces Night guided two cowboys to round titles, Ryan Gray on the fifth night and world champion Kaycee Feild in the 10th round. “We know Pete’s going to have excellent stock, and he and his crew are going to put on a great production,” Decker said. The crew features some of the top hands in rodeo, like Paul Peterson, a three-time NFR pickup man who now serves as the firm’s operations manager and flankman. “Paul has been a valuable part of our team since our first rodeo,” Carr said. “Paul is one of the most versatile people you’ll meet, and in rodeo, he can do almost everything. He knows these animals, and that plays a lot into what he’s done with us from the very beginning. “I want to surround myself with the best people I can, and that’s what I get with Paul.” How important is it to understand the animal athletes? “Every horse is going to take a different kind of flank,” Peterson said. “Those older horses, the ones that have been around a long time, they need a little bit more of a flank, but the colts will need less. You’ve got to figure out what’s going to be the best flank for each of the animals to perform at their best. “You can ruin the horse or get him to the NFR.” Peterson knows a little bit about that. As an all-around cowboy competing in the PRCA, he just missed qualifying for the NFR a few times in saddle bronc riding. Whatever he’s done, he’s excelled. That means he’ll take to the task of flankman with the same gusto. “You’ve just got to know the animals,” Peterson said. “You take into consideration where the horse come from and what they’ve done to him in the past and if you’ve raised him. It helps to know a lot about what their mom is and what she was like; a lot of time they’re going to be just like her.” The NFR is an annual showcase of the very best in ProRodeo, from the top 15 contestants in each event and discipline to the best personnel. Delia Walls of Stephenville is the rodeo secretary, while Shawna Ray and Sandy Garland, both of Stephenville, will time. Jimmy Adams will serve as the timed-event chute boss. Bullfighters Chris Kirby and Dusty Duba not only help protect fallen bull riders, but also they handle many of the behind-the-scenes tasks that go on at each rodeo. “When you’re in business, you’re only as good as the people around you and the people you hire,” Decker said. “That’s the key component for Pete and the rodeo company. Those guys behind the scenes make the rodeo seem flawless, and they dang sure don’t get recognized enough for the work they do.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Clint Cannon rides bucking horses for a living. He knows, probably better than most, just how important it is to have a high quality horse underneath him. It’s that knowledge that helped guide him to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three times so far in his career. He points to the great breeding programs that are a big part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. With those types of programs in place, cowboys are getting more opportunities to get on high quality bucking horses. “For years, a breeding program was just putting a stud out there in the pasture, then bucking all those colts,” said Cannon, a bareback rider from Waller, Texas. “In the old days, it was a numbers game just like the military. You’d send as many as you could to the beach, then you win the war. In rodeo, you buck all your horses and see what bucks best. “Now they’re putting attention to detail. They develop them into athletes.” He’ll have an opportunity to match his athletic skills with some of the greatest bucking horses in the business from Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo at Cannon’s hometown rodeo, the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 6, in Hempstead. “When you look down the list and see your name next to one of Pete Carr’s horses, then you know you’ve got a good horse,” Cannon said. The purpose of the breeding program is to give the cowboys every opportunity to win money every time they compete. “We want our rodeos to be a riding contest not a drawing contest,” said Carr, owner of the contracting company. “We strive to make sure the winner is the person that made the best ride or the best run.” Hempstead will be home to many great animal athletes, but the foundation, is on the Carr Pro Rodeo ranch southeast of Athens in east Texas. It’s where bucking horses and bulls are pampered and where trees align pastureland to provide shade and cover. It’s where established athletes are matched to create the next generation of stars. “We definitely take care of the animals,” Carr said. “Jeff Collins is our ranch manager, and he takes care of everything as if it were his own. That means a lot to me. I trust everything he does.” From the right feed to the acres of grassland, the Carr ranch is a great place for great athletes. Right now, mares that have performed at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – from River Boat Annie to Black Coffee – are providing the TLC to their weeks old colts, fathered by NFR bucker Korczak. Yes, its 165 miles from the Waller County Fairgrounds to the Carr ranch, but the fans who pack the stadium get to see the result of great breeding when they watch the animals in action. For instance, River Boat Annie was named the reserve world champion bareback horse in 2007 and has been to the NFR every year since. She has three colts that are being prepared for their trips to Las Vegas. “She’s got a 3-year-old colt that we just bucked with