Monthly Archives: September 2022

DUNCAN, Okla. – Yance Day’s life has changed considerably since he first started riding bareback horses. It’s about to change again. Day and his girlfriend are due to have a baby girl in November. He’ll need to keep padding his pocketbook in anticipation for her arrival, and he’ll have his chance to do so at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13-Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. “Getting ready to have a baby has given me a whole new perspective on things,” said Day, 32, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. “I’m really excited about everything that’s coming my way and everything that’s happened. It makes me realize it’s not about me. I’ve got people that are counting on me.” As a rodeo cowboy, life has always been about what he can do on the back of a bucking horse. With a family in his future, his talents pave the way for how he pays for formula, baby food and diapers. He sits No. 2 in the Prairie Circuit’s bareback riding standings, but that comes with a bonus caveat: The leader, Nebraskan Garrett Shadbolt, has been focused on returning to the National Finals Rodeo and didn’t get to his minimum of circuit rodeos; that means Shadbolt is ineligible to win the year-end title. “I’d love to win the circuit,” Day said. “If I could do that, I could go to the national circuit finals (now called the NFR Open). I’d really like to win that, too.” This isn’t his first trip to Duncan, which has hosted the circuit finals every year since 2012. He just wants it to be his most memorable. Wisdom comes from age and experience, and he has that. With the bigger picture in front of him, he’s more focused on what he wants and how to achieve it. “In most of the years I’ve been to the circuit finals, I didn’t take care of business like I needed to,” he said. “I was just riding for myself.” He not only rides for a family, he has figured out every way he can care for others in his life, too. When he’s not riding bucking horses, he is driving a dump truck for his brother’s business. That, combined with success in the rodeo arena, has provided some financial rewards, and he’s not looking back now. The Prairie Circuit is made up of rodeos and contestants primarily from the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region. He won four titles at events in Manhattan, Kansas; Haysville, Kansas; Cheyenne, Oklahoma; Durant, Oklahoma; and an event in Wichita Falls, Texas, that also was co-sanctioned in the Prairie Circuit. “My plan this year was to stick around the circuit, make the circuit finals and get my qualifications up,” Day said, referring to being among the top 50 in the world standings so he can compete in big, indoor rodeos through the winter. “I wasn’t getting into any of those last year. “I’ve got my qualifications up, so I’m going to go to those big Texas rodeos in the winter and see what happens. If I hit a good lick over there, then I’m going to be chasing the NFR (qualification) hard. I’m looking forward to it; I’m hungry for it.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Tyler Ravenscroft had one goal in mind when he made the 300-mile drive from Durant, Oklahoma, to the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. He wanted to qualify to return to this part of the country next spring to compete at RodeoHouston, one of the biggest regular-season events in professional rodeo. He gave himself a great chance during the first performance of Hempstead’s rodeo Thursday night, wrestling his steer to the ground in 3.2 seconds. “I just wanted to be patient and use the cow that I was drawn,” said Ravenscroft, a senior at Southeastern Oklahoma State University from Nenzel, a hamlet of less than 20 people in north-central Nebraska. “I knew he was a really good steer. He went off in Stephenville (Texas) last week. I knew it was a good chance to get something done here.” All he did was set a new arena record, the first time the since the rodeo became associated with the PRCA more than a decade ago. He had a bit of help, though. His hazer was Sean Mulligan, his uncle and a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has also hazed at the NFR many other times throughout his established career. “That’s the fastest run I’ve ever had,” said Ravenscroft, 22, who is planning to make a run at his own NFR qualification in 2023; because this rodeo ends Oct. 1, the money earned in Hempstead counts toward next season’s standings. “I’m glad I got Sean to come down here for me. “I needed the best in the business.” Ravenscroft got that in more ways than one. Everything must go perfectly to post a run that fast, from Mulligan’s haze to getting a good start to riding the right horse. His is an 8-year-old sorrel mare named Cherry Bomb. “She’s one Sean and I started when I was a freshman in college,” he said. “She’s my pride and joy. She did so much, from getting the start to giving me confidence all through the run. I know she’s going to stand there (in the timed-event box), and she’s going to give me the best go she can.” That means running straight toward the steer so the bulldogger can jump from her back and onto the steer. Once there, Ravenscroft still had some work to do, and much of that was doing everything technically well. “I’ve been practicing the last couple of weeks of hustling to the (steer’s) nose, because I’ve been behind all the time,” he said. “As soon as I got my feet on the ground, I knew I wanted to go to the nose.” By doing so, he was able to utilize his momentum and that of the steer to turn the animal over on its side and stop the clock. The caveat is that the winner from the Waller County Fair and Rodeo will earn a spot in the RodeoHouston lineup next March. He had no time to celebrate, though. He and Mulligan quickly loaded their horses back in the trailer and headed north. They had nearly five hours to drive, and Ravenscroft is scheduled to compete at his hometown college rodeo Friday morning in Durant. He’ll need to pay close attention to the route, though, because he stands a great chance to return to the Houston area in five months. Waller County Fair and RodeoSept. 