Monthly Archives: September 2018

Bullfighters Only to be part of Charlotte Motor Speedway race-day experience CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Bullfighters Only is teaming up with Speedway Motorsports to showcase freestyle bullfighting to NASCAR fans for the first time in the sports’ history. On Sunday, Sept. 30, nine of the BFO’s top athletes will be featured at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Bank of America ROVAL 400. Three qualifying rounds of bullfights will take, with the winner of each advancing to the Hooey Championship Round at 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time. “At Charlotte Motor Speedway, we’re all about providing added value for our fans, and partners like Bullfighters Only help elevate our major event weekends to new heights,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president of Charlotte Motor Speedway. “With horsepower on display on the track and bull power in the Fan Zone, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy here at America’s Home for Racing.” The roster is highlighted by veterans Ross Hill, Toby Inman, Kris Furr and two-time reigning world champion Weston Rutkowski. The solid cast of the sport’s rising stars includes Chance Moorman, Tucker Lane and Riley McKetterick, who will all make a bid for the coveted Charlotte title. “This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Bullfighters Only and Speedway Motorsports,” said Aaron Ferguson, founder and CEO of Bullfighters Only. “BFO fits perfect with NASCAR because there’s so much crossover between the two sports and our fans. They’re both high powered and dangerous, with a good chance of seeing some big-time wrecks.” Bullfighters Only is the premier freestyle bullfighting organization in North America that features the most elite athletes in the sport. It’s a gladiator event, man vs. beast in a battle of athleticism, wit and danger. Bullfighters have 60 seconds to engage an agile and aggressive bull that was bred for this kind of fight. Each move is countered, and points tell the tale. Bouts are judged on a 100-point scale, with half the points coming from the bull’s aggressiveness, and the rest coming from the bullfighter’s ability to stay close to the bull while maneuvering around and, sometimes, over the animal. “I think it’s pretty cool that we have an opportunity to show our sport off to NASCAR fans,” said Kris Furr, the fourth-ranked bullfighter in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. Furr is from Hamptonville, N.C., right in the heart of NASCAR country. “It’s probably the best merger we can have in my opinion.” It is appropriate that BFO’s first presentation is taking place at this particular race, where for the first time, drivers will battle for Victory Lane by maneuvering around a one-of-a-kind playoff road course. “People are excited about it,” Furr said. “It’s good to come out to the East Coast and will be an opportunity for a lot of people to see BFO for the first time. Some of my family and friends will finally get to come and watch me compete.” There is no denying that Bullfighters Only has reignited mainstream interest in freestyle bullfighting, and the popularity is only growing. The Charlotte event will serve as a pilot for potential event partnerships between Bullfighters Only and Speedway Motorsports in 2019 and beyond. Speedway Motorsports Inc. is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports activities in the United States. The company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates eight first-class racing facilities in significant markets across the country. “I think that this is going to open up a bigger and broader fan base for myself and for the BFO,” Furr said. “Being part of these events, you’ve got the opportunity to draw more fans and more sponsors.” CONTESTANTS Weston Rutkowski Toby Inman Ross Hill Beau Schueth Kris Furr Justin Josey Riley McKettrick Tucker Lane Chance Moorman

the Oct. 18-20 championship. (COURTESY PHOTO)[/caption] DUNCAN, Okla. – A rod and four screws is what holds Joe Lufkin’s lower left leg together. Lufkin, the 2013 saddle bronc riding year-end champion in the Prairie Circuit, had led the region standings much of the year. He held more than a $7,000 advantage when the regular season concluded in mid-September. But he was concerned his injury would keep him from riding in the championship, the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. Would that be enough to allow Hardy Braden of Welch, Okla., or Tyrel Larsen of Weatherford, Okla., the opportunity to catch him? “I don’t have to worry about that anymore,” said Lufkin, 25, of Sallisaw, Okla. “The doctor said I should be good to ride. He said it may hurt, but unless I get stepped on, I won’t reinjure my leg by riding.” Lufkin was injured Sept. 7 in Puyallup, Wash., and surgeons there operated the next day. That metal rod is attached to his left tibia to hold the bone together. But Lufkin’s injury was a compound fracture, meaning the fibula also was broken. That’s where his concern was regarding a return to bronc riding. But doctors are confident that rod will protect both bones. “I didn’t even need a cast,” he said. “I was put in a walking boot, and they gave me crutches. I’ve been able to walk on it in the boot without the crutches.” Now he’ll have the chance to ride without them, too. That’s a good thing. Lufkin has competed strongly all season. He earned nearly $45,000 this season, with more than $17,000 coming in the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region. The key was consistency; though he had a few wins at some small rodeos, he placed at nearly every event in which he competed inside the circuit’s borders. That’s vital for success. Now he’s forced the hands of Braden and Larsen. One of them must win every round and the average in Duncan in order to catch him, and Lufkin can’t earn any money. In rodeo, dollars equal championship points, so the cowboy with the most money won at the conclusion of the season will be crowned year-end champion. “I won it in 2013, when I was on my PRCA permit,” Lufkin said. “It’s your home circuit, so winning it is great. I got to go to the (RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo), which was in Guthrie (Okla.) that year. My whole family got to go.” The year-end and circuit finals average champions earn the right to compete at the RNCFR, which now takes place each April in Kissimmee, Fla. “I placed at a lot of the bigger rodeos, like Elk City (Okla.) and Dodge City (Kan.), which helped a lot,” he said. “I won a little bit of money at every circuit rodeo I went to, so that was big.” Now he hopes to limp to the year-end championship, but not without producing a bit of a bang in Duncan to prove his broken leg won’t slow him down much. “My goal is to go in there and compete,” Lufkin said. “Duncan has been a good spot for the circuit finals. It’s a good facility, and that arena is nice. We had out high school finals there, so it’s almost like competing at home.” It’s a four-hour drive from Sallisaw to Duncan, but that’s OK. Lufkin hopes for any advantage he can get.

