Monthly Archives: October 2012

ALLEN, Texas – What the fans don’t see behind the scenes at a rodeo makes a big difference in what they witness in the arena. The goal always is a flawless presentation, especially for the staff of Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo, the livestock producer for the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, and noon and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Allen Events Center. “We try to have the theatrical portion of our show not interfere with the competition side,” said John Gwatney, a production supervisor for the firm. “We try to run a good, fast, clean performance without interfering with the competition. “That’s where we’re different from other rodeo companies. If we’re not ready, the cowboy has to wait. When it comes time for that cowboy to compete, we’ve done everything we can to make that animal ready for that cowboy, so all he has to do is nod his head.” The nod is the signal for the competition between man and animal to begin, and the cowboys and cowgirls who are involved take it seriously. Rodeo is how they make their livings, and they only walk away from the arena with a paycheck if they’re one of the best that day. But rodeo is also entertainment, much like other professional sports. Fans put up their money in order to enjoy their time, and that’s where the production comes into play. “I think over the years, the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo has developed a reputation of not only having the best contestants, but also having the best livestock as well,” said Ken Stonecipher, a longtime member of the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo committee. “With Pete Carr putting that team together, it’s a win-win for us. Our fans, which are extremely rodeo-savvy, have come to expect it, and they have not been disappointed.” That’s something in which Pete Carr takes great pride, and it’s why he’s put together a crew of top-flight rodeo personnel. “I think the fans come to the rodeo to see the best show they can see, and we’re there to put it on for them,” Carr said. “We want them to enjoy the experience from beginning to end and to leave that arena wanting more. I’ve got people around me that work very hard to make that happen.” The process actually starts well before the first rodeo of the season, from the planning and development to the assignments each person on the staff has when it’s time to put on the show. “At the Rafter C rodeos, what starts the production is our version of Americana,” said Gwatney, a team roper and steer wrestler who has worked in rodeo production much of his life. “We’re looking to get peoples’ emotions up, get them on the edge of their seats so when that first animal bucks, the height of the excitement is already up. “Whether it is one of the many costume changes or the uniformity of the yellow horses, the pageantry of it all, we’re trying to stir something in those people. What makes Pete’s rodeos successful is the timing of it all.”

CHANCE KELTON, Mayer, Ariz. The last time Chance Kelton was in this arena, he suffered an injury behind the chutes and had to miss some of the action during the Timed Event Championship. Don’t expect that this weekend, Kelton’s fourth qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. You see, the mishap in March was just a freak deal, but so is Kelton. He’s a roping freak, having qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three times in team roping. Kelton has had a strong season, but he knew that’s what it would take if he were going to return to the Lazy E Arena. He won steer roping titles at six rodeos: Pecos, Texas; Dodge City, Kan.; Safford, Ariz.; Silver City, N.M.; Lewiston, Idaho; and Spokane, Wash. When he’s here, he’s pretty good. In addition to winning the Timed Event Championship, he finished second in the average at last year’s NFSR. Can he do it again? You’ll find out very soon. ROD HARTNESS, Pawhuska, Okla. There’s not much in steer roping Rod Hartness hasn’t done. The man from the Osage Territory of Oklahoma know what it takes to perform well in Pro Rodeo. This weekend marks the 15th time Hartness has qualified for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. He’s done well in this fabulous arena before, from a runner-up finish in the average a dozen years ago to placing in four go-rounds last November. In fact, Hartness earned a share of the first-round title with J.D. Yates during last year’s championship event. Since turning pro 27 years ago, Hartness has won plenty. He has earned the championship in the Prairie Circuit multiple times, and he’s been in the mix at all the major rodeos across the country. But what might be most telling is that Hartness is playing this weekend even though he didn’t win a single rodeo title during the 2012 season. He won money everywhere he went, and it paid off in a grand fashion. DAN FISHER, Andrews, Texas Dan Fisher is a 17-time National Finalist. Yes, before he became a mainstay at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, Fisher qualified in team roping for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. That was three decades ago when the NFR took place just a few miles away in downtown Oklahoma City. Two seasons ago, he qualified with both sons, Vin and J. Tom; Vin returns to this year’s championship. Dan, though, has qualified for the NFSR in four decades: the 1980s, ’90s, ’00s and ’10s. That’s an astounding feat on its own merit. It’s proof of his talent; furthermore, it’s proof of his fortitude. Now 61 years old, he became the oldest National Finals qualifier two seasons ago; he’s just setting the mark even higher. But that’s Dan Fisher in a nutshell. His father, Marvin, was a PRCA contestant, and now Dan is setting longevity records in the family’s name. His sons will carry on the legacy quite well. But this weekend is as much about a wonderful career as anything else for Dan. RALPH WILLIAMS, Skiatook, Okla. Two and half years ago, Ralph Williams introduced himself to ProRodeo fans by winning the inaugural National Circuit Finals Steer Roping. He’s not new the sport. Far from it, actually, but he’s competing in this weekend’s Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping for the second straight season. It’s quite an honor for an established veteran, but Williams has earned the right to play on this stage. Of course, he waited until the last minute to do so. Williams placed in two rounds at the Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo on the final weekend of the 2012 Pro Rodeo season. The $2,265 he earned in Stephenville, Texas, moved Williams from 16th to 14th. Now he’s here, and he’s ready to make a significant move inside the walls of the fabulous Lazy E Arena. Though he didn’t fare well last November, Williams has proven he has the talent to play with the biggest dogs in the game. Look for him to show it. CODY SCHECK, Ellinwood, Kan. Cody Scheck has had an up-and-down year. But when he was up, Scheck was way up. On June 2 while roping at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Ark., the Kansas cowboy set a new world record with a 7.7-second run, beating the 7.9-second mark set by “The Legend,” Guy Allen. Yeah … that’s a pretty big up. Still, Scheck saw several struggles through the season, too. He’s just happy to be in this weekend’s field. He is just two years removed from winning the average championship in this arena during the 2010 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. This marks the fourth time in Scheck has qualified for the championship event. The first time was in 2005, the same season in which he was named the PRCA Resistol Steer Roping Rookie of the Year. If the ups and downs of the 2012 campaign continue, he’s surely hoping everything’s on the rise at the Lazy E.

The folks at the Lazy E Arena have fully embraced the direct impact of social media in today’s society. Better yet, rodeo fans will have the opportunity to reap rewards of the Lazy E’s direction in social media. As happened during the Timed Event Championship, we will be posting trivia questions on Twitter and Facebook during the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, which beings at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Lazy E near Guthrie, Okla. To have your chance of winning the prizes – including multiple opportunities to win tickets to this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – you’ll need to be in the audience at the steer roping finals. We will provide you with advance notice of the trivia questions. Once the question is posted, take your answer to the Lazy E ticket office and provide the answer to the attendant. If you are the first person to provide that answer to the ticket-office attendant, then you will win the prize. We will let you know prior to the question what the prize will be. So take your smart phone or tablet to the Lazy E this weekend, and FOLLOW us to the NFR.

