Monthly Archives: October 2019

Canadian wins Kent Cup to extend his lead in Pendleton Whisky World Standings KENT, Wash. – A few months ago, Aaron Mercer left everything he knew at home in Calgary, Alberta, and opted to chase his dreams in the world of professional freestyle bullfighting. “I’ve pretty much given my summer to Bullfighters Only,” said Mercer, who is making it pay off in a big way. He won his ninth event championship this past Saturday by claiming the inaugural BFO Kent Cup, adding $12,000 and pushing his season earnings to $56,350. He is firmly planted as the No. 1 man in the Pendleton Whisky World Standings and owns a lead of $19,620 over the second-place bullfighter, three-time world champion Weston Rutkowski. “This feels great, because I’m going into the finals sitting first,” Mercer said, referring to the 10-day, year-end finale set for Dec. 5-14 at the Tropicana Las Vegas. “The money at the finals is going to be big, so it’s going to be a dogfight in Vegas. You don’t want to take your foot off the throttle now. I’ve got a target on my back, but I’m ready to dodge bullets.” He dodged several in Kent, which featured a field of 14 bullfighters, several of whom have played on the biggest stages in the game and a couple of up-and-comers who are out to make names for themselves. In fact, the Hooey Championship Round was highlighted by Mercer, veteran Beau Schueth along with two rookies, Anthony Morse and Austin Ashley. The Canadian came away with the title after putting together an 88-point bout, just a point better than Scheuth, who collected $5,000 and moved up to sixth in the world standings. Ashley finished third with an 86, while Morse, of nearby Port Orchard, Washington, was unable to complete his final-round bout. “It was an awesome bullfight,” Scheuth said. “It was a pretty big venue, and for the first time being there, the crowd came out and was really into it. The bulls were phenomenal, and all the guys showed up and laid it all out on the line. “You always want to win, but second place is better than a lot of other things. The money counts toward the standings, so every little bit is important.” Mercer has had more than his fair share of victories this season, but he considered the title in Kent to be his biggest. It’s been a long way to the top for the Albertan, who spends most of his time on the road. “I’ve pretty much made my home at Justin Josey’s van and a hotel here or there,” he said. “I’ve never spent this much time on the road, so it’s definitely a change. I’ve got a friend in damn near every state, so I’ve got a home wherever my friends are. “No matter where I am, I try to find a gym. There are no excuses. If you want to work out to be on top, you’re going to do it. I’ve been driving this hard because I have a goal.” In the process, he has gained recognition and a growing support for his craft. Not since Greg Rumohr in the 1980s and ’90s has a Canadian made such a splash in freestyle bullfighting – Rumohr, from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, was a Wrangler Bullfight Tour legend who finished second on the tour three times. Mercer is carrying the Canadian flag in freestyle bullfighting along with another Albertan, BFO founder and CEO Aaron Ferguson. While the latter handles BFO’s business, Mercer is taking care of things inside the arena, and the Maple Leaf flags are flying high because of it. “I think I came along at the right time, and having Canada’s support is unreal,” he said. “I’ve got people from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the entire nation that are cheering me on. It’s pretty gnarly that they’ve got my back. “But I’ve got a ton of support down here, too. It’s not just Canada that’s got my back. Everybody that’s been supporting me is making me push that much harder.” BFO concludes its regular season with its Speedway Series Finale, set for 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the final rung on the ladder leading toward Las Vegas in December. “Everybody in that bracket in Kent was tough to beat, so you had to let it all hang out,” Mercer said. “You’re not going to win a bullfight if you safety up. You have to have the mentality that I’m going to win no matter what. That means if you take a hooking in the first two seconds of the bullfight, you get back up and go back to it. “This isn’t a little boy’s sport. This is Bullfighters Only.”

ESTES PARK, Colo. – For years, Rooftop Rodeo has been recognized as one of the very best ProRodeos across the country. This past weekend, the voters in the Mountain States Circuit made it known that Estes Park’s rodeo is one of the best in the Colorado-Wyoming region, honoring the event as its Large Rodeo of the Year. “This is a very big honor for us as a committee, the town of Estes Park and the people in this community,” said Mark Purdy, chairman of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. “We have dedicated volunteers that work very hard every year to make our rodeo the best it can be.” Over the years, Rooftop Rodeo has been recognized six times as Rodeo of the Year on the national stage: Five times in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association as Small Rodeo of the Year and once as the Medium Committee of the Year in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Each year, hundreds of contestants make their way to this picturesque community to test their skills. That list includes more than 120 National Finals Rodeo qualifiers, dozens of whom have earned coveted world championships. One of those, three-time world champion bareback rider Tim O’Connell, earned a share of the bareback riding title in Estes Park this past July. With that, he pocketed $5,400 and moved up the world standings. Even after sitting out until late June because of an injury, O’Connell will go to his sixth NFR sitting No. 6 on the money list with more than $113,000. “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.” That’s just another reason why Rooftop Rodeo is the best in the Mountain States Circuit.

Port Orchard athlete to test his skills against BFO’s best KENT, Wash. – Ever since bursting onto the freestyle bullfighting this summer, Anthony Morse has been a force to be reckoned with. Now, he’s earned the opportunity to try and match talents against the world’s best at the accesso ShoWare Center during the BFO Kent Cup, set 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. “From the time I started bullfighting, I’ve seen the BFO and looked up to it,” said Morse, 20, of nearby Port Orchard, Washington. “It is the biggest freestyle bullfighting there is. It’s the whole magnitude of it. It means a lot.” It should. He has been dominating events on the United States Bullfighting tour, a BFO affiliate created to support the sport’s growth at a grassroots level. Now, he will face the top contestants in the BFO, freestyle bullfighting’s premier organization. Tickets may be purchased in advance at https://www.accessoshowarecenter.com or at the arena box office. Morse sits No. 1 in the USBF standings, and thanks to its partnership with BFO, his points count for 20th place in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. Not bad for someone who started fighting just 21 months ago. “I went to a (BFO) Development Camp last November (in Decatur, Texas), and that was really the start of it,” he said. “I reached out to a guy that takes bulls to some BFO events, and I got some calves from him. Now I have a herd to practice on. “I’ll do anything I can to get myself in front of bulls.” He rode bulls through much of his youth but, like many, his interest in riding faded. When the opportunity to step in as a relief bullfighter called, he quickly fell in love with the new thrill. “I actually get bored with protection bullfighting now; I like doing the freestyle,” Morse said. “It’s you and the bull, and it’s head to head. You don’t have to worry about anybody else. Your sole job is just you and that bull. I love that.” Morse has a confident personality and knows the reputation he’s getting. He won the BFO Wrangler Bullfight Tour stop in Kennewick, Washington, two months ago, and he’s stayed focused on the task at hand. From watching video clips to practicing on live cattle at home, Morse has his eyes on the prize. The field of Kent Cup contestants is filled with the top contenders chasing the world championship: The No. 1 man in the world, Aaron Mercer; three-time BFO champion Weston Rutkowski; and other top superstars like Kris Furr and Beau Scheuth. They are jockeying for position heading into the year-end championships, set for Dec. 4-15 at the Tropicana Las Vegas. “I’m excited to see what he’ll do,” said Andy North, the BFO’s barrelman. “You can be a hero at some of those smaller events, but these stand-alone bullfights separate the weak from the herd. When you have Weston Rutkowski, Aaron Mercer and Kris Furr and the lineup that’s going to be in Kent, I think he’s going to have to come with his A game.” Morse has no qualms with that. He understands the game better than most newcomers. “I never have a plan,” he said. “I can only do as much as the bull’s willing to give me. It’s just another bull and another bullfight.” Some of that confidence can be attributed to his participation in BFO’s developmental system, an initiative that has continued to evolve since the platforms inaugural season in 2015. “That’s the beauty of our sport and our Development Camps,” North said. “You can find these guys with hidden talent, and they can surprise you. These kids have to learn somewhere. “If we want the sport to last and keep pushing forward, developing young bullfighters is important.” North has been in this business for a long time – first as a competitor himself before he got in the barrel to help protect the bullfighters. His experience helped him learn to read the animals and put himself in the best position to make a save, which is why the athletes consider him the best. “What I enjoy most is seeing the sport continue to grow,” he said. “It’s not just that it’s sustained, but it’s progressing. I’ve seen a bunch of bullfights and have watched how the sport has changed from making fundamental rounds with a bull to showing these acrobatic stunts. It’s turned into an art. When you see it done at a high level consistently, it’s hard to be part of anything different. “I remember when if you won $1,500 at a bullfight, you were doing something. Now, a guy can win that by finishing fourth, and that’s because of the BFO. It’s a pretty lucrative event for these guys. The more stand-alone events like Kent that we have is just evidence that the sport is popular and continues to gain popularity.” That’s just what young guns like Morse want to see. It offers a bright future. That’s why he appreciates his run through the D-Camps and USBF. “I would recommend to anybody that’s starting to fight bulls to go to as many of those events as possible,” Morse said. “It gives you the chance to go against bulls that aren’t out to kill you. It’s such a perfect, awesome thing they do. “It makes things so much better for us newer guys and gives us a good chance to figure out what we’re doing before we step out with the big dogs.”

