Monthly Archives: September 2019

BLACKFOOT, Idaho – For years, the Eastern Idaho State Fair has been recognized as one of the very best state fairs in the country. Now, its rodeo is following along those same lines. For the first time in its history, the Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo has been nominated for Small Rodeo of the Year, a recognition that it is one of the top five rodeos in its size category and one of the top 20 of more than 600 events in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “Our fair has been recognized as one of the top state fairs in the nation,” General Manager Brandon Bird said. “The Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo has exceeded our expectations and has become a shining star in our nine days of grandstand events.” It was one of many stars in Blackfoot during the exposition. “The fair has some amazing grandstand events,” said Valorie Smith, chairwoman of the volunteer committee that produces the event. “I think the fair’s history of outstanding entertainment, combined with the 117 years of incredible fair history, is why our rodeo is so good. “We focus on the cowboys, and I believe that’s one of the reasons we received the nomination.” For nearly two decades, the fair was host to the Intermountain Pro Rodeo Finals. That changed eight seasons ago when the fair’s board and others pushed for its association with the PRCA, the premier sanctioning body in the sport. Rodeo of the Year honors are separated into four categories: large indoor, large outdoor, medium and small. Because of its purse, Blackfoot’s annual rodeo is in the bottom category, but it’s far from small. In fact, big names not only made their way to eastern Idaho for the event, they found it to their liking. “I think the reason the rodeo was nominated was an interesting combination of things,” said Steve Kenyon, the voice of this year’s Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo. “The hospitality was really good, and the livestock was outstanding. The rodeo was on a Monday and Tuesday, and the saddle bronc riding on Tuesday was NFR caliber up and down the line. “Stetson Wright won the rodeo with a 90-point ride in bronc riding, and Jordan Hansen was 89 points to win the bull riding. You have to hand it to (stock contractor) Powder River; they really brought the livestock.” Wright is a PRCA rookie who leads the all-around world standings and is second in the bull riding world standings, while Hansen is en route to his second straight National Finals Rodeo; they were just two of many NFR qualifiers who competed at the event. Riverton, Wyoming-based Powder River Rodeo Co. is now a nine-time nominee for the PRCA’s Stock Contractor of the Year, and it’s been the producer of Blackfoot’s rodeo for eight years. It’s just one of several aspects of the rodeo that have been rewarded through end-of-the-year awards. Jill Franzen-Loden, the reigning Sound Director of the Year, has received her third straight nomination, and Clay Heger, who worked with Ezra Coleman in Blackfoot, is now a four-time nominee for Bullfighter of the Year. “When you bring the best, you’re going to get the best out of it,” Kenyon said. “Then when you couple that with a really slick production, you can’t help but have a great rodeo.” That’s been the war cry for the committee since its inception. From making sure every contestant is greeted to providing the warmth and comforts of home as much as possible, the rodeo is being recognized. “I’m the mother of rodeo kids, and they have always shared with me that they miss home-cooked meals while they’re on the road,” said Smith, whose oldest sons, Wyatt and Garrett, have both qualified for the NFR. “We want to provide them with that home-cooked meal both nights, and we keep it open late, even after the rodeo’s over so we can feed the committee, the contestants who compete in slack, the contract personnel and the bull riders. “We cater to the contestants because they are a big part of what we do.” It’s been proven for years; committees that have gone over and above to pamper the cowboys are recognized. From the Pendleton (Oregon) Round-Up to the San Antonio Stock Show to the Days of ’47 Rodeo in Deadwood, South Dakota, it pays to do the right things year after year. All three of those events are multiple Rodeo of the Year awards in their respective divisions. “The crowds were amazing,” Kenyon said. “This really was one of the most responsive crowds I’ve ever had the opportunity to announce for. They were fun, they were loud and they really got to it. “With Jill working her magic on the sound with them, I just thought it was amazing. Lori Fanzen told me before I went that I would love the crowd. It was electric.” That’s just what Smith and her band of volunteers envisioned when they set sail on this project. It’s taken time, but the crowds and cowboys have made their way to Blackfoot. Early on, Corey Foster, a fair board director and member of the rodeo committee, saw the vision of where this rodeo could go. “When the decision was made to go to a PRCA rodeo eight years ago, the fair board’s goal was that with great partners and individuals assisting us this could be Idaho’s Newest, Baddest Pro Rodeo,” Foster said. “That soon became our tag line. “I think we have turned some heads and changed some opinions of the rodeo since then.” For seven years, Chad Nicholson called the action inside the arena, telling the tales that interest spectators and contestants. He died earlier this year in an ATV wreck, but his work done at the Eastern Idaho State Fair will long be remembered. “This should have been Chad’s rodeo,” Kenyon said. “The only reason I was there was because of his untimely passing. I’m sure Chad would have been really proud that this rodeo  Continue Reading »

