Monthly Archives: June 2019

GUNNISON, Colo. – The sentiment “Back by Popular Demand” may be cliché, but it’s also fitting for the return of Ken Stonecipher and the Wooden Nickel Band to Gunnison for Cattlemen’s Days. “When we brought Ken and the band to town last year, we quickly realized that we wanted them back this year,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “We had so many people telling us how much they liked the band and how much fun both nights were, so it was a no-brainer.” Cattlemen’s Days will run from Friday, July 5-Sunday, July 14, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. The band will perform after the Friday and Saturday rodeo performances – at Wapiti Ridge Saloon on July 12 and at Garlic Mike’s after the final night of the rodeo. “We’re excited to be coming back Gunnison and to be in town for the rodeo,” said Stonecipher, who has led the band for nearly 20 years. “It was such a great experience to be there last year, and it’s really an honor to be invited back. “The crowds were great, and we really like the environment.” He considers the band’s sound dancehall music, a variety of cover songs that most have heard and that will entice those that enjoy dancing. “The first filter on what we play is songs that I like,” he said. “There are a lot of good songs out there that aren’t good for dancing. They’re good to listen to in a concert. “I grew up in dancehalls, so I have an ear for that kind of music, stuff that is a good two-step and is a good waltz. That’s how we put our set list together. We try to have something for everybody, from Hank Williams Sr. to the Turnpike Troubadours. We try to have something people can enjoy.” That’s the epitome of dancehall music. “We try to play your favorite, but we’ll dang sure play music you can dance to,” Stonecipher said. “We play to have fun, but we want the people that are dancing to have fun, too.” The Wooden Nickel band has been transformed over the years. After playing and singing primarily in church services, he and another musician would play acoustically. The duo then added a bassist, then a drummer. Now it’s a five-piece band with all the fixings. Only Stonecipher remains from the original band, but he’s added the flavor of professional musicians who enjoy the opportunity to play their brand of music. They average between 20-30 shows a year, depending on his work schedule and when he might be announcing rodeos across the Midwest. “We have a variety of old and new, and we put it all together,” Stonecipher said. “I’m a rodeo guy, so I think I understand rodeo crowds. They don’t call music classic because it’s old; they call it classic because it’s good.” And that’s just what people in Gunnison will get on the final weekend of Cattlemen’s Days.

BFO Southern Classic to host top bullfighters chasing big money GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Ross Hill’s passion for freestyle bullfighting was grown organically; his childhood revolved around watching iconic bullfighters and legendary bulls at Harper & Morgan rodeos across the southern United States. Hill, now in his late 30s, is a world-renowned bullfighter and will compete in the Bullfighters Only Southern Classic presented by Franklin County Livestock, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28-Saturday, June 29, at the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center in Gainesville. “Being close to home is the perfect spot. A lot of my fans are in the area and want to come to that,” he said. “It’s also the largest purse event we have east of the Mississippi, and I’d like to be the first to take that home. Them boys are in my territory now.” He’s right about the purse, which will pay out more than $30,000 over the two days of freestyle bullfighting – a true man-vs.-beast, gladiator sport that pits athletic men against aggressive and agile Spanish fighting bulls that were bred for this type of fight. In fact, the Gainesville purse will be the largest of the summer run. “I’ve been really focused on the BFO Development Camps and the instruction with all those,” said Hill, from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. “I took a bit of a break, started training myself. I’m ready to get back at it.” Chad Ellison of nearby Carnesville, Georgia, will provide the bulls for the event, featuring the BFO’s top 25 men. Fifteen athletes will be part of Friday’s Qualifier Round, with five winners advancing to Saturday’s performance to match their skills with the top 10 bullfighters in the game. Saturday’s performance will feature five three-man brackets, with the winner of each advancing to the Hooey Championship Round. Once there, the top score will claim the victory and the biggest paycheck. “I’ve got 80 bulls that all came out of California, and we’ve got a lot of young bulls that have a lot of potential,” said Ellison, who will have 35 bulls in Gainesville. “We’re still trying to figure out what we’ve got, but we have some serious talent on the bull side.” That’s important, because half the score is based on the bull and his willingness to stay in the fight. With scores on the 100-point scale, bulls account for up to 50 points. The bullfighters will earn their share of the points based on their ability to move around and over the bull. Ellison takes great pride in having quality animals that will help the bullfighters score big points. “We don’t want anybody to get hurt,” he said. “We want to make it really cool for the crowd. From time to time, you want to see a guy get hooked, because people come to see a wreck, but we want the bull to be honest and help guys be in the high 80s or low 90s.” Scores like that mean great fights, and each move in the arena is thrilling for those in the stands. The bullfighters like it too; rookies and veterans alike. “’This is my first big spot, so I’ve got to earn my place and show them that I’m going to be here for a while and show that I can run with the top guys,” said Dekevis Jordan, a 20-year-old bullfighter from Madill, Oklahoma, who just went through the Development Camp system earlier this month. “I can’t wait. I have the same dreams as the rest of the guys. I’m going to accomplish mine. I want to make it to Vegas in December.” His confidence is high, but it takes that type of bravado to step into the arena with a beast intent on destruction. But the brotherhood in the BFO has been the best part of Jordan’s experience with the best bullfighters in the world. “It’s a family, and everybody has your back,” he said. “You help everybody out, and nobody bumps heads. Somebody else can win, and we’re going to be on the side rooting for them.” Having the best in the business showcase their talents with his bulls has been a win-win for Ellison, who just returned to the stock contracting game earlier this year because of his involvement with the BFO. “I think the BFO really helps the bullfighters out, but it’s also a lot better for the guys that have bulls,” he said. “I think the sport is headed the right way, where the bullfighters get the credit they deserve for the talent they have. “The talent the BFO has is like no other, and the money these guys can win is amazing. It pays good for me, and the guys are really good to work with. It’s a top-notch professional outfit all the way around.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – People in southeast New Mexico can’t get enough of Cody Sosebee. The celebrated clown will return to this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7-Saturday, Aug. 10, at Jake McClure Arena; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 6. “He’s really good with the crowd,” said Trey Kerby, chairman of the rodeo committee on the Lea County Fair Board. “We try to have a specialty act every year, so that allows him to engage with the crowd. He’s all around the arena, and he’s fun to be around. “He’s about as normal a person as you can get and has a heck of a sense of humor.” That’s why Sosebee will be back in Lovington this August, to share his humor, antics and personality with the large crowds that pack the arena. “There are a lot of cowboys that come to that rodeo from the ranches and the farms,” Sosebee said. 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. He also is good friends with longtime Lovington rodeo announcer Andy Stewart, and their rapport is evident. “I like how well Cody works with Andy,” Kerby said. “They’re pretty flawless together.” Much of his humor comes from his size: 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.” His work in the arena hasn’t been unnoticed. He was named the Comedy Act of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association last year and has been nominated for that award and Clown of the Year for many years. In 2017, he was selected to work the National Finals Rodeo. “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.” His biggest attribute, though, is that 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,” Sosebee 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.”

