Monthly Archives: August 2023

Cinch steer roper following in father’s world championship footsteps Cole Patterson is more than a student of the game. He’s the next generation, a world champion and son of a world champion. “Being around these guys my whole life, I feel like I’ve been learning my whole life,” said Patterson, a Cinch endorsee and the 2021 steer roping titlist from Pratt, Kansas. “Guy Allen had all girls, and I feel like he treats me a little bit like a son. Trevor Brazile was always real open and helped me out if I ever had a question with him.” Allen and Brazile are the two winningest cowboys in ProRodeo history. Allen owns 18 steer roping gold buckles, and Brazile has 26 in all, eight in steer roping. Oh, and Cole Patterson’s dad is Rocky, a four-time world titlist. He may have been a student, but he also had some pretty salty teachers. “Nobody can copy anybody’s roping perfectly, but if you take a little bit of everybody and try to apply it to your game, then you can come up with a final product that will get you some success,” he said. “It seems like steer roping is an older guy’s game. Maybe the fact that I’m a little bit younger, it gives me a little bit of an athletic advantage. “There’s really no telling what Trevor could have done if he didn’t have to focus on other events at the same time.” While Brazile competed in three events regularly, Patterson is focused on one thing, and he’s found great success at it. He’s the No. 1 man in the world standings and has a $21,000 lead over the field. He’s virtually assured himself a fifth straight qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, which will take place Nov. 17-18 near Mulvane, Kansas, less than 100 miles from his home. He earned his first trip there in 2019, the same season he was the steer roping Resistol Rookie of the Year. In 2021, the season in which he strapped on that Montana Silversmiths gold buckle for the first time, he set a single-season earnings record with $190,242, launched by a finale-record of nearly $86,000. He joined his father on the mountaintop; they became just the third father-son duo to win steer roping world titles in PRCA history. “Growing up, we went everywhere with my dad,” said Patterson, who attended both Western Oklahoma State College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University on rodeo scholarships. “He rodeoed full time. No matter when it was, there were always a bunch of those guys that had kids at the same time, so you had a bunch of friends that were the same age. We always had a (roping) dummy. From the time they started until they decided to leave, we had dummy ropings all day.” To him, it was play. To his growing body and mind, it was training. Growing up in the Patterson home was typical to most rodeo kids. He grew accustomed to spending hours in a truck, sleeping in a small section of a living quarters horse trailer and spending long days at the rodeo grounds. “We weren’t rich, but we weren’t poor,” he said. “We had everything we needed. I think people have a misconception of me that everything was handed to me on a silver platter because I was the son of a world champion. “All the information was there, but my dad made it a point that he wasn’t going to buy me the best horse out there. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I understand now that he was trying to instill in me some horsemanship and the ability to maintain a horse and keep him going.” His mom, Shelly, opened doors for him by teaching him about the importance of being well-rounded and that family and faith were important. His dad instilled a work ethic in him and his brother, Caden. “My dad has helped me my whole life,” Patterson said. “I got to practice with a world champion every day. I also had to do the practice myself.” The lessons were sharp and pointed, but they dug a trench that continues to thrive. In his inaugural season four years ago, Patterson rode Dunny, a horse owned by his dad that was named the Steer Roping Horse of the Year. “I started on Dunny and a few months into my rookie year, I bought a horse off a good friend of mine, Jared Flores, who helps me at the finals each year,” he said. “He wasn’t a steer horse at the time. He’d headed on him and heeled on him. The dun horse was really good, never got in our way and was always a winner. The sorrel, Tigger, definitely stepped my game up. When he got seasoned and came into his own in 2021, we got the earnings record. He was totally different than Dunny. He was a phenomenal athlete. There’s nothing easy about him, but when you did everything right, you were going to win.” Horsepower is vital in all rodeo events. Women won’t win in barrel racing or breakaway roping without good equine partners; steer wrestlers need great horses to be superstars; and ropers have an advantage when their mounts are top of the line. Through college, Patterson was a tie-down roper and a team roper. He understands the importance of a good animal at various levels. “Having a good horse is more important in steer roping,” he said. “If you don’t have a good horse, you don’t stand a chance out there. The ones that are winning and doing good, they all have that one thing in common, and it’s the fact that they have the best horses.” They don’t just come along. Horses are trained for specific duties, and steer roping mounts need to have speed, stability and power to help through the process of a run. They have to know the physical and verbal cues that are  Continue Reading »

Cinch bareback rider finds a new passion for rodeo with baby on the way In the back of his mind, Richmond Champion knew there was something wrong. His arms were numb; his fingers tingled. It was likely the signs of a man who’d been involved in a few crashes over his lifetime. He is, after all, a bareback rider, and his body takes a beating. Wearing specially designed gloves with binds, bareback riders wedge their hands into a leather-and-wooden rigging, which is strapped tightly to a bronc’s back. They are virtually locked onto every horse they ride. Arms are jerked, hands are mangled, elbows and shoulders feel the pressure on every ride. Groins are sore, hips ache and their spine can be contorted on every jump. In the summer of 2021, Champion recognized some significant symptoms to a neck injury. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo and competed through the rugged 10 December nights of ProRodeo’s premier event. He took a few weeks away but resumed his schedule early the next calendar year. By March, he knew something had to be done. “Through the early winter of 2022, my shoulders would never relax, and my traps were really tight,” said Champion, a seven-time NFR qualifier from Stevensville, Montana. “I finally went to sports med and had them run some strength tests that showed nerve issues, and I failed almost every one of them. “I got home from The American and had an MRI. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours to hear anything about an MRI, but I got a call in under four hours.” On the other end was Shawn Scott, a chiropractor with the Justin Sportsmedicine team. Champion’s disc between his C3 and C4 vertebras was bulging and compressing his spinal cord. That was causing all the issues. “I would just wake up with both my arms asleep a lot,” the Cinch cowboy said. “My body was actually compensating really well, but it was just time that we did something about it.” Surgeons fused his vertebrae together April 1, and Champion took the remainder of the 2022 regular season off. He didn’t return to riding bucking horses until November and didn’t compete again until mid-December. Over that span, he kept himself busy by guiding fishing adventures, handling the business around his Montana home and spending time with the love of his life, his wife, Paige. “I was obviously bummed, but part of it was me realizing things were happening for a reason,” he said. “I needed a reason to take a break. Sometimes the world makes that decision for you. I didn’t question it. I enjoyed every minute of my year off. I hadn’t had a summer at home in 12 years. I got to hang out and do different stuff. I obviously missed being on the road, but that was just a phone call away. “It was a nice break. Come October and November, I was getting the itch again. It’s been that way ever since.” He gained a new perspective on his life in and out of rodeo. “Rodeo’s one of those things that when you’ve been doing it that long and are that close to it, it can get frustrating,” Champion said. “You can get bitter and not realize it. I wanted to see how I intended to finish the last half of my career.” It will be on his terms. He realized the passion he has for riding bucking horses, animals that outweigh him by hundreds of pounds. He has an on-again, off-again relationship with the road. The tens of thousands of miles he’ll travel will be in an effort to cash in on the biggest prize in rodeo, the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle awarded to each year’s titlists. The time on injured reserve built a fire that continues to smolder, but it also created a spark in the relationship he and Paige share. “We decided we actually like each other,” Champion said with a laugh. “We had never really spent that much time together in our relationship, but we had a blast; to the point, it was hard to get back in the swing of leaving and spending time apart.” Soon, there will be a different tug that will be pulling him back home, a different love affair and one he’s never known. Richmond and Paige Champion are expecting their first child, due in just a few weeks. “I have a great dad; Paige has a great dad,” he said. “I got to watch a lot of my buddies turn into great dads. Hopefully I’m a better dad than I am a bareback rider.” He laughed again, but that’s the reality. There are few things in life more important than parenthood, and he has plenty of examples of what it takes. “There’s no real concern about how I’m going to rodeo and be a dad,” Champion said. “Everyone I know seems to make it work. Rodeo is such a family anyway, and what I’ve seen, it seems to make everything better. This is the next step, a new chapter. I’m really excited for it.” What’s next for Champion? He will continue to compete as one of the best bareback riders in ProRodeo, and he will continue to chase his world championship dreams. That’s the ultimate goal for anyone who rides wild broncs. His time off the road, though, gave him some ideas of what to do when his rodeo career ends. He was part of the NFR pregame show on The Cowboy Channel, where he was able to provide some expert analysis and detailed information on the cowboys, the horses and the experience of battling for rodeo’s gold. “I really enjoyed it,” he said. “The thing about last year is I took some time to explore some life after rodeo. I really enjoyed doing the preshow. It was a lot more work than riding 10 bucking horses. I would love the opportunity. If that came up down the road, I’d definitely  Continue Reading »

GOODING, Idaho – With six weeks left in ProRodeo’s regular season, Don Payne hoped some magic would happen once he reached the Northwest portion of the campaign. He may have received it on the final night of the Gooding Pro Rodeo after wrestling his steer to the ground in 3.6 seconds to share the bulldogging title with Idahoan Dirk Tavenner, who made his run two nights before. “I need to keep on winning every time I get a chance,” said Payne, 29, of Stephenville, Texas. Yes, he does. Heading into this weekend, he was 13th in the world standings with $71,458 in earnings. By splitting the victory at the “Beer Worthy” rodeo, he added $3,760 to his pocketbook and gave himself a better chance to advance to the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in his eight-year career. Only the to 15 on the money list at the end of the regular season advance to the NFR, so he needs things to continue to happen. “Being in that spot doesn’t bother me much,” he said. “I have a goal ever week of how much I want to make … I’d like to get to the next $10,000 mark. I keep aiming for the next number. I know if I get $90,000 won, that should be enough (to make the NFR).” He is having the best season of his career by far. His previous best came in 2021, when he earned $38,000 and finished 31st; a year ago, he was 42nd. He had moved his way up the standings this season, thanks in part to riding a horse owned by fellow bulldogger Denard Butler, who was injured two weeks ago. With that change, he opted to get his own horse and utilize his brother on the hazing side of each run. That paid off in Gooding. “I’ve ridden my horse the past two or three years, and I was just doing good on Denard’s horse, so I went with him this summer,” Payne said. “After he got injured, I knew I had to bring mine up and finish off the year. “My brother came up; he usually rodeos with me, but this year he was staying home. Now that we’ve got our horses up here, he knows my haze horse, so it’s back to doing what we used to do.” He took his bulldogging old school Saturday night, and he got to experience the best that Gooding has to offer. “It’s always a tough competition, and I’m just glad to do well here,” Payne said. “After you throw your steer down and the crowd’s cheering, it feels great.” And the most noteworthy section rewarded him with some cold suds to quench his thirst. “That was great, too,” he said. “I just heard about that a couple weeks ago, and I was hoping I’d get to try it.” That’s what happens when a cowboy is “Beer Worthy” in Gooding. Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 16-19All-around cowboy: Paden Bray, $1,891 in team roping and tie-down roping. Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Jess Pope, on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Beard, and Ty Pope, on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowtown, 87 points, $4,857 each; 3. Kade Berry, 86, $3,116; 4. Andy Gingerich, 85.5, $2,016; 5. Dean Thompson, 85, $1,283; 6. Mason Clements, 84.5, $916; 7. (tie) Leighton Berry, Kade Sonnier, Keenan Hayes and Taylor Broussard, 84, $321 each. