Monthly Archives: August 2022

Four years after wreck that paralyzed him, Vezain is still reaches others Ask anyone that knows him, and they’ll tell you J.R. Vezain is a special person. He has the ability to help others, make them be better in every way possible. “That’s a spiritual gift of mine,” said Vezain, 30, a Cinch cowboy from Melstone, Montana. “I’m an encourager and an inspirer. I just wake up and try to kick the day’s ass. It’s just me being me.” He’s an inspiration from the word go, and a life-changing event nearly four years ago didn’t change that about him. The wreck he suffered while riding a bareback horse in Pasadena, Texas, may have altered his plan in life, but it never got close to his heart or his vibrant personality. He’s paralyzed from the chest down. If it weren’t for the wheelchair, many might not realize it. He suffered a fractured T10 vertebrae and a partial fracture of T9 – about the third and fourth ribs from the bottom of the rib cage. “I used to be climbing on fire-breathing dragons trying to be 90 points,” Vezain said of riding bucking horses. “Now, it’s trying to get walking again.” On a common day, he’ll do some ranch work and ride horses on his place in Montana – he’s outfitted a special rigging to help hoist him in the saddle. He and his wife run a couple hundred head of cattle, and he likes doing leatherwork. Vezain is also still rehabilitating his injury extensively. Last October, he acquired a “walking machine” – a metallic exoskeleton the attaches motorized joints to a person’s hips and knees. Because of Vezain’s diligence toward rehabilitation, he was eligible for the mobility device. It’s all another step he takes toward walking again. “That’s been a life-changing, liberating tool for me,” he said of his robotics. “They’re not super functional as far as getting a job done, but as far as being able to strap legs on to get up and walk and stretch and move around whenever I’ve wanted to, it’s been life-changing. “There is no way I could have been able to afford it on my own. The support system that has pooled together everything to allow me to purchase that was humbling. It’s easy for people to help somebody in a crisis. For people to pool together for me to purchase this machine after the crisis, it made me cry.” Emotions are part of daily lives, especially when there has been so much that has happened in such a short time. Since his wreck, there have been down times, but because of his infectious smile and the way he attacks life, most of his those are limited. “I’ve been able to look at the glass half full even more,” he said. “I’ve had to learn to find little things to be thankful for. It’s hard to find those if you’re not looking for them. The wreck has opened my eyes. “I have learned a lot in the last four years. I thought I had faith and trust before, but I had to swallow the pill. I thought I’d walk in three months, and that turned into six months and then a year and two years. I’ve had to learn a lot of patience. I’ve had to learn how to love differently. I didn’t know how to parent before, but navigating parenting through this whole situation is different. “I’ve been humbled over the years. Another big lesson I’ve learned is how to accept help. In the Western world and as a man, it’s very hard for us to ask for help when we need it.” He’s had help thousands of times over. The bills that came with the wreck – and the surgeries and the doctors visits and the stays in rehab and the general upkeep of a paralyzed person – have been extensive, but fellow cowboys and people who never met J.R. Vezain came out of the woodwork to help him and his family. When he and his family opted for the robotics, the device came at a hefty cost. Donations came pouring in, and now Vezain owns his own and can walk upright. “I’ve also learned that receiving is a blessing,” said Vezain, who operates a ranch with his wife, Shelby. “By not allowing others to help you, you’re blocking a blessing. There’s no way I could pay back all of the people that have helped us financially, mentally, emotionally.” His biggest level of appreciation falls on Shelby, who has been his partner in every way since their wedding day and has walked every mile that he hasn’t since that day in September 2018. A few weeks after the wreck and while he was still in the rehabilitation center in Houston, they learned Shelby was pregnant. Ryatt is now 3 years old, and when Dad isn’t trading cattle or buying calves or handling the leatherwork, he’s busy chasing his mini-me around the best he can. “I didn’t meet my biological father until I was 15; I grew up with a man who was my siblings’ dad that was more of a dad to me,” Vezain said. “I didn’t realize the impact that would have as a father. There’s nothing I enjoy more than being a father. Other than my relationship with Christ and my relationship with my wife, this is my favorite thing to do. “I love watching him grow and get in wrecks. It’s the funnest thing I’ve ever been a part of.” It’s that bond and the one he has with his wife that push Vezain each day. This isn’t the life he envisioned for himself and his bride, but this is how he and his family live each day. “It’s a tough situation,” he said. “I’ve never been in her shoes, so I’ve never had to care for and stay attracted to somebody in a wheelchair. We’ve had our fair share of struggles, but I think our bond has  Continue Reading »

GOODING, Idaho – With just six weeks left in ProRodeo’s regular season, cowboys are scrambling for their bids to advance to the National Finals Rodeo. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event qualify for the sport’s grand finale, so they’re trying to cash in every where they go. In rodeo, money not only helps cover the expenses that come with traveling across the country chasing their gold buckle dreams, but dollars equal points. The contestants with the most money won at the end of the NFR will be crowned world champions. The only way to earn that is to be at the championship at Las Vegas in December. Two steer wrestlers are in the midst of a big battle, but they’re at different ends of the spectrum. Cody Cabral sits 22nd in the bulldogging standings and is hoping to work his way into contention, while Ty Erickson is already set to compete at the NFR for the seventh time, sitting fifth. On Saturday night, both cowboys stopped the clock in 3.7 seconds to finish in a four-way tie for third place at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. They each pocketed $2,496, which will come in handy. “Right now, this means everything to me,” said Cabral, 33, a 2016 NFR qualifier from Hilo, Hawaii. “I’m outside of the top 15. I’m definitely trying to hunt down making the NFR, so every dollar means everything right now.” For Erickson, he is in position to chase down his second world championship. He earned his first in 2019 and is pointing his attention toward a second Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. “Every check counts this time of year,” said Erickson, 32, of Helena, Montana. “Even after the finals, it seems like it always comes down to a couple thousand dollars, so we’re going to every rodeo we can and win as much money as we can to give ourselves the best chance to win a gold buckle at the end of the year.” The battle to be the best every year is often a game of inches, and that’s especially true in bulldogging. Cabral is seven spots out of the top 15, but he only trails the field by about $8,100. The money he earned in Gooding puts him a fourth of the way into the mix. “Anybody in the top 50 can beat you on any given day,” he said. “It seems like the guys that get the good (steers) can win a lot, and you need to get through some hard steers and win on some difficult steers.” Technique is the key in steer wrestling, but size does help when it comes to grappling large farm animals to the ground. Cabral is 6-foot-5 and weighs around 225; Erickson is 6-5 and 240. Another important attribute is to ride good horses that can get them to the steer in a hurry. Erickson has ridden top horses through much of his career, and he relied on a good one in Gooding that’s owned by fellow bulldogger Bridger Chambers. Cabral’s is a different story. “I’ve probably ridden close to 15 different horses this year,” he said. “I’ve been just showing up at rodeos and getting on the best ones. I rode (Tyler) Waguespack’s (Saturday). There are just so many great guys that let me on some of the best horses going, so it’s been great.” Of course, making their way to this community of 3,500 is always a big deal every August. “For being such a small town, this is one of the coolest rodeos we go to all year just because of the atmosphere,” Erickson said. “They pack the stands every night, and they like to have a good time.” It just makes it all that much better for the cowboys that make their livings in the game they love. “It’s a great energy,” Cabral said. “They’re just having a great time and bring a lot of energy here. It really gets you pumped up and makes for a better competition.” Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 17-20All-around cowboy: 1. Stetson Wright, $4,529 in saddle bronc riding and bull riding. Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, 89.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail, $4,371; 2. Bronc Marriott, 86.5, $3,351; 3. Tim O’Connell, 85.5, $2,677; 4. (tie) Cooper Cooke and R.C. Landingham, 85, $1,311; 6. Cole Reiner, 84.5, $729; 7. Jess Pope, 83, $583; 8. Dean Thompson, 82.5, $437. Steer wrestling: 1. Stan Branco, 3.2 seconds, $2,952; Bridger Anderson, 3.5, $3,536; 2. (tie) Trell Etbauer, Cody Cabral, Ty Erickson and Connor McKell, 3.7, $2,496 each; 7. Cash Robb and Tanner Brunner, 3.8, $1,248 each; 9. (tie) Gavin Soleau and Tristan Martin, 3.9, $416 each. Team roping: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.0 seconds, $5,001; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.4, $4,474; 3. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 4.6, $3,948; 4. (tie) Pace Freed/Cole Wilson and Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 5.0, $3,158; 6. $2,369; 7. Brodi Jones/Jason Warner, 5.4, $1,842; 8. Wyatt Murray/Whitt Crozier, 5.9, $1,316; 9. Jade Anderson/Zackery Lyle Lewis, 7.1, $790; 10. Jade Stoddard/Matt Williams, 7.5, $263. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek, $4,625; Kolby Wanchuk, 87.5, $3,546; 3. Isaac Diaz, 84, $2,621; 4. (tie) Tegan Smith, Chase Brooks, Dawson Dahm and Jack Bentz, 83, $1,041; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 82.5, $462. Tie-down roping: 1. Matt Shiozawa, 7.6 seconds, $6,028; 2. (tie) Ladd King, Ty Harris and Brayden Roe, 8.1, $4,759 each; 5. Kincade Henry, 8.3, $3,490; 5. Cole Eiguren, 8.4, $2,855; 7. John Douch, 8.5, $2,221; 8. Marcos Costa, 8.6, $1,586; 9. (tie) Jared Parks and Shane Hanchey, 8.7, $635 each. Breakaway roping: 1. Taylor Hanchey, 2.2 seconds, $5,753; 2. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, Carley Christian and Mattie Turner, 2.3, $3,739 each; 5. Brooke Winward, 2.4, $2,301; 6. Candida Eldridge, 2.5, $1,726; 7. (tie) Josey Murphy, Kindee Kananen and Janey Reeves, 2.6, $1,294 each; 10. (tie) Shelby Logan, Beau Peterson and Shelly Scrivener, 2.7, $863; 13. (tie) Italy Sheehan, Braylee Shepherd and Bailey Patterson, 2.8, $431 each. Barrel racing: 1. Michelle Darling,  Continue Reading »

GOODING, Idaho – While Brodi Jones and Jason Warner have aspirations of making the National Finals Rodeo and battling for world titles, their plans for 2022 are a little closer to home. The team ropers sit 11th in the Wilderness Circuit standings in their respective disciplines, and they’re now fighting to secure a spot in the regional finals, which will take place this fall. Only the top 12 in each event advance to the championship. They made a move in the right direction during Friday’s second performance of the Gooding Pro Rodeo, stopping the clock in 5.4 seconds; they are in fifth place with just one performance remaining. “Right now, it’s real important (to do well), because we’re right there in the bottom of the bubble,” said Jones, 26, the header from Grantsville, Utah. “We’re just trying to get every check we can to keep climbing the ladder.” The circuit is made up contestants and rodeos primarily in Utah, Nevada and southern Idaho, so this is a big step in the right direction for the two men that began roping together a little more than a year ago. “The money always helps,” said Warner, 42, of Rigby, Idaho. “It’s so expensive to be out here. You’re always trying for the world standings if you can do good enough that you can get into the NFR come December. Every dollar helps, because we spend plenty of it traveling down the highway going from rodeo to rodeo.” Each man has pocketed $4,786 so far this season. Sitting 11th in the circuit means there’s no room for error. If they remain in fifth place in Gooding, they could add at least $2,500 to their earnings. They did a little homework on the steer they had been matched with via a random draw and realized they needed to be in attack-mode. “We knew our steer was going to be fairly sharp, meaning he would leave the chute fast and want to get away, so we were aggressive,” Warner said. “My partner’s always aggressive on the barrier, and we just made the best run on him that we could.” Having looked at the steer’s history helps. “We knew he was going to hang off to the right and stay straight,” Jones said. “When we took off, the barrier kind of got me, so I just bombed (a throw) over there and got him. “Roping with him just makes my job simple, because all I have to worry about is turning them. If I’m turning them, they’re usually getting caught. It makes my life a lot simpler.” It is the only team sport. While Jones focuses on making good head catches, he must them turn the steer so that the animal is in a good position for Warner to catch the two hind legs and stop the clock. “(Jones) always takes care of me,” Warner said. “Some guys I’ve heeled for in the past would just (rope the steer and immediately dally to the saddle horn) and just rowel out of there. With him, they’re always really heel-able.” When he can make a secured heel catch, the clock stops faster, and the better they do that together, the more money they win. Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 17-20Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, 89.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Bronc Marriott, 86.5; 3. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 4. (tie) Cooper Cooke and R.C. Landingham, 85; 6. Cole Reiner, 84.5; 7. Jess Pope, 83; 8. Dean Thompson, 82.5. Steer wrestling: 1. Bridger Anderson, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Trell Etbauer and Connor McKell, 3.7; 4. Gavin Soleau, 3.9; 5. (tie) J.D. Struxness, Grady Payne and Dalton Massey, 4.0; 8. (tie) Justin Kimsey and Coby Brown,4.1. Team roping: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 5.0 seconds; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.4; 3. (tie) Pace Freed/Cole Wilson and Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 5.0; 5. Brodi Jones/Jason Warner, 5.4; 6. Wyatt Murray/Whitt Crozier, 5.9; 7. Jade Stoddard/Matt Williams, 7.5; 8. Tanner James/Max Kuttler, 9.6; 9. Lightning Aguilera/Coleby Payne, 9.8; 10. Jr. Dees/Levi Lord, 10.1. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek; 2. (tie) Tegan Smith, Dawson Dahm and Jack Bentz, 83; 5. (tie) Allen Boore, Kole Ashbacher and Lucas Macza, 82; 8. Wade Sundell, 81. Tie-down roping: 1. Matt Shiozawa, 7.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Ladd King and Brayden Roe, 8.1; 4. Kincade Henry, 8.3; 5. Cole Eiguren, 8.4; 6. John Douch, 8.5; 7. Marcos Costa, 8.6; 8. Shane Hanchey, 8.7; 9. Cooper Martin, 8.8; 10. Shad Mayfield, 9.0. Breakaway roping: 1. Taylor Hanchey, 2.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, Carley Christian and Mattie Turner, 2.3; 5. Candida Eldridge, 2.5; 6. (tie) Josey Murphy and Janey Reeves, 2.6; 8. (tie) Shelby Logan, Beau Peterson and Shelly Scrivener, 2.7; 11. (tie) Italy Sheehan, Braylee Shepherd and Bailey Patterson, 2.8; 14. (tie) Bailey Kieckbusch, Samantha Fulton and Zoie Bedke, 2.9. Barrel racing: 1. Michelle Darling, 16.88 seconds; 2. Ivy Saebens, 16.89; 3. Stevi Hillman, 16.93; 4. Anita Ellis, 16.95; 5. Ashley Castleberry, 17.02; 6. Nicole Driggers, 17.07; 7. Tarryn Lee, 17.09; 8. Macee McAllister, 17.10; 9. Jennifer Kalafatic, 17.12; 10. (tie) Shelley Morgan and Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.18; 12. Lauren Butler, 17.20; 13. Lynette Clyde, 17.22; 14. Sadie Wolaver, 17.24; 15. Savannah Bennett, 17.26. Bull riding: 1, Garrett Smith, 86 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Wired All D; 2. (tie) Dawson Gleaves and Shane Proctor, 82.5; 4. (tie) Jordan Spears and Hayes Weight, 82; 6. (tie) Stetson Wright and Cole Fischer, 79.5; 8. Tyler Ray Tayler, 77.