Proctor, Clay win 3rd round, average and year-end crown at circuit finale DUNCAN, Okla. – After settling for a long time in the opening go-round of this week’s Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, Coleman Proctor knew he and his heeler, Jake Clay, just needed to stay the course. “That first round, Jake dropped his slack, fumbled it round there, then did a great job of grabbing it,” Proctor said. “He was disappointed, because 8.0 seconds is pretty long, but I told him, ‘That’s going to win us a lot of money before we end this deal.’ ” He was right. They finished runner-up on Night No. 2 with a 5.4-second run, then won the third round on Saturday night to clinch the average title, but it wasn’t without drama. Heading into the final night, the tandem sat in second place with half a second separating them from the leaders, Gavin Foster and Daniel Reed. Proctor and Clay were second to last to rope and posted the third-fastest round of the weekend with a 5.5-second run. Foster and Reed followed, and the latter was unable to secure his heel loop, and the team settled for a no-time. “They roped so good and are so aggressive and so consistent, I knew we needed to put the pressure on them,” said Proctor, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Pryor, Oklahoma. “Then we put the ball in their court. We felt like we could make that run, and it turned out that we did. I didn’t have the cleanest head catch, but Jake did a great job of digging him out of the ground.” With that, the two clinched the average title and were catapulted to the top, claiming the year-end titles in their respective events. It was the third time in his career that Proctor has swept both the average and year-end titles, also having earned those crowns in 2015 with Jake Long and 2016 with Billie Jack Saebens. For their work this weekend, Proctor and Clay pocketed $6,378. That pushes Proctor’s season circuit earnings to more than $25,000. “Duncan’s been good to me, and we’re thankful for Duncan and all the hospitality they give us,” he said of the Chisholm Trail committee. “They give us beautiful vests, and they put on this rodeo for us. Anytime you can win against this caliber of competition, it’s a blessed day. “I thought the steers that Tanner Braden brought were great for this setup. They were just waspy enough that they gave us a chance to get back in it.” Proctor qualified for the NFR again this year while roping with heeler Ryan Motes, who lives in Texas. This weekend, Proctor matched up with Clay of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Now that the work is done for the circuit season, he will turn his sites on getting ready for the NFR. He knows the key is in the horsepower he has, and his winning mount this weekend was Admiral, a palomino gelding he acquired from Zac Small, a team roper from Welch, Oklahoma. “I’ve really started to click with him, but I think he’s a special animal,” Proctor said. “He might be the best horse I’ve ever had. You can’t just get by in this sport, because the talent level is so deep and everybody ropes so good. I was blessed enough to get a good horse.” Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo All-around cowboy: Jade Taton, $484 in bareback riding and saddle bronc riding. Year-end champion: Maverick Harper. Bareback riding: Round 1: 1. Ty Blessing, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Jason’s Pride, $1,916; 2. (tie) Caine Riddle and Blaine Kaufman, 80.5, $1,197 each; 4. Garrett Shadbolt, 78, $479. Round 2: 1. Blaine Kaufman, 84.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Bell Star, $1,916; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, 79.5, $1,436; 3. Caine Riddle, 77, $958; 4. Yance Day, 76.5, $479. Round 3: 1. Blaine Kaufman, 83.5 points on New Frontier Rodeo’s Dirty Devil, $1,916; 2. Yance Day, 81.5, $1,437; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 81, $958; 4. Will Martin, 78, $479. Average: 1. Blaine Kaufman, 248.5 points on three rides, $2,874; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, 238.5, $2,155; 3. Caine Riddle, 234.5, $1,437; 4. Yance Day, 231.5, $718. Year-end champion: Blaine Kaufman. Steer wrestling: Round 1: 1. Tanner Brunner, 3.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Shane Frey, 4.5, $1,451; 3. Tom Uttermark, 4.8, $967; 4. Hunter Crawford, 5.1, $484. Round 2: 1. Tom Uttermark, 4.2 seconds, $1,935; 2. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Jacob Edler, 4.5, $1,209; 4. (tie) Stockton Graves and Shane Frey, 4.6, $242 each. Round 3: 1. Stockton Graves, 3.9 seconds, $1,935; 2. Tom Uttermark, 4.1, $1,451; 3. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Cody Devers, 4.3, $726 each. Average: 1. Tanner Brunner, 13.0 seconds on three runs, $2,902; 2. Tom Uttermark, 13.1, $2,1,77; 3. Stockton Graves, 13.8, $1,541; 4. Shane Frey, 14.3, $753. Year-end champion: J.D. Struxness. Team roping: Round 1: 1. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.9, $1,451; 3. Curry Kirchner/Austin Rogers, 6.8, $967; 4. Blake Hughes/Braden Harmon, 7.3, $484. Round 2: 1. Gavin Foster/Daniel Reed, 5.3 seconds, $1,935; 2. Coleman Proctor/Jake Clay, 5.4, $1,541; 3. Jesse Stipes/Buddy Hawkins, 5.8, $967; 4. Nick Becker/Dawson McMaster, 6.2, $484. Round 3: 1. Coleman Proctor/Jake Clay, 5.5 seconds, $1,935; 2. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 6.1, $1,451; 3. Blake Hughes/Braden Harmon, 6.6, $967; 4. Cole Morgan/Brady Norman, 6.9, $484. Average: 1. Coleman Proctor/Jake Clay, 18.9 seconds on three runs, $2,902; 2. Blake Hughes/Braden Harmon, 24.6, $2,176; 3. Curry Kirchner/Austin Rogers, 29.4, $1,451; 4. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 11.9 seconds on two runs, $726. Year-end champions: Header: Coleman Proctor. Heeler: Jake Clay. Saddle bronc riding: Round 1: 1. Colt Gordon, 82.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild, $1,935; 2. Rowdy Chesser, 80.5, $1,451; 3. Trent Burd, 79.5, $967; 4. (tie) Preston Kafka, Tyrel Larsen and Dalton Davis, 72.5, $161 each. Round 2: 1. Tyrel Larsen, 81 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Falling Star, $1,935; 2. Cody Ballard, 76.5, $1,451; 3. Cooper Thatcher, 76, $967; 4.  Continue Reading »

America’s most dangerous sport will land in Kent on Oct. 26 KENT, Wash. – The most extreme spectacle on dirt returns to northwest Washington for the Bullfighters Only Kent Cup, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the accesso ShoWare Center. This isn’t traditional bullfighting, and no, the bulls are not harmed. The American version of bullfighting was developed as a competition between rodeo clowns in the late 1970s. In 2019, the sport has evolved into a full-fledged action sport with more than 70 tour BFO stops this season alone. The BFO Kent Cup will feature the top ranked athletes in the sport. With points counting towards the Pendleton Whisky World Standings, the event can provide a major springboard to athletes as they head into the year-end championship, Dec. 4-15 at Tropicana Las Vegas. “With all the money on the line in Kent, everyone will bring their A-game,” said Aaron Mercer, the sport’s No. 1 athlete. “The world title is what matters, and winning the Kent Cup would be a big step toward that. I’m not taking my foot off the throttle.” Scoring is based on a 100-point scale. Athletes can earn up to 50 points for how well they control the bull while maneuvering around and often over-top of the charging animal. They can gain extra credit from the judges for adding unique style and degree of difficulty with tricks like front flips and backflips. The fighting bull also contributes up to 50 points, gaining merit for his quickness, aggression and willingness to stay engaged with the bullfighter. BFO has been no stranger to Washington since reinvigorating the sport in 2015; the electrifying group has performed in places like the Tacoma Dome, Kennewick’s Toyota Center and at the rodeos in Bremerton, Ellensburg and Hermiston. Its innovative production means there is more to the popular show than just freestyle – the display of true courage and athleticism creates powerful live theatrics, which are enhanced by world-class lighting and effects. But regardless of the stage, one false step can result in catastrophe. It’s the measure of a man that will face any adversity and find a way through every step. “There’s no time-out in this sport, and these fighting bulls don’t mess around,” three-time BFO champion Weston Rutkowski said. “They’ve been bred for thousands of years for this task and they love to chase anything that gets close to them – and try to eliminate it.” That’s what draws the top bullfighters to the game. They understand the dangers before them, and they overcome any fear to test their skills and their fortitude inside the arena. Tickets may be purchased in advance at https://www.accessoshowarecenter.com or at the arena box office.