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Don Payne and Dirk Tavenner, 3.6 seconds, $3,760 each; 3. (tie) Stephen Culling and Walt Arnold, 3.7, $2,820 each; 5. Tristan Martin, 3.8, $2,115; 6. (tie) Levi Rudd and Baxtor Roache, 3.9. $1,763 each; 8. (tie) David Chambers and Stan Branco, 4.0, $1,283 each; 10. Kyle Irwin, 4.1, $940; 11. (tie) Justin Kimsey and Billy Boldon, 4.2, $588 each. Team roping: 1. Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, 3.8 seconds, $4,097; 2. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins and Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 4.2, $3,624 each; 4. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Pace Freed/Cole Wilson, 4.3, $2,836 each; 7. Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 4.4, $2,206; 8. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 4.5, $1,891; 9. Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, 4.8, $1,733; 10. Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres, 5.7, $1,576; 11. Cole Garland/Dillon Bahem, 6.4, $1,261; 12. Chaz Kananen/Britt Newman, 9.5, $1,103; 13. Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 9.7, $945; 14. Brayden Schmidt/Chris Young, 10.2, $630; 15. Kellan Johnson/Carson Jonson, 10.4, $315.   Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on King Rodeo & Wentz Bucking Bulls’ Blood Tracks, $4,753; 2. (tie) Stetson Wright and Wade Sundell, 84.5, $3,835 each; 4. Cash Wilson, 83, $2,109; 5. (tie) K’s Thomson and Ira Dickinson, 82.5, $1,151; 7. Dawson Dahm, 82, $767; 8. Kole Ashbacher, 81.5, $575. Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Addy Hill and Braylee Shepherd, 1.9 seconds, $5,478 each; 3. Josey Murphy, 2.2, $3,956; 4. (tie) Bradi Good and Hali Williams, 2.3, $2,739 each; 6. (tie) Jill Tanner, Rickie Engesser and Shelli Scrivner, 2.4, $1,572; 9. (tie) Aspen Miller, Codi McPherson, Hanna Hundsdorfer, Alex Loiselle and Jordan Joe Hollabaugh, 2.5, $913 each; 14. J.J. Hampton, 2.6, $456; 15. Kassidy Dennison, 2.7, $304. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Cash Hooper, 7.9 seconds, $5,132 each; 3. Cody Craig, 8.2; 4. (tie) Luke Potter and Caleb Smidt, 8.3, $3,483 each; 6. Tuf Case, 8.4, $2,933; 7. (tie) Quade Hiatt and Dylan Hancock, 8.6, $2,383 each; 9. Zack Jongbloed, 8.8, $1,833; 10. Garrett Jacobs, 8.9, $1,466; 11. Jake Pratt, 9.0, $1,283; 12. Ryan Jarrett, 9.1, $1,100; 13. Lane Livingston, 8.3, $733; 14. (tie) Rylee Rogers, Matt Shiozawa and Drake Wycherley, 9.5, $306 each. Barrel racing: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 16.76, $5,195; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 16.79, $4,156; 3. Sue Smith, 16.84, $3,377; 4. Nicole Driggers, 16.87, $2,598; 5. LaTricia Duke, 16.88, $2,078; 6. Toria Madsen, 16.94, $1,559; 7. Katie Joe Halbert, 16.95, $1,299; 8. Meka Farr, 16.98, $1,169; 9. Jennifer Kalafatic, 16.99, $1,039; 10. (tie) Sara Winkelman and Molly Otto, 17.02, $844 each; 12. Shelly Hrubochak, 17.06, $649; 13. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.07, $520; 14. (tie) Tarryn Lee and Abby Phillips, 17.10, $324 each. Bull riding: 1, Jeff Askey, 88,5 points  Continue Reading »

GOODING, Idaho – Stetson Wright has achieved rock-star status, especially in this part of the country. His home is in Utah, but he may as well be from southern Idaho, and the crowd reflected that Friday night at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. Before he nodded his head to start his bronc ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Owl Feathers, the electric crowd at Andy James Arena let the seven-time world champion know what it thinks of him. “That’s one of my favorite things about rodeo,” said Wright, 24, of Milford, Utah. “When you hear your name announced and the whole arena lights up, that’s a special moment for me. It gets even better depending on the ride, it gets louder. They’re always cheering for me. I appreciate all of them.” The fans appreciate what Wright brings to the table. He’s been the dominating presence in ProRodeo since his rookie season. He’s won four straight all-around world titles, two bull riding championships and a saddle bronc riding crown. This year, he leads the all-around and bull riding world standings and is third in bronc riding. He has pocketed just shy of $400,000 riding bucking animals, and he’s going to add to it. While a nagging wrist injury kept him out of bull riding in Gooding, he and Owl Feathers matched moves for 84.5 points to move into a tie-for second place. “I’ve had a wrist injury pretty much my whole career,” he said, noting that surgery a year ago repaired the ailment but that his wrist has been bothering him a bit lately. “I’d say it’s still doing good; I was having a hard time holding on to my bull rope, so I went and had it injected. I’m just taking some time off. It’s no serious injury, but I’m trying to stop what used to happen, so I’m just taking my time.” Wright has earned nearly $225,000 riding bulls this year and holds down the lead by $26,000 over the field. He’d still like to continue to move up the money list in saddle bronc riding, and rides like he performed Friday will go a long way toward that. “A big thing I talk to my dad about is staying healthy, because it’s a really important thing,” Wright said. “I want to win as much as I can, but my goals are far past this year. When I made a decision, it was to where it will benefit me in the long run. I want to do this until I decide I want to stop.” He’s not only doing big things in rodeo, he’s also got big plans. He wants to be the first cowboy in more than a decade to win a ProRodeo Triple Crown, earning three Montana Silversmiths gold buckles in a single season. For Wright, that would be winning world titles in the all-around, bull riding and saddle bronc riding. “I really want the Triple Crown,” he said. “That’s something I’ve always wanted. Each year, I feel like I’m that much closer. The last couple of years, there’s no reason I shouldn’t have won it. It’s all personal errors, nobody else’s fault but mine. When I lose, it’s my fault, and when I win, it’s everybody else that’s helped me get there.” That’s the mindset that makes Stetson Wright a world champion in and out of the arena. Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 16-19Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Jess Pope, on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Beard, and Ty Pope, on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowtown, 87 points; 3. Kade Berry, 86; 4. Dean Thompson, 85; 5. Mason Clements, 84.5; 6. (tie) Leighton Berry, Kade Sonnier, Keenan Hayes and Taylor Broussard, 84. Steer wrestling: 1. Dirk Tavenner, 3.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Stephen Culling and Walt Arnold, 3.7; 4. Tristan Martin, 3.8; 5. Levi Rudd, 3.9; 6. (tie) David Chambers and Stan Branco, 4.0; 8. Kyle Irwin, 4.1; 9. Bill Boldon, 4.2; 10. (tie) Rowdy Parrott, Tucker Allen and Gus Franzen, 4.3. Team roping: 1. Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins and Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 4.2; 4. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler and Pace Freed/Cole Wilson, 4.3; 7. Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 4.4; 8. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 4.5; 9. Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, 4.8; 10. Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres, 5.7.   Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on King & Wentz Blood Tracks; 2. (tie) Stetson Wright and Wade Sundell, 84.5; 4. Cash Wilson, 83; 5. K’s Thomson, 82.5; 6. Dawson Dahm, 82; Kole Ashbacher, 81.5; 8. (tie) Traylin Martin and Wyatt Casper, 80.5. Breakaway roping: 1. (tie) Addy Hill and Braylee Shepherd, 1.9 seconds; 2. Josey Murphy, 2.2; 4. (tie) Bradi Good and Hali Williams, 2.3; 6. (tie) Jill Tanner and Shelli Scrivner, 2.4; 8. (tie) Aspen Miller, Hanna Hundsdorfer, Alex Loiselle and Jordan Joe Hollabaugh, 2.5; 12. J.J. Hampton, 2.6; 13. Kassidy Dennison, 2.7; 14. (tie) Eryn Maddock, Quincy Sullivan, TiAda Gray and Cheyenne Britain, 2.8. Tie-down roping: 1. Shane Hanchey, 7.9 seconds; 2. Cody Craig, 8.2; 3. (tie) Luke Potter and Caleb Smidt, 8.3; 5. Tuf Case, 8.4; 6. (tie) Quade Hiatt and Dylan Hancock, 8.6; 8. Zack Jongbloed, 8.8; 9. Garrett Jacobs, 8.9; 10. Jake Pratt, 9.0. Barrel racing: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 16.76; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 16.79; 3. Sue Smith, 16.84; 4. Nicole Driggers, 16.87; 5. LaTricia Duke, 16.88; 6. Toria Madsen, 16.94; 7. Katie Joe Halbert, 16.95; 8. Meka Farr, 16.98; 9. Jennifer Kalafatic, 16.99; 10. (tie) Sara Winkelman and Molly Otto, 17.02; 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.07; 13. (tie) Tarryn Lee and Abby Phillips, 17.10; 15. Haylee Woodward, 17.15. Bull riding: 1, Jeff Askey, 88,5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Burnt Oil; 2. Canyon Bass, 85.5; 3. Robbie Taylor, 85; 4. (tie) Ethan Skogquist and JaCauy Hale, 83.5; 6. Cullen Telfer, 83; 7. Roscoe Jarboe, 82.5; 8. Ky Hamilton, 78.5; 9. Dalton McCaslin, 77; 10. Jeff Bertus, 74.

GOODING, Idaho – It’s hard to follow in the footsteps of greatness, but Ty Pope is making an effort to do so as he travels the rodeo trail with his big brother, Jess. It can be an uneasy task, especially after watching the eldest of three boys light the bareback riding world on fire. Jess Pope has not only qualified for the National Finals Rodeo each of the past three years, but he’s also won the average champion each December. Last year, he left Las Vegas with the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle awarded to world champions. Ty Pope watched closely and admired fondly and took detailed notes. This year, the middle boy is off on his inaugural campaign in ProRodeo while hitting events across the country with Jess leading the charge. On Thursday night, the Popes made matching 87-point rides to move into the bareback riding lead at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. “I knew that horse was a little tricky to get on, because he really rares out of there and leaves pretty hard,” said Ty Pope, who rode Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowtown. “I knew I needed to get a good markout and go at him, and he rides really good.” It worked, and so did Jess Pope’s ride on Summit’s Red Beard. The brothers from Waverly, Kansas, not only share blood; they also share a passion for riding bucking horses. Ty Pope is 25th in the world standings and would love to keep moving up the money list. Jess Pope, who battled through early-season injuries, has worked his way to 12th in the world standings. “If I can’t beat him, I’d rather tie him,” Ty Pope said. “It’s fun. We want to see each other succeed. If I’m not winning, I want to see him win, and it’s the other way around.” While Jess Pope claimed rodeo’s gold in 2022, Ty Pope was kicking off his career with great success. He won the intercollegiate national championship, then followed that up with the ProRodeo national title by winning national circuit finals rodeo. He was hoping to roll that right into the 2023 campaign, but sometimes the best plans don’t always work out. “My year has been just a little slow,” Ty Pope said. “I had a hard time drawing the horses I needed at certain rodeos, but I’m going to try to win as much as I can to get in the top percent to get in those big winter rodeos.” That’s valuable. The winter can make or break a cowboy’s season, and there are some lucrative rodeos that can pay great dividends. He has a lot of things that help him through the process of rodeoing. “Jess has helped me a ton in my career,” Ty Pope said, noting that three-time world champion Tim O’Connell is also part of the rig. “Going up and down the road, I get to learn a lot at all these different places. We get to talk about the horses we’re getting on, and that helps me a lot to set a game plan. “I’m going to take all the help I can. I’ve got all these blessings in front of me. I’m super blessed to have guys like that around me. Tim is just really serious about what he does. He helps me understand that it’s a serious game, to look at it more as a job instead of just being out there having fun.” Ty Pope understands the business at hand, and his job is riding bucking horses. Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 16-19Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Jess Pope, on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Red Beard, and Ty Pope, on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowtown, 87 points; 3. Kade Berry, 86; 4. Mason Clements, 84.5; 5. (tie) Leighton Berry and Kade Sonnier, 84; 7. (tie) Orin Larsen and Cole Franks, 83.5. Steer wrestling: 1. Stephen Culling, 3.7 seconds; 2. Kyle Irwin, 4.1; 3. Reed Kraeger, 4.4; 4. Ryan Schuckburgh, 4.6; 5. Logan Lemmel, 5.2; 6. Dalton Massey, 5.5; 7. Cyler Dowling, 5.6; 8. (tie) Jesse Brown and Dakota Eldridge, 9.4. Team roping: 1. Houston Thomas/Braydin Evans, 10.7 seconds; 2. Colby Siddoway/Colter Buttars, 10.9; no other qualified times. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on King & Wentz Blood Tracks; 2. Wade Sundell, 84.5; 3. Cash Wilson, 83; 4. K’s Thomson, 82.5; 5. Dawson Dahm, 82; 6. (tie) Traylin Martin and Wyatt Casper, 80.5; 8. Zeke Thurston, 80. Breakaway roping: 1. Josey Murphy, 2.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Bradi Good and Hali Williams, 2.3 4. (tie) Jill Tanner and Shelli Scrivner, 2.4; 6. (tie) Aspen Miller, Hanna Hundsdorfer, Alex Loiselle and Jordan Joe Hollabaugh, 2.5; 10. J.J. Hampton, 2.6; 11. Kassidy Dennison, 2.7; 12. (tie) Eryn Maddock and Quincy Sullivan, 2.8. Tie-down roping: 1. Shane Hanchey, 7.9 seconds; 2. Cody Craig, 8.2; 3. Luke Potter, 8.3; 4. Tuf Case, 8.4; 5. Dylan Hancock, 8.6; 6. Zack Jongbloed, 8.8; 7. Garrett Jacobs, 8.9; 8. Jake Pratt, 9.0. Barrel racing: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 16.76; 2. Ashley Castleberry, 16.79; 3. Sue Smith, 16.84; 4. LaTricia Duke, 16.88; 5. (tie) Sara Winkelman and Molly Otto, 17.02; 7. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.07; 8. (tie) Tarryn Lee and Abby Phillips, 17.10; 10. Haylee Woodward, 17.15; 11. Shelley Morgan, 17.17; 12. Carlee Otero, 17.18; 13. Steely Steiner, 17.19. Bull riding: 1, Jeff Askey, 88,5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Burnt Oil; 2. Canyon Bass, 85.5; 3. Ethan Skogquist, 83.5; 4. Cullen Telfer, 83; 5. Roscoe Jarboe, 82.5; 6. Dalton McCaslin, 77; 7. Jeff Bertus, 74; no other qualified rides.