BELLVILLE, Texas – Every good team needs a good coach and the perfect leader on the field. The Austin County Fair and Rodeo has a very good team. The volunteer committee, which works hard all year to produce Bellville’s rodeo, works closely with award-winning announcer Boyd Polhamus through each of the three rodeo performances, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11-Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. “Boyd’s like the quarterback of our rodeo; he keeps it going,” said Dusty Kendrick, a longtime member of the rodeo committee. “The people love an announcer that’s on horseback and gets involved with the crowd. “What I like about Boyd is that he follows it like a movie script. He’s got the opening of the rodeo down to the second. Everybody knows what they’re supposed to do.” Polhamus is a four-time Announcer of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association who has announced the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 21 times in a distinguished career. This year, though, his role in Las Vegas will change; he takes over as the general manager of the NFR. That means he will oversee the production for each of the 10 rounds of ProRodeo’s grand finale. “I think he’ll be good at it,” Kendrick said. “Unless you’re involved in rodeo, you don’t really understand what he’s going to be doing. If you go out to Vegas, you realize he’s got his hands full putting on a production like that.” While the schedule in the Nevada desert is hectic for Polhamus, his focus most of the year is on being the voice of rodeos like Bellville. “What I like about Boyd is that he does his homework and knows what our fans like,” said Ricky Huff, chairman of the rodeo committee. “If something happens in the arena, he might interview a contestant. He keeps it going for us.” While in Bellville, Polhamus will work with a hard-working committee and a talented staff of personnel to make sure fans see a wonderfully produced rodeo. That includes production director John Gwatney, secretary Sandy Gwatney, video board director Dawn Petty, sound director Josh “Hambone” Hilton and Maury Tate, the owner of the livestock production company, Mo Betta Rodeo. Also in the mix will be bullfighters Dusty Tuckness and Chuck Swisher and clown Cody Sosebee. Nearly all have received PRCA honors: Tuckness is the reigning Bullfighter of the Year; Hilton won the inaugural Sound Director of the Year in 2017; Sandy Gwatney was the 2016 Secretary of the Year; and John Gwatney, Swisher and Sosebee have worked the NFR. “When people see those awards, they want to come out and see that production,” Huff said. “I think it’s great that those kinds of people are involved in our rodeo.” The production is a major part of the show. Hilton’s sound works in conjunction with Polhamus’ announcing, which is timed with the action in the arena. It’s all caught by the video board’s camera operators. “I think the crowd likes the way our rodeo is produced,” Kendrick said. “We’ve got to put on aa really good rodeo, but we’ve got a star on the stage at the fairgrounds, and he’s going to be going on, so we want our fans to enjoy a good rodeo, then be able to take in the concert. “The way John, Boyd and Hambone keep the rodeo running gives them time to get out of the stands and over to the stage for the show. I think everybody appreciates that about our rodeo. It makes us feel good that we’re putting on a good, quality production.”

DUNCAN, Okla. – For the past four months, Kylie Weast has traveled the country chasing her gold buckle dreams. She’s competed at rodeos in Arkansas and Washington and every state in between, following a family tradition that is three generations deep. As a barrel racer, she follows in the footsteps of her grandparents, Dale and Florence Youree, in showing great horses in the most profound way she can. Now she’s competing a little closer to her Comanche, Okla., home during the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. “I had never gone (on the rodeo trail) hard enough to qualify for the circuit finals before,” saidr Weast, who is the fourth member of her family to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “Obviously the circuit finals are held 20 minutes from my house. I regret not going more to qualify for them, because they are in my backyard.” She’s going now, celebrating another big milestone in a whirlwind year that has seen her earn nearly $100,000 rounding the cloverleaf barrel-racing pattern in rodeo, $23,262 in the Prairie Circuit. Now she will lead a pack of 12 ladies in the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region to the finale. In December, Weast will be part of that exclusive field at the NFR. “I needed that money from all those circuit rodeos to count for the world standings,” said Weast, who had earned $99,917 heading into the final week of the 2018 regular season, which concludes Sept. 30. “It worked out well. I’m excited to be competing in Duncan at the circuit finals. My family will get to come see me.” Her family knows the game well. Florence Youree qualified for the first NFR in 1959 and numerous subsequent championships. Weast’s mother, Renee Ward, earned an NFR bid in 1985, and older sister, Janae, was a three-time qualifier who won the world championship in 2003. Now they’ll be in attendance to see Weast run for the circuit championship. She leads the barrel racing standings and is $6,247 ahead of the No. 2 cowgirl, 2016 regional titlist Emily Miller of Weatherford, Okla. “The things I’m looking forward to is that the circuit finals pays so well, and I get to go home every night,” the Comanche cowgirl said. “I’ll also have my family and friends there, all those people that have been following me from this rural community will have a chance to see what it’s about and at a championship event. “The really cool thing is that if you win the year-end title or the average at the circuit finals, you get the chance to go to Florida. That’s a big plus. You get a chance to earn all that money that counts for next year. You also get a chance to take your family to Florida and have some fun while you are there.” The two champions from each circuit advance to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which takes place each spring in Kissimmee, Fla., just a few miles from Walt Disney World. For now, though, her focus is on finishing the circuit season strong in her backyard.