a dummy,” Collins said about one of the first arena experiences for young horses. The device is controlled by a remote control that, when clicked, releases a lock on the dummy so it feels as though the dummy is bucked off. In order to give the young buckers confidence, Collins hits the remote trigger at three seconds. “When River Boat’s colt bucked, it was so cool and so electric that it took everything I had to push that button,” Collins said. “You hope to see that kind of action every time that horse bucks.” That’s what Carr is hoping and why he’s invested into the breeding program as much as he has. Korczak bucked at the NFR in both bareback riding and bronc riding, which makes him a valuable portion of the breeding program. The paint horse’s genetics flow quite easily among many of the colts on the ranch. “I’m excited about where we have come and where we are going in regards to our breeding program,” Carr said. “Over the years, I’ve gone out and acquired the best animals I could find because I wanted to produce the best rodeos possible.  Now with the breeding program we able to start working in some of our young up and coming featured animals and pick up some stars along the way. ” The foundation for a great rodeo lies near Athens, but the benefits are found in Hempstead.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kirbee Spire has two words about the American Royal’s Invitational Youth Rodeo. “It’s awesome,” said Spire, the reigning breakaway roping champion from Maryville, Mo. Why? “It’s really fun to go into an atmosphere like that, especially since it’s set up exactly like the NFR,” she said, referring to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the premier championship at the professional level of the sport. “It’s really cool to get invited.” Spire is one of the few who gets the chance to compete in the same playing field – Hale Arena –  that houses the traditional American Royal Rodeo. The Invitational Youth Rodeo is set to take place over four days beginning with the senior division at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25; it will feature high school-age contestants. The junior division, for eighth-graders and younger, will take place at noon Wednesday, Sept. 26-Friday, Sept. 28. It is all a fabulous precursor to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Hale Arena in the American Royal complex. “I want to be at that level, too, so I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication,” said Spire, a senior at Maryville High School who also won the Missouri High School Rodeo Association’s breakaway title last season. “I’d like to start by winning the breakaway at the invitational. I want to be a back-to-back state champion, and I want to go out there and win nationals. “It’ll take a lot of hard work, but I’m ready for that.” That she is. It comes naturally, but most youth involved in rodeo realize the responsibility it takes to be a winner from a young age. Spire first set the tone by winning the breakaway title at the National Junior High Finals Rodeo a few years ago. “Rodeo is just something we all enjoy doing,” said Patty Spire, Kirbee’s mother. “Ed and I did it when we were kids, and we wanted to give the kids a chance to do it themselves. “It’s something we can do together, and it’s something we all enjoy.” Kirbee is the youngest of Ed and Patty Spire’s three children and joins brother Derk and sister Jodi in the arena. In addition to teaching his children the skills it takes to win, Ed Spire also has spent time as a coach for the Northwest Missouri State University rodeo team. “My dad pushes me, and I love it,” Kirbee Spire said. “We’re all one big rodeo family, and everybody’s supporting each other. It’s fun to share one thing you can do with your family. Not every parent can play basketball with your kids, but you can rodeo with your kids.” While her strength is in breakaway roping, Kirbee Spire also competes in goat tying, team roping and barrel racing. She wants to do that next year as she moves to the college ranks but knows she might need a little more horsepower for barrel racing. “I really enjoy roping,” she said. “That’s my main thing, but I love to run barrels. I just don’t have a horse right now to get me to the ProRodeo events. I can run off my roping horse, and Larry can pull it off. But to compete at that level, you need a really good horse.” Larry has been a good horse and one Kirbee has leaned on most of her life. In fact, they’re nearly the same age – the palomino gelding is just a few years younger, in fact – and he’s been the driving force behind all her titles. “He can do everything, but he’s just my breakaway and barrel horse right now,” she said. “Pedro, my brother’s horse, is my heel horse and my goat horse, and he works pretty well. “You have to have a good horse to compete in rodeo, and you have to be a good horseman. That’s one of the things we work on every day.” That seems to be a common theme for Spire. But that’s why she owns a lot of titles already; it’s also why she wants to win many more, especially with college rodeo directly in her sights. “I know a lot of people that have gone on to rodeo in college, and they’ve helped me like my family has helped me,” she said. “You can get a full ride on rodeo if you find the right coach and the right school if they really want you.” Now comes Kirbee Spire’s time to make her work pay off. A win at the American Royal Invitational Youth Rodeo will go a long way in drawing the right coach’s attention.