GOODING, Idaho – Three New Mexico cowgirls put on a roping clinic in southern Idaho on Wednesday night during the Beauty & The Beast special section of the Gooding Pro Rodeo. Jill Tanner of Monument owns the lead after posting a 2.4-second run, while Kassidy Dennison of Tohatchi is second at 2.7 and Quincy Peralta of Peralta is third at 2.8 seconds. Now, they’re hoping they’re times hold up through the final three performances remaining in this southern Idaho gem. “I like the Northwest; it’s fun up here,” said Tanner, a veteran cowgirl raised in the southeasternmost county in New Mexico by rodeo royalty. “There are lots of good rodeos, with Gooding being an awesome rodeo.” Her father, Jimmie Cooper, is a ProRodeo Hall of Famer and a world champion; her brothers, Jim Ross and Jake, have each qualified for the National Finals Rodeo. She used every ounce of her training and expertise to find success in Gooding. “Some of that was just adrenaline,” Tanner said. “I kind of black out a little bit, which I shouldn’t. Breakaway roping’s gotten pretty fast, so you don’t have time to think anymore when you’re roping.” Sullivan, who also competes in intercollegiate rodeo at Clarendon (Texas) College, knew she needed to be fast if she wants to cash in at this large-payout rodeo. “This breakaway roping is getting so tough that if you miss the start, you have a hard time of winning anything now,” she said. “You can’t safety up or back off, and I didn’t. I saw the start that I wanted to, and I probably should have taken one more swing and made sure I roped him sharp, but luckily it fell on.” Sometimes luck is a big part of rodeo, but it’s important to take advantage of situations. That’s exactly what the cowgirls did. Dennison, who qualified for the NFR in barrel racing, is proving to be a true all-around hand. Sullivan is in her inaugural season in ProRodeo and would love to win the Resistol Rookie of the Year title; if she can earn a qualification to the National Finals Breakaway Roping, then that would be the gravy on her potatoes. “That would be awesome,” Sullivan said. “I’m sitting good at Caldwell (Idaho); I go back there tomorrow. I’m just chipping at them one at a time.” They may be a long way from home, but they’re living their rodeo dreams while roping one calf at a time. “Gooding is so fun,” Tanner said. “Last year I was up in slack, but I got to watch the performance. I think the ‘Beer Worthy’ is so funny; I love it. This crowd is awesome. I don’t drink, but my husband does, so I was pretty pumped to get one for him. He deserves it for pushing all the cattle he does for us.” Being “Beer Worthy” in Gooding is a good sign and likely means they’re making money. Gooding Pro RodeoAug. 16-19Bareback riding: 1. Kade Berry, 87 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Leighton Berry, 84; 3. Orin Larsen, 83.5; 4. Richmond Champion, 80; 5. Mason Stuller, 76; 6. Tyson Hirschi, 66; no other qualified rides. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on King & Wentz Blood Tracks; 2. K’s Thomson, 82.5; 3. Dawson Dahm, 82; 4. Wyatt Casper, 80.5; 5. Zeke Thurston, 80; 6. (tie) Joe Harper and Chance Barrass, 76.4; 8. Logan Hay, 74. Breakaway roping: 1. Jill Tanner, 2.4 seconds; 2. Kassidy Dennison, 2.7; 3. Quincy Sullivan, 2.8; 4. Laramie Jackson, 3.0; 5. Sidney Nielson, 3.1; 6. Shai Schaefer, 3.3; 7. Erika Frost, 12.2; 8. (tie) Ally Zehrer and Erin Johnson, 12.4; 10. Timber Allenbrand, 12.6.   Bull riding: 1, Jeff Askey, 88,5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Burnt Oil; 2. Canyon Bass, 85.5; 3. Roscoe Jarboe, 82.5; 4. Jeff Bertus, 74; no other qualified rides.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – There was a stretch earlier this season where defending world champion bareback rider Jess Pope was struggling. It may have been the gold buckle hangover or maybe he just wasn’t being matched with the right livestock. He needed things to change; over the last couple of months, they have. He proved it with an 87-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Redzilla to move into second place at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “I was really excited to have that,” he said of the sorrel bucking machine. “That horse and I had some issues in Weatherford (Texas) this year and about had some issues tonight, but it ended up working out pretty good. I’m pretty pleased with it.” While Pope finished second, there were others who won their events on the final night of Lovington’s rodeo: saddle bronc rider Damien Brennan was 89.5 on Carr’s High Dive; barrel racer Wenda Johnson stopped the clock in 17.34 seconds; team ropers Chad Masters and Trey Yates were 9.8 seconds on two runs; and Taylor Santos won the all-around title for the second straight year. As for Pope, he sits 12th in the world standings with a little more than $84,000 in earnings. He’d like to jump up the standings considerably by the time the NFR rolls around, but most of all, he needs to secure his bid for Las Vegas; only the top 15 in the world standings at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the finale. “Generally, it’s No. 1,” he said referring to his spot on the money list by the time he arrives in the Nevada desert in December. “This year I’m looking at being in the top 10 to see how the cards lay out to make it into the top five and see what chance I have at whatever else.” Once he gets to the NFR, he shines. He first qualified in 2020 and won the 10-ride aggregate title and earned more than $170,000. A year later, he collected $230,000 at the NFR and added another average title. Last year, he went three for three with victories at ProRodeo’s grand championship and added his first world championship – he won another $230,000 in Las Vegas and finished the year with just shy of $400,000 Over that stretch, he snagged $951,000, with $632,153 coming at the finale. That’s his honey hole, but he’s had pretty good luck in Lovington. He’s placed second twice and earned almost $8,000 doing so. “I really like Lovington,” said Pope, a 24-year-old newlywed from Waverly, Kansas. “I had some tough luck the first time I ever came; I tore my hamstring. Other than that, I’ve won a pretty good check out of here every year I’ve been.” It helps to draw good horses, and he did that with Redzilla, powerful red horse that has bucked five times at the NFR. It’s not just the Carr string that’s been in Lovington this week, though. The livestock producer has also had several other stock contractors provide their best animals to the mix. “That says a lot about Pete,” Pope said. “There are a lot of contractors that won’t sub-lease things, and Pete realizes that with better the production, the better horses you have across the board, you’re going to get more cowboys. “It just makes your rodeo all the better. He has a great string of bucking horses, but when you get 40 guys to enter, it’s hard to put 40 top-notch horses together out of one firm, so it’s really cool that he brings other people in.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 9-12All-around cowboy: Taylor Santos, $5,804 in tie-down roping and steer roping. Bareback riding: 1. Richmond Champion, 88.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped, $5,922; 2. Jess Pope, 87, $4,540; 3. Tim O’Connell, 85.5, $3,356; 4. (tie) Sam Petersen, Jacob Lees Mason Clements and Ty Pope, 84, $1,333 each; 5. Chad Rutherford, 83.5, $592. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Riley Westhaver, 3.7 seconds, $2,034; 2. Tyler Pearson, 4.0, $1,769; 3. Gus Franzen, 4.1, $1,503; 4. (tie) Joshua Hefner and Remey Parrott, 4.2, $1,105 each; 6. Laramie Warren, 4.3, $707; 7. Darcy Kersh, 4.5, $442; 8. (tie) Mitch Hutto and Tristan Martin, 4.6, $88 each. Second round: 1. Riley Duvall, $2,033; 2. (tie) Heath Thomas and Laramie Warren, 3.7, $1,636 each; 4. Mason Couch, 3.9, $1,238; 5. Cody Devers, 4.0, $973; 6. (tie) Don Payne and Cash Robb, 4.2, $575 each; 8. Trisyn Kalawaia, 4.3, $177. Average: 1. Laramie Warren, 8.0 seconds on two runs, $3,051; 2. Remey Parrott, 8.7, $2,653; 3. Josh Hefner, 9.0, $2,255; 4. (tie) Heath Thomas and Tristan Martin, 9.1, $1,658 each; 6. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia and Rowdy Parrott, 9.4, $862; 8. Mitch Hutto, 10.2, $266. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Trevor Hale, 8.7 seconds, $3,002; 2. Jake Pratt, 8.8, $2,611; 3. Marcos Costa, 8.9, $2,219; 4. Cory Solomon, 9.1, $1,827; 5. Caleb Smidt, 9.2, $1,436; 6. Shane Hanchey, 9.5, $1,044; 7. Garrett Jacobs, 9.6, $653; 8. (tie) Dylan Hancock and Kalai Nobriga, 10.2, $131 each. Second round: 1. Riley Webb, 7.2 seconds, $3,002; 2. (tie) Tuf Cooper, Taylor Santos and Quade Hiatt, 8.0, $2,219 each; 5. Dylan Hancock, 8.1, $1,436; 6. Tom Crouse, 8.2, $1,044; 7. Kody Mahaffey, 8.3, $653; 8. (tie) Ty Harris and Luke Potter, 8.5. Average: 1. Cory Solomon, 18.1 seconds on two runs, $4,503; 2. Trevor Hale, 18.2, $3,916; 3. Dylan Hancock, 18.3, $3,328; 4. Luke Potter, 19.5, $2,741; 5. Caleb Smidt, 19.6, $2,154; 6. Marcos Costa, 20.0, $1,566; 7. Lane Livingston, 20.1, $979; 8. Riley Webb, 20.4, $392. Breakaway roping: 1. Rylee George, 2.0 seconds, $5,631; 2. Brighton Bauman, 2.1, $4,505; 3. Maddy Deerman, 2.2, $3,660; 4. Kayelen Helton, 3.4, $2,815; 5. Taylor Munsell, 2.5, $2,252; 6. Josie Conner, 2.6, $1,689; 7. (tie) Christi Braudrick, Lindsey Baker and Hailey Schafer, 2.8, $1,267 each; 10. Madalyn Richards, 3.0, $985; 11. (tie) Macy Davenport and Madison Outhier, 3.3, $774 each; 13. (tie) Mackenzie Watkins, Alex Loiselle and Bailey  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Being raised by a man who hauls calves to rodeos was the perfect training ground for Cory Solomon. One of his jobs in the family business was to break in fresh calves, animals right out of the pasture that had never been roped. Most competitions prefer a few runs on their cattle, but not all. His schooling came in quite handy Friday during the third day of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. He roped and tied two calves – 9.1 in the first round (to sit fourth) and 9.0 in the second round – to take the tie-down roping aggregate lead heading into the final night of Lovington’s rodeo. “It’s probably because they have fresh cattle,” said Solomon, 33, a nine-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Prairie View, Texas. “I roped a lot of them growing up, because my dad hauled cattle and we rotated them a lot, so I was always breaking in fresh cattle.” That helped him develop a really fast game on the ground, the work of flanking the animal and tying three legs together. He’s well known for being one of the top cowboys in tie-down roping when he’s got his hands on the animal. “This is a good time to turn things around,” he said of having success in Lea County. Solomon is 14th in the world standings, which is a good thing. Only the top 15 at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the NFR, but he’d like to give himself a little more breathing room before the campaign closes Sept. 30. Doing well in southeast New Mexico would be beneficial. It helped before. He won inside Jake McClure Arena in 2017, advanced to the NFR and finished seventh in the final world standings. He hopes to utilize that momentum again as he heads into the final few weeks. He knew after his first-round run that he just needed to be solid during Friday’s performance. “The guys that missed in the first round didn’t have anything to worry about and could just go for broke,” Solomon said. “The cattle are also in a set, and most of those top five or six times weren’t today. We have to work with what we have as far as the cattle. “We have 7.2 (second) winning (the second round) and 8.0 up there, so my mind frame was to lock the average down. Where I’m at in the standings, I wanted that average check because it’s going to be the biggest one. I didn’t need to be too fast. I just wanted to run a couple calves just to get in the groove.” He may have found his groove, and just like he did six seasons ago, he’s hoping a Lovington title leads to better things later this year. Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 9-12Bareback riding leaders: 1. Richmond Champion, 88.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped; 2. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 3. (tie) Sam Petersen and Jacob Lees, 84; 5. Chad Rutherford, 83.5; 6. (tie) Mason Clements and Jayco Roper, 83; 8. Kade Sonnier, 82.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Riley Westhaver, 3.7 seconds; 2. Laramie Warren, 4.3; 3. Mitch Hutto, 4.6; 4. (tie) Jordan Holland and Trisyn Kalawaia; 6. Heath Thomas, 5.4; 7. Billy Boldon, 5.9; 8. Tucker Alberts, 6.3. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Heath Thomas and Laramie Warren, 3.7 seconds; 3. Cody Devers, 4.0; 4. Don Payne, 4.2; 5. Trisyn Kalawaia, 4.3; 6. Tristan Martin, 4.5; 7. (tie) McLane Arballo and Bridger Anderson, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Laramie Warren, 8.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Heath Thomas, 9.1; 3. Trisyn Kalawaia, 9.4; 4. Mitch Hutto, 10.2; 5. Bridger Anderson, 11.6; 6. Tucker Alberts, 11.7; 7. Tucker Allen, 11.8; 8. Billy Boldon, 21.2. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Trevor Hale, 8.7 seconds; 2. Jake Pratt, 8.8; 3. Marcos Costa, 8.9; 4. Cory Solomon, 9.1; 5. Caleb Smidt, 9.2; 6. Shane Hanchey, 9.5; 7. Garrett Jacobs, 9.6; 8. Dylan Hancock, 10.2. Second round leaders: 1. Riley Webb, 7.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Quade Hiatt, 8.0; 4. Dylan Hancock, 8.1; 5. Tom Crouse, 8.2; 6. Ty Harris, 8.5; 7. Hagen Houck, 8.6; 8. King Pickett, 8.7. Average leaders: 1. Cory Solomon, 18.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Trevor Hale, 18.2; 3. Dylan Hancock, 18.3; 4. Caleb Smidt, 19.6; 5. Marcos Costa, 20.0; 6. Lane Livingston, 20.1; 7. Riley Webb, 20.4; 8 Westyn Hughes, 20.9. Breakaway roping: 1. Rylee George, 2.0 seconds; 2. Brighton Bauman, 2.1; 3. Maddy Deerman, 2.2; 4. Taylor Munsell, 2.5; 5. Josie Conner, 2.6; 6. (tie) Christi Braudrick and Hailey Schafer, 2.8; 8. (tie) Macy Davenport and Madison Outhier, 3.3; 10. (tie) Mackenzie Watkins, Alex Loiselle and Bailey Jay, 3.4; 13. (tie) Tibba Smith, Taylor Hanchey. Shalee King and Jenna Caldarola, 3.5. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Logan Hay, 88.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Little Bit; 2. (tie) Tanner Butner and Lefty Holman, 87; 2. Sage Newman, 85; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright and Stu Wright, 84; 5. Stetson Wright, 83.5; 6. Kolby Wanchuk, 83; 7 Clint Franks, 81.5; 8. Dean Wadsworth, 79. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.5 seconds; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.6; 3. Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn, 4.9; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 5.0; 5. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 5.1; 6. Tanner Baldwin/Tanner Luttrell, 5.2; 7. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 5.5; 8. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 5.6; 8. (tie) Rawley Ben Jr./Hiyo Yazzi and Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 5.9; 6. (tie) Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton and James Arviso/Caston Weidenbener, 6.2; 8. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.6. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.0 seconds; 3. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 4.1; 4, Chad Weitz/Cutter Thomison, 4.2; 5. Keven Daniel/Travis Graves, 4.3; 6. (tie) Peyton Holliday/Kolton Good and Clint Summers/Jake Long, 4.4; 8. Justin Mascarenas/Pace Blanchard, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 10.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Baldwin/Tanner Luttrell, 10.9; 3. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 11.6; 4. Chad Weitz/Cutter Thomison, 11.9; 5. Wyatt Kent/Jacob Auza, 13.2; 6.  