Monthly Archives: April 2025

BIG SPRING, Texas – The anticipation begins long in advance and continues to build around west Texas. The Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo – which begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl – was developed 91 years ago as a way for locals to gather and celebrate their way of life. It has always been a community festival, from those early days so long ago to this year’s gala. Organizers understand that. Many of them have had family members involved in the annual event that brings thousands to town, and they’ve worked to not only continue the tradition but to also enhance the experience. It’s why the rodeo has included a musical presence for several years with the uptick in established concerts. This year’s rodeo will feature the perfect blend of party atmosphere and down-home dancehall music on the Star Ford Stage inside the Franklin & Son Pavilion with Roger Creager playing after the Friday performance of the rodeo and the Josh Abbott Band closing down the festivities Saturday night. “Roger Creager is going to play music that a lot of people really like,” said Derek Wash, a longtime member of the volunteer committee that organizes the event. Creager was born in 1971 at Corpus Christi, Texas. He attended Sam Houston State University, then went on to Texas A&M, where he really delved into his music career. He’s been entertaining crowds for decades. In fact, he’s played in Big Spring before. “We’re pretty excited to get Roger and have hm back in town for our rodeo concert,” Wash said. The same can be said about the Josh Abbott Band, which is originally from Lubbock, Texas, and has been a potent fixture in the Texas County music scene. Fronted by singer-songwriter-guitarist Josh Abbott, the seven-piece band has established a powerful following based on the strength of the group’s live performances. “That band is more for the ‘Take your sweetheart out and have some good dancing music’ type of show,” Wash said. “They’re big around here because they’re from Lubbock originally before they went to Nashville. It’s the kind of music most everybody can enjoy.” That helps make for an entertaining final two nights of the weekend. To help facilitate the concert-goers’ experiences, the volunteers have made some upgrades to the pavilion. Workers improved sound-proofing insulation on the front and back walls to serve as a barrier and help avoid excessive rattling and extreme volume that has been a bit of a hinderance in the past. “We also put in roll-up doors around the whole thing, so if it rains, we close it up and still party,” Wash said. “We’ve spent a ton of money in there, and it looks great. We just want to make the overall experience better for everyone that wants to enjoy the show. “This is just something added to our rodeo that we want to do to help make it exciting. There’s still a $10 ticket to get in the rodeo, and then it’s $20 to get into the dance. We’ve still got a few tables available for the dance, but we’re almost sold out of those. If anyone wants to get a table and have a good place to sit, they’d probably better act quickly.” For those who just want to be part of the show, there are still plenty of standing-room-only tickets for sale each night. As the rodeo has grown over time, there is so much more going on for ticket-buyers who want an evening out at a reasonable price. This is, after all, why the local folks volunteer their time and their energy into producing an event with more than nine decades of tradition. “This is something people look forward to in the summer,” Wash said. “We’ve promoted ourselves as having the biggest acts in Big Spring at the most affordable price you’ll ever find. We didn’t increase our prices to these concerts, even though the concerts cost more now than they ever have. We’re not doing this to try to make a bunch of money. We’re trying to bring something into this community. If you can’t go out on vacation or don’t get to do all these things, you still get a chance in your hometown. “That’s what the rodeo is about. We’re just trying to put on something that really makes the people of Big Spring proud, gives them a whole weekend of fun to look forward to all year. It’s why we do this selfless job, so that folks who can’t afford to go out of town or don’t want to have to go really far can take their kids to do something really fun here in town.”  