American Royal’s mutton busting is a fan favorite for some, family time for others KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For a good portion of her life, Jennifer Pope’s participation in rodeo was as a fan. That’s changed, now. With her husband, Bret, they are now the parents of rodeo cowboys, and there’s not much that’s going to change that for their three boys: Jess, 13; Ty, 10; and Judd, 6. Most weekends, you’ll find the Popes traveling from their Garnett, Kan., home to a rodeo of some sort so the boys can do their thing. And for the youngest, part of that competitive fire will take place during the American Royal Rodeo during the mutton busting, a competition for youngsters who get their first taste of the rodeo lifestyle while riding sheep. It’s always a fan favorite, which is why it’s always a big piece of the puzzle for the annual rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Hale Arena in the American Royal complex. For the first time, children will be able to sign up to mutton bust at the American Royal. Competition will take place at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. before the rodeo Friday and Saturday, and at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Anyone under the age of 7 can sign up to compete. It is $10 to participate, and the top kids from each go will get to compete in the pro rodeo. “We were involved in 4-H and county fairs,” said Jennifer Pope, who grew up outside of Olathe. “Usually when you have a county fair, the rodeo is always involved. “When I was a kid, my mom would have season tickets for the American Royal Rodeo when it was like 10 days long, so I’ve been around it all my life.” It wasn’t until she took the oldest boys to the Franklin County (Kan.) Fair a few years ago that the rodeo bug hit full time. She asked if they wanted to ride sheep, and the family’s riding legacy was formed. Now Jess is a junior bull rider, and Ty is a steer rider. Judd rides sheep and is a wool fighter – the junior equivalent of a rodeo bullfighter who works inside the arena to keep cowboys out of harm’s way during the bull riding. So why is mutton busting such a big deal? In addition to getting the crowd into the fun of the sheep-riding, it’s a way for youngsters to fall in love with the sport. “I think it’s good for kids because we need to get more kids involved in the sport itself,” Pope said. “It’s a stair-step to get them involved in the other things like calf riding and sheep riding. Even for the timed-events, these kids get to be around the roping side of rodeo, too, so they can learn so much.” Now the family is heavily involved, oftentimes traveling to events in Oklahoma so the boys can participate. The appeal, though, goes far beyond the competition itself. “It’s something we do together,” Pope said. “We travel together, and we get a lot of time together in that vehicle. You also get to know a lot of people … a lot of really good people. You know if you break down, somebody is going to be there for you. “We have a lot of people we know through rodeo that are closer to us than our own family members. That’s why rodeo is a family. You can count on each other.”

Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo moves event to the end of September STEPHENVILLE, Texas – More people needed more of a chance to see a great event. “We wanted to accommodate our little town, and we want to make a bigger and better rodeo,” said Chad Decker, the chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Lone Star Arena. For years, the Stephenville rodeo took place in mid-June. The move to the end of the regular season was done with fan and contestants in mind. “With college kids in town, our population doubles,” Decker said. “In June, the college population wasn’t here. We’re trying to do the best job for the community. “We’re also trying to get the cowboys and cowgirls. Now that it’s one of the last rodeos of the year, we feel like we’re going to be the rodeo they’ll all want to get to. We’ve got some Texas Circuit guys that are on the bubble for the circuit finals, and we’ve got some guys that are trying to make the NFR that are on the bubble. We’re giving them the chance to make it.” That’s quite a drawing card, and fans will expect to see some great things happening inside Lone Star Arena. “We’ve got a great facility, a covered arena with all the amenities,” Decker said. “We’ve got a great cowboy church, and we’ll have chuck wagon meals for the contestants. That’ll be a neat deal where they can get a home-cooked meal while they’re here.” Those are great amenities, but there is also something about the competition. Roughstock cowboys will test their talents on some of the best livestock in the game provided by Carr Pro Rodeo, a Dallas-based stock contractor that has produced the Stephenville rodeo for several years. But Erath County and the surrounding area is chalk full of great timed-event contestants, too. “For our demographics, we have several guys that live in our 100-square-mile area that can come in here and compete for circuit points for the circuit finals,” Decker said. “It was a change that needed to take place for the community and for our sponsors. “I think the change is good for the cowboys. It’s a win-win for everybody.” More than 300 contestants have signed up to be part of the festivities, so the signs are pointing as though the move was in the right direction. “We’re very pleased with the numbers, especially this being the first rodeo since the date change,” Decker said.

DUNCAN, Okla. – Call it a happy coincidence or a great opportunity, but winning the Prairie Circuit wasn’t exactly in the plans written by Corey Navarre and Caine Riddle. Still, that’s the case for the brothers-in-law. Navarre, of Weatherford, Okla., has earned $10,455 this season and leads the bull riding standings as the top 12 contestants in each event make their plans to compete at the 2012 Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for set for Oct. 18-20 at the Stephens County Expo Center. “It was never a priority for me to lead the standings, but it worked out that way,” said Navarre, a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier who, in 1998 became the first cowboy in the history of the game to qualify for the NFR, the College National Finals Rodeo and the PBR World Finals in the same season, a feat he also accomplished in 1999. “I just happened to do good at Pretty Prairie (Kan.), Burwell (Neb.) and some other circuit rodeos. “I didn’t have that great of the year, but it seems like the ones I did good at were in the circuit.” Riddle, a second-generation bareback rider from Vernon, Texas, has had a solid season. In fact, he’s firmly in the top 20 in the world standings and is battling over the next 11 days to earn a spot in the top 15 in order to qualify for his first NFR. “I’ve got my mind on other things right now, but it’s pretty neat that I’m in that position to win the circuit again,” said Riddle, who won circuit titles in 2006 and 2009. “It’ll be interesting to see the new place we’re having our circuit finals.” The Chisholm Trail committee is bringing the circuit finals to Duncan for the first time in the event’s history. The Stephens County Expo Center has been host to some great events over the season, and now it will be home to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s regional championship. An indication of just how prestigious the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals is can be seen in the list of world champions who have also won in the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region: bareback riders Eric Mouton and Mark Gomes; steer wrestlers Roy Duvall, Ote Berry and Dean Gorsuch; team roper Nick Sartain; saddle bronc riders John McBeth, Robert Etbauer and Billy Etbauer; tie-down ropers Tom Ferguson and Roy Cooper; barrel racer Mary Burger; and bull riders Lane Frost, Terry Don West and Dustin Elliott. There are a lot of contestants in the game who would love to add their names to that list. Riddle and Navarre are just two of the regular-season leaders; they’re joined by barrel racer Tana Renick of Kingston, Okla.; steer roper Rocky Patterson of Pratt, Kan.; tie-down roper Hunter Herrin of Apache, Okla.; saddle bronc rider Jesse James Kirby of Dodge City, Kan.; team ropers Hunter Munsell of Arnett, Okla., and Braden Harmon of Mustang, Okla; and steer wrestler Chancey Larson of Manhattan, Kan. “I’ve never won the circuit finals,” Navarre said. “Actually, I’ve only been to the circuit finals a handful of times. It seems like I was always rodeoing so hard outside the circuit that I didn’t have enough circuit rodeos to qualify. There were a lot of years that the circuit finals was at the same time as the PBR finals the years I did qualify for it, so I couldn’t go.” In addition to winning the regional championship, there’s another level of incentive: The year-end and finals average winners qualify for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which will take place next spring in Oklahoma City. That’s the championship for the circuit system, and it allows even part-time cowboys and cowgirls the opportunity to win a national title. “It’s exciting to have a chance to win the circuit, especially when you have a chance to go to Oklahoma City,” Navarre said. “That’s one of the events I haven’t qualified for yet, so it’d be nice to make it there.” Riddle has been to there, but that was before it moved from Pocatello, Idaho, to Oklahoma’s capital city. “My last goal this year was coming out and winning the circuit, but I’ll take it,” said Riddle, whose sister, Melissa, is a Prairie Circuit board member married to Navarre. “A lot of my wins were in the circuit, so it just added up. “It’ll be nice to have the circuit finals an hour from my house.” It doesn’t matter if the goal was to make the NFR, make a living on the rodeo trail or squeak into the circuit finals field, the top cowboys in the region are making their plans for Duncan, and that’s a good thing for everyone involved. “I think it’s great that we have the finals in Duncan,” Navarre said. “I think that board in Duncan has been working hard to put on a good rodeo. I think it’ll be a good event.”

