Monthly Archives: July 2019

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Trey Benton wanted to just ride his animal Tuesday night during the Xtreme Bulls competition at Dodge City Round. He got more than he bargained for, and he’s OK with it. “I got a little redemption on a little bull called Black Ice of Frontier (Rodeo),” said Benton, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Rock Island, Texas. “He threw me off at Lawton, Oklahoma, earlier this year, so I knew he was a really good bull. I just wanted to redeem myself, so it’s pretty sweet to get the win, too.” He and Black Ice danced across the Roundup Arena dirt for 86.5 points, good enough for the specially designed trophy spurs and $4,850. Sitting 10th in the bull riding world standings heading into this week of rodeos, Benton pushed his 2019 earnings to more than $86,000. He should have confidence in Roundup Rodeo. He won the bull riding championship during his rookie season in 2012 and has found his way to the pay window plenty since then. But being the 13th of 45 bull riders Tuesday, he had to wait through most of the event before accepting the crown. “I was holding my breath the whole time, because it was anybody’s race,” said Benton, 27. “I had a lot to sit through. With Scott Pickens with 4L and Diamond S Ranch and Frontier Rodeo here, you know you’re going to get on something you can win on.” It takes a great deal of success to be at the top of the game as long as Benton has. He made three straight trips to Vegas from 2012-14, then injuries got the better of him for a couple of years. When he returned to the NFR in 2017, he made a serious run at the world championship. Then last December, he won the opening round of the NFR and placed in the third, but he failed to make the eight-second qualified ride in the eight other go-rounds. That’s why he’s not concerned with trying to win gold. “That’s been the problem since I (finished) second, because I’ve been worried about it too much,” he said. “I’m going to run my own race. “I’ve been trying too hard to make it happen. A world championship doesn’t happen without a little luck and being different from the rest. I’ve been trying so hared to get back that I’ve had other things get in the way besides riding bulls. When I show up, I’m here ride bulls, and we’ll sort the rest out later.” Beau Schueth didn’t have nearly as much to fret about during the Bullfighters Only Wrangler Bullfight Tour stop that followed Xtreme Bulls. Schueth and Rockin’ B Fighting Bullls’ El Chappo matched together for 84 points for the Nebraska cowboy’s first Dodge City win in three tries. “I’ve had that bull before, and he’s pretty much seen it all,” said Schueth, who finished the 2018 season as the No. 2 man in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. “You can’t really think too much, and you’ve got to go back to your basics on a bull like that. You try to take as many rounds as you can, because an old bull like that is not going to take many fakes because he’s seen them a million times.” The first bullfighter in the match was Scrawney Brooks of Houston, who tripped midway through the fight, then was lifted off the ground by the bull and manhandled. He was unable to finish the required 40 seconds of a 60-second bout and received a no-score. Chase Blythe of Concord, North Carolina, was also pushed into the fence by his bull; while he was able to recover, he scored just 64 points. “You hate to see it like that, because you want to see it all go out,” Schueth said. “It does take the pressure off, because all you need to do is complete the fight. But you still want to put on a show for the fans, so you just take it to the bull.” Dodge City Roundup Xtreme Bulls Dodge City, Kan. July 30, 2019 1. Trey Benton III, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Black Ice, $4,850; 2. (tie) Eli Vastbinder and J.T. Moore, 86, $3,234 each; 4. Josh Frost, 85.5, $1,778; 5. Creek Young, 84, $1,232; 6. (tie) Trevor Kastner, Jesse Petri and Tristan Mize, 83, $647 each. Bullfighters Only 1. Beau Schueth, 84 points; 2. Chase Blythe, 64; 3. Scrawney Brooks, 0.

Four-time world champion Tuf Cooper of Decatur, Texas, is the first champion crowned at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. Cooper placed in two of three go-rounds and finished his Tuesday by roping three steers in a cumulative time of 38.4 seconds to claim the championship buckle. He earned $4,957 and will have an opportunity to earn more as he competes in tie-down roping later this week. Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Tony Reina and Trey Wallace, 11.6 seconds, $1,564 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, 11.7, $1,121; 4. Shay Good, 12.3, $826; 5. Mike Chase, 12.7, $531; 6. Roger Branch, 12.8, $295. Second round: 1. Trenton Johnson, 10.7 seconds, $1,711; 2. (tie) Brodie Poppino and Tuf Cooper, 10.8, $1,269 each; 4. Scott Snedecor, 10.9, $826; 5. Chet Herren, 11.2, $531; 6. Kelton McMillen, 11.4, $295. Third round: 1. Jess Tierney, 11.4 seconds, $1,711; 2. Roger Branch, 11.5, $1,416; 3. (tie) Brodie Poppino and Rocky Patterson, 11.9, $974 each; 5. J.D. Yates, 12.7, $531; 6. Shay Good, 12.8, $295. Average: 1. Tuf Cooper, 38.4 seconds on three head, $2,567; 2. Shay Good, 39.1, $2,124; 3. Trevor Brazile, 45.5, $1,682; 4. Brady Garten, 49.0, $1,239; 5. Billy Good, 49.4, $797; 6. (tie) J.P. Wickett and Jason Evans, 51.8, $221 each.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo has always been about youth and the work they do to prepare for the exhibits and shows. But there’s a ton of fun going on inside the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington, the home of the exposition, which is set for Friday, Aug. 2-Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington. From the incredible concerts that take place six of nine nights to the world-class PRCA rodeo, the Lea County Fair Board has loaded each evening with a plethora of entertaining opportunities for fairgoers. “Of course, we’re very proud of the concert lineup we have this year,” said Lea County Fair Board Chairman Larry Wheeler, noting that big-time acts like Amy Grant, Cody Johnson, Ronnie Milsap and Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy will perform the final four nights of the fair. “We have our rodeo, which is the staple of this community, but we’ve also got so much more. We have a lot of people who really enjoy our Wrights Amusements Carnival, and we’ll have several other things going on.” Trick roper and specialist Brice Chapman will be milling around the fairgrounds displaying his talents and that of his daughter, Grace. The west Texas man has been a fixture around the region for decades, and his act never disappoints. “The people of Lea County have been fantastic to me,” Chapman said. “All of eastern New Mexico is made up of a bunch of good people that are actual cowboys, and they’re a tight-knit group of people.” He’s just one part of many features that comes with the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “When you look at all the entertainment opportunities you can have at the fair and rodeo, there’s just so much packed into it,” said Larry Wheeler, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “Because our county commission believes in it, they underwrite the costs. That, along with the great sponsors who support it, makes it terrific. “There’s a lot going on for a $10 admission.” That’s true. Whether it’s riding a mechanical bull or bungee jumping, rock climbing, face painting or the vertical event, there are things happening every day that will bring joy to many people. That’s why, over the years, more than 100,000 people have attended the expo annually. On top of that, the bulk of the work being done before, during and after the fair and rodeo is done by volunteers that donate their time and talents to the process. It’s a passion of love and affection for one of the greatest events to hit southeast New Mexico every year. “Without the volunteers, we just couldn’t do this,” said Dean Jackson, a Lea County commissioner and former Fair Board chairman. And that type of dedication is why it’s such a hit for people from all over the region.

EAGLE, Colo. – The hardest part of Rusty Wright’s ride Saturday night was the anticipation. Wright, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from the first family of saddle bronc riding, was matched with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, a two-time Bareback Horse of the Year now bucking under a bronc saddle. The result was an Eagle County Fair and Rodeo arena-record 91-point ride. “I was more nervous than I was excited, because when you draw those kinds of horses, you’re expected to win on them,” said Wright, 23, of Milford, Utah. “You put a little pressure on yourself, because I thought I should win on him.” He learned about his draw late last week, and he was “pumped up” to know he had a chance to ride one of the most electric bucking horses in the game the last decade. When the 15-year-old bay gelding was a bareback horse, he was regularly in the TV pen at the NFR – a nickname dubbed for the fifth- and 10th-round horses because they are considered the best. He may be in the same pen in bronc riding this coming December. “I couldn’t wait for it,” said Wright, who travels with his younger brothers, Ryder, the 2017 world champion; and Stetson, the No. 1 man in the all-around race who is just a PRCA rookie; and their uncle, Spencer, the 2014 world champ. “It felt like waiting on Christmas, like it was never going to come. I woke up this morning, and I had butterflies as soon as my eyes opened.” Ryder Wright finished second in Eagle with an 85-point ride on Carr’s Daisy Duke, and Spencer Wright placed fifth with an 80.5-point ride on Northcott-Macza’s Moving Shadows. Ryder Wright will add to his saddle bronc world standings lead, which is already more than $180,000 this season. Rusty Wright was ninth in the standings heading into this week, but the $3,079 he earned in Eagle will help. “I’m really happy with my year,” he said. “I’m not up there in the standings where I want to be, but I’m really pleased with how I’m riding. I’ve been nickel-and-diming them, as my dad says, but winning is winning. Hopefully this will be the hot streak I’ve been waiting on all year to get the ball rolling.” A year ago, Ryder and Spencer won the Eagle rodeo, so it’s been an important stop for the family, which boasts of five world champions in the family. Ryder is the only one of his generation, while his father, Cody, has two and uncles Spencer and Jesse each have one. “It seems we come to Eagle every year,” Rusty Wright said. “I love coming here.  Pete’s got awesome horses. It doesn’t matter what day you’re coming, you know you’re going to get a good one; it’s just up to how well your ride to see if you’re going to get some money. “The fans are loud. I got off today, and the fans were cheering so loud, I couldn’t help but throw my hat.” Of course, he joins of chorus of other cowboys singing the praises of the talented gelding. In addition to having been named a two-time world champion in 2014-15, Dirty Jacket also finished second in the 2013 voting and third in the 2012 voting. “He’s like a ticking time bomb,” Wright said. “As soon as the gate opens, he explodes out of there. He’s a big, strong, solid horse, and you could feel his whole body just blow up out of there. He was showy and electric. Horses like that get you excited. Every single jump, you feed off the last jump; you just try to ride them better. “He’s now one of my favorite horses. I hope I draw him again, because there were a couple things I could do better, where I could have been two or three more points if I’d done everything perfect. That’s what we’re all after is that perfect ride, and the day you make that perfect ride, you should be done, because you’re never going to do it again.” Saturday’s ride also marked the second-highest score Wright has ever posted; he was 92 points a few weeks ago at the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede. That rodeo, however, doesn’t count toward the ProRodeo world standings. “As far as the PRCA goes, that’s my career best. I knew I could be at least 90 on this horse; it was up to me to ride him good. Next time I draw him, I’ll try to do those things better and maybe be 92 or 93.” Eagle County Fair and Rodeo Eagle, Colo. July 24-27 Bareback riding: 1. Steven Dent, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam, $2,800; 2. Tanner Aus, 85, $2,147; 3. Tim Murphy, 83, $1,587; 4. (tie) Clayton Biglow, Logan Patterson, Jamie Howlett and Luke Wozney, 82, $630 each; 8 Cole Reiner, 81, $280. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gage Greer, 3.9 seconds, $927; 2. (tie) Kalane Anders and Chisum Docheff, 4.3, $687 each; 4. Austin Eller, 4.5, $447; 5. Payden McIntyre, 4.6, $288; 6. Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $160. Second round leaders: 1. Kalane Anders, 4.1 seconds, $926; 2. (tie) Chisum Docheff and Cody Pratt, 4.4, $687 each; 4. (tie) Gage Hesse, Logan McDonald and Austin Eller, 4.7, $298 each. Average leaders: 1. Kalane Anders, 8.4 seconds on two runs, $1,390; 2. Chisum Docheff, 8.7, $1,151; 3. Austin Eller, 9.2, $911; 4. Gage Greer, 9.4, $671; 5. (tie) Cody Pratt, 9.6, $336 each. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Darnell Johnson, 8.4 seconds, $1,021; 2. Garret Arnold, 9.1, $765; 3. Brandon Kammerzell, 9.5, $510; 4. Jarrett Oestmann, 10.0, $255. Second round: 1. Garret Arnold, 8.1 seconds, $1,021; 2. Jarrett Oestmann, 8.6, $755; 3. (tie) Kyle Dickens and Ryle Smith, 8.9, $383 each. Average: 1. Garret Arnold, 17.2 seconds on two runs, $1,531; 2. Jarrett Oestmann, 18.6, $1,148; 3. Tyler Boxleitner, $765; 4. Ryle Smith, 22.0, $383. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 91 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, $3,079;  Continue Reading »