ALVA, Okla. – The last two loops might be the most memorable. Northwestern Oklahoma State University team roping graduate students Jacob Haren and Rhett Murray made the most of their final intercollegiate run together this past Saturday during the championship round of the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo in Guymon, Oklahoma. They stopped the clock in 6.0 seconds to not only win the short round but also the title at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena and waving goodbye to their years as Rangers. “It feels good to go out that way,” said Murray, the heeler originally from Alma, Kansas, but now living in Alva with a bachelor’s degree ag business and a master’s in business administration. “I’ve placed at a lot of rodeos, but I’ve never won one. That’s also my favorite rodeo to rope at since we get to rope muleys. I was glad I was able to come back to school at Alva to get my master’s degree and still rodeo.” Muleys are hornless cattle, which is atypical in team roping. Most often, the header will try to secure a cow’s horns to make for a better handle for his heeler to help stop the clock. Not only that, but the cattle used in Guymon had never been run in a rodeo, so they were fresh off the range. That just adds to the uniqueness of the experience. “We’ve kind of struggled this year, so it was pretty good to bring it together at the last one and have one of our best runs,” said Haren of Callaway, Nebraska. “We both rope muleys all the time back home, so we’re pretty used to it.” Haren and Murray led the way for the Rangers, who finished third in the men’s team race in Guymon, but they weren’t alone. Tie-down roper Hazen Sparks of Talihina, Oklahoma, finished tied for third in the long round but was saddled with a no-time in the championship. Steer wrestler Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa, placed in both rounds and finished fifth overall. Edler won the Central Plains Region’s bulldogging title, and the points he earned in the Oklahoma Panhandle helped him to finish second in the all-around standings. He will advance to the College National Finals Rodeo in June, and with that reserve title in hand, will also be able to compete in tie-down roping in Casper, Wyoming. Breakaway roper Katie Ayres of Canby, Oregon, finished tied for fifth in the first round after posting a 3.2-second run. She was joined in the short round by fellow breakaway roper Y’Leigh Yarbrough of Cheyenne, Oklahoma; goat-tier Bennett McComas of Mandan, North Dakota; and barrel racer Addey Lawson of Maysville, Kentucky. Team roper Colter Snook of Dodge City, Kansas, finished second in the heading standings, and Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma, finished third in goat-tying. They will join Edler in Casper in a few weeks, but the weekend belonged to the two grad students,. “What a strong finish for these two,” coach Cali Griffin said of Haren and Murray. “I couldn’t be happier for them. I had to do some real convincing to get these two back for their grad year, but I knew how much our team could benefit from them. “I love the cattle at Guymon. When they bring in the walking fresh in everything and the muleys in team roping, I think it brings out the true horseman and shows who can really handle a rope. You’d be hard-pressed to find any two that work harder at their horsemanship and roping. Before the short-go, I told Haren that I knew this year wasn’t going to end like we’d hoped, so they might as well go out on a high note, and they did.” Now, it’s time both take the next steps in their lives. Some of that will involve rodeo, but whatever they do will be influenced by being a cowboy. Murray, for example, will continue to shoe horses, raise cows and train horses. That’s what cowboys do, whether they’re in the Flint Hills of Kansas, the Sandhills of Nebraska or the Plains in Woods County, Oklahoma. “My hope is that in a few years I’ll have a nice cattle operation and be successful in whatever I’m doing,” Murray said. “When I came to school here, I didn’t think I’d ever stay around Alva, but I’ll probably be a lifer here.”

