Monthly Archives: July 2020

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Tyler Worley’s history at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo has been less than stellar. “I’ve caught one steer clean here, and I’ve missed a few good ones here, too,” said Worley, a 2019 National Finals Rodeo qualifying heeler from Berryville, Arkansas. “I came here a lot before I really started rodeoing, because this was my circuit while I was going to college.” He was talking about the Prairie Circuit, a regional piece of the ProRodeo pie that’s made up of rodeos and contestants primarily from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. While attending Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, he chased circuit dollars. Now he’s chasing world championships, and Roundup Rodeo remains a big stop in his annual path to the National Finals Rodeo. On Thursday night during second performance of Kansas’ largest rodeo, Worley and his header, Jeff Flenniken, stopped the clock in 6.0 seconds. That, combined with a 6.1-second run during the first round Thursday morning, moved the duo into the team roping lead at Roundup Arena. “We had a little bit stronger steer, and he went left in the first round,” said Flenniken of Caldwell, Idaho. “Tyler was going to let him go straight instead of hazing him as much. He handled a little bit weird, but Tyler did a really good job of heeling him. “That’s what we planned to do, be 6 (seconds) or under, and make sure we came back to the short round.” With two days left in preliminary competition, Flenniken and Worley should advance to Sunday’s championship round, which features only the top 12 contestants and teams in each event from the previous days’ competition. “On our first one, he ran to the right a little bit,” said Worley, who finished 11th in the heeling world standings last season. “We always rope fresh steers here, and you don’t want to over-haze them because it makes them hard for your header. We wanted to leave him in the middle and knock him down and hopefully be fast enough. “We had the same game plan tonight. If we had a little slower steer, we might have tried to press a little more, but we drew in the middle of the herd, so we knew we just needed to catch him and come back Sunday.” The opportunities are big in western Kansas this week. Roundup provides a large local payout called added money in rodeo terms – $20,000 per event – which is combined with the contestants’ entry fees makes up the total purse. The local money and a big number of entries allows for a possible record payout in Dodge City. “It’s so weird this year,” Worley said. “It’s hard to get where you need to go because of all the cancellations. It makes you really thankful when people do step up and have a rodeo, especially one this big. It’s great for the sport.” Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 29-Aug. 2 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Orin Larsen, 87 points on Vold Rodeo’s Spicey Chicken; 2. Chad Rutherford, 86; 3. Jesse Pope, 85; 4. Caleb Bennett, 84; 5. Paden Hurst, 83; 6. Craig Wisehart, 82.5; 7. (tie) Ty Breuer and Richmond Champion, 82; 9. Joel Schlegel, 78.5; 10. (tie) Trenton Montero and Tim O’Connell, 77; 12. Anthony Thomas, 75. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dirk Tavenner, 3.6 seconds; 2. Luke Branquinho, 3.8; 3. (tie) Hunter Cure and Clayton Hass, 3.9 each; 5. Dalton Massey, 4.2; 6. (tie) Blake Knowles and Eli Lord, 4.6; 8. Rowdy Parrott, 4.7. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Jacob Talley and Stetson Jorgensen, 3.7 seconds; 3. (tie) Will Lummus and Dalton Massey, 3.8; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 4.1; 6. (tie) Tyke Kipp and Zack Jongbloed, 4.3; 8. (tie) Curtis Cassidy and Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.5. Average leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Luke Branquinho, 8.4; 3. Stetson Jorgenson, 8.5; 4. Dakota Eldridge, 9.0; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 9.2; 6. Ryan Shuckburgh, 9.3; 7. Tom Littell, 9.7; 8. Kalane Anders, 10.1; 9. Weston Taylor, 10.5; 10. Kaleb Summers, 11.4; 11. (tie) Kris Rasmussen and Landon Beardsworth, 11.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.2 seconds; 2. Casey Hicks/Steve Orth, 5.7; 3. (tie) Cale Markham/Cody Doescher and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 5.8; 5. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 5.9; 7. Blake Teixeira/Jerren Johnson, 6.3; 8. Coy Rahlmann/Ryan Von Ahn. Second round leaders: 1. Matt Sherwood/Trey Yates, 4.3 seconds; 2. J.B. James Jr/Brock Hanson, 4.5; 3. Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 5.2; 4. Cory Kidd/Clay Futrell, 5.5; 5. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 5.7; 6. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 6.0; 7. (tie) Curry Kirchner/Chad Mathes, Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford and Brice Boatright/Braden Harmon, 6.5. Average leaders: 1. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 12.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Casey Hicks/Steve Orth, 12.3; 3. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 12.6; 4. Cole Markham/Cody Doescher, 12.7; 5. (tie) Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, Coy Rahlmann/Ryan Von Ahn and Kolton Schmidt/Hunter Koch, 13.0; 8. Curry Kirchner/Chad Mathes, 13.6; 9. Adam Wallace/Cody Southerland, 14.8; 10. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 15.1; 11. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 17.2; 12. Garett Chick/Walt Woodard, 20.4. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Zeke Thurston, 85.