Monthly Archives: July 2024

Acclaimed music director provides the right beats to make event stand out GOODING, Idaho – Jill Franzen Loden was just a teenager when she found her true passion, but she didn’t even know it yet. “I’ve been doing this for 24 years,” said Loden, now in her 18th year as the sound director for the  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – When the top bull riders in ProRodeo arrive in southeastern New Mexico, they’ll have something big waiting for them. “We’re going to have an even bigger purse for the bull riding,” said Kyle Johnston, a member of the Lea County Fair Board and the rodeo committee chairman. Lea County Xtreme Bulls will  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – It’s been about 10 months since his first one, but Hayden Harris finally secured his second event victory this year. This one might mean as much, if not more. Harris rode Frontier Rodeo’s County Jail for 88.5 points to win the Dodge City Roundup Xtreme Bulls title Tuesday night. “That bull’s  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Tony Reina has been around ProRodeo for more than three decades. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in tie-down roping in 2013 and has made five trips to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Reina added another prestigious title to his resume Tuesday, winning the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo’s  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The primary beneficiary of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo has always been youth. From the time the fair’s gates open Friday, Aug. 2, until they close Saturday, Aug. 10, there are plenty of activities to give back to the next generation of county residents that hope to follow in the footsteps  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Several years ago, the organizers of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo entrusted the production of it’s ProRodeo to a rising star in the stock-contracting game. Pete Carr Pro Rodeo was established two decades ago, and Lovington’s marquee event was one of the first in the country to bring in the Dallas-based  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Over the decades of excellence at Lovington’s rodeo, there have been repeat winners and people who have found a redemption of sorts. Rodeo can be an unforgiving sport. A misfire during an eight-second ride or run can spell doom, but there’s always something graceful about it, too. The next opportunity offers a  Continue Reading »

Jestes, Tuckness understand uniqueness of Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – A decade ago, Nathan Jestes drove into this community for the first time to work as a bullfighter at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. “I remember pulling into town and wondering, ‘Where in the hell am I?’ ” said Jestes, a seven-time nominee for PRCA  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo featured a new attraction a year ago, and it might grow into one of the most popular pieces of the annual exhibition. The Lea County Fair Board will begin its second year of the peewee showmanship competition, featuring children between the ages of 5-8. It will  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The void that Jeff Lopp left behind has yet to be filled. It’s an empty space that his family hopes to one day occupy, but it’s still too soon. It’s an abandonment with which the community is handling. It’s a long-term relationship that’s been vacated since his death in late December.  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – There are only two certainties in life: Birth and death. The aging process isn’t easy, and death isn’t only for the geriatric. Julie Pinkerton knows that as well as anyone in Ford County. She’s the executive director for Hospice of the Prairie and Prairie Home Health and has been with the  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – It gets plenty hot in this neck of the woods throughout the summer months, but that’s just part of living in a desert. Organizers of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo realize this is part of the equation when it comes to drawing the top contestants in rodeo to town, which is  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – When members of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo committee reached out, the city of Dodge City answered in a big way. “The committee wanted to upgrade the main grandstands at the arena, and we felt that it was probably in our best interest as a community to help with the safety  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – Nicole Hadley had some things to prove. She arrived in this community a day before she was scheduled to rope, because she has an investigative mind. She wanted to see what the cattle looked like and prepare her mind for her breakaway roping run during Saturday’s final performance of the Cattlemen’s Days  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – This mountain town is a little bit out of the way for Andrew Galloway. He lives in Albuquerque and works as a farrier. He’s pretty busy with that, but he still finds time to wrestle steers, mostly in the Turquoise Circuit, a series of rodeos and contestants primarily from New Mexico and  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – ProRodeo contestants must have short memories. They can’t celebrate the highs too much, and they can’t stay in the dumps when things don’t go their way. Even at just 20 years old, Rocker Steiner understands that as well as the most veteran of cowboys. Thirty hours after a rough day at the  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – After 48 cowboys had failed, Trevor Reiste was in a position everyone wanted. He was the second-to-last bull rider to go at this year’s Rooftop Rodeo, and not one of his compadres had earned the eight-second qualifying ride. Reiste was matched with Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Midnight Flyer during Wednesday’s sixth performance.  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Weston Patterson is on the outside looking in, but he’s got lots of time to put himself in the right position by the time ProRodeo’s regular season comes to a close. “I’m right there in the top 35 in the world (standings),” said Patterson, 22, originally from Waverly, Kansas, but now  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Austin Eller knew he needed to be fast. He struggled a couple days ago in the opening round of steer wrestling at the Rooftop Rodeo, so his only chance at making money in Estes Park was to be speedy during Monday’s fourth performance. Riding Dallas, a 16-year-old sorrel gelding he owns,  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – It was almost a year ago when header Jase Staudt and heeler Jayden Johnson began roping together. The two are making things work, even though they live seven hours apart. They stopped the clock in 6.7 seconds during Sunday’s third performance of Rooftop Rodeo; they sit third in the second go-round  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Snoopy got his name naturally. “He was always snooping, always in your pocket,” John Harrison said of the paint horse. “That’s the reason he got his name. He’s always wanting to know what you’re doing. He’d grab your hoodie on your sweatshirt and pull you backwards. I was like, ‘You’re the  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Bareback riding can be tortuous on a cowboy’s body. Men wear specially designed gloves that have binds on the outsides, then they wedge those hands into a suitcase handle-like rigging that is strapped tightly around a bucking horse. When ready, they are virtually locked onto the animal, and every jump, kick  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Chance Barrass knows to keep his visa handy. A saddle bronc rider from Yellowhead County, Alberta, he’s crossed the border a few times already this year, and he’s not done. A few days ago, he was competing in Ponoka, Alberta. A day or so later, he was in Oregon, all chasing  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – For folks traveling to Gunnison from the west for Cattlemen’s Days, the Colorado Department of Transportation has released an update regarding the U.S. Highway 50 bridge repairs over Blue Mesa Reservoir. The bridge will be open for 12 hours per day to one-lane traffic – led by a pilot car – from  Continue Reading »