DUNCAN, Okla. – There’s an art to being a professional bullfighter, and Wacey Munsell and Wayne Ratley are perfecting it. Both will be performing that duty at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. This is Munsell’s ninth selection to help protect bull riders at the regional finale and Ratley’s first, but they’re about to experience something together that many peers would like. “This is a big deal,” said Munsell of Ulysses, Kansas. “There’s a lot of talent in this circuit, so it makes me feel pretty good hat the talented people want me there.” Their selections are based on votes from the top bull riders in the region, whose necks and everything else are on the line after a ride is complete, whether that’s after the qualifying eight seconds or before. Even before the bull riders hit the ground, men like Ratley and Munsell step into the fray to keep everyone in the arena out of harm’s way. “You’re out there with your buddies and protecting them,” said Ratley of Sharon, Kansas. “There’s a certain feeling you get, that you’re out there doing your job and protecting them. You allow them to get to their next event in one piece. “Being selected to work the circuit finals is a great feeling that those guys trust me to be there for them. When I first started fighting bulls, I made a point that I would never buy a sanctioned card unless it was the PRCA or the PBR; my first finals I would ever work would be the circuit finals or the PBR finals.” It’s quite an honor, given that there are numerous top bullfighters that live in the circuit, made up of rodeos and contestants primarily from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “The Prairie Circuit Finals is the hardest one to get because there are so many good bullfighters that live around here,” he said. “To get that call is pretty humbling.” Each man works about a half dozen circuit rodeos a year, but Duncan’s championship will mark the first time the two will work together. “I think it’s pretty neat that we have two guys from Kansas doing this,” Munsell said. “Out of anywhere in rodeo, I’d say the Prairie Circuit has the strongest corps of bullfighters going.” That includes Munsell and Ratley; Munsell is the elder statesman of the two at just 33 years old. He has worked some of the biggest events in the country, including Denver and Omaha, Nebraska. Last December, he was called into action to work the National Finals Rodeo after another bullfighter, Nate Jestus, suffered an injury. Ratley is just 28 years old and has been fighting bulls for nearly seven years. He is now in just his second year fighting bulls in the PRCA. He is thrilled to work alongside Munsell. “Wacey is a veteran of the game and very well respected,” Ratley said. “He’s been selected in the top five in the PRCA for a reason and selected to work the circuit finals for a reason. I hope I can keep going back and working with him.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – It takes the best to make the best, and that simple motto is the foundation behind the volunteers that produce Bellville’s annual rodeo. The examples come in multiple packages, including Boyd Polhamus, the four-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Announcer of the Year from nearby Brenham, Texas. Not only has he earned all the accolades, he’s also a fixture at the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand championship. Polhamus has announced the NFR 21 times over three decades and now serves as the event’s general manager. He is the voice of the Austin County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. As in years past, he will be joined by Dusty Tuckness, the nine-time and reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year who has worked every NFR since 2009; Sandy Gwatney, the two-time and reigning Secretary of the Year; and Josh “Hambone” Hilton, the 2017 Sound Director of the Year. Like Polhamus, all three are fixtures in Bellville and are vital to the goings-on in and around each performance. “The best part of my job is seeing all my friends,” said Sandy Gwatney, who works dozens of rodeos each year alongside her husband, John, a production expert who, too, has worked many of the largest rodeos in the game. “Everybody asks if I get homesick. I say, ‘No, I get road-sick.’ When I go home for too long, I don’t get to see my people.” Her people have rewarded her again. “Comparison-wise, winning this year was just as exhilarating and just as exciting,” Gwatney said. “After having one in ’16 and not winning in ’17, I just figured I was a one-shot wonder. It doesn’t get me down, though, because I’ve been voted among the top 5. By telling me I’m in the top 5, I already see that I’m winning. It’s almost as exciting as winning for me.” This year’s rodeo will include clown/entertainer Dale “Gizmo” McCracken, who was named the 2017 Comedy Act of the Year. He brings his own brand of funny to the table, and he’s been recognized as one of the best in ProRodeo. “That rodeo wants to be the best, so they hire the best,” John Gwatney said. “That’s the commitment they’ve made over the last few years. They’ve also increased the prize money, and they have steer roping there, which a lot of rodeos don’t have. It adds to what they want to do to have a professional rodeo in Bellville.”

