Monthly Archives: September 2024

DUNCAN, Okla. – The aches and pains that Roper Kiesner felt were getting the better of him. He needed – and took – a break from the game of rodeo. He did that for more than a couple years before returning to action late in the 2023 season. Now at age 30, he’s at the  Continue Reading »

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – In the 1989 Universal Studios’ movie “Field of Dreams,” Kevin Costner’s character heard the whispering echoes of the same phrase: “If you build it, they will come.” The Waller County Fair Board has had the same sound reverberating for years, and members of the organization have acted upon that. The upgrades for  Continue Reading »

DUNCAN, Okla. – Since the inception of the PRCA’s circuit system 47 years ago, the Prairie Circuit has been a hotbed for steer wrestling. Not only are there some outstanding homegrown bulldoggers, but men from out of the area – and even out of the United States – make their way to the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region  Continue Reading »

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The popularity of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo concert series has only continued to blossom over the years. “We’ve been very lucky over the years to have people who are diligent in bringing in great concerts,” said Paul Shollar, president of the Waller County Fair Board. “We’ve had Cody Johnson here  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – Jaci Traul put a little more student into her role as a student-athlete during her performance this past weekend at the Colby (Kansas) Community College rodeo. Traul took a cerebral approach to her job and came away with the breakaway roping championship. She roped her first calf in 2.5 seconds to finish  Continue Reading »

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair Board is expanding the community’s annual exposition, and that means bigger opportunities for fairgoers at this year’s event. The Waller County Fair and Rodeo will begin Thursday, Sept. 26, and continue through Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. It’s two days longer than years  Continue Reading »

DUNCAN, Okla. – Much has changed since Allan Dessel worked his first Prairie Circuit Finals. That was in 2010, when the rodeo was in Park City, Kansas, and Dessel was teaching school in Soper, Oklahoma. In 14 years since, he has moved back to his native Iowa and operates a bookkeeping business, all while still  Continue Reading »

SALT LAKE CITY – Orin Larsen is on the outside looking in. He’s qualified nine straight times for the National Finals Rodeo and entered this week of competition 16th on the money list; only the top 15 in the world standings in each event earn the right to play for the sport’s biggest pay this  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – The new Central Plains Region 10-event season kicked off in a different location and a different feel, but the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team came out with two titles, strong finishes and a boatload of confidence. Senior Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa, earned his first all-around championship at the Kansas  Continue Reading »

SALT LAKE CITY – Kash Gay has a couple of big goals she wants to accomplish as a breakaway roper. The first, of course, is to qualify for the Wilderness Circuit Finals Rodeo, which will take place this fall in Heber City, Utah; if she can win the year-end championship, that would be a bonus.  Continue Reading »

SALT LAKE CITY – Cash Wilson’s dreams of competing at the National Finals Rodeo may have to wait, but he understands that’s just part of the game he plays. He looked like a contender for the world title after posting an 88-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowboy Fool during Friday’s first performance of Utah’s  Continue Reading »

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The changes for the Waller County Fair and Rodeo keep coming. “We are one of the few fairs, if not the only one, in southeast Texas that has two pro rodeos, the CPRA Finals and the PRCA rodeo,” said Paul Shollar, president of the Waller County Fair Board. “It benefits everybody involved,  Continue Reading »

SALT LAKE CITY – There’s beauty in the sheer force of power draft horses possess. These equine marvels put the true meaning of horsepower to work, toting tons of freight at a time. Their expertise will be on display during the horse pull, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, in the Days of ’47  Continue Reading »

Utah State Fair event will honor specific groups during each performance SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah State Fair’s primary focus is on celebrating the state’s youth, providing opportunities for many who qualify to show their exhibits during the exposition. While the focus is on families, entertainment and the festivities, there are ways to help  Continue Reading »

Talented announcer makes the right calls when it comes to state fair event SALT LAKE CITY – When Garrett Yerigan walks around Utah State Fairpark, the sights, sounds and smells are familiar. “They just bring that special feel,” said Yerigan, the voice of Utah’s Own Rodeo who will call the action during this year’s affair,  Continue Reading »