EAGLE, Colo. – The crisp mountain air in this beautiful community makes for the perfect summertime escape for many. It’s also a great place to be for rodeo contestants the final week of July, because they know it’s a refreshing break from the heat of the season and the chance to rope big bucks at the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24-Saturday, July 27, at Johnette Phillips Arena on the Eagle County Fairgrounds. But it’s not just the animals that love the atmosphere in Eagle; the great bucking animals from the Texas-based livestock firm of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo love it, too. It’s the arena that features one of the world-record, 94-point bareback rides; Ryan Gray rode Carr’s Grass Dancer a decade ago to share the mark. It’s not the only 90-plus-point ride that’s occurred inside Johnette Phillips Arena. In fact, 90s have been a common occurrence in Eagle. “Pete has a bunch of great horses,” said Bill Tutor, who scored 90.5 points on Carr’s Bright Lights to win the bareback riding title a year ago. “It doesn’t matter how big the rodeo is; if it’s one of Pete Carr’s rodeos, you know you’re going to get on something that you want to get on. “All those horses are awesome in their own way and are fun to get on.” Tutor is a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has seen his share of high-marked rides in Eagle. That’s a big reason why he will return. Pete Carr credits it to the change in temperatures from a run of Texas rodeos to their permanent stay at the Carr ranch in east Texas. “Eagle is a pretty special place, even if we’re just talking about the atmosphere,” said Pete Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo. “The animals just love the weather there.  It’s really great for us as well when you figure we’re a Texas livestock company. Getting to go to Eagle in July from this kind of heat in Texas is a nice change for the horses and bulls.” The cowboys know they have a good chance to win on any animal, and that’s another key factor in why they put the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo on their schedules. “Pete Carr has a lot of good bucking horses, and they all dang sure bucked out there,” said Will Lowe, a three-time world champion bareback rider. Casey Colletti is a three-time NFR qualifier from Pueblo, Colorado, and he has had a great history in Eagle County over the years. “It’s awesome for a lot of reasons, but partly because it’s Colorado,” Colletti said of Eagle. “It’s beautiful there. It’s by the river; it’s in the mountains. It’s Colorado in July. “Those animals get out of the hot Texas heat, and they get in the mountains and that cool air, and it makes them feel better. When they feel that good, they show it. That’s pretty cool.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Tomas Garcilazo is quite proud of who he is, from his upbringing in Mexico City to being a citizen of the United States. He combines it all in one of the greatest acts in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In fact, Garcilazo was recognized as the PRCA’s Dress Act of the Year last year and also in 2007, 2012 and ’13, and he will be part of the action at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 5, at Roundup Arena. Garcilazo is a charro and carries on the family heritage of La Charreria, a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican charro. As did his elders, Garcilazo takes pride in his horsemanship and roping skills, which will be on display during each of the three Stampede performances. “We want to bring the best acts to Dodge City Roundup than we can, and what a better way to do it than bringing in the Act of the Year,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the volunteer committee that produces the ProRodeo Hall of Fame event. “We have a large Hispanic community. “Tomas fits that very well. His act is phenomenal, and I know the people who come to our rodeo will love what they see. We believe there are some people in southwest Kansas that would love to come to our rodeo just to see Tomas.” Garcilazo is one of two featured entertainers that will be a big part of this year’s Claremore rodeo, joining funnyman “Backflip” Johnny Dudley, who has been nominated for PRCA Clown of the Year, Comedy Act of the Year and also was a finalist to be the barrelman at the 2018 National Finals Rodeo. “When you bring someone to provide a treat, it’s nice because you contribute something to the community,” said Garcilazo, who has been selected to perform the opening act at the NFR a dozen times. “It’s going to bring more people together.” Rodeo is more than a competition. The stampede will feature the very best in the sport, from numerous world champions in every event to the very best animal athletes in the game. But it’s also an action-packed couple of hours of entertainment. To help make a rodeo even more entertaining, specialty acts provide theatrics to the competition. Garcilazo is the best at what he does. “It’s an honor because specialty acts are so competitive,” he said. “I’m very flattered that what I do as a charro and representing my culture and my tradition with my horses and myself has been recognized with those contractors, committees and contestants that are part of the PRCA. “I emphasize the tradition a lot. The heritage is very strong. For me, it is big that those are being carried on in modern day and that it is a privilege for me to keep up with this way of life. Cattle, horses and roping were all involved in my childhood.” Those lessons learned decades ago are still vibrant in his mind. That’s why he continues to entertain and show the world his talents. “On my mother’s side, they are all churros,” Garcilazo said. “I grew up competing all my life. I picked my skill with a rope and had a vision to develop this with the horses. “It’s a way of developing my dream. My rope, as a child, was a toy. Now I develop the artistry with a rope in such an extensive way. It takes time, effort, patience and the (willingness to) develop all the desires to succeed in horse and roping skills.” It is Garcilazo’s passion to share his talent – and his heritage – with the world. “Being in the entertainment business, you get to see the different traditions and different people from different personalities,” he said. “When you develop something with passion with your heart and express this on stage, it shows. When I see a performer, when they do these with their heart, it shows right away. I have a lot of passion for what I do, and I hope everyone sees that.