ALVA, Okla. – As a freshman two seasons ago, Amber Scales earned her first intercollegiate barrel racing victory at the Colby (Kansas) Community College rodeo. While she didn’t gain the title in the northwest Kansas community this past weekend, Scales posted the fastest time in the championship round and earned all-important points that have her sitting fourth in the Central Plains Region standings. “Winning Colby was very important, because the weekend before, a friend’s little boy passed away in a pony riding accident,” said Scales, a junior from Pittsburg, Kansas. “I was riding for Max (Henderson).” She was also riding for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team, and she did well. After failing to finish atop the leaderboard in the opening round with a 17.41-second run, Scales turned up the heat in the short round, stopping the clock in 16.95 seconds. She finished fourth overall with a two-run cumulative time of 34.36 seconds. “My main thought heading into the short round was that I was going to fix (the turn on) my third barrel and have a snappier first barrel,” she said. “I was just going to trust my horse.” She should. She’s had Roman – a 15-year-old buckskin gelding – for six years. He’s been a key factor in her success, from winning the Colby title two years ago to where she wants to be this season for the Rangers. “He’s got grit, and he’s just funny,” Scales said. “He’s got a lot of personality, and he’s ornery. He doesn’t look like he’s running most of the time, but he’s moving fast. He’s just long-strided. “My plan is to use Roman as just an outside horse and have a backup ready for the indoor rodeos. I just need to keep him sound. If I can do that, he usually does pretty good.” Like Scales, senior goat-tier Megan Turek of St. Paul, Nebraska, squeaked into the short round with an 8.2-second run, then made a solid run of 7.6 seconds on the final day to finish second in the championship round. Her two-run total of 15.8 seconds was good enough for fifth in the aggregate. “I was first out in slack on Friday morning,” Turek said. “I bobbled a little bit after I flanked him, so I didn’t think I’d make it back. I decided to go for it in the short round. Last year, I didn’t capitalize on the short rounds as much as I wanted to, so I just changed my mind set and decided to go for it.” It paid off, and she and Scales weren’t the only cowgirls to make a big move. Reigning national champion breakaway roper Taylor Munsell of Arnett, Oklahoma, failed to finish among the top six in the first round, then shared the fastest-run in the short round with a 2.6. That pushed her two-run cumulative time to 5.6 seconds, good enough for second place overall. She sits second in the regional standings. More importantly, the Rangers women finished third in Colby, the same as the men, who were led by the defending national champion steer wrestler, Bridger Anderson, a junior from Carrington, North Dakota. He won the first round with a 4.3-second run, then shared the short-round title with a 4.5 to win the overall championship. Anderson shared the final-round title with teammate Colt Madison, a senior from Whiting, Iowa; Madison finished second overall. Another teammate, Chase Finnell, a sophomore from Freedom, Oklahoma, finished third in the opening round but was saddled with a no-time on the final day. The Northwestern team ropers came on strong, led by the tandem of Brandon Hittle of Harveyville, Kansas, and Sean Doherty of Kim, Colorado, who finished second in the short round and the average. Heeler Bo Yaussi of Udall, Kansas, finished third in the first round and fifth overall with header Kolton Good of Western Oklahoma State College. Header Jaden Trimble of Coffeyville, Kansas, teamed with Marley Berger of Coffeyville Community College to finish in a tie for fourth in the opening round, alongside the Northwestern team of Brent Woodward of Dupree, South Dakota, and Daycen Hunt of Ridgeview, South Dakota. Tie-down roper Riley Morrow of Cyril, Oklahoma, won the first round with a 9.0-second run, half a second over the No. 2 roper; a long run in the short round took Morrow out of placing in the average. It was a good start for both the Rangers men and women with nine rodeos remaining on the schedule for the year; three more will take place during the fall semester, with Northwestern hosting its rodeo Oct. 31-Nov. 2. “I think we’re going to do really good this year,” Scales said. “We have a really strong team, and everybody supports each other.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – A few decades ago, Bellville’s rodeo committee consisted of just one man. Al Peck changed that with one simple question: “I just asked the guy that was on the committee if I could help,” he said. “I just wanted to be involved, and it really mushroomed since I started.” That’s no exaggeration. Ray Burger was the lone man on the rodeo committee for the Austin County Fair and Rodeo until Peck offered assistance 35 years ago. The two of them worked together for a bit, making sure the fans got what they were seeking in their hometown rodeo. Now Peck remains on the committee, one of dozens of people who help organize and handle the duties that are involved in producing the annual event, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. “It just flourished from there,” Peck said. “There are people that just come out of the woodworks to help. We have people from all works of life wanting to help.” In honor of his years of service to the rodeo, the committee honored Peck with a lifetime buckle. A lifelong cowboy – he competing in team roping until just a few years ago – he stands for what that buckle represents. “When this all started, my wife and I were just beginning to rodeo,” he said. “Our kids were still pretty young at the time, and they were beginning the youth rodeo stuff. “I guess that buckle means I’ve been on the rodeo committee longer than anybody that’s still alive. I wanted to see the rodeo get better, and it has, but that’s because of the people who volunteer to be on the rodeo committee. I could go on and on about the ones who contribute to the rodeo and have for many years.” It’s a sense of community pride for Peck, who knows how much people in Austin County look forward to the fair and rodeo every October. Each year, hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls from across North America converge on this community of nearly 4,300 people to take part in a progressive, yet historical rodeo. “I think what makes the rodeo has a lot to do with the enthusiasm that all the volunteers put into the thing,” said Peck, 75. “It’s a big joint effort by everybody on the rodeo committee. It’s a good show, and we usually have good acts. We draw a lot of good contestants; we get a lot of the top-name contestants because it’s starting the new (season) in rodeo. “We are a contestant-friendly rodeo committee, and we’re glad they’re here. We try to make it as good as possible. We want the ground to be as good for everybody in every event. We know they are traveling, so we want to make them feel at home. I think everybody enjoys the enthusiasm we show toward the contestants, and they come out for that.” The fans that come out for the three performances realize they have something special, which is one reason why it is so packed. Another reason is that the admission price is hard to beat. “Once you enter the fairgrounds, you don’t have to pay anything extra to go to the rodeo,” he said. “When we fill the bleachers, that’s part of the entertainment package that a person pays for the fair. I think this community is Western and rodeo-related, and I think they really enjoy the rodeo.