29-Oct. 1Hempstead, TexasBareback riding: 1. Bradlee Miller, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cool Change; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Tyler Ravenscroft, 3.2 seconds; 2. Cody Harmon, 4.3; 3. Justin Shaffer, 4.5; 4. Jeffrey Boriski, 5.1; no other qualified runs.   Team roping: 1. Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 11.3 seconds; Rusty Barnett/Michael Fortenberry, 14.2; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zac Dallas, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Pretty Woman; 2. Reginald Lecourt, 78; 3. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Clint Franks, 72 points; no other qualified runs.   Tie-down roping: 1. James Berry, 9.8 seconds; 2. Benny Mosley, 14.4; 3. Jim Mike Hutto, 18,7; 4. Michael Otero, 20.7; no other qualified runs. Breakaway roping: 1. Taylor Hanchey, 2.2 seconds; 2. Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, 2.6; 3. Cheyenne Britain, 2.8; 4. Lari Dee Guy, 3.7; 5. Beau Peterson, 5.3; 6. Jackie Crawford, 16.3. Barrel racing: 1. Ilyssa Riley, 15.51 seconds; 2. Kelly Allen, 15.58; 3. Sissy Winn, 15.68; 4. Molly Pritchard, 16.25; 5. J.J. Baldwin, 16.27; 6. Lauren Davang, 16.42. Bull riding: 1. T. Parker, 86.5 points on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Mr. Quick; no other qualified rides.

BFO bullfighters will be part of their own border war at State Fair of Texas DALLAS – Inside Fair Park Coliseum on the grounds of the State Fair of Texas, history holds its breath and awaits the future. From roller derbies to professional hockey and basketball games, it was the epicenter of Dallas sports more than a half century ago. For many, its place in rodeo lore is well-established, the first home of the National Finals Rodeo from 1959-1961. In just days, it will be the home of the Bullfighters Only Red River Rumble, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8, and will feature the top freestyle bullfighters in the sport battling head-to-head just like the Longhorns and Sooners will that Saturday morning. It’s Oklahoma vs. Texas, but the bovines involved in this battle are real. “I think it’s just cool to be part of the history of that coliseum,” said Weston Rutkowski, a four-time BFO world champion from Haskell, Texas. “With the NFR starting there in 1959, I grew up knowing all the rodeo greats that went to that coliseum and competed. “There’s so much history in that one building. It’s not only being from Texas, but knowing we’re part of an event that just adds to the history.” Team Texas and Team Oklahoma will feature five-man squads, and they will battle head-to-head in the opening round. Held in conjunction with the State Fair of Texas, this BFO event is as big as Big Tex standing guard over the fairgrounds. There will be five winners out of the opening round of competition, with the four bullfighters that posted the highest scores advancing to the championship round. Those four will then battle with the top animals from Penthouse Fighting Bulls to see which one will come out the victor and walk away from Dallas with the lion’s share of the prize money and the edge rolling into the BFO World Finals. “It’s pretty special to get to compete in that event,” said Austin Ashley of Purcell, Oklahoma, who will represent his home state in the bullfight. “I got to be part of it. It was such a cool event to have in that old coliseum where they had the NFR back in the day. “The crowd really gets into it, and the atmosphere was electric.” Expect that and more for this year’s showcase, which will feature established veterans mixed with some of bullfighting’s rising stars. Rutkowski is the winningest man in the field, but he will be joined by Beau Schueth, a past reserve world champion and a regular at BFO World Finals, and Aaron Mercer, a two-time world titlist. The format helps highlight the symphony of a freestyle bullfight, where men utilize their athletic skills and bull savvy while facing agile Mexican fighting bulls that were bred for this type of fight. Based on a 100-point scale, the bulls will score up to 50 points for their aggressiveness, athleticism and ability to stay in the fight, while the bullfighters will score up to 50 points for their performance to remain close to the animal while performing maneuvers around and sometimes over the bull. The Red River Rumble is also a chance to highlight the college rivalry that has been ongoing for more than 120 years. The event’s champion will be able to carry that title and all the bragging rights with them to their respective side of the Red River, which divides Oklahoma and Texas. “When you’re raised in Texas, you grow up hearing about the game,” Rutkowski said. “That weekend is well-known for being about OU vs. Texas. It goes with the demographic in this part of the world. “I have to hold my ground and represent Texas well.” Ashley knows it all too well. His hometown is just 19 miles from the University of Oklahoma, so he knows what the OU-Texas rivalry means. Transitioning