Cinch bull rider is excited to be back in action after two years of injuries It’s been a long two years for bull rider Garrett Smith. He was well on his way to a fourth National Finals Rodeo qualification in five years, and a broken arm ended his run in July 2020. No worries. Bones heal, and Smith had his sights set on being back at the top of his game again last year. He was hoping his one-year hiatus was a fluke, and the 2020 campaign was fraught with rodeo cancelations and other issues involving the COVID 19 pandemic. He had hoped for better. “On July 1st, I broke my right foot in about nine spots,” he said of last year’s injury. “This year, we made it past July, so we’re doing good.” He’s doing better than good. The Cinch cowboy has moved into the top five in the world standings, thanks in large part to a hot summer run that included two Xtreme Bulls victories and other success in the stand-alone bull riding events. As of Aug. 8, he had accumulated more than $117,000, with $48,000 of that coming at Xtreme Bulls events. He won X Bulls titles in Reno, Nevada, in June, then two weeks later he captured the title in Cody, Wyoming. He also finished second in Lovington, New Mexico, and has maintained his status among the very best in the game this season. “I’m finally feeling healthy,” said Smith, 27, of Rexburg, Idaho. “The last few years have been a non-stop roller coaster, and not a fun one.” The injury bug started before the 2020 season. After two straight trips to the NFR, he was on his way to a third straight when he suffered a fractured pelvis in late-August 2018. He was out of action and didn’t return for a long time. When he did, he went back to work and earned his third NFR bid in 2019. Being hurt and riding when hurt aren’t the same as trying to compete when injured. Broken bones need time to mend, and the pelvis injury took more time than most. When one’s job is to maintain control atop a 1,600-pound, bucking and spinning bull, one’s pelvis needs to be in perfect shape. The roller coaster has been trending upward in 2022, and he’s excited about it. With less than two months remaining in the regular season, he has some typical bumps and bruises that come with riding bucking bovines and sitting in a vehicle for many all-night drives. Born into a rodeo family, Smith is an all-around cowboy. He’s wrestled steers and roped and ridden just about anything he could. He first competed at The American in 2015 as a bulldogger, just three months removed from hazing for his big brother during Wyatt’s only trip to the NFR. During his initial qualification to the 2016 NFR, Garrett Smith won the 10th round and finished the year fifth in the bull riding world standings. A year later, he was the reserve world champion to Sage Kimzey, now a seven-time titlist. In an extremely competitive 2019 season, Smith won the second round of the NFR and placed on another night but finished 10th in the final standings. He’s back and hoping to capitalize on everything that’s been working his way through this season. He picked up his first victory of the season last November – the ProRodeo regular season runs from Oct. 1, 2021-Sept. 30, 2022 – while competing at the Las Vegas (Nevada) Days, then followed that with the crown in March at Queen Creek, Arizona. He won in Guymon, Oklahoma, in May and added Mountain Home, Idaho, and the Reno X Bulls in June and finally the Cody X Bulls in July. “Momentum is very important in bull riding,” Smith said. “Once you can get that rolling, sometimes you feel pretty unstoppable. You’ve got to ride the high as long as you can, because the game is like a roller coaster. “It feels awesome to be back. It gives you way more confidence. When you have a bad streak, it takes only one bull to turn it all around.” Still, he’s earned a lot of money over the last nine months. In rodeo, money not only pays the bills and covers expenses, but dollars equal championship points. In his case, the bull rider with the most earnings at the end of the NFR will be crowned world champion. Right now, he’s in a chase for five-time world champion Stetson Wright, who owns the last three all-around gold buckles, the 2020 bull riding title and the 2021 bronc riding crown. Smith is closing in on his fourth trip to the NFR, and that’s exciting, but he’s not resting. He’ll keep chasing every dollar and every title he can, and he’s going to enjoy the final few weeks of the 2022 campaign, especially with so many rodeos going in in the Northwest and close to his home. “I don’t think you ever feel too comfortable, but we’re always still pushing and going,” he said. “I feel that if you let off the gas at all, that’s when stuff’s going to start to go bad. “It’s way nicer when the rodeos are out here. I’ve always loved the end-of-the-year rodeoing; that’s when it’s best for me. I feel this is the best part of the year when it gets extremely fun for all of us up here.”

GOODING, Idaho – It’s been 12 years since anyone has won a Triple Crown in ProRodeo. Stetson Wright is hoping to end that drought in 2022. The last man to do it was legendary roper Trevor Brazile, who won the all-around, tie-down roping and heading world titles in 2010. “That’s the only thing on my mind,” Wright said of the Triple Crown, which he could accomplish by winning his fourth straight all-round gold while also winning the bull riding and saddle bronc riding titles this season. “That was my goal in 2019, my goal in ’20 and my goal in ’21. “I’m hoping going back to my fourth NFR that this is my year.” Brazile went on to set a standard in both the overall world championships (26) and the most all-around gold buckles (14), and Wright is hoping to claim them both by the time his career is done. The 23-year-old from Milford, Utah, already owns five world championships, including the 2020 bull riding title and the 2021 saddle bronc riding crown. He proved his all-around talent during Thursday’s first performance of the Gooding Pro Rodeo with an 88-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek to take the bronc riding lead and a 79.5-point ride on Summit’s Wired All D to sit fifth in bull riding. “That horse bucked me off in 2020,” Wright said of Dry Creek. “You either get bucked off him or you win on him, so I had a pretty good game plan coming in here not to let what happened the last time repeat itself. He’s just an outstanding horse. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.” What was the difference between the two rides? “I would just say confidence,” he said. “I’m the same weight and the same height I was in 2020, so there’s no reason I shouldn’t have done what I did today when I was on him two years ago.” Confidence has also come with experience. Two more years of maturity have helped, but so have all the broncs he’s been on in the time since. Over that stretch, he’s piled up dozens of rodeo titles. “Any type of win – it doesn’t matter if it’s at the NFR or the smallest rodeo – a win’s a win in my eyes. It’s all a stepping stone to me toward my goal at the end of every year.” Victories also come with an added bonus this season. He suffered a broken foot in January, then broke his ankle two months later. In April, he tore his groin and popped his hip out of place. He returned to action when his body allowed, then had a wrist injury that required surgery. “I’m feeling good right now, but every time you do good or win, it almost takes away the pain,” said Wright, the fifth member of his family to have earned a PRCA world championship “For the past couple of weeks, I was hurting, and I wasn’t doing good. I’m feeling pretty good now.” Wright has earned $397,000 so far this year riding bucking horses and bulls. He’s atop the all-around world standings, the bull riding money list and is second in saddle bronc riding, and he still has six weeks left in the regular season. He’s assured himself a place at the NFR in two events and is the first true contender for the Triple Crown in more than a decade. “When people look at the standings, I do look like I’ve had no hiccups, but I’ve had injuries on top of injuries and having a hard time getting into rodeos and getting drawn out,” Wright said. “There are a bunch of things that are behind the scenes that people don’t see. “As far as the whole year put together, all the goods drown out all the lows.” Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 17-20Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, 89.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Bronc Marriott, 86.5; 3. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 4. (tie) Cooper Cooke and R.C. Landingham, 85; 6. Cole Reiner, 84.5; 7. Jess Pope, 83; 8. Cole Franks, 82. Steer wrestling: 1. Bridger Anderson, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Trell Etbauer and Connor McKell, 3.7; 4. Gavin Soleau, 3.9; 5. (tie) J.D. Struxness, Grady Payne and Dalton Massey, 4.0; 8. (tie) Justin Kimsey and Coby Brown,4.1. Team roping: 1. Pace Freed/Cole Wilson, 5.0 seconds; 2. Wyatt Murray/Whitt Crozier, 5.9; 3. Cole Eiguren/Tyler Eiguren, 11.8; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek; 2. (tie) Tegan Smith and Dawson Dahm, 83; 4. (tie) Allen Boore, Kole Ashbacher and Lucas Macza, 82; 7. Wade Sundell, 81; 8. Jake Finlay 79. Tie-down roping: 1. Matt Shiozawa, 7.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Ladd King and Brayden Roe, 8.1; 4. Kincade Henry, 8.3; 5. Cole Eiguren, 8.4; 6. John Douch, 8.5; 7. Marcos Costa, 8.6; 8. Shane Hanchey, 8.7; 9. Cooper Martin, 8.8; 10. Britton Bedke, 9.2; Breakaway roping: 1. Taylor Hanchey, 2.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Carley Christian and Mattie Turner, 2.3; 4. Candida Eldridge, 2.5; 5. Janey Reeves, 2.6; 6. (tie) Shelby Logan, Beau Peterson and Shelly Scrivener, 2.7; 9. (tie) Italy Sheehan, Braylee Shepherd and Bailey Patterson, 2.8; 12. Samantha Fulton, 2.9. Barrel racing: 1. Michelle Darling, 16.88 seconds; 2. Stevi Hillman, 16.93; 3. Anita Ellis, 16.95; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 17.02; 5. Nicole Driggers, 17.07; 6. Tarryn Lee, 17.09; 7. Macee McAllister, 17.10; 8. Jennifer Kalafatic, 17.12; 9. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.18; 10. Lauren Butler, 17.20; 11. Lynette Clyde, 17.22; 12. Sadie Wolaver, 17.24; 13. Haven Jones, 17.27; 14. Kellie Collier, 17.28; 15. Kristy Yerrington, 17.29. Bull riding: 1, Garrett Smith, 86 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Wired All D; 2. Dawson Gleaves, 82.5; 3. (tie) Jordan Spears and Hayes Weight, 82; 5. Stetson Wright, 79.5; 6. Tyler Ray Tayler, 77; 7. Creek Young 76; 8. Dalan Duncan, 74.5.