DUNCAN, Okla. – An injured right knee wrecked Tyrel Larsen’s 2019 season, so he has no championships to play for this weekend at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo. Each contestant is mandated to compete in 15 rodeos within the circuit, made up primarily of events in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. After suffering a lateral collateral ligament tear in June, he wasn’t able to go to near enough rodeos. Still he’s competing in Duncan this weekend because there weren’t enough saddle bronc riders to fill the 12 spots in the championship. “I whole-heartedly planned on getting my rodeo count in and being here anyway, but that didn’t happen, so we just came to make some money and get on some good horses,” said Larsen, a National Finals Rodeo qualifier originally from Inglis, Manitoba, and now living in Weatherford, Oklahoma. “Money’s money, and I’ll take it wherever I can get it.” On Friday night, he rode Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Falling Star for 81 points to win the second round, pocketing $1,935. He also sits second in the all-important average, a two-ride total of 154 points on two rides, just a point behind the leader, Colt Gordon of nearby Comanche, Oklahoma. Gordon also leads the circuit’s year-end standings. “That horse is an old sucker of Bennie’s (Beutler) that’s just as honest as he can be,” Larsen said. “You know you’ve always got a chance to win on him. “You always want to do good anywhere, but here at the circuit finals, you’re so close to home and you’re with guys you’re around most of the year. You know just about everybody there. It’s like a hometown rodeo.” He’s feeling the comforts of home … the one in Oklahoma. He moved to the Sooner State more than a decade ago to attend Oklahoma Panhandle State University, where he competed on the rodeo team for four years and qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo each year. While working toward a master’s degree at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Larsen enlisted in a fifth year of eligibility and finished the 2011-12 campaign as the national champion. Three years later, he qualified for the NFR. Injuries and other circumstances have kept him from ProRodeo’s grand finale, but he’s still plugging away at age 30. In addition, he’s just taken on the responsibilities as assistant rodeo coach at Southwestern. “I’ve been around college rodeo,” said Larsen, whose father-in-law, Craig Latham, was his coach at Panhandle State. “I did it for five yeas of college rodeo and always been a part of it. I married into it. I really like it, and it lets me keep rodeoing professionally and helping out kids.” At the circuit finale, he’s teaching the youngsters in the field a few things first-hand. Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 17-19 Duncan, Okla. Bareback riding: Round 1: 1. Ty Blessing, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Jason’s Pride, $1,916; 2. (tie) Caine Riddle and Blaine Kaufman, 80.5, $1,197 each; 4. Garrett Shadbolt, 78, $479. Round 2: 1. Blaine Kaufman, 84.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Bell Star, $1,916; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, 79.5, $1,436; 3. Caine Riddle, 77, $958; 4. Yance Day, 76.5, $479. Steer wrestling: Round 1: 1. Tanner Brunner, 3.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Shane Frey, 4.5, $1,451; 3. Tom Uttermark, 4.8, $967; 4. Hunter Crawford, 5.1, $484. Round 2: 1. Tom Uttermark, 4.2 seconds, $1,935; 2. (tie) Tanner Brunner and Jacob Edler, 4.5, $1,209; 4. (tie) Stockton Graves and Shane Frey, 4.6, $242 each. Team roping: Round 1: 1. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.9, $1,451; 3. Curry Kirchner/Austin Rogers, 6.8, $967; 4. Blake Hughes/Braden Harmon, 7.3, $484. Round 2: 1. Gavin Foster/Daniel Reed, 5.3 seconds, $1,935; 2. Coleman Proctor/Jake Clay, 5.4, $1,541; 3. Jesse Stipes/Buddy Hawkins, 5.8, $967; 4. Nick Becker/Dawson McMaster, 6.2, $484. Saddle bronc riding: Round 1: 1. Colt Gordon, 82.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild, $1,935; 2. Rowdy Chesser, 80.5, $1,451; 3. Trent Burd, 79.5, $967; 4. (tie) Preston Kafka, Tyrel Larsen and Dalton Davis, 72.5, $161 each. Round 2: 1. Tyrel Larsen, 81 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Falling Star, $1,935; 2. Cody Ballard, 76.5, $1,451; 3. Cooper Thatcher, 76, $967; 4. Hardy Braden, 75.5, $484. Tie-down roping: Round 1: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 9.1 seconds, $1,935; 2. Cody McCartney, 10.2, $1,451; 3. Cheyenne Harper, 11.0, $967; 4. Glenn Jackson, 11.2, $484. Round 2: 1. Luke Potter, 9.4 seconds, $1,935; 2. Cole Bailey, 9.5, $1,451; 3. Bryson Sechrist, 10.5, $967; 4. Caddo Lewallen, 10.7, $484. Barrel racing: Round 1: 1. Tamara Reinhardt, 16.20 seconds, $1,935; 2. Michelle Darling, 16.38, $1,451; 3. Leslie Smalygo, 16.55, $467; 4. Jeanne Anderson, 16.61, $484. Round 2: 1. Tamara Reinhart, 16.16 seconds, $1,935; 2. Michelle Darling, 16.29, $1,451; 3. Emily Miller, 16.31, $967; 4. Kara Large, 16.56, $484. Bull riding: Round 1: 1. Cody Keathley, 86 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Deets, $1,935; 2. Trevor Kastner, 84, $1,451; 3. Fulton Rutland, 82.5, $967; 4. Clayton Joe Appelhans, 81, $484. Round 2: 1. Fulton Rutland, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Kooter Crazy, $1,935; 2. (tie) Creek Young and Coy Pollmeier, 86, $1,209 each; 4. Hayden Harris, 82, $484.

DUNCAN, Okla. – Before he arrived in this small southern Oklahoma city, Tanner Brunner new he had some work to do. He sat 11th in the Prairie Circuit steer wrestling standings, and only the top 12 in each event qualify for the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo. He needed to win the three-round aggregate title if he were to advance to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, where only the year-end and aggregate titlists in each event qualify. It’s the next step in the circuit system and another chance for big money, and Brunner started things off on the right foot Thursday during the opening night of the championship, knocking down his steer in 3.8 seconds to win the first round and collect $1,935. “I just wanted to make three good runs and hope it all comes together,” said Brunner, 26, of Ramona, Kansas. “The key is to take it one run at a time and see where it puts us after the third steer. It’s always good to have good horses underneath you, have Sean Mulligan hazing for you on the other side. It just came together.” He is coming off a solid season, having earned just shy of $75,000. That was good enough for 15th in the world standings, earning him a second straight qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale set for December in Las Vegas. He battled hard in the final few weeks of the regular season to sneak into the elite few that are allowed to play for the biggest pay in the game. And just like he did all this season and last, he leaned on his team, which included Mulligan and Mulligan’s great bulldogging horse, Miss Kitty. “She’s pretty automatic,” said Brunner, now competing in Duncan for the fifth time in his career. “When you’re bulldogging, you’ve got to think less and react more. She makes it pretty easy. “There’s a lot of trust with Sean. I feel 110 percent comfortable with him on the other side, what’s underneath me and what’s underneath him. I think we’ll have one of the best teams there.” Not only does Brunner want to win this championship, but he knows it’s the perfect place to keep improving on his game as he prepares to run at more than $26,000 a night in the Nevada desert. “This gets you into that finals mentality and gets you going,” he said. “You want to raise the level of competition every night. It’s a good way to prepare mentally and physically.” He’s doing that and then some. Two more nights like the first one could provide a big payday for the Kansas cowboy. “Winning money is the name of the game” Brunner said. “Hopefully I can put two more together.” Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 17-19 Duncan, Okla. Bareback riding: 1. Ty Blessing, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Jason’s Pride, $1,916; 2. (tie) Caine Riddle and Blaine Kaufman, 80.5, $1,197 each; 4. Garrett Shadbolt, 78, $479. Steer wrestling: 1. Tanner Brunner, 3.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Shane Frey, 4.5, $1,451; 3. Tom Uttermark, 4.8, $967; 4. Hunter Crawford, 5.1, $484. Team roping: 1. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.9, $1,451; 3. Curry Kirchner/Austin Rogers, 6.8, $967; 4. Blake Hughes/Braden Harmon, 7.3, $484. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Colt Gordon, 82.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild, $1,935; 2. Rowdy Chesser, 80.5, $1,451; 3. Trent Burd, 79.5, $967; 4. (tie) Preston Kafka, Tyrel Larsen and Dalton Davis, 72.5, $161 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 9.1 seconds, $1,935; 2. Cody McCartney, 10.2, $1,451; 3. Cheyenne Harper, 11.0, $967; 4. Glenn Jackson, 11.2, $484. Barrel racing: 1. Tamara Reinhardt, 16.20 seconds, $1,935; 2. Michelle Darling, 16.38, $1,451; 3. Leslie Smalygo, 16.55, $467; 4. Jeanne Anderson, 16.61, $484. Bull riding: 1. Cody Keathley, 86 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Deets, $1,935; 2. Trevor Kastner, 84, $1,451; 3. Fulton Rutland, 82.5, $967; 4. Clayton Joe Appelhans, 81, $484.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Even warm October temperatures weren’t enough to keep throngs of people away from the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. But there’s much more that goes into the annual exposition, and that’s a good thing. The carnival, which is always a hit, was active throughout its run at the nine-day fair and rodeo, but the real focus has always been the youth and the exhibits they show. “It was another really good fair,” said Matt Hyatt, president of the Waller County Fair Association. “We had our second-largest auction in our history, and that means a great deal to us because it shows how much people are willing to give back to the kids.” This year’s event featured the inaugural Waller County Welding Competition, a Texas High School Welding Series event. It was a true showcase of young people displaying their talents. “It was spectacular,” Hyatt said. “It’s nice to have another event that’s targeted toward our young people. We also had another successful Barnyard Buddies, which is always a big day for us.” It was one of many, with several nights of busy action at the rodeo arena. The tie-down roping and team roping eliminator competitions featured the best in the game each night, then the PRCA rodeo featured big money paid out to a field that made up a record number of entrants. “We were really pleased with this year’s rodeo, the number of contestants that helped make our rodeo great,” said Clint Sciba, chairman of the WFCA’s rodeo committee. “Pete Carr and his crew did an incredible job again in producing our rodeo. It’s always great to work with them.” The concert lineup was highlighted by award-winning artists like Gene Watson, Jason Boland and the Stragglers and Restless Heart. “We really can’t do any of this without our volunteers, sponsors and buyers who give so much to our fair and rodeo,” Hyatt said. “We’re already gearing up for next year, which will be our 75th anniversary.”