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – A year ago, Logan Hay was setting the rodeo world on fire. He’d set a new world record with a 95.5-point saddle bronc ride in his native Alberta, then qualified for the National Finals Rodeo for the first time. He continued his hot streak, earning $200,000 in 10 days and finishing the campaign third in the world standings. $340,000. Fast forward to August 2023: Hay is in chase mode with hopes of returning to ProRodeo’s grand finale again in December. He’s 31st in the world standings, and only the top 15 at the conclusion of the regular season on Sept. 30 will make Las Vegas. “I had to take two months off,” said Hay, who suffered a broken bone in his arm during a strange horse-riding wreck in May. “I’m going to be rodeoing as hard as I can the next couple months, so a check out of here will get me rolling again.” He gave himself a great chance with an 88.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Little Bit to take the bronc riding lead at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “When I was on the couch, I watched a lot of The Cowboy Channel, and I saw Chase Brooks get on him in Oakley (Utah),” said Hay, the oldest of three boys sired by Rod Hay, a 20-time NFR qualifier in bronc riding. “I said right there (that) I really wanted to get on him. He’s a little horse and really electric; those kind really suit me. I’m a short guy myself, so I get along with some of them smaller, electric horses. “I had to come a long ways to come here, but I knew when I had that one I was coming.” The horse is an important piece of the equation. Based on a 100-point scale, judges score up to 50 points for how well the animal bucks and 50 points for how well the cowboy spurs in rhythm with the horse’s bucking motion. For a man coming off injured reserve, every ride matters. “In rodeo, it’s not if you get hurt, it’s when,” said Hay, 26, of Wildwood, Alberta. “You just have to take it. It’s really frustrating when it happens, especially in a deal like that where it was a freak accident. I’m just happy that it wasn’t worse than it was and that I’m back doing what I love again.” Following in the footsteps of a legend may not have been a choice, but he’s happy to be doing it. His dad won eight Canadian titles and was crowned the champion of the famed Calgary Stampede four times. Logan joined him as a Calgary titlist last year, and middle brother Dawson won it in July. “Ever since I was little, I wanted to do it,” Logan Hay said. “We tried some other events, rode some steers and roped in the pasture, but it’s always been bronc riding. Since Day 1, it’s what I wanted. When you make a good ride, you don’t feel sore at all. There’s no better feeling than riding a real bucking horse like that. “I had to bear down today. That horse doesn’t look like it, but that little guy was all there. Today I was dang sure hustling. If you set your rein down or think about hesitating, that one will buck you off and make you feel silly.” There’s nothing silly about Hay; he’s the top dog in Lovington. Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 9-12Bareback riding leaders: 1. Richmond Champion, 88.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped; 2. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 3. (tie) Sam Petersen and Jacob Lees, 84; 5. Chad Rutherford, 83.5; 6. Jayco Roper, 83; 7. Kade Sonnier, 82.5; 8. Dean Thompson, 81.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Riley Westhaver, 3.7 seconds; 2. Heath Thomas, 5.4; 3. Billy Boldon, 5.9; 4. Tucker Allen, 6.5; 5. Bridger Anderson, 7.0; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Heath Thomas, 3.7 seconds; 2. Cody Devers, 4.0; 3. Don Payne, 4.2; 4. Tristan Martin, 4.5; 5. (tie) McLane Arballo and Bridger Anderson, 4.6; 7. (tie) Justin Simon and Jay Williamson, 4.7. Average leaders: 1. Heath Thomas, 9.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Bridger Anderson, 11.6; 3. Tucker Allen, 11.8; 4. Billy Boldon, 21.2; 5. Riley Westhaver, 3.7 seconds on one run; 6. Cody Devers, 4.0; 7. Don Payne, 4.2; 8. Tristan Martin, 4.5. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Trevor Hale, 8.7 seconds; 2. Jake Pratt, 8.8; 3. Shane Hanchey, 9.5; 4. Garrett Jacobs, 9.6; 5. Dylan Hancock, 10.2; 6. (tie) David Trahan and Kincade Henry, 10.5; 8. Hunter Herrin, 11.0; Second round leaders: 1. Riley Webb, 7.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Quade Hiatt, 8.0; 4. Dylan Hancock, 8.1; 5. Tom Crouse, 8.2; 6. Ty Harris, 8.5; 7. Walker Akins, 8.8; 8. Trevor Hale, 9.5. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Hale, 18.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Dylan Hancock, 18.3; 3. Riley Webb, 20.4; 4. (tie) Quade Hiatt and Chad Weitz, 21.0;7. Hunter Herrin, 22.8; 8. Walker Akins, 23.4. Breakaway roping: 1. Rylee George, 2.0 seconds; 2. Brighton Bauman, 2.1; 3. Maddy Deerman, 2.2; 4. Kassidy Dennison, 2.4; 5. Taylor Munsell, 2.5; 6. Josie Conner, 2.6; 7. (tie) Macy Davenport and Madison Outhier, 3.3; 8. Alex Loiselle, 3.4; 9. Taylor Hanchey, 3.5; 10. MaryBeth Beam, 3.7.   Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Logan Hay, 88.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Little Bit; 2. (tie) Tanner Butner and Lefty Holman, 87; 2. Sage Newman, 85; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright and Stu Wright, 84; 5. Stetson Wright, 83.5; 6. Kolby Wanchuk, 83; 7 Clint Franks, 81.5; 8. Dean Wadsworth, 79. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 4.5 seconds; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.6; 3. Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn, 4.9; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 5.0; 5. Tanner Baldwin/Tanner Luttrell, 5.2; 6. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 5.5; 7. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 5.6; 8. (tie) Rawley Ben Jr./Hiyo Yazzi and Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 5.9; 6. (tie) Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton and James Arviso/Caston  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Like any sport, rodeo has its share of frustrations. Take Heath Thomas, for example. Things hadn’t gone his way through the first 10 months of the ProRodeo season. He is outside the top 50 in the world standings, and he just wants to earn money wrestling steers. He stands a good chance after Wednesday’s first performance of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. Thomas dropped his steer in 3.7 seconds to take the second-round lead; combined with his first-round run of 5.4 seconds, he also has the aggregate lead with three performances remaining. “I had a good steer this morning, laid him down and made a good run,” said Thomas, 30, of Hemphill, Texas. “I drew a decent chance this (evening) and made it work.” It was like a weight was lifted off the cowboy’s shoulders. Riding the horse FedEx, owned by his hazer Cade Staton, Thomas took advantage of everything that came his way. He realized that the luck of the draw was on his side, but he had to make sure he did his part. It’s something he’s been doing most of his life. “I started rodeoing when I was knee high to a grasshopper; I was little bitty,” he said. “I didn’t start bulldogging until I was big enough to throw one down, and I haven’t stopped.” There’s passion in the game, and it’s what helps during those all-night drives between rodeos. Cowboys might compete Wednesday night in Lovington then drive through the darkest hours to be at the next stop in time to run steers at 8 a.m. “It’s been a rough year, but it’s been turning around good lately,” Thomas said. “I just hope to keep the ball rolling. Hopefully (his time) gets me a little out of (the second round) and a little out of the average.” Contestants earn paychecks in each of the two rounds, and the top times will collect money in the two-run aggregate. That gives them three chances at the big payday available in Lea County. “Everybody you can name, I promise you they’ll be running at it the next three days just like I did,” he said. “We’ve already run our two, so now it’s their turn to try to beat it. That’s the plus side about being the first ones out. You set your time; now they’ve got to come try to beat it.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 9-12Bareback riding leaders: 1. Richmond Champion, 88.5 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped; 2. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 3. Sam Petersen, 84; 4. Chad Rutherford, 83.5; 5. Kade Sonnier, 82.5; 6. Cole Franks, 80; 7. Yance Day, 78; 8. Andy Gingerich, 71. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Riley Westhaver, 3.7 seconds; 2. Heath Thomas, 5.4; 3. Billy Boldon, 5.9; 4. Tucker Allen, 6.5; 5. Bridger Anderson, 7.0; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Heath Thomas, 3.7 seconds; 2. Bridger Anderson, 4.6; 3. Cade Staton, 4.7; 4. Justin Shaffer, 4.8; 5. Cameron Morman, 4.9; 6. Tucker Allen, 5.3; 7. Billy Boldon, 15.2; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Heath Thomas, 9.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Bridger Anderson, 11.6; 3. Tucker Allen, 11.8; 4. Cade Staton, 4.7 seconds on one run; 5. Justin Shaffer, 4.8; 6. Cameron Morman, 4.9; 7. Billy Boldon, 15.2; no other qualified runs. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Trevor Hale, 8.7 seconds; 2. Jake Pratt, 8.8; 3. Shane Hanchey, 9.5; 4. Garrett Jacobs, 9.6; 5. Dylan Hancock, 10.2; 6. (tie) David Trahan and Kincade Henry, 10.5; 8. Hunter Herrin, 11.0; Second round leaders: 1. Quade Hiatt, 8.0 seconds; 2. Dylan Hancock, 8.1; 3. Trevor Hale, 9.5; 4. David Trahan, 11.5; 5. Hunter Herrin, 11.8; 6. Jake Pratt, 15.4; 7. Garrett Jacobs, 22.6; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Trevor Hale, 18.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Dylan Hancock, 18.3; 3. Qude Hiatt, 21.0; 4. David Trahan, 22.0; 5. Hunter Herrin, 22.8; 6. Jake Pratt, 24.2; 7. Garrett Jacobs, 32.2; 8. Shane Hanchey, 9.5 seconds on one run. Breakaway roping: 1. Taylor Munsell, 2.5 seconds; 2. Madison Outhier, 3.3; 3. Taylor Hanchey, 3.5; no other qualified times. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Tanner Butner, 87 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Top Egyptian; 2. Sage Newman, 85; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright and Stu Wright, 84; 5. Stetson Wright, 83.5; 6. Kolby Wanchuk, 83; 7 Clint Franks, 81.5; 8. Dean Wadsworth, 79. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn, 4.9 seconds; 2. Tanner Baldwin/Tanner Luttrell, 5.2; 3. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 5.5; 4. (tie) Rawley Ben Jr./Hiyo Yazzi and Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 5.9; 6. (tie) Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton and James Arviso/Caston Weidenbener, 6.2; 8. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 9.6. Second round leaders: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.0 seconds; 2. Tanner Baldwin/Tanner Luttrell, 5.8; 3. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 6.1; 4. Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn, 9.5; 5. James Arviso, 10.0; 6. Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, 15.5; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Baldwin/Tanner Luttrell, 10.9 seconds on two runs; 2. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 11.6; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 13.6; 4. 4. Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn, 14.4; 5. James Arviso/Caston Weidenbener, 16.2; 6. Wyatt Bray/Josh Patton, 21.7; 7. (tie) Rawley Ben Jr./Hiyo Yazzi and Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 5.9 seconds on one run. Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Cole Patterson and Rocky Patterson, 12.6 seconds; 3. Mark Milner, 14.2; 4. Paul Patton, 17.4; 5. Trevor Hale, 17.9; 6. Roger Branch, 20.2; 7. J.D. Barnes, 21.6; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Will Eddleman, 16.6; 2. Cole Patterson, 19.1; 3. Don Ed Eddleman, 21.0; no other qualified times. Third round leaders: 1. Roger Branch, 13.3 seconds; 2. Jarrett Holliday, 15.1; 3. Don Ed Eddleman, 15.6; 4. Rocky Patterson, 15.8; 5. Mark Milner, 16.2; 6. Cole Patterson, 16.3; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Cole Patterson, 48.0 seconds on three runs; 2. Rocky Patterson, 28.4 seconds on two runs; 3. Mark Milner, 30.4; 4. Roger Branch, 34.5; 5. Don Ed Eddleman, 36.6; 6. Jarrett Holliday, 15.1 seconds on one run; 7.  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – For Coy Pollmeier, just competing in the Lea County Xtreme Bulls was exciting. Winning it put the Kansas cowboy over the top. “I’m still trying to take it all in,” said Pollmeier, who posted the highest-marked ride Tuesday night at Jake McClure Arena, but he also was the only man in the field to ride two bulls. “I’ve been dreaming to get one of these Xtreme Bulls Division I buckles since I’ve been ProRodeoing. A couple of my buddies have won this bull riding in the past. I felt like it was always a special one for us.” Each year, the Lovington bull riding is recognized as one of the toughest in professional rodeo, featuring the PRCA’s elite bull riders. World champions have won this title, and others have tried. It’s a prestigious title. Pollmeier started off the night with an 86-point ride on Salt River Rodeo’s Train Station to finish seventj in the opening round. He then matched Stockyard Rodeo’s powerful Ground Assault jump for jump for 91 points to win the championship round and the title. It was worth $10,088. “This time of year, we all get spread out, but everybody comes to this Xtreme Bulls,” said Pollmeier, 23, of Fort Scott, Kansas. “No matter where they are, they all come down to Lovington. Everybody in the top 20 was here plus other great guys, not to mention the caliber of bulls we got on. This is probably the best set of bulls we’re going to get on this year.” Of the 36 bull riders in the field, only nine earned qualified rides in the first round. Laramie Mosley of Palestine, Texas, won the opener with a 90-point ride on Stockyards’ Cheddar Biscuit, followed closely by Australian Ky Hamilton. In the championship, only Pollmeier and Hayes Weight stayed on the required eight seconds – because only nine cowboys rode, three others were selected to compete in the short round via random draw, and Hayes was one of those even though he failed to mark a qualified ride in the long round. The night, though, belonged to the Kansan. Following in the footsteps of his father, Pollmeier opted to ride bulls. He had some things to overcome to start with, but he has managed. He finished 47th a year ago and will move into the top 35 with his win in Lea County. “When I was little, I didn’t really get into the sheep riding; I was a little scared,” he said, the crack of a smile showing. “A little later, they had some junior rodeos in Fort Scott, and one day I got the courage to get on a Holstein calf. I remember riding hop loping across the arena, and I’ve been doing it ever since.” He’s got the support of his family, and younger brother Tate has picked up the bug. The two plan to travel together next year during Tate Pollmeier’s rookie season. “Here toward the end of the year, I’m starting to get my qualifications up,” he said, referring to being higher in the world standings, which offers more opportunities. “I’m not getting into a bunch (of Division I Xtreme Bulls). I didn’t really expect to get into this one. Luckily I did.” Fortune finds the strong, and Pollmeier found the fortune in Lovington. Lea County Xtreme BullsLovington, N.M.Aug. 8, 2023First round: 1. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on Stockyards Rodeo’s Cheddar Biscuit, $3,363; 2. Ky Hamilton, 89.5, $2,578; 3. (tie) Trey Holston, Trey Kimzey and Jack Gilmore, 88.5, $1,308 each; 6. Brody Yeary, 87.5, $560; 7. Coy Pollmeier, 86, $448; 8. Grayson Cole, 85.5, $336. Championship round: 1. Coy Pollmeier, 91 points on Stockyards Rodeo’s Ground Assault, $4,035; 2. Hayes Weight, 84.5, $3,438; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Coy Pollmeier, 177 points on two rides, $5,605; 2. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on one ride, $4,297; 3. Ky Hamilton, 89.5, $3,176; 4. (tie) Trey Holston, Trey Kimzey and Jack Gilmore, 88.5, $1,432 each; 7. Brody Yeary, 87.5, $747; 8. Grayson Cole, 85.5, $560.