EAGLE, Colo. – As Steven Dent limped out of the arena after his bareback ride Friday night, he couldn’t help but flash a quick smile. He had just a wild ride on San Angelo Sam, a 6-year-old paint bucking horse from the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo outfit. The two matched up for 89 points, and Dent owns the bareback riding lead with just one performance remaining at the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo. “I had him in San Angelo (Texas) in the Cinch Chute-Out,” said Dent, a nine-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Mullen, Nebraska. “He was wolfy both times I had him. He turned back with me (in Texas) and was all I wanted.” That’s bareback rider-ease, meaning the horse bucked hard and made it difficult for the cowboy to stay in the correct position. It made for a nice reward after he and traveling partner Tanner Aus competed in Deadwood, South Dakota, on Thursday, then Dent rode again Friday afternoon in Cheyenne, Wyoming. “I try to come here regularly,” he said of the Eagle rodeo. “I try to work the rodeos I can enter with Cheyenne. “This is a great rodeo. It’s cool, and by now you’re tired of sweating. It’s got a great crowd.” It was actually a great day riding bucking horses for Dent. He was one of the top six in Friday’s round in Cheyenne, so he qualified to compete in Sunday’s short round; that, combined with winning Eagle, is nice. Alas, he was stepped on after his ride and is suffering from a sprained and swollen left ankle. What relieved the pain a bit was that Aus posted an 85-point ride on Carr’s Painted River and sits in second place. The only missing ingredient is their third traveling partner, Ty Breuer, but all three cowboys are among the top 15 in the world standings and have a good chance to another bid to the NFR this December – only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season earn the right to play for the biggest pay in the game in Las Vegas.. “I think every rig shows up saying, ‘We’re going to show up finishing one-two or one-two-three, but it’s fun when you can actually do it,’ ” said Aus, a three-time NFR qualifier from Granite Falls, Minnesota. “I’ve been looking forward to getting on that horse all week. We had a few other rodeos to go to, so I just tried to stay focused on that one. “This is a beautiful place to be. I love coming to Eagle. Pete’s got a great pen of horses. Just to come up to a place like this in the mountains is just great. The crowd’s fired up; it’s packed tonight. That’s fun, especially this time of year when rodeos are close together and we’re starting to get tired, it’s good to see people in the stands; we’re glad to hear them.” As far as the rig goes, Breuer leads the pack sitting seventh, while Dent is ninth and Aus is 11th. There are many rodeos between now and the end of the regular season, but there’s a lot of confidence inside that vehicle. After Cheyenne’s short round, both men will get a few days off to spend with family, which is virtually a luxury this time of year. Most cowboys leave home toward the end of June and don’t return until September. Dent left as soon as he got his ankle checked and iced to make the seven-hour drive to his hometown in the sandhills of Nebraska. “I ought to get home about 4 o’clock in the morning, catch a little sleep, then go to Burwell tomorrow night,” he said of the Nebraska rodeo that is less than two hours from his house. “Then we’ll head toward Cheyenne and get a hotel room, because I have to be back over at Cheyenne by 11 a.m. Sunday. “Then I’ll have the biggest break since Reno (Nevada in late June), and that’s three or four days off.” There’s no slowing down now, because the biggest prize in the game happens in Nevada in December. Eagle County Fair and Rodeo Eagle, Colo. July 24-27 Bareback riding: 1. Steven Dent, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam; 2. Tanner Aus, 85; 3. (tie) Clayton Biglow and Luke Wozney, 82;52. Cole Reiner, 81; 6. Joel Schlegel, 80.5; 7. Paden Hurst, 80; 8. Tristan Hansen, 79. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gage Greer, 3.9 seconds, $927; 2. (tie) Kalane Anders and Chisum Docheff, 4.3, $687 each; 4. Austin Eller, 4.5, $447; 5. Payden McIntyre, 4.6, $288; 6. Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $160. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Chisum Docheff and Cody Pratt, 4.4 seconds; 3. (tie) Gage Hesse Logan McDonald and Austin Eller, 4.7; 6. Tait Kvistad, 4.8, 6.4. Average leaders: 1. Chisum Docheff, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Austin Eller, 9.2; 3. Gage Greer, 9.4; 4. Cody Pratt, 9.6; 5. Beau Clark, 13.0; 6. Kyle Francis, 14.1. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Darnell Johnson, 8.4 seconds, $1,021; 2. Garret Arnold, 9.1, $765; 3. Brandon Kammerzell, 9.5, $510; 4. Jarrett Oestmann, 10.0, $255. Second round: 1. Garret Arnold, 8.1 seconds; 2. Jarrett Oestmann, 8.6; 3. (tie) Kyle Dickens and Ryle Smith, 8.9. Average: 1. Garret Arnold, 17.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Jarrett Oestmann, 18.6; 3. Ryle Smith, 22.0; 4. Brandon Kammerzell, 23.2. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Sadie’s Gal; 2. (tie) Tanner Butner and Jesse Kruse, 79.5; 4. Bradley Harter, 79; 5. Tyler Beebe, 77.5; 6. J.W. Meiers, 77; 7. Roper Kiesner, 76; 8. Dean Wadsworth, 75.5. Team roping: First round: 1. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 5.7 seconds, $999; 2. Jesse Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, 5.8, $749; 3. (tie) Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson and Clay Norell/Hank Bounds, 5.9, $375 each. Second round: 1. Wade Kreutzer/Kyon Kreutzer, 12.3; no other qualified runs. Average: 1. Wade Kreutzer/Kyon Kreutzer, 18.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 5.7 seconds on  Continue Reading »

Oklahoma bullfighter wins two rounds, places in two others to win BFO event SALINAS, Calif. – A lifetime of freestyle bullfighting dreams is now a reality for Nathan Harp. Last week, he returned to the Monterey Bay area to compete at one of the most prestigious events in the game, the Bullfighters Only Wrangler Bullfight Tour stop at California Rodeo Salinas. After the final round on Sunday, July 21, Harp had earned the victory for the second time in his career and quickly moved up the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. He now occupies 13th place with just shy of $7,400 in earnings. “It’s pretty surreal,” said Harp of Tuttle, Oklahoma. “As a young bullfighter, there were three big bullfights before the BFO came along: Ada (Oklahoma), Salinas and Denver. It was a dream to go out to California to compete. To win it once, let alone twice, is a dream come true.” Salinas is a different animal in the world of bullfighting. Six men compete in four rounds, with payouts being distributed each night. The biggest checks are given to the top scores in the four-fight aggregate. By finishing with a cumulative score of 331.5 points, Harp earned the title. But he was dominant; he won the second and fourth rounds, was runner-up on the opening night and finished third in Round 3. His total score was five and a half points better than the No. 2 man in Salinas, Nebraskan Beau Schueth. “I’ve either finished first or second the last four times I’ve competed there, winning by a point or two or losing by a point or two,” Harp said. “It’s one of the toughest bullfights in the game. It’s four rounds, and it’s based off an aggregate score. Every bull counts, and every point counts. “Going into Salinas, my goal was to be consistent, fight bulls like I know how to fight and just let the points fall where they fall. I can’t control what the other guys do. All I can control is my mindset. That’s the best I’ve ever done, and thankfully I drew well. I drew the best of anybody there as far as the bulls go.” That’s big, but so is the passion with which Harp takes care of business. In this dangerous game, and focus is always the key. “Nothing matters when it’s just you and the bull – not the crowd or what you did the night before,” he said. “What I do is a gift that sometimes I take for granted. When I’m at my best, I’m just enjoying it.” RESULTS 1. Nathan Harp, 331.5 on four fights; 2. Beau Schueth, 326; 3. Weston Rutkowski, 319.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The change that’s happening with the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo will be virtually unapparent to the naked eye, but they’re big nonetheless. After decades of Harry Vold Rodeo producing the annual event, the volunteer committee that organizes Roundup Rodeo will lean on Frontier Rodeo, which has been named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Stock Contractor of the Year each of the past four seasons. “Kirsten Vold actually came to us last year about making the change,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the Roundup committee. “We’ve had Frontier here as a sub-contractor for a number of years, so I think the changeover will be flawless. “We’re excited to be working with Heath this year.” He’s talking about Heath Stewart, the rodeo manager who operates the outfit for owner Jerry Nelson of Winnie, Texas. Stewart runs the firm out of the Freedom, Oklahoma-based ranch, a two-hour drive southeast of Dodge City. He has plenty of firepower when it comes to producing Roundup rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 5, at Roundup Arena. Over eight years, Frontier animals have been named Horses of the Year: Medicine Woman won Saddle Bronc of the Year four times (2011, ’14-’16), Maple Leaf with the same title in 2013 and Full Baggage was Bareback Horse of the Year in 2011 and 13. Frontier has had dozens of animals selected to buck at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo over the years. Medicine Woman also was the Saddle Bronc of the NFR in 2010, while Full Baggage won the same in bareback riding in 2010, ’12 and ’15. Another top bronc, Delta Ship, was Bareback Horse of the NFR in 2009 and ’11. Those are just the cream of the crop for a deep herd of bucking animals that reside on the northwestern Oklahoma ranch. Last August, bareback rider Seth Hardwick of Ranchester, Wyoming, won the Roundup title after posting a 90-point ride in the championship round on Frontier’s Gunfire. “It was awesome,” Hardwick said. “All my friends have been on that horse, and everyone’s been a pile of points on him. I was pretty excited to have him, especially in the short round. “Dodge City is a great rodeo, and we come here every year. It’s always tough to win at this rodeo, because there are a lot of good guys and a lot of good horses in the short round.” That will still be the case at Roundup. Frontier Rodeo is also a two-time winner of the Remuda Award, given to the stock contractor that has the best, most consistent pen of horses. “We want everybody that’s entered to have a chance to win a check,” Stewart said. “That’s hard to do, but that’s always our goal.”