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Folks around Erath County know rodeo. They live it. But for rodeo’s greatest players, this year’s Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo is an even bigger deal. With the change in dates to the final weekend of the 2012 regular season, Stephenville will be a hot spot for those cowboys and cowgirls hoping to clinch a spot in ProRodeo’s championship events. The rodeo is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Lone Star Arena, and each performance will feature many of the big names in the sport fighting for a shot at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, held in December in Las Vegas. But there’s just as important of a competition scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, when the top 51 steer ropers in the country battle for a top 15 spot in the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2-3 at the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie, Okla. “We’ve added $5,000 in steer roping,” said Chad Decker, chairman of the volunteer rodeo committee that produces the annual event, indicating the amount of money the rodeo adds to entry fees to make up the total purse. “It’s a pretty tight race to get into the top 15 in steer roping. I’m a PRCA steer roper. I know what the guys like, and I tried to pattern it after that. I also wanted it to be a difference-maker.” Marty Jones is a 14-time steer roping finals qualifier from Hobbs, N.M. He’s 17th in the world standings, so he needs to make a move in the final three events of his 2012 season in Amarillo, Texas, this week and in Anadarko, Okla., and Stephenville next week. “It really depends on where you are sitting in the standings,” Jones said regarding the big-money roping on the final weekend of the season. “If you’re in (the top 15) at that time, there’s a disadvantage to it, because somebody can come from way back and win lots of money. “If you’re out (of the top 15), one run makes all the difference. It could be the last steer, and it could be a difference-turner for you.” That’s a big reason so many great ropers will be at Lone Star Arena. “I think the committee has really stepped up and done an outstanding job of making the steer roping so important and valuable to the contestants,” said Pete Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo, the livestock producer in Stephenville. “I think the fans especially like to come out and see all the top cowboys and legends in the sport during The Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo. To be a game-changing event that determines who moves on and who goes home in the final weekend of the rodeo season makes it that much more exciting.” Decker said this is just the first step in what he hopes is a win-win for the rodeo, its fans and the contestants. “I wanted it to be a big deal,” he said. The contestants have taken notice. “It’s great to have a good rodeo, period,” Jones said. “When you add $5,000 in steer roping and make it a featured event, that’s a plus. “A month ago, I wasn’t as close as I am now. I’ve gained some ground, and I’ve got a chance.”

I got to interview Jim Zinser today, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m working on a piece about the incredible bloodlines he developed over the course of owning J-Bar-J Rodeo. It’s quite amazing what Zinser has brought to the world of ProRodeo, and it’s hard to believe it’s been four years since he sold the rodeo company. Still, the legacy continues. Zinser told me there were 29 horses at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that carried his classic J-J brand. Many of those were sired by the great Night Jacket. This is going to be a fun piece to write, because Jim and Maggie Zinser have been around rodeo for so many years. Stock contractors who carry the legacies of the Zinser bloodlines once rode those Zinser horses, which is how they knew so much about the Michigan-based firm. In my job, I oftentimes get to visit with some of the greatest athletes in ProRodeo history. Today I got to visit with one of the makers of great athletes. That’s another awesome blessing.