Gooding Pro Rodeo recognized as Wilderness Circuit’s best large rodeo GOODING, Idaho – There are few, if any, rodeos across North America that have the atmosphere that’s found over four August nights in this town of 3,700 people. Gooding Pro Rodeo is a spectacle, an event that draws out the greatest of everything that’s part of the event, the best cowboys and cowgirls, the best bucking animals and the best fans. The people who come to town to either compete in or work at the rodeo realize one thing: They will be entertained by people who pay to be entertained. It all adds up to something special during the Gooding Pro Rodeo, set for Thursday, Aug. 17-Saturday, Aug. 19, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance on Wednesday, Aug. 16. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. When award-winning announcer Steve Kenyon speaks, people not only listen, but they also will celebrate his voice and the action that takes place inside the arena on the Gooding County Fairgrounds. When Jill Franzen Loden clicks her computer to the affect or music that has made her the PRCA Sound Director of the Year, it will match the energy throughout the complex. “We’ve built something really good over the years, especially the last 20 or so that we’ve been a ProRodeo,” said Don Gill, the fair and rodeo’s manager. “We’ve brought in the right people to help us put on the kind of show that is worthy of the folks who buy tickets and want to be part of our rodeo. This is for them as much as it is anybody else. “We’ve got fantastic sponsors who understand our vision, and it’s continuing to work.” The proof is in the recognition the event has received. This past fall, Gooding Pro Rodeo was named the Large Rodeo of the Year in the Wilderness Circuit, a series of rodeos primarily in Utah and southern Idaho. It was the second straight year for the honor, and there’s a good chance that trend will continue. The 2022 edition of the rodeo was record-breaking in regards to attendance and broadcasting viewership. It’s looking pretty good for this year; with both the Friday and Saturday performances being sold out already, organizers are preparing for even bigger numbers this August. “Last year, we sold out three of our four nights, and that was after we’d added 1,000 seats,” Gill said. “We paid out over $200,000, which is another record for us. The contestants came for the money, and they found it.” Gill and others also utilize the help of three livestock producers: Summit Pro Rodeo, Macza Pro Rodeo and Korkow Rodeos. That ensures that bareback riders, saddle bronc riders and bull riders will have a good opportunity to cash in when they get to this southern Idaho gem. “I love this rodeo,” said bull rider Garrett Smith, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Rexburg, Idaho. “This is just a cowboy’s rodeo. “This is one of the funnest rodeos we have going. Everyone wants to come here, and everyone knows about the Gooding Pro Rodeo.” That sentiment is shared by many others, whether they ride bucking broncs or manhandle cattle. “For being such a small town, this is one of the coolest rodeos we go to all year just because of the atmosphere,” said Montana steer wrestler Ty Erickson, the 2019 world champion. “They pack the stands every night, and they like to have a good time.” When all the pieces fit, the puzzle makes for a brilliant picture, and the folks in Gooding have something to brag about because of it.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Brody Cress didn’t allow himself time to stress out about the test he was to face during Sunday’s championship round at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. Cress won the first go-round, riding Frontier Rodeo’s No. 777 for 87.5 points. That was the first stage of things to come for the saddle bronc rider. The next phase was learning of being matched with Frontier’s Miss Ellie, an established bucker that had gotten the better of Cress in their three previous match-ups. “It was in my head a lot today,” he said of his thoughts leading up to the evening’s performance. “We had to go over to Castle Rock (Colorado) to get on a horse today, then hustle over here, so that did help a little bit. I was able to get warmed up on that other horse, then you’re in such a hurry to get here. “We got here, and the horses were already loaded. You don’[t have time to just sit around and think about it. You just trust yourself and trust the process you’ve been doing.” It worked; Cress rode Miss Ellie for 88 points to finish second in the final round and first in the two-ride aggregate, earning his first Roundup buckle. “This rodeo is awesome,” said Cress, 27, a six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Hillsdale, Wyoming. “It’s one I’ve been coming to since I got my card. I’ve never even been able to finish up near the top here. I’ve made the short round a few times. “It started off with a good ride to win the first round, then coming back for a dogfight on Miss Ellie, so be able to pull that off after she bucked me off three times feels awesome.” In all, he pocketed $7,646 in western Kansas, which will push his season earnings to more than $90,000. Heading into the weekend, he was 11th in the world standings but hopes to climb up the money list through the final two months of the regular season. “When you look at the depth of talent in bronc riding right now, it’s insane,” he said. “There are 40 guys that could end up in the top 15 at the end of the year. You can’t take your foot off the gas at all, and you’ve got to take every chance you can to get every win and get your money. I’m sitting further down the list in the world standings than I would like. “I’d like to be in the top two or three guys, so I’ve got a lot of room to make up, and I’m going to put it all out there every time.” Cress is traveling with fellow bronc rider Lefty Holman, a two-time NFR qualifier. The two combatants feed off each other, which, they hope, helps build them through each step of the campaign. Only the top 15 contestants in each event when the regular season closes Sept. 30 will advance to ProRodeo’s grand finale. “There’s always room for improvement,” Cress said. “Last week I got bucked off three horses and had a terrible week, so I’ve already improved off that. I’m looking for constant improvements. I don’t ever want to get complacent and feel like I’m where I need to be, so I’m constantly working. Lefty and I do a great job of working out, rehabbing and preparing for the horses we have, so we’re just going to keep going and keep the momentum rolling.” Momentum has been on Shelby Boisjoli’s side since June. She’s holding onto it, claiming the breakaway roping championship in Dodge City. She was consistently fast, placing in the first and final rounds and just finishing out of the money in the second-go. She won Sunday’s round by stopping the clock in 2.3 seconds to win the overall title with a three-run cumulative time of 8.2 seconds. “This is my first time coming to Dodge City, so this is the first time getting to see what Dodge City is all about,” said Boisjoli, a three-time qualifier to the National Finals Breakaway Roping from Stephenville, Texas. “I think it’s a great rodeo, and the crowd’s awesome. I love it here.” She collected just shy of $6,000 and moved herself into contention to take the lead in the breakaway roping world standings. She was second heading into the weekend, but she may have done just enough to catch Hali Williams, another Texas lady who has been atop the money list since March. “It’s been a crazy summer, and I’ve just been trying to pluck away and make the best runs I can everywhere I go,” she said. “I didn’t come into the summer with super high expectations, and it’s been everything and more so far.” Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 2-6, 2022All-around cowboy: Paul Tierney, $11,119, tie-down roping and team roping. Bareback riding: First round: 1. Cole Franks, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big League, $3,216; 2. Myles Carlson, 86, $2,465; 3. Tim O’Connell, 85.5, $1,822; 4. (tie) Andy Gingerich, Jayco Roper and Chad Rutherford, 85, $822 each; 7. (tie) Kyle Bloomquist and Ty Pope, 84, $375 each. Finals: 1. (tie) Cole Franks, on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, and Jayco Roper, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Big Show, 88 points, $1,450 each; 3. Jess Pope, 87.5, $900; 4. Chad Rutherford, 87, $600; 5. Myles Carlson, 86, $350; 6. Andy Gingerich, 84.5, $250. Average: 1. Cole Franks, 174.5 points on two head, $3,216; 2. Jayco Roper, 173, $2,465; 3. (tie) Chad Rutherford and Myles Carlson, 172, $1,501 each; 5. Jess Pope, 171, $750; 6. Andy Gingerich, 169.5, $536; 7. Tim O’Connell, 168.5, $429; 8. Taylor Broussard, 164.5, $322. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gage Hesse, 3.5 seconds, $3,932; 2. Jule Hazen, 3.8, $3,419; 3. Jace Melvin, 4.0, $2,906; 4. Cyler Dowling, 4.2, $2,393; 5. Cade Staton, 4.3, $1,881; 6. (tie) Cameron Morman, Don Payne, Dylan Schroeder and Justin Shaffer, 4.4, $641 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Jacob Talley and Jarek VanPetten, 3.7 seconds, $3,676 each; 3. Olin Hannum, 3.9, $2,906; 4. (tie) Travis Munro,  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – In the Flint Hills of Kansas, Council Grove is not known as a hotbed for rodeo, but Beau Peterson might be changing that mindset. She grew up there and competed across the state in a variety of events. She’s roped calves and tied goats and done just about any event possible inside Roundup Arena in this western Kansas community. She has grown into one of the top breakaway ropers and returned to this storied complex Saturday night for her chance at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. “I’ve spent a lot of weekends here at high school rodeos,” said Peterson, 23, a 2022 qualifier to the National Finals Breakaway Roping in Las Vegas. “To have some success at the ProRodeo definitely means a lot.” Only the top 15 in the world standings at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the national finals, and Peterson hopes to return again this year. First, though, she’d like to stake her claim to the title at the biggest rodeo in her home state. She roped her calf in 2.7 seconds to finish fifth in the second go-round. More importantly, it moved her to eighth in the two-run aggregate and earned her a spot in Sunday’s championship round; only the top 12 cowboys and cowgirls from the four preliminary days of competition earn a spot in final-night field. “I’m having some success here and there, enough to keep me going,” said Peterson, who is 17th in the world standings with about two months left in the regular season. “I’m just looking forward to having a big August and September to finish the season strong.” That’s exactly how she earned her spot in the breakaway roping finals last year. She capitalized on a solid run through the end of the season to secure her bid for Sin City. She’ll need a little magic to return, but doing well in Dodge City can go a long way to helping her. She’s also familiar with the region for another reason: She was a standout at Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Oklahoma, which is two hours southwest of Dodge City. In fact, she was the 2019 national champion goat-tier while at Panhandle State. “Robert Etbauer and Shelbie Rose are great coaches, and there’s a big family atmosphere out there,” Peterson said. “We got to rope every day. I made a lot of horses and made a lot of connections. It was just a great place for me to be, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a college.” “Making horses” is rodeo slang for self-training a horse, something she’s done. Missy, a 9-year-old speedster, is proof. “A good horse is everything,” she said. “Our job is a lot easier when we have a good horse underneath us. That mare that I’m riding is really nice, and she’s pretty solid. I’ve ridden her for about three years now. She was actually my goat horse in college, so she’s really stepped up and made a great breakaway horse for me. “I trained her, so I take a lot of pride in her.” She also has pride in her roping skills, and they might just carry her to the Dodge City Roundup title. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 2-6, 2022Bareback riding: First round: 1. Cole Franks, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big League, $3.216; 2. Myles Carleson, 86, $2,465; 3. Tim O’Connell, 85.5, $1,822; 4. (tie) Jayco Roper, Andy Gingerich and Chad Rutherford, 85, $822 each; 7. (tie) Ty Pope and Kyle Bloomquist, 84, $375 each; 9. Jess Pope, 83.5; 10. Taylor Broussard, 83. (The three tied for 11th place were dropped, so only 10 will advance to the championship round) Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gage Hesse, 3.5 seconds, $3,932; 2. Jule Hazen, 3.8, $3,419; 3. Jace Melvin, 4.0, $2,906; 4. Cyler Dowling, 4.2, $2,393; 5. Cade Staton, 4.3, $1,881; 6. (tie) Cameron Morman, Don Payne, Dylan Schroeder and Justin Shaffer, 4.4, $641 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Jarek VanPetten and Jacob Talley, 3.7 seconds, $3,676 each; 3. Olin Hannum, 3.9, $2,906; 4. (tie) Tyler Scheevel, Tyler Wageuspack, Travis Munro and Tyler Pearson, 4.0, $1,624 each; 8. (tie) Stephen Mullins, Blake Knowles and Stan Branco, 4.1, $114 each. Average leaders: 1. Jule Hazen, 8.1 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Olin Hannum and Cameron Morman, 8.6; 4. (tie) Jarek VanPetten and Don Payne, 8.7; 6. Kalane Anders, 8.8; 7. Dirk Tavenner, 9.0; 8. (tie) Gage Hesse and Stan Branco, 9.1; 10. (tie) Tyler Scheevel and Justin Schaffer, 9.3; 12. Brandon Volker, 9.4. Team roping: First round: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 5.0 seconds, $3,633 each; 2. (tie) Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn and Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 5.3, $2,922 each; 4. Brye Crites/Rance Doyal, 5.4, $2,211; 5. (tie) Pedro Egurrola/JC Flake and Korbin Rice/Jake South, 5.6, $1,501 each; 7. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 5.7, $790; 8. Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 5.9, $316. Second round: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds, $3,633; 2. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 4.3, $3,159; 3. (tie) Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford and Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 4.4, $3,448 each; 5. (tie) Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, Clint Summers/Jake Long and Nelson Wyatt/Chase Tryan, 4.5, $1,2648. Cole Smith/Reed Boos, 4.8, $316. Average leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 11.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 11.6; 3. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 11.7; 4. (tie) Brye Crites/Rance Doyal and Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, 11;9; 6. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 12.2; 7. Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens, 12.8; 8. Cory Kidd/Lane Mitchell, 13.0; 9. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 14.2; 10. Tyler Hobert/Shannon Frascht, 14.3; 11. Clint Summers/Jake Long, 14.8; 12. Cooper White/Tucker White, 18.0. Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Brody Cress, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s No. 777, $3,198; 2. (tie) Wade Sundell, Jake Finlay and Ryder Wright, 85, $1,812 each; 5. Shea Fournier, 84.5; 6. Isaac Richard, 84; 7. (tie) Sterling Crawley and Gus Gaillard, 83, $373 each; 9. (tie) Lefty Holman, Tegan Smith and Isaac Diaz, 82.5. (The four tied for 12th place were dropped, so only 11 will advance to the championship  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Taylor Santos is just 28 years old, but he has a firm grasp of the history involved in the sport of rodeo. He knows that the annual event in Lovington not only dates back many decades, but he realizes also the legacy established years ago still looms largely over the region. Santos is a student of the game, the fourth generation of his family to be part of rodeo, but he was a fan first. He will defend his all-around and tie-down roping titles at this year’s edition of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9-Saturday, Aug. 12, at Jake McClure Arena; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 8. “I had never gone south during that week of rodeo until I started tripping steers,” said Santos, a tie-down roper and steer roper from Creston, California. “Before that, I’d stay up north. When I started roping steers, I went south, because there’s a lot of money down that way. It’s a little warmer, but it sure is nice to drive to one rodeo and do both events.” Those two events paid quite well in Lovington. Santos – a two-time qualifier to the National Finals Rodeo who has also advanced to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping twice – won the first round, placed in the second round and won the aggregate in tie-down roping; he also placed in two rounds and the average in steer roping. By the time the week had come to a close, Santos had earned $11,442, with about $7,600 coming in calf roping. “Any time you can win a rodeo, it’s a big deal,” he said. “It’s gotten so tough, especially since I bought my card in 2016, because there are fewer guys doing multiple events. It’s gotten so specialized now, so everything has just gotten tougher. “When you’re able to win a major rodeo like that, one that has so much tradition, it means a lot. I’ve gotten to know more tradition since I started roping steers, because those guys understand that and talk about it. Getting to hear the stories and getting to know more about that part of rodeo is really nice.” Last August, the Lea County Fair and Rodeo paid out thousands to its winners, and Santos was one of 14 people who claimed gold in Lovington. There were five cowboys – Tyler Waguespack, Hunter Cure, D.J. Joos, Tyke Kipp and Cimarron Thompson – who shared the steer wrestling title, and the tandem of Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira claimed the team roping crown. Other winners were bareback rider Chad Rutherford, breakaway roper Madalyn Richards, steer roper Slade Wood, barrel racer Savannah Woodfin, bull rider Josh Frost and saddle bronc rider Stetson Wright, the four-time and reigning all-around world champion who also owns two bull riding gold buckles and one saddle bronc riding title. “It’s awesome to win the all-around at a rodeo like that,” Santos said. “I think I got Stetson at Sheridan (Wyoming) and Lovington last year; those were two major rodeos where I was able to compete with him. I had to win a lot of money to even compete with him, which just shows how dominant he is.” Kipp, the only New Mexico bulldogger to share in the title, was excited to claim the win at the biggest rodeo in his home state. “Career-wide, this is probably my best win so far, and I’ve been rodeoing awhile,” said Kipp, 30, of Lordsburg. “I’ve always had good luck (in Lovington), even back at the high school rodeos. … “It’s always good to do (well) at the home-state rodeos, especially this one.” Winning the Lea County Fair and Rodeo title is a dream for many contestants, and each year several realize it. That’s why they keep coming back and why hundreds will make their way to southeastern New Mexico again this August.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Injuries heal, but that doesn’t mean a competitor is ready to get back into the action. Saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright understands that. He missed most of July because of a rib issue suffered the end of June, and he returned to action two weeks ago without much luck. “This time around, (getting back into the rhythm) wasn’t very easy,” said Wright, 25, a two-time world champion and seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Beaver, Utah. “I’ve been having a little bit of trouble the last couple of weeks, but I feel like I’m getting things picked up and getting the ball rolling again.” He proved that Friday night, riding Championship Pro Rodeo’s Magic Stick for 85 points to move into a three-way tie for second place at Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. It will secure another spot in the rodeo’s championship round, which features only the top 12 contestants in each event during a special showcase Sunday night. “I’d seen some videos of that horse,” said Wright, the 2020 champion who has joined a parade of his family members that have claimed the Roundup title over the years. “It looked like he was going to pretty nice, so I was happy to have him.” The Wrights are the first family of bronc riding. His father, Cody, was a two-time world champion who has five children, and two of them are world titlists: Ryder and Stetson, who owns four all-around, two bull riding and one saddle bronc riding gold buckles. Two other Wrights, Cody’s brothers Jesse (2012) and Spencer (2024), also own the top prize given annually to the sport’s best. A handful of them have also claimed the Dodge City trophy belt buckle, something they all cherish. Cody Wright, Jesse Wright, Rusty Wright and Ryder Wright have all walked away with the prominent prize. Ryder Wright would like to add another one and continue to get back on track with his 2023 season; his time away from the game dropped him to 15th in the world standings. Western Kansas earnings can go a long way to helping him climb back up the money list. “The big thing is the mind game,” he said. “This game is 90 percent mental, and the rest is in your head. If that doesn’t go right, nothing goes right. “You have to be doing everything right for the whole eight seconds. If you stub your toe on a bucking horse, you’re probably not going to recover. There’s a lot going on; you have to lift on your rein, stay back, set your feet and have to do a lot right in order to make a good ride.” Even world champions can struggle. “My past couple NFRs are prove of that,” Wright said. “I didn’t ride like I know how, and it shows. You’ve got to show out every single day. I think the biggest thing comes in the mental game. I know how to ride broncs, and my body knows how to ride broncs, but sometimes my brain gets the better of me.” When Wright is on his game, though, he’s hard to beat. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 2-6, 2022Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big League; 2. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 3. (tie) Jayco Roper, Andy Gingerich and Chad Rutherford, 85; 6. Ty Pope, 84; 7. Jess Pope, 83.5; 8. (tie) Jacob Lees and Will Lowe, 83; 9. Dean Thompson, 82; 11. (tie) Bil Tutor and Jacek Frost, 81. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Gage Hesse, 3.5 seconds; 2. Jule Hazen, 3.8; 3. Jace Melvin, 4.0; 4. Cyler Dowling, 4.2; 5. (tie) Cameron Morman and Dylan Schroeder, 4.4; 7. Stockton Graves, 4.5; 8. (tie) Kalane Anders and Brandon Volker, 4.6. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Jarek VanPetten and Jacob Talley, 3.7 seconds; 3. Olin Hannum, 3.9; 4. (tie) Tyler Scheevel and Tyler Wageuspack, 4.0; 6. (tie) Stephen Mullins, Blake Knowles and Stan Branco, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Jule Hazen, 8.1 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Olin Hannum and Cameron Morman, 8.6; 4. Jarek VanPetten, 8.7; 5. Kalane Anders, 8.8; 6. Dirk Tavenner, 9.0; 7. (tie) Gage Hesse and Stan Branco, 9.1; 9. Tyler Scheevel, 9.3; 10. Brandon Volker, 9.4; 11. (tie) Cyler Dowling and Benjamin Robinson, 11.2. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Dustin Equsquiza, 5.0 seconds; 2. Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, 5.3; 3. Brye Crites/Rance Doyal, 5.4; 4. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 5.6; 5. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 5.7; 6. Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 5.9; 7. (tie) Kyon Kruetzer/Clancey Kreutzer and Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer, 6.1. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jeff Flenniken/Tyler Worley, 4.3; 3. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford, 4.4; 4. Cole Smith/Reed Boos, 4.8; 5. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreytzer, 5.6; 6. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 5.9; 7. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 6.0; 8. (tie) Cooper White/Tucker White, Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens and Brye Crites/Rance Doyal, 6.5. Average leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 11.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 11.6; 3. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 11.7; 4. (tie) Brye Crites/Rance Doyal and Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, 11;9; 6. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 12.2; 7. Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens, 12.8; 8. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 14.2; 9. Cooper White/Tucker White, 18.0; 10. Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres, 18.3; 11. Casey Hicks/Steve Orth, 20.2; 12. Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella, 21.2. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Brody Cress, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s No. 777; 2. (tie) Wade Sundell, Jake Finlay and Ryder Wright, 85; 5. Sterling Crawley, 83; 6. (tie) Lefty Holman, Tegan Smith and Isaac Diaz, 82.5; 9. (tie) Riggin Smith, Parker Fleet, Will Pollock and Stu Wright, 81.5. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Kenzie Kelton, 2.3 seconds; 2. Kelsie Domer, 2.5; 3. Alex Loiselle, 2.7; 4. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, Josey Murphy, Quincy Sullivan Christi Braudrick, 2.8; 8. (tie) Kassidy Dennison and Brooke McLemore, 2.9; 10. (tie) Erika Frost and Kashly VanPetten, 3.0. Second round leaders: 1. KeAnn Hayes, 2.3 seconds; 2. Erin Johnson, 2.4; 3. Alli Masters, 2.6; 4. Quincy Sullivan, 2.7; 5. (tie) Alex Loiselle  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo is more than a community gathering; it’s a true spectacle in every form of the word. With admission at just $10 per person, the entertainment value is tremendous. From the carnival rides to the rodeo to the nightly concerts, the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington is hopping from opening night on Friday, Aug. 4, until the final ride closes down Saturday, Aug. 12. “I love seeing all those families coming together to be part of our fair,” said Kris Allen, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the rodeo or a concert, you can see the families enjoying their time at the fair together. Watching those exhibitors showing their livestock or putting their exhibits on display, seeing the fiddle contest, watching the kids running around with their grandparents … it a big deal to me. “Being able to see the success of it all coming together is the best part for me.” There are many working pieces into each step of producing an exposition of this magnitude. The fair board has its hands in it all, and they rely heavily on hundreds of hours of volunteer help to make sure everything comes off without a hitch. Whether they’re setting up for the concerts, organizing the livestock sales or bringing in the right clown and acts for the rodeo, there are many considerable tasks. “This is my third year on the fair board,” said Kyle Johnston, who owns a welding business and also farms in Lea County. “I showed livestock, and my brother and sister showed. My dad was on the fair board for 25 years. We’ve been a big part of it, and it’s been a big part of our lives also.” Johnston serves as chairman of the rodeo committee and also serves on the livestock and sales committees. He has the opportunity to work with many people each year by being part o the process. Like a lot of folks in this New Mexico county, rodeo is a part of who he is and what he’s done. He began competing as a youth and continued through college. That experience comes in handy. “It’s a good deal, and I’m just trying to help out,” he said. “Being new to the chairman role on the rodeo committee, I’m learning about it as I go. I’ve got some good people who are part of the committee that make it work.” The people involved are a key reason the fair and rodeo is so successful every year. The PRCA portion of the rodeo will feature many of the top hands in the sport, world champions like Stetson Wright, who is the defending saddle bronc riding champion in Lovington. Volunteers work closely with sponsors to make sure top stars will want to compete for Lea County cash. That combination is why the concert series continues to be a valuable piece of the puzzle. This year’s concerts will feature: With the opportunity to showcase such stars, it’s no wonder so many thousands of people make sure to experience the Lea County Fair and Rodeo each year. It’s become a masterpiece that nobody wants to miss. “I never saw myself as chairman of the fair board,” Allen said. “Things changed, and when I was voted in, I was honored and humbled by it. I really like serving and giving back to Lea County and the communities. To be able to work with all the people gives me a chance to learn something all the time. The fair board is amazing. The fairgrounds staff are amazing. “They support me and have my back, and I’ve got them back.” All the work pays off during the nine-day exposition, when smiles are spread across thousands of faces a day and people are heard laughing around the fairgrounds. Families and friends reunite, and people gather together to honor their lives and their history.