STEPHENVILLE, Texas – The cowboys have spoken: The Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo is one of the best in the country. For the fourth straight year, Stephenville’s rodeo has been nominated for Medium Rodeo of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Only five committees are up for the honor in each of four categories, so that means it is one of the top 20 out of about 700 rodeos annually. “I think we’re nominated again because of the committee we have together,” said Chad Decker, chairman of the volunteer committee that organizes the rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and Saturday, Sept. 29, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Lone Star Arena. “We have such a strong competitive spirit about us. We’ve got all sorts of people on the committee, from businessmen to past world champions to people who just love rodeo. We strive to put on a rodeo that we would like to go to and something we would like to continue to put on our books. Our committee is fully committed to working 365 days a year and making it the best Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo every year.” As one of the final rodeos of the 2018 regular season and having a large purse, Stephenville’s rodeo is an attractive stop for ProRodeo’s greatest stars as they try to secure their qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. But it’s also a hot spot because of the rodeo’s relationship with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, which has six nominations for Stock Contractor of the Year. “Last year, Ty Murray told me that, bar none, we had the rankest set of horses he’d seen in his life, much less on a Friday performance,” Decker said of Murray, a nine-time PRCA world champion and a ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee. “That’s why we have Pete Carr back year after year. We know what we do on our end to put on a rodeo is minimal to what he does every day. “Pete and his crew have the rest covered. The whole crew is such a pleasure to work with.” This weekend’s rodeo will also feature John Harrison, who will be the clown, barrelman and entertainer for all three performances of the Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo. He has been named Coors Man in the can twice and is a three-time winner of the PRCA’s Comedy Act of the Year. “We’re looking forward to having John this year,” Decker said. “I have seen him at the NFR and at the awards ceremony, and he’s winning everything but the grandstands. I’ve seen him work a couple of times, but this is the first time he’s been at our rodeo. When you hear his name and know what’s about to happen, everybody stops what they’re doing and watches his act. It’s that good.” So is the production and the outstanding bucking stock that will be part of Stephenville’s rodeo. Carr has had more animals selected to perform at the NFR over the last five years than any other stock contractor in the PRCA. Many of those animals will be inside Lone Star Arena this coming weekend. “If you don’t have Pete Carr Pro Rodeo in your Rolodex to put on your show, you’re missing out,” Decker said.

The year-end awards in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association have expanded, adding the Timer of the Year honor to this year’s ballot. Also on the ballot for the first time is Photographer of the Year, an award that has been given annually for the past 19 years; it is now decided on a vote of the membership instead of by the PRCA communications department. Congratulations to all the nominees; being a finalist is a huge accomplishment.  ANNOUNCER OF THE YEAR Andy Stewart Bob Tallman Mike Mathis Wayne Brooks Will Rasmussen DRESS ACT OF THE YEAR Bobby Kerr John Payne Haley Ganzel and Lindy Nealey Rider Kiesner Tomas Garcilazo CLOWN OF THE YEAR Cody Sosebee J.J. Harrison John Harrison Justin Rumford Keith Isley BULLFIGHTER OF THE YEAR Clay Heger Cody Emerson Cody Webster Dusty Tuckness Nathan Jestes COMEDY ACT OF THE YEAR Cody Sosebee Gizmo McCracken John Harrison Johnny Dudley Keith Isley MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Benje Bendele Chuck Lopeman Jill Franzen Loden Josh “Hambone” Hilton Mark Evans PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR Dan Hubbell Greg Westfall James Phifer Matt Cohen Robby Freeman STOCK CONTRACTING FIRM OF THE YEAR Cervi Championship Rodeo Frontier Rodeo Pete Carr Pro Rodeo Powder River Rodeo Stace Smith Pro Rodeos SECRETARY OF THE YEAR Amanda Corley-Sanders Brenda Crowder Eva Chadwick Haley Bridwell Sandy Gwatney TIMER OF THE YEAR Allison France Amy Muller Jayme Pemberton Kim Sutton Shawna Ray SMALL RODEO OF THE YEAR Claremore, Okla. Clovis, N.M. Huntsville, Texas Monte Vista, Colo. Yuma, Colo. MEDIUM RODEO OF THE YEAR Amarillo, Texas Belle Fourche, S.D. Coleman, Texas Estes Park, Colo. Stephenville, Texas LARGE INDOOR RODEO OF THE YEAR Corpus Christi, Texas Denver, Colo. Fort Worth, Texas Rapid City, S.D. San Antonio, Texas LARGE OUTDOOR RODEO OF THE YEAR Cheyenne, Wyo. Deadwood, S.D. Dodge City, Kan. Ogden, Utah Pendleton, Ore. PICKUP MAN OF THE YEAR Chase Cervi Jason Bottoms Jeremy Willis Josh Edwards Shandon Stalls Shawn Calhoun Will O’Connell