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – One thing members of the Cattlemen’s Days committee understand is that people in the community want to see the best. That’s why the committee has gone above and beyond to make sure that happens during the annual PRCA rodeo, set for Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. “We’ve considered the options of what we can do to bring more cowboys and cowgirls to our rodeo,” said Kevin Coblentz, the volunteer committee’s president. “We try to have as much hospitality as possible, we offer bonuses for our performance winners and we just try to treat them with the respect they deserve.” Rodeo contestants travel tens of thousands a mile a year to make a living. In addition to the expenses that come with that type of schedule, they must pay entry fees in order to compete. The only way the make any money at a rodeo is to beat most of the others in the field. “The rodeo life can be a lot of fun, but there’s a lot that goes into it,” Coblentz said. “You have independence and get to travel. If you’re good enough, you can make a living, but it takes a lot of work to get to that point. There aren’t that many that actually qualify for the NFR.” The National Finals Rodeo is the sport’s grand finale that takes place at Las Vegas in December, but only the top 15 contestants on the money list at the end of the season in each event advance. That’s why rodeos with bigger purses provide more incentive. Count Cattlemen’s Days in that category, and this year, the committee has taken that up a notch. The contestants’ entry fees are mixed with what rodeo insiders call “added money,” locally provided dollars that help make up the total purse. “We decided to up our added money to $5,000 in each event and in both heading and heeling in the team roping,” Coblentz said. “We wanted to offer as much of an incentive for these cowboys to come to Gunnison. If they’ve been here before, we want them back. If they haven’t, we want them to see what our rodeo and our community is about. “We’re very proud of what we have here, and we hope the cowboys who come will understand why.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Craig Wisehart has been to Gunnison’s Cattlemen’s Days several times over his career. He knows the PRCA rodeo’s history and its Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign. When he arrived in this beautiful mountain community last July, he realized the opening night was the much-celebrated pink night. Then he learned about the bonus paid out to the best scores and best times in each event for those wearing pink. “My buddy, Tyler Ferguson, told me there was a pretty good bonus for wearing a pink tonight,” said Wisehart, who lives in Stephenville, Texas, but still calls Kersey, Colorado, home. “I told him, ‘I was silly and left all my pink shirts in Texas.’ He told me there was a Tough Enough to Wear Pink booth on the other side of the arena and to get one. “I ran over there, and they fit me with one, and here we are.” Adorned with the pink attire with a Gunnison logo, he matched moves with Stace Smith’s Kicking Feathers for 85 points to claim the bonus. Any competitor who competes and wears pink attire on this year’s pink night – set for Thursday, July 11, at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison – is eligible for a share of the $15,000 bonus provided by Wrangler and local sponsors through the Cattlemen’s Days Tough Enough to Wear Pink program. It breaks down to $1,875 per discipline. “For years, our thoughts as the Cattlemen’s Days committee has been to always be willing to give to our contestants, whether it’s providing our time to help, giving them hay, making sure our hospitality is top notch or doing anything they might need,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the volunteer committee that produces the rodeo. “This is another great thing that is available to our contestants on the first performance of our rodeo, and I think it’s great for the cowboys and cowgirls who come to Gunnison. We want them to leave here knowing they are appreciated by us.” Many contestants that didn’t know before are learning about that giving nature. Those that arrive for the July 11 performance take note of the awesome pink setting around the rodeo arena. “We love to see the contestants that compete that night wearing pink,” Coblentz said. “We know it’s not always feasible for them because they’re on the road so much, but it’s always nice to see them supporting the pink night we have and for all the rodeos that do something special in support of the fight against cancer.”

Four of the eight 2018 winners, including a world champ, earned NFR bids ESTES PARK, Colo. – Rooftop Rodeo has always been an important stop for the top cowboys and cowgirls in ProRodeo. Whether it’s the mountain beauty of Estes Park or the big money up for grabs, it’s the perfect setting for those that make their living playing the game they love. Hundreds of them will return for this year’s event, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena in Estes Park inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. Of the eight champions from the 2018 Rooftop Rodeo, half utilized the money won in this Colorado resort town to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that features only the top 15 money-earners in each event. “We pride ourselves on being a place the contestants want to come to every summer,” said Mark Purdy, chairman of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. “To see that so many of our champions went on to the NFR shows the caliber of contestants we attract here. “One of our winners was Caleb Smidt, who went on to win the world title. Another was Will Lummus, who was in the hunt for the championship until the ninth round of the NFR. I know we’re excited to see cowboys like that back here.” Lummus, in fact, set a Rooftop Rodeo record with a 3.2-second run to win the second round and the overall title. It was one of the catalysts to his first qualification to ProRodeo’s finale. “That was the fastest steer I’ve ever thrown,” said Lummus of West Point, Miss. “(In 2017), I was 4.5 on both steers and didn’t win anything. I like Estes Park. It’s an awesome place to be. They have always had good steers, and just the environment … “I’m from Mississippi, and we don’t have mountains. Everywhere you go around here, the scenery is beautiful. There are great cattle, a great committee; this is a great place to have a rodeo with great fans. It’s a wonderful place to be.” The $4,526 he pocketed was pretty wonderful, too. Rodeo is a unique sport; not only do dollars help pay bills and cover expenses with traveling across the country, but they also serve as championship points. The contestants with the most money won in each event are crowned world champions. Others Rooftop Rodeo champions who made it to Las Vegas last December were team roping header Tyler Wade, who pocketed $4,440 in Estes Park, and saddle bronc rider Brody Cress, who earned a little more than $7,000. “I love it over here,” Wade said. “The mountains are awesome. There are a lot of committees that don’t take care of their contestants quite as good as I think they should, but they do here. We appreciate every bit of it.”