World’s best cowboys set to Battle during Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping GUTHRIE, Okla. – Cody Lee realizes it takes more than great roping if he is to win his first Steer Roping World Championship. “I’ve had a pretty lucky year,” said Lee, 37, of Gatesville, Texas, the top-ranked cowboy heading into the 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, presented by National Saddlery set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, and Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla. “But with Rocky and Trevor right on your heels, you can’t have a big enough lead when those two are behind you.” He’s talking about Rocky Patterson and Trevor Brazile, who, combined, have won five of the last six Steer Roping World Titles. Brazile, 35, of Decatur, Texas, is the reigning champ who also won Steer Roping gold buckles in 2006-07; Patterson, 46, of Pratt, Kan., won the world in 2009-10. While Lee leads the race heading into this weekend’s championship, Patterson and Brazile join Vin Fisher Jr. of Andrews, Texas, in the top four and in contention to move into the No. 1 spot from the opening tip. “This event’s so tough,” said Patterson, who is making his 18th trip to the steer roping finale in his 21st season as a pro. “Trevor went in last year with a pretty good lead. This year’s going to be different. There are four of us that could change the lead every go-round.” Lee knows that as well as anyone. This is his highest qualifying spot for the Clem McSpadden, but he’s been among the top 15 ropers in the game eight times. “It’s been good all year,” he said, referring to the $62,745 he earned through the regular season. “I just need to stick to my game plan and try tying them all down.” With more than $5,000 on the line for the winners of each of the 10 go-rounds, that’s good reason to be sure. But the total payout is a good reason why contestants are eager to make it to the Lazy E Arena in November. Ralph Williams of Skiatook, Okla., is back for the second straight year, but it’s just the second time he’s been part of the elite field in his career. “To make it there with the caliber of ropers I’ve had to go against all year is a great feeling,” said Williams, who snuck into the field on the final weekend of the regular season. “There was a lot of tension going on heading to that weekend. We were checking each other’s steers and comparing notes, just trying to put it all together. It was intense.” The intensity gets turned up quite a bit this week. Not only is this the largest purse in the sport this season, the NFSR is where the World Champion will be crowned. “When I started roping, the goal was to make the finals once,” Patterson said. “Then once you’ve been there a half-dozen times, you hope for something better. “Of course, it’s fun to be in the race right there at the top.” As in years past and just like the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the event will consist of 10 go-rounds to determine the PRCA World Champion and the final 2012 PRCA Steer Roping World Standings. On Friday night, Nov. 2, Rounds 1 through 5 will take place – that means 75 runs in one night. Then on Saturday night, Nov. 3, Rounds 6 through 10 – and another 75 runs – will determine who walks out of the Lazy E Arena with the PRCA World Championship gold buckle and saddle. The Lazy E Arena was built to host the NFSR in 1984 by E.K. Gaylord II. In 2009, the Oklahoma state Legislature unanimously passed a resolution to change the name of the event to honor the late Clem McSpadden, who served for many years in the Oklahoma Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives while also building a reputation as one of the best announcers in rodeo history. He worked the steer roping finals a record 27 times. McSpadden was also known as the “Voice of the Lazy E.” Steer roping fans will enjoy all of the activities planned for the performances and in addition, the Senior National Finals Steer Roping will take place during the day at the Lazy E Arena on Nov. 2-3.  VIP ticket prices for each performance of the NFSR are $37 … Box seats $30 and general admission $20 pre-show.  Children 12 and under are free in general admission. Group discounts are also available … Call (800) 595-RIDE for complete details. A portion of the proceeds from the 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping will again be donated to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the Clem McSpadden Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University. The Lazy E is proud to support these institutions for Western preservation. Tickets are on sale now at www.lazye.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000 or by calling the Lazy E directly at (800) 595-RIDE. A portion of the proceeds from the 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping will be donated to the National Cowboy and western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City and the Clem McSpadden Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University. The Lazy E is proud to support these institutions for Western preservation. The 2012 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping is presented by National Saddlery, with support from Wrangler, American Farmers & Ranchers Insurance, Boyd Gaming, Montana Silversmiths, the American Quarter Horse Association, Justin Boots, Priefert Ranch & Rodeo Equipment, Ram Rodeo, John Vance Auto Group, Pendleton Whisky, Purina Mills, Kyler Cattle Company, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, The Oklahoman, One Stop Copy Shop, the Fairfield Inn & Suites-Edmond, Best Western-Edmond and the Comfort Suites-Edmond. The Clem McSpadden NFSR is a Lazy E Production.  For more information on the NFSR or other Lazy E events, contact the Lazy E Arena, 9600  Continue Reading »

CHET HERREN, Pawhuska, Okla. This marks the seventh time in 10 years that Chet Herren is playing on steer roping’s grandest stage. He’s done pretty well here before. He earned his first qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping was a decade ago. He won the 10-round average championship and made a statement that season. Even though he missed the qualifying mark from 2003-05, he has been pretty consistent since. He’s missed just one time in the last six seasons (2007) and hasn’t missed the finals since they moved back to Oklahoma four years ago. Last November, he won the sixth and seventh go-rounds and placed in three others. In all, he won $20,385 inside these walls and moved up three spots to fifth place in the final world standings. That’s why he’s competing this weekend. That’s why many expect to his name atop the average when the championship concludes. KIM ZIEGELGRUBER, Edmond, Okla. Over the last five years, Kim Ziegelgruber had been on the verge of making a big name for himself in steer roping. A year ago, he got over one major hump, qualifying for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping for the first time in his career. This year, he took even greater strides, finishing the regular season among the top 10 in the world standings. It’s great that Ziegelgruber is enjoying success and earning these qualifications. He lives closer to the Lazy E Arena than anybody else in the field. Last November, he made a big statement on the opening day of the NFSR, winning the fifth go-round. That weekend, he placed in five other rounds en route to a fourth-place finish in the average and an eight-place finish in the standings. This year, he won the title in Sterling, Colo., but he pocketed more than $38,373. That means Ziegelgruber earned checks at a lot of rodeos along the way. But that’s what we’ve come to expect out of him. That’s why he’s here. MIKE CHASE, McAlester, Okla. Mike Chase is a Kansas-born farmer who ropes pretty well, too. This is the McAlester, Okla., cowboy’s third qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, but he’s been near the top of the game for years. This is the second straight year he’ll be in the field this weekend, and he just missed qualifying in 2010, finishing 16th in the final world standings. A year ago, Chase earned the right to play on steer roping’s biggest stage after winning just one rodeo, the Inter-State Fair and Rodeo in Coffeyville, Kan. He won that rodeo again in 2012, but he added the title in Cleburne, Texas. It shows that of the nearly $35,000 Chase earned this season, most of it came by nickels and dimes all along the way, meaning that he didn’t win the biggest check often, but he won a lot of checks along the way. No matter. Mike Chase is in the chase at this year’s steer roping finale. That’s an important place to be. J.P. WICKETT, Sallisaw, Okla. J.P. Wickett had no intention of making the 2011 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. He made the finals anyway. So in 2012, he was serious. After 18 years on the rodeo trail, it was time for Wickett to spend time at home with his family. A funny thing happened on the way to Sallisaw. Wickett had another solid year roping steers, so he returns to the Lazy E this weekend for his 13th NFSR qualification. He won three event titles: the Coleman (Texas) PRCA Rodeo, the Ken Lance Memorial Rodeo in Ada, Okla.; and the Lea County Fair and Rodeo in Lovington, N.M. The latter was a big-money rodeo that propelled Wickett into the top 10 in the world standings and secured his trip to Guthrie this weekend. It’s one thing to plan on retirement, or, as he puts it, spending more time at home. It’s quite another when J.P. Wickett just keeps winning. LANDON McCLAUGHERTY, Tilden, Texas Welcome back. It’s been three years since Landon McClaugherty last played on this stage. He just missed the mark last year, finishing the regular season 16th in the steer roping world standings. Even though he hasn’t been part of the elite field at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, McClaugherty has continued to be one of the greatest all-around cowboys in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In addition to finishing among the top 15 in steer roping, the Texan also is among the leaders in the all-around standings. But that’s nothing unusual. McClaugherty won 16 titles in 2012, 10 of which were all-around crowns. Of the more than $30,000 he won in steer roping this year, none of it came with a title. That’s just solid proof of the consistent talent he possesses. But you’ll get to see that plenty over these two days of competition.

ALLEN, Texas – The Tom Thumb Texas Stampede is returning to its roots, and fans will get the full range of excitement beginning with this year’s championship event. After a few years of a invitational event, the stampede returns to the ranks of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the premier sanctioning body in the sport. Dollars earned at this year’s event – set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, and noon and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Allen Events Center – will count toward qualifications for the 2013 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the year-end championship that takes place in Las Vegas each December. “Being part of the PRCA lineup means we can continue to draw top rodeo athletes in a no-holds-barred rodeo competition of contestants vying for a qualifying spot at the Wrangler NFR,” said Zandy Carnes, the stampede’s executive director. That’s good news for the contestants who make their livings on the rodeo trail. Not only will the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede return to the ranks of a major PRCA rodeo, it will provide a purse that will continue to attract the very best cowboys in cowgirls in the sport. “The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is extremely pleased to see the Texas Stampede return to the PRCA family,” PRCA commissioner Karl Stressman said. “The sport of professional rodeo has a long-standing tradition in the Lone Star State, and it’s exciting to continue to grow that tradition.” Yes, they do. In addition to regular NFR qualifiers, fans will get to witness the very best animal athletes provided by Dallas-based Carr Pro Rodeo. Pete Carr and his staff will handle the world-class production and the elite bucking horses and bulls in the business. “That rodeo has a very rich history, and I’m glad our crew can be part of it,” Carr said. “I know there are some great rodeo fans there, and I hope we can put on the kind of show that they want to see over and over again.” Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night was named the 2012 Bareback Horse of the Year. The 7-year-old bay mare has guided some of the biggest names in bareback riding to some of the most prestigious titles in the game, even setting arena records along the way. Carr’s Dirty Jacket, an 8-year-old bay gelding, was the second runner-up to MGM Deuces Night. “This event provides another competitive opportunity for our members, and, in turn, a great opportunity to see a first-class show,” Stressman said. “Everybody wins.” The rodeo is just one aspect of what the Tom Thumb Texas Stampede is all about, but the overall purpose of the organization is to reach out to the children in need that live in this area. “It certainly will be a show that people won’t want to miss, which helps us achieve our mission of improving the quality of life for children and their families served through our support of children’s charities in North Texas,” Carnes said.