Nebraska man steps up big to win BFO title in Waco, moves closer to the leaders WACO, Texas – As the 2019 Bullfighters Only season rolls toward its championship event, Beau Scheuth is at the right place mentally and physically. The Nebraska man proved it on Sunday by winning One HOT Bullfight in conjunction with the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo in Waco, adding $5,000 to his season earnings and securing his spot among the top 12 men heading into the BFO Championship at Tropicana Las Vegas in December. “This was pretty crucial for me,” said Schueth, who missed two months of competition because of an injury suffered in the spring in Ada, Oklahoma. “I wasn’t able to go to as many bullfights, so these last few big events at the end of the year help solidify my spot and creep closer to the top three or four guys. I want to keep moving up and get within striking distance of a world title.” Schueth was back to his consistent ways in Waco, winning his opening. One HOT Bullfight featured nine athletes competing in three-man brackets, the winners advancing to the Hooey Championship Round. Schueth eliminated three-time world champion Weston Rutkowski and Dayton Spiel by posting the highest-marked fight of the day, an 88-point bout against a 1,300-pound paint bull named Padre from Penthouse Fighting Bulls. “I was the third guy out in our round, and both Dayton and Weston had really good fights with really good bulls,” said Schueth, who sits seventh in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. “I knew as long as I didn’t get caught (by the bull) and stayed away from the fence, I’d have a pretty good shot.” He was joined in the final round by Aaron Mercer and Dekevis Jordan, the latter of whom finished second in his bout but advanced due to an injury to the winner, Chance Moorman. Mercer is a newcomer to the BFO in 2019, but he has taken to freestyle bullfighting quickly. He sits No. 1 in the standings with $40,850 – a $4,370 lead over the runner-up, Weston Rutkowski. “The crowd was unreal,” Mercer said. “It was one of the biggest crowds that I’ve ever seen. It was packed, and the athletes showed up. It’s getting close to the end of the year, so we’re down to the final couple events to see who’s in the top. Everybody is bringing their A game. “It was a good bullfight.” It’s what the fans have come to expect at a BFO, especially the stand-alone events that showcase the top men and the elite Spanish fighting bulls that make it a dangerous clash in the dirt. There are just three more events remaining in the regular season, including a Wrangler Bullfight Tour stop this coming weekend in Arcadia, Florida. The final two will be stand-alone events: the BFO Kent Cup in Seattle, Washington, on Oct. 26 and the Speedway Series Finale at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 3. “These are classic stand-alone events, and they’re big for us,” Schueth said. “In Waco, every round was tough. Everybody had a shot. It just came down to how your bull was and how you handled him; that’s the way it should be.” Schueth did more than just handle his short-round bull; he also gained a bit of retribution. “That was the bull that laid me up in Ada,” he said. “’I knew it was going to be a good fight. I wanted to get some revenge for him knocking me out of competition for two months. I was happy to be matched up with him, because he was a pretty good bull.” Scheuth finished with 87 points, just a half point better than Mercer in the Final Round. “I want everybody to be 90,” Mercer said. “You always have that competitive factor that you want to win, but Beau turned it on and made a good fight. I want all the guys to fight their bull and put on a good show. “Do your best and cheer for your boys. These people are a big part of why I’m here. I wouldn’t have the drive to be a world champion without them. I’ve never worked harder in my life. I’m committing myself to work out every day, whether it’s a run down the road or three hours at Fit N Wise. I have this drive, and it’s because of the people around me.” One HOT Bullfight Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo Round 1: 1. Aaron Mercer, 86.5 points; 2. Kris Furr, 81; Zach Call, 80.5. Round 2: 1. Beau Schueth, 88 points; 2. Weston Rutkowski, 84.5; 3. Dayton Spiel, 82. Round 3: 1. Chance Moorman, 82.5 points; 2. Dekevis Jordan, 79.5; 3. Justin Josey, 77. Hooey Championship Round: 1. Beau Schueth, 87; Aaron Mercer, 86.5; Dekevis Jordan, 84.