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Bay Watch; 2. Taos Muncy, 84; 3. Ryder Wright, 83.5; 4. (tie) Ross Griffin, Jacobs Crawley and Spencer Wright, 82.5; 7. Jake Finlay, 81.5; 8. Roper Kiesner, 80; 9. Leon Fountain, 79.5; 10. Chuck Schmidt, 78.5; 11. (tie) Dean Wadsworth, Sterling Crawley and Rusty Wright, 78. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Riley Pruitt, 8.1 seconds; 2. Haven Meged, 8.3; 3. Reid Zapalac, 8.5; 4. Cooper Martin, 8.6; 5. Reese Riemer, 8.7; 6. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Cade Swor, 8.8; 8. Ty Harris, 9.1. Second round leaders: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 7.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Kincade Henry and Bo Pickett, 8.0; 4. Ty Harris, 8.1; 5. (tie) Cody McCartney and L.D. Meier, 8.3; 7. (tie) Marcos Costa and Adam Gray, 8.5. Average leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 17.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Haven Meged, 17.3; 3. Cooper Martin, 17.4; 4. Ike Fontenot, 17.8; 5. Blake Deckard, 18.5; 6. Ryan Jarrett, 18.6; 7. Glenn Jackson, 18l7; 8. Reid Zapalac, 18.8; 9. Will Howell, 19.3; 10.  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Through much of the 2019 ProRodeo season, Orin Larsen was in a big-time race for the world championship. He entered the National Finals Rodeo this past December third in the world standings with more than $173,000 in earnings. While in Las Vegas over the richest 10 days in the game, he placed in six rounds – including the Round 4 victory – and placed fourth in the all-important average; he earned $123,000 in that week and a half and finished second in the bareback riding world standings. My how things have changed. Larsen is still riding as strong as ever, but the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has been a damper on many sports, and rodeo is no exception. The Dodge City Roundup Rodeo is one of a few hundred rodeos that are still going on, but it’s a far cry from years where there were around 700 rodeos in a calendar year. On Wednesday’s opening night of Roundup Rodeo, Larsen spurred Vold Rodeo’s Spicey Chicken for 87 points to take the lead in bareback riding and putting himself in fantastic position to return in a high spot for Sunday’s championship round, which features only the top 12 contestants in each event from four days of preliminary competition. “It just felt like I was spurring a Shetland pony,” he said of the smallish horse. “It’s a short-back, cool little sucker. I’d heard a lot about the horse, but I didn’t know much. It was just awesome the way it turned out. She didn’t have one jump that was the same to the next. It was pretty exotic and wild, but there was something honest about it. “She definitely gave me every chance she could.” In a typical year, there are more than two dozen rodeos that attract the top cowboys during this particular week of competition. With the pandemic causing many of those events to be canceled, contestants are taking every chance they can to make the dollars necessary. Only the top 15 contestants on the money list when the regular season comes to a close advance to the NFR. Larsen is a five-time finalist from Ingles, Manitoba, now living in Gering, Nebraska, with his wife, Alexa. He also is a two-time college national champion bareback rider, having won the titles in back-to-back years for two different schools – he claimed his first crown while attending the College of Southern Idaho and his second at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, which “Especially with this COVID thing going on, every penny counts, and it’s going to come down right to the wire as to who makes the NFR and who doesn’t,” he said. “any time you can get a big win like this under your belt, it’s one step closer.” He has a great deal of work yet to do. He’ll compete again Thursday in Burlington, Colorado, then spend a couple days at home before returning for Sunday’s finale at Roundup Arena. Larsen is excited to return. “I’ve never won this rodeo, and I’d really like to,” Larsen said. “With all this stuff with the pandemic, the committee has work endless to get this going, as have a lot of other committees. You gain a new appreciation for what everyone does for the sport of rodeo.” Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Dodge City, Kan. July 29-Aug. 2 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Orin Larsen, 87 points on Vold Rodeo’s Spicey Chicken; 2. Jesse Pope, 85; 3. Ty Breuer, 82; 4. (tie) Trenton Montero and Tim O’Connell, 77; 6. (tie) Tanner Aus and Wyatt Denny, 75 ; 8. Colton Clemens, 64. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. 1. Dirk Tavenner, 3.6 seconds; 2. Luke Branquinho, 3.8; 3. (tie) Hunter Cure and Clayton Hass, 3.9 each; 5. Dalton Massey, 4.2; 6. Blake Knowles, 4.6; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 4.7; 8. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Jacob Talley and Stetson Jorgensen, 3.7 seconds; 3. (tie) Will Lummus and Dalton Massey, 3.8; 5. Dakota Eldridge, 4.1; 6. (tie) Tyke Kipp and Zack Jongbloed, 4.3; 8. Luke Branquinho, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Luke Branquinho, 8.4; 3. Stetson Jorgenson, 8.5; 4. Dakota Eldridge, 9.0; 5. Zack Jongbloed, 9.2; 6. Kalane Anders, 10.1; 7. Tyke Kipp, 12.2; 8. Gabe Soileau, 15.8; 9. Dirk Tavenner, 17.0; 10. Justin Shaffer, 18.8. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, 5.2 seconds; 2. Cale Markham/Cody Doescher, 5.8; 3. Blake Teixeira/Jerren Johnson, 6.3; 4. Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 6.5; 5. Brent Mibb/Griffin Passmore, 6.7; 6. Rhett Anderson/Cullen Teller, 7.0; 7. Curry Kirchner/Chad Mathes, 7.1; 8. Tyler Waters/Derrick Jantzen, 7.6. Second round leaders: 1. J.B. James Jr/Brock Hanson, 4.