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  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  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  Continue Reading »

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  Continue Reading »

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  Continue Reading »

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  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  Continue Reading »

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  Continue Reading »

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  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  Continue Reading »

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  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  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  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  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  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  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  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  Continue Reading »

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,  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  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.  Continue Reading »

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  Continue Reading »

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  Continue Reading »