  CODY LEE, Gatesville, Texas Cody Lee is closing in on the best steer roping season of his career, and that’s saying something. This season marks the seventh time in Lee’s career that he’s qualified for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. He has won $62,745 already and should pad his annual income this weekend. Here’s the most interesting statistic about Lee’s season: He won just three individual titles this season; that means the Gatesville, Texas, cowboy won the bulk of his 2012 salary came by winning checks at almost all the rodeos in which he competed. That’s a tale many cowboys would love to tell. A year ago, Lee placed in three go-rounds and finished fifth in the average. He finished the season ranked fourth in the world standings. Now he’s set to surpass that and finish even higher. He’ll need to maintain his consistency, but he can do that as well as anyone. ROCKY PATTERSON, Pratt, Kan. Do you realize how close Rocky Patterson was from winning his third straight World Championship last November? Patterson, the 2009-2010 World Champion from Pratt, Kan., jumped into the world standings lead heading into the 10th round of the 2011 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. It didn’t hold. Instead, Patterson fell to Reserve World Champion. This season marks the 18th time in 19 years he has qualified for the finals. Patterson has been one of the best ropers in the game since joining the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1992. While the two gold buckles say a lot, his longevity says more. Even better is the fact that he returns to the Lazy E Arena among the top two in the world standings. Patterson had a pretty snazzy year, winning seven titles en route to his second-place regular-season finish. In addition, he earned the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping title. It’s one of many he’s earned over a prestigious career. He’s back in prime position to win another gold buckle. That makes it as exciting as ever to be in the Lazy E this weekend. TREVOR BRAZILE, Decatur, Texas The list of accomplishments is long, but there’s one thing that must stand out this weekend: Trevor Brazile is your reigning World Champion Steer Roper. He also is your reigning World Champion All-Around Cowboy. When you add the other 14 gold buckles the Texan has won, it’s not redundant; it’s spectacular. But so is Brazile. From the first time he nodded his head in ProRodeo to his record ninth All-Around World Title last December, he has been the epitome of excellence. He is one of just two men in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to have qualified for the National Finals in all four roping disciplines, joining Dale Smith. He’s won world championships in steer roping (3), tie-down roping (3) and team roping-heading (1). And if you ask the rest of the field in this weekend’s 10-round championship, they will, to a man, point to Brazile as the favorite to win another gold buckle. They’ve painted a target on his back, and they’re ropes are at the ready to unseat Brazile from the top of the steer roping pyramid. It’ll be quite a task, though. He has won this year in Lewiston, Idaho; Clovis, N.M.; Walla Walla, Wash.; Deadwood, S.D.; Woodward, Okla.; Sinton, Texas; and, most recently, in Amarillo, Texas. He put a nice finishing touch by winning in Amarillo the second to last weekend of the 2012 season Can he win the world again? You’re in the best place to watch it. VIN FISHER JR., Andrews, Texas Vin Fisher Jr. is more than a second-generation steer roper. Fisher, whose father, Dan, is a 15-time qualifier to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, is competing this weekend for the ninth time in his career. Vin has finished as high as third in the final world standings. Fisher finished second in the average in Amarillo and won titles in San Angelo, Texas; Goliad, Texas; Garden City, Kan.; Grover, Colo.; Cushing, Okla.; and Fort Pierre, S.D. It’s that kind of experience that gives Fisher an edge when it comes to competing at a high level. And let’s face facts: Vin Fisher Jr. has done pretty well at the steer roping finals over the course of his career, which began in 2001. He hasn’t missed an NFSR since it returned to Oklahoma four years ago. More importantly, he’s been in position to contend for the gold buckle. Just like this year. JESS TIERNEY, Hermosa, S.D. Everybody in rodeo has known the tremendous talent that Jess Tierney possesses. He comes by it naturally, but it wasn’t until last November that he got to show it on the national stage. Now Tierney returns to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping for the second straight year, coming into the championship in the fifth spot in the world standings. He’s moved up rather nicely from one year to another. Last year, Tierney finished eighth in the average inside these walls. That’s a pretty good start to his championship run. Still, he finished 15th in the final world standings. He’s a virtual lock to finish in the top 10 for 2012, but he’d like to end his campaign on a high note. He’s the son of a world champion; his father, Paul Tierney, earned tie-down and all-round gold buckles more than three decades ago and is enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Now it’s Jess’ turn to make his mark on the game.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Royal’s purpose is to serve youth, education and agrarian values. Few events support that mission as much as the American Royal’s judging competitions, which puts all three core ideals into place. “You can really think about judging competitions as the incubators for the leaders of tomorrow in the livestock industry,” said Brant Laue, chairman of the American Royal. “As a competitor, you are matching your wits against the professional.” Competitors will rank the animals or products in order, which will be compared to the professionals’ decisions on the same items. Once that process is done, those judging will then provide oral reasons, which also will be scored by competition officials. “You will give an oral defense of why you placed the animals in the order you did,” Laue said. “When that was brought into the competition, it added a new dimension to it.” The reasons allow youngsters to develop, then enhance, their persuasive communication. While highly competitive, the judging experience allows for tremendous learning. “When we teach kids how to evaluate livestock, what the important characteristics are and what the unimportant characteristics are, then we are teaching kids some critical steps they can carry with them,” said Cody Sloan, a Miami County (Kan.) Extension Agent who is organizing the FFA and 4-H livestock judging competitions. “We are teaching kids about the meat animal industry and meat animal production. There are a lot of other reasons we have livestock judging contests. The experiences are second to none, and they develop decision-making skills.” Everything that occurs in competition can easily translate into real-life circumstances. “If you were to look at the history of the American Royal, the teams that have been here and the people that have gone on to leadership positions in the agriculture industry, it is quite impressive,” Laue said. “It is a core event of the American Royal. It is very much in line with our mission.” There are six judging divisions, most of which are livestock judging – 4-H, FFA, junior college and intercollegiate; there also is a meat judging and a crops contest. Ultimately, the judging ties in well with the livestock shows that are such a valuable piece of the puzzle for the Royal. “Livestock judging is 100 percent opinion, which makes it fun,” Sloan said. “We teach kids to make sound decisions and ultimately defend those decisions. They have to sit down and justify why they did what they did. It teaches them so much. “Plus it provides them with leadership activities and networking.” Sloan should know. This is his first year as an official at the American Royal, but he’s been around the complex in the West Bottoms for years as a contestant. “The thing I’m most thankful for with the judging was probably the networking, but you can’t take away the fact that we’re teaching what good heifers and good bulls look like,” he said. “That’s what I’ve done with my life since 2005, when I graduated high school. I’ve spent much of my life for livestock judging. I’m still in the middle of things.” Whether it’s as an extension agent or as an organizer, Sloan knows just how important it is to compete at the American Royal, which contributes more than $1 million to youth and education each year. “The American Royal is a highly reputable contest,” he said. “It’s one you go there with the intent to win. There is prestige and history behind the contest. That’s the neat thing.”