EAGLE, Colo. – The race was for only $100, but it was a contest nonetheless. Chisum Docheff and Cody Pratt had tied for the fastest steer wrestling score of the night Thursday with identical 4.4-second runs during the second performance of the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, and the winner of each event each night is awarded a $100 bonus. When rodeo clown Justin Rumford suggested a foot race for the bonus, the two Colorado cowboys were up to the challenge. Docheff won easily, but he’s also winning the rodeo. Since he won the race, he said, he was going to treat Pratt to dinner somewhere soon. Both cowboys now own the second-round lead in steer wrestling, but Docheff owns the advantage. He placed in the first round with a 4.3-second run, earning $687 in the process. His cumulative time of 8.7 seconds leads the all-important average, where the biggest payouts are issued. “I’m right there in the hunt to be leading our circuit,” said Docheff of Loveland, Colorado. “I’ve had a really good year up to now, so it means a lot to finish on a strong note these last few weeks.” Heading into this week of rodeos, he had pocketed nearly $5,100 in money in the Mountain States Circuit, made up primarily of rodeos and contestants in Colorado and Wyoming. He sits fourth in the race for the circuit title, which is his primary focus. “I’m a weekend warrior,” he said, referring to cowboys who hold full-time jobs and compete in rodeo when times allow. “My family runs a dairy farm, and I’m there during the week usually.” The dairy isn’t really a proving ground for rodeo cowboys. Growing up, he showed cattle and began competing in rodeo in high school. A friend that wrestled steers got him hooked. “I’ve been coming to this rodeo for probably nine years,” Docheff said. “I also came here through high school to the high school rodeo. I love it here. It’s always a big crowd. We always run great steers, and they’re fun to bulldog. They have great hospitality, and it’s always fun to come up here. “It’s also a two-header, so we have more opportunities to make money.” That’s true. In fact, he’s in line to make a good paycheck in Eagle County. His aggregate time is seven-tenths of a second faster than the No. 2 man, Gage Greer of Gillette, Wyoming. “I have a chance to be really good,” he said. That’s key, because in rodeo, dollars equal points. Only the top 12 cowboys in the circuit will advance to the Mountain States Circuit Finals Rodeo, which will take place in the fall in his hometown. “My goal now is to keep going in the circuit and hopefully win the circuit,” Docheff said. “The circuit finals is just 15 minutes from my house, so that’s really nice.” Eagle County Fair and Rodeo Eagle, Colo. July 24-27 Bareback riding: 1. Clayton Biglow, 82 points on Northcott-Macza’s Under Dog; 2. Cole Reiner, 81; 3. Joel Schlegel, 80.5; 4. Hunter Brasfield, 73; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gage Greer, 3.9 seconds, $927; 2. (tie) Kalane Anders and Chisum Docheff, 4.3, $687 each; 4. Austin Eller, 4.5, $447; 5. Payden McIntyre, 4.6, $288; 6. Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $160. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Chisum Docheff and Cody Pratt, 4.4 seconds; 3. Gage Hesse, 4.7; 4. Tait Kvistad, 4.8; 5. Gage Greer, 5.5; 6. Brian Snell, 6.4. Average leaders: 1. Chisum Docheff, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Gage Greer, 9.4; 3. Cody Pratt, 9.6; 4. Beau Clark, 13.0; 5. Kyle Francis, 14.1; 6. Gage Hesse, 19.6. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Darnell Johnson, 8.4 seconds, $1,021; 2. Garret Arnold, 9.1, $765; 3. Brandon Kammerzell, 9.5, $510; 4. Jarrett Oestmann, 10.0, $255. Second round: 1. Jarrett Oestmann, 8.6 seconds; 2. Kyle Dickens, 8.9; 3. Brandon Neugebauer, 9.6; 4. Brandon Kammerzell, 13.8. Average: 1, Jarrett Oestmann, 18.6 second on two runs; 2. Brandon Kammerzell, 23.2; 3. Darnell Johnson, 25.2; 4. Kyle Dickens, 8.9 seconds on one run. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 84.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Sadie’s Gal; 2. Tanner Butner, 79.5; 3. Bradley Harter, 79; 4. Roper Kiesner, 76; 5. Dean Wadsworth, 75.5; 6. Mason Mardesich, 72; 7. Rhett Fanning, 68; no other qualified rides. Team roping: 1. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 5.7 seconds, $999; 2. Jesse Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, 5.8, $749; 3. (tie) Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson and Clay Norell/Hank Bounds, 5.9, $375 each. Barrel racing: 1. Ryann Pedone, 17.58 seconds; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.64; 3. Caroline Kelly, 17.76; 4. MacKenzie Scott, 17.80; 5. Emily Hamrick, 17.81; 6. Brittney Barnett, 17.84; 7. Sally Conway, 17.94; Ronnie Will, 17.96; 8. Ronnie Will, 17.96; 9. Ivy Hurst, 18.01; 10. K.L. Spratt, 18.09; 11. Jolee Lauteret-Jordan, 18.11; 12. Kelley Schnaufer, 18.12. Bull riding: 1. (tie) Eli Vastbinder, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s California Mudder, and Ruger Piva, on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s War Tank, 85 points each; 3. Nic Lica, 77; no other qualified rides.

EAGLE, Colo. – Two months ago, Kasen Brennise was wrapping up his freshman year at Weatherford (Texas) College. He’s attending the two-year school on a rodeo scholarship, and he did his part in his inaugural campaign by winning the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. That earned Brennise a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo. A little more than a month ago, he roped and tied four calves in 55.0 seconds and finished seventh in the nation in tie-down roping. That’s not bad for a man in his first year of college rodeo. Fast forward to Wednesday night at the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, where he stopped the clock in 10.5 seconds to take the early tie-down roping lead after the opening performance. “It’s really important for me to do well here,” said Brennise of Craig, Colorado, about a two-hour drive through the mountains northeast of Eagle. “It keeps me going. I’ve got for more (rodeos) to go to this weekend, then I’m back here Saturday, so it’s important to keep going and to win some money here.” Just 19 years old, he’s in his first season in ProRodeo, competing on his permit – newcomers to the game are given the opportunity to earn their way to become full members of the PRCA by earning enough money on their permit. Heading into this week’s rodeos, he’s earned more than $1,500 in the Mountain States Circuit, made up of rodeos and contestants from primarily Colorado and Wyoming. His family owns a ranch near Craig, and his father owns an outfitting business. He knows he has an opportunity to not only do well in the opening round, but he will run his second calf Saturday night and sits in a good place to not only collect a second-round check but also one for having a top aggregate score on two runs. But he’s not the only young one in the bunch. He leans quite a bit on his partner, a 6-year-old horse he’s owned almost a year. “I rode him at all the region rodeos,” he said, referring to his college season. “He’s just been outstanding him. I brought him tonight, and nothing bothers him. He takes the crowd pretty good. He was amazing when I got him. He scores great, and he stops and does the right things every time.” His first experience in Eagle made an impact. He looked around at the packed ground, then stood in awe. “This is an amazing rodeo,” Brennise said. “It’s one of the best circuit rodeos I’ve been to and one of the best in the region.” While Brennise is new to the Eagle rodeo, saddle bronc rider Bradley Harter has been to the beautiful mountain community many times in his 17-year career. He’s also a 10-time qualifier to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand championship. A year ago, he just missed the mark. The NFR features only the top 15 contestants in each event after the regular season; Harter finished 19th. On Wednesday night, he rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Another Grey for 79 points to take the bronc riding lead. “I come here every year,” he said. “I’ve won it, and we’re always up here going to Cheyenne (Wyoming) and over from Spanish Fork (Utah). This is a great rodeo. I thank God every day that I get to do my job, and I get to come up here and see how pretty it is. It makes me thank God every day for a great job.” Now 37, Harter knows he’s on the downhill side of his bronc riding career. The miles on the road going from one rodeo to another take their toll, as do the rough buckoffs and the time away from family, his wife, Kirby, and their sons, Houston and Branson. “I’ve had a great career, and I go into every town, and I look out and think, ‘I’ll be back next year,’ ” said Harter of Loranger, Louisiana. “The older I get, the more I realize I have an expiration date, so I get to sit back and take more pleasure out of jut being there, being around my friends and getting on good bucking horses. “My schedule, with two older kids, is going to change. I’m going to make the good rodeos count and focus on raising my kids. I put them first. Houston is 9, and Branson is 5. They’re playing baseball, hunting, and I need to be there more.” But he’s going to enjoy his time on the road while he can and hopefully return to the NFR this coming December. He is 10th in the world standings with nearly $64,000. “They’re in Louisiana, where it’s ridiculously hot, and I’m here in God’s country,” he said with a laugh. “I went home and rededicated myself, so I’m not sitting on the couch this year during the NFR. I’m going to go in there and have a good finals and leave there with my head held high.” It’s an approach that’s worked pretty well over his career. Eagle County Fair and Rodeo Eagle, Colo. July 24-27 Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 81 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bright Lights; 2. Joel Schlegel, 80.5; 3. Hunter Brasfield, 73; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Kalane Anders, 4.3 seconds; 2. Austin Eller, 4.5; 3. Aaron Vosler, 4.7; 4. Logan Kenine, 6.3; 5. Danny Huxtable, 9.1; 6. Bill Claunch, 10.8 Tie-down roping: 1. Kasen Brennise, 10.5 seconds; 2. Tyler Boxleitner, 10.6; 3. Jase Staudt, 11.2; 4. Hunter Reaume, 11.7. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Bradley Harter, 79 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Another Grey; 2. Roper Kiesner, 76; 3. Mason Mardesich, 72; 4. Rhett Fanning, 68; no other qualified rides. Team roping: 1. Jesse Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, 5.8 seconds; 2. Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson, 5.9; 3. Wade Kreutzer/Kyon Kreutzer, 6.1; 4. Jase Staudt/Clancey Kreutzer, 6.4. Barrel racing: 1. Mackenzie Scott, 17.80 seconds; 2. Briana Bailey, 18.14; 3. Amy Joe Reisdorfer, 18.15; 4.  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Eight years ago, the Lea County Fair Board stepped out onto a limb and decided to add the Lea County Xtreme Bulls to the Tuesday night schedule. The gamble seems to have paid off, with this year’s event set for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Jake McClure Arena in Lovington. “It’s a big deal here,” said Trey Kerby, chairman of the fair board’s rodeo committee. “We have a lot of people talking about it and getting ready for it.” What is it about the event that draws people from the rodeo-savvy region? “I guess it’s just the excitement of bull riding,” said Larry Wheeler, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “When they started it, I didn’t know if it would go over or not, but it has done well. A lot of people are fascinated with bull riding.” Fans’ reactions to the event has been that way for decades, which is why it’s always been held for last at most rodeos. About 30 years ago, more specialized events focusing on bull riding started to happen, and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association developed the Xtreme Bulls Tour in the mid-2000s. “There are only a few of the top-notch events that I haven’t had the pleasure of winning, and Lovington Xtreme was one of them,” said Sage Kimzey, the reigning five-time world champion bull rider and the 2017 winner in Lovington. “Coming out to Lea County, I had one thing on my mind.” Kimzey is one of a few former world champions who are expected to be in Lovington this August, and there will be dozens of cowboys in the field that have competed at the National Finals Rodeo. That includes last year’s winner, Jordan Spears, who just missed qualifying for the NFR. “A win’s important any time, and it doesn’t matter what time of year,” he said. “Over the years, I seem to draw good bulls, and I seem to ride good. It feels good to get a win at a big Xtreme Bulls event like this.” This is the big time as far as bull riding goes. Lea County Xtreme Bulls has been a Division I event since its inception – only eight of the 55 events on the Xtreme Bulls schedule are at that level. That’s for a reason. The Division I events offer a larger purse, and that’s just fine with the Lea County Fair Board. Board members realize that in order to produce a good event on Tuesday night of the fair and rodeo, they want to have the elite bull riders in southeast New Mexico for the night. In fact, the fair board has set up its entertainment lineup with that theory in mind. The board believes Flatland Cavalry, an up-and-coming group that will attract a younger audience, is the perfect mix for that Tuesday night. But, Kerby said, the key is also having all those cowboys back through the rest of the week at the rodeo. “We want the cowboys to come, so we want to have a good purse,” Kerby said. “Xtreme Bulls pulls the crowd in. When they can go out there and enjoy bull riding all night long, they really enjoy it, especially if there’s some good rides and some high scores.”