Bad break during NFR slows bullfighter but doesn’t derail his dreams Dusty Tuckness didn’t have to look down to know something dire had just happened. It was the ninth night of the 10-round National Finals Rodeo, and the Cinch bullfighter had just helped bull rider Braden Richardson escape harm after making an 89-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo and Phenom Genetics’ Bouchon. As Richardson scrambled to his feet, Bouchon took one step toward the bull rider and Tuckness. The bull’s hoof landed on Tuckness’ left shin, breaking both the bullfighter’s fibula and tibia. “Instantly I knew it was something pretty bad,” said Tuckness, who has worked 13 straight NFRs and is a 10-time PRCA Bullfighter of the Year. “I didn’t have to look down for any clarification, but when I looked down, it was noticeable to any eye what had happened. “At that moment, I instantly started praying and trying to have peace about it.” The damage was done, and the prayers continued. Tuckness knew his NFR, and a good portion of the 2022 season, was done. “The biggest thing about it wasn’t the physical pain,” he said. “The physical pain was definitely there; it definitely hurt. The heartfelt pain is what hurt the most. So many times, I could tough out and fight through the injury and finish my job, but I knew this was something I physically couldn’t do, and they weren’t going to let me. “That was the thing that probably stung the most, knowing I couldn’t finish out that round and the next round. But you’ve got to take the good days with the bad days and build from them.” The injury was bad enough that doctors initially wanted to do surgery that night, but traumas at the Las Vegas hospital delayed the repair work until the next morning, Dec. 11. After the operation and with pain medicine coursing through his veins, Tuckness returned to the Thomas & Mack Center to honor all that had earned the right to be at ProRodeo’s grand championship. “It was good to see those guys,” said Tuckness, 36, of Meeteetse, Wyoming, now living near Purcell, Oklahoma. “There were a lot of emotions to be there that night. “Even laying in the hospital (Friday) night, I believed God was going to heal me, and I’d be back there the next night and go back to work. That didn’t happen, so there were some crazy emotions in a crazy situation.” It was just the first of many emotional days. It’s the nature of his injury, but a few weeks after his first surgery, Tuckness noticed something hinky with his leg. There was movement where there shouldn’t have been. That was disappointing, because he was ready to get back to work and shock the rodeo world by returning to the arena sooner than anyone had ever expected. Upon seeing doctors closer to where he lives in Oklahoma, it was determined that a second surgery was imperative if he were to heal properly. That delayed the process a bit more, and doubt started to set in. “I felt like I was almost three weeks into my recovery, so that information stung,” he said. “For probably three or four hours, I was pretty down.” Then he remembered something he’d learned from one of his mentors, the late Rex Dunn. “He would always say, ‘Life’s problems and issues are like a flat tire; you can get out and throw dirt and kick it, or you can change it and move on,’ ” Tuckness said. “As soon as that crossed my mind, I knew that was exactly right.” A bigger rod was put in place with more screws. The surgeon, Dr. Sean Bryan in Oklahoma City, also realigned the bones to make sure the healing process would improve. “The next day, I noticed how much more stable it was,” Tuckness said. “Those that know me know I’m pretty dedicated to my fitness and my nutrition. Instantly I knew and believed it was a better choice. God’s got a plan through this, and I’m going to trust in it and believe in it, and I’m not going to let my faith falter.” The work was intense, but that’s just the way Tuckness would have it. A man doesn’t become the best at his profession without a tremendous work ethic, and his is better than most. With the help of physical therapist Kevin Taylor in Oklahoma City, Tuckness was taking all the right steps. “I looked at it as a step process of 10,000 steps,” he said. “The steps I don’t take today I’m going to have to take in the future. If I could maximize every minute, watch what I eat, watch what I allow my mind to consume and put in the work, I could not only come back quicker than anybody thought, but I could come back physically stronger than before.” That’s what he did. When he wasn’t allowed to put weight on his left leg, he did everything else he could to build his mind and his body. He knew there would be some steps backward in his recovery, so focused his attention on the positives. “Sometimes it felt pointless, but I kept telling myself there’s a reason they’re giving me this, and it’s going to benefit me when I’m off my crutches or out of my boot and when I’m running and jumping,” he said. “There were some long, hard days, but I would try to reverse the thinking on it. The time I was putting in was going to allow me to come back and be mentally and physically strong and be able to handle it.” Always faithful, Tuckness took the words from James 1:2, which he translated in a way to help him through each level of the rehabilitation: “Consider it pure joy when you go through trials and tribulations, because the testing of your endurance will improve your faith.” “This is part of the challenge,” he said. “Jesus told his  Continue Reading »

Idaho bull rider takes the lead; Bennett has a world title on his mind GOODING, Idaho – The fans that packed into the fairgrounds for the special “Beauty and the Beast” performance of the Gooding Pro Rodeo had been raucous all night. The first few rides of bull riding, though, had all but suppressed the loud audience. Then an Idaho cowboy, three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Garrett Smith of Rexburg, got the momentum and the electricity back inside Andy James Arena by being the first to make a qualifying eight-second ride. “It feels really good to be the first one,” said Smith, 27, who matched moves with Summit Pro Rodeo’s Wired All D for 86 points to take the bull riding lead with three performances remaining in this year’s rodeo. Was there pressure to perform well? Other than the typical attempt to make the best score possible, he didn’t really pay that much attention to what had happened inside the arena before his ride. “I was trying to stay loose and cool and focused,” said Smith, who is fourth in the world standings with more than $120,000 in earnings with a month and a half remaining in the regular season. “I love this rodeo. This is just a cowboy’s rodeo. Everyone’s here to have fun, and everything’s relaxed. We’re just here to show off what we do and what we’ve been training for. “This is one of the funnest rodeos we have going. Everyone wants to come here, and everyone knows about the Gooding Pro Rodeo’. I’ve been coming here for about eight years, and I’ll never miss one.” Of course, it didn’t hurt that the “beer worthy” section of the stands thought his ride was deserving of a cold beverage on a warm Idaho night. “There’s never anything better than that,” he said. “There’s no other rodeo that will do that, and it’s kind of legendary to do that here.” Bareback rider Caleb Bennett was beer worthy, too, after his 89.5-point ride on Summit’s Game Trail, but he was just too sore to make it over to the stands. He also opted out of mounting a horse for a “victory lap,” nursing a pulled groin and nearly getting stepped on by his bronc after the ride had concluded. “That’s been a great horse the last couple of years,” said Bennett, a nine-time NFR qualifier from Corvallis, Montana. “There are guys that nod their heads that will be anywhere from 88 to 90 (points) on him. We took him to the NFR last year. I knew how solid that horse was. “I was coming here a little bit sore and banged up and was dang sure determined to make it work. He gave me a little trouble in (the chute), but he fired just like he always does and took me to the top of the board.” Now Bennett is hoping his score holds up. There are performances set for 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and a host of other bareback riders in the mix to see who can win this storied rodeo. “There’s a heck of a group of guys that have great bucking horses coming up, so I’d be tickled pink if that wins the rodeo,” said Bennett, 33, the No. 5 man in the world standings with nearly $114,000 in earnings. “With the caliber of guys that are here and the caliber of horses that’s here, I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up second or third. I feel pretty confident that it will stay in the money; that’s the best thing, and I feel healthy enough to go on to the next one.” With 44 days remaining until the season comes to a close, the Utah-born cowboy is in a good position to return to his 10th NFR. He plans to continue to compete at as many rodeos as possible and be at or near the top of the bareback riding world standings. Just making the NFR isn’t good enough. “I feel like I could go home and be pretty comfortable (making the NFR), but I’ve got a gold buckle on m mind,” he said. “My groin’s pulled and it’s a little sore, but it’s nothing with a little stem (muscle stimulation) and some ice and some therapy and, of course, the mobility exercises I do every day. “It might not look like it with the way I walked out of (the arena), but I’ve been feeling better as I’ve been riding because of my pre-ride warm-ups. I bet by this time next week, I’ll be dang near 100 percent and riding through this.” All the way to a world champion’s gold buckle. Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 17-20Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, 89.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Bronc Marriott, 86.5; 3. (tie) Cooper Cooke and R.C. Landingham, 85; 5. Leighton Berry, 81; 6. Lacob Raine, 80; 7. Trenton Montero, 77.5; 8. Jacek Lane Frost, 73. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Tegan Smith, 83 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Night Attack; 2. (tie) Allen Boore, Kole Ashbacher and Lucas Macza, 82; 5. Wade Sundell, 81; 6. Jake Finlay 79; 7. Logan Cook, 74; 8. Blasé Freeman, 73. Breakaway roping: 1. Sidney Nelson, 3.2 seconds; 2. Joshlyn Skinner, 12.6; no other qualified times. Barrel racing: 1. Michelle Darling, 16.88 seconds; 2. Anita Ellis, 16.95; 3. Ashley Castleberry, 17.02; 4. Tarryn Lee, 17.09; 5. Macee McAllister, 17.10; 6. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.18; 7. Lauren Butler, 17.20; 8. Lynette Clyde, 17.22; 9. Sadie Wolaver, 17.24; 10. Haven Jones, 17.27; 11. Kellie Collier, 17.28; 12. Kristy Yerrington, 17.29; 13. Sharon Harrell, 17.30; 14. Lisa Lockhart, 17.33; 15. Jane Fambro, 17.44. Bull riding: 1, Garrett Smith, 86 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Wired All D; 2. Dawson Gleaves, 82.5; 3. Jordan Spears, 82; 4. Creek Young 76; 5. Dalan Duncan, 74.5; no other qualified rides.

Two-time champ to showcase top bronc riders at New Mexico event LOS LUNAS, N.M. – Before he ever qualified for the National Finals Rodeo and earned two saddle bronc riding world championships, Taos Muncy was a young cowboy with big dreams. He was just days away from his 20th birthday when Muncy won the intercollegiate national championship for Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Five and a half months later, he became just the third cowboy in ProRodeo history to win a college title and a world title in the same discipline. He’s made 11 tips to the NFR and owns rodeo gold in two Montana Silversmiths buckles that he can wear. Now 35 years old, he’s anxious to give back to the sport that has brought him so much, producing the Taos Muncy Invitational, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Southwest Event Center. The event is just 100 miles from where Muncy lives. Raised on a ranch outside of Corona, New Mexico, he still lives close to home with his wife, Marissa, and their children, Marley and Milo. This is a chance to showcase to the folks in New Mexico just what the world has to offer as far as professional saddle bronc riding. “I want to show New Mexico that there are a lot of talented saddle bronc riders in the world and still here in the great state of New Mexico,” Muncy said. “We are going to put on a heck of a show, and I am honored to be able to invite all of them.” Muncy was in his second full season in the PRCA when he earned his inaugural trip to the NFR, then turned the rodeo world’s attention to New Mexico when he left Las Vegas with the gold in 2007. He followed that with a second world title in 2011. The stand-alone bronc riding event will feature dozens of accomplished bronc riders that will receive an invitation directly from Muncy. It will also feature 10 rising stars, who will have an opportunity to compete for a chance to ride against the invited cowboys. The broncs will come from Cervi Rodeo, a Colorado-based livestock firm that has been named PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year on multiple occasions. Chase Cervi, a two-time Pickup Man of the Year and seven-time pickup man at the NFR, will be in Los Lunas to help keep the cowboys safe. Organizers are also in the process of forming an annual Taos Muncy Rodeo Scholarship, which is being designed to go to a New Mexico high school senior that meets the scholarship’s criteria. It will be presented by Muncy annually at the Taos Muncy Invitational, and organizers are still reaching out to others for financial help to help meet the needs of scholarship recipients. With more than two months remaining before the event, there are many opportunities for potential sponsors to jump on board. Kries Vaughan is the event’s director, and she can be contacted at TaosMuncyInvitational@gmail.com or (830) 279-8590. “I was fortunate to rode broncs and saw how big it can be,” Muncy said. “I want to try to bring a good show to New Mexico and the younger generation so they know you can go somewhere riding broncs, doing what you love.”

Gwatneys return to Gooding every year to help produce a great event GOODING, Idaho – The first time John Gwatney arrived in this southern Idaho hamlet, he was a professional rodeo cowboy, wrestling steers and making his way across the country trying to eek out a living. That was nearly 30 years ago, and many things have changed. He no longer wrestles large farm animals; instead, he assists those that do and others that compete in the other events rodeo has to offer as a production supervisor. He’s a husband, a father and a grandfather and one of the most sought-after men at his position in the sport, and he travels this crazy rodeo world with his wife, Sandy, a longtime horsewoman, a timer and a two-time PRCA Secretary of the Year. Each August, they return to this town of 3,500 people to help produce the Gooding Pro Rodeo, set for Thursday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 20, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 17. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. “The thing about Gooding is that it’s a small-town rodeo that wants to grow and get even bigger,” said John Gwatney, who has been asked to be part of a production team at the National Finals Rodeo, National Circuit Finals Rodeo, Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping and many other big-time events. “The town’s not going to get any bigger, but the town’s going to support this rodeo, and they want it to get bigger. “They keep adding (local) money (to the purse) as they can. For a little county, all the money the rodeo makes goes back into this rodeo to make it that much better. People come from all over just to watch the rodeo. The population is about 3,500, and the stands seat about that many, and the rodeo is sold out for four nights. It’s pretty cool when your rodeo is sold out even before you start.” The Gwatneys began working the Gooding Pro Rodeo a decade ago, when fair and rodeo manager Don Gill reached out looking for a rodeo secretary and talked to the couple about making its way to Idaho. When Gill found out that John Gwatney also had a schedule opening, he jumped at having a top-end production assistant on board. The Gwatneys have been returning to Gooding ever since. They work dozens of performances a year, but working Gooding is one of their favorites for good reason. “They have a big influence on Tough Enough to Wear Pink, and they have a luncheon for good causes,” said Sandy Gwatney, who has timed the NFR and been a rodeo secretary at the steer roping finals among many other accomplishments in her lifetime. “They want to do better for the community and for the rodeo world.” She and her husband have seen it up close. While John Gwatney handles about any production need Gill and the other organizers may have, Sandy Gwatney is the official organizer for the competition side of the rodeo. She’s one of the first faces contestants see once they arrive at the arena. She is on site well before the event starts and after it ends. She is the primary liaison between the rodeo and the PRCA offices in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and she’s very good at her job. “The contestants love it there,” she said. “They know they’re looked after. They have hospitality for the contestants, and there’s a great area for warmups. The contestants know the ground is going to be right for them.” It’s also a bit of an old-home week. The Gwatneys used to live and compete in the Northwest, with John bulldogging and Sandy hazing, helping keep the steers in line for her husband and other steer wrestler. They now live in southeast Texas. Their return to Idaho is a chance to catch up with old friends. They also get to work with some incredible people during their weeklong stay in Gooding. “Everybody’s so easy, great to work with,” Sandy Gwatney said. “Everybody’s open to try to make everything better instead of being stagnant with what they’ve been doing. If you suggest something to them that may make the rodeo better, they just respond with, ‘That’s worth a try.’ “They just want to continue to get better. That makes it fun.” From adding a VIP area next to the bucking chutes to enlarging the announcer’s stand to increasing the seating capacity, Gill and his crew have done all the right things to make their rodeo stand out. It’s a winning situation for fans and the contestants that make their way to town every summer. “Don Gill is a rock star,” Sandy Gwatney said. “He’s the heart and soul of this rodeo.” That’s a statement about a man, but it’s also a commentary for the community that supports Gill and the rodeo he produces. “Don’s goal is to have the greatest rodeo he can,” John Gwatney said. “There are people that turn out of the (championship) round in Caldwell because Don has the good stock contractors and tries to get the best animals in the business. He doesn’t settle for mediocrity. “Don’s become a brother to me. His family is our family.” While they’re working the rodeo and busy with their duties, both Gwatneys pay particular attention to the goings-on around the arena and around town during rodeo week. They’ve watched the crowd and the “beer worthy” section just grow year after year, and John Gwatney does his part to help out when he can. “There are a couple of women in the stands that started doing it and holding up the ‘beer worthy’ signs if something happens and they think it’s beer worthy,” he said. “I provide the ice chest. They fill it with cups of beer and offer the beer to whoever they think is beer worthy. My job is to make sure (the contestants) get their beer and get out of  Continue Reading »