DALLAS – Wes Stevenson knew there was something special about MGM Deuces Night. Now other elite bareback riders in ProRodeo have signed their letter of acknowledgement, voting the Carr Pro Rodeo athlete as the 2012 Bareback Horse of the Year. “That pumps me up, and it says a lot about that horse,” said Stevenson, an eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Lubbock, Texas. “I know how I feel about her, and it says a lot about how that the other top 15 in the world feel about her.” Stevenson is a little closer than most to the 7-year-old bay mare. He raised the horse and was the first cowboy to ride her when she came of age. Then when Stevenson realized what he had, he sold her to Pete Carr, owner of the Dallas-based livestock firm. “I knew she’d have a really good shot to come to the finals,” Stevenson said. “I knew she was that good, so part of the reason I sold her to Pete is that I knew she’d have a good shot to go to the finals. I bought her from Jim Zinser as a brood mare, but she bucked so good, I didn’t want to waste her sitting at my house. I wanted her to have a chance. “She has a lot of heart. I was the first one to get on her with a rigging, and from the first time we ever bucked her, I knew that little filly has a lot of heart. She’s a very electric horse. She’s going to start doing some stuff right out of the box.” Her consistent bucking motion is one reason why the top cowboys in the game selected her to win the halter – it’s the second such award for a Carr Pro Rodeo horse; Real Deal, a 12-year-old brown gelding, was named horse of the year in 2005. Another stalwart, River Boat Annie, was selected as the reserve world champion bareback horse in 2007. MGM Deuces Night, by Night Jacket out of Night Watch, helped cowboys set a new standard in 2012. Reigning world champion Kaycee Feild of Payson, Utah, won RodeoHouston aboard the mare, establishing a new arena record with a 93-point ride. Five-time NFR qualifier Steven Dent of Mullen, Neb., set an arena record in Pecos, Texas, with a 91. “I feel like that’s the best pick they could’ve possibly had this year,” said Jared Keylon, a first-time NFR qualifier from Uniontown, Kan. “I believe the horse-of-the-year award should always go to the horses that everybody wins on but one you have to work a little bit to get along with them. The horse of the year should be the one that if you ride really well, you can be close to 90 on every time. “That’s what you get every time with Deuces Night.” In addition to winning the halter, Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket was named the second runner-up to Bareback Horse of the Year. That’s quite an honor, too. “We’re very blessed to have two of the top horses in the voting this year, and I think it says a lot about the bloodlines of these great animals,” Carr said. “MGM Deuces Night and Dirty Jacket are exceptional bucking horses, and it means a lot to me for them to be honored like this.” This marks the third straight year that MGM Deuces Night has been selected to perform at the NFR, set for Dec. 6-15 in Las Vegas. It’s the fourth straight qualification for Dirty Jacket, an 8-year-old bay gelding. Both MGM Deuces Night and Dirty Jacket have been powerful this season, with cowboys winning nine rodeos on either of those horses. In addition to the winning rides by Feild and Dent, newcomer J.R. Vezain scored 89 points on the mare to win in Guymon, Okla. Feild won Fort Worth, Texas, with an 89 on Dirty Jacket to kick start a solid year. Other big wins for the gelding were Stevenson, 87, San Angelo, Texas; Jeremy Mouton, 86, Bridgeport, Texas; Austin Foss, 89, Window Rock, Ariz.; Matthew Smith, 87, Hempstead, Texas; and Clint Cannon, 84, Waco, Texas. “When you look at the height those two horses get, they’re consistent in the way they buck every time,” said Keylon, who finished the regular season 15th in the world standings. “Those are horses you can count on. You know if you have Deuces Night or Dirty Jacket that if you do your job, you know you’re going to win. “There’s no doubt in your mind. Those are the horses that when you see you’ve drawn them, you call home and tell your wife.” Consistency is just one of the trademarks of the two Carr horses cowboys mention; another is the animal being electric. “I think Deuces Night is a great horse, and guys are 88 to 90 every time her head is out,” said 2008 world champion Justin McDaniel, who has qualified for the NFR five times. “Winning the halter is about getting on the very best horses every time, and she’s that horse. I haven’t had the chance to get on her yet, but hopefully I will in either the fifth or 10 rounds at the NFR this year, and I’d be plumb tickled to draw that horse.” So would the other 14 bareback riders who will test their skills against the very best horses in the world during the 10 nights of championship rodeo in Las Vegas from Dec. 6-15. “Every time I’ve seen her, she does the same thing,” said Casey Colletti, a two-time NFR qualifier from Pueblo, Colo. “She angles to the left and bails in the air. What’s really cool is that she tries as hard as she can every time. “That is a bucking horse I dream of when I think of bucking horses.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Royal is more than a two-month Fall Festival. Primarily, the mission of the American Royal is to promote and benefit youth, education and agrarian values, and the festival setting is just one way to do that. There are two other avenues the American Royal uses to raise funds and awareness for the mission: sponsorships and Governorships. The most known are the events associated with the Fall Festival: the rodeos, livestock and horse competitions and the barbecue competition. They raise revenue through numerous youth-oriented competitions and school tours for thousands of children while promoting agrarian value. Sponsorship plays a critical role not only in terms of revenue but also in the American Royal’s connection to the business community, while Governorships might be considered the most personal commitment to the Royal’s mission. It is similar to becoming a member on an annual basis of a club or association. A Governor pays membership fee based on whether they want to join as an individual or family, and there are a number of benefits that come with being a Governor “One of the first things I did when I came to town is become an American Royal governor,” said Brant Laue, this year’s chairman. “You get some of the benefits, including an admission pass to most, if not all, events. Not only that, but you are able to be part of the special events.” The benefits go well beyond admission. Governors will be involved in VIP receptions and be able to receive special seating and parking privileges, among others. “The governorship program is a special event and a great way for networking and meeting a lot of folks,” Laue said. “Our former chairman, Neal Patterson, said you meet normal people that normally you wouldn’t cross paths with. It exposes you to a new group of interesting people who share something in common with you, and that’s your interest in the American Royal.” Typically that means understanding the core values of the charitable organization. A governor’s support helps the Royal accomplish its purpose targeted toward youth, education and scholarship. A 501 (c) 3 non-profit, the American Royal reaches more than 55,000 children annually through educational programs. Governors are part of the organization that hosts more than 270,000 people and provides a $60 million economic impact to the Kansas City region annually. “When someone chooses to support a charity, they consider its value and relevance to themselves, their family and the community they live in or come from,” said Bryden Becker, the American Royal’s director of festival events and promotions. “American Royal Governors are people and families who believe in the value and relevance of the Royal’s mission and purpose. “Governors are also our best ambassadors.”

Could you imagine the New York Giants calling the NFL in order to compete in the Super Bowl? Or the Miami Heat calling the NBA? Yet that’s what happens in rodeo, even for those who earned the right to compete in the sport’s grand championship, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. I noticed today where several qualifiers had made the all-important phone call to PROCOM in order to enter the NFR. Of course, it’s a rather triumphant call to make. Of all the rodeos they’ll enter in their ProRodeo careers, this is the one that’s the most fun. This is the call to PROCOM they look forward to making each fall, and it’s one that thousands of others would like to be making on this October day.