ALVA, Okla. – The mind of a competitor is a curious thing. What helps someone get out of a slump? What is it that brings back the winning formula? For Northwestern Oklahoma State University freshman Hazen Sparks, he knew something had to change. “I just don’t like losing,” said Sparks of Talihina, Oklahoma. “That seems to be all I’ve been doing lately, so I just got a fire lit under me, and I’ve been working hard at it and practicing hard. I’ve been confident and motivated, and it’s carried over to these last two weekends.” What began a week before in Weatherford, Oklahoma – where Sparks won the first round of tie-down roping but was saddled with a no-time in the championship – made for the perfect transition to this past weekend, when Sparks earned points in two events to win the all-around title at the Fort Hays (Kansas) State University rodeo. “I should have won Weatherford all-day, but I just got a little too excited in the short round,” said Sparks, who made the final round in both tie-down roping and steer wrestling, found success during the final performance and parlayed that into top finishes in Hays. “I drew pretty good this weekend and just wanted to make the best runs I could on what I had.” Having solid animals on which to compete is important for any contestant, and it’s part of the equation to find success. Hazen had a bit of help in his own tie-down roping horse, Easter, and his bulldogging mount, Easy, which is owned by fellow Ranger Logan Mullin. “I started that gray horse when she was coming on 4, and I trained her from there,” Sparks said of Easter, which has been named the Central Plains Region’s tie-down roping horse of the year. “I didn’t really take her a whole lot until last January, and I cracked her out at some jackpots. I was pretty confident in her, and we went quite a bit last year. She’s just as solid and honest as they come. “She just turned 8 (Sunday), and she got her name because she was born on Easter Sunday.” Maybe it was kismet with the holiday, but Northwestern coach Cali Griffin said much more went into Sparks’ success. “I’m excited for Hazen to win his first all-round title at the college rodeos,” Griffin said. “He’s just a freshman, and I know we’ll see a lot of him winning all-arounds in his time here. We had a really good chat last week about how now it was his time to step up as a leader and help create a culture that helps mold what the future of this program could look like. “He’s been talking to me about how to finish stronger in the short round, and I think he did just that.” Sparks led the way for the Rangers, collecting 180 cumulative points. He finished second in the final round and aggregate in tie-down roping, and was third in the short round and overall in steer wrestling. He was joined on the winner’s platform by teammate Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa, who not only won the bulldogging title in Hays but also secured his second straight qualification to the College National Finals Rodeo. Edler was 5.4 to finish as the runner-up in the long round, then stopped the clock in 6.3 seconds to win the short round and the average title. That was worth 170 points and gave the Iowa cowboy an advantage that can’t be surpassed at the final Central Plains Region rodeo of the year later this week in Guymon, Oklahoma. Edler and Sparks were accompanied in the final round by steer wrestler Grady Aasby of Highmore, South Dakota, and tie-down ropers Kaden Harland of Buffalo, Oklahoma, and Colter Snook of Dodge City, Kansas. Harland finished third and Snook fourth in the short round. For the women, freshman goat-tier Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma, placed in both rounds and finished tied for third overall, also securing at least a third-place finish in the regional standings to secure her bid for the college finals. She was joined in the championship round by Morgan Poust of Hughesville, Pennsylvania, who finished the first round in a four-way tie for sixth place. Breakaway roper Trista Renger of Apple Valley, California, was 2.8 in the short round for a tie for second place, and her two-run cumulative time of 6.0 seconds was good enough for third overall. Brylee Zook of Garnett, Kansas, was 2.3 seconds to win the opening round. Sparks has considered his rookie season in college rodeo to be a great learning experience. He decided on attending Northwestern because of its long legacy on excellent steer wrestling. Former coach Stockton Graves built a program during his tenure that featured two bulldogging national champions in J.D. Struxness (2016) and Bridger Anderson (2019), and the college became known as the Steer Wrestling Capital of College Rodeo. “I like bulldogging more, but I don’t take anything from tie-down,” Sparks said. “I still take that as serious as anything, and I just like being a two-event cowboy. I feel like I’m decently talented at both, but my preference is just bulldogging. That’s what my family’s always done. “Cali loves it, and she still wants us to stay a bulldogging school. She’s always asking what she can do to help the bulldoggers out, and I think she’s doing a great job. I met her before she came here, and I knew she’d be the right fit and that we’d get along together good.” The Northwestern rodeo program has a strong history, and the steps Griffin is taking with athletes like Sparks will help ensure what things will look like for years to come. “I just think this is the most cowboy place there is in the region,” Sparks said. “I feel like if you’re going to ProRodeo, Alva is the place you want to be.”