Gonzalez earns another BFO victory, this time in northern California FORTUNA, Calif. – While his ancestors enjoyed bullfighting with a cape and an olè, Andrès “Sasquatch” Gonzalez loves what he’s able to do during the American version of freestyle bullfighting through Bullfighters Only. The proof has come often this season, with the latest version happening last Friday night at the BFO Sequoia Cup in Fortuna. In his first time competing among the Redwood trees and the rowdy fans that Fortuna is known for, he walked away as the event champion. “This was a big win for me, because overall, I think it’s great having a California guy winning an event like this,” said Gonzalez, who pocketed $6,000 and carried a specially made wooden trophy back home to Woodland, California. “I feel like it’s one of the bigger events, and it was an awesome experience.” He was one of five men to advance to the Hooey Championship Round, where he posted 87.5 points to share the top score with newcomer Chance Pruitt. Gonzalez earned the title through the tie-breaker by having a higher bullfighter score – the total points are based on a 100-point scale, with half the score coming from the animal and half from how well the man controlled the fight. The Californian earned the title by a mere half point. “You don’t see too many Hispanics on the rodeo side of things, especially in freestyle bullfighting,” he said. “This is the kind of show that I like to do. When anybody dedicates themselves, they can do whatever they want. “I feel like I was born to be a freestyle bullfighter; it’s in my blood. I thank God it was a gift He gave me.” It was also an experience for the whopping crowd in the northern California community of 12,000 people, but it’s something they’ve grown to love thanks in large part to the organizers. The BFO has been a big part of the celebration in Fortuna for three years. “For us to bring the BFO gang up here is a big deal for this part of the country,” said Shannon McWhorter, president of the Fortuna Rodeo Association. “They’ve stepped up their game every year, from the first year where we just set up some panels and threw some things together until now, where it’s a full-blown BFO event like you’d see in Las Vegas. “We pack the people in here, and fans leave this thing saying they can’t wait until next year. These guys are just like us, and a lot of these guys are from rural backgrounds. They come in here and just make us look good. We’re just a group of 20 guys that put on a weeklong festival, and the biggest part of the festival is the BFO.” That’s saying something in just three short years, but it’s become a trend with the rapidly growing BFO, which got its start in 2015 and had its first full season a year later. It’s now the most extreme sport in the country, with all the prestige and production necessary to help draw fans to the dangerous game of chance. Evidence of that came in the final round when the two-time bull of the year, Manuel Costa’s Sid Vicious, was matched with the Calgary, Alberta’s Aaron Mercer, the No. 2 man in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. As the bullfighter started his bout with his patented “Mercy Roll,” Sid Vicious added a bump and caused him to over rotate. Mercer righted himself, only to be thrown high into the air just six seconds into the bout. In all, Mercer was knocked around at least eight times, with Sid Vicious ripping off his jersey and protective vest in the process. But the Canadian finished the bout. “I went into that fight with a different mindset,” he said. “I wasn’t as worked up as I normally would have been. I heard I had Sid Vicious in the short round. You hear that name, and you’re going to get a little more nervous. I’m just glad I was able to finish the fight. “The crowd was massive, and the stands were full and people were standing around. They crave bullfighting there. People love it in Fortuna, and we love putting on a show for them. I think that’s what makes Fortuna one of our better events.” Pruitt was competing at just his second BFO event, just a few weeks removed from the Southern Classic in Gainesville, Georgia. He quickly realized there was a different energy in the stands among the giant Redwoods. “It was a really cool setting,” said Pruitt, 18, of Jasper, Arkansas. “For us to drive there was awesome, to see the Redwoods and then to get there and see the arena. The backside was pretty far up, and it was full of people. The crowd was really into it.” His second-place finish also proved why the BFO invited him to compete amongst the top athletes in the freestyle bullfighting game. Not only are the top bullfighters in the BFO, but so are the rising stars and there are still plenty of opportunities ahead to earn a bid for the Las Vegas Championships, set for Dec. 5-14 at the Tropicana Las Vegas. “With this win, I think I moved to No. 5 in the world,” Gonzalez said. “I’m going for the No. 1 spot, and hopefully I can work my way to be the world champ. For me being the only Hispanic on tour, it means a lot to me to do well. “Being able to be part of the BFO is the biggest thing for my career. These were my idols, and now being able to compete against these guys is a dream come true. This is a goal of my life. Last  year, I was in two events, and I won them both, and now I’m being part of the whole tour is incredible for me.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – When her son was diagnosed with autism, Trista Fergerson didn’t fret about it; she went to work. Fergerson and two other mothers of children on the autism spectrum started gathering together in a makeshift mom support group. It’s grown over the years into what is now known as Perfect Fit Foundation of Southwest Kansas. “Amongst the three of us, we wanted to tell people what autism is,” she said. “Before our kids were diagnosed, we didn’t know anything about it. We put together a 5K race, Run for Autism, to bring awareness.  We just completed our third this past April. In the fall, I started exploring this foundation as a legal entity. We can give donations, and people can donate to us.” It’s continuing to grow, and the donations it receives will go toward great things for people in southwest Kansas. That’s how Dodge City Roundup Rodeo is involved. “What Trista and this foundation are doing already is amazing, and I think there are other ways we can help while growing awareness about special needs,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 4, at Roundup Arena. “Our Thursday performance will be Exceptional Rodeo Night, and we are going to have an exceptional rodeo for people with special needs starting at 5:30 that evening.” One of the goals of the foundation is to be a support group for those who have special needs children, to raise awareness for kids and adults with special needs. Fergerson has also begun work with a clinical director about creating a therapy center, since one doesn’t exist in the region. “The foundation will own and operate Perfect Fit Therapy Clinic,” she said. But there’s so much more that the foundation wants to do and has been doing in addition to Run for Autism. “We wanted to put on events for folks with special needs,” Fergerson said. “We have a Special Olympics recognition night at Dodge City sporting events. We hold monthly Special Needs Night at Long Branch Lagoon. We are calling our night at the rodeo exceptional rodeo to follow in the direction of what they do at the NFR.” Every year at the National Finals Rodeo, volunteers, contestants and other rodeo personnel provide people with special needs an event all their own. They can ride horses, rope and enjoy a little cowboy lifestyle while wearing specialized shirts, a hat and a bandana. “Roundup is giving tickets to families of individuals with special needs, that way we can get special needs families to the rodeo,” she said. “That evening, we are going to show a video of the exceptional rodeo and have some information for Boyd (Polhamus) to read about it. “Lopp Motors has donated a kids Jeep Power Wheel, so we are going to have a raffle throughout Dodge City Days to give that way. It’s another source of income for the foundation and fundraising opportunities for us. We will do the drawing after the Sunday night performance right before the buckle presentations.”