BELLVILLE, Texas – The contestants who make the Austin County Fair and Rodeo part of their schedule recognize the hard work the volunteers put in to make it a successful event. The proof came last year when the barrel racers in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association recognized Bellville’s rodeo as one of the best in Texas. They named it one of the top four in the Justin Boots Best Footing Awards in the Texas Circuit. “It’s because that committee has worked really hard,” said Tammy Fischer, a six-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Ledbetter, Texas, who is closing in on her seventh trip to Las Vegas in December. “For years, the ground has been notoriously deep, but they reworked the arena and have made it so much better. “They went the extra mile to mix in some clay with the sand, and they drag the arena after every six runs. That helps us all have a chance to win money no matter when we run.” And that’s why the women who voted selected the Austin County Fair’s rodeo as the third best in the state. Bellville finished behind Stephenville and Fort Worth, both of which are indoor facilities and don’t have to deal with the elements as much. But the women of the WPRA took notice, and they made their votes count. Many will be in Bellville for the rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11-Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Austin County Fairgrounds. “Because they put forth such great effort to fix it, it was possible to place all the way across, whether you were in slack or whether you were running on Saturday night,” said Fischer, who placed in a tie for 10th a year ago. “There was a time that you usually had to be in Bellville on the last night to get a check. The more they worked the ground and watered the ground that week, the better the ground got. “It’s the same weekend as the All American Finals in Waco, so the majority of us need to be in slack. For them to work hard and fix it is so important.” It’s also vital to kick start the 2019 rodeo season. The existing regular season will end Sept. 30, so the new campaign begins in October. With Bellville being such an early-season event, the cowgirls want to get a fast start to set up their winter run of rodeos. “It’s the beginning of the year, and everybody wants to get that early money,” she said. “You want to have a chance to be in the top three or four so you can get into San Antonio and Houston. There’s just not that many rodeos that count for the world standings, and we will enter those big winter rodeos in January, so we need every opportunity we can get.” That’s the main reason why the ladies honored the volunteers who are part of the Bellville rodeo experience. “They care,” Fischer said. “They don’t care just about barrel racing; they care about every event. Now we run from the other end of the arena, and the men’s timed events are from that end, too. It’s about making it better for everybody. You wish every committee was like that.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The success of the annual Waller County Fair and Rodeo runs equivalent to the support it receives around the southeast Texas communities within its borders. “I think the community has seen the growth and what the fair has done in the past, and they’ve followed suit,” said Dustin Standley, president of the Waller County Fair Board. “They’ve seen positive growth in the fair. When people see something positive, they are positive in support of it.” The volunteer-based exposition is one of just five county fairs in the state that is not underwritten by the county government. Every ounce of financial support – gate admission, sponsors and donations – helps the fair board toward its mission for the youth of Waller County. “The biggest part goes toward the scholarship fund,” said Susan Shollar, chairwoman of the fair’s exhibition auction. “For the past 2 years, we’ve given $80,000 a year in scholarships. In 2008, we allocated $8,000 to the scholarship fund, so it’s increased a lot in 10 years.” Yes, it has. From great food to a world-class rodeo to seven top-flight concerts, fairgoers have a host of activities and entertainment options to consider. “We have 250 sponsors, and they’re important because they cover all the expenses to put on the county fair,” Standley said. “It allows us to pay for our entertainment, our rodeo production and all the other costs that come with putting on this fair and rodeo, and that allows us to put more back into the youth of Waller County.” The youth is not just the mission for the fair board; it’s more of a meaningful thought process that each volunteer carries as they go about the tasks of preparing and producing the exposition. By having a solid base of sponsors, that financial support opens the doors for so many other opportunities. “The retention rate of our sponsors is about 95 percent, with a 20 percent increase each year,” Standley said. “We let the sponsors know that we are trying to give back to youth. We’ve built a program that’s beneficial to all of our sponsors. We attempt to pack as much of a punch to give them a bang for their dollars. We want them to see the value in partnering with us.” That partnership continues to pay off, but there are also other friends of the fair who donate to the cause. Each spring, the fair board organizes a big crawfish boil and auction – a fundraiser that allows bidders to purchase a variety of auction items. This event has grown substantially in the past few years allowing the fair to upgrade the facilities and continue to grow the scholarship fund. “We have the same group of core buyers that come to the fair in October for the exhibit auction, and they also come to the fundraiser in April and spend quite a bit of money,” Shollar said. It goes back to that foundation. Doing positive things draws positive results, especially when the end game is for the betterment of youth in the county. “There’s a whole lot of support in Waller County,” she said. “They support the fair, and they support the sports associations. They’re behind their kids in the county.” About 150 people register for the exhibit auctions every year. The key there is that the students who show the exhibits are the direct beneficiaries of the auction – all money that goes through the bidding process is directed to the exhibitor. From 2005-2017, there has been an average of 200-220 lots in the exhibit auction. “We’ve gone from $402,000 to $814,000, and that money goes straight to the kids,” Shollar said. “They get what their project sells for.” It truly is a fair for the next generation.