Texas bareback rider scores 92 points to win San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out SAN ANGELO, Texas – Bradlee Miller doesn’t need a spotlight; his 2025 season is bright enough. He is the No. 2 bareback rider in the world standings having entered this weekend with nearly $112,000, a lead of $36,000 over the field. Miller added more lumens to an already bright campaign by spurring J Bar J Rodeo’s Straight Stick for 92 points Saturday night to win the San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out – it was the highest-marked ride for the 21-year-old cowboy from Huntsville, Texas. “I don’t know if the experience changes when you get on a horse multiple times, but it definitely changes your mentality going into it whenever you’ve had success on an animal like that,” said Miller, who ride the bronc for the third time in five months. “Your confidence is through the roof whenever you see that’s what you’ve drawn. That’s how I felt going into it tonight, and it was a lot of fun.” It showed. Miller is coming off his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, where he earned $234,000 over 10 days in Las Vegas. He finished the year fourth in the world standings with more than $370,000. He overcame seriously strained neck muscles to battle through the richest rodeo of his career, and on the backside of that experience, Miller has found plenty of assurance in his ability. He first matched moves with Straight Jacket during the fifth round of the NFR, where he posted an 89-point ride. That was worth a fourth-place finish, worth $14,127. The two then got together again in the championship round of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, where they danced across the arena dirt for 89.5 points, earning Miller another $10,000. Their performance together inside the CRC Roofers Coliseum was worth $7,500 and just adds to Miller’s advantage on the bareback riding money list. Alas, he understands it’s way too early to look at his place in the standings. His goal for now is to end the regular season atop the world standings and battle for the gold buckle in December. “Being No. 1 right now doesn’t really mean anything,” said Miller, who placed in eight NFR rounds, including victories on Nights 2, 4 and 7. “That $7,500 is a big regular-season check, but that’s last hole at the NFR. It’s not a big boost, but I’m going to keep chipping away. I’d like to end the regular season with a big lead and make it harder for those guys to catch me, because the field of bareback riders is tough. “It’s so tough that you need every edge that you can have.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoCinch Chute-OutApril 19Bareback riding: First round: 1. Bradlee Miller, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner; 2. (tie) Mason Stuller and Clay Jorgenson, 88; 4. Jacob Lees, 85.5; 5. Dean Thompson, 82.5; 6. Kade Sonnier, 82. Championship: 1. Bradlee Miller, 92 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Straight Stick, $7,500; 2. Clay Jorgenson, 89.5, $3,000; 3. Mason Stuller, 88, $2,000. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. (tie) Riley Duvall and J.D. Struxness, 3.8 seconds; 3. Tucker Allen, 4.3; 4. Cody Devers, 5.1; 5. Justin Shaffer, 5.4; 6. Jesse Brown, 6.1. Championship: 1. Riley Duvall, 4.2 seconds, $7,500; 2. J.D. Struxness, 5.2, $3,000; 3. Tucker Allen, 5.8, $2,000. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Kincade Henry, 7.9; 2. Seth Hall, 8.7; 3. Shad Mayfield, 9.3; 4. (tie) Kyle Lucas and John Douch, 9.8; 6. Ty Harris, 11.6. Championship: 1. Kincade Henry, 9,6 seconds, $7,500; 2. Shad Mayfield, 16.1, $3,000; 3. Seth Hall, no time. Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1, Coleman Shallbetter, 89 on J Bar J Rodeo’s Painted J; 2. Jake Finlay 86.5; 3. Kade Bruno, 85.5; 4. Weston Patterson, 83.5; 5. Statler Wright, 82.5; 6. Dawson Hay, 80.5. Championship: 1. (tie) Coleman Shallbetter, on J Bar J Rodeo’s Shady Jacket, and Kade Bruno, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Toma Jo, 89.5 points, $5,250 each; 3. Jake Finlay, 88.5, $2,000. Shallbetter wins the tie-breaker. Team roping: First round: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 3.4 seconds; 2. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.5; 3. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 3.9; 4. Lightning Aguilera/Dustin Davis, 4.1; 5. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 4.7; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 8.4. Championship: 1. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 4.1 seconds, $7,500; 2. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord and Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, no time. Barrel racing: Championship: 1. Jackie Ganter, 14.40 seconds, $2,000 2. Lindsay Sears, 14.62, $1,250; 3. Taylor Baize, 15.84, $500; 4. Lindsay Muggli, 24.41, $250. Bull riding: First round: 1. Rawley Johnson, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Captain Hook; 2. Luke Mast, 84; 3. (tie) Luke Mackey and Ky Hamilton, 83.5; no other qualified rides. Championship: 1. No qualified rides. Johnson wins the title based on his first-round ride.