EAGLE, Colo. – For most rodeo cowboys, the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo is a terrific spot to enjoy the Rocky Mountains, a beautiful setting and a great rodeo. For Joel Schlegel, it’s home. He lives in Burns in northern Eagle County and has been one of the best bareback riders in the region for a long time. In fact, he’s been considered one of the best in ProRodeo, having finished among the top 50 in the world standings several times in his career. He’s excited to return to this year’s rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24-Saturday, July 27, at Johnette Phillips Arena on the Eagle County Fairgrounds. He knows why so many others are putting their names in the hat to compete in Eagle this summer. “The committee did up their money this year, which is nice,” Schlegel said. “it’s one of those rodeos that they made a big step a few years ago when they brought in (stock contractor) Pete Carr. That and other things have upped their entries.” That’s true. More than 300 contestants have thrown their names in the hat to compete in Eagle this year. That’s a significant number considering the dozens of other Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events that will take place that week, whether its in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Deadwood, South Dakota; Burwell, Nebraska; or one of the other stops across the country. “That’s a tough weekend to compete for rodeos, so to be able to still draw numbers like that is great for the Eagle rodeo,” Schlegel said. “I think it’s a great rodeo and a great atmosphere. They still pack the fans, and they’ve got great hospitality. “It’s a great place. Pete Carr makes sure he brings up his good horses, and I commend them for trying to up their money and become more well known. The money is what’s going to bring the cowboys to town.” In fact, of the 300-plus contestants who are scheduled to compete, dozens have competed at the National Finals Rodeo and several others have earned the most coveted prizes in the game: world champions’ gold buckles. “It’s a good little spot to go, up there in the mountains and Pete Carr having the stock there,” said Joe Lufkin, a saddle bronc rider from Sallisaw, Oklahoma. “It’s just a good time of year to go. Its nice to go up there and relax a little in Eagle and get on some good horses.” Over the years, the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo has been recognized as one of the best events in the PRCA. It has been nominated as Medium Rodeo of the Year, which features just five finalists each year. There’s no reason it shouldn’t be recognized as such each year. “The contestants like it because after you’ve rodeoed in Pecos, Texas, and Pretty Prairie, Kansas, where it’s 104 degrees and hot and miserable, it’s nice to go to a good rodeo with good stock and be in a nice, cool temperature,” said Justin Rumford, the six-time PRCA Clown of the Year who will work Eagle for the second time. “It’s just kind of a wind-down of the regular rodeo grind.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Children that grow up in a rural community are more likely to understand the value of hard work. They may not always enjoy it – nor will they appreciate it – at the time, but the benefits of labor can be seen now and forever. No place is that more evident than the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for Friday, Aug. 2-Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington. The show barn and exhibit hall during the annual exposition is where the rewards come. Ribbons help add color and help brighten any day, and the show ring is the perfect place for that record-selling calf or lamb. “I think our livestock shows are a great thing for developing young people, giving them responsibility and teaching them responsibility and how to take care of animals,” said Larry Wheeler, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “As they get older, they do more and more. “It teaches them life lessons. It’s not only good for the kids, but it’s good for the families who are involved. They can do it as a family and work together. It’s a tremendous thing for kids.” He should know. Like many in Lea County, Wheeler grew up in the show barn. He first entered it wearing diapers and hasn’t missed a year since. After being the third person in his family to serve as beef superintendent, he took on the biggest role of the entire volunteer organization. But there’s still a great deal of pride for him with what happens inside that barn. He and many others have seen each child’s development, each child’s growth in what they do. In a society where kids learn via the Internet and know how to program a phone before they get out of elementary school, the 4H and FFA projects offer something different to help get minds right. What many miss are the opportunities to learn that come through working with their hands and their minds together. “Our junior livestock sale consistently runs second or third in the state as far as revenue for the kids,” said Dean Jackson, a Lea County commissioner and former fair board chairman. “We have some of the best facilities in all of New Mexico, if not all the Southwest. “Lea County is a great place to live, a great place to work. We’re hard workers, and God has blessed us.” It’s all built up from infancy to maturity, because that’s been the backbone to the successes that happen in southeast New Mexico. Many who volunteer today do so because they realize how important the fair and rodeo is to the community and, most importantly, the children. “I think our 4H and FFA programs are more important than ever today,” Wheeler said. “Our society has gotten away from teaching our children responsibility like they did in the past. I still think it’s very important for kids to learn at a younger age. The 4H and FFA programs are great tools to teach them that.”