Trio of talented athletes protects all at the Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – There are a lot of little things that stand out about the Gooding Pro Rodeo that make it unique and excellent. Having three of the best bullfighters in the sport is one of those, and they’re three of the upper echelon of men who help keep everyone safe: Cade Burns, Nate Jestes and Dusty Tuckness. They will be on hand for this year’s rodeo, set for Thursday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 20, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 17. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. “Working with guys like Tuck and Cade makes everybody’s job easier,” said Jestes, a four-time National Finals Rodeo bullfighter from Douglas, Wyoming. “When a rodeo brings in three bullfighters, it’s the best form of protection we can have not only for the bull riders but also ourselves. “When you have three guys on the same page, it makes all our jobs easier and makes it safer in the arena for the bull riders and everyone else.” It’s their jobs to help distract the bulls once the rides are over. They use their cunning and their athleticism to do that, sometimes jumping into the middle of a wreck if need be. The goal is to simply gain a bull’s attention after the ride is complete and help escort it out of the arena. “We used to have an Xtreme Bulls event, and we needed three bullfighters,” said Burns of Laramie, Wyoming, who has fought bulls at Gooding since 2010. “Dusty came in and just did the bull riding, then they just decided to keep bringing him back.” Don Gill, the fair and rodeo manager, made that call, and it’s been a good situation ever since. “When you’re working with Nate and Tuck, the three-man system woks pretty flawlessly,” Burns said. “It secures the bull riders that much more. It just helps eliminate so much potential problems by having another guy in there.” All three men have been part of the freestyle bullfighting circuit, where they were in competition with fighting bulls that were bred specifically for that kind of fight. In the freestyle fights, the men utilize their athleticism to score points against the aggressive and agile bulls. While some of those same skills are involved in their work as protection bullfighters, they aren’t trying to impress the judges. They’re just trying to keep everyone safe. In fact, if everything goes right, they are hardly noticed. Tuckness has worked the NFR every year since 2009 and is a 10-time PRCA Bullfighter of the Year. Like Jestes and Burns, it will be nice to reunite with his brethren in Gooding. “Don Gill and that small crew take very good care of us,” Jestes said. “All the amenities that we want as a bullfighter coming in and staying for four or five days are there. We’re parked on grass and under shade trees, and we are fed lunch and dinner every day. It’s a great place to be.” Like every athlete that’s ever been to the Gooding Pro Rodeo, the crowd and the feel that comes with being there is special. “It’s a fun atmosphere,” Burns said. “The people in that town know how special their rodeo is, the caliber of animals they get and the quality of the contestants they get. They get behind it full force and make signs. It’s unlike any other I go to. The atmosphere there is different than any where else.” There have been times that the bullfighters have been “beer worthy” themselves, recognized for something extraordinary by a section of the crowd that offers up brews for great rides or wild wrecks. “That rodeo is like nothing else,” Jestes said. “You pull into Gooding and wonder where you’re at, then you pull into the rodeo grounds, and it’s a sold-out crowd every night and one of the most unique crowds you will ever experience. “I’ve gotten a few beers. I took a couple of hookings and got a few beets out of there. It’s just an electric crowd. They know what they watch, and they’re not afraid to get excited about it either.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Nobody expected Clay Smith to be competing this soon, not after suffering a compound fracture of his right fibula and tibia a month ago. But Smith was determined, and he returned to action this week in order to compete at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. His tenacity – and the faith of his partner, Jake Long – paid dividends and the two claimed the team roping championship, the prized Roundup buckles and $8,082 apiece for their week of work in western Kansas. “He kept saying it; he kept professing it, ‘I’m going to be back,’ ” said Long, a 10-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Coffeyville, Kansas. “I don’t think anybody believed it but maybe him. It’s a miracle that he’s here.” Smith, a two-time world champion from Broken Bow, Oklahoma, suffered his injury in a freak barrier mishap at the rodeo in Prescott, Arizona, around the Fourth of July. He arrived in Dodge City with a big, gray boot strapped to his leg and maneuvering his way around Roundup Arena on crutches. The only time he ditched the crutches was when he mounted his horse and prepared to compete. He and Long roped their first two steers Thursday, placing second in the first go-round and having the fastest two-run cumulative time heading into Sunday’s championship round. That’s when the put the finishing touches to one of the best stories out of Roundup Rodeo this year, winning the short round with a 6.0-second run to claim the aggregate title. “I give the glory to God,” said Smith, a seven-time NFR qualifier and now a three-time Dodge City titlist who sits 30th in the heading world standings. “He’s the one who was able to get me through this whole deal. It’s unbelievable what He’s done with me. “Then my partner’s been mistake-free and has heeled so good. For him to even be ready for me not really knowing what to expect, he’s done an amazing job for me this week.” A friend of Smith’s has been his primary assistant, saddling and outfitting Smith’s horse and warming it up. When it was time to go to work, he would ride over to Smith and help the cowboy get in the saddle. “I’ve had so much help,” Smith said. “I thank everybody who’s helped me. If you’re catching, it seems like it hurts less. “I could get used to it really. It’s not a bad deal. A friend of mine does pretty much everything except nod (his head to start the runs). It’s been a fun week, and it’s good to be back.” Long sits No. 5 in the heeling world standings and is in good shape to make his 11th NFR in 12 years. The only year he missed making ProRodeo’s grand finale was 2013, when he finished 16th – only the top 15 on the money list at the end of the regular season qualify for the finale. Now, the Kansas cowboy has added a championship from the biggest rodeo in his home state and one of the biggest rodeos in the PRCA. “It took me a long time to get this one,” said Long, who is in his 19th year of competing professionally. “I think I’ve probably put more pressure on it. Growing up, this is the one you want to win, especially if you’re from here. I’m pretty pumped up to get it done. “It’s one of the bigger rodeos of the summer, especially in the situation we’re in. This is a season-saving situation we’re in. Thankfully it worked out.”   While Long will probably strap his wearable trophy buckle onto his belt and wear it around, Smith will just add another to his trophy case and will rely on his 4-year-old son to handle it. “My boy likes to collect them,” Smith said. “He’s got a glass case. He wanted me to win a buckle this week, so it’s going to Jade, my little boy.” Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 3-7, 2022All-around: Sam Powers, $7,077 in steer wrestling and tie-down roping. Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s High Heels, $2,786; 2. (tie) Wyatt Denny, Kaycee Feild and Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5, $1,578 each; 5. (tie) Jess Pope and Ty Pope, 85.5, $557 each; 7. Tilden Hooper, 85, $371; 8. Seth Hardwick, 84.5, $279. Championship round: 1. Garrett Shadbolt, 91.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, $1,650; 2. Jess Pope, 87.5, $1,250; 3. Tilden Hooper, 86.5, $900; 4. Wyatt Denny, 85, $600; 5. Seth Hardwick, 84.5, $250; 6. Kaycee Feild, 84, $250. Average: 1. Garrett Shadbolt, 178 points on two rides, $2,786; 2. Jess Pope, 173, $2,136; 3. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Wyatt Denny, 171.5, $1,300 each; 5. Kaycee Feild, 170.5, $650; 6. Seth Hardwick, 169, $464; 7. Cole Reiner, 165, $371; 8. Lane McGehee, 162.5, $279. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Bryton Edmundson, 3.9 seconds, $3,762; 2. Landris White, 4.0, $3,271; 3. (tie) Kyle Irwin and Timmy Sparing, 4.1, $2,535 each; 5. (tie) Mitch Hutto, Matt Reeves, Stetson Jorgensen, E.J. Joos and Sam Powers, 4.2, $850 each. Second round: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds, $3,762; 2. Bridger Anderson, 3.6, $3,271; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 3.7, $2,780; 4. Tristan Martin, 3.8, $2,290; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.0, $1,799; 6. (tie) Dalton Massey and Joe Nelson, 4.1, $1,063; 8. (tie) Timmy Sparing, Richard Coats and Rowdy Parrott, 4.2, $109 each. Championship round: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.6 seconds, $1,595; 2. Sam Powers, 3.8, $1,320; 3. Stephen Culling, 4.1, $1,045; 4. Rowdy Parrott, 4.3, $770; 5. Landris White, 5.1, $495; 6. Gavin Soileau, 5.2, $275. Average: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 12.4 seconds on three runs, $5,643; 2. Sam Powers, 12.6, $4,907; 3. Stephen Culling, 12.9, $4,171; 4. Rowdy Parrott, 13.3, $3,435; 5. Landris White, 13.5, $2,699; 6. Timmy Sparing, 14.0, $1,963; 7. Gavin Soileau, 14.7, $1,227; 8. Jace Melvin, 15.7, $491. Team roping: First round: 1. Zach Kilgus/Jake Edwards, 4.8 seconds, $2,976; 2. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.9, $2,588; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.1, $2,199;  Continue Reading »