it to the bullfighting ring is just his way of extending it in his favor. “It’s a pretty big honor to get to represent the state where I was born and where I grew up,” Ashley said. “It’s hard to describe all the emotions that go into it. “This is my home state. There’s a lot on the line for it.” This is also the last bastion of hope for title contenders and others hoping to make the December trip to Las Vegas to battle for the 2022 BFO world championship. “This is the last big-money event there is,” Ashley said. “It gives some of the guys that are a little lower in the standings one last shot to get a jump on the guys that are in the top five. “We’re going to fight a good set of bulls, and the talent is great on both sides.” That just adds to the intrigue of the Red River Rumble. “This is the last stop before the BFO World Championship at Resorts World in Vegas,” Rutkowski said. “There’s a lot riding on this event. If I’m going to win my fifth world title, or if someone else is going to win the world title, then it puts that person in a great position to do that. “A lot comes down to this event, but I expect noting less than for all those guys to show up and lay it all on the line.” Team TexasWeston RutkowskiAlex McWilliamsAaron MercerZach CallReynaldo Aguilar Team OklahomaAustin AshleyEly SharkeyTyler MansellCauy KrautConnor Larrivee

DUNCAN, Okla. – Team roping header Andrew Ward is a two-time national champion who would love to win a third. His paths took different circumstances, but his route remained the same: He first had to do well in his home region, the Prairie Circuit, in order to advance to the national circuit finals rodeo, now dubbed the NFR Open. Ward’s first crown came at the 2018 RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, where he and his brother, Reagan, shared the event title; they were the year-end champions in the 2017 Prairie Circuit standings. In 2020, Andrew Ward teamed with veteran heeler Buddy Hawkins to win the circuit, then roped their way to the national titles in their respective disciplines. They’ll take their next steps at returning to the national circuit finale at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13-Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. “We compete in such a great circuit, and this is a really good chance to going to Colorado Springs (for the NFR Open),” said Ward, 32, of Edmond, Oklahoma. “We prioritize going to our circuit rodeos.” That’s been the case for much of Ward’s career. He was 18 years old when he and Reagan first hit the rodeo trail, and they focused on competing at events close to home – the Prairie Circuit is made up of rodeos and contestants primarily from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. They were regular qualifiers to the regional championship in Duncan, which features only the top 12 in the standings in each event. Ward and Hawkins lead the circuit standings with $26,518 each. They own a $6,000 lead over the No. 2 tandem, Paul David Tierney and Tanner Braden, so they’d like to have a good showing at the circuit finals and secure another year-end title. Only the circuit champions and the champions from three days of competition in Duncan advance to the national championship. Everything is progressing nicely for Ward and Hawkins. In addition to leading the circuit, they’re also third in the world standings. They’ve made the National Finals Rodeo each year they’ve been together; they also established a new 10-round aggregate record in winning the NFR average a year ago – it’s the second-most coveted title in round outside of winning a world championship. “We really aren’t concerned about the NFR yet,” Ward said “We get concerned about having a good event in Duncan, because we can build up our money for next year.” The 2022 regular season comes to a close Sept. 30, and money earned after Oct. 1 counts toward the 2023 world standings. “If we have a good week, we can win between $4,000 and $6,000,” he said. “If we can do that, we can win the year-end title and go to Colorado Springs next year. It’s a really big deal to set up your next season early.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The purpose of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo is simple: Provide an exposition for the communities in the region while also showcasing and giving back to the youth in the county. There are some traditional fair activities, like the rodeo, the livestock shows, the carnival and the concerts, but the Waller County Fair Association also has some hidden gems that remain a big part of the fair’s identity. From the Junior Fair Board to Ag Voyage and the Barnyard Buddies to Creative Living, every step of these ornamental aspects of the annual expo is vital to the growth and development of young people while also giving an outlet to others who want to be part of the fair and rodeo. “The Creative Living is important because it promotes hands-on learning of life skills that our young people are going to need later in order to become productive adults,” said Melissa Hegemeyer, chairwoman of Creative Living. “It is so important because with technology, electronic games and other innovations bombarding them, even the most elementary life skills tend to get pushed aside.” Placed in the Barbara Carpenter Building, Creative Living is home to non-animal exhibits, like baked goods, favorite recipes, decorated confections, canned goods, constructive clothing and accessories, needlework, creative arts and handicrafts, horticulture, photography, fine arts, collective hobbies and quilts. “In the open