ALVA, Okla. – A year ago, Taylor Munsell sat in Colby, Kan., not sure which way to turn. Her grandmother, Cindy Hunter, was in the hospital and not doing well, and Munsell was set to rope the next morning at the Colby Community College Rodeo. Her family urged her to compete, and the Northwestern Oklahoma State University breakaway roper had hopes of earning a spot in the championship round to fight for the title. She finished 11th in the opening round; only 10 qualify for the short round. She packed up and headed south. “I didn’t get there in time to see my grandma before she passed,” said Munsell, a senior. “So, I came back this year wanting to win Colby for that reason.” Mission accomplished. The Arnett, Okla., cowgirl posted a 2.4-second run to win the first round, then followed it with a 2.5-second run to finish second in the short round. The average championship was dedicated to her grandmother. “She’d been battling heart issues for a long time,” Munsell said. “She was one of the bigger inspirations to my life. She was a tough lady.” So is her granddaughter, who finished second in the Central Plains Region standings last season and was part of the Northwestern women’s team to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo. After suffering two no-times in Casper, Wyo., this past June, Munsell went back to work for the third round. “I knew my odds of winning the third round were that much better,” said Munsell, who broke the arena record with a 1.8-second run. “My percentage of catching one was going up by the minute.” But her record was short-lived. The next day, Whitney DeSalvo beat it by one-tenth of a second. Meanwhile, the Munsell continued to pay close attention and take every lesson offered her in Casper. “The college finals is an awesome place and really gets you motivated,” she said. “Setting that arena record in that one round gives you a good taste of it, even if it was for just one performance. Now I’m ready to go back and win it.” She has nine more rodeos in the Central Plains season to earn her way back to the finale. She wasn’t the only Northwestern cowgirl to find some success in northwest Kansas. Bailee Prom placed in both rounds and was fourth in the average, while Ashlyn Moeder earned points by finishing fifth in the short round and average. For the men, Riley Wakefield placed in both rounds of tie-down roping and finished second overall. While heeling as a team roper, he finished sixth in the opening round while competing with Denton Halford of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Tie-down roper Jeremy Carney finished fifth in the opening round. In team roping, Levi Walter and Jayden Johnson finished second in the first round with a 6.8-second run. Although they suffered a no-time in the short round, they still placed fifth in the average. Ethan Price and Bo Youssi placed fourth in the opening round with a 7.3. Steer wrestler Bradley Ralph finished second in the average after placing in both rounds, but he wasn’t alone. Wacey Dorenkamp and Colt Madison also placed in both rounds and the average; Dorenkamp was third, while Madison was fifth. “We have a really strong team this year,” Munsell said. “It was a rocky start, but we have a lot of really talented people, so we’re going to make a strong comeback.”

DUNCAN, Okla. – Keith Isley is one of the most decorated clowns in rodeo. Now Isley will bring his brand of funny to the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. “I thoroughly enjoy watching people have a good time and enjoy what I do or what I say,” said Isley, 60, now in his 25th year in ProRodeo. “Just seeing people enjoy it and have a good time. Sometimes later in the year, you’ll get home and have some letters for you and have some pictures of you that kids have drawn. “It’s the little things that really make me feel like I’m accomplishing something.” He has accomplished much. He’s been named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown of the Year six times, the Coors Man in the Can five times, the PRCA Comedy Act of the Year six times and PRCA Specialty Act of the Year three times. For three straight years, from 2009-11, he won the funnyman’s trifecta: Clown of the Year, Coors Man in the Can and Comedy Act of the Year. Those are just a few pieces of the puzzle that makes Isley such a commodity. In addition to being one of the best funny men in the business, he also has some of the top acts in rodeo. He’ll bring it all with him when he arrives at the southern Oklahoma. “I enjoy what I do, and it’s a lot of fun when you’ve got a good crowd and a good announcer,” Isley said, noting that while in Duncan, he will work with Greg Simas, who is calling the action at the Prairie Circuit finals for the third time. “When you see people with smiles on their faces, and then people come up to you and appreciate what you do, that makes what we do a lot more worthwhile.” Isley sees a lot of smiles and has for much of his professional life. Though he was considered a class clown, being a comedian didn’t come easily. “Oh, it was natural if I knew you, but if I didn’t know you, it was really hard,” he said. “When I started the comedy, that was really hard for me to get used to because I didn’t know those people watching me.” He has since overcome his stage fright to become one of the most sought-after entertainers in the game. There’s good reason for it, too. Part of a good clown’s job is to fill any down time that could some during the event. If there’s a pause in the action, Isley knows it’s his turn to step up to the plate. “I like to play on the crowd,” he said. “I like to have fun with people that like to have fun.” It works, but Isley has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. He loves working with animals and allowing them to steal the show. When it’s all put together, it’s an award-winning showcase that reaches so many people. “I’ve undoubtedly been the most blessed man who’s ever bought a PRCA membership,” he said The fans are pretty blessed, too.

