Monthly Archives: June 2021

Champion may be retired from bull riding, but he’s got plenty on his plate Life as a professional bull rider can be hectic. From training to travel to competing – sometimes at two locations in the same day during the busiest times of the year – there’s a lot that goes into being elite. J.W.  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – It really doesn’t matter how many times Shali Lord has made barrel racing runs in this beautiful Rocky Mountain town, she loves returning. “It’s an old-fashioned setting, but everything they have there is modernized,” said Lord, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Lamar, Colorado. “They have a great announcer, great stock,  Continue Reading »

To my Uncle Dude, nicknames were something of an artform. He and his siblings were pretty darn good at it, but he and Uncle Donnie have always been spectacular. Maybe it comes from a man who always went by a nickname. Born Howard Henry Summers, I rarely ever heard anyone but family call him that.  Continue Reading »

Louisiana bulldogger goes from one-stop town to the top of the world Tucked away in DeSoto Parish in northeastern Louisiana sits a little hamlet called Keachi, which boasts of 238 residents. Steer wrestler Jacob Talley is one of them. This is where he was raised and taught right from wrong. His father, Jeff, used to  Continue Reading »

CASPER, Wyo. – The dreams of national championships came crashing down for two Northwestern Oklahoma State University cowboys during last week’s College National Finals Rodeo in Casper. Bridger Anderson, the 2019 college champion in steer wrestling and a three-time CNFR qualifier, and Riley Westhaver watched their intercollegiate rodeo careers end on the third day of  Continue Reading »

CASPER, Wyo. – Cole Franks wasn’t quite sure what to get his dad for Father’s Day. He and some of his teammates from the Clarendon (Texas) College rodeo team collaborated to provide the perfect present: three national championships in one fell swoop. Franks is a sophomore at his hometown college, and his dad, Bret Franks,  Continue Reading »

A quarter century ago, Bret Franks and Jhett Johnson were teammates at Panhandle State University. Now they’re two of several former Aggies who coach in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, Franks at Clarendon (Texas) College and Johnson at Casper (Wyoming) College. They’re also dads who happen to coach their sons. On Saturday night, they celebrated  Continue Reading »

PECOS, Texas – While this community came to grips with the global pandemic, the organizers of the West of the Pecos Rodeo debated about what to do with its 2020 event. Each step of the way, the volunteers sought advice from people they trusted. With more than a century of history, the committee knows how  Continue Reading »

Isley brings his comedy, personality back for Cattlemen’s Days GUNNISON, Colo. – Watching Keith Isley entertain crowds at any rodeo across North America, it seems as though entertaining was just a natural fit. The truth is far from reality, though. He wasn’t necessarily funny; he was, however, talented and has always had an amazing work  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – While he’s experienced the College National Finals Rodeo before, it’s never something Bridger Anderson takes for granted. The last time he played on this stage two seasons ago, Anderson walked away with the coveted steer wrestling national championship. He was just a sophomore then, and it was the last time the college  Continue Reading »

Cattlemen’s Days sound director is always ready for the action GUNNISON, Colo. – Randy Mayer was just clowning around when he came upon the task of music direction. It’s not funny business anymore for the Mississippi man, who will return to Gunnison for this year’s Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, set for Thursday, July 15-Saturday, July  Continue Reading »