division, exhibitors ranch from preschool (as young as 3 years old) to golden living (62 and older), so we welcome all ages,” Hegemeyer said. “Our auction division is for 4H and FFA participants. The youth spend many hours creating marketable items to be judged, and winners in each age group make it to the Junior Livestock Auction. “It’s very important for us to continue to encourage our youth to learn the arts and crafts that make up family traditions. Being a 4H club manager for 12 years and being a part of the Creative Living building now for 20 years makes me so proud we continue to offer an environment that encourages the importance of hands-on learning and valuable life skills that are so vital for the youth of Waller County.” Now in its eighth year, Barnyard Buddies will take place 9 a.m-1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28. Barnyard Buddies offers Waller County special-needs students a way to enjoy a day at the fair. “It’s just great to see the smiles on their faces and them laughing and having a good time,” said Julie Abke, the chairwoman of the Junior Fair Board who oversees the Barnyard Buddies. “They do appreciate it, and they do like it.” The same can be said for those involved with Ag Voyage, which is a way of teaching youngsters about where their food sources come from and the importance of agriculture. There are many children within the school system that don’t have the ability to show animal, so Ag Voyage gives them the opportunity to understand about the importance of agriculture. “Because the fair’s all about education, we thought it would be nice to have an educational committee,” said Kristy Hyatt, chairwoman of the committee. “We will teach kids about different cuts of meat, where cotton comes from or what grain is used food-wise.” Young exhibitors are part of the foundation of a county fair, but there’s much more to it in Waller County. The fair association also works closely with teenagers who are part of the Junior Fair Board, a group of juniors and seniors who work with the Waller County Fair Board to help run the fair and other associated events. There are 38 teens involved this year. “The hope is for them to build up money to hopefully go to school, but we also want to help mentor them and have them come back when they get a little older and run the fair,” said Linda Randall, co-chair of the Junior Fair Board. “When the chairman of the Junior Fair Board and I started, we began doing livestock shows. “Last year, we were able to give out almost $40,000 in scholarships, with them raising their own money putting on these livestock shows and other events to raise money for these scholarships.” All the money the Junior Fair Board earns is returned in scholarship dollars. It’s also vital because the younger board members are hands-on in doing all the tasks it takes to produce an event the size of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. From setting up and getting the fairgrounds ready for the exposition to helping tear down once the event is over, there are many things to be done. “I’m here to see the kids be successful,” Randall said. “I want to help these kids learn the livestock aspect and see the livestock industry be as successful as it can be, and I want to see these kids come back and be able to help. “To be able to help these kids give back and watch their growth is why I’m here. That means the world to me.”

ALVA, Okla. – Growing up in southwest Nebraska, Quade Potter has seen his share of success in that region of the country. Now a junior transfer at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Potter returned as close to his old stomping grounds as he could in Colby, Kansas, and found his way back to the top. In the first Central Plains Region rodeo of the 2022-23 season, the Stockville, Nebraska, cowboy won the steer wrestling title at the Colby Community College rodeo. “That actually helped my confidence a lot,” Potter said of the victory. “This was one of my worst summers rodeoing, so it was nice to go to the first college rodeo and win that one to get my confidence back up. “That rodeo is about two hours from my house, so it was pretty easy for my parents and my sister to come down and watch.” A year ago, Potter was in his second season at Mid-Plains Community College, attending classes in McCook, Nebraska, about 30 miles from his home. He advanced to the College National Finals Rodeo this past summer, then opted to make the move to Alva to further his education. “I decided on going to school here mainly because of (rodeo coach) Stockton (Graves),” he said. “I knew this was the bulldogging school of the region. I knew getting around all these kids that really wanted to be good and really pushed themselves would help me out a lot. I just wanted to be around these kids and this atmosphere.” It doesn’t hurt that Northwestern is known as the Bulldogging Capital of College Rodeo. Two of the school’s three rodeo national champions were steer wrestlers – J.D. Struxness in 2016 and Bridger Anderson in 2019 – and both have qualified for the NFR. So has Graves, who has earned a spot in the championship eight times, including the 2021 season. Potter indicated that half the 12-man field in Colby’s championship round were Rangers, so the promotion is justified. In fact, three of them earned points, led by Potter, who won the first round a 4.0-second run, the fastest of the weekend. He was 5.1 to finish the short round in a tie for third with teammate Tyler Scheevel of Lester Prairie, Minnesota, and won the aggregate with a two-run cumulative time