Rooftop Rodeo offers patrons the chance at a Gold Buckle Experience ESTES PARK, Colo. – The most honored prize in rodeo is a world champion’s gold buckle. It’s the wearable trophy the epitomizes many hours of hard work, tens of thousands of miles driven and excellence in the arena in a given year. It’s a celebration, too, which is one of the reasons behind the newly dubbed Gold Buckle Experience at this year’s Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena in Estes Park inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. This is the reincarnation of the VIP Experience for the annual rodeo, with a jazzed-up name to go along with the type of offerings available to those that wish to be part of it. “The Gold Buckle Experience is going to allow people and our VIPs to enjoy our rodeo in a special way” said Mark Purdy, chairman of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. “The town of Estes Park really opened up something great for our rodeo with the additions they did last year, and it’s going to be the same type of atmosphere with a great name.” The Gold Buckle Experience allows patrons a tour of the rodeo grounds before the show, access to the exclusive VIP patio at the west gate, dinner in the hospitality area, drinks and the opportunity to utilize the padded seats in the grandstands. “We sell our Gold Buckle Experience tickets at $100 apiece, and those people will have a permanent host for the evening,” said Rob Hinkle, the community services director for the town of Estes Park. “This year in the Gold Buckle area, we have a stage that we will be able to convert into an elevated viewing area with its own bar. “By doing this, it allows us to put this really nice viewing platform in position, which we hope will enhance the experience for those patrons.” Over the years, Rooftop Rodeo has been recognized as one of the premier stops in rodeo. Much of it has to do with the picturesque setting of Estes Park, but it also has to do with the hospitality provided and the nature of the competition. Cowboys and cowgirls have marveled at the fans who make their Rooftop Rodeo experience even better. That’s why the event has been named Rodeo of the Year six time. “What we love about our rodeo is that it’s the highest altitude of any rodeo in the country, and it offers a beautiful setting,” Purdy said. “This community welcomes our visitors, and that hospitality rings true to the cowboys and cowgirls that come to our town to compete.”

Alpha Bull, Bullfighters Only increasing exposure of freestyle bullfighting CALGARY, Alberta – Bullfighters Only founder Aaron Ferguson and Alpha Bull founder Chad Besplug grew up just 45 minutes from one another in the foothills of southern Alberta. Their professional careers have followed eerily similar paths – Ferguson as a bullfighter, Besplug as a bull rider. Besplug is a two-time Canadian champion, and Ferguson was selected twice to fight bulls at the National Finals Rodeo. At the completion of their rodeo careers in 2015, both were at the top of their game. Now, they have proven that their unique abilities translate outside of the arena as well. Ferguson’s Bullfighters Only and Besplug’s Alpha Bull are known for producing world-class events, and they’ve teamed up for four consecutive years to bring bullfighting to Canadian fans. “We grew up in the same part of Alberta, but didn’t really know each other that well until we founded our companies,” Ferguson said. “Using Chad’s events as a platform, we put our efforts together to bring freestyle bullfighting up to Canada. It’s growing fast and producing some great athletes.” Proof comes via Aaron Mercer, the first-ever Canadian to occupy the No. 1 spot in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. He got his start through BFO Canada competitions and has been dominating events across North America, with four wins and two runner-up finishes in the last month and a half. “It’s insane that he’s gotten to the top so fast and great to have a Canadian on top of the standings,” Besplug said. “He was virtually unknown at this time last year. I’ve watched the top guys and gotten to be friends with some of those guys. What has impressed me is how hard they work.” BFO and Alpha Bull have produced more than a dozen events so far, and the growth continues to be rapid. That’s a good thing for Canadian bullfighters and even U.S. stars willing to test their skills north of the border. “Freestyle bullfighting is a whole new avenue for fans in Canada,” said Weston Rutkowski, the three-time reigning BFO world champion. “It brings a different excitement to the events. Chad puts on great events, and they’re very entertaining from the get-go.” The only downfall has been the lack of quality fighting bull contractors in Canada. That’s why Alpha Bull and Bullfighters Only have reached out to Oregon stock contractor Trevor Hamsher to haul his top-flight animals to BFO Canada events. “With this change, fans will get to experience the level of excitement that has become synonymous with BFO,” Ferguson said. “Bringing in an experienced contractor with quality bulls is imperative to the sport’s continued growth as it allows the athletes to showcase their true capabilities.” Fans are pushing for the market to expand, which is why Besplug and Ferguson are working together to make it happen. More events are already on the 2019 schedule than ever before, and both Alpha Bull and the BFO are looking to increase that again next year. “As a pure man-vs.-beast sport, it’s tough to compare it to anything else; the excitement is insane,” Besplug said. “I’ve seen lots of bad wrecks and lots of action in bull riding, but watching someone like Weston going against the best bulls in the world just puts you on the edge of your seat, and it’s pretty intense.” BFO and Alpha Bull will be a major aspect of the Calgary Stampede’s Bulls After Dark, which will take place Friday, July 12-Saturday, July 13, at the Nutrien Western Events Centre at the Calgary Stampede.