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – People are always looking for the best deals, the most obvious bang for their bucks when it comes to being entertained. With a $10 admission, there’s not a greater value than the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. Whether it’s the rodeo, the carnival, the livestock shows or the concerts, a great deal is packed into the nine-day exposition, set for Friday, Sept. 27-Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. “Our fair and rodeo is about our community, and we want everybody to be able to afford all the fun we have going on,” said Matt Hyatt, president of the Waller County Fair Board. “We want to keep the price to where it’s a good deal for families to enjoy it. The fair and rodeo only comes around once a year, so it’s important that we do that.” The rodeo arena is an active place for eight of the nine nights, opening with a Waller Youth Rough Stock Rodeo and closing with three nights of the top PRCA contestants in the country battling for big money. In between, there will be the Ladies Ranch Rodeo, the Waller County Team Roping, and two Eliminator events (tie-down roping on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and team roping on Wednesday, Oct. 2) – both Eliminators begin with eight contestants/teams, with the slowest times in each round being eliminated until the eventual champion is crowned. “We’ve known for years that rodeo is big in this part of the country,” said Clint Sciba, chairman of the fair board’s rodeo committee. “We have a lot of ropers in Waller County, which is why we came up with the Eliminators, and we have people who just love to watch the action.” But there’s so much more, including 10 musical acts of various genres that will hit the heart strings of live-music fans of all ages – from newcomers like Katy resident Hayden Baker to top-selling artists like Gene Watson and Restless Heart. Saturday, Sept. 28: Cody Wayne, 7:30 p.m.; Gene Watson, 9:30 p.m.; Kyle Park, 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3: Jeff Woolsey, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4: Hayden Baker, 7 p.m.; Tanner Fenoglio, 8:30 p.m.; Jason Boland and the Stragglers, 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5: Kris Jones, 8 p.m.; Jarrod Birmingham, 9:30 p.m.; Restless Heart, 11:30 p.m. “We are also going to have dueling pianos on the first Friday night (Sept. 27) as part of our kickoff party,” Hyatt said. The popular carnival will start it’s four-day run beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, then will start the rides at 1 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. As it has for several years, Moore Amusements will have plenty of rides for fairgoers of all ages. New to this year’s schedule is the Waller County Welding Competition, a Texas High School Welding Series event beginning at 7 a.m. on the opening Saturday, Sept. 28. “That series goes all over our area, and we’re hosting one this year,” Hyatt said. “We’ll probably have 300-400 kids there. It’s just one of the new things we have going on. We’re also going to have an app on your phone that will help everyone know what’s going on. “We are also revamping our vendors, moving more to food trucks and food trailers.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – When it comes to entertainment, southeast Texas is somewhat of a hotbed for talent. The Waller County Fair Association has long realized the importance of live music, which is why there are dozens of hours of it for fairgoers to enjoy during this year’s Waller County Fair and Rodeo, planned for Friday, Sept. 27, to Saturday, Oct. 6, at the fairgrounds in Hempstead. In all, 10 acts will perform, starting with the kickoff concert series on Saturday, Sept. 29, that features Cody Wayne at 7:30 p.m., followed by Gene Watson at 9:30 p.m. and Kyle Park at 11:30 p.m. Watson released his first top 10 hit in 1975 and had more than 20 over his established career. Now in his 70s, “The Singer’s Singer” is still showcasing a talent that has much acclaim. That classic country sound is what drew Park to the game, and he picked up a guitar for the first time at age 14. In his time making music, Park has had seven No. 1 songs on the Texas Regional Radio Report. “Being an older act, we did match Gene Watson up well on that Saturday night,” said Toya Talbott, chairwoman of the entertainment committee. “By having him earlier, that allows our older folks who would really enjoy his music to enjoy their evening at the fair, then we have Kyle Park following for the younger people.” It’s a great way to kick off so many fantastic things happening over the nine-day fair, but it’s only the beginning. On Thursday, Oct. 3, Jeff Woolsey will be playing at 8 p.m., while local act Hayden Baker of Katy, Texas, will open the festivities for Friday, Oct. 4, performing at 7 p.m. “He’s been coming on like gangbusters,” said Matt Hyatt, the fair board’s president. “We’re excited to have him here.” He will be followed at 8:30 p.m. by Tanner Fenoglio, a Texas-based artist, and at 10:30 p.m. by Jason Boland and The Stragglers, a Texas Country/Red Dirt Country band that has been a big name in that genre for nearly two decades. “We’ve always just wanted to entertain ourselves and put out music that would be a part of people’s lives, not just something passing to them,” Boland said in a statement on the band’s website. “We want to be something more monolithic. “We’re just a social experiment at this point.” That is why that type of music has remained popular, especially in southeast Texas. “When you combine a Texas act like Tanner Fenoglio with a well-known Texas Country group, I think we’re going to have a great chance to reach our young people and people who really like that type of music,” Talbott said. “It sets up our final weekend well.” The final evening of the fair will be highlighted by the legendary group Restless Heart, which was established 35 years ago and has had six No. 1 songs to its repertoire. What’s more is the band has had 25 songs on the charts over the years. The evening kicks off with an 8 p.m. show featuring Kris Jones, best known as the father who was videoed by his daughter in a parking lot as Jones belted out Chris Stapleton’s hit-making version of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Jones will be followed by Jarrod Birmingham at 9:30 p.m. He was raised in south Texas and is a former professional bull rider, so he’s a natural fit to perform at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. “I never really quit riding bulls,” Birmingham said in a release. “The music just sort of took over, but what you see is what you get with me, and that’s how I want to come across through my music.” Restless Heart will then close the fair during its show beginning at 11:30 p.m. “They will be the last show of this year’s fair, and I think their music will touch many of our fairgoers,” Talbott said. “I’m excited to have them coming to Waller County. I think that final night will be something that will excite many people here.”