of 9.1 seconds. Scheevel also finished in tie for third in the opening round and finished third overall, while Kaden Greenfield of Lakeview, Washington, placed in both rounds and finished fifth. “I knew coming down here that this region was going to be way tougher with a lot more guys and a lot of the quality of guys,” Potter said. “For me, it was just going up in competition. I knew I’d have to up my game. I just wanted to be around all the guys that are really competitive. “I knew that would help me take another step.” He was assisted in his success in Colby by his horse, Balboa, which he’s had a little more than three years. “There are a lot of guys in Nebraska that have ridden him,” Potter said. “It took a long time for me and him to start clicking, but once it did, it started working out really well. “I drew a pretty good steer in the first round, and I used in really well. I didn’t have a very good steer in the short round, but I had a pretty good lead, so I had some time to spare. That helped me out, because I didn’t make that good of a run in the short round.” It worked out just fine, but Potter wasn’t the only Ranger who had some great success in Colby. In fact, Kerry Duvall of Farmington, California, utilized a 9.3-second run, also the fastest of the rodeo, to win the short round and take the average title in tie-down roping. Jacob Haren of Erie, Colorado, finished fifth in the championship round and the aggregate, while Kade Chace of Cherokee, Oklahoma, earned a share of the first-round title. The Kansas duo of Camden Holting of Olpe and Austin Lampe of Dodge City won the first round of team roping, placed third in the short round and finished second overall. Iowans Emmett Edler of State Center and Wyatt Montrose of Williamsburg finished fifth in the short round and fifth overall, while Isaiah Naaugo of Haiku, Hawaii, and Logan Mullin of Clay Center, Kansas, placed fourth in the long round. The women were guided by barrel racer Samantha Chambers of Calhan, Colorado, who placed in both go-rounds and finished second in the aggregate race. Breakaway roper Jaci Traul of Fort Scott, Kansas, stopped the clock in 2.6 seconds to finish in a tie for sixth place in the opening round. The season may have just begun, but Potter said the Rangers rodeo team is ready for business, thanks to Graves and his attention to the details. “Knowing how much success Stockton’s had in rodeo and as a coach helps,” Potter said. “Having him every day coach us helps everyone a lot. Having a world champion like Jacob Edler and guys like that around to help us is great, too. I don’t think you’re going get any better practice than what we’ve got here.”

DUNCAN, Okla. – The last time Cody Sosebee served as the entertainer at the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, the event took place at the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie, Oklahoma, and legendary announcer Clem McSpadden called the action. It’s been 15 years since that happened, and much has changed in the world of rodeo and in Sosebee’s world. Still, there are some things that remain the same as he returns to Oklahoma for the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13-Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. Since his last circuit finale, the Charleston, Arkansas, man was selected to be the barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo, an honor that was voted on by the bull riders who compete there. That was five seasons ago, and in 2018, Sosebee was named the PRCA’s Clown of the Year. Those honors reveal how much people in the PRCA appreciate the work Sosebee has done over his well-established career. Each year, he’s nominated to be the association’s top clown and barrelman. “I didn’t expect either one of those honors,” he said. “I was an old guy in my career choice. Just walking down the hallway at the NFR and bumping into those bull riders, it made me feel good because they thought of me to help protect them at the biggest rodeo they’re ever going to be part of. “When I run into a top-end NFR bull rider and know he took time to vote for me, that’s something I’ll have with me the rest of my life. The money’s been spent, but getting acknowledged for your craft really humbles me.” He takes none of his honors lightly, but that’s also part of the Sosebee schtick. Being a bigger person, he utilizes that into his comedic acts. He dances as if he were in his 20s and not in his 50s. He plays on his strengths and his wit, which has served him quite well. “Jokes are the unfortunate situations of other people, but you can’t hardly tell some jokes anymore for fear of upsetting some people,” Sosebee said. “I’ve changed my jokes in my acts to being about me; everything’s about me. I laugh at myself. I’m a big, chubby, dancing guy. I look funny when I walk. I sound funny when I talk. “It’s OK to laugh at yourself.” He’s done that most of his comedic career. He wasn’t always a clown, but he’s been involved in rodeo all his life. Before he got into being a funnyman, Sosebee was a bareback rider. In fact, he qualified for the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. But being funny has made him a legend, and he’s excited to show off his entertainment value when he arrives in Duncan next month. “My biggest challenge is I want to know what I’m doing is still effective,” Sosebee said.“When it’s not, that’s when I’ll start slowing down and still do it at a professional level. I don’t ever want to go in with an amateur attitude. People are paying their hard-earned money to see us, and they deserve a pro level.”