Munsell, Anderson claim intercollegiate crowns at CNFR ALVA, Okla. – Reaching the pinnacle of one’s sport is the dream of every athlete. Taylor Munsell and Bridger Anderson have done that for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team. They added just the second and third national rodeo championships in the school’s history, and they did it in dominating fashion at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. “Winning the national title is pretty cool,” said Anderson, a sophomore steer wrestler from Carrington, North Dakota, who knocked four steers to the ground in a cumulative time of 19.1 seconds. “We knew that my teammates and I had a good chance of winning a national title. It was pretty exciting that Taylor and I were able to walk away with it. “You can’t complain about bringing two more titles home to Northwestern Oklahoma State University.” Munsell, a senior breakaway roper from Arnett, Oklahoma, finished with a four-run cumulative time of 10.5 seconds. Like Anderson, she shared the first-round win with a blazing 2.1-second run. She followed that with a 2.3-second run, which was good enough for a tie for second place in the second round. “I have to credit much of my success to that horse,” Munsell said of Monster, a 13-year-old bay gelding. “There are not a lot of horses that will let you be 2.1 and 2.3, then let you track two down, swing a rope over them and help you rope smart. He’s 100 percent every time. “This feeling is so amazing. My support system is so big. Everyone around me has been so great to help me get here.” Anderson earned his share of the first-round title with a 3.9-second run, then was 3.8 in the second round to place third. After his third-round steer moved left into him, he settled for a consistent 4.7 to earn the top spot heading into the championship round. Both Rangers had solid leads as they awaited their fourth run of a hectic week. “I was just trying to hit the barrier and make smooth runs, and I think that was the biggest key to success,” said Anderson, who was joined as Central Plains Region titlists by Munsell and tie-down roper Riley Wakefield of O’Neill, Nebraska. Everything went smooth for Munsell, and the first three were solid for Anderson. The fourth, however, made for some tense moments inside the Casper Events Center. “My fourth run was terrible, but we had enough time built up that it worked out,” he said. “My high school wrestling instincts took over. That was a huge relief.” A solid run consists of a bulldogger transitioning from his horse to the steer and securing both horns. Anderson’s fourth-round steer slipped its left horn under his arm, but the North Dakota cowboy was able to maintain his hold and throw the animal down in time to claim the national title by two-tenths of a second. “I didn’t have any jitters for the short round and was feeling pretty confident,” he said. “As soon as I missed that left horn, I went into pure panic mode. My body shook for five hours after that; it was terrorizing. I was doing anything I could to get him laid over.” There was never any panic when it came to Munsell’s approach to the national championship. Like any national championship playoff in college sports, only the elite few in every event advance to the college finals. Once there, it comes down to which contestant has the best run during the week of competition. It can be a rugged test, but those that have been battle-tested can prevail. “I was really trying to stay positive and not let any doubt set in,” said Munsell, who won more than $20,000 in February by finishing as the runner-up at The American. “I knew I’d roped good enough. I perfected it on the dummy every day. I went to all the evening church services, and they helped keep your mind in the right place.” Even though she just finished her undergraduate degree, Munsell will continue her education at Northwestern, working to obtain a master’s degree in health and sports science education. She will have one more year of eligibility and will serve as a graduate assistant for coach Stockton Graves. Now she and Anderson can work toward defending their titles. “It would be something to win it two years in a row,” said Munsell, whose 270 points was enough for the Rangers women to finish sixth in the nation. “There are a lot of runs between now and then, but that would be the big goal.” Both will compete professionally over the summer and into the fall, and then it will be time to return to the 10 events on the Central Plains Region calendar. “That first day you win that college championship is cool, and it’s a big deal,” Anderson said. “The very next day, it’s back to square one. You forget about the championship you’ve already won, and you focus on the next one. We’ll try to win another regional championship, get back to the college finals and see where that takes us.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – John Harrison has a lot in his bag when it comes to entertaining, and that’s why he will return to Gunnison for this year’s Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo. He’s an athlete, trick rider, rodeo clown, barrelman and comedian, all rolled up in a package that’s both fun and funny. He will be one of the featured pieces of this year’s rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. “We had John here last year, and we realized quickly that he’s someone we want to have back again,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “He has the perfect personality for our rodeo, and his comedy is family friendly, which is exactly what we like to see.” Plenty of athletes will be part of Gunnison’s rodeo, an attractive spot for many in the game to play at the professional level. With a record purse available this year, hundreds of the top cowboys and cowgirls will make their way through the Rocky Mountain passes to ensure their chance at those dollars. But Harrison might be the most athletic of them all, and he utilizes that in some comedic ways to produce an award-winning showcase throughout each of the three performances. He is a four-time winner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Comedy Act of the Year and a three-time winner of the Coors Man in the Can award, an honor bestowed upon the top barrelman in ProRodeo based on peer votes. He also has worked the barrel at the National Finals Rodeo three times. But those awards don’t define the third-generation cowboy. “I love my job, but the best part is the traveling and doing things with my family,” Harrison said. “There’s the stress of getting animals and everything ready for a performance, but the reward is great when the crowd comes out to enjoy the rodeo. “For two hours, they get to get away from their life, and I’m glad I can be part of it.” Raised in Soper, Okla., to a rodeo family, Harrison began his entertainment career as a trick rider. He joined the PRCA in 1999, and within five years, he had transitioned to being a clown and barrelman. It provided greater opportunities and has allowed him the chance to showcase the funny side of his amazing abilities. “Everything’s changed since I first started clowning,” said Harrison, 40, the grandson of 1962 world champion bull rider Freckles Brown. “What brings me the most joy is for all of us to be on the road and getting to do things as a family. I love that my kids are with me for the summer run. They’re going to have memories that will last forever.” They will be with him in Gunnison, and he’s excited to be part of the historic event. “It is a traditional rodeo with a great feel to it, having the track that runs on the outside of the arena,” Harrison said. “You can’t beat being in the Rockies in the middle of the summer. Plus, I think the traditional rodeos are always fun to work.”