DUNCAN, Okla. – Keith Isley is one of the most decorated clowns in rodeo. Now Isley will bring his brand of funny to the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. “I thoroughly enjoy watching people have a good time and enjoy what I do or what I say,” said Isley, who entertained the crowds at the circuit finale six years ago and last year. “Just seeing people enjoy it and have a good time. Sometimes later in the year, you’ll get home and have some letters for you and have some pictures of you that kids have drawn. “It’s the little things that really make me feel like I’m accomplishing something.” He has accomplished much. He’s been named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown of the Year six times, the Coors Man in the Can five times, the PRCA Comedy Act of the Year six times and PRCA Specialty Act of the Year three times. For three straight years, from 2009-11, he won the funnyman’s trifecta: Clown of the Year, Coors Man in the Can and Comedy Act of the Year. Those are just a few pieces of the puzzle that makes Isley such a commodity. In addition to being one of the best funny men in the business, he also has some of the top acts in rodeo. He’ll bring it all with him when he arrives at the southern Oklahoma. “I enjoy what I do, and it’s a lot of fun when you’ve got a good crowd and a good announcer,” Isley said, noting that while in Duncan, he will work with Greg Simas, who is calling the action at the Prairie Circuit Finals. “When you see people with smiles on their faces, and then people come up to you and appreciate what you do, that makes what we do a lot more worthwhile.” Isley sees a lot of smiles and has for much of his professional life. Though he was considered a class clown, being a comedian didn’t come easily. “Oh, it was natural if I knew you, but if I didn’t know you, it was really hard,” he said. “When I started the comedy, that was really hard for me to get used to because I didn’t know those people watching me.” He has since overcome his stage fright to become one of the most sought-after entertainers in the game. There’s good reason for it, too. Part of a good clown’s job is to fill any down time that could some during the event. If there’s a pause in the action, Isley knows it’s his turn to step up to the plate. “I like to play on the crowd,” he said. “I like to have fun with people that like to have fun.” It works, but Isley has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. He loves working with animals and allowing them to steal the show. When it’s all put together, it’s an award-winning showcase that reaches so many people. “I’ve undoubtedly been the most blessed man who’s ever bought a PRCA membership,” he said The fans are pretty blessed, too.

BELLVILLE, Texas – Rodeo can be a fickle business, but it’s driven by passion. Thousands of men and women make their livings in the game, knowing full well that they must do better than most of the rest if they are to do so. It’s a competitive atmosphere that forces people to “put up or shut up.” It’s why hundreds of them will make their way to the Austin County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. They know that if they do well enough, they can leave town with good money. “These rodeos have gotten better as far as the added money,” said team roping heeler Martin Lucero, a 16-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who won the Bellville title last year roping with Cory Kidd V. “You can win a lot more money than we used to.” Money is one of the very attractive things about Austin County’s rodeo. The committee that organizes the event provides $5,000 in local money – or “added money” in rodeo terms – for each event; those dollars are then added to the contestants’ entry fees to make up the total purse. In this particular sport, dollars equal points; the contestants in each event who finish the season with the most money will be crowned world champions, so that’s important. But winning, in any level of sport, is vital to competition. The Bellville rodeo is also unique in that it is one of the first events of the new season. The 2019 campaign will end Sept. 30, so having a rodeo the second weekend in October means a new starting point for the 2020 season. It’s a good chance to kick start another year of opportunities. “Some people are ready to go home and rest after the regular season ends, but I’m ready to get back after it,” Kidd said. “You never know; the money you win here might be what pushes you over the edge and gets you to the NFR.” Last October, Kidd and Lucero were just two of nine people who left Austin County with the rodeo title, and each person can look at that victory as a stepping stone in some capacity. Steer roper Vin Fisher Jr., earned $2,400 the most of any winner in Bellville last year. He now sits No. 2 in the world standings and has secured his 16th qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Steer wrestler Jacob Talley utilized the momentum by his victory as preparation for the 2018 NFR, where he placed in five go-rounds and pocketed $65,000 over 10 December nights. Bareback rider Tim Murphy pocketed just shy of $1,500, and he now stands third in the Texas Circuit standings. He also got to experience something special in southeast Texas. “Man, it’s an awesome crowd,” said Murphy of Wheeler, Texas. “They’re active, and I like it when a crowd gets into the rodeo.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair and Rodeo’s main mission is the children. Whether it’s showing livestock at the show-barn or displaying foods and wares, the bottom line is in the education of youth. Those who are involved in showing at the fair are constantly around agriculture for the majority of their lives; it is something passed on through generations and is vital to this county. There’s more to educating youth than giving them an opportunity to showcase their months of hard work, and the Waller County Fair Association realizes this. One recent display was the establishment of Barnyard Buddies, a program that offers a day at the fair for children with special needs. Now in its fifth year, Barnyard Buddies will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, and will allow Waller County special-needs students to enjoy a day at the fair. “Not only do we get the special-needs kids here, but we have more kids from various organizations at our schools in Waller County that come to help out,” said Julie Abke, a fair board director who oversees the program. “It gets better every year. This year, we have the Ronald McDonald Shoe Car coming. We will also have new entertainment for the children to see.” Barnyard Buddies is a special cause for Abke; her mother was a special-education teacher. Abke likes the idea of giving the special-needs children a chance to interact with the fair and enjoy something they might not have a chance to do without the program. “It’s just great to see the smiles on their faces and them laughing and having a good time,” Abke said. “They do appreciate it, and they do like it.” More education will happen this year with the creation of Ag Voyage, the new education committee that enables students the opportunity to learn more about the sources of their food and how agriculture affects