Freestyle bullfighters gain key tools through the BFO Every true athlete knows that having a good coach is instrumental to developing the skills necessary to compete. For the rising stars of Bullfighters Only, that intense training comes in the form of the BFO Development Camps. A quick look at the Pendleton Whisky World Standings reveals just how successful the D-Camps have been, with several graduates showing success including Dayton Spiel, Colt Oder, Chance Moorman, Justin Ward, Andrès Gonzalez, Riley McKetterick and more. “The camp helped me by beating the fear of going up against a Mexican fighting bull,” said Gonzalez, who attended the D-Camp in San Bernardino, Calif., in the spring of 2017. “It made me more aggressive toward the bulls and taught me techniques as far as throwing fakes and making rounds with a bull. “Mostly, though, it just helped me be more confident.” Gonzalez showcased that confidence on Labor Day weekend by winning the BFO stops at both Anaheim, Calif., and Fresno, Calif. He’s just another of the young guns who are bringing their talent to the premier freestyle bullfights in the game. Others will have those opportunities at the upcoming D-Camp in Decatur, Texas, on Oct. 26-28. “The D-Camps are so impactful; just look at the results we are producing,” said Ross Hill, a BFO pioneer who recently returned from the injured list and is one of the hottest bullfighters in the game this season. “There are no other bullfighting schools putting out bullfighters like the BFO.” Also in the top 10 in the standings are Ward and Moorman, two more bullfighters who came through this year’s D-Camps. With just two events this season under his belt, Gonzalez has moved to 20th. “It’s an intense couple of days, and you get to learn from the best, even from your own idols,” he said, noting that his camp in California was taught by Aaron Ferguson, BFO’s founder, and Lance Brittan, the 1999 Wrangler Bullfights world champion. “It makes you want to push even harder and be more intense. You want to show what you’ve got in front of those kind of guys.” Bullfighters Only also offers something normal camps don’t: It has the full backing and support of Fit N Wise Sports Medicine. The Decatur D-Camp will once again utilize the world-class facilities at Fit N Wise while demonstrating the little things that help make a bullfighter successful. “One of the key things with the camps is they learn from the best freestyle bullfighters out there,” said Keith Skates, the rodeo sports medicine coordinator for Bullfighters Only and Fit N Wise. “They get to come into our clinic, and we get to expose them to techniques and treatments they haven’t seen before.” From proper training to nutrition secrets to the types of things the athletes need to do to care for and prevent injuries, Skates and his team take a hands-on approach with the campers. “They get to work with Clif Cooper, a trainer who knows these athletes,” Skates said of Cooper, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in tie-down roping. “Clif has been with us for 18 months and is definitely a big asset to our company. “We’re going to expose them to treatment. The truth is, you’re going to be sore and hurt. So, what are you going to do to get yourself healthy? And what are you going to do to try to keep from getting injured?” It’s that type of all-encompassing training that makes the BFO D-Camps an important fixture for young talent hoping to make a living in freestyle bullfighting. “The D-Camp is for the guys that are going to the amateur freestyle bullfights and are wanting to be on the professional tour with the BFO,” Hill said. “Students learn to win at our camps, so basically it’s for the guys that want better results.”

Nebraskan battles through wild card to win Wrangler Tour stop in Lewiston LEWISTON, Idaho – Beau Schueth fought more bulls last week during the Lewiston Roundup than any other man in Bullfighters Only, and he made it pay off with the BFO Wrangler Bullfight tour victory. Schueth scored an 85-point bout in the opening round but finished second to Ross Hill, who posted an event-high 91-point fight on opening night. That sent Shueth to Friday’s wild card round, where he scored 83 points to advance to Saturday’s Hooey Championship Round. “Ross had a good, clean fight with a hot bull in the first round,” said Schueth of O’Neill, Neb. “If I hadn’t gotten hooked twice, I would’ve had a chance to be closer to Ross, but I’ll take what I got. “It means a lot to come through the wild card and win. Last year it was just two days, and I won my round, but the highest score got the rifle. I was 89 points on the first day, and Justin Josey fought (2017 BFO Bull of the Year) Sid Vicious the second day and beat me by half a point.” The Nebraskan now owns the Henry Golden Boy 30-30 rifle, and he’s happy to put it on display in his home. He also pocketed $5,500 and moved to No. 3 in the Pendleton Whisky World Standings. That’s valuable as he makes his late-season chase for the 2018 BFO world title. The key was having the right bull in the final round. Schueth matched moves with Costa Fighting Bulls’ Portuguese Power for 86 points, edging Hill’s 83 and Josey’s 80 to win the championship. “That was my third time fighting Portuguese Power,” Schueth said. “I would have been happy with any of those bulls, but it was good to see him. I knew I’d really have to push on him and keep him going. That bull really fired, and we got it pretty close to the chute. “I’ve been drawing older, smarter bulls that have made me work for it. To put a complete fight together meant a lot and pumped me up.” His second win of the season came with the appreciation of a packed crowd in Lewiston. Fans have grown fond of the shows that BFO produces. The revolutionary group hosted a successful stand-alone event there in 2017, and the bullfights have been part of the community’s rodeo since 2016. “Anything with Bullfighters Only is great,” said Kirby Meshishnek, one of the directors for the Lewiston Roundup. “In the three years we’ve had the BFO, we’ve never had a bad night. The crowd loves it. “BFO adds a different type of Western excitement; it’s an action sport. It brings a different audience to the rodeo. It brings your wild and reckless group, not just your average rancher that loves rodeo.