EAGLE, Colo. – Bareback rider Bill Tutor has been to hundreds of rodeos throughout his six years in ProRodeo, but there’s something about returning to this mountain community along Interstate 70. “Since I was a permit-holder, Eagle has always been an exceptional rodeo, so it’s really exciting to win it,” he said of the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24-Saturday, July 27, at Johnette Phillips Arena on the Eagle County Fairgrounds. “The stock is always fantastic; you’ve got to be in the high 80s just to place there. To win the that rodeo is cool, because I’ve always put Eagle on such a pedestal.” He’s proven the reasons, and he plans to return to this year’s event to defend his 2018 title. He was 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bright Lights to claim the crown, and he knows once he returns that he will draw a similar horse the next time he arrives. “One year, my traveling partner, Jake Brown, was 90.5 points and finished fourth,” said Tutor, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Huntsville, Texas. “To be that many points and still finish fourth says a lot about that rodeo. “It’s a great time of year to be in the mountains. The crowd’s always into it, and it’s a really neat arena. The rodeo committee treats you so well. As a cowboy, especially that time of year when you’re actually living on the road, it means a lot to have rodeo committees treat you like family.” It has been nominated for Medium Rodeo of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, a distinction provided to the top five vote-getters in each of the four size categories. What’s bigger yet is that the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo was confirmed as one of the top 20 rodeos in the country. It proves the hard work done by local volunteers and dedicated county personnel is paying off. “They pack that arena every single night of that rodeo even though Eagle is a small town,” said Payden McIntyre, the defending steer wrestling champion from Douglas, Wyoming. “It’s easy to get to Eagle, but it’s hard to get down through the fairgrounds because there are so many cars there. “It’s pretty impressive that a community that size can put together something like that every year.” It’s one of the many reasons so many top cowboys and cowgirls make their way to the picturesque community. But McIntyre has other reasons to compete in Eagle; primarily, it’s part of the Rocky Mountain Circuit, a PRCA regional organization that features contestants and rodeos in Colorado and Wyoming. The circuit finale takes place each fall in Loveland, Colorado, and McIntyre is a six-time qualifier. “It’s pretty awesome to win it,” he said, noting he’d earned the title one other time. “It’s a good circuit rodeo that’s going on during Cheyenne (Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming), so it’s a good one to sneak off to that week. Eagle is also one of the bigger circuit rodeos. By the time you’re done there, you’ve got a pretty good idea if you’re going to make the circuit finals.” But the rodeo isn’t just a regional locale; it’s a big-time stop for the best in the game. In addition to Tutor, there are other NFR qualifiers that have found success in Eagle; world champions Spencer Wright and Ryder Wright shared the saddle bronc riding title last year, and the cowboys that placed in bull riding read like a who’s-who of ProRodeo’s elite. “The purse is always good, so you can count on that,” Tutor said. “It’s definitely a good rodeo to boost you in the standings. It’s a beautiful rodeo, the setting is great, the weather is great and it has a great committee. You get Pete Carr as the stock contractor, so you know the horses are going to be great, and there’s always a big crowd.” There are plenty of things to like about the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo.

Canadian earns win in home country to move atop BFO money list Aaron Mercer is normally the talkative type, but news that his victory last weekend at the Bullfighters Only stop in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, has pushed him to No. 1 in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings has left the Canadian a bit tongue-tied. “It’s surreal; it’s cool,” said Mercer of Calgary, Alberta. “I didn’t think that would be the one to push me over the top, but, damn, it sure did. I didn’t even look at the standings. A friend of mine from back home sent me a screen shot, and I thought, ‘What the heck is going on here?’ ” What’s going on is a hot streak that’s extended for more than a month. In addition to the title in Moose Jaw, he has victories in Las Vegas; Redding, California; and Charlotte, North Carolina; Mercer also finished second at stand-alone events in Kennewick, Washington, and Woodward, Oklahoma. “I think he’s doing so well because he’s taking each bull one at a time,” said Colt Oder, a friend and fellow bullfighter from Moorpark, California. “He’s transitioned into the sport from bronc riding and other stuff. He’s still wide-eyed about it and just has pure joy. It’s cool to see. He’s excited about every bull he fights. “He brings a lot of good energy to the tribe.” That tribe is a tight-knit band of bullfighters who serve as each other’s biggest supporters when they’re not in the ring themselves. Now Mercer is atop that group with $23,250 in earnings. He owns a lead of just $600 over veteran Toby Inman of Davis Junction, Illinois. Mercer’s lead is nearly $5,000 over the No. 3 man, three-time reigning world champion Weston Rutkowski of Haskell, Texas. “It feels crazy to be ahead of those guys,” Mercer said. “I’ve got to keep fighting my bulls.” Now that he’s atop the heap, he wears a target on his back. His goal is to keep building on his lead and push that target as far away from the field as possible before the season finale, the Las Vegas Championship, set for December at the Tropicana Las Vegas. “I’ve got to hammer down,” he said. “The win in Moose Jaw was cool because I like those Alpha Bull events (produced in Canada). I wasn’t really happy with the way I fought there, but a win’s a win; I’ll take it. “I still have a lot to work on. Now that I’m No. 1, I’ve just got to work harder than ever. If I don’t do that, I’m not going to be staying on top.”

Knee injury hasn’t slowed down the clown, one of the funniest men in rodeo ESTES PARK, Colo. – Deep down, Justin Rumford is a cowboy, and he’s not about to let a knee injury slow him down much – even if it was a severe knee injury. In fact, he will return to this year’s Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. But that’s what being a clown is all about for Rumford. “We’re bringing Justin back because he’s the fans’ favorite every time he’s here,” said Mark Purdy, chairman of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. “He’s funny, engaging and makes our rodeo better just because he’s here.” Rumford was injured in January at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. He worked the next week in Rapid City, South Dakota, then found out just how bad the injury was. He suffered three ligament tears – ACL, MCL and PCL – a broken tibia and a double meniscus tear, so he had surgery Feb. 7. He returned to the arena six months after, and he hasn’t looked back sense. “I’ve been doing all the therapy and the rehab, and by Aug. 1, I should be about 90 percent,” said Rumford, the six-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Clown of the Year. “I can still do everything I normally do except for some of the acts or work the barrel. For the most part, I can do about 95 percent of everything I did before.” That’s a good thing for rodeo fans in Estes Park. As he continues to heal, he continues to be the vibrant personality that has been his gift all his life. Raised in south-central Kansas to a rodeo family, Rumford has been around the game since the day he was born. He is a third-generation stock contractor. Rodeo is in his blood. He’s roped and bulldogged; he’s ridden broncs and fought bulls; he’s even driven the semi-tractor trailers that haul prized steads. Now he’s living a dream. “This clowning deal is the best thing I’ve ever had,” said Rumford, who lives Ponca City, Oklahoma, with his wife, Ashley, and their triplets, Livi, Lola and Bandy. “It’s something in rodeo that I can have a lot of longevity in. There’s not just a ton of risk, and it’s something I enjoy so much.” Now he’s the preeminent funnyman in professional rodeo, just as his awards describe. He’s a comedian by nature, something he shared through every level of rodeo on which he’s performed. Whether he’s entertaining a crowd or sharing stories after the performances end, he is the life of the party. “People want to laugh at each other more than they want to laugh at something,” Rumford said. “When I’m in the arena, I’m saying the same stuff I’d say if I wasn’t clowning. “It’s just me being me.” That’s why people in Estes Park like having him around, and the feeling is reciprocated. “That’s just a beautiful location,” he said. “It’s a great committee with awesome hospitality; it’s an awesome town, and it’s got a park right across the arena for the kids. Estes Park is just a fun place to be.” That’s one of the reasons contestants have considered Rooftop Rodeo one of the very best in the country, but there are other reasons. The volunteers on the committee come together every year to not only put on a great community event but to also cater to the athletes who make rodeo so great. “I think a big part of why people like coming to Estes Park is the way the contestants are treated,” Rumford said. “There are free stalls, and in the hospitality building, they’ve got a huge corner for kids that has a bunch of toys. “The money’s great for the contestants, and everybody on the committee treats you like family. They have a ton of 50-amp RV hookups for contestants, and after a busy Fourth of July, it’s nice to pull in somewhere like Estes Park and just plug into one of those outlets and just relax.” That down time is critical for the cowboys and cowgirls who make their living traveling hundreds of miles in a given day just to compete. It also allows them to perform at an optimum level when the time comes.