many different areas of our lives. The children will experience many hands-on activities as they learn about the importance of agriculture. The idea was the brainchild of another voluteer, Kristy Hyatt, the committee’s chairwoman, and the group chose the name Ag Voyage because, “It’s a journey” toward learning more about agriculture. “Because the fair’s all about education, we thought it would be really nice to have an educational committee,” Hyatt said. “We will teach kids about different cuts of meat, where cotton comes from, or what grain is used food-wise. “For those who do not have the ability to show animals, it gives them a chance to learn more about agriculture,” said Crystal Januhowski, a member of the Ag Voyage committee and an associate director of WCFA. “It seems there are less and less people in agriculture, so our long-term goal is to raise more awareness and always remind kids about the importance of agriculture. It’s important, because you have some kids who don’t know where their food comes from, where fresh vegetables come from or what it takes to raise a cow. “With this program, we want to have those answers and share this with the young people who haven’t had the opportunity to be involved with agriculture. Even now, some people lose sight of what the Waller County Fair is. We don’t want people to lose sight of it.” This is another of several reasons’ Ag Voyage is so pertinent. “I think we as a fair should do all we can to educate our community about the importance of agriculture and its place in this fair,” said Matt Hyatt, president of the fair board. “Ag Voyage falls in line with all our principles and what we are trying to do with youth. As our children grow into adults, their understanding of where food comes from is something they can share with the next generation.” It is creating a mindset in a young person that can conceive a lifetime understanding. After all, that’s what education is about. “We want to keep kids interested, but this is also about educating the community, too,” Januhowski said. “There are so many important things the community can learn in this process, which is why it means so much to many of us who are associated with the fair.”

I admired Max Henderson, though I didn’t really know him. I learned most about him through his family’s social media posts, and I found him to be a profound soul, a bright person, someone who loved greatly and had a passion for horses. He was funny and quirky and shared his smile easily. Viewing videos in which he was the star, I found myself laughing hysterically and marveling at his personality. Just as I’d learned more about him, social media was how I learned about his death Sunday evening. Max died after being involved in a horse accident earlier that day. He was 7 years old. Now his parents, Shane and Missi Henderson, and his little brother, Murph, will forever mourn the loss of this little gem. Parents aren’t supposed to bury their children, but the Hendersons will, and I hurt for them. God gained another angel tonight, but hearts ache, and everyone who has ever been touched by Max Henderson will need all the love they can get.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – In the eyes of the Waller County Fair Association’s board, each step toward improving the fairgrounds is a chance to give back to the community that supports the annual exposition. “This year, the board of directors approved another half-million dollars toward our capital campaign improvements,” said Matt Hyatt, the fair board’s president. “We stripped the show barn to the structural steel, repainted it, added 8,000 square feet of covered space, and installed new sheet metal onto the whole show barn complex.” In addition, the group has reworked all electrical aspects of the building, adding another 600 amps of service to bring the total to 1,400 amps of available power. Seven industrial-size ceiling fans have been added to help circulate the air inside the complex. With some strong assistance from board member Steven Pfeiffer, the in-barn PA system will be updated. “We’re going to redo the storm drains and some plumbing, so we have faucets where needed,” said Cannon Neal, a member of the building committee and owner of Cannon Construction. “Our board chose to spend the money where the heart of the fair is, where the kids are, where the animals are. This will benefit the general public.” This was the perfect opportunity to make the renovations. “Over the years, the show barn complex has been remodeled three times, and the last renovation was done in the ’80s,” said Clint Sciba, co-chair of the building committee. “It was time.” That includes making other facilities a little more comfortable, including adding air conditioning to the two restrooms on the fairgrounds plus a little attention to the Barbara Carpenter Building. “We’re giving a complete facelift to the two outdoor bathrooms,” Hyatt said. “We were looking at the things we knew needed updating, and we expect to have everything completed by the start of this year’s fair.” The exposition is set to run Friday, Sept. 27, to Saturday, Oct. 5. Since May 1, volunteers and fair partners completed a great deal of work. While some work was done in-house by volunteers, the rest was left to businesses that have ties to the fair and have been involved in some capacity for years. “When we have needs, we go to our fair partners first,” Hyatt said. “When we know there’s a sub-contractor that we can use who is associated with the fair, we try to use them. “For instance, with the electrical work, Waller County Electric had the lowest bid and donated $10,000 back to the fair. Cannon Construction donated endless hours of clean-up, grading, and underground utilities work. They worked on the grounds for 10 days with skid steers and equipment getting everything ready for the fair. Hill Construction did all the metal and erection work. SBS who is a long-standing partner of the WCFA, did what they could to help will all our building components.” The members of the building committee lean on their backgrounds and business ties to help get things done. The renovations for this year are the last major steps the fair board plans to take for a while. “As far as big-ticket items, this is the final phase for the time being,” Hyatt said. “We want to do other things but not near this magnitude. We need more bleachers around the rodeo arena, we want a demolition derby arena and, eventually, we want an indoor/covered rodeo complex. It all takes time … and money.” Every move made is with a purpose, and that’s important. The fairgrounds is an important fixture in Waller County, and with the population expanding northwest of Houston, each step is done with an eye on what we will need in the future. “We think of our situation as unique,” said Hyatt, who has been on the fair board for eight years, now in his first term as president. “For 51 weeks a year, we have something going on someplace at the fairgrounds. That 52nd week, we use everything we have to its capacity, from water lines to buildings to the septic system. We have everything going full blast. “We’re trying to fix problems that have arisen and update things. That’s what we need to do at a facility like this.”