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Curry Kirchner/Chad Mathes and Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 6.5; 4. Cole Markham/Cody Doescher, 6.9; 5. Paul David Tierney/Matt Kasner, 10.1; 6. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 12.0; 7. Garett Chick/Walt Woodard, 12.6; 8. Tyler Waters/Derrick Jantzen, 15.5. Average leaders: 1. Cole Markham/Cody Doescher, 12.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 13.0; 3. Curry Kirchner/Chad Mathes, 13.6; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 17.2; 5. Garett Chick/Walt Woodard, 20.4; 6. Tyler Waters/Derrick Jantzen, 23.1; 7. Ryon Boatright/Tyrel Allen Taton, 24.1; 8. J.B. James Jr/Brock Hanson, 4.5 seconds on one run; 9. Blake Teixeira/Jerren Johnson, 6.3; 10. Brent Mibb/Griffin Passmore, 6.7. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Taos Muncy, 84 points on Vold Rodeo’s Jerry’s Delight; 2. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Ross Griffin, 82.5; 4. Jake Finlay, 81.5; 5. Leon Fountain, 79.5; 6. (tie) Dean Wadsworth and Sterling Crawley, 78; 8. Trent Burd, 76.5. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Riley Pruitt, 8.1 seconds; 2. Ike Fontenot, 8.8; 3. Ryan Jarrett, 9.4; 4. Marty Yates, 9.7; 5. Blake Deckard, 9.8; 6. Garrett Busby, 10.4; 7. Lane Livingston, 11.9; 8. Tuf Cooper, 12.6. Second round leaders: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 7.9 seconds; 2. Kincade Henry, 8.0; 3. Cody McCartney, 8.3; 4. Marcos Costa, 8.5; 5. Blake Deckard, 8.7; 6. Ike Fontenot, 9.0; 7. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Lane Livingston, 9.2; 9. Marty Yates, 9.9; 10. Garrett Busby, 11.1. Average leaders: 1. Ike Fontenot, 17.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Blake  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – In the first year the Dodge City Xtreme Bulls serves as a Division I event in the PRCA, veteran cowboy Trevor Kastner earned the first Division I victory of his 12-year career. Since its inception in 2014, Roundup Rodeo’s stand-alone bull riding was a Division II event, a secondary level based on money. That changed this year, and it was a way for the rodeo to provide a bigger shot at income for bull riders who make their way to this western Kansas community. “To win it this year is pretty cool,” said Kastner, 32, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Roff, Oklahoma. This wasn’t his first title in Dodge City. He boasts of having won Roundup’s bull riding title in 2013, and he’d like to add that title to his resume again this year. He and his traveling group will compete at two rodeos in Iowa on Wednesday and Thursday, then return to the Sunflower State to ride bulls in Phillipsburg, Kansas, on Friday. They will compete at Dodge City’s rodeo Saturday, with hopes of advancing to Sunday’s championship round. He needs every dollar he can get – only the top 15 money-earners in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the NFR. With the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic having caused havoc globally, it means fewer opportunities for the cowboys that make their livings in the game. “With me as old as I’m getting, it’s tough because it seems I get rusty a lot quicker,” said Kastner, who entered the week No. 11 in the world standings. “I’ve finally been getting to a few more events. It’s been a little slow until tonight, so it was good to finally stay on a couple. “I just need to get some more under me and get to riding better.” He placed in a tie for fifth place in the first round after an 85-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Black Ice. He then matched moves with 4L and Diamond S Ranch’s Ferdinand for 89.5 points to win the final round and the two-ride aggregate with 174.5 points. With it, he earned the lion’s share of the money, $9,458. “I’m getting closer to the end of my career, so I’ve got to take advantage of winning money whenever I can,” Kaster said. Dodge City Roundup Xtreme Bulls Dodge City, Kansas July 28, 2020 Round 1: 1. (tie) Boudreaux Campbell, on 4L and Diamond S Ranch’s No. 25, and Jeston Mead, on 4L and Diamond S Ranch’s Space Unicorn, 88.5 points, $3,008 each; 3. Shane Proctor, 88, $1,930; 4. Creek Young, 86.5, $1,249; 5. (tie) Trevor Kastner and Lon Danley, 85, $681 each; 7. Eli Vastbinder, 84.5, $454; 8. Levi Gray, 84, $341. Final round: Trevor Kastner, 89.5 points on 4L and Diamond S Ranch’s Ferdinand, $3,102; 2. Tyler Bingham, 87, $2,497; 3. Eli Vastbinder, 85.5, $1,967; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Trevor Kastner, 174.5 points on two rides, $5,675; 2. Eli Vastbinder, 170, $4,351; 3. Tyler Bingham, 167, $3,216; 4. (tie) Boudreaux Campbell and Jeston Mead, 88.5 on one ride, $1,703 each; 6. Shane Proctor, 88, $946; 7. Creek Young, 86.5, $757; 8. Lon Danley, 85, $568.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Cole Patterson knew he was following in some pretty big footsteps when he decided to compete in rodeo for a living. He’s filling them just fine. His father, Rocky, is a four-time world champion steer roper and 25-time qualifier to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, and Cole earned his first trip to the finale last November at age 24. On Tuesday, the young Pratt, Kansas, cowboy roped and tied down three steers in 38.5 seconds to win the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo’s first championship of 2020. He pocketed $3,865 in the process and inched his way past Scott Snedecor into the lead in the world standings. Snedecor, a four-time world champion from Fredricksburg, Texas, finished fourth in Dodge City. He trails Cole Patterson by just $685 in the world standings. Dodge City Roundup Rodeo Steer Roping July 28, 2020 Steer roping: First round: 1. Tuf Cooper, 10.5 seconds, $1,793; 2. Travis Mills, 10.6, $1,484; 3. Rocky Patterson, 11.3, $1,175; 4. Cole Patterson, 11.4, $866; 5. Jarrett Blessing, 12.5, $556; 6. Scott Snedecor, 12.7, $309. Second round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., 9.7 seconds, $1,793; 2. Kelton McMillen, 10.6, $1,484; 3. Cody Lee, 10.7, $1,175; 4. J.P. Wickett, 11.3, $866; 5. Garrett Hale, 11.6, $556; 6. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Jess Tierney, 11.7, $155 each. Third round: 1. Rocky Patterson, 9.1 seconds, $1,793; 2. Trevor Brazile, 9.6, $1,484; 3. Ty Herd, 10.0, $1,175; 4. Jim Locke, 10.4, $866; 5. Scott Snedecor, 10.8, $556; 6. Cole Patterson, 11.9, $309. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 38.5 seconds on three head, $2,690; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., 39.0, $2,226; 3. Trevor Brazile, 39.1, $1,762; 4. Scott Snedecor, 39.6, $1,298; 5. J.P. Wickett, 40.9, $835; 6. Blake Deckard, 41.2, $464.

Delayed by pandemic, Cattlemen’s Days is now scheduled for Sept. 3-5 GUNNISON, Colo. – Over the last 120 years, the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration has featured its rodeo through the 1918 flu pandemic, the 1918 flood, World War I, the Depression and World War II. The organizers that produce the annual event aren’t letting the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic get in the way of the longest continuous-running rodeo in the country; it’s scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3-Saturday, Sept. 5, Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. “This community has a long-standing tradition of mental toughness and fortitude,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the volunteer committee that organizes the celebration. “We have a great deal of pride when it comes to Cattlemen’s Days and our rodeo. We are proud of the history we have, and we’re excited to continue through our 120th straight year of having a rodeo. “More than anything, each of us that volunteers for Cattlemen’s Days is proud of this community and the people in it. That is why we work so hard every year to produce this big event.” With restrictions handed down by authorities, the initial plan is to have a rodeo absent of fans. Organizers are working with the rodeo’s video production crew to set up multiple video boards around the community to showcase the action to people who want to take in the rodeo. In addition, the Cattlemen’s Days committee is working to have the rodeo broadcast on The Cowboy Channel. More details on all video will be released at a later date. “There is a good chance the restrictions will be eased some in mid-August, so we may be able to have some people in the stands for the rodeo,” Coblentz said, estimating the crowd count could be 25 percent of its normal capacity. “For now, though, we are planning for the worst-case scenario and hoping for the best situation possible.” With the mandated conditions of having a rodeo, the committee is getting creative with its fundraising efforts. Each member understands the hardships that have come economically, but they have had tremendous support from many regular sponsors. “We’re actually reaching out to the rodeo community and asking people to support rodeo and rodeo athletes,” Coblentz said. “We are setting up a GoFundMe page, and we are happy to take any donation anyone is willing to provide us in this trying year. “What we’re hoping for, though, is to have 1,000 Cowboy Sponsors at $150 apiece. That would provide the funding to keep our added money (locally raised dollars) in a range where it has been. Every dime of money raised through the cowboy sponsorships will go to the contestants.” To sponsor Cattlemen’s Days via the GoFundMe page, click THIS LINK. “The fact that we’re announcing it on the National Day of the Cowboy (the fourth Saturday in July) is a big deal to me and the other cowboys out there,” Coblentz said. “We want to celebrate the cowboys who are part of rodeo across the nation, and having our rodeo is the best way we can do that. “Traditionally we have done things the old-fashioned way, and we will continue to do that as we reach out to our event sponsors, chute sponsors and others who want to be part of Cattlemen’s Days. With technology and the ability to reach so many people via the GoFundMe page, we find ourselves in a position to reach the rodeo community, the people that have supported the sport for so long.” All Cowboy Sponsors will have their names placed in a lottery. Names will then be drawn from that bundle, and if a sponsor’s name is collected, that person will receive two tickets to the rodeo. “Even if they’re not drawn, each Cowboy Sponsor will still be recognized at our rodeo and through our advertising,” he said. “The biggest reason we’re doing this is because we want to give opportunities to the cowboys and cowgirls. We also want to support our contract personnel and those that have been there for us through the good times and the not-so-good times.” There’s also something about finding a good reason to celebrate all that makes Gunnison special. Not only is it a picturesque mountain community, but it also features a hometown feel that draws visitors back year after year. “In the spirit of Gunnison, we know we can get through the pandemic of 2020 with perseverance and strength,” Coblentz said. “The mental toughness we have here has been exhibited for decades, and we’re using that to produce another great rodeo in this community.