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – Much of Cody Sosebee’s life has changed in the last year. This past December, he worked the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the first time in his career. A couple of months ago, he became engaged to Tonya Baumgartner, and now he’s planning a wedding. At least he’s supposed to be helping with it, anyway. But that won’t deter him from his inaugural trip to the Austin County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11-Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. This is an area where people know rodeo and know what it means to be a cowboy. He knows cowboy. He’s been one all his life. He may not wear the hat as often, but he understands the Western lifestyle and what rodeo means to a region. Before he began clowning, Sosebee rode bareback horses and has been around rodeo as long as he can remember. That’s why his selection to work the barrel at the NFR meant so much to him. “I am very humbled by it, because I automatically thought of the guys who had come before me who had never been selected to work the finals,” he said. “There’s no way to describe it, because the guys voted for it. I can take that with me forever. “It 10 times everything for me. It was 10 times more work than I thought. It was 10 times more fun than I thought. I just tried to soak it all up. I knew I was getting to do something special.” Sosebee is bigger than most rodeo clowns, and his raw athleticism shows through the extra cushions his body allows. His acts just accentuate it all into one funny package. “Having the ability to laugh at myself is probably my biggest strength,” he said. “I don’t take anything too serious. When I’m watching a comedian, the funniest thing I see is when they’re honestly open and having a good time.” Most importantly, he wants the fans to have a good time. “I think I bring a sense of energy to an event, and I try to bring a new level of energy,” he said. “I try to bring a high level of energy to your show. I think rodeo competes with other extreme sports, and I think we’re in a class of entertainment like those. “When people come to an event, they want to see the level of high energy for the entire two hours they’re there, and that’s what I want to give them.”

Ross Hill victorious at two Washington Wrangler Bullfight Tour stops LEWISTON, Idaho – Ross Hill’s comeback is complete. The Bullfighters Only veteran suffered a devastating knee injury in 2016 that took him out of competition for a year and a half. He returned in July, then promptly won the BFO Wrangler Bullfight Tour stop at California Rodeo Salinas. He’s competed in three Wrangler Bullfight Tour stops since then, and he’s found his way to Victory Lane in all three rounds. He picked up the Round 1 win with 91 points at the Lewiston Roundup on Wednesday and overall titles in both Kennewick and Ellensburg. He will compete for the Lewiston title on Saturday night. “I was so ready to fight again that the success is just happening,” said Hill, 35 of Muscle Shoals, Ala. “I thrive on being the best I can be and beating my bulls. Last night and Ellensburg were just perfect bulls for high-scoring fights.” Last Friday night, Hill earned the Ellensburg title with an agile 86.5-point fight, showing the packed crowd that his knee injury is well behind him. The weekend before in Kennewick, he posted a 77-point score, tying Justin Ward, but Hill earned the title on the tie-breaker with the highest bullfighter score. “The top of the standings is where everyone wants to be, of course,” he said. “I’m climbing the ladder as fast as possible; I’m just beating my bulls.” The “Alabama Slamma’” has certainly been on a roll. He has now pocketed more than $10,000 and has moved into the top 10 in the Pendleton Whisky World Standings. “My goals are the same,” Hill said. “I have a clear, concise vision, and I’m running for it daily and living a dream.” His recent success on the BFO Wrangler Bullfight Tour is all part of his plan to compete at the BFO Las Vegas Championship, held Dec. 6-15 at Tropicana Las Vegas. It’s BFO’s pinnacle event and features the biggest prize money in the game. “I’m so excited about Vegas, but right now Lewiston is in my sights,” he said. “I have to keep my focus on one bull at a time.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – “The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of Texas.” It’s more than the lyrics to a classic Texas song, especially for the organizers of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, which has three rodeo performances set for Thursday, Oct. 4-Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Waller. “We work very hard with all aspects of our rodeo to make sure we are drawing the top talent,” said Clint Sciba, chairman of the volunteer rodeo committee. “We introduced our eliminator events a few years ago, and they’ve been a big hit, not only for the people who enjoy our fair and rodeo but for the contestants that come to compete.” The Tie-Down Roping Eliminator is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, and will feature four world champions – Tuf Cooper, Shane Hanchey, Marty Yates and Caleb Smidt – as part of it’s eight-man field. Also in the mix are NFR qualifiers Sterling Smith, Blane Cox, Cade Swor and Cory Solomon, the last of whom is from Waller County. The Team Roping Eliminator will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, and will feature eight teams, including world champions Joe Beaver, Jade Corkill, Chad Masters and Junior Nogueira. In each event, the slowest time in each round is eliminated. As rounds continue, the field dwindles down until a champion is crowned. Those aren’t the only special features to the well-recognized rodeo; it also features a special prize given to the all-around champion, who will be awarded a custom-made rifle. But what may be the biggest incentive to cowboys might be the purse. The fair and rodeo includes $5,000 in “added” money in each event, meaning local dollars are added to the entry fees to make up the purse. Money doesn’t just help the contestants pay bills and stay on the rodeo trail, dollars equal championship points. That makes money earned go even further. The top 15 on the money list in each event at the end of each regular season advance to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. The