DUNCAN, Okla. – Bradley Harris won the bull riding title at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals on Thursday night; he just didn’t know it until Saturday. Harris, of Udall, Kan., scored 90 points on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Rising Sun to win the first round of this year’s championship event. It was the highest scored ride of the three-day event, but also it secured Harris’ first circuit championship of his young career. There were only four qualified rides in this year’s finale, and Harris had two of them to win the average title and secure his qualification to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for next spring in Oklahoma City. “It means everything,” said Harris, who rode Frontier Rodeo’s Hideout for 73 points on Saturday night to wrap the weekend at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. “The end of my season didn’t go very good; I didn’t win as much money as I wanted, so I kind of reset my goals to come to the finals and win it since I wasn’t going to win enough money to win the year-end. “I just kept my hand shut, and it paid off.” Yes, it did. In addition to qualifying for ProRodeo’s national championship, Harris earned $4,080 in Duncan. He’ll join Guthrie Murray of Miami, Okla., who won the year-end title by just $164 over veteran Corey Navarre of Weatherford, Okla. While Harris secured his championship early, saddle bronc rider Jesse James Kirby of Dodge City, Kan., waited until his last horse to clinch the year-end title. Kirby earned his third Prairie Circuit championship by winning the third go-round Saturday night, scoring an 83-point ride on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Shasta. That $1,174 helped the Kansas cowboy edge Bobby Griswold of Geary, Okla., by $1,064. “I rodeoed throughout the year going to circuit rodeos, but yet I was going after the NFR,” Kirby said of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. “I only went to 19 rodeos in the circuit, compared to everybody that went to 28-30 rodeos this year. My goal was to make the NFR, but I had another goal to win the Prairie Circuit. “I’m tickled to death. It means a lot.” Hardy Braden of Welch, Okla., and Cody Hamm of Minneapolis, Kan., shared the bronc riding average title, scoring 225 points on three rides. Other winners were bareback riders Jared Keylon (average) and Caine Riddle (year-end); steer wrestlers Stockton Graves (average) and Dean Gorsuch (year-end); team ropers Destry Graham and Jimmy Thomas (average) and Hunter Munsell (year-end header) and Derrick Jantzen (year-end heeler); tie-down roper Bryson Sechrist (average) and Hunter Herrin (year-end); and barrel racers P.J. Burger (average) and Tana Renick (year-end). “It’s breathtaking to win this,” Burger said of winning the average title.” It’s everything you’d dream it’d be. It’s a tough group of girls. It’s the toughest in the Prairie Circuit. To make three solid, good runs against the best of the best, it’s good.” Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 18-20 Duncan, Okla. Bareback riding: Third round: 1. Jaraed Keylon, 85 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Dirt Devil, $1,155; 2. Justin McDaniel, 83, $866; 3. Soctty NeSmith, 80, $577; 4. Caine Riddle, 78, $289. Average: 1. Jared Keylon, 247 points on three rides, $1,732; 2. Justin McDaniel, 245, $1,300; 3. Caine Riddle, 240, $866; 4. Justin Linquist, 219, $433. Year-end champion: Caine Riddle. Steer wrestling: Third round: 1. Kash Koester, 3.9 seconds, $1,174; 2. (tie) Clay Mindemann and Sean Mulligan, 4.4, $734; 4. Jeff Miller, 4.6, $293. Average: 1. Stockton Graves, 14.4 seconds on three runs, $1,761; 2. Beau Clark, 15.8, $1,321; 3. Clay Mindemann, 16.8, $880; 4. Jeff Miller, 18.4, $440. Year-end champion: Dean Gorsuch. Team roping: Third round: 1. Clay Smith/Billy Smith, 4.3 seconds, $1,174; 2. Casey Hicks/Jake Pianalto, $880; 3. Joe Macoubrie/Dawson McMaster, 5.2, $587; 4. Chase Boekhaus/Jett Hillman, 5.3, $293. Average: 1. Destry Graham/Jimmy Thomas, 20.8 seconds on three runs, $1,761; 2. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 21.6, $1,321; 3. Hunter Munsell/Derrick Jantzen, 23.8, $880; 4. Clay Smith/Billy Smith, 26.3, $440. Year-end champion header: Hunter Munsell. Year-end champion heeler: Derrick Jantzen. Saddle bronc riding: Third round: 1. Jesse James Kirby, 83 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Shasta, $1,174; 2. Bobby Griswold, 79, $880; 3. Hardy Braden, 77, $587; 4. (tie) Shank Stephens and Cody Hamm, 73, $147 each. Average: 1. (tie) Hardy Braden and Cody Hamm, 225 points on three rides, $1,541 each; 3. Bobby Griswold, 223, $880; 4. Cody Goertzen, 193, $440. Year-end champion: Jesse James Kirby. Tie-down roping: Third round: 1. Blake Deckard, 8.2 seconds, $1,174; 2. Ryan Jarrett, 8.4, $880; 3. (tie) Clint Carpenter and Bryson Sechrist, 9.6, $440 each. Average: 1. Bryson Sechrist, 29.7 seconds on three runs, $1,761; 2. Ryan Jarrett, 34.5, $1,321; 3. Caddo Lewallen, 44.2, $880; 4. Trenton Johnson, 44.3, $440. Year-end champion: Hunter Herrin. Barrel racing: Third round: 1. Gretchen Benbenek, 16.65 seconds, $1,174; 2. Angie Meadors, 16.84, $880; 3. P.J. Burger, 17.00, $587; 4. Sherri Dean. 17.01, $293. Average: 1. P.J. Burger, 50.66 seconds on three runs, $1,761; 2. Tana Renick, 51.28, $1,321; 3. Cindy Gillespie, 51.59, $880; 4. Kyra Stierwalt, 51.65, $440. Year-end champion: Tana Renick. Bull riding: Third round: 1. Bradley Harris, 72 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Hideout, $1,174; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Bradley Harris, 162 points on two rides, $1,761; 2. Trevor Kastner, 83 on one, $1,321; 3. Guthrie Murray, 81, $880. Year-end champion: Guthrie Murray.

DUNCAN, Okla. – Caine Riddle knows what it means to be a Prairie Circuit champion. The Vernon, Texas, bareback rider has won the year-end title once and the finals average championship twice. He’s on the verge of adding another at this year’s Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, which wraps its three days of competition at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. “With all those horses we had tonight, you had to be on top of your game to ride them good,” said Riddle, who rode Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Rodeo Drive for 83 points to share the win in Friday’s second round. “I like to get on buckers more than anything, so it worked out good.” Riddle tied with Blaine Kaufmann of Pretty Prairie, Kan., who rode Frontier Rodeo’s Time Out for 83. It also helps just a little that Riddle knew the horse pretty well. Riddle’s mother, Dollie (Beutler) Riddle, is a secretary and timer for the family’s Elk City, Okla.-based livestock firm. Caine Riddle has been around the bucking stock almost all his life. Now the 29-year-old cowboy makes his living riding bucking horses. “I’d never been on that horse, but I’d seen him quite a bit,” said Riddle, whose father, Rusty, was an eight-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “I was tickled to have him.” Riddle is in a three-way tie for the average lead heading into tomorrow’s final go-round; his 162 points on two rides is matched by Jared Keylon of Uniontown, Kan., and Justin McDaniel of Porum, Okla. Riddle, who has $16,919, holds a $2,564 lead over Keylon for the year-end championship. “All the horses are supposed to be good tomorrow,” Riddle said of the animals that have been selected to buck Saturday night. “Jared and me ride really good. We’ll leave it up to the judges. We’re just going to go out and ride our best; we’ll let them do their job and we’ll do our job, and things will be where they’re supposed to be. Riddle finished the season atop the circuit standings, but also he was on the edge of qualifying for the NFR – he finished 18th in the world standings; only the top 15 qualify for ProRodeo’s championship. All those years getting on Beutler horses in the form of practice is paying off. “Getting on those horses, you dang sure know you’re going to have to try really hard or you’re going to put your face in the dirt,” he said. “When I was 21 or 22, I wasn’t as far along in my bareback riding as I am now. Now everything clicks.” That’s what’s happening to Ryan Bestol of Hyannis, Neb. A saddle bronc rider who attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University on a rodeo scholarship, Bestol rode New Frontier Rodeo’s Big Bomber for 83 points to win the second round and $$1,174. He shared the first-round title on Thursday with Bobby Griswold of Geary, Okla.; Bestol’s two-ride total of 163 points puts him No. 1 in the race to the average championship. “It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “I got on two hard-to-ride horses so far. That horse tonight was heavy with a big rare-out. “It’s the best feeling in the world.” Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 18-20 Duncan, Okla. Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Caine Riddle, on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Rodeo Drive, and Blaine Kaufman, on Frontier Rodeo’s Time Out, 83, $1,011 each; 3. Justin McDaniel, 82, $577; 4. Codi Myers, 77, $289. Average: 1. (tie) Justin McDaniel, Caine Riddle and Jared Keylon, 162 points on two rides; 4. Codi Myers, 159. Steer wrestling: 1. Stockton Graves, 4.1 seconds, $1,174; 2. Clay Mindemann, 4.5, $880; 3. Ryan Swayze, 4.6; $587; 4. Jeff Miller, 5.1, $293. Average: 1. Stockton Graves, 9.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Beau Clark, 10.2; 3. Clay Mindemann, 12.4; 4. Jeff Miller, 13.8. Team roping: 1. Clay Smith/ Billy Smith, 4.9 seconds, $1,174; 2. Destry Graham/Jimmy Thomas, 5.4, $880; 3. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.9, $587; 4. Hunter Munsell/Derrick Jantzen, 11.4, $293. Average: 1. Destry Graham/Jimmy Thomas, 13.8 on two runs; 2. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 14.7; 3. Hunter Munsell/Derrick Jantzen, 17.5; 4. Clay Smith/Billy Smith, 22.0. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryan Bestol, 83 points on New Frontier Rodeo’s Big Bomber, $1,174; 2. Casey McGooden, 74, $880; 3. Cody Hamm, 73, $587; Joseph Dean Lufkin, 72, $293. Average: 1. Ryan Bestol, 163 points on two rides; 2. Cody Hamm, 152; 3. Hardy Braden, 148; 4. Bobby Griswold, 144. Tie-down roping: 1. Blake Deckard, 8.1 seconds, $1,174; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.7, $880; 3. Bryson Sechrist, 9.2, $587; 4. Clint Carpenter, 9.8, $293. Average: 1. Hunter Herrin, 19.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Bryson Sechrist, 20.1; 3. Trenton Johnson, 20.6; 4. Caddo Lewallen, 23.0. Barrel racing: 1. Gretchen Benbenek, 16.69 seconds, $1,174; 2. P.J. Burger, 16.75, $880; 3. Angie Meadors, 16.98, $587; 5. Cindy Gillespie, 16.99, $293. Average: 1. P.J. Burger, 33.66 seconds on two runs; 2. Tana Renick, 34.24; 3. Cindy Gillespie, 34.38; 4. Kyra Stieerwalt, 34.56. Bull riding: No qualified rides. Average: 1. Brad Harris, 90 points on one ride; 2. Trevor Kastner, 83; 3. Guthrie Murray, 81.

ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team is already preparing to host the next Central Plains Region rodeo, set for Nov. 1-3 in Alva. The women’s team is preparing to win it for the second straight year. They got a good jump start last weekend by winning the title at the Pratt (Kan.) Community College rodeo. “That’s big for us, and it’s a big confidence-booster for the girls,” coach Stockton Graves said. “I was very proud of them. They won second at Colby (Kan.) but didn’t fair well at Durant (Okla.), but they came back strong at Pratt. “We’ve got our goals set, and we’re going to try to meet them.” The Rangers women earned 350 points to claim the championship, led by barrel racer Alexis Allen of Alva and breakaway roper Micah Samples of Abilene, Kan., who won their respective events. Allen rounded the cloverleaf pattern twice in 35.97 seconds to win the title by just 3/100ths of a second. “It feels really good,” said Allen, a sophomore who graduated from Alva High School just a year and a half ago. “I’ve worked my butt off, and I’ve always been right there close; I’d just never won it, so it’s pretty special.” She began competing at age 6, and at Northwestern, Allen runs barrels and competes in breakaway roping. What’s her favorite? “Last weekend, it was barrels because I did good in barrels,” she said. “When I do better in breakaway, then I like breakaway better that week.” Samples scored her first win as a Ranger, posting a cumulative time of 6.9 seconds. She was 4 seconds faster than her teammate, runner-up Jessica Koppitz. Those points became an important factor in the women’s team title – Northwestern edged Southwestern Oklahoma State University by just 40 team points. “Just all around it was very good,” Graves said. “We had some girls whose points didn’t count for the team total that did good. I was really proud of the breakaway ropers. The start was real tricky there in Pratt and the calves were pretty uneven, and the girls persevered through that pretty dang good.” To win any rodeo is important because the region is filled with outstanding competition. “Winning is something we usually don’t get a sniff of, so it was pretty important last week,” Allen said. While Allen was named champion, she knows there was a big helping hand in the form of a young bay gelding she calls Superman. “He came from Carlee Pierce,” Allen said of the two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier who grew up in nearby Freedom, Okla. “I got him when he was 4, and he wasn’t real seasoned yet. He’s racehorse bred, and he’s fast.” That helps, but it’s just part of the equation. It takes an animal that makes precise turns to be solid in barrel racing. But there are a lot of equations in college rodeo. In addition to the top players in Pratt, the Rangers women also had barrel racer Kelsey Pontius qualify for the championship round. She finished eighth overall. The men’s team had two cowboys qualify for the short round in Pratt: tie-down roper Chase Lako and steer wrestler Jared Thompson. Now the men’s and women’s teams will do all the logistical work and practice it takes to prepare for the Northwestern rodeo. “Hopefully we’ve got an advantage in our arena and our territory, so hopefully we can dominate again,” Allen said.

DUNCAN, Okla. – The first Prairie Circuit average champion of the 2012 Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals has been crowned. Chet Herren of Pawhuska, Okla., roped and tied down three steers in 39.8 seconds Friday morning at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center to win the title and earn the right to compete at the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping, which will take place next spring in Torrington, Wyo. In all, Herren earned $2,994 in Duncan and now will continue his preparation for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, set for Nov. 2-3 at the Lazy E in Guthrie, Okla. Herren is a seven-time qualifier to the steer roping finale and the 2002 average champion at that event. In Duncan, he won the opening round in 11.7 seconds, then was runner-up in the second round with an 11.8. Mike Chase of McAlester, Okla., won the second round with the fastest time of the morning, while Shorty Garten of Pawhuska won the third round in 12.1 seconds. Two-time world champion Rocky Patterson of Pratt, Kan., finished second in the average in a cumulative time of 41.3 seconds; he also won the year-end championship.   Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Steer Roping Oct. 19 Duncan, Okla. Steer roping: First round: 1. Chet Herren, 11.7 seconds, $913; 2. Shorty Garten, 11.8, $685; 3. Rocky Patterson, 12.2, $456; 4. Cody Scheck, 12.4, $228. Second round: 1. Mike Chase, 11.5 seconds, $913; 2. Chet Herren, 11.8, $685; 3. Cody Garnett, 12.4, $456; 4. Cody Scheck, 13.4, $228. Third round: 1. Shorty Garten, 12.1 seconds, $913; 2. Brad Mohon, 13.0, $685; 3. Rod Hartness, 13.6, $456; 4. Larry Stewart, 13.8, $228. Average: 1. Chet Herren, 39.8 seconds on three runs, $1,396; 2. Rocky Patterson, 41.3, $1,037; 3. Brad Mohon, 49.4, $685; 4. Cody Garnett, 49.5, $342.

DUNCAN, Okla. – Dean Gorsuch is in the middle of a race for the steer wrestling world championship. That crowning will happen two months from now at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. In the interim, he’s got another title on his mind; now he’s hoping a quality performance in Duncan will lead to the Prairie Circuit championship. “This is a great way to start my circuit finals,” Gorsuch said Thursday night after posting a 3.8-second run to win the opening go-round of the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. The Gering, Neb., owns two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world titles, having earned the coveted gold buckles in 2006 and 2010. He’s looking to add the 2012 regional championship to his resume. “I’m really excited about this year,” Gorsuch said. “I get to ride my new horse, Skip. Me and Trell came down together; he’s my youngest boy, my good luck charm. I love having him with me. He’s my best supporter.” Well, he’s one of the best – older son Taydon and wife Bekah are also big fans, but there are a lot of folks who follow and support the big Nebraskan. Gorsuch won $1,174 and reclaimed the lead in the circuit’s year-end standings, passing Chancey Larson of Manhattan, Kan. Now Gorsuch is in the driver’s seat with $11,423 in annual earnings. Larson failed to earn a time on his steer – as he made the move to pin the steer to the ground, Larson missed the animal’s nose, and the steer escaped the Kansan’s grasp. Now Gorsuch is full command of his own destiny toward the circuit championship. “I won decent in the circuit and won most of my money in the circuit early,” he said. “This has been one of those years; there’s been a loss, but there’s been gain.” In January, Gorsuch lost his great steer wrestling horse Pump Jack when it suffered an injury during a practice run. In March, he lost his hazing horse in a freak accident during the Timed Event championship. “It’s just been a lot of obstacles to go over,” he said. “I lost a great horse and gained a great horse. God has a plan for us, and we never know what it is.”   Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 18-20 Duncan, Okla. Bareback riding: 1. Jared Keylon, 86 points on New Frontier Rodeo’s Elvis, $1,155; 2. Codi Myers, 81, $866; 3. Justin McDaniel, 80, $577 4. Caine Riddle, 79, $289. Steer wrestling: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 3.8 seconds, $1,174; 2. John Kloeckler, 4.1, $880; 3. Beau Clark, 4.7, $587; 4. Stockton Graves, 5.5, $293. Team roping: 1.Casey Hicks/Jake Pianalto, 4.7 seconds, $1,174; 2. Hunter Munsell/Derrick R. Jantzen, 6.1, $880; 3. Brian Dunning/Derrick Peterson, 6.2, $584; 4. Chase Boekhaus/Jett Hillman, 6.8, $293. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Ryan Bestol, on New Frontier Rodeo’s Old Times, and Robby Freeman, on Frontier Rodeo’s Priefert Rancher, 80 points, $1,027 each; 3. (tie) Cody Hamm and Weston Ireland, 79, $440 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Caddo Lewallen, 9.7 seconds, $1,174; 2. Trenton Johnson, 10.3, $880; 3. Hunter Herrin, 10.8, $587; 4. Bryson Sechrist, 10.9, $293. Barrel racing: 1. P.J. Burger, 16.91 seconds, $1,174; 2. Tana Renick, 17.10, $880; 3. Kyra Stierewalt, 17.26, $587; 4. Sherri Dean, 17.32, $293. Bull riding: 1. Brad Harris, 90 points on Silver Creek Rodeo’s Rising Sun, $1,272; 2. Trevor Kastner, 83, $978; 3. Guthrie Murray, 81, $685; no other qualified rides.