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – As one of the biggest rodeos in North America – and the biggest one during its week of competition – Dodge City Roundup Rodeo has a history of attracting hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls to southwest Kansas. The number of entries for the 2020 edition of Kansas’ grandest rodeo is extraordinary. More than 900 contestants signed up to be part of Roundup Rodeo, and many are the cream of the crop in the game. The list includes nearly 40 world champions accounting for more than 100 gold buckles between them. They will be part of the six days of action at this year’s festivities, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 29-Sunday, Aug. 2, at Roundup Arena; Dodge City Xtreme Bulls is set for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. “Since there’s been a decrease in the number of rodeos this year because of COVID-19, we were expecting to have a big number of entries,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “To see that we have 900 cowboys and cowgirls entered in Dodge City is telling in how much they want to compete. “Because of the pandemic, there have been many rodeos that have canceled or been postponed, so I’m glad we’re able to give them the opportunity to make money in Dodge City.” Though rodeo was the first professional sport to return to the field, it has suffered the effects of the coronavirus. Some rodeos have continued with limited or no fan interaction, while others have gone on as usual. Local organizers understand, though, that Roundup Rodeo is a vital cog in what makes Ford County and all of southwest Kansas tick. It’s also important to rodeo contestants who make their livings in the game. By this time a year ago, more than a dozen contestants had earnings that had surpassed $100,000. This year, only tie-down roper Shad Mayfield and saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper have six-digits in earnings. Roundup features one of the biggest prize packets in ProRodeo. The committee inserts $20,000 in local money per event; those dollars are mixed with the contestants’ entry fees to make up the total purse. A year ago, for example, steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge pocketed $8,580, which helped propel the Nevada cowboy to his sixth appearance at the National Finals Rodeo and an eighth-place finish in the 2019 world standings. “This is a big win,” Eldridge said last August. “This Dodge City buckle is pretty prestigious; it’s on the bucket list to win. This is where the money’s at, and this is a big win this time of year.” That’s why the best of the best will be in Dodge City. The event is enshrined in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and is a regular nominee for the PRCA’s Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year. This year’s rodeo also will feature renowned trick rider Madison MacDonald and rodeo funnyman Justin Rumford, the reigning eight-time Clown of the Year. “We want this community to celebrate this summer, and having the best in rodeo is a good way to do it,” Trotter said.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – In just his second year as the primary livestock producer at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, Frontier Rodeo frontman Heath Stewart has much to live up to this summer. A year ago, Roundup fans saw amazing scores all week long, thanks in large part to Stewart and other stock contractors who were part of the Dodge City experience. Three-time world champion Will Lowe won the first round of bareback riding with a 90, and Steven Dent won the short round with an 89. In saddle bronc riding, Rusty Wright posted big scores all week, matching moves with Frontier’s Let ’Er Rip for 90 points to win the first round; he followed that with a 92 on Frontier’s Big News to win the championship round, the two-ride aggregate and more than $7,100 in southwest Kansas. Expect nothing less at this year’s Roundup Rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 29-Sunday, Aug. 2, at Roundup Arena; Dodge City Xtreme Bulls is set for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. “We were thrilled at the way things went last year with Frontier Rodeo leading the charge,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the volunteer committee that produces the annual event. “It was a flawless transition from what we’ve had for decades because Frontier has been part of our rodeo for several years. “Of course, you can’t really go wrong when you’ve got the best stock contractor in rodeo.” The recognition is more than one man’s opinion, though. Frontier Rodeo has been the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Stock Contractor of the Year each of the past five seasons. It goes beyond what happens in Dodge City, though that’s a big part of it. Roundup Rodeo is recognized as one of the best in North America, and Frontier’s top animals perform in southwest Kansas each summer. It also was named the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s top stock contractor a year ago; because the vote is made up of the women in ProRodeo, the honor is a reflection of Frontier’s dedication to producing not only high-quality entertainment but also world-class competition. Eighteen Frontier animals were selected to perform at the 2019 NFR, which was the most of any stock contractor in the game. Animals from the Freedom, Oklahoma-based firm helped cowboys to three go-round wins. The contestants know the opportunities to catch fast cash come with Frontier livestock. “The horses are going to give you every chance to win a pile of money,” said bareback rider Orin Larsen, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who finished second in the world standings last season. “What Heath and Frontier will bring is the A team, and that’s a bunch of buckers. I’ve been fortunate enough to have won a bunch of money on a lot of Frontier horses.” He’s been joined by countless other cowboys along the way, and it’s happened inside Roundup Arena. Over the last decade, Frontier animals have been named the best in the game seven times: Medicine Woman is a four-time Saddle Bronc of the Year; Maple Leaf was the 2013 Saddle Bronc of the Year; and Full Baggage has twice been named Bareback Horse of the Year. They are just part of an elite list of bucking beasts that make Dodge City home for week in the summer.