By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo has become a regional exposition over the years, and Saturday’s final night of the rodeo proved it. Take bareback rider Chad Rutherford, who married a young lady from Hobbs, New Mexico, just 18 miles south of Lovington. Or take steer wrestler Tyke Kipp of Lordsburg, New Mexico, in the state’s southwest corner. Both men competed during Saturday’s final night and walked away with at least a share of the title. Rutherford, a 2020 National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Hillsboro, Texas, rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Redzilla for 88 points to win bareback riding and $4,548. It was a bit of redemption for the cowboy who sits 14th in the world standings with two months left in the season. “My hand came out of my rigging in Dodge (City, Kansas) to probably win the long round, so the whole time I was sleeping, my rigging and glove were rolling through my brain all night long,” he said. “For (the horse) I had, I knew I had to stay in there.” Redzilla has been known to be a powerful sorrel, and she proved that to Rutherford. “She was like a dream,” said Rutherford, 30. “I felt like I was so far ahead of her, she was just hopping, until I dropped my feet after the whistle, and then there was the power.” That resulted in a less-than-graceful dismount, but he can laugh about it now. It also helps that he is traveling the rodeo trail with his wife, Katie, and their sons, James and Justin. They are towing a travel trailer wherever they go, so they have the comforts of home, but they also get to enjoy some special time with Katie’s family while they’re in southeastern New Mexico. “I’m just tired of missing stuff with them,” he said. “I figured there had to be a better way than being away from them, so this is how we’re doing it.” Kipp pushed his way to the top of the bulldogging leaderboard with a solid performance Saturday. He wrestled is first-round steer to the ground in 4.3 seconds, just missing out on go-round money. During the evening performance, he and Texas steer wrestler Hunter Cure stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds to tie for third place in the second round and split the two-run aggregate with three other cowboys. Making a good run offered Kipp a solid payday in Lovington, a community he’s seen over the years while growing up in rodeo. In all, he left town with $3,504, a substantial payday at a much-needed time for the cowboy that competes in the Turquoise Circuit, a region made up of rodeos and contestants primarily from New Mexico and Arizona. “Wyatt Jurney had that steer in the first round and missed him,” Kipp said of his second-round steer. “(Jurney) was a little late, and that steer checked off a bit. With that information, I capitalized on it. “It feels awesome, especially this time of year when a guy has been having a hard time. It revitalizes him when he wins a little bit.” Kipp is also moving forward after losing two of his key traveling partners to knee injuries. Kipp is riding a horse owned by Ringo Robinson, while the haze horses are owned by Jason Thomas. Both cowboys are now on the sidelines. Still, the New Mexico cowboy plans to keep the rig moving to the Northwest, where a series of lucrative rodeos begins next week. “Career-wise, this is probably my best win so far, and I’ve been rodeoing awhile,” he said. “I’ve always had luck here, even back at the high school rodeos. Even the ProRodeos have been good to me. “I haven’t been home in two months, and it feels great to be back home in New Mexico. It’s always good to do (well) at the home-state rodeos, especially this one.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 3-6Bareback riding: 1. Chad Rutherford, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Redzilla, $4,548; Tanner Aus, 87, $3,486; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5, $2,577; 4. R.C. Landingham, 86, $1,667; 5. Caleb Bennett, 85, $1,061; 6. (tie) Leighton Berry and Lane McGehee, 84.5, $682 each; 8. Orin Larsen, 83.5, $455. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gus Franzen, 3.9 seconds, $2,040; 2. (tie) Sterling Lee, Ryan Nettle, Tanner Brunner and Cimarron Thompson, 4.0, $1,374 each; 6. (tie) Tyler Pearson, Tristan Martin, Gavin Solieau and D.J. Joos, 4.1, $333 each. Second round: 1. Wyatt Jurney, 3.4 seconds, $2,040; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 3.8, $1,774; 3. (tie) Stephen Culling, Hunter Cure and Tyke Kipp, 3.9, $1,242 each; 6. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Laramie Warren, 4.0, $577 each; 8. (tie) Joe Nelson and D.J. Joos, 4.1, $89 each. Average: 1. (tie) Tyler Waguespack, D.J. Joos, Hunter Cure, Tyke Kipp and Cimarron Thompson, 8.2 seconds on two runs$2,262; 6. Chance Howard, 8.5, $1,064; 7. Trell Etbauer, 8.6, $665; 8. Ryan Nettle, 8.7, $266. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Taylor Santos, 8.1 seconds, $2,934; 2. Lane Livingston, 8.4, $2,551; 3. Hudson Wallace, $2,169; 4. Macon Murphy, 8.7, $1,786; 5. Michael Otero, $1,403; 6. Caleb Smidt, 8.9, $1,021; 7. (tie) Cooper Martin and Chance Thiessen, 9.1, $447 each. Second round: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 7.3 seconds, $2,934; 2. Quade Hiatt, 7.4, $2,551; 3. John Pereira, 7.6, $2,169; 4. Bryce Barney, 7.8, $1,786; 5. Paul David Tierney, 8.2, $1,403; 5. Shawn Poag, 8.5, $1,021; 6. (tie) Taylor Santos, Kincade Henry, Trevor Hale and Caleb Smidt, 8.7, $223 each Average: 1. Taylor Santos, 16.8 seconds on two runs, $4,401; 2. Caleb Smidt, 17.6, $3,827; 3. Bryce Barney, 17.8, $3,253; 4. Quade Hiatt, 18.1, $2,679; 5. Ryan Thibodeaux, 18.5, $2,105; 6. Kincade Henry, 18.7, $1,531; 7. Hudson Wallace, 19.4, $957; 8. Trevor Hale, 19.9, $383. Breakaway roping: 1. Madalyn Richards, 2.0 seconds, $3,431; 2. (tie) Brighton Bauman and Amanda Coleman, 2.1, $2,487; 4. Erin Johnson, 2.3, $1,716; 5. Jordan Joe Hollabaugh, 2.4, $1,372; 6. Tierra Zapalac, 2.5, $1,029; 7. Maddy Deerman, 2.6, $858; 8.  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Statler Wright has already pocketed nearly $5,000 during his run through Kansas rodeos this week, and he’s not done. Wright is just 18 years old, the youngest of four boys born to two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Cody Wright, and he wants to be part of the family’s lore in more ways than one. The first step is to be the fourth member of his family to win the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo title. He took his first step toward that Saturday night, riding Frontier Rodeo’s Bordertown for 87 points to win the first round and secure his spot atop the standings heading into Sunday’s championship round, and he did it on a day that reached 105 degrees in western Kansas. “I’m not, and I love getting on bucking horses,” said Wright, the No. 2 saddle bronc rider in the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings. “Right out of (the chute), she had that rare out. It shocked me. I thought she was going to turn and leave. When she left like that, I knew from the get-go it was going to be a battle the entire eight seconds. I pretty much just closed my eyes and threw my feet.” Bronc riders are scored by how well they spur the animal, having the heels of their boots over the front of the horse’s shoulders before the equine star’s front hooves hit the ground, then spurring back to the cantle of their saddles all in rhythm with the animal’s bucking motion. He comes from a family that’s done it pretty well for almost two decades. His dad was the starting point, winning the 2008 and 2010 Montana Silversmiths gold buckles. Cody Wright was followed by younger brothers Jesse, who won rodeo’s gold in 2012, and Spencer, the 2014 titlist. Cody Wright’s second son, Ryder, won the world championships in 2017 and 2020, and a third son, Stetson, is the three-time reigning all-around world champ who also owns gold in bull riding (2020) and saddle bronc riding (2021). The family’s history is pretty strong in Dodge City, too. Cody Wright won in 2013, while his oldest son, Rusty, won the Roundup crown in 2019 riding Frontier’s Big News. A year later, Ryder Wright added his roundup title on the same horse. Statler Wright could follow suit. How he concludes his week on the Plains on Sunday will tell the tale. “It would mean the world to me,” he said. “My dad and (two of) my brothers have all won this rodeo. To add that to my resume of winning Dodge City would be a dream come true. It’s a big rodeo to win, and the buckles are awesome. The horses are amazing. It would be a great rodeo to win. “Everywhere you go, you want to be No. 1. We’re shooting for this one. This is a big one. I’ve always wanted to come to this one. I’m excited for the short round.” He should be; it’s a big opportunity. He finished second in Phillipsburg, Kansas, after scoring 84.5 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Never Before, pocketing $2,305. By winning the first round in Dodge City, he earned another $2,662. “At the start of the year, I felt like I couldn’t be stopped,” Wright said. “Then I went on a dry spell after I won the Rookie Roundup. Just the other day, I got on a little horse of Beutlers’ in Phillipsburg, and ever since, I’ve been feeling real good and I’m ready to go.” With all that gold that roams around the home place during family visits, there could be a bit of pressure to just excel in rodeo like everyone else. That’s not how it works in the Wright home, though. Cody and ShaRee Wright keep their children grounded, and the support system they share keeps everyone pointed in the right direction. “I know my brothers are going to help me,” Statler Wright said. “When I’m down, they’re going to help me up, and when I’m up, they’re always going to help me get further up. Just having those guys with me takes all the pressure off me.” Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 3-7, 2022Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tim O’Connell, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s High Heels, $2,786; 2. (tie) Wyatt Denny, Kaycee Feild and Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5, $1,578 each; 5. (tie) Jess Pope and Ty Pope, 85.5, $557 each; 7. Tilden Hooper, 85, $371; 8. Seth Hardwick, 84.5, $279; 9. Lane McGehee, 84; 10. (tie) Will Lowe and Leighton Berry, 83; 12. Anthony Thomas, 82.5. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Bryton Edmundson, 3.9 seconds, $3,762; 2. Landris White, 4.0, $3,271; 3. (tie) Kyle Irwin and Timmy Sparing, 4.1, $2,535 each; 5. (tie) Mitch Hutto, Matt Reeves, Stetson Jorgensen, E.J. Joos and Slammer Powers, 4.2, $850 each. Second round: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds, $3,762; 2. Bridger Anderson, 3.6, $3,271; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 3.7, $2,780; 4. Tristan Martin, 3.8, $2,290; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.0, $1,799; 6. (tie) Dalton Massey and Joe Nelson, 4.1, $1,063; 8. (tie) Timmy Sparing, Richard Coats and Rowdy Parrott, 4.2, $109 each. Average leaders: 1. Timmy Sparing, 8.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Landris White, 8.4; 3. Bryton Edmundson, 8.7; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Stephen Culling and Slammer Powers, 8.8; 7. (tie) Cody Devers and Rowdy Parrott, 9.0; 9. Jace Melvin, 9.2; 10. Dylan Schroeder, 9.3; 11. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Bridger Anderson, 9.5. Team roping: First round: 1. Zach Kilgus/Jake Edwards, 4.8 seconds, $2,976; 2. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.9, $2,588; 3. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.1, $2,199; 4. (tie) Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan and Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 5.4, $1,423 each; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 5.5, $647; 8. (tie)Chad Masters/Paul Eaves and Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.6, $129 each. Second round: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.0 seconds, $2,976; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.4, $2,588; 3. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 4.5, $2,199; 4. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.6; 5. Trent Vaught/Jace McDaniel, 4.8; 6. Logan Graham/Whitney DeSalvo, 5.1; 7.  Continue Reading »