Work is set to begin to build a top for Waller County Fair and Rodeo arena HEMPSTEAD, Texas – A little more than a decade ago, a select few that were part of the Waller County Fair Association had an unlikely vision for the future of the Waller County Fairgrounds. It’s coming to fruition, and the next step in the process will begin just as soon as this year’s Waller County Fair and Rodeo is complete; the expo runs Sept. 24-Oct. 1 in Hempstead. “As soon as the fair is finished this year, we’re going to start tearing everything down at the rodeo arena so we can start to build our covered arena,” said Jason Neel, chairman of the Waller County Fair Board’s capital improvements committee. “Deconstruction starts next month, and the building arrives in December. “The construction for the new building starts in January. We plan to be complete with the building before our next fair.” With that, the fair association is opening the door for more activities to take place in Hempstead, a community of nearly 5,400 in a county that boasts of almost 60,000 residents. That means there will be more livestock shows, more horse shows, more ropings and other equine-related events and more bull ridings. The covered arena allows for any events in any type of weather, whether they’re demolition derbies, tractor pulls, lawnmower races or concerts. That’s just the tip of the iceburg. “With the arena being covered, that will help out with the amount of events we will be able to book throughout the year rain or shine,” Neel said. “We hope to become more competitive in the market to draw events, which helps with the publicity and the crowds we can get. “It will be nice to be able to book events without people being concerned about the weather.” The process is huge, but it’s not the first time the fair board has handled this type of endeavor. In recent years, there have been improvements around the fairgrounds, including new restrooms and remodeling done at Edmonds Hall and the show barn. “The community response on the capital improvements we’ve done so far is that we’ve had a ton more rental,” said Matt Hyatt, the fair board’s president. “We’re putting nice weddings in Edmonds Hall. We’ve had lots of quinceaneras. With the new addition in the entertainment pavilion, we have fixed the roof. Even if it’s raining, you can still have a nice party there.” The key is having as many of the complex’s buildings available for use 365 days a year. It’s all come about because of the support from sponsors and the community. “We have secured nearly all of our sponsorships to fund this covered arena with a few spots left to fill,” Neel said. “We have secured our agreement with the bank, and they are on board to support us with this addition to the fair and rodeo.” Most of the funding will come from sponsorships, and the fair association has been creative in finding ways to cover the costs of the project. The major funding sources will receive suites in the new building for their support. “We’ve got 15 spots sold so far,” Hyatt said. “This thing is going to be paid for by sponsors. We have incredible sponsors and incredible crowds that come to our fair and rodeo every year. We couldn’t have done this with out them.” There are still boxes remaining for anyone interested in being part of the covered rodeo arena, and board members are excited about the potential of filling all of those suites in time. In addition to creating protection from potential weather, the building will also allow for a comfortable complex for those attending the events and competitors alike. “We have designed the building to where the eaves will allow air flow into it,” Neel said. “Natural air flow where it doesn’t get trapped in the design of the building helps make things more comfortable. We’re also looking at putting in some large fans to help with that. Just getting the air moving is a big deal.” That’s what renters, attendees and fairgoers will see when the building is complete before the 2023 Waller County Fair and Rodeo. This year’s event will be the last time the fair will feature an all-outdoor rodeo and other specialty events during the eight-day exposition. There will be a slight reduction in the number of rentals that the fairgrounds receives for the rodeo arena while construction is under way, but there is a contingency plan in place. Once the show barn was remodeled a few years ago, it is now operational for some events that can utilize a smaller arena. “This is a huge undertaking,” Hyatt said.  “We’ve got a great crew, and while this is a little daunting, it’s also very exciting. This is going to be a huge addition to what we have. I think it’s going to be huge for the community as well.  It’s going to open it up for a lot of events we’ve never had before. “Ten years ago, it was a pipe dream of ours to have a two-arena fairgrounds. That’s where we’re going to be with the show barn we have now and the covered arena we’ll have a year from now. The idea for all this was scratched out on a napkin 10 years ago, and now we are here. We had a committed group of people that wanted this done, and it’s all happening because of the donors that have come forward.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – A decade ago, members of the Waller County Fair Association were seeking a prominent PRCA stock contracting firm to help the community’s rodeo grow. They found it with Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, and the two entities have matured together over time. The proof is in everything that happens during the nine-day fair and the three days of ProRodeo competition at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29-Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. “When you look at how much our rodeo’s grown since we decided to become a part of the PRCA, I think you can point a lot of fingers directly at Pete Carr and what he’s done for us,” said John Schluens, co-captain of the fair board’s rodeo committee. “We have a strong relationship with Pete, and we get a lot of the top names at our rodeo because of it.” It’s not just the cowboys and cowgirls that fans in southeast Texas have come to expect; it’s also the names of the animals that comes with Carr and his team of