Grimes earns barrel racing title after a record-breaking run in Estes Park ESTES PARK, Colo. – If Kathy Grimes didn’t like Rooftop Rodeo before, she loves it now. A year ago, Grimes placed fourth with a time that would have been an arena record, but there were three other ladies that were faster in Estes Park. On Friday night, she blazed around the pattern in another arena-record 16.64 seconds to win the title for the first time. “I love this rodeo,” said Grimes, a 2017 National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Medical Lake, Washington. “I finished fourth last year, so it was a good pen for her. I decided to just come here instead of Laramie (Wyoming), and, gosh, it worked out.” Yes, it did for her and her trusty mount, Issy, a 12-year-old black mare. In fact, there were 18 ladies who posted runs that were faster than Ari-Anna Flynn’s record run of 17.04 seconds in 2018. That says a great deal, especially considering only 15 of them earned money in Estes Park. “I can’t even explain how thrilled I am and how much I needed this little boost,” said Grimes, who was 26th in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s world standings heading into this week of rodeos. “It was finally perfect. I hit a couple barrels this week. You need those confidence-builders. You can have 10 good runs and one crappy one, and that’s all you focus on.” But the victory in Estes Park can go a long way. Not only is it a confidence-booster, but the $4,595 she earned should move her up in the standings. That’s important for many reasons: Not only do the cowgirls make a living on the rodeo trail, but dollars equal points. Only the top 15 ladies on the money list at the end of the season will advance to the NFR in December. Issy was the horse that made that happen two years ago. What may be even cooler is that the black beauty is a second-generation horse for Grimes, who competed on Issy’s dam, Do it for Beau, more than a decade ago. “She was my first embryo transfer endeavor,” she said. “She’s special because she’s the first. Her mom helped me fill my permit so I could get my (WPRA) card in 2006. She just has excelled, then took me to my first NFR. “She has done so many things for me, and she’s a very tough horse. She actually has 17 embryos on the ground, and she’s only 12. She is very fertile.” Issy’s dam also is a prolific breeder and has been out-produced by all her babies in terms of money earned. “That probably was because I didn’t know a lot back then,” Grimes said. “Issy is just an amazing horse, and I try not to screw it up. “I had a pretty good winter, but we need to have a really great summer to make the NFR again. It’s not going as good as I hoped, but if I can remember what to do right it’ll be OK. She always gives 150 percent, and there’s a lot of summer left.” For now, though, she’ll cherish the victory, the money and the arena record from Rooftop Rodeo. “The hospitality is awesome, and food is super important for us on the road,” Grimes said. “The free stalls are always so appreciated, because we have a place for our horses to be safe and out of the weather.” It’s no wonder she enjoys her summertime jaunt to Estes Park. Rooftop Rodeo Estes Park, Colo. July 8-13, 2018 Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Tim O’Connell, on Cervi Brothers Rodeo’s San Luis, and Spur Lacasse, on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Ain’t No Angel, $5,412 each; 3. Seth Hardwick, 84.5, $3,472; 4. (tie) Taylor Broussard, Jesse Pope and Blaine Kafuman, 83.5, $1,565 each; 7. (tie) Steven Dent and Kody Lamb, 83, $715 each. Steer wrestling: Round 1: 1. Stockton Graves, 4.2 seconds, $1,480; 2. Hunter Cure, 4.3, $1,225; 3. (tie) Jacob Edler, Riley Duvall and Shane Frey, 4.4, $714 each; 6. Tyrel Cline, 4.8, $255. Round 2: 1. Cody Harmon, 3.8, $1,480; 2. Billy Boldon, 4.2, $1,225; 3. Blake Mindemann, 4.3, $970; 4. Aaron Vosler, 4.6, $714; 5. Don Payne, 5.0, $459; 6. Kaleb Summers, 5.1, $255. Average: 1. Aaron Vosler, 9.3 seconds on two runs, $2,220; 2. Billy Boldon, 9.6, $1,837; 3. Riley Duvall, 9.7, $1,453; 4. (tie) Jacob Edler and Cody Harmon, 9.8, $880 each; 6. J.D. Struxness, 10.1, $383. Team roping: 1. Tyler Wade/Billy Jack Saebens, 3.9 seconds, $4,920; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Shay Carroll, 4.0, $4,402; 3. (tie) Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, Cody McCluskey/Joe Mattern and Jake Orman/Tyler McKnight, 4.4, $3,667 each; 6. (tie) Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.5, $2,072 each; 8. Garrett Rogers/Jake Minor, 4.8, $1,295; 9. (tie) Colby Lovell/Ty Arnold and Cory Kidd/Kory Koontz, 4.9, $518 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Hardy Braden, 86 points on Cervi Rodeo’s Alpha Dog, $5,555; 2. Colt Gordon, 86.5, $4,259; 3. Allen Boore, 85, $3,148; 4. Ross Griffin, 84. $2,007; 5. Jake Wright, 83.5, $1,296; 6. (tie) J.J. Elshere and Trent Burd, 83, $833 each; 8. (tie) Logan Cook and Jesse Wright, 82.5, $278 each. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Dane Kissack, 8.1 seconds, $1,573; 2. (tie) Kody Mahaffey and Clint Nyegaard, 8.4, $1,166 each; 4. Marcos Costa, 8.6, $760; 5. Logan Vick, 8.7, $488; 6. (tie) Garrett Busby and Ryan Thibadeaux, 8.9, $136 each. Round 2: 1. Chase Williams, 7.8 seconds, $1,573; 2. Trenton Smith, 8.1, $1,302; 3. (tie) Jase Staudt and Cooper Mathews, 8.4, $895 each; 5. (tie) Kasen Brennise and Reid Zapalac, 8.5, $380 each. Average: 1. Chase Williams, 16.9 seconds on two runs, $2,360; 2. Marcos Costa, 17.4, $1,953; 3. Joey Dickens, 18.0, $1,546; 4. Dane Kissack, 18.7, $1,139; 5. Jase Staudt, 18.9, $732; 6. Trevor Theil, 19.2, $407. c Barrel racing: 1. Kathy Grimes, 16.64 seconds, $4,595; 2. Sara Cheeney, 16.70, $3,676; 3. Dona Kay Rule, 16.74, $2,967; 4. Sissy Winn, 16.76, $2,297; 5. Lacinda Rose, 16.79,  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – For full-time rodeo cowboys, mid-July equals the final push of the regular season and hope of qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo. For regional cowboy Blaine Konkel, this week was a return to the game he loves and has done most of his life – albeit with about a 10-year break in between. He wrapped up his homecoming, of sorts, by earning some Colorado cash at Cattlemen’s Days PRCA. During Saturday night’s final performance, Konkel roped and tied his calf in 11.1 seconds to finish fifth in tie-down roping, pocketing $807 in the process. That’s not a bad payday in a week’s worth of work. “I just stared rodeoing again this summer,” said Konkel, 32, of Fort Collins, Colorado. “This is the first weekend I went. I competed in Laramie (Wyoming), Casper (Wyoming) and Estes Park (Colorado), and this is the only check I won.” That’s still a good thing, because that money will count toward his place in the Mountain States Circuit. In fact, his one-rodeo payout should put him quickly into the top 25 in the circuit standings. “I’ve been to Gunnison a couple of times,” he said. “It’s just a good rodeo to get to. The hospitality is great; they give us free hay, feed us good and the calves are good. That’s everything you want in a rodeo.” Konkel was raised in Fort Collins, and the rodeo bug hit him early. He competed through youth rodeo and into high school competition before taking his game to the intercollegiate level at Montana State University in Bozeman. “I took a few years off and worked for a while, and I’m just getting back into it,” said Konkel, who works in the oil and gas industry. “I work seven days on, seven days off, so it works out to get off and go to a few rodeos over the summer. “I like to rodeo, so I try to get to a few when I can in the summertime.” But any competitor knows that it takes a solid partner to make things happen quick in the arena. for Konkel, that comes in a beautiful palomino gelding that he suspects is 16 or 17 years old. The horse worked great on Saturday night. “I bought this horse when I was in college,” he said of Sonny, which was 4 or 5 when Konkel acquired the snappy mount. “He was turned out for a while, and I just started using him again. He’s just a good horse. He’s always been solid and works great.” The proof came on the final night of Gunnison’s rodeo. Cattlemen’s Days Gunnison, Colo. July 11-13 All-around champion: Braxton Morgan, $106 in team roping and tie-down roping Bareback riding: 1. Casey Colletti, 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Sun Catcher, $1,973; 2. Logan Patterson, 84, $1,495; Skyler Erickson, 80.5, $1,076; 4. Craig Wisehart, 79.5, $717; 5. (tie) Tucker Zingg and Bobby Reynolds, 78, $359 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Jacob Edler, 3.7 seconds, $2,017; 2. Aaron Vosler, 4.2, $1,669; 3. Kade Greer, 4.4, $1,322; 4. (tie) Austin Eller and Chisum Docheff, 4.7, $800 each; 6. Joseph Buffington, 5.0, $348. Team roping: 1. Wade Kreutzer/Kyon Kreutzer, 5.6 seconds, $2,443; 2. Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson, 5.7, $2,124; 3. (tie) Clayton Van Aken/Cullen Teller and Casey Tew/Jason Johe, 5.8, $1,646 each; 5. (tie) Philip Schuman/Josh Fillmore and Jesse Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, 6.0, $1,009 each; 8. (tie) Travis Bounds/T.J. Watts and Braxton Morgan/C.L. Morgan, 6.3, $106 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Tyler Beebe, 83.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s -528, $2,064; 2. Lefty Holman, 79, $1,583; 3. (tie) Ryder Sanford and Wyatt Hageman, 78, $963 each; 5. (tie) Parker Kempfer and Cooper Thatcher, 77.5, $413 each; 7. Joey Sonnier, 77, $275; 8. Reed Neely, 75.5, $206. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Justin Smith and Jarrett Oestmann, 9.1 seconds, $1,576 each; 3. Robert Mathis, 10.4, $1,246; 4. Brice Ingo, 10.7, $1,926; 5. Blaine Konkel, 11.1, $807; 6. Kyle Dickens, 11.3, $587; 7. Stuart Hoar, 12.5, $367; 8. Justin Hindeman, 13.6, $147 Barrel racing: 1. Nicole Waggoner, 17.58 seconds, $1,680; 2. Chris Gibson, 17.65, $1,440; 3. Dani Brownell, 17.71, $1,200; 4. Kynzie McNeill, 17.92, $1,040; 5. (tie) Shaylee Hindmann and and Kelley Schnaufer, 17.94, $720 each; 7. Katie Jolly, 17.96, $480; 8. Sara Cheeney, 17.99; 9. Kelly Yates, 18.03; 10. Lexi Bath, 18.21, $160. Bull riding: 1. Trevor Kastner, 89 points on United Pro Rodeo’s East Side, $2,540; 2. (tie) Nathan Hatchell and Brady Porteneir, 86.5, $1,756 each; 4. Braden Richardson, 86, $1,050; 5. Tristan Mize, 82.5, $737.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo is known for having the best concert series in the Southwest, and this year’s lineup is no different. “We’ve got a great entertainment lineup,” said Dean Jackson, a Lea County commissioner and former chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “We, as a commission, have some discretionary money to use to it, but really we are blessed to be in the middle of the oilfield. “We budget roughly $1 million a year to the fair and rodeo, and the guy that put me on the fair board, Harry Teague, told me that this is what we do for the people of Lea County. This is what we do so we could show them a good time.” That’s why the fair is such an important part of this region’s landscape. For most of its 84 years, the PRCA rodeo was what brought the most people to town. Hundreds of ProRodeo contestants make their way to southeast New Mexico every August to be part of this prestigious event. But recent years have brought change, thanks in large part to the Lea County Commission. Because it underwrites the overall cost of producing a fair and rodeo of this magnitude, the fair board is able to go over the top to bring in the top acts from across the country. In fact, the lineup is so great that it’s tough to pick the headliner. Friday, Aug. 2: Los Huracanes del Norte for Hispanic Heritage Night Tuesday, Aug. 6: Flatland Cavalry Wednesday, Aug. 7: Amy Grant Thursday, Aug. 8: Cody Johnson Friday, Aug. 9: Ronnie Milsap Saturday, Aug. 10: Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy “I think we’ve got an incredible lineup,” said Larry Wheeler, the chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “With Flatland Cavalry, we always try to do an up-and-coming band on the night of Xtreme Bulls. That’s a big draw for the younger crowd. I’ve heard a lot of excitement out of them, and I think the people that will come that night are excited about them.” Having renowned Christian artist Grant on Faith is also a blessing. The fair board has always tried to bring top-quality Christian acts the Wednesday evening of the fair, and they’ve gone above to get someone the caliber of Grant. She’s earned six Grammys and numerous Gospel Music Association Dove Awards. “I thought we were extremely blessed to get her,” Wheeler said. “Thursday night was kind of a dead night as far as attendance, so one of my goals as to get somebody that might bring the folks in that night. I think we may have accomplished that with Cody Johnson. “You can’t please everybody, but you try to reach out to as many people as you can. We’ve got an older artist with Ronnie Milsap, and I’ve heard a lot of comments that tell me they’re happy.” The nine-day exposition closes with Big & Rich, who have been big-time artists together for a dozen years. “I think our Saturday night will be a huge night as well,” Wheeler said. “They’re very entertaining, and I think the overall experience will be fantastic for the people that come to our fair this year.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Jacob Edler has a college degree, but his education continues in professional rodeo. The lessons are coming to fruition, and he proved it Friday night at the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo. He wrestled his steer to the ground in 3.7 seconds and owns a lead of seven-tenths heading into Saturday’s final performance of this year’s championship. “I’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks,” said Edler of States Center, Iowa. “Stars finally lined up, and I was 3 (seconds). It’d been a long time since I’d been a 3. You just have to keep yourself stable mentally, because your turn’s going to come around. You’ve just got to be ready to take advantage of it. “It’s just another rodeo closer to where I want to be at the end of the year as far as my goals go, and I hope we can just keep the consistency going through the year.” Edler finished his college education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where he finished as the runner-up to the national champion in 2016. Now he’s gaining his education while traveling the rodeo trail with two-time world champion, Hunter Cure, and 2019 National Finals Rodeo qualifier Blake Mindemann. “I’ve learned so much from them,” said Elder, who sits 27th in the steer wrestling world standings. “They’re the ones that told me that being consistent in your bulldogging is what’s going to get you there at the end of the year.” The “there” he’s referring to is the NFR. It’s next step in every cowboy’s goal toward winning those cherished world champion’s gold buckles. “I used to be sporadic, having a $5,000 week here and a dry week there,” he said. “Hunter told me you cannot do that. You have to catch money every week.” That’s why he’s in a position to earn that spot to Las Vegas, and the money he will win in Gunnison will go a long way toward that. Not only that, but there are still two and a half months remaining in the 2019 regular season with many opportunities to cash in. The tough part is that only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the end of the regular season advance to the NFR, and the bulldogging field is always one of the toughest to fill. By the time the season comes to an end, there are typically 10 cowboys on the bubble to fill the final few spots to compete for the world title. The key for Edler is horsepower. He knows he has something special in Cure’s horse, Charlie. “Hunter’s won two gold buckles on that horse,” Edler said. “That horse actually had a near career-ending injury two years ago, where he almost cut his foot off on some wire. They sent him to Copper Springs Ranch (in Montana). Brian Anderson (the property manager) reshod that horse, and they put a lot of time and effort into that horse to where he’s world class again.” Charlie got Edler to the steer in a hurry, then the cowboy went to work. As he reached for the animal, Edler was a bit behind, but got to his feet in a hurry and threw the steer down in one fluid motion. “That steer just let off, and I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “I thought the best thing I did there was not panic. I just caught his head, got forward and laid him down flat. “I think I have all the ability to make the National Finals Rodeo, but I need to stay consistent.” Cattlemen’s Days Gunnison, Colo. July 11-13 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Casey Colletti, 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Sun Catcher; 2. Logan Patterson, 84; Skyler Erickson, 80.5; 4. Craig Wisehart, 79.5; 5. (tie) Tucker Zingg and Bobby Reynolds, 78; 7. Justin Pollmiller, 74; 8. Will Martin, 64. Steer wrestling: 1. Jacob Edler, 3.7 seconds; 2. Kade Greer, 4.4; 3. (tie) Austin Eller and Chisum Docheff, 4.7; 5. Joseph Buffington, 5.0; 6. (tie) Gage Hesse and Bill Claunch, 5.7; 8. Gage Greer, 6.2. Team roping: 1. Wade Kreutzer/Kyon Kreutzer, 5.6 seconds; 2. Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson, 5.7; 3. (tie) Clayton Van Aken/Cullen Teller and Casey Tew/Jason Johe, 5.8; 5. Philip Schuman/Josh Fillmore, 6.0; 6. (tie) Travis Bounds/T.J. Watts and Braxton Morgan/C.L. Morgan, 6.3; 8. Ken McKibbin/Jorge Cruz Ibarra, 6.6. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Tyler Beebe, 83.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s -528; 2. Lefty Holman, 79; 3. (tie) Ryder Sanford and Wyatt Hageman, 78; 5. Parker Kempfer, 77.5; 6. Joey Sonnier, 77; 7. Trent Burd, 75; 8. Bready Nicholes, 68. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Justin Smith and Jarrett Oestmann, 9.1 seconds; 3. Robert Mathis, 10.4; 4. Brice Ingo, 10.7; 5. Stuart Hoar, 12.5; 6. Justin Hindman, 13.6; 7. Hadley DeShazo, 14.5; 8. Jase Staudt, 17.4. Barrel racing: 1. Nicole Waggoner, 17.58 seconds; 2. Chris Gibson, 17.65; 3. Shaylee Hindmann, 17.94; 4. Katie Jolly, 17.96; 5. Trudy Petersen, 18.22; 6. Bethany Gabel, 18.43; 7. Charity Hoar, 19.48; no other qualified runs. Bull riding: 1. Trevor Kastner, 89 points on United Pro Rodeo’s East Side; 2. Nathan Hatchell, 86.5; no other qualified rides.