By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – Earlier this week, bareback rider Tanner Aus met the newest member of his family, Emery Gwen. He and his wife, Lonissa, welcomed their third child into their brood just a day after he’d returned to their home in Minnesota from the final round at the Cheyenne (Wyoming) Frontier Days Rodeo. She was born at 9:05 p.m. Monday, tipping the scales at 7 pounds and 20 inches long. His focus was on home, not the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, but he’s a man who knows how to handle business. As the week rolled on and big brother Rowan, 2, and big sister Bristol, 4, helped take over the care for the newborn, Aus made the nearly 1,200-mile drive from his home to Lovington to ride one of the greatest bucking horses of this generation. That’s a “world champion bucking horse,” said Aus, 32, a six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Granite Falls, Minnesota. “(I’ve) never been on her as long as I’ve been g oing, as long as she’s been going. We’d never matched up, so then I finally drew her.” The meeting paid off, and Aus jumped into the lead after matching moves with Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Flight, the 2020 Bareback Horse of the Year. “She leaves out (of the chute) cool,” said Aus, who won the Lea County Fair and Rodeo title just three seasons ago with a 90-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Good Time Charlie. “She bucks hard all the way across (the arena). She gets stronger as she goes. When you’re trying to win big rodeos, that’s the one you want. “I felt like I rode her pretty good, but that horse is the standout.” It’s been a solid season for the veteran of the game, who won the intercollegiate title in 2012 while competing at Missouri Valley College. He earned his first trip to the NFR three years later and is on his way to a seventh qualification in eight years; he missed the 2018 championship after missing a good portion of the season to injury and still finished 18th in the world standings – only the top 15 on the money list at the end of the regular season qualify. With two months remaining in the 2022 regular season, he sits seventh in the world standings with just shy of $100,000. “I’ve been pretty busy all season,” Aus said. “I had an OK winter, but it really picked up this spring. So far this summer, I’ve just been clipping along. I’ve been drawing pretty good pretty much everywhere.” He will compete Saturday night in Dodge City, Kansas, with the potential to ride again Sunday there during the championship round, but he already has his sights set on getting home to his family. “I’ll get to go home after Dodge City for a few days,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to that.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 3-6Bareback riding leaders: 1. Tanner Aus, 87 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Flight; 2. Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5; 3. R.C. Landingham, 86; 4. Caleb Bennett, 85; 5. (tie) Leighton Berry and Lane McGehee, 84.5; 7. Orin Larsen, 83.5; 8. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Kody Lamb, 79. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Sterling Lee and Cimarron Thompson, 4.0 seconds; 3. (tie) Tyler Pearson, Gavin Solieau and D.J. Joos, 4.1; 6. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Remey Parrott, 4.2; 8. (tie) Cade Goodman, Chance Howard and Trell Etbauer, 4.3. Second round leaders: 1. Rowdy Parrott, 3.8 seconds; 2. Stephen Culling, 3.9; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 4.0; 4. (tie) Joe Nelson and D.J. Joos, 4.1; 6. (tie) Talon Roseland, Chance Howard, Stetson Jorgensen and Cimarron Thompson, 4.2; 7. (tie) Kyle Irwin and Trell Etbauer, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Waguespack, D.J. Joos and Cimarron Thompson, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 4. Chance Howard, 8.5; 5. Trell Etbauer, 8.6; 6. Sterling Lee, 8.9; 7. Gavin Soileau, 9.3; 8. (tie) Ryan Shuckburgh and Joe Nelson, 9.5. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Taylor Santos, 8.1 seconds; 2. Lane Livingston, 8.4; 3. Macon Murphy, 8.7; 4. Caleb Smidt, 8.9; 5. (tie) Cooper Martin and Chance Thiessen, 9.1; 7. Cody Waldrop, 9.2; 8. (tie) Cash Edward Hooper and Riley Webb, 9.6. Second round leaders: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 7.3 seconds; 2. Quade Hiatt, 7.4; 3. John Pereira, 7.6; 4. Paul David Tierney, 8.2; 5. Shawn Poag, 8.5; 6. (tie) Taylor Santos, Kincade Henry and Caleb Smidt, 8.7 Average leaders: 1. Taylor Santos, 16.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Caleb Smidt, 17.6; 3. Quade Hiatt, 18.1; 4. Ryan Thibodeaux, 18.5; 5. Kincade Henry, 18.7; 6. Chase Webster, 20.0; 7. Cash Edward Hooper, 20.5; 8. (tie) Dylan Ward Murphy and Kase Bacque, 21.0. Breakaway roping: 1. Madalyn Richards, 2.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Brighton Bauman and Amanda Coleman, 2.1; 4. Erin Johnson, 2.3; 5. Jordan Joe Hollabaugh, 2.4; 6. Tierra Zapalac, 2.5; 7. Maddy Deerman, 2.6; 8. (tie) Faith Holyan and Jayme Marcrum, 2.7; 10. (tie) Lari Dee Guy and Mollie Bassett, 2.9; 12. Haley Waters, 3.5; 13. Kassidy Dennison, 3.6; 14. Montana Brown, 3.7; 15. Tacy Webb, 3.8. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner; 2. Sage Newman, 87.5; 3. Lefty Holman, 87; 4. Sterling Crawley, 86.5; 5. Isaac Diaz, 84; 6. (tie) Chase Brooks and Riggin Smith, 83.5; 8. Jacobs Crawley, 83.   Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. Chet Herren, 11.1 seconds; 2. Scott Snedecor, 11.4; 3. Taylor Santos, 11.9; 4. Cooper Mills, 12.5; 5. Slade Wood, 12.6; 6. (tie) Cole Patterson and Clay Long, 12.7. Second round leaders: 1. Ivan Stuart, 11.2 seconds; 2. Kenyon Burns, 11.3; 3. Cole Patterson, 11.5; 4. Clay Long, 11.6; 5. Taylor Santos, 11.7; 6. Laramie Allen, 11.9. Third round leaders: 1. Garrett Hale 10.6 seconds; 2. Slade Wood, 11.0; 3. Cash Myers, 11.1; 4. Laramie Allen, 11.4; 5. Rocky Patterson, 11.8; 6. Chet Herren, 11.9. Average leaders: 1. Slade Wood, 35.8 seconds on three runs;  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – In six years of roping together, Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp have had tremendous success. They made the 2016 National Finals Rodeo with different partners, then began roping together the next season. They haven’t missed an NFR since, and they’re level of consistency has shown over time. Here’s this, though: Snow is just 25; and Thorp is 26. They’re still young in this man’s game, but they’re seasoned veterans. They proved it during Friday’s third performance of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, moving into second place in team roping with one preliminary performance remaining before Sunday’s championship round. After a lightning quick 5.1-second run during their first round Friday morning – which moved them into second place in the opening round – they stopped the clock in 6.1 seconds in their second round run Friday night. As they await Saturday’s final day of preliminary competition, they trail the tandem of Clay Smith and Jake Long by two-tenths of a second and are a virtual lock to rope for the championship during Sunday’s final night in the biggest rodeo in Kansas. Snow and Thorp were a bright spot in a tough night of team roping. They were the only one of 10 teams to not suffer a penalty or be saddled with a no-time. But it wasn’t without drama for the 2019 NFR average champions. Headers try to secure a slick-horned catch to help set up the steers for their heelers, but Snow’s loop slipped over the nose. That type of catch can be troublesome for some heelers, but Thorp secured the two back legs in his trap and stopped the clock. In that magical NFR run three seasons ago, Snow and Thorp had the best 10-run cumulative time of all the top 15 teams in the PRCA that season, but they didn’t finish the same in the world standings. In rodeo, dollars equal points, and the contestants in each event with the most money won at end of the season are crowned world champions. That year, Smith won the heading world title and Snow settled for second, but Thorp claimed the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. Now, he’d like to add that prestigious Dodge City Roundup buckle to his collection. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 3-7, 2022Bareback riding leaders: 1. Tim O’Connell, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s High Heels; 2. (tie) Wyatt Denny and Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5; 4. (tie) Jess Pope and Ty Pope, 85.5; 6. Seth Hardwick, 84.5; 7. Lane McGehee, 84; 8. Will Lowe, 83; 9. Anthony Thomas, 82.5; 10. Jayco Roper, 81; 11. Mark Kreder, 75; 12. A.J. Ruth, 72. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Bryton Edmundson, 3.9 seconds; 2. Landris White, 4.0; 3. Timmy Sparing, 4.1; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, E.J. Joos and Slammer Powers, 4.2; 7. Jule Hazen, 4.3; 8. (tie) Grady Payne and Travis Munro, 4.4; 8. (tie) Jace Melvin and Stephen Culling, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 2. Bridger Anderson, 3.6; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 3.7; 4. Tristan Martin, 3.8; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.0; 6. Dalton Massey, 4.1; 7. (tie) Timmy Sparing and Rowdy Parrott, 4.2. Average leaders: 1. Timmy Sparing, 8.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Landris White, 8.4; 3. Bryton Edmundson, 8.7; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Stephen Culling and Slammer Powers, 8.8; 7. (tie) Cody Devers and Rowdy Parrott, 9.0; 9. Jace Melvin, 9.2; 10. Dylan Schroeder, 9.3; 11. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Bridger Anderson, 9.5. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.9 seconds; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 5.1; 3. (tie) Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden and Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 5.4; 5. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 5.5; 6. (tie)Chad Masters/Paul Eaves and Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.6; 8. (tie) Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison and Wyatt Imus/Brushton Minton, 5.8. Second round leaders: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.6 seconds; 2. Trent Vaught/Jace McDaniel, 4.8; 3. Logan Graham/Whitney DeSalvo, 5.1; 4. (tie) Tanner James/Max Kuttler and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 5.3; 6. (tie) Clay Smith/Jake Long and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 6.1; 8. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 6.5. Average leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 11.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 11.2; 3. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 12.5; 4. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 12.6; 5. Tyler Hobert/Chase Boekhaus, 16.2; 6. J.D. Yates/Marcus Banister, 16.4; 7. Wyatt Bray/Trevor Nowlin, 18.8; 8. Ryan VonAhh/Kollin VonAahn, 19.3; 9. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 21.3; 10. Nick Sartain/Austin Rogers, 23.1; 11. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.6 seconds on one run; 12. Trent Vaught/Jace McDaniel, 4.8. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Riggin Smith, 85.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Michael; 2. (tie) Lefty Homan and Wade Sundell, 83.5; 4. Shorty Garrett, 83; 5. Logan Cook, 82.5; 6. (tie) Wyatt Casper, Isaac Diaz and Cable James Wareham, 82; 9. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Jake Burwash, 81; 11. Q Taylor, 81; 12. Will Pollock, 80.5.  Breakaway roping leaders: 1. Bradi Good, 2.6 seconds; 2. Loni Lester, 3.0; 3. Mable McAbee, 3.1; 4. Winter Williams, 3.3; 5. Lari Dee Guy, 3.4; 6. (tie) Rylea Fabrizio and Micah Samples, 3.5; 8. Tamara Tunink, 3.7; 9. (tie) Morgan Kessler and Sawyer Gilbert, 3.8; 11. (tie) KeAnn Hays and Tia Wallace, 4.0. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Cory Solomon, 8.3 seconds; 2. Chance Thiessen, 8.5; 3. Kincade Henry, 8.7; 4. Westyn Hughes, 8.8; 5. Blake Chauvin, 9.3; 6. Marty Yates, 9.4; 7. Tyson Durfey, 9.7; 8. (tie) Anthony Jordan and Benny Mosley, 10.9. Second round leaders: 1. King Pickett, 8.2 seconds; 2. Riley Webb, 9.0; 3. Marty Yates, 9.2; 4. (tie) Cory Solomon and Adam Gray, 9.3; 6. Marcos Costa, 9.4; 7. Sy Felton, 9.6; 8. Benny Mosley, 10.0. Average leaders: 1. Cory Solomon, 17.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Marty Yates, 18.6; 3. Benny Mosley, 20.0; 4. (tie) Westyn Hughes and Lane Livingston, 20.5; 6. Luke Potter, 20.9; 7. Riley Webb, 21.3; 8. King Pickett, 21.5; 9. Sy Felton, 22.6; 10. Richard Newton, 23.2; 11. (tie) Chet Weitz and Cody McCartney, 23.7.   Barrel racing leaders: 1. Jordan Briggs, 16.96; 2. Michelle Darling, 17.22; 3. Tarryn Lee, 17.28; 4. Keyla Polizello  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The first time Tim O’Connell won the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo’s bareback riding title, he was 24 years old, a newlywed to his wife, Sami, and had been to the National Finals Rodeo just twice in his lifetime. Much has changed since 2016, but one thing remains the same; he wants to win the Roundup title again. He gave himself a good chance during Thursday’s second performance by riding Frontier Rodeo’s High Heels for 87 points to take the bareback riding lead and assure himself a spot in Sunday’s championship round. “That’s a new horse that’s been around a couple of years, but they’ve been a lot of points on her lately,” said O’Connell, who has since returned to the NFR six more times and owns three world championships. “The guys that have ridden her have used her up really well. Two weeks ago in Spanish Fork, Utah, that was probably one of the hardest rodeos I’ve gone to this summer. I was 85 points on a horse that’s been to the NFR, and I finished 11th. ‘They were 87 points on this horse and placed third, so I knew when I got here that I had a chance. If you draw a horse that good in the long round here, there’s a really good chance you’ll place high in the round and come back to the short round and have a chance to win.” O’Connell is one of the most decorated bareback riders going down the road. Each year that he won the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle, he also won at least a share of the NFR average title. In fact, the year he won the championship in Dodge City, he followed that with the 2016 NFR average crown and the first of three straight world titles. “This is one of those rodeos that you’ve got to show up and show out,’ he said. “It’s hard to make the short round here. Once you make the short round, they bring their absolute A team here. They bring all their showcase horses to this finals. They have big scores year after year. “That’s because of the caliber of guys that make it here and the caliber of horses they bring.  It’s a place where if the mix gets right in the air, you can see a world record pop off.” O’Connell is coming off his third victory at the Cheyenne (Wyoming) Frontier Days, and he’s seeing bareback riding trending upwards again. Because of the physical nature of the event, it’s the most demanding rodeo specialty on the human body. Men strap riggings tightly to bucking horses, then wedge their hands into those riggings, basically tying themselves to the animal. The more physically fit the cowboys are, the better their bodies can handle the torture that can come. “These kids are putting in the work at a young age,” he said. “I feel like my generation started taking being an athlete pretty serious and coming out here and riding bucking horses. These kids have started that since they were in grade school. When they come out at 18, 19 or 20 years old, they’re in shape and they’ve been on horses; they’ve been seasoned. “This group of permit-holders is the saltiest, deepest group of bareback riders I’ve ever seen. There were three or four permit kids at the short round in Cheyenne last week; that’s a testament to how good these kids are.” O’Connell is pretty good, and he was six seasons ago when he claimed the Roundup title. At the home he shares with his wife and two young sons, he has a place that holds his Roundup trophy from 2016. “That buckle is in my living room, and it’s sitting next to the three average titles, and it sits next to The American, the Cheyenne and the Ellensburg buckles,” O’Connell said. “It sits up there with the most prestigious rodeo buckles you could ever win, and it sits in my living room so when people walk in, they see that buckle right away.” Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 3-7, 2022Bareback riding leaders: 1. Tim O’Connell, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s High Heels; 2. (tie) Wyatt Denny and Garrett Shadbolt, 86.5; 4. Jess Pope, 85.5; 5. Lane McGehee, 84; 6. Anthony Thomas, 82.5; 7. A.J. Ruth, 72; 8. Colton Crawford, 70. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Bryton Edmundson, 3.9 seconds; 2. Landris White, 4.0; 3. Timmy Sparing, 4.1; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and E.J. Joos, 4.2; 6. (tie) Grady Payne and Travis Munro, 4.4; 8. (tie) Jace Melvin and Stephen Culling, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 2. Bridger Anderson, 3.6; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 3.7; 4. Tristan Martin, 3.8; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.0; 6. Dalton Massey, 4.1; 7. (tie) Timmy Sparing and Rowdy Parrott, 4.2. Average leaders: 1. Timmy Sparing, 8.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Landris White, 8.4; 3. Bryton Edmundson, 8.7; 4. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Stephen Culling, 8.8; 6. (tie) Cody Devers and Rowdy Parrott, 9.0; 8. Jace Melvin, 9.2; 9. Dylan Schroeder, 9.3; 10. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Bridger Aanderson, 9.5; 12. Kalane Anders, 9.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 4.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden and Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 5.4; 4. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 5.5; 5. Chad Masters/Paul Eaves, 5.6; 6. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 6.0; 7. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 6.2; 8. (tie) Kreece Thompson/Chad Williams and Brandon Farris/Brandon Bates, 6.5. Second round leaders: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Tanner James/Max Kuttler and Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 5.3; 4. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 6.1; 5. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 6.4; 7. J.D. Yates/Marcus Banister, 8.1; 7. Peyton Holliday/Kolton Good, 9.7; 8. Jeff Johnston/Jett Hillman, 10.4. Average leaders: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 11.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 12.5; 3. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 12.6; 4. J.D. Yates/Marcus Banister, 16.4; 5. Wyatt Bray/Trevor Nowlin, 18.8; 6. Ryan VonAhh/Kollin VonAahn, 19.3; 7. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 21.3; 8. Derrick Begay and  Continue Reading »