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Cole Franks has some fond memories of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, some of which are approved by his mother; some are not. “It’s cool to come here to this rodeo and do good, especially with the history with it,” said Franks, 22, the 2021 Roundup Rodeo champion bareback rider. “I’m just excited to be back.” That’s the Darla Franks-approved version. The other story comes from years ago when his father, Bret, was still riding bucking horses. The family came to Dodge City to see him compete, and Cole and his older brother, Clint, found their way into trouble. “We broke into the beer stand, and I drank my first beer when I was pretty little,” he said with a bit of a smirk. “When I was a kid, you remember this one the most because you were hearing stories about Dodge City, and then I told everybody that I drank my first beer at this rodeo.” That was 2004; Cole Franks was 3 years old; the next day, the proud toddler told his pastor and another church member about his beer-drinking experience. The Texan hopes to continue his hot streak at the hottest time of the year. He rode Frontier Rodeo’s Big League for 86.5-points to take the first-round lead at the historic Roundup Arena, the biggest rodeo in Kansas and one of the richest events in ProRodeo. “I’d been on him one time before, and we were 85 or 86 in Montgomery, Alabama,” said Franks, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Clarendon, Texas. “I knew it would be a really good ride and a lot of fun. It’s good to come to big rodeos and get on good horses.” Franks will likely earn a nice first-round payday, but the biggest aspect of his ride is his qualification to Sunday’s championship round, which will feature only the top 12 contestants in each event through the four preliminary performances. Two years ago when he claimed his first Roundup buckle, Franks won the first round, the short round and the overall title. That was a magical season, one that saw him win the intercollegiate all-around, bareback riding and team titles for Clarendon College, which is coached by his dad. Cole Franks also was named the Resistol Rookie of the Year, qualified for his first NFR and finished third in the world standings. He returned to Las Vegas last year and finished the campaign fourth on the money list. With two months remaining in ProRodeo’s regular season, he’s a bit behind his goals of finishing among the top 15. He is 21st in the world standings with $58,000. A good run this week could catapult him into the sweet spot, and he’d be good with that. Franks spent two months on injured reserve while receiving treatments for a neck injury, but he understands just what needs to happen in the final weeks of the of 2023 to see himself back in the Nevada desert come December. “My neck feels good, especially when you’re winning,” he said. “It’s getting better; it’s taking some time, so I just have to deal with it. You have to power through mainly. When you know you have something good, you forget about the pain.” Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 2-6, 2022Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Big League; 2. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 3. (tie) Jayco Roper, Andy Gingerich and Chad Rutherford, 85; 6. Ty Pope, 84; 7. Jess Pope, 83.5; 8. Jacob Lees, 83; 9. Dean Thompson, 82; 10. Bil Tutor, 81; 11. (tie) Donny Proffit, Quinton Lee Lundsford and Mark Kreder, 79. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Gage Hesse, 3.5 seconds; 2. Jace Melvin, 4.0; 3. Cyler Dowling, 4.2; 4. Cameron Morman, 4.4; 5. Stockton Graves, 4.5; 6. (tie) Kalane Anders and Brandon Volker, 4.6; 8. (tie) Nick Guy, Dirk Tavenner and Olin Hannum, 4.7. Second round leaders: 1. Olin Han num, 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Stephen Mullins, Blake Knowles and Stan Branco, 4.1; 5. (tie) Cameron Morman, Ty Cochrane and Kalane Anders, 4.2; 8. Dirk Tavenner, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Olin Hannum and Cameron Morman, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 3. Kalane Anders, 8.8; 4. Dirk Tavenner, 9.0; 5. (tie) Gage Hesse and Stan Branco, 9.1; 7. Brandon Volker, 9.4; 8. Cyler Dowling, 11.2; 9. Colt Honey, 11.3; 10. Stetson Jorgensen, 11.9; 11. Blake Knowles, 12.9; 12. Mason Couch, 13.0. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Dustin Equsquiza, 5.0 seconds; 2. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 5.6; 3. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 5.7; 4. Zack Woods/Gavin Foster, 5.9; 5. Kyon Kruetzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 6.1; 6. (tie) Ben Jordan/Scott Lauaki and Corben Culley/Blayne Horne, 6.2; 8. Curry Kirchner/Billy Jack Saebens, 6.3. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford, 4.4; 3. Cole Smith/Reed Boos, 4.8; 4. Cooper White/Tucker James White, 6.5; 5. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 5.9; 6. Dustin Equsquiza/Levi Lord, 6.0; 7. (tie) Cooper White/Tucker James White and Curry Kirchner/Billy Jack Saebens, 6.5. Average leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 11.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Tonozzi/Jace Davis, 11.6; 3. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 11.7; 4. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 12.2; 5. Curry Kirchner/Billie Jack Saebens, 12.8; 6. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 14.2; 7. Cooper White/Tucker James White, 18.0; 8. Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres, 18.3; 9. Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella, 21.2; 10. Cooper Bruce/Wyatt Kanan, 21.7; 11. Camden Hoelting/Dawson McMaster, 27.1; 12. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford, 4.4 seconds on one run. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Brody Cress, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s No. 777; 2. (tie) Wade Sundell and Jake Finlay, 85; 4. Sterling Crawley, 83; 5. (tie) Lefty Holman and Tegan Smith, 82.5; 7. (tie) Riggin Smith, Parker Fleet and Will Pollock, 81.5; 10. Ryder Sanford, 80; 11. (tie) Trent Burd and Logan Cook, 79. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Kenzie Kelton, 2.3 seconds; 2. Kelsie Domer, 2.5; 3. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli, Josey Murphy and Quincy Sullivan, 2.8; 6. Kassidy Dennison, 2.9; 7. Erika Frost, 3.0; 8. (tie) Bethany Stallons and Taylor Raupe, 3.1;  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Olin Hannum has been around rodeo all his life. He was born into it, the son of a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and a longtime administrator in the PRCA. His father, Jack, earned a spot at the NFR in tie-down roping in 1977, then followed that with four trips in six years in steer wrestling. Olin Hannum followed in his dad’s footsteps, as did his younger brother, Jake. On Wednesday night during the first performance of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, Olin Hannum grappled his steer to the ground in 3.9 seconds to lead the second go-round and the aggregate with a two-run cumulative time of 8.6 seconds. “I knew I had a pretty good steer,” said Hannum, 45, a three-time NFR qualifier from Malad City, Idaho. “(Fellow bulldogger) Dirk Tavenner had him this morning (posting a 4.7-second run). I knew he was going to let off a little bit, and he ended up stopping a lot more than I thought. I got him caught, and he was good after that.” Hannum qualified for ProRodeo’s grand finale in 2011, 2016 and 2017. It was during his inaugural trip to the NFR that he was boosted by his first victory at Roundup Arena. Originally from Utah and now living in southeastern Idaho, he rarely makes the trip to Kansas. “I’ve only been here twice, and I won it the first time I came,” he said. “I’m not sure where my (cumulative) time will fall, but I suspect I’ll be back for the short round.” Only the top 12 contestants in each event through the first four preliminary performances will advance to Sunday’s championship round. That’s where the 2023 Roundup champions will be crowned. He’ll return to southwest Kansas for that final round and his shot to add another Dodge City buckle to his trophy case. The climate is a much different experience for the cowboy, whose hometown is experiencing high temperatures in the 70s and low 80s this week; it has been in the triple digits in Ford County. “The heat does add a little flavor,” said Hannum, who is 37th in the world standings with $35,000. “The horses are tired; they’ve been traveling, so the humidity will get to the horses sometimes. It plays a big role with the animals as well as the people.” Nonetheless, he made his opening-day experience count. He reflects on that victory from a dozen years ago and would love to strap another Roundup buckle to his belt. “It’s pretty awesome, because every old Western talks about Dodge City,” he said. “Most of us that really love old Westerns in movies and books, we’ve heard about this our whole life. It’s pretty awesome to be here in a pretty historical town, a historical rodeo and be able to compete at a high level.” Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.Aug. 2-6, 2022Bareback riding leaders: 1. (tie) Jayco Roper, on Frontier Rodeo’s Bottom Line, and Andy Gingerich, on Frontier Rodeo’s Short Night, 85 points; 3. Jacob Lees, 83; 4. Dean Thompson, 82; 5. (tie) Donny Proffit, Quinton Lee Lundsford and Mark Kreder, 79; 8. Lane McGehee, 73. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Gage Hesse, 3.5 seconds; 2. Jace Melvin, 4.0; 3. Cyler Dowling, 4.2; 4. (tie) Nick Guy, Dirk Tavenner and Olin Hannum, 4.7; 7. (tie) Stan Branco and Dakota Eldridge, 5.0. Second round leaders: 1. Olin Han num, 3.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Stephen Mullins, Blake Knowles and Stan Branco, 4.1; 5. Dirk Tavenner, 4.3; 6. Eli Lord, 4.9; 7. (tie) Reed Kraeger and Winsten McGraw, 5.0. Average leaders: 1. Olin Hannum, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Dirk Tavenner, 9.0; 3. (tie) Gage Hesse and Stan Branco, 9.1; 5. Cyler Dowling, 11.2; 6. Stetson Jorgensen, 11.9; 7. Blake Knowles, 12.9; 8. Dakota Eldridge, 13.6; 9. Stephen Mullins, 19.1; 10. Logan Lemmel, 21.2. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 5.6 seconds; 2. Ben Jordan/Scott Lauaki, 6.2; 3. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 10.0; 4. Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella, 10.2; 5. Cooper White/Tucker James White, 11.5; 6. Cooper Bruce/Wyatt Kanan, 11.9; 7. Brit Ellerman/Jorge Luis Cruz, 17.5; 8. Kooper Shane Huddleston/Zachary Cash Nicholson, 22.7. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford, 4.4; 3. Cole Smith/Reed Boos, 4.8; 4. Cooper White/Tucker James White, 6.5; 5. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 6.6; 6. Cooper Bruce/Wyatt Kanan, 9.8; 7. Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella, 11.0; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Pedro Egurrola/J.C. Flake, 12.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 14.2; 3. Cooper White/Tucker James White, 18.0; 4. Clay Holz/Matt Zancanella, 21.2; 5. Cooper Bruce/Wyatt Kanan, 21.7; 6. Jr. Dees/Ross Ashford, 4.4 seconds on one run; 7. Cole Smith/Reed Boos, 4.8; 8. Ben Jordan/Scott Lauaki, 6.2; 9. Brit Ellerman/Jorge Luis Cruz, 17.5; 10. Kooper Shane Huddelston/Zachary Cash Nicholson, 22.7. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Brody Cress, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s No. 777; 2. Sterling Crawley, 83; 3. Lefty Holman, 82.5; 4. Riggin Smith, 81.5; 5. (tie) Dylan Hancock and Stetson Wright, 76.5; 7. Chance Masters, 71; no other qualified rides. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli and Josey Murphy, 2.8 seconds; 3. Erika Frost, 3.0; 4. (tie) Bethany Stallons and Taylor Raupe, 3.1; 6. (tie) Kiley Dalchow and Nicole Hadley, 3.4; 8. Amber Coleman, 3.6. Second round leaders: 1. Bethany Stallons, 3.0 seconds; 2. Shelby Boisjoli, 3.1; 3. Kendal Pierson, 3.2; 4. (tie) Amber Coleman and Hannah Cline, 3.4; 6. Nicole Hadley, 3.5; 7. Josey Murphy, 4.1; 8. Rebekah Davis, 4.5; 9. Taylor Raupe, 5.2; 10. Cassidy Weber, 11.9. Average leaders: 1. Shelby Boisjoli, 5.9 seconds on two runs; 2. Bethany Stallons, 6.1; 3. (tie) Josey Murphy and Nicole Hadley, 6.9; 5. Amber Coleman, 7.0; 6. Taylor Raupe, 8.3; 7. Rebekah Davis, 8.9; 8. Linsay Rosser Sumpter, 17.1; 9. Cassidy Weber, 24.9; 10. Erika Frost, 3.0 seconds on one run; 11. Kendal Pierson, 3.2; 12. (tie) Kiley Dalchow and Hannah Cline, 3.4.   Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Haven Meged, 8.8 seconds; 2.  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – With a nod to the pioneers that made southeastern New Mexico their homes, the lifeblood for folks in this part of the world remains what it was decades ago: Ranching, oil and natural gas. Many of the communities in Lea County were founded in the early 1900s. The epicenter is Hobbs, the largest community in the vertically driven plot of land that makes up about 4,400 square miles, boasting of a population of 40,000 souls. It became a boomtown with the discovery of oil and gas in 1927. As an extension of that, the Lea County Fair and Rodeo is perfect experience for the communities. The exposition recognizes the wildcatters who made their way in search of “black gold” and the riches that come with it, but more it salutes the foundation of the county, the hard-working folks that built the platforms and toiled in the dirt and raised the cattle. Along the way, those layers of excellence were showcased through the livestock shows and rodeos. It’s why decades after it was established, the county fair continues to strive for excellence. Jimmie Cooper was raised in Lea County and spent countless days at the fairgrounds in Lovington, home of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for Friday, Aug. 4-Saturday, Aug. 12. “My mom and dad always loved Lea County, so I naturally loved it,” said Cooper, a world champion cowboy from Monument, New Mexico. “I think the one thing Lea County has done is taught a lot of people how to work hard to try to make a living. It’s not a bad thing; it’s pretty nice to have a work ethic.” Cooper competed in tie-down roping, team roping and steer wrestling and in 1981 was crowned the PRCA’s all-around champion. He is one of just a handful of men to have qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in three events. That’s why he has been inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s Rodeo Hall of Fame. Before he was the standard in ProRodeo, Cooper had seen or heard about legends that came from Lea County. They were men like Jake McClure and Troy Fort, who are also enshrined with Cooper. Roy Cooper is also one of the sport’s legend; all joined with dozens of other greats to prove of the mettle that is born in the southeastern most territory in New Mexico. “When I was growing up, Roy was outstanding,” Jimmie Cooper said of his cousin, who is a year older. “I was never really good as a youngster. I always looked up to Roy and looked up to him and followed him. When I was in college, I started stepping it up. By that time, Roy had already won a world’s championship in the calf roping. If you know somebody or are related to somebody that has success, you can follow in their path and work real hard like they did, and hopefully you can get it yourself. “When you love something and aren’t that good at it, you almost want it worse. I loved roping and rodeo. When I finally had a little success, it motivated me more and more. I was fortunate enough that I was able to attain some of my dreams.” He had seen it in others, and he was building something for himself and for his family. He and his wife, Shryl, made sure to pass that along to their three children, twin sons Jim Ross and Jake and daughter Jill. All have found success in rodeo. “When my twin sons were 2 years old, my wife and I decided it would be a good time to come back to Lea County and try to raise them the way I was raised,” Jimmie Cooper said. Much of the county was built on a dream of wealth or greatness, and many continue to find it in some fashion through a strong work ethic and a foundation laid in their communities. They are offered the chance to celebrate it once a year during the fair and rodeo. “We used to go up there one Sunday a month for play days when I was a kid,” Cooper said. “I’ve been going to that arena since I was probably 10 years old. I have a lot of great memories there.”