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman first made herself well known in rodeo a decade ago, when the big mare was named the top saddle bronc at the 2010 National Finals Rodeo. Since then, she’s been recognized as one of the best bucking horses in the game, and many of her highlight-reel performances have come during the championship round of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. She will be back in action at this year’s event, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 29-Sunday, Aug. 2, at Roundup Arena; Dodge City Xtreme Bulls is set for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. How good is the 17-year-old bay mare? At the NFR this past December, she bucked off both Jesse Wright and Sterling Crawley, who have a combined 14 NFR qualifications. The year before, Wade Sundell marked 92 points to win the fifth round. Five nights later, CoBurn Bradshaw scored 92 to win the 10th round. Moreover, she’s been at least 90 twice inside Roundup Arena. In 2014, Sundell rode the talented bay for 92 to win the coveted Dodge City Roundup buckle while setting an arena record. A year later, Isaac Diaz did one better, posting a 93-point marking to win the crown. “I’ve been waiting a long, long time to draw that horse,” Sundell said that year. “That was the buckingest horse I’ve been on. When I nodded my head until I got off, I felt like I was bucked off every jump.” Since that day six seasons ago, he and Medicine Woman have matched that score two other times, including that 2018 NFR; that was the year he won his first world championship. Over the course of his career, Sundell has qualified for the finale eight times. Diaz has made the big show six times, including 2015 when his victory in Dodge City helped the Florida-born cowboy to a sixth-place finish in the world standings. He knows quite well how important it is to be matched with a great bucking beast. That season, he was matched with Medicine Woman twice, and he won both rodeos, including an 87.5 in Corpus Christi, Texas, that spring. “Just to be able to draw a horse like that twice in a year is just amazing,” Diaz said in 2015. “When you draw good, it forces you to ride better. “I feel like I rode her better this time than I did earlier this year. I feel like she bucked harder. She was all I wanted.” That’s a powerful statement about a powerful horse. Just a few weeks ago, Rusty Wright scored 91.5 points on Medicine Woman to win the rodeo in Cody, Wyoming. Earlier this year, world standings leader Wyatt Casper was 87.5 points to place high in San Antonio. Over the course of her career, she has been recognized as one of the top three saddle broncs in ProRodeo seven times; that includes four times that she was named the Saddle Bronc of the Year. “That’s one of the coolest feelings to get on a horse of that caliber,” said Shade Etbauer, who rode her to the 2017 Roundup title. “To be able to get on horses like that is just awesome.” That’s why Medicine Woman remains a featured piece of the Roundup Rodeo puzzle.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Because of an injury he suffered at the 2018 National Finals Rodeo, Nathan Jestes missed a lot of rodeos last year. He wasn’t about to miss Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. Jestes – recognized as one of the top bullfighters in ProRodeo – suffered a severely torn hamstring in the first round in Las Vegas. That was in December. In the months that passed, he underwent surgery and worked through extensive rehabilitation. Just shy of eight months later, he made his way to western Kansas to test his re-attached leg muscle and to get back to work. “Dodge City is one of my favorite stops throughout the year,” said Jestes, who began working Roundup in 2015. “The committee is a big reason behind that. Between the committee and the community in general, they take great care of us when we’re in town. It’s one of those places that you want to be.” He will return for this year’s rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 29-Sunday, Aug. 2, at Roundup Arena; Dodge City Xtreme Bulls is set for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. Through the six days of rodeo action, Jestes will work with Wacey Munsell, a veteran bullfighter from Ulysses, Kansas. Here’s where it gets interesting. After Jestes suffered his Round 1 injury a 19 months ago, Munsell took his place through the final nine rounds of ProRodeo’s championship event. That means Roundup can boast of being one of few rodeos in the country to have two NFR bullfighters. “Wacey does a great job in Dodge City, and I think it works out great,” said Jestes, who lives in Douglas, Wyoming, with his wife, Bridget. “It’s good to have someone that’s from around there.” This marks his 11th season in the PRCA, protecting cowboys during bull riding. He didn’t grow up planning to be involved in rodeo, though. It just worked out that way. “I was always involved in other sports like hockey, football and lacrosse,” he said. “Actually, lacrosse was my biggest sport in high school, and my goal was to play Division I lacrosse in college. As my senior year rolled on, I fell out of love with the sport. The more recruiting trips I was on, the more I realized it wasn’t