contestant in each event with the most money won in that season will be crowned world champion. “I came here before it was PRCA sanctioned,” said Sterling Crawley, a four-time NFR qualifier in saddle bronc riding. “When I was in high school, I came here. It’s always been fun. The atmosphere has always been good here, and it’s just gotten better. It’s not far from home, and the horses are usually good, so we want to be sure to compete in Hempstead.” He and his older brother, Jacobs, have found success at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo more often than not. While Sterling lives in Stephenville, Jacobs lives in Boerne. For both, it’s an easy drive for a chance at good money riding Pete Carr Pro Rodeo bucking horses. “This is a great rodeo; I love Waller County,” said Jacobs Crawley, the 2015 world champion saddle bronc rider. “It’s got a good turnout, and they’re trying to make it a better event every year. I’m just a fan. “If the environment’s right, it makes you want it that much more, and that environment is right here. You have a great dance, a great hospitality, and Pete Carr brings great bucking horses.” Carr has been recognized as one of the elite livestock producers in the game. He’s been nominated five times for PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year, and he’s been associated with the Hempstead rodeo since it has been part of ProRodeo. Over the last five years, no other contractor has had more animals selected to perform at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. That big for the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. The animal athletes that in Carr’s herd are attractive to the top cowboys who play the game. Of course, Hempstead’s rodeo is one of the first of the new year. The 2018 regular season concludes the end of September, so cowboys and cowgirls hoping to kick off a solid 2019 campaign make their way to southeast Texas the first weekend in October every year.” “It’s a little tough to start on something new before you finish what you’ve started,” said bareback rider Steven Dent, an eight-time NFR qualifier from Mullen, Neb. “It feels good to get a good start. This is a good rodeo.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – There is a special feeling that happens in the arena at the Austin County Fairgrounds. There are many adjectives that describe the aura that surrounds one of the best rodeos in southeast Texas each fall, but the cowboys say it best. “It’s like one of those small-town football games where the whole town comes out and packs it out,” said Jacob Talley, the 2017 Austin County Fair and Rodeo steer wrestling champion from Keatchie, La. “This is my first time, but it’s a good rodeo.” Look for Talley to return to Bellville during this year’s rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11-Saturday, Oct. 13. He will be among dozens Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers who will be part of the world-class event. For years, Bellville’s rodeo was one of the best-kept secrets in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, but word is spreading. Now there are people talking about why the event could be in the mix for the PRCA’s Medium Rodeo of the Year. “I think it’s because of the growth it has shown over the past few years,” said John Gwatney, the event’s chute boss from Marquez, Texas. “How do you make one of the best county fair rodeos better? You add to it. “They’ve got the best personnel in rodeo: Dusty Tuckness, Cody Sosebee, Boyd Polhamus, Sandy Gwatney and Josh ‘Hambone’ Hilton. They’re all award-winners or have been recognized as the best in their area of expertise.” That’s true. Tuckness is the reigning eight-time PRCA Bullfighter of the Year; Polhamus is a four-time Announcer of the Year; Sandy Gwatney is the 2016 Secretary of the Year; Hilton won the inaugural Music Director of the Year in 2017; and Sosebee was the barrelman at last year’s NFR – he will be the featured clown/barrelman in Bellville this October. “That rodeo wants to be the best, so they hire the best,” John Gwatney said. “That’s the commitment they’ve made over the last few years. They’ve also increased the prize money, and they have steer roping there, which a lot of rodeos don’t have. It adds to what they want to do to have a professional rodeo in Bellville.” It’s also one of the first rodeos for the 2019 season, so it’s an important stop for contestants to kick start their chances of having a successful campaign just two weeks after the existing regular season concludes. “This is a good setup, and the crowd is really good,” said Audy Reed, last year’s bronc riding champion who went on to compete at the NFR for the first time. “You have great hospitality, plus, it’s in Texas, and you can’t beat that.” Southeast Texas is beautiful in October, with mild temperatures and a chance to be part of a community event. That and the $4,000 in committee money that’s added to the purse in each even are drawing cards for rodeo’s greatest starts. “We draw top contestants for a lot of reasons, but part of it is because it’s one of the first rodeos of the new season,” John Gwatney said. “A guy can win a big piece of money there and set him up for next season.” But it goes beyond that. The hard-working committee is made up of volunteers who donate their time and their resources to make the Austin County Fair’s rodeo a big deal, not only to the local fans but also to the contestants that compete for a living. “One of the biggest things I’ve seen in my time is that they redesigned the arena to make it better for the cowboys and the livestock,” John Gwatney said. “They want to make it better, and they work hard to make it better. “They used to worry about losing part of the crowd to Friday night football, but they don’t anymore. It’s that good of a rodeo. The school schedules away games on that Friday night, so it just helps the county fair.” It’s a community that comes together for a common cause, and it reflects in the showcase that is Bellville’s rodeo. “In the past, I never missed it,” said Richard Durham, a two-time NFR qualifier in team roping-heeling. “It’s just a great rodeo. The committee is great, and it’s a great setup.” And that’s why there’s a buzz about the Austin County Fair’s rodeo being one of the best events in ProRodeo.