Idaho cowboy cashes in with a big-money ride in Dodge City DODGE CITY, Kan. – Growing up in the tiny town of Monteview, Idaho, Tristen Hutchings didn’t have a lot. He was raised around rodeo and found a passion for riding bulls. That love affair carried him to a magical 2022 season, one in which he finished third in the final world standings after and explosive run at the National Finals Rodeo. Over that 10 days in Las Vegas, he won four go-rounds pocketed more than $250,000 and pushed his season earnings to just shy of $380,000. He gained experience. He gained confidence. He gained a boatload of Nevada money. “I didn’t grow up with much money, so it’s nice having it,” said Hutchings, who added $4,653 to his bank account after winning the Dodge City Xtreme Bulls on Tuesday night. “I’ve been holding on to it. You don’t have a chance to get on NFR-caliber bulls all the time, and we had five, six, maybe seven of them out tonight.” He matched moves with Frontier Rodeo’s Jackpot, a fitting name for the gambling bull rider Hutchings is turning out to be. With his early-week payday, he moved up one spot to sixth in the 2023 world standings with $124,761. It is the second Xtreme Bulls title he’s won this year; he also claimed the crown in late June at Clear Lake, South Dakota. “You never know if you’re going to win one of these when everybody else is riding so well,” he said. “We had the top 40 in the world here tonight, but that bull and I matched up well together and it ended up working really good.” He did a bit of homework on Jackpot before he had the chance to wrap his hand in the bull rope. By watching videos shown to him by fellow bull rider Josh Frost, Hutchings gained some insight. It’s just like a professional team scouting its upcoming opponent. “Josh showed me two videos on him, and he was really good both times,” Hutchings said. “Just was even more excited for me to get on him than I was. I could see why; he was a blast.” With so much money won by early August, he hopes to have secured a second straight bid to the NFR, ProRodeo’s grand finale that features only the top 15 contestants in each event at the conclusion of the regular season. With that, he’s going to rodeo closer to his Idaho home over the next few weeks to secure something else that is special to him. “Winning our circuit is a pretty big goal of mine,” Hutchings said of the Wilderness Circuit, a series of rodeos and contestants primarily in Utah and southern Idaho. “We have Stetson (Wright), Ky (Hamilton), Josh Frost and Hayes Weight, and four of the five of us finished in the top four in the world standings last year. “It took almost $50,000 just in our circuit to win it last year, so if I could come out on top there, it would be tremendous.” It’s just one of many big-time goals for the 23-year-old bull rider, but he’s proven capable of much more. Dodge City Roundup Xtreme BullsDodge City, Kan.Aug. 1, 20231. Tristen Hutchings, 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Jackpot, $4,653; 2. Trey Kimzey, 88, $3,567; 3. Chance Schott, 85, $2,637; 4. Stetson Wright, 84.5, $1,706; 5. Creek Young, 81, $1,086; 6. Luke Mast, 80, $776; 7. Mason Moody, 79, $620; 8. Canyon Bass, 78, $465.

Gooding Pro Rodeo to help raise awareness for Heroes and Horses GOODING, Idaho – Micah Fink has a fiery personality, one that guides him to help others. It came in handy as a Navy SEAL, a true warrior during the years he was in service for the country. His charm is even more fitting now that he’s the CEO and founder of Heroes and Horses, an organization that helps veterans as they transition out of fighting mode and back into society. Heroes and Horses has teamed with the Gooding Pro Rodeo to raise awareness to its program and to support the sport that is closely associated with the organization. Fink and others with the group will be on hand for the rodeo, set for Thursday, Aug. 17-Saturday, Aug. 19, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 16. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. “We are a horse-based program, and we have our own beef program,” Fink said. “We have about 75 head of horses we are raising, including all the ground-up training, and wild mustangs. “I think we’re tied to the rodeo culture and community. We have a guy who graduated our program last year that is riding bareback horses now. The partnership with the rodeo made sense to us.” Fink will also speak at the Tough Enough to Wear Pink luncheon that coincides with the rodeo; that event is set for 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18, and he hopes to convey a message that will reach every person. “In every age and every time, humanity is presented with really great challenges,” he said. “It’s undeniable that we are in the midst of facing immense challenges. My hope is when I share, they realize that everyone is looking for someone to provide answers and insights and rescue us from this sea of stupidity. “You have to act; you have to take action. If the doctor tells you that you have to lose weight, you have to act. We can make the changes. When enough people begin doing that, the whole system changes. It starts with one person at a time. I hope people are inspired in whatever it is to take action on behalf of their own lives.” The purpose of Heroes and Horses is to take veterans that are having a difficult time now that they are no longer serving the country and help them via a highly intense, 41-day program that has them riding horses through the wilderness on an adventure that allows the students to wade through all that has gone on in their lives while also giving them hope to change the direction. The organization’s mission is to “un-program the programed … to offer combat veterans with an alternative solution for defining and approaching their physical and mental scars – a solution that does not include prescription medicines or traditional psychotherapy but rather the opportunity to use tools to redefine their purpose, rediscover their inner-strength and maximize their potential by taking ownership of their lives for the first time since leaving service.” There are some significant numbers that Heroes and Horses is trying to correct, most notably how veterans are dealing with the changes in their lives since being in combat. “It is estimated that 155,000 veterans have committed suicide since 2005,” Fink said. “Our government spent $92 billion between 2012 and the end of 2020 trying to help soldiers through medicine. Students in the past have been on prescriptions with high numbers as high as 32 a day. They are still making the choice, because that’s the choice that is being offered to them. “They’re making a mistake, because they’re participating in a highly funded but failed systems where the solutions have become the problem.” Managing everyday life can be a tough task for anyone, much less former combatants who have seen the horrors of war. Numbing those experiences doesn’t help, Fink said. The participants that have gone through the Heroes and Horses classes are learning how to better handle the situations that arise. “Life is supposed to be difficult,” Fink said. “You’re supposed to feel it; you’re supposed to experience it. Then life becomes every experience they need. They experience the curriculum. That’s what the transition is. Some get it in just a few days of their journey, but some don’t get it until near the very end. “Take ownership of your life and realize that everything that is occurring is an opportunity to deconstruct yourself, where you come to the truth of who you are. It happens on horseback; it happens in the intensive and immersive morning routines over 41-days. They go through all these things to come to the conclusion that they can manage.” In order to grow, the mindset must change. Service men and women sign up to fight for their government, to go into combat if necessary. They know what it means to be warriors and follow orders; when those guidelines are no longer there, then there is a period of adjustment that must take place. That’s how Heroes and Horses helps. “It’s a much different thing to fight for yourself,” Fink said. “I’ve seen the most ardent warriors, really hardened individuals, be the weakest person when it comes to fighting for themselves. That’s the heroes journey. “They are completely terrified of the death that will come in their own lives. When we open a 41-day program, it’s a 41-day ritual. They’ve never ridden horses. You’ve got to be in the mindset, because it gets real quiet inside of your head. There are no cell phones for the first three weeks. “We are spending time with ourselves but learning to listen with our hearts. What horses and the morning routines teach us is how to feel. The secret is always in the feeling. The war begins between the head and the heart. The mind is always trying to reinforce its own correctness, so we have to teach ourselves how  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – When Karen and Karole Kemper were youngsters in southern Lea County, they followed their mother’s lead and became involved with arts and crafts. All three ladies showed their talents at the county festival. Their mother, 89-year-old Joyce Kemper, is still planning to show during this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for Friday, Aug. 4-Saturday, Aug. 12, at the fairgrounds in Lovington. Three generations have been part of the annual expo, including Karen Jackson’s granddaughter, Jillian Lockwood, who is getting all her valuables ready for this year’s showcase inside the Yucca Building on the fairgrounds. That’s where arts, crafts, gardening and many other exhibits will be on display, and it’s a chance for fairgoers to enjoy another aspect of the fair and its contributors. “I like promoting the ability to create things out of different materials with your hands,” said Karole Hunt, the youngest of the two Kemper girls. “What the kids make these days qualifies as a lost art. There’s a bit of a surge in sewing and using sewing machines, and I like being able to promote that. At the quilt store (for which she works), we encourage people to put their creations in the fair.” There’s so much involved in the local fair, which is more of a regional exposition. With the PRCA rodeo, the other activities at Jake McClure Arena and the concert series, the Lea County Fair and Rodeo draws visitors from the Texas Panhandle, West Texas and a big portion of southeastern New Mexico. But there’s a great deal that expresses the local flair and the importance of showcasing exhibitors, whether it’s through the various livestock shows or the crafts displays in the Yucca Building. The fourth generation of the Kemper clan is involved in showing at the fair, while the third branch of the family tree focused on other things. With Jillian involved, it allows her great grandmother, her grandma and her great-aunt a chance to share their love affair with crafting. “A lot of work goes into those projects they make and the produce that they grow,” Jackson said. “I’m always amazed, because I definitely don’t have a green thumb. The canning and highlighting a different aspect of those exhibits than what I’ve done is great to see. I like to see people’s creativity in the different things. The handiwork that some people do and seeing what these young kids can do is very interesting to me. I enjoy it all.” It’s almost as if the exhibits in the Yucca Building are a tip of the cap to the generations that made life what it was many decades ago. The skills come from a time when people made their own clothes, canned their own food and blanketed themselves with quilts that were hand-made. As times have changed, many of those skills have been pushed to the backburner. “It’s not so much about showing off the talents but showing other people that you can make your own and make it unique so you don’t have to buy everything,” Hunt said. “Mom inspired us to keep sewing alive. “I’m more arts and crafty. I have shown clothes and made a dragonfly out of recycled materials. I have done a wall-hanging and cross-stitched. I entered sweepstakes a few years ago with my mother’s help with canning and baking.” While there are opportunities for children to be involved through 4H, the fair also offers older folks the chance to showcase their wares and talents. For Jillian, the expo allows her to express her creativity while also being able to do all the other aspects of the fair. “She enters her 4H projects like sewing, and she has won the sweepstakes in her division,” Jackson said of her granddaughter. “She also shows livestock; her dad showed livestock when he was younger but not in Lea County. “My sister is the one that helps Jillian with showing. It’s something they like to do together.” It fits in fine with Hunt’s personality. “I’m the sewing aunt, so she does all her sewing projects with me and the other entries with my sister and her other grandmother,” Hunt said. “I have one granddaughter that sews, but she lives in Amarillo (Texas), so working with her regularly is difficult, and she can’t show in Lea County.” More than anything, though, Hunt and Jackson are just carrying on a tradition while passing on the knowledge they have gained to the next generations. That might be one of the greatest parts of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “I really do like seeing the tradition continue,” Jackson said. “My mother is a beautiful seamstress. She doesn’t quilt much, but she’s made clothes for everyone. She started when she was really young, and she’s just continued to do it.” Even as she nears 90, Joyce Kemper still has something to show to the folks at the local fair. Just down the aisle, her great-granddaughter’s work is on display, too. That’s where the generations collide in the most unique way.