what I wanted to do. “At the last minute, I ended up turning away all my athletic scholarships and went to study aviation at Montana State University. I received my associate’s degree in aviation technology. While I was in school, I got a part-time job at Yellowstone Jet Center, where I met Al Sandvold, who was a professional bullfighter.” As an athlete all his life, there was something appealing about bullfighting to Jestes. He also was a big rodeo fan, and he liked the idea of marrying his athleticism with the sport, so he asked Sandvold for help. “Watching Al, I told myself that it was something I could do,” said Jestes, who grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. “I asked Al if he could teach me, so every Monday and Wednesday, when the Montana State rodeo team had practice, he took me to the practices and worked on my bullfighting. “When I graduated, I got hired as a flight instructor, and I did that for two years. I also started booking amateur rodeos.” His building resume climbed in bullfighting meant he had to make a decision; stay with the solid job and guaranteed paycheck as a flight instructor, or take off and chase his rodeo dreams. The people involved with Roundup Rodeo are thankful he chose the latter. “We have really enjoyed welcoming Nate and his wife into the Roundup family,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the committee that produces the annual rodeo. “Nate is an excellent bullfighter and is a real asset to our rodeo. We hope to have him here for many years to come.” Jestes enjoys the lifestyle. He and his wife make the trek to Dodge City a special one each summer, and they enjoy the family atmosphere that comes with the sport. “I always say rodeo’s a big world, but it’s a small family,” he said. “At every rodeo we go to, it’s a family reunion, just in a different place. “The most gratifying part of my job is being out there and helping my friends by being able to run into a situation where normal people would run away. You want to control the chaos to be able to protect your buddies.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Deep down, Justin Rumford is a cowboy, and rodeo has been part of his life since the day he was born. Through his years handling various duties for his family’s stock contracting firm to his time spent on the rodeo trail, his comedic nature has shined a spotlight on the game and his own personality. Now he has parlayed that into the perfect job. He returns to Dodge City Roundup Rodeo for the second time in six years. As the reigning eight-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Clown of the Year, Rumford will be one of the featured pieces of the rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 29-Sunday, Aug. 2, at Roundup Arena; Dodge City Xtreme Bulls is set for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 28. Rumford will be joined by trick rider Madison MacDonald, who has worked the National Finals Rodeo each of the past nine years. A Canadian by birth, she now lives in Stephenville, Texas, where she also teaches trick riding when she’s not performing across North America. “We’re excited to have both of them coming to Dodge City,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the volunteer committee that produces the rodeo. “Both do a great job in the arena, plus, with Justin, it’ll be nice to have a local back.” Rumford is a third-generation cowboy who was raised in Abbyville, Kansas, and started competing as a youngster. His grandfather, Floyd, founded Rumford Rodeo Co. His dad, Bronc, was an all-around champion who took over the stock contracting firm, and Justin joined in the family business. In his lifetime, he’s done just about everything possible in the sport, but he’s found his calling dressed in baggy clothes and wearing greasepaint. It’s the perfect combination of a witty personality raised on rodeo. “This clowning deal is the best thing I’ve ever had,” Rumford said. “It’s something in rodeo that I can have a lot of longevity in. There’s not a ton of risk, and it’s something I enjoy so much.” It shows in and out of the arena, a place he knows like the back of his hand. He’s roped and wrestled, ridden bucking horses and fought bulls. He’s been a flankman and a truck driver, and he’s loved every minute of it. “I’ve been involved in rodeo my whole life,” he said. “I’ve never done anything else, and I’ve never wanted to do anything else. I’ve always wanted to be successful. A (few) years ago when I started this venture, I knew if I really worked hard and tried really hard that I could get to the top in a hurry.” He did. In just his second year as a full-time rodeo clown, he won the PRCA’s top award. He’s followed that the four years since, and he continues to be one of the most sought-after rodeo clowns in the game. But there are many reasons behind it. It’s all part of making the production come across as seamless as possible. If there is any downtime in the competition, Rumford is on hand to engage the crowd. It’s a vital piece of the keeping the family-friendly entertainment part of each performance. “I think my specialty is walking and talking and being in the arena,” he said. “I feel like I can connect with the crowd pretty good. Even when my microphone isn’t on, I’m still talking to fans. You can do a lot without saying a word.” That’s an integral part of being a clown; sharing a particular move or a flashing glance in the right direction. As a clown with a bit of a bigger build, it is primary target of comedy is himself. “People want to laugh at each other more than they want to laugh at something,” Rumford said. “When I’m in the arena, I’m saying the same stuff I’d say if I wasn’t clowning. It’s just me being me.”