EAGLE, Colo. – John and Sandy Gwatney have seen and experienced many things in their rodeo careers. Whether it was on the contestant side or the production side, the husband-wife tandem has been around the good and the bad in rodeo. They know what it takes to be involved in the best that the sport has to offer. Both are integral parts of the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, and they are a big reason behind its success every year. Sandy is the rodeo secretary, handling the behind-the-scenes duties that are involved in organizing and handling the paperwork involved in ProRodeo. John is the production supervisor, the director of the action. “John and Sandy are just part of our family,” said Hanna Albertson, chairwoman of the fair and rodeo’s advisory council. “We lean on them and their expertise, and we trust what they do. Not only are they our family, but they are our advisors and people we know will give us the honest truth.” The truth is, the Gwatneys believe in Eagle’s rodeo, which has been nominated for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Medium Size Rodeo of the Year. “The Eagle rodeo is a complete package,” said Sandy Gwatney, a two-time PRCA Secretary of the Year. “They rodeo is great and hospitable to the contestants, they are amazing for us as contract personnel. They take great care of our animals, and they try to fix anything that should arise or take care of any need we may have.” That’s been the same glowing recommendation spread around about Eagle’s rodeo, whether it’s by other personnel or by the contestants themselves. The rodeo has been recognized as a gem in the PRCA, and that nomination for top rodeo is proof. “Eagle should be nominated for Rodeo of the Year every year, but I think it gets lost in the shuffle because it’s in the middle of the year and the busy season,” Sandy Gwatney said. “Sometimes people forget that it’s here and how wonderful it is. “There are so many contestants that have never been because there are so many that time of year, and they are clearly missing out. The crowds are always fantastic. It’s just an amazing rodeo.” One thing that isn’t missing is an active crowd and incredible action during all four performances of the annual rodeo. With Pete Carr Pro Rodeo providing National Finals Rodeo-caliber bucking animals and the overall production, big names in the game make their way to this picturesque community tucked inside the Rocky Mountains. “Whenever you have a beautiful setting and have all these people in the stands, the energy is real,” John Gwatney said. “The weather’s cool, the crowd is electric, the livestock bucks great, the steers all run good, the cowboys are pumped up, and it’s just a great atmosphere. “This rodeo committee brings the best here for this crowd. People who are not rodeo fans come to this rodeo, and they understand how great this rodeo is.”