ALVA, Okla. – Both breakaway roper Taylor Munsell and steer wrestler Bridger Anderson got a big taste of what it means to be a champion this past summer when they left the College National Finals Rodeo as national champions. They not only want to defend their titles; they want do so in a big way. Anderson has kicked off the 2019-20 season with a second-place finish and two titles, the last of which came this past weekend at the Oklahoma State University rodeo. He and Munsell won their respective events at the season opener in Colby, Kansas, and they repeated it again in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Both are first in the Central Plains Region standings – Anderson has 440 points already this young season and is 260 points ahead of the No. 2 cowboy, while Munsell has 260 points and is 85 points ahead of the runner-up. “At the college rodeos, it’s nice being out there ahead of everybody,” said Munsell, a graduate assistant using her fifth year of eligibility for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team. “I don’t want to have to come in and win it in the end. My junior year was that way. All I needed to do was catch my calf in the short round in Guymon (Oklahoma) to win the region, and I didn’t catch my calf.” That’s why it’s important to do well during the fall portion of the rodeo schedule. Northwestern will close out the four-event campaign by hosting a three-day rodeo Oct. 31-Nov. 2. “It’s nice having a little bit of a comfortable fall, getting a lot of points at each of the college rodeos, but there’s a long way to go before we get to Casper,” Anderson said, referring to the home of the college finals in Wyoming. “We’re going to try to keep getting out on the barrier, keep getting our hands on steers and keep scoring points.” He had a solid fall a year ago and had a strong lead in the standings heading into the spring. Things didn’t go quite as well as he had liked during the final six events of the season, but Anderson held on to win the region. He wants to make a better showing this year. “I just need to keep out of my own head,” he said. “Whitt Crozier (of Oklahoma Panhandle State University) was really fast, and I had to talk myself out of running at the barrier to win first and possibly breaking the barrier. As long as we keep trying to make smooth runs, I think we can be pretty consistent, and that’s what it’s going to take to win the region again.” Both the Northwestern men’s and women’s teams finished second in Stillwater, so there were plenty of Rangers providing points along the way. Anderson downed his first-round steer in 4.3 seconds to finish in a tie for first, then was 4.2 to finish third in the championship round. Meanwhile, all-around cowboy Bo Yaussi scored points in two events for Northwestern: He placed in both rounds and finished third in the average in tie-down roping, then did the same thing as a heeler in team roping to finish second in the average with Colton Good of Western Oklahoma State College. Another Northwestern team roper, header Camden Hoelting, made the final round, then finished tied for third in the short-go and fourth overall while roping with heeler Rio Esquibel of Northeastern A&M. “We definitely have the potential to be a solid team,” said Anderson, a junior from Carrington, North Dakota. “We have a lot of solid people and should have a shot to do good at the regional standings. As a team, our goal is to try to win the regional championship or, at worst, finish second and get the team qualified for the college finals.” While Munsell led the way for the Rangers women, she was one of five who earned points in Stillwater. She was 3.3 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth in the first round, then was 3.0 to win the final round and the average. Meanwhile, Lindee Carson placed in both rounds and finished third in the average and Katelyn King made the short round, where she finished fourth and slid into fourth in the breakaway roping average. Goat-tier Megan Turek scored points in the opening round with a 7.2-second run to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. Barrel racer Amber Scales placed in both rounds and finished third overall. “We rebounded really good after we didn’t do so well in Durant (Oklahoma),” Munsell said of the second rodeo of the season. “We had some girls come up and compete really well. We’re starting to get some confidence under our belts. We have a bunch of talent, but it’s green, and we just need to get that experience. “I think this team could really come together next semester and the next couple of years.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – The rodeo trail is an oxymoron of sorts; it can be the path to greatness and a chance for riches in Las Vegas each December, but it’s a lonesome highway filled with a roller coaster of emotions thousands of miles from home. Cheyenne Wimberely knows the curves and hills and the passing lanes along the way, and on Saturday night, they led the Stephenville, Texas, cowgirl to Bellville for the final performance of the Austin County Fair and Rodeo. “I’ve been here several times over the years,” said Wimberley, who stopped the clock in 15.26 seconds to finish second in barrel racing, pocketing $2,237. “I haven’t been here in a (performance) in quite a few years, because I’ve always been up in slack.” She obviously found it to her liking, and it’s a good step. She concluded the 2019 regular season on Sept. 30 with $90,361 and will return to the National Finals Rodeo for the third time in her long career. Here’s the rub, though: This marks her first appearance at ProRodeo’s grand finale since 1998. “I wasn’t sure when I left in ’98 that I’d ever go back,” she said. “We went a lot of miles this year, and that’s pretty much what drove me home the first time. It’s a long season, and we’re glad to be back in Texas.” Rodeo contestants that make their living in the game travel tens of thousands of miles a year in order to chase their gold-buckle dreams. She’s competed all across the country with a trailer full of horses. She raced at nearly 100 rodeos in 2019 and proved that she has the ability to ride great horses for big money. “I never quit riding, and I trained barrel horses and futurity horses,” Wimberley said “I did odds-and-ends jobs, and I was in the insurance business for about seven years. For the last 15 years, I’ve had numerous horses; I have 35 horses at my house right now.” The talented bay mare she rode in Bellville might just be one of the mounts she will have in Vegas in two months, so it was nice to get the 2020 campaign off to a good start. “She’s been off six months, so she’s just getting her groove back,” she said. “this is her second time to run, so I’m really glad she put a run together. “I think what makes this NFR qualification special is that I’m going on multiple horses. I rode four horses during the year. To be able to do that as a rider at my age, it was something I wanted to be able to master each horse, to be able to ride each horse to its capability. I think it was a huge achievement.” She also will be part of a neat family get-together in the Nevada desert. “My cousins are the Crawley brothers in bronc riding,” she said of Jacobs, a nine-time NFR qualifier and the 2015 world champion, and Sterling, a six-time finalist. “We are all going together for the first time. My dad played a big role in teaching them to ride and getting them started on horses.” But first things first, and that was doing well in Bellville. She was just 11-hundredths of a second behind the champion, Leia Pleumer, and both ladies have a strong start to 2020. “The committee did amazing here,” Wimberley said. “There aren’t many rodeos that tractor before the barrel racing and again during it. That makes for a better playing field and a more even playing field.” That makes the Austin County Fair’s Rodeo a pretty nice place to play. Austin County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 10-12 Bellville, Texas All-around cowboy: Clay Smith, $3,143 in steer roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 82.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rawhide, $1,923; 2. Leighton Berry, 77. $1,457; 3. Tanner Phipps, 76, $1,049; 4. (tie) Yance Day and Winn Ratliff, 74, $554 each; 6. Blade Elliott, 72, $291. Steer wrestling: 1. Kalane Anders, 3.5 seconds, $2,140; 2. (tie) Jacob Edler and Cody Harmon, 3.7, $1,722 each; 4. Cade Goodman, 4.1, $1,303; 5. (tie) Kodie Jang and Jacob Talley, 4.3, $884; 7. Shayde Tree Etherton, 4.4, $465; 8. Aaron Vosler, 4.5, $186. Team roping: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 3.8 seconds, $2,768; 2. Lightning Aguilera/Brady Norman, 4.1, $2,477; 3. (tie) Quisto Lopez/B.J. Dugger and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.2, $2,040; 5. Garrett Chick/Walt Woodard, 4.3, $1,603; 6. Colby Lovell/Corey Hendrick, 4.6, $1,311; 7. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 4.7, $1,020; 8. Caleb Smidt/Logan Moore, 4.8, $729; 9. Joe Hub Baker/Chuck Butler, 5.0, $437; 9. Aaron Macy/Jason Johe, 5.1, $146. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jarrod Hammons, on United Pro Rodeo’s Sky Fall, and Parker Kempfer, on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cimarron, 81.5 points, $1,684 each; 3. Cole Elshere, 80, $1,080; 4. Chet Johnson, 78, $699; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 77, $445; 6. Curtis Garton, 76.5, $318; 7. Rider Sanford, 74.5, $254; 8. Taygen Schuelke, 73.5, $191. Tie-down roping: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 8.1 seconds, $2,508; 2. Marcos Costa, 8.5, $2,181; 3. (tie) Kyle Parish and Tanner Green, 8.6, $1,690; 5. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Cade Swor, 8.7, $1,036; 7. Landyn Duncan, 9.2, $545; 8. Landyn Duncan, 9.2, $218. Barrel racing: 1. Leia Pluemer, 15.14 seconds, $2,632; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.26, $2,237; 3. Stevi Hillman, 15.32, $1,842; 4. Alishea Broussard, 15.37, $1,579; 5. Lisa Thornton, 15.45, $1,316; 6. Jimmie Smith, 15.48, $921; 7. Taylor Langdon, 15.50, $658; 8. Shelley Morgan, 15.54, $526; 9. Fallon Taylor, 15.55, $461; 10. Kelsey Knight, 15.56, $394; 11. (tie)Kelly Tovar, Cassidy Champlin and Lori Todd, 15.59, $197 each. Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Smith and Jim Locke, 9.7 seconds, $1,103 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, 10.0, $791; 4. Trevor Brazile, 10.2, $583; 5. Cole Patterson, 10.4, $375; 6. Jess Tierney, 10.7, $208. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.9 seconds, $1,207; 2. (tie) Jason Stockton and Lawson Plemons, 10.2, $895 each; 4. Tanner Green, 10.8, $583; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Landon McClaugherty, 10.9, $291 each. Average: 1. Cole Patterson,  Continue Reading »

BELLVILLE, Texas – Parker Kempfer calls his win at last year’s Austin County Fair and Rodeo the biggest of his young career. Now he has a chance to do it two years in a row. On Friday night, he rode Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cimarron for 81.5 point to share the saddle bronc riding lead with Jarrod Hammons with one performance remaining in this year’s rodeo. “This one here means about as much to me as anything,” said Kempfer of Melbourne, Florida. “I lost to friends from college almost a year ago, and this was his hometown.” Kempfer graduated from Texas A&M a year ago, and his friends, Will and Bailee Byler, died last November. Returning to Bellville this October brought back emotions and, very well may have, brought out the best in the cowboy now competing in his rookie season in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “I’ve been on my permit for a couple years, and it’s been a great year,” he said. “I’m going back to the permit finals in Vegas (in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo). It’s just another step. You’ve got to keep improving and keep learning. “I’ve learned so much this year just getting to rodeo this summer. I’ve just got to keep working at it and hopefully it goes well this year; hopefully I can stay healthy and keep rolling.” If things go as well as they did Friday night, then the 2020 season might be the perfect storm for the Florida cowboy, a sixth-generation cattle rancher when he’s not on the rodeo trail. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, then earned his masters at Texas A&M-Commerce. It was the first time he tried his hand on Cimarron, but he got a few hints of good things from one of his friends. “My traveling partner got on him about a year ago and said he was really fun, but I didn’t tink he would be that cool,” Kempfer said on a crisp evening with temperatures in the low 50s. “It was a blast. “I’m hitting the last few rodeos in Texas before heading home next week. I’m going to enjoy a little bit of aa time in Florida, where it’s a little bit warmer than here.” The main thing, though, is to get off to a good start on the 2020 campaign, which began Oct. 1. “It’s huge to get started good to the season, because I want to get my qualifications up enough to maybe get into the big winter rodeos,” he said. “Coming off your permit, you don’t have your qualifications as high as everybody else, so you just want to get out to a good start. I’m going to keep pushing my goals and see if we can get there.” Austin County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 10-12 Bellville, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 82.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rawhide; 2. Leighton Berry, 77; 3. Tanner Phipps, 76; 4. Yance Day, 74; 5. Blade Elliott, 72; 6. Tucker Zingg, 61; 7. Tyler Johnson, 59; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Jacob Edler and Cody Harmon, 3.7 seconds; 3. Cade Goodman, 4.1; 4. (tie) Kodie Jang and Jacob Talley, 4.3; 6. Shayde Tree Etherton, 4.4; 7. Josh Clark, 4.6; 8. Tory Johnson, 4.8. Team roping: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 3.8 seconds; 2. Lightning Aguilera/Brady Norman, 4.1; 3. (tie) Quisto Lopez/B.J. Dugger and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.2; 5. Colby Lovell/Corey Hendrick, 4.6; 6. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 4.7; 7. Caleb Smidt/Logan Moore, 4.8; 8. Joe Hub Baker/Chuck Butler, 5.0; 9. Aaron Macy/Jason Johe, 5.1; 10. (tie) Lane Ivy/Dillon Wingereid and Jess Tierney/Joel Oden, 6.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jarrod Hammons, on United Pro Rodeo’s Sky Fall, and Parker Kempfer, on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cimarron, 81.5 points; 3. Cole Elshere, 80; 4. Chet Johnson, 78; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 77; 6. Curtis Garton, 76.5; 7. Taygen Schuelke, 73.5; 8. Ben Andersen, 64. Tie-down roping: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 8.1 seconds; 2. Marcos Costa, 8.5; 3. (tie) Kyle Parish and Tanner Green, 8.6; 5. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Cade Swor, 8.7 each; 7. Landyn Duncan, 9.2; 8. King Pickett, 9.6. Barrel racing: 1. Leia Pluemer, 15.14 seconds; 2. Alishea Broussard, 15.37; 3. Lisa Thornton, 15.45; 4. Jimmie Smith, 15.48; 5. Taylor Langdon, 15.50; 6. Shelley Morgan, 15.54; 7. Fallon Taylor, 15.55; 8. Kelsey Knight, 15.56; 9. (tie)Kelly Tovar, Cassidy Champlin and Lori Todd, 15.59; 12. Deb Guelly, 15.65. Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Smith and Jim Locke, 9.7 seconds, $1,103 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, 10.0, $791; 4. Trevor Brazile, 10.2, $583; 5. Cole Patterson, 10.4, $375; 6. Jess Tierney, 10.7, $208. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.9 seconds, $1,207; 2. (tie) Jason Stockton and Lawson Plemons, 10.2, $895 each; 4. Tanner Green, 10.8, $583; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Landon McClaugherty, 10.9, $291 each. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 20.3 seconds on two head, $1,811; 2. (tie) Jim Locke and Trevor Brazile, 21.1, $1,343 each; 4. Jess Tierney, 22.0, $874; 5. Tuf Cooper, 22.9, $562; 6. Scott Snedecor, 24.4, $312. Bull riding: 1. (tie) Parker McCown, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Amish Burnout, and J.T. Moore, on United Pro Rodeo’s Happy Days, 88.5 points; 3. Foster McCraw, 86; 4. Matt Palmer, 83; 5. Braden Richardson, 81; 6. Chris Bechthold, 78.5; 7. Brett Custer, 73; no other qualified rides.