GUYMON, Okla. – The Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo is now on the fast track and racing toward its revised dates for 2020. After postponing its annual May event because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the rodeo’s schedule is now set, with four performances planned for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug 22; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “We are coming as strong as ever for this year’s rodeo, because we know Pioneer Days is important to this community,” said Mitch Egger, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual event. “We also realize we are an important stop for the cowboys and cowgirls that make a living in rodeo. “This has been a tough year on all of us, and we are excited to show our resilience through this virus.” The only changes come in the rodeo’s slack schedule to accommodate as many timed-event contestants as possible. Barrel racers have routinely competed on Friday morning and afternoon in a two-round affair. This year will feature only one round, allowing for a bigger payday to the top contestants because the purse will not be split between two rounds and an aggregate. “Because so many rodeos have been canceled due to the virus, we suspect our number of barrel racers will be a record high,” said Ken Stonecipher, the production manager for the rodeo committee. “We didn’t think we’d be able to accommodate that many barrel racers with slack on Friday, so we’re breaking it up into slack on Tuesday (Aug. 18) and Wednesday (Aug. 19) evenings.” The rodeo will also feature two rounds of men’s timed events instead of a two-round progressive with the third round taking place in the performances. Slack for those events will take place Thursday, Aug. 20, and Friday, Aug. 21, mornings. Steer roping will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. “With the two rounds of timed events, we’ll run the first round on that Thursday and part of the second round Friday morning,” Stonecipher said. “The rest of the second round will take place in the performances. “We know these contestants have lost a lot of opportunities at earning money, so we want to give them the best chance to win as much money in Guymon as possible. We’re doing that with fewer go-rounds.” The pandemic has interrupted many lives, and the rodeo offers a big of “back toward normal” for people in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The postponed rodeo will also see a return of all the major players who were part of last year’s event, including Stock Contractor of the Year Frontier Rodeo. “The only difference we have this year is with our clown, Justin Rumford, who was already scheduled to work another rodeo at that time,” Stonecipher said. “Fortunately, we were able to pick up Robbie Hodges to return. We had a lot of people tell us how much they liked Robbie last year, so it’s good that he can be here again. “The dates and the schedule are a bit different, but this is still Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo.”

WEATHERFORD, Texas – Rick Wilson is quite proud of the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo. He should be. As the posse’s chairman, he understands the work that it takes to organize an event of such magnitude. He also knows how important it is to have a quality stock contractor to help produce Weatherford’s rodeo. That’s why he and the rest of the volunteer committee lean on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. “He’s got bulls and broncs that are fantastic,” Wilson said of Carr, a Dallas-based livestock producer who has been recognized as one of the best in the game for the last decade. “There’s a lot to his herd of animals, and he’s willing to use them. “Pete brings every bullet with him, and he’s not afraid to shoot, too.” Wilson is referring to the dozens of bucking horses and bulls that have been selected to perform at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Only the top 100 bareback horses, saddle broncs and bulls are selected each year to work the grand finale in Las Vegas, and the Carr firm has its share every year. Most of those animals will be at Weatherford’s rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 8-Saturday, July 11, at the Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Arena; that also includes the Xtreme Bulls competition at 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 7. “The reason we have Pete Carr at our rodeo is because we want it to be a good, smooth rodeo,” Wilson said. “When Pete and his crew come to town, you know you’re going to get a smooth rodeo production and quality stock. “We know what Pete and his team are going to do. Pete’s going to do his job extremely well when he comes in.” Carr leans on his talented team of experts to help with all the behind-the-scenes work that is done for every performance. Then during each show, the team handles things so each production is virtually seamless, at least to the crowd. “He fits our crowd very good,” Wilson said. “The entire crew brings professionalism, and Pete’s got the best stock going down the road. He always brings great quality every night.” Carr has had his bucking beasts named Bareback Horse of the Year five times, starting with Real Deal in 2005. The big, brown gelding was followed by Big Tex in 2010, Deuces Night in 2012 and Dirty Jacket in 2014 and ’15. Beyond that, Carr features a healthy dose of animals that have been born to buck on the Carr ranch. In fact, that second generation of incredible talent is showing off at places like Weatherford and the NFR. “I’ve been a round rodeo all my life, and I’ve been a pickup man and seen a great deal of things; what Pete brings is incredible,” Wilson said. “To raise something that’s one of the best has got to be a feather in his cap. To have great horses is one thing; to raise them is quite an accomplishment.” The Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo is on of the best in the country, and that’s because the volunteers that make it happen trust Pete Carr Pro Rodeo.