By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – With just two months remaining in the ProRodeo regular season, tie-down roper Taylor Santos is a man on a mission. “I’m just trying to get every dollar I can this time of year,” said Santos, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Creston, California. He gave himself a big step forward Thursday night by roping the two-run aggregate lead at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. He also owns the first-round lead after starting his Thursday in the morning with an 8.1-second run. His 8.7 during Thursday’s second performance sealed his fate and gave him a cushion with two nights remaining in this year’s PRCA Rodeo. “I had a good calf and put it on him pretty fast,” said Santos, who is 16th in the world standings – only the top 15 when the season concludes Sept. 30 will advance to the NFR. “I flanked him and put a wrap and a hooey on him.” He described a full wrap of three legs, then a half-hitch to hopefully secure the tie. The most secure would be two wraps with a half-hitch, but Santos gambled. “That calf got missed (Thursday) morning,” he said. “They got a really good start on him and missed him in two or three swings; (the calf) puled up, so he never got chased much. I figured he wouldn’t really know what was going on again, so I didn’t have anybody push him and let him go at his own pace.” The calf gingerly entered the arena at an amble before beginning his job free from the barrier. Santos patiently waited for the calf to pick up the pace before taking chase and slipped the loop around the animal. He glided down the rope with calm consistency to tie for the fastest time of the evening. His lead over the field is nearly two seconds. “Any time you can start stacking checks, you start seeing in the standings,” said Santos, who has earned just shy of $70,000 so far this season. He’s been stacking them fairly quickly. He earned $14,501 at the national circuit finals three weeks ago, then pocketed more than $7,500 in Sheridan, Wyoming, that same week. In rodeo, dollars equal points, and moving up the money list is important. Santos returns to Jake McClure arena Friday to compete in steer roping. He’s now a multi-event cowboy, having earned his first National Finals Steer Roping qualification a season ago. He sits 12th steer roping world standings and seventh in the all-around race. “This is my favorite time of the year,” said Santos, 27. “You see guys that shine in the winter time, and I’ve had decent winters, but I’ve never had great winters. “This is my favorite time of the year. You see guys that shine in the winter time, and I’ve had decent winters, but I’ve never had great winters. It seems like when August comes around, you’re going to one, sometimes two rodeos a day. I just feel I get in a groove, and August is usually my time.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 3-6Bareback riding leaders: 1. R.C. Landingham, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Knight Mare; 2. Orin Larsen, 83.5; 3. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Kody Lamb, 79; 5. Bill Tutor, 73; 6. Brendon Crawley, 64; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Tyler Pearson, 4.1 seconds; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 4.2; 3. (tie) Cade Goodman and Chance Howard, 4.3; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 5.0; 6. Marc Joiner, 9.0; 7. Kyle Irwin, 23.9; 8. Stephen Culling 26.5. Second round leaders: 1. Stephen Culling, 3.9 seconds; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 4.0; 3. Joe Nelson, 4.1; 4. (tie) Talon Roseland, Chance Howard and Stetson Jorgensen, 4.2; 7. (tie) Kyle Irwin and Trell Etbauer, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Chance Howard, 8.5; 3. Trell Etbauer, 8.6; 4. Sterling Lee, 8.9; 5. (tie) Ryan Shuckburgh and Joe Nelson, 9.5; 7. Cade Goodman, 9.8; 8. Austin Eller, 10.1. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Taylor Santos, 8.1 seconds; 2. Macon Murphy, 8.7; 3. (tie) Cooper Martin and Chance Thiessen, 9.1; 5. Kase Bacque, 9.6; 6. Dallen McIntire, 9.9; 7. Kincade Henry, 10.0; 8. (tie) Kason Dyer and Brokk Baldwin, 10.2. Second round leaders: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 7.3 seconds; 2. John Pereira, 7.6; 3. Paul David Tierney, 8.2; 4. Shawn Poag, 8.5; 5. (tie) Taylor Santos and Kincade Henry, 8.7; 7. (tie) Marcos Costa and Quay Howard, 8.8 Average leaders: 1. Taylor Santos, 16.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Ryan Thibodeaux, 18.5; 3. Kincade Henry, 18.7; 4. Chase Webster, 20.0; 5. (tie) Dylan Ward Murphy and Kase Bacque, 21.0; 7. Cooper Martin, 21.4; 8. Lucas Bueno Peres, 21.8. Breakaway roping: 1. Madalyn Richards, 2.0 seconds; 2. Amanda Coleman, 2.1; 3. Jordan Joe Hollabaugh, 2.4; 4. Faith Holyan, 2.7; 5. (tie) Lari Dee Guy and Mollie Bassett, 2.9; 7. Haley Waters, 3.5; 8. Kassidy Dennison, 3.6; 9. Montana Brown, 3.7; 10. Tacy Webb, 3.8; 11. Lacy Wilson, 4.4; 12. Emma Charleston, 5.3. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner; 2. Sage Newman, 87.5; 3. Lefty Holman, 87; 4. (tie) Chase Brooks and Riggin Smith, 83.5; 6. (tie) Allen Boore and Ryder Wright, 81; 8. (tie) T.W. Flowers and Brody Wells, 80.   Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. Chet Herren, 11.1 seconds; 2. Scott Snedecor, 11.4; 3.Slade Wood, 12.6; 4. (tie) Cole Patterson and Clay Long, 12.7; 6. Bryce Davis, 13.7. Second round leaders: 1. Kenyon Burns, 11.3 seconds; 2. Cole Patterson, 11.5; 3. Clay Long, 11.6; 4. Laramie Allen, 11.9; 5. Kyle Cauthorn, 12.1; 6. Slade Wood, 12.2. Third round leaders: 1. Slade Wood, 11.0 seconds; 2. Cash Myers, 11.1; 3. Laramie Allen, 11.4; 4. Rocky Patterson, 11.8; 5. Chet Herren, 11.9; 6. J. Tom Fisher, 12.2; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Slade Wood, 35.8 seconds on three runs; 2. Chet Herren, 38.5; 3. Logan Currie, 43.7; 4.  Continue Reading »

Bulldoggers don’t wrestle with their decisions to compete at Idaho rodeo GOODING, Idaho – It’s been more than 15 years, but Hunter Cure remembers his first visit to this community. “I went to Gooding my rookie year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Cure, a two-time world champion steer wrestler from Holliday, Texas. “I’ve never seen a rodeo where the crowd got so into it and engaged with the contestants the way they do in Gooding.” That’s why he returns every August and why he tells other steer wrestlers to find their ways to this southern Idaho town. In fact, more than 100 bulldoggers put their names in the hat to compete at this year’s rodeo, set for Thursday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 20, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 17. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. “It’s always one of my favorites,” said Cure, who is on his way to a sixth National Finals Rodeo qualification this year. “Since they continue to, A, add more money and, B, add to their hospitality over the years, it makes it an easy decision to go back to Gooding. “They have a live band, and they have other attractions for us. The mural that’s painted around the bottom of the arena is something you don’t see anywhere else.” The concrete is painted in the design of a hand-tooled strap of leather, and it serves a dual purpose: It’s attractive, but it also covers the gray concrete so the animals can see the barrier that’s in place. The biggest attraction to the hundreds of contestants that converge on Gooding every year is the crowd the rodeo attracts. Fellow bulldogger Bridger Anderson remembers his performance in 2020, when his 3.8-second run helped him finish in a tie for third place; the $2,300 he earned that summer helped him earn his first NFR qualification. “I sealed the deal to make the finals in Gooding,” he said, smiling at his recollection. “I got to be beer worthy. It was on pink night, and I got a pink rubber ducky, then it was off to haul butt to the next rodeo.” A pink rubber ducky is memorable, and that may have been the best beer he’d had that season. Securing any NFR bid is a big deal, and to do it at a place where the crowd finds exceptional feats as “beer worthy” makes it even better. “I like being beer worthy, but I feel I can be beer worthy if I suck,” Cure said with a laugh. It’s true. Being beer worthy isn’t just for winning rides or fast times; it can also be for wild buckoffs or big wrecks. There’s also something about the local organizers, who work each year to make things better. “I feel like they try more than 90 percent of the (rodeo) committees out there,” Cure said. “The only reason they get outdone by 10 percent is because of the resources and the size of the venue that a small town may not have. “Calgary can do more than Gooding, but for its size, Gooding does much more than other committees out there. They try hard, and they put on a good show.” That effort is recognized by the contestants who make their livings in professional rodeo. “I always try to start the week earlier and go to Hermiston (Oregon) and start my Northwest run there,” he said. “With Gooding being in a close proximity to Caldwell (Idaho) and (other rodeos) up that way, Gooding is going to be the stop for every guy making the NFR.”

By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – There may be no family more synonymous with rodeo than the saddle bronc riding Wright family from Utah, so it is only fitting that one of them came to dominate on Family Night at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. Stetson is a five-time world champion from Milford, Utah, having won the last three all-around titles, the 2020 bull riding crown and last year’s saddle bronc riding championship. He’s just 23 years old. On Wednesday night, he scored 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner to take the saddle bronc riding lead, just a half point better than Sage Newman, the No. 1 man in this year’s world standings from Melstone, Montana. Wright entered this week No. 2 in the bronc riding standings with a tad more than $142,000; he trails Newman by nearly $50,000. But Wright is the top dog in the bull riding and all-around standings with two months left in the rodeo season. He has accumulated just shy of $300,000 this season competing in two events. It was the second time this year that Wright was matched with Fox Hole Gunner, and he appreciated Wednesday’s performance much more than their time together at San Angelo, Texas, in April. While he still experienced a bit of success three months ago, Wright was hampered by a few injures and settled for an 83.5-point ride, which helped him finish in the money in the opening round. Things just went better in Lovington. “She was just outstanding,” he said. “There’s a lot going on in a matter of eight seconds.” Fox Hole Gunner faded left while turning right, kicking, twisting, springing up in the air, and dropping out of it. “She bucked harder today, but I feel I gave her a chance to buck more,” Wright said. “I was more aggressive. She’s always a good horse, I just had to go at her a little stronger.” “I just came off a win in Cheyenne, coming here, being 88, just felt awesome. My momentum is rolling, (and) I’m drawing good; you could ask for anything better.” He had already competed Tuesday in the Lea County Xtreme Bulls, adding $1,021 to his season earnings. Because he’s the only one in his family of four brothers that rides bulls, he often travels separately than the others: Rusty, 26; Ryder, 24; and Statler, 18 – Rusty has been on injured reserve for several weeks, but the other two joined Stetson in Lovington for Family Night. It was only fitting. Ryder Wright, a two-time world champion himself, sits tied for fourth after an 81-point ride on Carr’s Midnight Moves. Statler Wright, who is second in the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings, settled for a no-score. “(Statler) has been beating me a bunch since he cracked out,” Stetson Wright said. “It’s just awesome to see how far he’s come in such a short amount of time.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 3-6Bareback riding leaders: 1. R.C. Landingham, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Knight Mare; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 79; 3. Bill Tutor, 73; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Tyler Pearson, 4.1 seconds; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 4.2; 3. (tie) Cade Goodman and Chance Howard, 4.3; 5. Ryan Shuckburgh, 5.0; 6. Marc Joiner, 9.0; 7. Kyle Irwin, 23.9; 8. Stephen Culling 26.5. Second round leaders: 1. Stephen Culling, 3.9 seconds; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 4.0; 3. (tie) Talon Roseland and Chance Howard, 4.2; 5. Kyle Irwin, 4.3; 6. Ryan Shuckburgh, 4.5; 7. Marc Joiner, 5.3; 8. Cade Goodman, 5.5. Average leaders: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Chance Howard, 8.5; 3. Ryan Shuckburgh, 9.5; 4. Cade Goodman, 9.8; 5. Marc Joiner, 14.3; 6. Tyler Pearson, 19.0; 7. Kyle Irwin, 28.2; 8. Stephen Culling, 30.4. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Macon Murphy, 8.7 seconds; 2. Cooper Martin, 9.1; 3. Kase Bacque, 9.6; 4. Dallen McIntire, 9.9; 5. (tie) Kason Dyer and Brokk Baldwin, 10.2; 7. Slammer Powers, 10.3; 8. Chris McCuistion, 10.9. Second round leaders: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 7.3 seconds; 2. John Pereira, 7.6; 3. Paul David Tierney, 8.2; 4. Shawn Poag, 8.5; 5. Marcos Costa, 8.8; 6. Chance Oftedahl, 9.2; 7. Dylan Ward Murphyt, 9.6; 8. Lucas Bueno Peres, 10.0. Average leaders: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 18.5 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Dylan Ward Murphy and Kase Bacque, 21.0; 4. Cooper Martin, 21.4; 5. Lucas Bueno Peres, 21.8; 6. Shawn Poag, 22.3; 7. Chance Oftedahl, 23.2; 8. Marcos Costa, 23.4. Breakaway roping: 1. Lari Dee Guy, 2.9 seconds; 2. Montana Brown, 3.7; 3. Tacy Webb, 3.8; 4. Emma Charlston, 5.3; 6. Josey Murphy, 12.3; 7. Abby Medlin, 12.6; 8. Jackie Crawford, 12.8. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner; 2. Sage Newman, 87.5; 3. Chase Brooks, 83.5; 4. (tie) Allen Boore and Ryder Wright, 81; 6. (tie) T.W. Flowers and Brody Wells, 80; 8. (tie) Leon Fountain and Ross Griffin, 78.   Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. Chet Herren, 11.1 seconds; 2. Slade Wood, 12.6; 3. (tie) Cole Patterson and Clay Long, 12.7; 5. Neal Wood, 15.0; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Kenyon Burns, 11.3 seconds; 2. Cole Patterson, 11.5; 3. Clay Long, 11.6; 4. Laramie Allen, 11.9; 5. Kyle Cauthorn, 12.1; 6. Slade Wood, 12.2; 7. Jarett McKade Holiday, 13.7; 8. Chet Herren, 15.5. Third round leaders: 1. Slade Wood, 11.0 seconds; 2. Laramie Allen, 11.4; 3. Rocky Patterson, 11.8; 4. Chet Herren, 11.9; 5. Jarett McKade Holliday, 13.7; 6. John Clark, 13.8; 7. Clay Long, 22.1; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Slade Wood, 35.8 seconds on three runs; 2. Chet Herren, 38.5; 3. Clay Long, 46.4; 4. Laramie Allen, 23.3; 5. Cole Patterson, 24.2 seconds on two runs; 6. Jarett McKade Holliday, 27.4; 7. John Clark, 30.0; 8. Kenyon Burns, 11.3 seconds on one run. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.3 seconds; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – There is a silver piece of hardware with some red rubies and a Budweiser logo that rests on a special place in a home near Helena, Montana. Timmy Sparing won it eight seasons ago when he was crowned the steer wrestling champion at the 2014 Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. He’s trying to get a matching set and placed himself into position to do just that with is runs during Wednesday’s opening day of Dodge City’s rodeo. “That’s at home on the dresser,” Sparing said of his first Roundup buckle. “It’s a trophy now, but I’d like to add another one to it.” He started his day in the morning, knocking his steer to the ground in 4.1 seconds; he sits second in the opening go-round. During Wednesday’s performance, he was 4.2, and his cumulative time of 8.3 seconds is the fastest of all steer wrestlers in the mix so far. He sits third in the second round and first in the aggregate. What’s he been doing in the years since he won Roundup? “I took a couple years off and went back home and competed in circuit rodeos for a while,” said Sparing, now 33. “I battled a few injuries, got healthy, and I’m glad to be back here.” Wednesday was the first of four days of preliminary competition. In the men’s timed events – steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping – cowboys will compete in two go-rounds. The top 12 cumulative scores on two runs when Saturday comes to a close will qualify for Sunday’s championship round. That’s when the buckles will be handed out and the lion’s share of the payout will be issued. “This first (day), you’ve got to get your name on the board,” Sparing said. “There are a bunch of tough bulldoggers coming up in the next three days. Hopefully (the score) will hold up, and I’ll be here for the short round, but the caliber of bulldoggers coming up, they’re just so good.” He had an advantage in the horse he was riding and the man who was helping keep the steer lined out. “I’m riding Bridge Chambers’ horse, Rooster,” said Sparing, who is 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. “I’ve ridden him and Dirk Tavenner’s horse this year. Horsepower is a huge part of bulldogging. It’s a lot of technique for me.  I’m a little bit smaller than a lot of the bulldoggers. I rely on technique and horsepower, and it’s been working good.” Yes, it has. His best finish was eight seasons ago, when he finished 38th in the world standings. With two months remaining in the regular season, Sparing sits 10th this season. Only the top 15 on the money list when the season concludes Sept. 30 will qualify for the National Finals Rodeo. He’s proving that having a good horse and a great hazer comes in handy. For the latter, he relies on Tavenner, an NFR qualifier who has also hazed at the sport’s grand finale. “Dirk is one of the best in the business,” Sparing said. “You don’t have to worry about him at all. You just go do your job.” That works, too. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 3-7, 2022Bareback riding leaders: 1. Wyatt Denny, 86.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Pistol Princess; 2. Anthony Thomas, 82.5; 3. A.J. Ruth, 72; 4. Colton Crawford, 70; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Landris White, 4.0 seconds; 2. Timmy Sparing, 4.1; 3. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and E.J. Joos, 4.2; 5. Grady Payne, 4.4; 6. Jace Melvin, 4.5; 7. (tie) Mike McGinn and Nick Guy, 5.6. Second round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.7 seconds; 2. Dalton Massey, 4.1; 3. Timmy Sparing, 4.2; 4. Landris White, 4.4; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, 4.6; 6. (tie) Kalane Anders and Jace Melvin, 4.7; 8. Ty Allred, 5.0. Average leaders: 1. Timmy Sparing, 8.3 seconds on two runs; 2. Landris White, 8.4; 3. Stetson Jorgensen, 8.8; 4. Jace Melvin, 9.2; 5. Kalane Anders, 9.7; 6. Mike McGinn, 10.0; 7. Bridger Chambers, 10.1; 8. Nick Guy, 10.2; 9. (tie) Grady Payne and Ty Allred, 10.3; 11. Colt Honey, 10.5; 12. Dalton Massey, 17.6. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 5.5 seconds; 2. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 6.0; 3. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 6.2; 4. Kreece Thompson/Chad Williams, 6.5; 5. Ryan VonAhn/Kollin VonAhn, 6.6; 6. Chet Weitz/Jace Davis, 7.3; 7. Hagen Peterson/Scotty Lauaki, 7.5; 8. Nick Becker/Tyrel Taton, 8.2. Second round leaders: 1. Tanner James/Max Kuttler, 5.3 seconds; 2. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 6.4; 3. J.D. Yates/Marcus Banister, 8.1; 4. Jeff Johnston/Jett Hillman, 10.4; 5. Ryan VonAhn/Kollin VonAhn, 12.7; 6. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 15.1; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Quinn Kesler/Caleb Hendrix, 12.5 seconds on two runs; 2. J.D. Yates/Marcus Banister, 16.4; 3. Ryan VonAhh/Kollin VonAahn, 19.3; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 21.3; 5. Tanner James/Max Cuttler, 5.3 seconds on one run; 6. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 5.5; 7. Kreece Thompson/Chad Williams, 6.5; 8. Chet Weitz/Jace Davis, 7.3; 9. Hagen Peterson/Scotty Lauaki, 7.5; 10. Nick Beker/Tyrel Taton, 8.2; 11. Ben Jordan/Trevor Hale, 9.3; 12. Jeff Johnston/Jett Hillman, 10.4. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Riggin Smith, 85.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Michael; 2. Lefty Homan, 83.5; 3. Shorty Garrett, 83; 4. Logan Cook, 82.5; 5. (tie) Wyatt Casper and Isaac Diaz, 82; 7. Will Pollock, 80.5; 8. Jake Clark, 79.   Breakaway roping leaders: 1. Loni Lester, 3.0 seconds; 2. Mable McAbee, 3.1; 3. Winnter Williams, 3.3; 4. Sawyer Gilbert, 3.8; 5. Hannah Hughes, 4.1; 6. Brandy Gilbert, 4.5; 7. Alyssa Bigon, 4.7; 8. Jayme Marcrum, 5.5; 9. Ashlyn Moeder, 5.7; 10. Brooke McLemore, 12.8. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Cory Solomon, 8.3 seconds; 2. Kincade Henry, 8.7; 3. Westyn Hughes, 8.8; 4. Blake Chauvin, 9.3; 5. Marty Yates, 9.4; 6. (tie) Anthony Jordan and Benny Mosley, 10.9; 8. Chet Weitz, 10.1. Second round leaders: 1. King Pickett, 8.2 seconds; 2. Riley Webb, 9.0; 3. Marty Yates, 9.2; 4. (tie) Cory Solomon and Adam Gray, 9.3; 6. Benny Mosley,  Continue Reading »