professionals. Cowboys have won the Waller County title on world champions like Real Deal, Dirty Jacket and Big Tex, along with a host of other great bucking horses and bulls that make firm stand out. Over the last 17 years, Carr has had dozens of bucking beasts that have been selected to perform at the National Finals Rodeo. Even more telling is the fact that only 100 bareback horses, 100 saddle broncs and 100 bulls are chosen each year, and there are Carr horses mixed deep in every category. Over the last year, the company’s founder and owner, Pete Carr, has re-invested into his bucking stock, adding to his herd more incredible animals. From a young stallion to help the future of the Carr breeding program to some rising bucking stars that have NFR experience, the herd has been charged with more electricity for events like the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. “Since we first brought Pete on board, we’ve asked him to make sure that every cowboy and cowgirl that comes to our rodeo has a chance to win, and he’s done that year after year,” said Clint Sciba, co-chairman of the rodeo committee. “Pete wants to put on the best rodeo he can for Waller County. He brings great stock, but there’s more to it. “Pete is also very big on the production of a rodeo. We love that, because we want people who come to our fair and rodeo to be entertained as much as they enjoy the competition. I think together we have proven that to the people in Waller County.” Yes, they have. Along with announcer Andy Stewart and other pieces of the puzzle, the rodeo seems to run without a hitch. That’s because of the teamwork that was established years ago between the Carr team, Stewart and the dedicated volunteers that help make the large exposition happen every year. There are countless amounts of man-hours that come into play when producing an event the size of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. From an organizational standpoint, it takes dozens of volunteers who care. Waller County has that, and they work in unison with the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo staff to ensure great things happen each fall in Hempstead. “Everything we do is with a purpose, and there’s a big reason why we’ve been teamed with Pete Carr for so long,” Schluens said. “It works, and it just keeps getting better.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – From the time he auditioned for “American Idol” nearly 12 years ago to his path toward the top of country music, Scotty McCreery has been a hit. He’ll have his talents and well-recognized vocals on display during the opening Saturday night of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo on Sept. 24 at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. This opens the door for music fans of all ages to see one of the top acts in country music and provides another level of entertainment for the people of Waller County. “This is definitely going to be something new for the county,” said Michelle Husky, co-chairman of the entertainment committee for the Waller County Fair Association. “It’s going to bring a lot more people from outside the county, and it’s going to be a bit of a challenge for our county, because we haven’t had an act this big at our fair and rodeo before.” It may be a bit more than volunteers have experienced in the past, but that’s a good thing for the fair association, which produces the annual event as a sole entity; the association cares for the property, pays for all upgrades and works with sponsors to produce the annual rodeo. “We decided we would do our big Nashville acts the first Saturday of our fair and rodeo,” Husky said, noting that the event runs Friday, Sept. 23-Saturday, Oct. 1. “By doing it then, our carnival hasn’t started yet, and it will allow for more parking and more people. We could accommodate 5,000 people. “With that, there are different aspects we have to consider to make sure everybody that comes has a good experience.” The evening will kick off with Ella Langley opening with her 9 p.m. show, leading into McCreery’s on-stage exploits, the same that led him to win Season 10 of “American Idol” and helped him reach the top with five consecutive No. 1s, “In Between,” “This is It,” “Five More Minutes,” “You Time” and “Damn Strait.” “Ella’s new, but she’s getting quite a following,” Husky said. “When we booked Scotty, I went to his people to see who they wanted to open for him, and they sent us suggestions. We booked Ella, and later we found out she was going to be touring with Cody Johnson.” It’s just the first of four nights of top-level concerts that will be part of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. On Thursday, Sept. 29, Donice Morace will open for Glen Templeton; Cody Wayne starts off Friday, Sept. 30, before leaving the stage for Cory Morrow; and Hayden Haddock will kick start the final night on Saturday, Oct. 1, and Casey Donahew will close down the nine-day exposition. “I thought last year we had one of the best lineups we’d seen at our fair until this year,” Husky said. “This is, by far, the best lineup we’ve seen here. We’ve had people from the Pasadena Strawberry Festival reach out to us asking how we were able to get this lineup.” The big reason falls upon the sponsors who support the Waller County Fair Association. One sponsor offered to pay the majority of the fees if a top artist could be part of the series in Hempstead, so the entertainment committee made it happen. Some of the acts are returning to Waller County, offering a bit of well-established presence to an already stacked lineup. Templeton has played at the fairgrounds a few times, including a show that benefitted a couple that was injured in a motorcycle wreck. Having him return to follow the opening night of the PRCA rodeo is a big part of what makes this year’s concert series so attractive. “We upped our committee to 13 members, and everyone’s so excited, so gung-ho,” Husky said. “Even though they’re going to work a lot of long hours, we’re excited that we’re bringing something so big to Waller County. The concerts are so big for Waller County, for the kids who work so hard on their projects to be able to enjoy the fair and have a good time they’ve earned.”