BELLVILLE, Texas – The 2019 ProRodeo regular season was a big learning experience for steer wrestler Jacob Edler. “I was excited to have the year that I had, but I had higher hopes and expectations,” said Edler, who finished the campaign 23rd in the world standings with more than $55,00 in earnings. “This is the best year I’ve ever had and the brokest I’ve ever been. I’ve come to find out you’ve got to be in the top 15 to make any money in this game.” Only the top 15 in the world standings in each event advance to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. It’s a goal for every cowboy that competes for a living, and Edler fits that bull well. He’s already off to a good start for the 2020 season, which began Oct. 1 – he placed in Hempstead, Texas, last week and sits atop the leaderboard this week at the Austin County Fair and Rodeo after posting a 3.7-second run during Thursday’s opening night, sharing the lead with Cody Harmon, who competing in Wednesday’s slack. “The end of the 2019 season didn’t fair out, so since Oct. 1, I’ve been hungry and ready to get after 2020,” said Edler of State Center, Iowa. He had a little help from his horse, Rattle, owned by fellow steer wrestler Matt Reeves. It takes solid teamwork between horse and rider to make it work, and he was also assisted by Cameron Moorman, who served as the hazer. “I’ve had quite a bit of success on her,” Edler said. “She just fits me like a glove.” That’s important, because the first key to a fast time is to have an equine partner that can get the cowboy to the steer in a hurry and in position. Everything else that happens falls on how well the cowboy handles his business, something the Iowa man has learned. This past year, he gained a great education while traveling the rodeo trail with two-time world champion Hunter Cure. “Hunter’s a winner in everything he does,” Edler said. “I’m glad I got to see him on the road, in the practice pen and even out there working by my side. No matter what we’re doing, we’re going to do it right and try to do it as perfect as we can, and the results show.” Even though he’s been part of ProRodeo for eight seasons, he’s still relatively young in some aspects of the game. Three years ago as a senior at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, he finished second at the College National Finals Rodeo to teammate J.D. Struxness. The two traveled after that, and Struxness made the first of three qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo. “I have climbed mountains since I first started,” Edler said. “I was a kid from Iowa with a mullet halfway down my back. I was shell-shocked when I went to my first PRCA rodeo. The only reason I’ve gotten to where I am today is the people who have taken the time and seen the potential in me and helped me. “That year, I don’t know how we got anybody to the NFR. We might have been more focused on having a good time than bulldogging, but it’s a process that you’ve got to grow up and mature through it. When it’s your time, you’ve just got to be ready for it.” Austin County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 10-12 Bellville, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 82.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rawhide; 2. Leighton Berry, 77; 3. Yance Day, 74; 4. Tucker Zingg, 61; Tyler Johnson, 59; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Jacob Edler and Cody Harmon, 3.7 seconds; 3. (tie) Kodie Jang and Jacob Talley, 4.3; 5. Shayde Tree Etherton, 4.4; 6. Dylan Schroeder, 4.9; 7. Maverick Harper, 5.2; 8. Gabe Soileau, 5.3. Team roping: 1. Lightning Aguilera/Brady Norman, 4.1 seconds; 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.2; 3. Colby Lovell/Corey Hendrick, 4.6; 4. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 4.7; 5. Caleb Smidt/Logan Moore, 4.8; 6. Joe Hub Baker/Chuck Butler, 5.0; 7. Aaron Macy/Jason Johe, 5.1; 8. (tie) Lane Ivy/Dillon Wingereid and Jess Tierney/Joel Oden, 6.5; 10. Landon McClaugherty/Joel Hurta, 10.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jarrod Hammons, 81.5 on United Pro Rodeo’s Sky Fall; 2. Cole Elshere, 80; 3. Chet Johnson, 78; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 8.1 seconds; 2. Tanner Green, 8.6; 3. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Cade Swor, 8.7 each; 5. Landyn Duncan, 9.2; 6. King Pickett, 9.6; 7. Benny Mosley, 10.1; 8. Reid Zapalac, 10.2. Barrel racing: 1. Lisa Thornton, 15.45 seconds; 2. Taylor Langdon, 15.50; 3. Shelley Morgan, 15.54; 4. Fallon Taylor, 15.55; 5. (tie)Kelly Tovar, Cassidy Champlin and Lori Todd, 15.59; 8. Deb Guelly, 15.65; 9. Amanda Slaughter, 15.66; 10. (tie) Abby Phillips and Shelby Bates, 15.69; 12. Amy Jo Reisdorfer, 15.70. Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Smith and Jim Locke, 9.7 seconds, $1,103 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, 10.0, $791; 4. Trevor Brazile, 10.2, $583; 5. Cole Patterson, 10.4, $375; 6. Jess Tierney, 10.7, $208. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.9 seconds, $1,207; 2. (tie) Jason Stockton and Lawson Plemons, 10.2, $895 each; 4. Tanner Green, 10.8, $583; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Landon McClaugherty, 10.9, $291 each. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 20.3 seconds on two head, $1,811; 2. (tie) Jim Locke and Trevor Brazile, 21.1, $1,343 each; 4. Jess Tierney, 22.0, $874; 5. Tuf Cooper, 22.9, $562; 6. Scott Snedecor, 24.4, $312. Bull riding: 1. Braden Richardson, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Knot Head; 2. Chris Bechthold, 78.5; 3. Brett Custer, 73; no other qualified rides.

BELLVILLE, Texas – Many of the biggest names in rodeo will converge on this southeast Texas community, starting tonight for the Austin County Fair and Rodeo. The showcase begins with slack on Wednesday, featuring hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls making their runs in non-performance competition that all counts toward this year’s championship at Bellville’s rodeo, which will have three shows set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. In all, there will be at least 60 contestants that have qualified for either the National Finals Rodeo or the National Finals Steer Roping, the season-ending championships in ProRodeo. Of those, 14 contestants have won world titles that make up more than 50 Montana Silversmiths gold buckles. Of course, the biggest name in the game is Trevor Brazile, who has trimmed his rodeo schedule but still has qualified for the steer roping finale that takes place in late November in Mulvane, Kansas. He will compete solely on Wednesday night and is chasing his 25th gold buckle Also in the mix are cowboys that have won multiple world titles, like seven-time champ Rich Skelton, four-time titlists Tuf Cooper and Scott Snedecor, three-time winner Jade Corkill and two-time world champions Walt Woodard and Caleb Smidt, the latter of whom is competing at his hometown rodeo on Saturday night. Smidt finished the 2019 regular season as the No. 1 cowboy in the tie-down roping world standings and is hoping to close out the campaign by defending his 2018 world championship. The 2020 campaign began Oct. 1, so he not only is keeping his game sharp but is also hoping to get off to a good start to the new season even before the current campaign comes to a close at the NFR in Las Vegas in December. It’s proof that the best in the game make their way to Austin County each October, because they know there is a great opportunity at Bellville’s rodeo.

