Monthly Archives: July 2022

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Each August, Roundup Rodeo announcer Boyd Polhamus opens championship night by introducing most of the world champions that are competing for that year’s Dodge City title. Over the last decade, there have been hundreds of gold buckle-wearing souls that have been part of the final night of Roundup Rodeo. In that  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – For most of his life, Rod Swafford has been part of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. He’s been a member of Roundup since 1978 and been a director for the past 42 years. He’s not just one of the dozens of people necessary to pull off an event like the rodeo; he’s  Continue Reading »

Veteran cowboys know to put southern Idaho rodeo on their schedules GOODING, Idaho – It’s been two decades since Will Lowe made his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo and was the overall and bareback riding Resistol Rookie of the Year. That was 2002, the same year the Gooding Pro Rodeo returned to its  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The 2022 Lea County Fair and Rodeo has plenty going on during its nine-day run. From various livestock shows to the exhibits in the Yucca Building, amusement attractions and carnival rides, concert series and five nights of high-flying, heart-stopping rodeo action, the entertainment options at the 86th fair and rodeo are endless.  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo is the biggest community event for this nearly 4,400-square-mile section of land in extreme southeastern New Mexico. There are 75,651 souls that live within the county’s borders, and most of them make their way to their county exposition throughout the 10-day affair, set for Friday, July  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo offers locals a great opportunity to gather together and celebrate all that the community has to offer. It’s also a time to reflect and appreciate how it all came to be. “We have certain days to celebrate during our fair and rodeo, but we wanted to  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Over the last few years, a buckskin mare born in the prairies of northwestern Oklahoma has made quite a name for herself. Now 11 years old, Gun Fire is a proven winner and is a major part of the equation for winning bareback rides. A year ago, a newcomer to the  Continue Reading »

Well-known announcer has a great history with well-known Idaho rodeo GOODING, Idaho – Steve Kenyon is from Oregon, lives in Texas and makes Gooding his home for about a week every August. It’s a great place to be for a man with one of the most recognized voices in rodeo. Now in his 21st year  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – It’s been nearly 20 years since Pete Carr and his stock contracting firm first arrived in southeastern New Mexico to produce the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. Over that time, Carr and his team of professionals have proven to be in the upper echelon of livestock producers, and it’s a key reason  Continue Reading »

Idaho rodeo uses leather-like look on concrete wall for safety’s sake GOODING, Idaho – It stands but just a few feet tall, but the wall that surrounds Andy James Arena was troublesome. The animals that were part of the annual Gooding Pro Rodeo couldn’t see the gray concrete. Horses would run into it; cowboys were  Continue Reading »

Colorado Cinch cowgirl keeps her priorities in place while still competing Shali Lord had just made a run at the Greeley (Colorado) Stampede and was just waiting for word from four hours away in her hometown of Lamar, Colorado. Rain had hit that area, and she was unsure of what was going to happen with  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Kris Allen has always known the importance of giving. It’s why he decided to be a firefighter, now retired from the Hobbs Fire Department. It’s also why he has agreed to be a member of the Lea County Fair Board, a group of 10 people in charge of operating the Lea County  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – In the world of rodeo, Tilden Hooper has been around the block a few times. He’s 34 years old, which is on the senior end for bareback riders, especially for one who almost saw his career come to an end a decade ago because of a serious neck injury. When he wasn’t  Continue Reading »

Big crowds hang around for ‘slack’ competition at the Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – Rodeo is a unique sport. It’s often wild and Western, with excitement and danger mixed together in a two-hour performance. The world standings are based on money earned, so when the regular season comes to an end on Sept. 30,  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – Patrick Smith first qualified to the National Finals Rodeo in 2003. He was 23 years old. Tanner Tomlinson 2. Now, the two cowboys are roping together with hopes of advancing to ProRodeo’s grand finale at Las Vegas in December. They took another step toward it Friday night with a 4.0-second run to  Continue Reading »

Tegan Smith carrying a family tradition into an elite rodeo status The state of Iowa isn’t quite as well known in the rodeo world as others. Cinch cowboy Tegan Smith is trying to change that. The 24-year-old saddle bronc rider has one qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that takes place  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – In the world of rodeo, many cowboys – especially those that ride bucking horses and bulls – will travel together to help keep the costs down and to provide a bit of a team atmosphere. Jake Clark has some good ones, and they’re always helping each other. Between Clark, Wyatt Casper, Brody  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Over the last four decades, no ProRodeo clown has received more honors than Keith Isley. His brand of humor is a hit no matter where he is, and it’s been that way since he started working at his craft so long ago. Whether he’s near his hometown in North Carolina or  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – Hadyn Perkins is a very busy young lady, and she’s about to be busier. As a member of the Future Fitters 4H Club, she will be actively involved in Cattlemen’s Days, which runs through Saturday, July 16, at the Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. It’s a hectic time for many families  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – All Matt Tarr had to do to find inspiration for his craft was look up to some of the greatest men who have ever done it. Tarr is a rodeo clown, and he will be one of the featured entertainers for this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m.  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – It’s 1,100 miles from Crossett, Arkansas, to this mountain community, but Robby Freeman doesn’t mind one bit of that 17-hour drive. He looks forward to his annual trip to Gunnison, where he is the official photographer for the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, set for Thursday-Saturday at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison.  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – There aren’t many bronc busters in ProRodeo that still compete at a high level after 35, but the ones that do prove that age isn’t everything. Take Chet Johnson, who has long since passed his 35th birthday. On Monday night during the final performance of Rooftop Rodeo, Johnson proved his talent  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – For years, the PRCA rodeo was the big drawing card for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, but that changed a few years ago. The Lea County Fair Board and the Lea County Commission have worked in unison to create an annual concert series that makes Lovington, New Mexico, the place to  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – To watch Lane McGehee, it’s easy to see an infectious smile and a passion for rodeo. He comes by it naturally, and he fits into his identity as a bareback rider. On Sunday night, he rode the Cervi Brothers’ Matchbox for 84 points to move into a tie for second place  Continue Reading »