Cinch bulldogger chasing every dollar in final weeks of regular season With the final month of ProRodeo’s regular season under way, Cinch steer wrestler Bridger Anderson is hoping to take advantage of the few opportunities before him. There are some big-money events over the next few weeks, and he plans to hit the biggest of them. They will be his best chance to return to the National Finals Rodeo when it commences in December. “I feel like I’m doing my job fairly well,” said Anderson, 24, of Carrington, North Dakota. “There have been a few times when I dang sure needed to capitalize a little more, but we have confidence in our abilities, and we’re ready to finish this thing out.” As of Aug. 29, he was 23rd in the bulldogging world standings, $8,700 out of the qualifying mark to make the NFR, which takes place Dec. 1-10 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Only the top 15 on the money list when the regular season comes to a close Sept. 30 will advance to ProRodeo’s grand championship, so he has some work to do. Here’s the rub: Timed-event contestants can only compete at 75 rodeos in a given year, and he’s been to more than 65 of them. With only little time remaining on his 2022 campaign, Anderson is going to hedge his bets on rodeos he knows will offer huge paydays. It will be a scramble to the finish line, but that’s typically the case in steer wrestling, which is regularly the most competitive when it comes to figuring out NFR qualifiers annually. “It’s insane how good the competition is in bulldogging,” said Anderson, the 2019 intercollegiate champion while competing at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. “The caliber of guys and the caliber of horses that are going right now is incredible. Anybody from first to 50th has the ability to make the NFR. “It’s crazy the amount of talent that’s out on the road right now.” He should know. He’s one of the elite bulldoggers in the game. He qualified for the 2020 NFR, when the sport’s premier event was moved to Arlington, Texas, because of COVID restrictions, and he’s eager to match his skills in Las Vegas, home of the NFR since 1985. Anderson also knows more about the best bulldoggers and their horses this year. His primary mount, Whiskers, has been sidelined since June, so Anderson has been jumping on other horses in order to ply his trade this season. “I’ve had to have ridden half the horses in the PRCA,” he said with a laugh. “Thankfully, I have a lot of good friends.” He started the campaign on Whiskers, rodeoing with Riley Westhaver and Joe Nelson. They split apart a few weeks ago, and Anderson has been traveling with Kyler Dick, Tucker Allen and Justin Shaffer while riding Shaffer’s horse, Gray. “I feel like Gray and I are meshing really well,” Anderson said. That’s good. His biggest score so far this year came about a month ago when he won the California Rodeo Salinas and pocketed $11,558. It was a big boost to his pocketbook and his spot in the standings, and it provided the spark he needed to make a significant run at ProRodeo’s finale. “Salinas was huge,” he said. “It was right before the cutoff for making it into San Juan Capistrano (California), and it gave me a little momentum. It gave me a boost to my season to try to have a shot to make the NFR. “I think the season was going good, but I hadn’t won a whole lot. I was bouncing around on horses after mine got hurt, so we were trying to figure that out. Winning Salinas was a turning point, and I dang sure caught some momentum. I couldn’t have done it without Jesse Brown for letting me ride his horse and for Quinn Campbell on the hazing side of it.” Anderson comes from a rodeoing family. His parents, Glenn and Robin, were ropers, as is his younger sister, Cedar, who followed him to college in Alva, Oklahoma. Youngest sister Dawsyn is focused on her academics at the University of Montana. Bridger Anderson was a quality athlete in high school, a state champion wrestler and a football player, until the end of his junior year. He opted out of other sports to focus on bulldogging as a senior. That’s when his parents offered him a Christmas present he’ll never forget: Training with five-time world champion Luke Branquinho. That served as a game-changer, and Anderson advanced to the then-dubbed Jr. NFR in 2017 – that was the last time he competed in Las Vegas, and it wasn’t inside the Thomas & Mack. He won the title at that event and watched an NFR performance, and he had plenty of motivation to be one of the best to have ever played the rough-and-tumble game of steer wrestling. “It’s pretty important to have a good mental game,” he said. “Having momentum and having confidence is huge for that. At this point, you’re just trying to stay focused to compete to the best of your ability to finish out the season.”   His advantage comes on Shaffer’s Gray. When it was time for the cowboys to head to the Northwest to finish out the 2022 regular season, Anderson loaded the other three into his new Korral Supply Signature Quarters trailer and made sure the gray horse was with them. “The first time I rode Gray was in Prescott (Arizona around the Fourth of July),” Anderson said. “I won money on him the first four or five times I rode him, so I knew I’d have a chance with him. I’m just really fortunate that Justin and Tucker let me in their rig. “For the next month, I’ll go to the best rodeos I can find and make use of the last of my rodeo count.” If the old adage “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” rings  Continue Reading »