ALVA, Okla. – A change in approach has already begun working for Northwestern Oklahoma State University cowboy Zane Thompson. “I’ve done a lot of thinking about it and questioning why I haven’t made the college finals yet, and at the end of the day, I realized that I just needed to be more aggressive,” said Thompson, a senior from Cheyenne, Wyoming. “Not very often do we practice just to catch; we are aggressive in practice. “This year I just decided I’m going to go at them. I’m not going to be silly about it, but if my shot’s there, I’m not going to second-guess myself.” He’s a header, and this past weekend at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Rodeo in Durant, he partnered with heeler Sam Goings of Oklahoma Panhandle State University to win both rounds and the overall team roping title. “It’s a great start to the year,” said Thompson, who transferred this year from Western Oklahoma State College. “I feel like I got the ball rolling. I’ve never had the college season I really wanted, and this is my last shot at it. It felt great to show up, have my horse do good and for me to do my job and come out on top.” The tandem took advantage of a good steer to win the first round, but part of that was the change in mentality when it came to the cowboy’s approach to his game. “I didn’t take the highest percentage shot, but the last three years that I’ve come to these rodeos, I’d always take safety’d up,” he said. “After the first rodeo of the year in Colby (Kansas), I decided I wasn’t going to lay off too much. “That steer had his head up, and my man did a great job to finish it up. In the short round, we drew great again, but I knew I needed to make sure I got out without breaking the barrier.” In college rodeo, contestants earn points for how well the place in rounds and the average, with 60 points going to the winner and 10 points for sixth place. By dominating things in Durant, Thompson earned 180 and now has the lead in the Central Plains Region’s heading standings. “It’s really nice to be ahead of the game this early instead of feeling like you have to battle back the whole time,” he said. He wasn’t the only Northwestern header to find success at Southeastern. He was joined on the leaderboard by Camden Hoelting, who finished third overall while roping with Michael Esquibel of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Reigning national champion steer wrestler Bridger Anderson finish the rodeo tied for second overall with teammate Brent Woodward, while Braden Sorenson also earned points for the Rangers. Anderson remains the top dog in the region standings. For the women, breakaway roper McKayla Alliston had the highest point earnings by finishing fourth overall, while defending national champ Taylor Munsell added to her total; she is fourth in the region. Megan Corr added points in goat-tying, while Sierra Schott scored in barrel racing. For Thompson, it’s just the next step in what he hopes is a solid year. He spent the first three seasons of college rodeo in Altus, Oklahoma, before transferring to Northwestern. He made the move for one reason: “They win,” he said. “It’s a great program, and Stockton (Graves) is a guy that’s won and has been at the very highest level. I don’t care if it’s football, baseball, basketball or rodeoing, when you’re around a guy that’s successful and can learn from him, that’s what you do. I wanted to get around Stockton and get around some guys that really work at it.” He knows a bit or two about being around greatness. He is the son of Frank Thompson, the 2000 world champion steer wrestler. In addition to team roping, Zane Thompson also ropes calves and wrestles steers, and he’s carrying on a family tradition quite well. “Ever since I was a little kid, I knew that if you wanted to rope calves or team rope, you had to go south (from Wyoming),” Zane Thompson said. “I remember being 12 years old and knowing that when I go to college, I was either going to Oklahoma or Texas. “I’m glad I did.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – There really aren’t many rodeos across the United States that Bradley Harter hasn’t won. He just wrapped up his 17th season in ProRodeo, closing out the campaign last weekend by finishing 12th in the world standings with $99,351. He began the 2020 regular season by sharing the saddle bronc riding victory at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo; he also won the crown in 2016. He rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Life of Riley for 82 points to share the title with brothers Jacobs and Sterling Crawley, who matched that score on Friday night. Each man pocketed $1,403 that counts toward the National Finals Rodeo that will take place in 14 months. “This is a great rodeo; I love coming here,” said Harter, 38, of Loranger, Louisiana. “We’re coming off a dramatic ending to 2019, so this is more of a relaxing environment. You get a good start to the next year, but you keep getting on great horses and go to a great rodeo that pays really well.” Harter and the Crawleys have other business to tend to before focusing on the 2020 campaign too much. Each man has qualified for the 2019 NFR based on their finish through the regular season, which concluded Sept. 30. This marks Harter’s 11th qualification to ProRodeo’s grand finale, which features only the top 15 in each event in a rugged test of talent and guts over 10 nights in December. “For me, I like getting on three to four (horses) a week, so I like to keep my subconscious sharp and my body loose,” he said. “I say trust your stuff, so I get on good horses, and I can trust my ride instead of going into the NFR cold. “The Crawleys are tough to beat; they’re great bronc riders. That’s another great thing about this rodeo; you’re still competing against great guys on great stock. There was a line of cars to get in, so you know it’s a great rodeo.” Though he’s nine years younger than Harter, Cory Solomon from nearby Prairie View, Texas, is every bit as veteran. He was raised in Waller County, and he has made hundreds of runs inside the rodeo arena at the Waller County Fairgrounds. This is his hometown rodeo, and on the final night of this year’s event, he roped and tied his calf in 8.8 seconds to finish in a tie for fifth place, with $910. “This rodeo is very important to me,” said Solomon, 29, a six-time NFR qualifier. “You’ve got people that don’t understand rodeo that you with to high school with, and they come out to watch. One of my biggest sponsors is Sim-Tex, and they come out to watch. It’s one of those rodeos that your family and friends come out to watch. It’s almost the hardest rodeo to win, because you want to do good.” That’s the inner-pressure that comes from wanting to be at one’s best in front of hundreds of people excited to see a local cowboy do well. “Everybody’s so supportive, so I try to my best every time I come to town.” Actually, Solomon has spent a considerable amount of 2019 in Waller County. He suffered an injury to his hand at the 2018 NFR, which kept him sidelined until March. Things didn’t get much better as the season went on. “I’m at about 80 percent,” he said. “I missed a lot of good rodeos. I started back up trying to make up early this summer, and I was doing OK and hurt my knee. Everything happens for a reason.” Though disappointed he wasn’t competing, he focused on what he could do. In the process of rest and rehabilitation, Solomon found something that might help him make a big change in the 2020 season. “I was pretty blessed to find another really good horse out of Brazil, that I’ll get in about a week,” Solomon said. “I’m pretty close to being heeled up with possibly the best horsepower I’ve ever had, so 2020 is the most excited I’ve been in my life. “I feel like I spent more time at home this year than ever. I’ve never had roping taken away from me. I’ve not won, but I can always figure out a way to get back to winning. When you absolutely cannot rope, it’s another battle that I’ve had to fight this year. Hopefully it makes me stronger than I am right now.” Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-5 Hempstead, Texas All-around cowboy: Clay Smith, $4,388 in steer roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Yance Day, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s YoYo, $1,884; 2. (tie) Win Ratliff and Zach Hibler, 84, $1,256 each; 4. Paden Hurst, 691; 5. (tie) Craig Wisehart and Cole Reiner, 82, $377 each; 7. (tie) Waylon Guy Bourgeois and Anthony Thomas, 79, $220 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Cody Doescher, 4.0 seconds, $2,356; 2. Dylan Schroeder, 4.2, $2,049; 3. (tie) Payden McIntyre and Jacob Edler, 4.5, $1,583 each; 5. (tie) Kalane Anders and Ben Goodman Jr., 4.6, $873; 7. (tie) Heath Thomas, Levi Rudd and Chase Crane, 4.7, $239 each. Team roping: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Jake Long, 3.8 seconds, $3,264; 2. Lane Ivy/Dillon Wingereid, 4.4, $2,920; 3. Garett Chick/Walt Woodard, 4.5, $2,577; 4. (tie) Mason Boettcher/Ty Arnold and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.6, $2,061 each; 6. (tie) Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain and Cody Snow/Travis Graves, 4.7, $1,374 each; 7. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson and Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 5.0, $515 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Mike and Ike, Sterling Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Brown Eyed Girl, and Bradley Harter, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Life of Riley, $1,403, 82 points; 4. Wyatt Casper, 78, $674; 5. Jarrod Hammons, 76, $429; 6. (tie) Logan Hay, Dean Wadsworth and Roper Kiesner, 75, $245 each. Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Marcos Costa, 8.4 seconds, $2,616; 2. (tie) Clint Singleton, 8.5, $2,275; 3. Blane Cox, 8.6,  Continue Reading »