Rooftop Rodeo will memorialize former queen Roxann Harris on July 9 ESTES PARK, Colo. – Roxann Harris always seemed to be giving back to others. Her friends and comrades at Estes Park Western Heritage Inc. and the Town of Estes Park are going to honor that sentiment and her life during the Rooftop Rodeo, which is set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena in Estes Park inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. “Her husband, Tom Harris, will be the grand marshal at the Rooftop Rodeo parade on Tuesday, July, 9, and we will be honoring her at the Queens Luncheon that day,” said Mark Purdy, chairman of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. “Our Tuesday performance will be Roxann Harris Night, and we will be performing a rider-less ceremony with her Rooftop Rodeo saddle, boots and hat.” Harris, the 1982 Rooftop Rodeo queen, died Jan. 7, 2019, after a short illness. She was 53. After graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, she worked her way up the corporate ladder in commercial real estate. After meeting her husband, she and Tom moved to Steamboat Springs and purchase a ranch. Five years later, they moved to Douglas County and lived there until her death. Harris first became involved in the royalty program at the National Western Stock Show, which led to her involvement with Miss Rodeo America, where she was elected to the executive board of directors. She coached girls on horsemanship, poise, public speaking, fashion and other skills needed to become rodeo royalty. For the past six years, she was a co-chair of the royalty coordinator program for the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo. “Roxann was one of the best souls I have ever had the chance to meet,” Purdy said. “She has supported many rodeo royalty young ladies over the years over the years, including my own daughter, Kellsie, and our close friend, Alex Hyland Cox. Please join us July 9 for a day of celebrating the life of our wonderful friend, Roxann.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Buddy Hawkins had been to 44 rodeos before he arrived in this gorgeous mountain community last July, but he realized it was a special place with special people. “When we got here, they gave us hay and helped us park and were as friendly as they could be,” said Hawkins, a team roping-heeler from Columbus, Kansas. “It couldn’t be any better, and they gave us a cash bonus for winning the performance.” That’s a popular sentiment among contestants who make their way to Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, which this year is set for Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. Hawkins and his partner, Brye Crites, won the team roping championship. While it was good money for Crites, those dollars helped Hawkins finish the regular season among the top 15 on the heeling money list; it earned him a return visit to the NFR, where he won more than $50,000 and finished 14th in the world standings. But he wasn’t the only winner who shared love for the volunteer committee that organizes the annual festival. In addition to the rodeo, Cattlemen’s Days is a full-fledged community celebration that has a distinct county fair feel to it. It’s been around longer than most county fairs in Colorado, though. “Winning that rodeo last year was pretty awesome,” said Payden McIntyre, the champion steer wrestler from Douglas, Wyoming. “That was the first rodeo I won outright last year. That’s what kickstarted my summer. “It’s pretty awesome for a committee to go above and beyond for us cowboys.” It’s something he’s considered in the months since winning. Sure, winning a rodeo is always a big deal, but there’s something more to what he experiences every year when he arrives in the Gunnison Valley. “They do a really good job of having some of their performance winners get a little bonus,” he said. “That was the end of our week, and we hadn’t done very well. It is nice when people realize the kind of work you put in and do something extra to help you out.” This year’s event will feature an increased committee purse, which will be added to the contestants’ entry fees to make up the overall payout. That’s going to be an attractive feature for cowboys who make a living on the rodeo trail. “It’s nice to see these smaller circuit rodeos increasing their added money,” McIntyre said. “It makes guys like me that aren’t in the top 50 (in the world standings) feel like somebody’s taking care of us. “Rodeos like Gunnison really do take care of a guy. As much as we talk about the money, it’s going to the rodeos in these smaller communities that give you that hometown feeling. We’re on the road a lot, so we don’t get that pleasure of being home with your family. They understand that.” That’s one of the reasons that Craig Wisehart makes sure Gunnison is on his calendar every year. “It’s just the atmosphere,” said Wisehart, the 2018 bareback riding champion from Kersey, Colorado. “The rodeo heritage, and the guys in Colorado and Wyoming are true rodeo cowboys. I was born and raised here in Colorado, so I’ve seen all these kinds of rodeos all my life. “I love this rodeo. The hospitality and the committee I great, and the stock is amazing. Just driving in, you see the black cows out in the pasture and know this is cowboy country.”