The first activity of the week of the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo took place today at Crutcher’s Western Wear in Duncan, Okla. The championship begins tomorrow, and it will be filled with outstanding competition. These are fantastic cowboys and cowgirls who have battled all year long just to get here. News isn’t the greatest for one of the cowboys in the fight for this year’s all-around title: Trell Etbauer of Gruver, Texas, trailed leader Jeff Miller of Blue Mound, Kan., by just a few dollars, but Etbauer suffered a knee injury during practice Monday and pulled out of the competition. He is a two-time circuit all-around champ and a three-time Linderman Award winner. He’ll be missed. To see more photos from Wednesday afternoon, click HERE.

Jeanne Anderson is the reigning Prairie Circuit barrel racing champion. The White City, Kan., cowgirl also is a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. Oh, and she’s the No. 1 person on the alphabetical list of entrants into this year’s Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo. She’s followed by 105 others who will be part of the festivities in Duncan, Okla. – the top 12 contestants from each event through the circuit’s regular season earned the right to play. The circuit finale is home to several NFR qualifiers, past and present. In fact, 13 of this year’s competitors in Duncan will be playing on the biggest stages of the sport – the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, set for Nov. 3-4 at the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie, Okla., and the NFR, set for Dec. 6-15 in Las Vegas. In the mix are two-time steer wrestling world champion Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb.; two-time steer roping champ Rocky Patterson of Pratt, Kan.; 2008 bareback riding titlist Justin McDaniel of Porum, Okla.; 2005 all-around world champion Ryan Jarrett of Comanche, Okla.; and 2009 heeling champ Kollin VonAhn of Durant, Okla. That’s one of the great things about the Prairie Circuit has long been the home of ProRodeo’s greatest. They’ll continue to prove it Thursday-Saturday  in Duncan.

Clint Cannon’s a friend, and I’m proud to call him that. Tonight he earned the All American Pro Rodeo Finals bareback riding championship with an 86-point ride on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket. It marked the sixth time this year that a cowboy has won a rodeo title on the 8-year-old bay gelding. It also marked the third time in the last calendar year that Cannon has tried his hand on the outstanding bucking horse – it’s the first time the Waller, Texas, cowboy has earned a title on the animal. Cannon placed second in the 10th go-round at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo; Kaycee Feild won the round on Carr’s MGM Deuces Night. This past June, Cannon placed second with an amazing 90-point ride on Dirty Jacket; Steven Dent won the rodeo with a 91 on – yeah, you guessed it – MGM Deuces Night. So Cannon got over the hump. Good for him. A little aside: Eight days ago, I was at Cannon’s hometown rodeo, the Waller County Fair and Rodeo in Hempstead, Texas, when I learned that my father was dying. By the end of the day, Dad had passed. I got a flight out early the next morning, so I went to the first performance that Thursday night. When I saw Cannon, he asked about my dad. When I shared the news with him, Clint reached around my shoulders and hugged me, apologized for my loss and offered to do anything I needed. Thing is, he’d just given it. That gesture is just what I needed, and I’ll never forget it.

I’m listening to the final night of the All American ProRodeo Finals on ProRodeoLive.com, and thanks to Steve Kenyon’s great work, I’m able to feel as though I’m in Waco, Texas. Like a lot of tournament-style formats, there is a clean-slate semifinals featuring the top nine contestants in each event from the preliminary performances – bull riding will feature just eight cowboys, since NFR qualifier Clayton Savage is out with an injury he suffered Friday night, Kenyon reported. The top four from the semifinals then qualify for the finals, and the contestant with top ride or score will then be crowned event champion. We just witnessed a similar format two weeks ago at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb. Kenyon called the action at the River City Rodeo, and he’ll be in Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He provides you with up-to-date information and presents it in a fashion that keeps you interested and intrigued. If you’re not listening yet, you should go now. It’s worth it.

Chisholm Trail committee steps into action to bring championship to town DUNCAN, Okla. – The intent is simple: Provide high quality entertainment to its community while providing a championship home for some of the greatest athletes in this part of the country. That’s exactly what the Chisholm Trail committee is doing by hosting the 2012 Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. “When this committee first got together, we agreed to sign a one-year contract with the circuit finals, and we would also like the first right of refusal for the following three years,” said Joe Henderson, the group’s chairman. “Our intent, if it’s possible, is that we would like to give the Prairie Circuit Finals a home. “We believe that for the sponsorship, the PRCA and contestants that it’s a quality enough event and a quality enough production that not only does the community get something out of it, but also the contestants and the PRCA. We want it to be a win-win situation for everybody.” That’s quite possible, especially the way the three days of entertainment is stacking up. In addition to hosting the top 12 qualifiers from the Prairie Circuit’s regular season, the event will feature top-name regional music acts Jason Boland and the Stragglers and No Justice, both Red Dirt music bands that bring a strong Oklahoma flavor to the Expo Center. Ticket prices are set up to be attractive for rodeo fans, concert-goers and others who want to enjoy a few hours of high-quality fun: Thursday’s show is $15 for adults, $10 for children 4-10 with kids 3 and younger admitted free; the only change for the concerts is that adult tickets are $25. “We really want to make this a special deal for years to come,” Henderson said. “We wanted to keep the ticket prices in a range that everyone can enjoy the show and still get the type of entertainment they want.” That’s getting the most bangs for the entertainment dollar. Beyond that, fans will get to see the very best contestants from the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region. In the field scheduled to perform are five cowboys who represent seven world championships: two-time steer wrestling champion Dean Gorsuch of Gering, Neb.; two-time steer roping champ Rocky Patterson of Pratt, Kan.; 2008 bareback riding titlist Justin McDaniel of Porum, Okla.; 2005 all-around world champion Ryan Jarrett of Comanche, Okla.; and 2009 heeling champ Kollin VonAhn of Durant, Okla. “We know we have tremendous rodeo talent in our area, and I think the fans are going to be excited by all they’re going to get to see,” Henderson said. In addition to the gold buckle winners, there are 20 other regional stars who have played on the biggest stages in ProRodeo, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. The Prairie Circuit’s region has long been home to some of the greatest names in the sport. Names like Shoulders, Duvall, Etbauer, McBeth, Webster, West, Ward, Berry, Combs, Youree and many others are etched in ProRodeo lore. But the circuit finale has been looking for a good home. For years, it took place at the Lazy E Arena, then in Kansas City, Mo., during the American Royal. It’s been in two other locales – Park City, Kan., and Weatherford, Okla. – each of the past three seasons. And that’s where the folks with the Chisholm Trail committee came into play. “There are a bunch of us who follow rodeo and who keep up with everything that’s going on,” Henderson said. “We’d been talking about the circuit finals and that it needed to have a permanent home, and it just got to the point where we thought that instead of talking about it, we should do something about it.” The conversation turned into action fairly quickly, and the committee was formed. Since then, the group has gone about making it happen and presenting a true show to fans and providing a true championship to the contestants. “We want to provide a home for the Prairie Circuit Finals, but we’d also like this to be the largest event that’s held in Duncan every year,” Henderson said. It’s certainly possible. The format of the circuit finals means regional champions will be crowned in mid-October. Those who win the year-end titles – by earning the most money in the season through the conclusion of the finale – and those who win the average championship with the best cumulative score or time through three go-rounds will earn qualifications to the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which will take place next spring in Oklahoma City. “The concept of it being the 12 best cowboys and cowgirls out of three states in each event is outstanding,” Henderson said. “Those contestants are competing three days in a row, not coming in and moving on as is the case at most rodeos. They will be in our community for several days, eating at our restaurants and shopping in our stores. “We draw some good cowboys from this part of Oklahoma. The real difference in this rodeo is that we’re getting the best of the best out of three states. They’re going to be here, and the public is going to have the chance to see them and meet them. That’s great for our community.”