DUNCAN, Okla. – Coleman Proctor has already secured his fifth qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, but he had reasons to stay closer to his property near Pryor, Oklahoma, and focus on rodeos in the Prairie Circuit. Caymbree Proctor was born July 29, and the team roping-header wanted to be home for that. The rodeo schedule, and his secured berth to compete in Las Vegas in December, was all he needed to make sure his focus was on family, which includes his wife, Stephanie, and their older daughter, Stella. Now he sits No. 1 in the region heading into the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan, and he has his baby girl to thank for it. “The circuit’s always something you’re shooting at,” said Proctor, who sits fourth in the world standings with more than $101,000 in season earnings, $19,000 of which came in the Prairie Circuit, a group of contestants and rodeos primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “The money from the circuit finals doesn’t count for the world standings, but it can get you to the RAM (National) Circuit Finals (Rodeo), and the payout is so big, that it’s important to be there.” Only the top 12 contestants in each event from the circuit season advance to the finale in Duncan, and only the year-end champion and winner from the circuit finals advance to the national championship, which takes place next spring in Kissimmee, Florida. Proctor got a big boost early in the 2019 season while competing at rodeos that counted for the new circuit season but also still allowed points for the 2018 world standings – it’s one of those strange rodeo situations that happens in late September; the circuit season must end a month prior to the regional finals, but the world standings count until the final day of the month. In that case, he pocketed nearly $3,000 when he and his 2019 partner, Ryan Motes, earned the title in Texarkana, Arkansas, an event that – because of its proximity to the Prairie Circuit – counts for the regional standings. A few weeks later in the new campaign, he and Joseph Harrison won the rodeo in Tulsa, Oklahoma, adding another $1,500. “At the end of last year, my partner and I were going to everything,” Proctor said. “The Prairie Circuit is a unique situation, because we cut off in the middle of September.” That mad scramble in September 2018 was in an effort to return to the National Finals Rodeo, the sports’s grand championship. He fell just short, finishing 18th in the heading world standings – only the top 15 on the money list at the conclusion of ProRodeo’s regular season advance to the NFR. But it was a boost for him heading into this year’s campaign. Now he owns a lead of more than $5,000 over the No 2 man, Nick Becker of Garden City, Kansas, as they roll toward southern Oklahoma with hopes of claiming the circuit title. “When Ryan and I won Lawton, that sure helped,” he said, referring to the $3,849 he earned in early August. “Winning the Prairie Circuit is prestigious. We’ve got some of the best ream ropers in the world in this circuit. It’s neat to be able to strap that Prairie Circuit buckle on. A guy sure has to compete when he gets to Duncan.” While he has seen great success throughout the season, the biggest thing to come Proctor’s way – outside Caymbree’s birth – was the victory he and Motes had at The American. The duo each pocketed $433,000, but $50,000 of it counted toward the ProRodeo world standings. “With that, combined with what we’d won before, we had already qualified for the finals,” Proctor said, referring to having enough money to advance to the NFR. “It allowed me the ability to get to come home, have my baby and be home at the house more. “That part’s been really nice. The rest of the money has been just unfathomable. It’s humbling with what all I won that day. It’s also kind of stressful, because you don’t want to make a mistake with all that cash.” The bankroll also allowed him to focus on the business of heading, and he used the money to better himself in that. “I’ve been making investments on horses along the way,” he said. “I lost my great head horse, Carmine, last year. The American sure helped, then whenever it came time for the summer, I had to ride the horses I had the most confidence in. This year has been a lot of hard work we’ve put in. I basically moved in with Ryan for a while so we could practice more.” Now that his December plans are set, he has another goal he’d like to complete, and that’s to win the Prairie Circuit title. Since Mote competes in the Texas Circuit, Proctor will rope with Jake Clay, a heeler from Sapulpa, Oklahoma. It might be the perfect fit to help Proctor reach yet another goal this season.

BELLVILLE, Texas – With just a few weeks remaining in the 2019 ProRodeo season, steer roper Vin Fisher Jr. understands what it means to kickstart the new year well. He sits second in the world standings and has assured himself a 16th qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, the year-end championship for the discipline. But he knows a good start to 2020 will go a long way toward another outstanding year. That’s why he’s excited to be one of dozens of steer ropers who plan to compete at the Austin County Fair and Rodeo, which will feature the event during a special program beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. “I like that rodeo,” said Fisher, who has won the Bellville title each of the past two seasons. “Any time you have good luck at a rodeo, you’re going to like it. I like that it’s in the evening, and they have the best barbecue ribs of any hospitality we go to. The steers are really good, it has outstanding ground and a good set-up there. “It’s just a good roping.” That’s important for the contestants, and the prize money helps. The local committee features a $5,000 local money to each event, and that is added with the contestants’ entry fees to make up the overall purse. In rodeo, dollars equal points, so collecting cash is the name of the game. Only the top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the National Finals. “I’ve been to Bellville every year since my rookie year,” said Fisher of Andrews, Texas. “This is one of the few rodeos you see that keeps increasing its added money every year. It just keeps growing. “I really like that it starts off the next season. You get a few extra ropers, and it’s a revived atmosphere. Everybody’s excited. Every time I go down there, I’m fired up to rope and get some money won.” ProRodeo’s regular season will end Sept. 30, so Austin County will be one of the first stops of the next season for hundreds of contestants in every event. For NFSR and National Finals Rodeo qualifiers like Fisher, it’s a great opportunity to continue to work on their games. “Winning Bellville helped gain momentum, especially last year,” he said. “The season ended on a really long dry spell, and I needed something to get going. “It was a huge confidence boost to win the rodeo and remind myself that I know what I’m doing, that I know how to win. It just got the ball rolling. I finished second at the Roping Fiesta (in San Angelo, Texas) and won the (Texas) Circuit Finals.” That’s what’s led him to earn more than $55,000 in the specialized event this season. Over the course of his 18-year career, he has finished among the top five in the final world standings nine times. While he has yet to win the coveted world champion’s gold buckle, his record stands as why he’s one of the best in the business. But for Fisher and most others who compete in steer roping, this is their chance to live out their dreams. “The No. 1 thing for me is the love for the sport,” Fisher said. “I don’t think I could imagine anybody loving steer roping as much as I do. That passion drives me all the time to constantly work at it.  I’m always trying to find a better horse. “Since I’ve been involved in the sport, I always want to see the sport grow. I love the way we’re going, adding new events, getting new rodeos, seeing these signature events go up. I just want to be part of it.”