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – After two and a half years away from the game he loves, Yance Day has returned with a vengeance. He showed it Friday night, when the Oklahoma cowboy took the bareback riding lead at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo with an 85-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s YoYo. In doing so, he made an emphatic statement that he is back to chase his dreams. “I want that gold buckle,” said Day, 29, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. “That’s what I see in my head, and I’m going to do what it takes.” The proof comes in the way he’s conducted himself since his return. It’s paying off when he arrives at the arena. He liked the little he knew about YoYo, a horse that has bucked at the National Finals Rodeo. “All I knew is just what I’d seen on the stock stats, and I saw a lot of 21s and 22s (based on scores of up to 25 for each judge),” he said. “I was pretty excited to see those numbers, and I was more than happy to make the trip down here. “I went over to Leesville (Louisiana) and was 82 and winning it when I left, and I’m winning it when I leave here, so I’m pretty tickled.” Day left rodeo to help out his family back home, but after time away, he realized he needed to return to the sport. He received assistance from a couple of former bareback riders, Brody Cooper and D.V. Fennell, the latter of whom is a two-time NFR qualifier. “Brody took me under his wing, and I just started working out like crazy,” Day said. “He pushed me, irritated me on some days, but for the most part he helped me out a bunch. “With D.V., it started out when Brody took me under his wing. I started driving a truck for him, and we’d talk about things.” After retiring from rodeo, Fennell started Mane Line Transportation, a trucking company based in Oklahoma. While he made ends meet behind the wheel, Day gathered lessons while crossing the country and having conversations with his boss. “We’d talk about what I was doing, and I’d be driving past Colorado Springs, and he’s say, ‘Champ there; my name’s on the wall.’ That helped me more than anything. Him telling me stuff that he’d won kept it in my mind. I want to be able to say that.” If he finishes the 2020 regular season the way he’s started it this week, he might say that quite often over the next 12 months. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-5 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Yance Day, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s YoYo; 2. (tie) Craig Wisehart and Cole Reiner, 82; 4. (tie) Waylon Guy Bourgeois and Anthony Thomas, 79; 6. Leighton Berry, 78; 7. Tim Murphy, 77; 8. Tyler Berghus, 76.5. Steer wrestling: 1.  Dylan Schroeder, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jacob Edler, 4.5; 3. Ben Goodman Jr., 4.6; 4. (tie) Heath Thomas, Levi Rudd and Chase Crane, 4.7; 7. Garrett Oates, 4.8; 8. A.D. Davis II, 4.9. Team roping: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Jake Long, 3.8 seconds; 2. Lane Ivy/Dillon wingereid, 4.4; 3. Garett Chick/Walt Woodard, 4.5; 4. Mason Boettcher/Ty Arnold, 4.6; 5. (tie) Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain and Cody Snow/Travis Graves, 4.7; 7. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson and Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 5.0; 10. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 5.2. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Mike and Ike, and Sterling Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Brown Eyed Girl, 82 points; 3. (tie) Logan Hay, Dean Wadsworth and Roper Kiesner, 75; 6. Riggin Smith, 73; 7. Toby Collins 70; 8. Ben Andersen, 61. Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Marcos Costa, 8.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Clint Singleton, 8.5; 3. Blane Cos, 8.6; 4. Sy Felton, 8.7; 5. (tie) Tanner Green and Tyler Prcin, 8.8; 7. (tie) Charlie Gibson and Hudson Wallace, 8.9. Barrel racing leaders: Kelly Bruner, 15.27 seconds; 2. (tie) Amanda Cupp and Lauren Davang, 15.54; 4. Stephanie Fryar, 15.60; 5. Jimmie Smith, 15.63; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.64; 7. (tie) Ashley Castleberry and Abby Phillips, 15.65; 9. (tie) Taryn Boxleitner and Jessi Fish, 15.66; 11. (tie) Abby Pursifull and Kelsey Knight, 15.68. Bull riding: 1. Creek Young 82 points on Lancaster & Jones’ Mr. Jones; 2. Laramie Mosley, 81; 3. Jacob O’Mara, 80; no other qualified rides.

DUNCAN, Okla. – When Michelle Darling crossed the finish line inside Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup Arena on her final run in early August, she knew she’d reached a big goal this season. She and her mount, Martini, stopped the clock in 17.17 seconds that night, finishing the rodeo with the average championship and, more importantly, $6,826. That secured her qualification 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. But she wasn’t done. She also won the rodeo in Phillipsburg, Kansas, that week and followed it with the title in Lawton, Oklahoma, the next. She ended the regular season with $16,114 and ended the Prairie Circuit’s regular season atop the regional standings, less than $600 ahead of the No. 2 cowgirl in the race, Jamie Chaffin of Burwell, Nebraska. “I’m pretty excited about that, because it’s been neck and neck this season,” said Darling of Medford, Oklahoma. “I didn’t know if I was going to make my count this year. I had to go to the last six rodeos of the (circuit) season, and thankfully I got them in.” ProRodeo features a unique format. Not only do dollars count as points toward the world standings, but money won in the circuit rodeos counts toward the circuit money list. In addition, cowboys and cowgirls must compete in at least 15 rodeos in the region made up primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Darling finished the year with 16 events. “I got a pretty good start when I won those three rodeos,” she said. “I placed at a couple other pretty good ones, then my stud (backup) horse ended up winning Vinita (Oklahoma). That really made the difference.” For the most part, though, Darling earned her money on the back of Martini, an 8-year-old palomino mare that Stevi Hillman rode to the National Finals Rodeo in 2016 – Darling was pregnant at the time, so she offered Martini to the Texan, who won nearly $52,000 in Las Vegas that December. “That horse has a big heart,” Darling said. “She’s got a lot of try and is really gritty. She will never give up.” Now the tandem will be in a big-time race to the finish for the circuit championship while running through the three go-rounds in Duncan. Not only are Darling and Chaffin in the race, but the next four girls in the standings – Ivy Hurst, Emily Miller, Jeanne Anderson and Leslie Smalygo – all have outside chances to move to the top of the leaderboard. “This will be my third year to make the circuit finals,” Darling said. “The first year I was there, I won the first round, placed in the second round and, in the third round, I tipped a barrel to win it. Last year I didn’t run my good horse, but it was a good experience. “This year I’ll be running my good horse. My goal is to win it and hopefully make the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo.” Only the year-end and circuit finals-average championships earn the right to compete in Kissimmee, Florida, next spring, so it’s a big deal to do well in Duncan. “That committee does a dang good job with that rodeo,” she said. “They feed us good, and they try their best to keep the ground good. They give us free stalls, which is great. If it wasn’t for that committee, I don’t know where we’d have the circuit finals. We appreciate that committee for putting up the money to have the circuit finals for us.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Virtually every year of his young life, Dylan Schroeder has attended the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. It was more than a family tradition; it was a major event, and he knew what it meant for the communities in the county of 51,000. His father, Paul, is a former Waller County Fair Association board member. “I grew up watching this rodeo every year, and it’s an honor to be able to ride here,” said Dylan Schroeder, who owns the steer wrestling lead at this year’s rodeo after posting a 4.2-second run during Thursday’s opening night. “To make a good run really feels good. “This is my third year here, and I have never done any good here. I finally drew a good steer and got to use him.” Hempstead’s rodeo is the first of the 2020 season. ProRodeo’s regular season runs from Oct. 1-Sept. 30 ever year, so it’s a chance to start the new campaign off on a good foot. For 2019, Schroeder finished the season 13th in the Texas Circuit standings, one spot out of qualifying for the regional finale that will take place at Waco, Texas, in January. That’s not too bad for a man that was still testing the ProRodeo waters a week ago. In this sport, newcomers to the game compete on their permits, meaning they need to earn at least $1,000 in the year to earn the right to compete as full-fledged Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association members. Schroeder ended his year as the No. 3 bulldogger in the permit-holder standings and has transitioned to his rookie season. As with any person who plays this game, the ultimate goal is to advance to the National Finals Rodeo and compete for the elusive world championship. More immediate, though, he’d love to win the PRCA’s Rookie of the Year title. “You’ve got to travel pretty hard to make that happen,” said Schroeder, a 22-year-old cowboy who will graduate from Texas A&M in December. “I want to thank (fellow bulldogger) Cade Stanton for letting me ride his good yellow horse since mine got hurt. If it wasn’t for his great team of horses, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’ve been doing lately.” Of course, a big part of what’s leading him to success is the support he gets from his family and from so many others in Waller County. “I wouldn’t be here today without my family’s backing and help,” he said. “I grew up playing other sports, and they rodeod. One year we went to the NFR, and I came home and I said I wanted to get back into this. “We went from having one horse to 12 horses in about two months, so I had to learn on the fly just to catch up with the competition.” Mission accomplished. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-5 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Craig Wisehart, 82 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Kattle Katie; 2. Waylon Guy Bourgeois, 79; 3. Tim Murphy, 77; 4. Tyler Berghus, 76.5; 5. Tucker Zingg, 75; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Dylan Schroeder, 4.2 seconds; 2. Cade Staton, 5.4; 3. Ryan Nettle, 5.5; 4. Justin Shaffer, 6.3; 5. Remey Parrott, 6.7; no other qualified runs. Team roping: 1. Mason Boettcher, 4.6 seconds; 2. Landon McClaugherty/Joel Hurta, 12.1; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Logan James Hay, 75 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Silver Coast; 2. Riggin Smith, 73; 3. Toby Collins 70; 4. Ben Andersen, 61; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Russell Schilling, 11.2 seconds; 2. Trenton Smith, 11.3; 3. Regan Holcomb, 12.8; 4. Todd Danley, 15.1; no other qualified runs. Barrel racing leaders: 1. Kassidy Lovell, 15.76 seconds; 2. Alyssa Urbanek, 15.79; 3. Miranda Emmert, 15.81; 4. Tiany Schuster, 15.96; 5. Callie Albrecht, 16.36; 6. Shelby Hermann, 21.11; 7. Amanda Slaughter, 21.85; no other qualified runs. Bull riding: 1. Jacob O’Mara, 80 points on Lancaster & Jones’ Bust a Jigg; no other qualified rides.