Blasingame closer to NFR bid with quality run with Bates in Estes Park ESTES PARK, Colo. – Ty Blasingame’s rodeo lifestyle got a little easier in March when he and his then-partner, Kyle Lockett, won RodeoHouston and more than $55,000. That pushed him to No. 1 in the team roping-heading world standings, a spot he held until recently passed by the reigning world champion, Clay Smith. Still, Blasingame has been adding to it and sits second with just shy of $80,000. He’ll surpass that by the end of the weekend. On Friday night, Blasingame and his heeler, Brandon Bates, stopped the clock in 4.4 seconds to take the team roping lead at Rooftop Rodeo with one night remaining in Estes Park. “We had a great steer,” said Blasingame, a 2010 National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Casper, Wyoming. “We were the first team out tonight, so we didn’t know what to expect. I headed him as fast as I could, he stayed on his feet, and my man did a great job heeling him.” In an event where the fastest time wins, being speedy is important, and not many headers have been consistently as fast as the man they call “Blaster.” “He had it on him fast enough that the steer was just soft enough in front that I thought I better pull inside and just catch him,” said Bates, the 38th-ranked heeler from Phoenix, Arizona. “We’ve jackpotted a lot over the years, but we just started roping together this past February.” While the team may be heading along different paths at this stage of the season, anything can change. Should they stay atop the standings in Estes Park, each man will pocket nearly $4,500. In addition, they are winning the rodeo in Vernal, Utah, and will compete in the short round Saturday night in Casper. Now they have an opportunity to win the Rodeo with Altitude, with a beautiful setting in a world-class arena. If it happens, it will be a first for Blasingame, who lived most of his life in Colorado before moving to Wyoming recently. “This is an awesome rodeo,” he said. “The committee stepped up a few years ago and added quite a bit of money. The committee does a fantastic job, and the fans are awesome. This is one of the best rodeos we go to, so they should be rodeo of the year.” Rooftop Rodeo Estes Park, Colo. July 8-13, 2018 Leaders Bareback riding: 1. Tim O’Connell, 87 points on Cervi Rodeo’s San Luis; 2. Seth Hardwick, 84.5; 3. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Jesse Pope, 83.5; 5. (tie) Steven Dent and Kody Lamb, 83; 7. Tilden Hooper, 82.5; 8. (tie) Casey Colletti, Paden Hurst and Craig Wisehart, 82. Steer wrestling: 1. Stockton Graves, 4.2 seconds; 2. Hunter Cure, 4.3; 3. Jacob Edler, 4.4; 4. (tie) J.D. Struxness, Laine Herl and Aaron Vosler, 4.7; 7. Will Lummus, 4.8; 8. 9. Ty Everson, 5.0; 9. (tie) Billy Boldon and Tanner Jackson, 5.4. Team roping: 1. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 4.4 seconds; 2. Colby Lovell/Ty Arnold, 4.9; 3. Garett Chick/Ross Ashford, 5.0; 4. Erich Rogers/Payden Bray, 5.1; 5. (tie) Rhen Richard/Clint Summers and Curry Kirchner/Daniel Reed, 5.5; 7. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 5.7; 8. Eric Martin/Jason Gilchrist, 7.4; 9. Dustin Equsquiza/Jake Long, 9.8; 10. Kal Fuller/Kasper Roy, 9.9; 11. Casey Tew/Jason Johe, 10.0; 12. Steven Duby/Jason Duby, 10.2. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Hardy Braden, 86 points on Cervi Rodeo’s Alpha Dog; 2. Colt Gordon, 86.5; 3. Jake Wright, 83.5; 4. (tie) J.J. Elshere and Trent Burd, 83; 6. (tie) Logan Cook and Jesse Wright, 82.5; 8. (tie) Parker Kempfer and CoBurn Bradshaw, 82; 10. Chanse Darling, 81. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Kody Mahaffey and Clint Nyegaard, 8.4 seconds; 3. (tie) Garrett Busby and Ryan Thibadeaux, 8.9; 5. Ronnie Davis, 9.4; 6. Trevor Thiel, 9.6; 7. Colt Papy, 10.4; 8. Jase Staudt, 10.5; 9. Ryan Belew, 10.9; 10 Talon Cooper, 11.1. Barrel racing: 1. Sara Cheeney, 16.70 seconds; 2. Dona Kay Rule, 16.74; 3. Lacinda Rose, 16.79; 4. Leia Pluemer, 16.81; 5. Jill Wilson, 16.83; 6. Jill Tanner, 16.84; 7. Carley Taylor, 16.92; 8. Nicole Love, 16.95; 9. Kelly Allen, 16.96; 10. Megan Champion, 16.97; 11. Kassidy Lovell, 16.99; 12. Kynzie McNeill, 17.02; 13. Dani Brownell, 17.06; 14. Heidi Tillard, 17.07. Bull riding: 1. Josh Frost, 86.5 points on Lyndell Hurst’s Peacemaker; 2. Trey Kimzey, 86; 3. Cody Johansen, 83.5; 4. Callum Miller, 83; 5. Riker Carter, 82; 6. Sean Lynch, 81.5; 7. Hayden Harris, 80.5; 8. (tie) Parker Cole McCown and Shad Winn, 80; 10. Dalton McMurtrie, 79.5.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – When Benje Bendele clicks his fingers, something magical usually happens. Ah, the life of the preeminent sound director in ProRodeo. If it happens in the arena, the speakers rumble with a complementary sound. It’s a split-second, a click and a style that has led the Texan to many of the biggest rodeos in North America. “It’s been a great ride,” said Bendele, who has lent his talents the last two decades to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “Rodeos have picked up this format. They’ve left the traditional brass bands, and they realize that this is another aspect of the performances.” And that’s one of the reasons he will be a major player in the five performances of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 5, at Roundup Arena – it includes the Xtreme Bulls on Tuesday, July 30. “Benje has been here for a long time; he’s the best there is,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, chairman of the volunteer rodeo committee that produces the annual event. “Benje’s work just adds so much to our rodeo. He always seems to have the right sound to go with whatever is happening in the arena. His timing is incredible.” The effects and music can’t be choreographed, because the action doesn’t allow it. But with split-second timing, Bendele finds the right music or right sound effect to bring together that excellent ride, fast time or explosive dismount. “I think the thing I like about my career is being part of the way the rodeo is watched and taken in by rodeo fans and how that’s changed in the last 10 years,” he said. “It’s changed drastically in the last five years. It’s just the way sporting events in general are being seen, and we, in the rodeo business, have to keep up with that. I’ve been part of that, part of the goal in our sport. “It’s how our sport evolves.” That’s something Bendele understands well. He started his rodeo career as a contestant, then followed his passion for the sport to the announcer’s stand and on to the sound booth. Beginning at age 9, he competed in youth, high school and college rodeo as a team roper and tie-down roper. He even tried his hand at bull-riding, which lasted 15 seconds – five bulls at an average of three seconds each. “It was then and there that I decided that bull riding was not for me,” he said. No matter. Bendele has used that experience and an insider’s understanding of the extreme sport to stand out among his peers. Not only does he work the annual championship, but he’s also been hired to produce sound for some of the biggest events in the sport. He’s also worked his way up the charts, so to speak, with ingenuity and hard work. In fact, he got the NFR job while working at a rodeo in Glens Falls, N.Y. “I knew Shawn Davis, the general manager of the NFR, was looking for a music guy for the Dallas event, so I called him up from a little hotel room,” Bendele said. “I’d set up all my equipment in this room, kind of a mini-studio, and when I called him, he asked, ‘What can you do for me?’ “So, I put on a little show. By the end of the conversation, I was hired. I did the Dallas event, and at that point, they hired me for the NFR.” He’s had plenty of experiences in his time in the game. He recalls the days of not only hauling equipment into announcer’s stands at rodeos all across this land, but hauling cassette tapes and CDs, too. Now all the effects and music are loaded on computers, and making updates is a regular part of his job. “We have to keep up with technology,” he said. “Digital is constantly changing. Now with the computer, it’s at the touch of a button, and there’s so much more of a variety to have.” And whether it’s a snippet from a hip hop song or brass trumpets or the moans of a crowd, there is a defined marriage between the action in the arena and the sounds that accompany it. It’s Benje Bendele at his best.

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Tim O’Connell’s final ride of the 2018 season earned him his third straight world championship, but it almost ruined his 2019 campaign. Almost is the key word. On Thursday night during the fourth performance of Rooftop Rodeo, O’Connell rode Cervi Rodeo’s San Luis for 87 points and owns the bareback riding lead. Prior to the ride, he had moved into 25th place in the world standings with nearly $28,000 in earnings. That’s not bad, especially considering that he just returned to the arena three weeks ago. “I pretty much tore my arm off my body in the 10th round (of the National Finals Rodeo),” said O’Connell of Zwingle, Iowa. “It was way worse than they originally thought.” After his ride on that final night of the season, J Bar J Rodeo’s All Pink got the better of O’Connell and ripped him down away from his riding hand. He laid on the ground for a few moments, gathered his composure and realized he’d won his third gold buckle in a row. Over the next few weeks, he tried to rehabilitate that left shoulder, but it kept getting worse. After testing, he leaned on the advice of noted rodeo orthopedist Dr. Tandy Freeman and opted for surgery, which took place in mid-January. At the end of June, he received a cautious green light to get back to the business of riding bucking horses. “It’s still a process to get everything back,” he said. “I don’t have great range of motion above my hand, but I’m strong in my bareback riding position. Thankfully, it’s my riding arm. If it was my free arm, we would be talking about next season.” He’s glad that wasn’t the option, because he’s got his sights set on a fourth-straight world title. “Tandy told me to proceed with caution and that if hurts, I’ve got to stop,” O’Connell said. “A gold buckle is on my radar this year; I just gave everyone a six-month head starts. I think I still have a good chance to do that, but that just goes to show what can happen at the NFR.” Because of that, he made some adjustments to his typical rodeo schedule. He was originally schedule to compete at the world-famous Calgary Stampede in Alberta, but he opted out of that event to focus on events that can help him toward his bid for a sixth straight NFR qualification. He arrived in Estes Park knowing very little about San Luis, but he found out quickly that he had a good chance. “From how he was kicking in the video I saw of him with my buddy, Blaine Kaufman, that just told me that if I got ahold of him like I can get ahold of horses, I could get him picked up and could keep him going,” O’Connell said of the horse. “When I saw the draw and saw all the superstars that were here, I didn’t think I had a fighting chance. “But after that first jump, I thought, ‘I’ve got a chance to win this thing.’ “ Now he’s quite thankful he took a chance on the young horse and is having success in Estes Park. “I knew this rodeo paid good, but how much more beautiful can you get than this scenery,” he said. “This is Thursday night, and they’ve got a packed house. This is a huge week of rodeo that people take for granted this time of year because Calgary is always going on.” He’s quite glad he didn’t take his chance in Estes Park for granted. Rooftop Rodeo Estes Park, Colo. July 8-13, 2018 Leaders Bareback riding: 1. Tim O’Connell, 87 points on Cervi Rodeo’s San Luis; 2. Seth Hardwick, 84.5; 3. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Jesse Pope, 83.5; 5. (tie) Steven Dent and Kody Lamb, 83; 7. Tilden Hooper, 82.5; 8. (tie) Casey Colletti, Paden Hurst and Craig Wisehart, 82. Steer wrestling: 1. Stockton Graves, 4.2 seconds; 2. Hunter Cure, 4.3; 3. Jacob Edler, 4.4; 4. (tie) J.D. Struxness, Laine Herl and Aaron Vosler, 4.7; 7. Will Lummus, 4.8; 8. (tie) Billy Boldon and Tanner Jackson, 5.4; 8. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Dru Melvin, 5.6. Team roping: 1. Garett Chick/Ross Ashford, 5.0 seconds; 2. Erich Rogers/Payden Bray, 5.1; 3. (tie) Rhen Richard/Clint Summers and Curry Kirchner/Daniel Reed, 5.5; 5. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 5.7; 6. Dustin Equsquiza/Jake Long, 9.8; 7. Kal Fuller/Kasper Roy, 9.9; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Hardy Braden, 86 points on Cervi Rodeo’s alpha Dog; 2. Colt Gordon, 86.5; 3. Jake Wright, 83.5; 4. (tie) J.J. Elshere and Trent Burd, 83; 6. (tie) Logan Cook and Jesse Wright, 82.5; 8. (tie) Parker Kempfer and CoBurn Bradshaw, 82. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Kody Mahaffey and Clint Nyegaard, 8.4 seconds; 3. (tie) Garrett Busby and Ryan Thibadeaux, 8.9; 5. Trevor Thiel, 9.6; 6. Colt Papy, 10.4; 7. Jase Staudt, 10.5; 8. Ryan Belew, 10.9. Barrel racing: 1. Sara Cheeney, 16.70 seconds; 2. Jill Wilson, 16.83; 3. Jill Tanner, 16.84; 4. Nicole Love, 16.95; 5. Megan Champion, 16.97; 6. Kassidy Lovell, 16.99; 7. Kynzie McNeill, 17.02; 8. Caroline Kelly, 17.10; 9. Ashley Castleberry, 17.13; 10. (tie) Halyn Lide and Sopihie Nolen, 17.15; 12. Bailey McCaughey, 17.16; 13. Jenni Cerise, 17.21; 14. Sydney Frey, 17.23. Bull riding: 1. Josh Frost, 86.5 points on Lyndell Hurst’s Peacemaker; 2. Trey Kimzey, 86; 3. Callum Miller, 83; 4. Riker Carter, 82; 5. (tie) Parker Cole McCown and Shad Winn, 80; 7. Dalton McMurtrie, 79.5; 8. Toby Collins 78.5.