Armes, Keylon use winnings in Kansas City to qualify for their first grand finale KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Bray Armes earned $2,326 during this year’s American Royal Rodeo. He needed every bit of it. Armes, of Gruver, Texas, scooted into the 15th spot in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s steer wrestling world standings, thereby earning his first qualification to ProRodeo’s grand finale, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, set for Dec. 6-15 in Las Vegas. Like most cowboys, Armes battled all season only to sit precariously outside the qualifying mark in late September – only the top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the NFR. The American Royal’s rodeo fell on the final weekend of the 2012 campaign, and it became the focal point for the sport’s greatest stars. “That run I went on is something that’s not supposed to happen, so I have to give the credit to God for giving me my abilities,” Armes told the PRCA. “It sure was special to be able to do it like that.” Yes, it was. Armes won the steer wrestling title in Albuquerque, N.M., the weekend prior to place himself in position for the NFR. His two-week run pushed Armes into the 15th spot, just $55 ahead of Jason Miller, the 2007 world champion from Lance Creek, Wyo. “It really was an awesome year either way and to just be in the position I was, to have a chance, was crazy,” Armes said. “Jason is a good friend, but I am excited to be going, and I’m looking forward to next year, too.” Bareback rider Jared Keylon of Uniontown, Kan., used a big run the final weekend to secure his first NFR qualification, including $1,636 he earned in Kansas City. There were a few contestants who just missed the mark. Miller, for example, had an opportunity to earn that $56 that would’ve pushed him over the edge, but he failed to earn a paycheck on the season’s final day. Saddle bronc rider Luke Butterfield of Ponoka, Alberta, finished in a tie for fifth place with an 82-point ride. However, he needed an 85 or better to earn enough money to move into the top 15 past Montanan Tyrell Smith. He fell just $822 from making it to Las Vegas. Big things happened at this year’s American Royal Rodeo. It’s not the first time, so expect history to repeat itself.

DUNCAN, Okla. – The action of the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo doesn’t end when the last bull bucks inside the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center. The championship rodeo is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 20, in Duncan and will feature the top 12 contestants in each event from the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region. It’s also home to the Friday and Saturday night concerts featuring two of the top regional acts Red Dirt music. Jason Boland and the Stragglers will perform after the rodeo on Friday night, and No Justice is in concert Saturday night. It’s an electric way to close out an action-packed weekend in southern Oklahoma. “Jason Boland and the Stragglers are a fairly well known Red Dirt band, and they’re pretty well known regionally,” said Joe Henderson, chairman of the volunteer committee bringing the circuit finale to Duncan. “They have been showing up pretty regularly on our country music stations. “They teeter back and forth between the Red Dirt music and what we call country music, and they’ve been well received, especially in our area. We wanted to try to bring to our rodeo not only the person who would come to the rodeo but those who would want to come to a concert.” The idea is catching on. The Chisholm Trail committee has kept the ticket prices within range to attract rodeo-goers and concert fans all to one event – Thursday night’s performance is $15 for adults, $10 for children 4-10, and youngsters 3 and younger get in free; the Friday and Saturday that feature the post-rodeo concerts will be $25 for adults, and the children get in for the same price. “We’re hoping that people who would not normally come to the rodeo or normally would not go to a concert will have an opportunity to do both,” Henderson said. No Justice is a five-member, Stillwater, Okla.-based band featuring Steve Rice on vocals, Cody Patton on lead guitar, Jerry Payne on rhythm guitar, Justin Morris on bass guitar and Armando Lopez on drums. “No Justice has become one of the bands to go see,” Henderson said. “They are really becoming the band that’s going to make a big difference.” Boland was raised in Harrah, Okla., just east of Oklahoma City. Like most, he got into the Red Dirt scene in Stillwater, Okla., and now he’s been working at the craft ever since. He’s released several albums in the last 13 years, and his raspy voice and identifiable lyrics have been a hit with fans. For Boland, his style of music is a correlation of genres, with one significant direction. “It may fit in with some other types of music, like Americana maybe, but I’m not ready to give up on the idea that country music can be relative,” Boland said on a release from the band’s website. “And country music is what I play. “My fans are George Straight fans. They go to the dancehalls to see the shows. I know these people. They are more capable of complex thought than the country music industry thinks they are.” That’s the reach of Red Dirt music. No Justice has been a fixture on Texas radio since 2005, with 10 Top 10 singles and two chart-toppers. “We’re honored to be associated with the music of those legendary musicians from Texas and Oklahoma,” Rice, the band’s vocalist, said in a release. “We have a strong connection to our fans down there. No Justice is a diverse band that’s been inspired by a lot of different artist, and because of that, we appeal to just about anybody, from 5-year-olds to 50-year-olds, from cowboys to punk rock chicks.” Maybe that’s why it’s so appealing that the two Oklahoma-driven bands will be part of the regional rodeo weekend, where champions will be crowned and the entertainment value soars. “We’re putting together an event that we hope will attract a variety of people who want to come to the show and have a good time,” Henderson said.

Emmy Award-winner to be part of American Royal’s Hunter/Jumper Show KANSAS CITY, Mo. – To say Christopher Ewing is versatile is a bit of an understatement. He’s an actor, having performed on shows like “All My Children,” “One Life to Live” and “Kate & Allie.” He’s a spokesman, having been on more than 80 radio and television commercials as well as narrator on industrial films for top corporations. He’s a host and a producer, having been part of the Emmy Award-winning “Hang On to the Dream,” a children’s TV newsmagazine that showcases young people that are considered positive role models for other youngsters. He’s also an equestrian, which brings him to Kansas City for the American Royal’s Hunter/Jumper Show, which is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 12, to Saturday, Oct. 20, at the American Royal Complex. “I was a black kid who grew up in the city of Detroit,” said Ewing, who adds being a TV news reporter and a singer/songwriter to his resume. “It’s typically not a place where you’d find a black kid who liked horses. “Everybody had to be good at something, and mine happened to be horses. I’ve always enjoyed it, and I’ve been blessed to be part of it. I just enjoy watching horses develop and seeing them become great athletes.” Ewing will work specifically with the Mazza family of the Iron Horse Farm of Louisburg, Kan., during the competition, which begins with a preview show Oct. 12-14. The other shows are the Hunter/Jumper A Rated Show from Oct. 16-Oct. 20; the $20,000 Grand Prix at 7 p.m. Oct. 17; the $5,000 Hunter Derby at 6 p.m. Oct. 19; the Grand Prix Gala and Calcutta on Oct. 20; the $25,000 Roy A. Edwards Memorial Grand Prix at 7 p.m. Oct. 20; and the Special Children’s Horse Show on Oct. 19-20. “This year I’m coming in the capacity to train for the Mazzas,” Ewing said. “I took them to Europe last year and found an incredible hunter mare that I think will turn into one of the nicest hunters in the country.” That horse is Silhouette, a 5-year-old Hanovarian mare. “She is dark brown and breathtakingly gorgeous,” Ewing said. “Amber Mazza will be showing the horse, and I will be assisting her. They wanted me to continue to be part of the horse’s growth. “With Amber and Silhouette, it’s just like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly together.” Ewing should know. He’s been around horses all his life and has been involved in show competition for more than 30 years. In fact, he’s developed more than 100 horses into world-class athletes. He loves what he sees in the young mare. “She’s really cut from the same kind of cloth that any of my super nice horses ever have,” he said. With such a varied lifestyle, what is it about horses that drive his passion? “I love watching them develop into great athletes,” said Ewing, who now lives in Los Angeles. “I basically show all over the country, all over the world. I’ve imported over 100 horses from Europe. I find them when they’re young and bring them along and turn them into great hunters and jumpers.” In fact, one Ewing prodigy, Renaissance, was named the United States Equestrian Federation’s 2008 Horse of the Year-Regular Working Hunter. It’s an honor he holds dear to his heart and one that has him continually on the lookout for the next great athlete. “I saw him as a 3-year-old, and he was basically just saddle broke 30 days,” Ewing said of Renaissance. “He was already 17 hands tall. He had a gorgeous trot, but he was wild; he was a monster. I watched him free jump over 6 feet. I knew I’d love to turn him into a hunter, but if he couldn’t be quiet enough to be a hunter, he’d definitely be a jumper. “Fast-forward four to five years, and he just started showing this great ability to be a nice hunter, where he was quiet but could still make this huge jump.” Why is the American Royal’s show so special? Primarily, he said, it’s because of a world-class competition in a comfortable hometown feel. “Until three years ago, I’d never been to Kansas City,” Ewing said. “I work in TV and radio in my other lives, so I travel quite a bit. The first time I came here, I was impressed with the facility and the people that are involved. “It’s also a very fun horse show.”