ALVA, Okla. – For intercollegiate rodeo contestants, the ultimate goal each year is the College National Finals Rodeo, home of the sport’s elite. For five Northwestern Oklahoma State University athletes, the culmination of their year of hard work will come to fruition this next week in Casper, Wyoming, where qualifiers from around the country will embark on their missions to leave town with the coveted titles. “I’m looking forward to a national title,” said Taylor Munsell, a senior from Arnett, Oklahoma, who won the breakaway roping title in the Central Plains Region to stamp her place in the college finals, set for Sunday, June 9-Saturday, June 15, at the Casper Events Center. “That’s the goal. I want to get there and make the best runs I can on the animals I draw and put it together.” Munsell is the lone cowgirl on the Rangers team that will make the trip north, joining heeler Tanner Nall, tie-down roper Riley Wakefield and steer wrestlers Bridger Anderson and Bradley Ralph with dreams of leaving Wyoming with champions’ buckles. Each has earned their spot in the finale by finishing among the top three in their events in the Central Plains Region. Wakefield and Anderson won the regional titles in their respective disciplines, while Nall finished second in heeling and Ralph third in bulldogging. “Winning the region title this year was a big accomplishment,” Munsell said. “I had a good chance to do it last year, so I came back with a vengeance this year to get it done. I’m blessed to have done it and have two horses under me to help me out.” They did, and she’ll have both in Casper to test her luck and skills in a rugged testimony to the championship happenings. Each contestant will compete in three go-rounds, with the top times advancing to the championship round. From there, the contestants with the fastest four-run aggregate time in each event will earn the coveted title. “I made it my sophomore year in college, but I didn’t make it last year,” said Wakefield, a senior from O’Neill, Nebraska. “Not making it last year has shown me how bad it could be. “The fact that I won the region in calf roping was everything to me, because that’s the one event I’ve tried to focus on.” He’s gotten better at it over the years, admittedly struggling with the discipline in high school. Still, his all-around talents have made him an important member of the college team, because he can earn points in tie-down roping, team roping and steer wrestling – he finished third in the region’s all-around standings. “I think my experience in the past is going to help, because I obviously know the start and the score better,” he said. “I know how fast I need to be to set up the calves. I made the short go my sophomore year, which helps me see the setup and how the calves are going to be.” Ralph hasn’t earned a spot at the championship before, but Nall, a junior from Colcord, Oklahoma, placed fifth a year ago. Next week, he will rope with Ethan Griffin of Northeast Oklahoma A&M. Ralph, a junior from Wann, Oklahoma, earned the steer wrestling title in Garden City, Kansas, toward the end of the season to clinch his spot in Casper. Anderson, though, dominated the steer wrestling standings throughout the season. He will carry experience from his freshman season’s CNFR bid with him as he prepares to tackle the toughest test in college rodeo. “It’s pretty exciting going back,” said Anderson, a junior from Carrington, North Dakota. “It’s nice knowing how the college finals works now. I can go in with a little more of a confident mindset. We’re going in with a lot of confidence, and hopefully we can get four laid down and do some good.” The key is stopping the clock in every round. A no-time is virtually disastrous for the chances of making the final go-round, and it would definitely take a contestant out of title contention. “When you’re running four head of steers, a lot can happen,” he said. “If we can get four good runs together, we should end up in a good spot. I don’t want to put too much emphasis on winning first every time; I just want to make solid runs and be sharp. I want to try to be smooth and let things happen, not take short cuts and try to push things to happen.” That’s easier said than done. The arena floor at the events center is pressure-packed. Nerves are stretched to the edges of the body and the contestants take their shot at each round. “This is my last year of college rodeo, so I’m a little tight,” Wakefield said of the nerves that were already coursing through his body about a week before he was to run his first calf. “I’ve been taking baby steps with my calf roping. It can be a long and bumpy road, but I think it’s starting to straighten out.” It’s a phenomenon that happens in sports, and it come together for the Rangers. Now with four cowboys in the mix, Northwestern can have a shot at the team title if things go well. “For being such a small team, I think we’re going to be effective out there,” Wakefield said, noting that the top two teams in each reach advance six cowboys. “It’s no accident Bridger won the region in steer wrestling; he’s the best bulldogger in the region. “Tanner is an amazing guy to watch, and he’s probably the most consistent heeler in the region. Bradley put in a lot of hard work, and he could be a threat at the college finals.” While a women’s team title is equivalent to the long shot in horse racing, the Rangers have something special in Munsell. In addition to having great success in college rodeo, she also finished second at The American, the largest one-day payout in  Continue Reading »

Alberta cowboy expecting great things at this year’s PBR Dawson Creek DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia – Jordan Hansen rides bulls for a living, and he’ll go just about anywhere in North America to make it happen. Six months ago, he flew into British Columbia to compete for the first time at the PBR Dawson Creek Fueled by Lyons Production Services, and he left with the victory. He plans to defend his title at this year’s event, set for Nov. 30 at the Encana Centre. “That was my first Alpha Bull event, riding in a spotlight in the dark,” said Hansen, 25, of Okotoks, Alberta. “I was coming off another win in Regina (Saskatchewan), and I was feeling good. It was a slow time of year for me – I wanted to be in Vegas (for the National Finals Rodeo), but it worked out for me to be in Dawson Creek instead. “I drew a couple of really good bulls and was lucky enough to stay on both of them and get the win. That was my first event of the season for 2019 for the PBR, and it couldn’t have gone any better for me confidence-wise, money-wise and points. That was the perfect thing I needed to get the year rolling.” He’s stayed on that roll. As of June 3, Hansen is No. 3 in the PBR Canada standings. He’d like to be higher in the PBR and PRCA world standings, so he plans to hit the road hard over the coming months to try to make it happen. “It’s been a good year,” he said. “My traveling partner, Jared (Parsonage), and I have been going back and forth in the PBR Canada standings. It’s pretty cool going head to head with him. We want ourselves to win, but I’m definitely cheering for him when he’s riding.” In fact, they finished first and second in Dawson Creek last year. The cowboys learned quite a bit about the show inside the Encana Centre and what to expect when they return. “The town is so supportive of rodeo and bull riding,” Hansen said. “They get a lot of people in that building. It’s a great event that Alpha Bull puts on with a live band, a lot of top bull riders and a great pen of bulls.” Alpha Bull is owned and operated by Chad Besplug, a renowned Canadian bull rider who has transitioned from competing to producing some of the biggest shows in the country. “I’ve known Chad for a long time, and he’s one of my favorites,” Hansen said. “He has a different grasp for production from a lot of guys. He’s going to turn the lights off, run a spotlight on the rides and have a live band after. It’s totally different, and that’s what makes it cool. “I think the fans really like it because the spotlight draws their eyes to the action in the arena. I think this year’s event in Dawson Creek is going to be very similar to last year’s, but just a little bit better. I think everyone who went last year will come back, and they’ll bring a couple people with them.” It’s that kind of show.