GUNNISON, Colo. – Over his career, Casey Colletti has found great success at Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, but he’s never won the bareback riding title in Gunnison. That could change this year. On Thursday’s opening night, he spurred Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Sun Catcher for 87 points to take the early lead and. Almost as importantly, he also collected a $2,875 bonus for having the top bareback riding score on pink night – if the contestant(s) with the top score or time in any of the event were wearing pink, then they were awarded that bonus. Others who won the $2,875 bonus were steer wrestlers Austin Eller and Chisum Docheff, tie-down roper Robert Mathis and barrel racer Nicole Waggoner. “Yes, I entered for Thursday night because of the bonus, but it also worked because I was trying to make the other (Mountain States) Circuit rodeos count in Estes Park (Colorado), Casper and Laramie (in Wyoming),” said Colletti, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Pueblo, Colorado. Now he’s itching to claim his first title and another bonus – the Cattlemen’s Days committee puts up a rifle for the bareback riding winner each year. “I’ve always loved coming to Gunnison because of the rifle, but unfortunately, I’ve never won the rifle because it’s a good rodeo and so many guys do well here,” he said. “I really hope I can win the rifle this year. “I’m a big fan of the mountains, and Gunnison is a mountain town with beautiful weather. It feels more like a hometown event. Nothing against the big rodeos, but I’ve been coming here for a long time, and it’s just one of those that I love.” It helped to have a solid horse. In the roughstock events – bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding – half the score is based on how well the animals perform. Colletti knew before he arrived in Gunnison that he had a good chance. “I looked her up on the stock stats, and I saw that Jake Brown and Wyatt Bloom finished first and second in Los Fresnos, Texas,” Colletti said. “I called (flankman) Terry Autry two days ago, and he said, ‘She’s an old man of a horse; any old man can ride her.’ ” He’s not exactly old, but he’s had plenty of miles. Colletti last competed at the NFR in 2013, then injuries took him out of the game for a bit. He began a family a few years ago and now travels with his wife, Kacee, and their 3-year-old daughter, Kingslee. “I would really love to make the NFR again and take my wife and daughter, have a 16-day family vacation in Vegas,” he said. “But I know it’s a lot harder to rodeo with a family. It’s harder to leave them for a month and not see them. I’ve been more focused on picking and choosing where I go, going to circuit rodeos and rodeos where I’ve done well in the past.” Nonetheless, he still hopes to make a living for his family on the backs of bucking horses. He proved in Gunnison on Thursday night that it’s still possible. Cattlemen’s Days Gunnison, Colo. July 11-13 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Casey Colletti, 87 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Sun Catcher; 2. Logan Patterson, 84; Skyler Erickson, 80.5; 4. Craig Wisehart, 79.5; 5. Tucker Zingg, 78; 6. Justin Pollmiller, 74. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Austin Eller and Chisum Docheff, 4.7 seconds; 3. Joseph Buffington, 5.0; 4. (tie) Gage Hesse and Bill Claunch, 5.7; 6. Rick Petersen, 16.0. Team roping: 1. Philip Schuman/Josh Fillmore, 6.0 seconds; 2. Travis Bounds/T.J. Watts, 6.3; 3. Ken McKibbin/Jorge Cruzz Ibarra, 6.6; 4. Casey Adams/Joe Roderick, 7.0; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Lefty Holman, 79 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Peyote; 2. (tie) Ryder Sanford and Wyatt Hageman, 78; 4. Parker Kempfer, 77.5; 5. Joey Sonnier, 77; 6. Trent Burd, 75. Tie-down roping: 1. Robert Mathis, 10.4 seconds; 2. Brice Ingo, 10.7; 3. Stuart Hoar, 12.5; 4. Justin Hindman, 13.6; 5. Kasen Brennise, 21.7; 6. Wyatt Uptain, 22.5. Barrel racing: 1. Nicole Waggoner, 17.58 seconds; 2. Chris Gibson, 17.65; 3. Shaylee Hindmann, 17.94; 4. Katie Jolly, 17.96; 5. Trudy Petersen, 18.22; 6. Bethany Gabel, 18.43; 7. Charity Hoar, 19.48; no other qualified runs. Bull riding: 1. No qualified rides.

EAGLE, 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 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 that’s what being a clown is all about for Rumford. “He is so well known, and I find him very entertaining,” said Hanna Albertson, chairwoman of the fair and rodeo’s advisory council. “I think Eagle County is going to enjoy having such a big name with our clown. “He seems like the kind of person who is genuinely funny.” 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 Eagle. 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. “It’s hard not to smile when you’re in Eagle, Colorado,” Rumford said. “It’s a great location with the mountains, green grass, running streams, beautiful crowds and a beautiful setup. That place is just cool.” 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 rodeo, 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.”

Saddle bronc rider leaves Estes Park with the top spot and stitches ESTES PARK, Colo. – So far, Jake Wright knows exactly what happened to him Wednesday night during the third performance of Rooftop Rodeo. He just may not remember it for long. Wright rode Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Buckin’ Crazy for 83.5 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead in Estes Park, then things went a bit haywire. “I went to get off my horse, and I was a little bit loose,” said Wright, a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Milford, Utah. “The pickup horse stepped into that bronc, then the bronc came back in, so I decided, ‘I’ll just fall off.’ At the same time, instead of stepping off, I thought I’d just fall down. “I just caught a back foot (from one of the horses) to the corner of my head. He stepped on my front foot, and that’s the only thing I felt, except I felt a little dizzy.” That hoof to the head resulted in a large gash, which led to stitches being sutured at Estes Park Hospital. That came after Wright declined the quick ride via ambulance and opted to allow his traveling posse to get him through the emergency room door. “It’s been kind of a rough year,” said Wright, 30. “I’m going to get my knee fixed in three weeks, just scrap my year and be out eight months. It’s been hurt since 2014; I’ve had the cartilage ripped off it. My bone’s dead, and my knee just kills me all the time. I’ve had three surgeries on the meniscus, and it still hurts. “When I come back, I’ll be eight months strong. My goal is to rodeo until I’m 41; the best thing in life is to rodeo. I just figured that I’ve got to fix it anyway and I’ve got to scrap a year anyway, so I might as well do it now.” Should he remain in the top spot by the week’s end, he’ll add another $7,000-plus to his earnings. That won’t be a bad way to end his season. Rooftop Rodeo Estes Park, Colo. July 8-13, 2018 Leaders Bareback riding: 1. Taylor Broussard, 83.5 points on Cervi Brother’s Fire’s Easy; 2. (tie) Steven Dent and Kody Lamb, 83; 4. (tie) Casey Colletti and Craig Wisehart, 82; 6. Anthony Thomas, 81.5; 7. Wyatt Ortega, 81; 8. Will Martin, 80.5. Steer wrestling: 1. Stockton Graves, 4.2 seconds; 2. Hunter Cure, 4.3; 3. Jacob Edler, 4.4; 4. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Laine Herl, 4.7; 6. Will Lummus, 4.8; 7. Tanner Jackson, 5.4; 8. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Dru Melvin, 5.6. Team roping: 1. Garett Chick/Ross Ashford, 5.0 seconds; 2. Erich Rogers/Payden Bray, 5.1; 3. (tie) Rhen Richard/Clint Summers and Curry Kirchner/Daniel Reed, 5.5; 5. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 5.7; 6. Dustin Equsquiza/Jake Long, 9.8; 7. Kal Fuller/Kasper Roy, 9.9; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jake Wright, 83.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Buckin’ Crazy; 2. (tie) J.J. Elshere and Trent Burd, 83; 4. (tie) Logan Cook and Jesse Wright, 82.5; 6. (tie) Parker Kempfer and CoBurn Bradshaw, 82; 8. Chet Johnson, 80. Tie-down roping: 1. Kody Mahaffey, 8.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Garrett Busby and Ryan Thibadeaux, 8.9; 4. Trevor Thiel, 9.6; 5. Colt Papy, 10.4; 6. Talon Cooper, 11.1; 7. J.D. McCuistion, 11.3; 8. Tyler Boxleitner, 12.9. Barrel racing: 1. Sara Cheeney, 16.70 seconds; 2. Jill Wilson, 16.83; 3. Kassidy Lovell, 16.99; 4. Caroline Kelly, 17.10; 5. Ashley Castleberry, 17.13; 6. Sydney Frey, 17.23; 7. Kaylynn Cate, 17.24; 8. Amy Smith, 17.29; 9. Billie Ann Harmon, 17.35; 10. Kasey Hall, 17.42; 11. Tasha Welsh, 17.43; 12. Skyla Whitters, 17.53; 13. Callie Colden, 17.54; 14. Callie Gray, 17.58. Bull riding: 1. Josh Frost, 86.5 points on Lyndell Hurst’s Peacemaker; 2. Trey Kimzey, 86; 3. Callum Miller, 83; 4. Riker Carter, 82; 5. Parker Cole McCown, 80; 6. Dalton McMurtrie, 79.5; 7. Toby Collins 78.5; 8. Eli Vastbinder, 74.5.