Top bullfighters in the game are preparing for the Utah Championship OGDEN, Utah – There is one thing in common about the men who will be part of the Bullfighters Only Utah Championship, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at the Weber County Fairgrounds in Ogden. They all want to win this freestyle bullfight. “We always pack the heat at those events and get the best guys possible,” said Aaron Mercer, a two-time BFO world champion from Calgary. “We damn sure have a good lineup.” That’s true, with four of the 12 men in the mix that are in the top 10 in the BFO Tour Standings. Mercer, who sits third in the world, leads the pack, but the event will also feature Alex McWilliams, who is fresh off his win at California Rodeo Salinas; he moved up to fourth in the standings. They will be matched with some athletic animals from Troy Bradshaw’s Penthouse Fighting Bulls, which were specifically bred for this type of fight. Based on a 100-point scale, the bulls will be judged up to 50 points each for their agility, aggressiveness and ability to stay involved in the fight, while the men will also be judged on the same scale for their athleticism, ability maneuver around, and sometimes over, the bulls. “I’m not sure what bulls Troy is bringing, but I’m hoping they’re fresh and new,” Mercer said. “That way we can really show off against those bulls. It’s going to be a good event.” Mercer has seen the BFO’s mountain top and knows there is some stiff competition when he arrives at any event on the slate. He wants to continue to build as the season progresses and be in top form when he arrives the BFO World Championship in December at Resorts World in Las Vegas. “I’ve been working my way up,” said Mercer, who won BFO gold in 2019 and 2020. “I came back a little late this year. I’m feeling good, training again and getting back into the gym. I’ve been letting the body heal a little bit and getting ready to fight at my top level.” He’ll likely need it. All athletes excel when they’re feeling their best, and freestyle bullfighting is as physical of an event as there is in sports. The goal for each man who plays this particular game is to be at the top when the season comes to a close in four months. In Ogden, there will be four bouts featuring three men. The top scores in each bout advance to the championship round. The four men in the finale will face off against some of Penthouse’s top bulls, and the bullfighter with the top score will be crowned the champion. “It’s been pretty interesting this year,” Mercer said. “The level of competitors we’ve had this year is the best I’ve seen in a long time. I’m sitting in the top five right now, but Ogden could give me a big jump on getting closer to leading the world in the Bullfighters Only standings. “My goal is to go in there and win that and put me right up there toward the top.”

By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – The ProRodeo competition at Jake McClure Arena at the Lea County Fairgrounds kicked off Tuesday, and the Lea County Xtreme Bulls provided plenty of action for fans. There were several qualified rides, and eight of the 12 men in the championship round recorded scores, making for one of the tightest Xtreme Bulls action that’s ever been seen. By the time the dust settled, 12-year pro Jeff Askey pulled out his first Xtreme Bulls Division 1 victory, and it came at a great time. “I’ve won second at a bunch of them, and I’ve won a pile of Division 2 Xtreme Bulls, but I’ve never won one of the Division 1 events,” said Askey, 34, of Athens, Texas. Askey won the opening round with an 88-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Twister, then finished second in a tie for second place with an 89.5-point ride on Carr’s Twilight Zone to claim the best two-ride cumulative score and earn the title. In all, he collected $10,609 Tuesday night. With a dozen years in the PRCA, he’s been pining for one of the coveted Xtreme Bulls buckles given at the Division 1 events and finally slapped one on his belt. There was a bit of familiarity in his first-round draw. He’d ridden Twister for 90.5 points a little more than a month ago in Pecos, Texas. That combination seems to work just fine. “I tried to treat him like he’d do anything, and it just so happens he had a similar trip,” said Askey, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “He’s got a lot of timing, and he kicks a lot. He kind of beat me (out of the chute) and had me behind, enough to rock me a little bit. After about the second or third jump, I felt (like) I gathered him up pretty good and rode him decent. “If you make the right moves, that bull helps you out.” By winning the opening round, Askey was the last cowboy to ride in the final round. With big scores coming on the board one right after another, he knew he was in for a fight. “This was crazy,” he said. “I’ve never seen an Xtreme Bulls short round go like this. It’s pretty common for guys to ride one, two, three or four bulls in these short goes. I’ve never seen them ride eight or nine bulls and it get that tough. “Normally if you win the long round and fall off in the short go, you might hold on to an average check, but after enough rides I thought, ‘Heck, I better stay on, or I might not win nothing.’ ” Askey pushed his season earnings to more than $133,000 and will remain third in the world standings. He rides Wednesday night in Abilene, Kansas, then will return to Lovington to compete in the PRCA rodeo Thursday. “The more you win, it gives you flexibility,” Askey said, meaning he can make those decisions whether or not to get on a bull that might not be worth his effort or if he’s sore at the end of the month or in September. “When you’re down there in the standings, you can’t do that. Last year I was 16th. I had to nod my head on just about everything the last two months of the season. I’m up there good enough now, I want to still be making money, but I have that flexibility now that I can take a business approach about it moving forward.” He handled business Tuesday night. Lea County Xtreme BullsLovington, N.M.Aug. 2, 2022First round: 1. Jeff Askey, 88.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Twister, $3,342; 2. Robbie James Taylor, 88, $2,562; 3. Garrett Smith, 87, $1,894; 4. (tie) Francisco Garcia and Maverick Potter, 86.5, $1,003 each; 6. (tie) Hayes Thayne Weight and Josh Frost, 85.5, $501 each; 8. Creek Young, 85, $334. Championship round: 1. Garrett Smith, 90 points on Lancaster & Jones’ Pale Face, $2,451; 2. (tie) Josh Frost and Jeff Askey, 89.5, $1,597 each; 4. Maverick Potter, 88.5, $891; 5. Creek Young, 88, $520; 6. (tie) Cole Fisher and Stetson Wright, 87.5, $186 each. Average: 1. Jeff Askey, 178 points on two rides, $5,670; 2. Garrett Smith, 177, $4,270; 3. (tie) Josh Frost and Maverick Potter, 175, $2,599 each; 5. Creek Young, 173, $1,300; 6. (tie) Stetson Wright and Hayes Thayne Weight, 170, $835 each; 8. Cole Fisher, 169.5, $557.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Canyon Bass is a man of few words. He’s just 18 years old, so maybe they just haven’t developed yet, but he let his actions do the talking during the Dodge City Roundup Xtreme Bulls Tuesday night. “I’ve been to a few Xtreme Bulls, but I haven’t come out on top of one of them yet,” said Bass of Johnson City, Texas, who is competing this season on his PRCA permit with hopes of starting his rookie season in 2023. “I’m glad I got to do that here. It’s a good place to do that.” Any win is a big win, especially for a young cowboy who is trying to make a name for himself. With several veterans in the field, the newcomer to the game showed them all what it means to come out on top. By doing so, he added $5,908 to his season earnings. That will move him up one spot to No. 1 in the permit holders’ bull riding standings. He has increased his season earnings to just shy of $50,000 – that’s a pretty good wage for a teenager. “I didn’t know the bull,” he said. “I knew he came from Frontier and should be good. I just did my job, and it turned out pretty good.” It was the second biggest win of his season. A month ago, he won the bull riding title at the rodeo in Prescott, Arizona, pocketing more than $7,300. He’s doing quite well for a young cowboy who has yet to really embark on his career. He’s a second-generation bull rider, following in the footsteps of his father. He roped calves and rode bulls in his younger days and just decided to stick with the bull riding. He returns to compete at Roundup Rodeo during Wednesday’s performance. He’d love to make his first trip to Dodge City as memorable as possible. “I’m mostly focused on my rookie season next year,” Bass said. “I’d really like to make the (National Finals Rodeo) in my rookie year.” If Tuesday night is any indication, he stands a good chance to do just that. Dodge City Roundup Xtreme BullsDodge City, Kan.Aug. 2, 20221. Canyon Bass, 85.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Fire Walker, $5,908; 2. Colton Byram, 81, $4,632; 3. Ernie Courson Jr., 78.5, $3,538; 4. Colten Beaty, 77, $2,444; 5. Jestyn Jax Woodward, 75, $1,714; no other qualified rides.