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Kolton Schmidt needed that in every way possible. The team roping header – originally Barrhead, Alberta, now living in Stephenville, Texas –  has been oh-so close to winning the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. He was the runner-up in 2020 while roping with Hunter Koch; he finished third in 2022 while roping with Wyatt Cox. A short-lived partnership with Will Woodfin of Marshall, Texas, just happened to provide the magic touch. The tandem placed in two of three rounds and finished with a three-run cumulative time of 14.0 seconds to claim that elusive championship inside CRC Roofers Coliseum. “I’ve come close to winning it,” Schmidt said. “I’m happy to finally break the ice. I felt like it was a much needed time, and I’m happy to have it.” Any win is important, but there are other factors that come into play in the game of rodeo. This professional sport pays its winners, and that’s not only how contestants make a living but it’s also how they earn the right to compete on the highest level. Dollars also equal championship points, and the world standings is based on a money list. Schmidt entered this week 44th in the heading standings with just $13,277. Only the top 15 at season’s end advance to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand championship. The Albertan has earned two trips to the finale in 2016 and ’20. He wants to find his way back, and wins like what he collected in San Angelo can go a long way toward that. Though there were technical difficulties with the rodeo secretary’s system to tabulate dollar amounts earned at the rodeo, Schmidt’s west Texas take should net him around $10,000. That could put him within the top 20 with five months remaining in the regular season. Schmidt and Woodfin closed out their San Angelo campaign with a 5.4-second run during Friday’s championship round. It wasn’t the fastest run – that came Thursday night when Clay Smith and Coleby Payne stopped the clock in 3.5 seconds to win the second round – but it was solid. “With what happened in front of us, you never really know how it’s going to go,” said Schmidt, who was competing at just his second rodeo with Woodfin. “It can always go either way where you’ve got to max one out or just complete the course, and I would say we just completed the course. “It always comes down to the fact that you don’t win unless you stop the clock. Sometimes it requires speed, and sometimes it doesn’t.” Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield was plenty fast, roping and tying three calves in a cumulative time of 23.9 seconds. He placed in the first and final rounds, posting 7.7-second runs each, and was solid in his second-round run to win the title. “I’ve never rally had the best of luck here, so it’s awesome to come out here and get that,” Mayfield – the 2020 tie-down roping and 2024 all-around world champion – told Janie Johnson of The Cowboy Channel. “The best calf roping fans in the world are right here tonight, and we couldn’t do it without them. It makes us try harder. I thank San Angelo for that.” Because of technical difficulties, payouts for this year’s event are not available. We regret any inconvenience.San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding: 1. Sage Allen, 89 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust; 2. Cole Reiner, 88; 3. Cole Franks, 87.5; 4. (tie) Jess Pope, Tucker Carricato and Mason Stuller, 87; 7. (tie) Taylor Broussard, Tilden Hooper and Clay Jorgenson, 86; 10. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 11. Jayco Roper, 84.5. Finals: 1. Sage Allen, 89.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Worth The Whisky; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 89; 3. (tie) Taylor Broussard and Tilden Hooper, 88; 5. Cole Franks, 86.5; 6. Jess Pope, 85. Average: 1. Sage Allen, 178.5 points on two rides; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 174.5; 3. (tie) Cole Franks, Tilden Hooper and Taylor Broussard, 174; 6. Jess Pope, 172; 7. Cole Reiner, 171; 8. Clay Jorgenson, 170.5. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Jesse Brown, 2.9 seconds; 2. Dalton Massey, 3.2; 3. Mike McGinn, 3.4; 4. Winsten McGraw, 3.5; 5. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Tyler Waguespack, 3.6; 7. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7. Second round: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 2.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson and Dakota Eldridge, 3.3; 5. Jesse Brown, 3.5; 6. Tanner Brunner, 3.6; 7. (tie) Matt Reeves, Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7. Finals: 1. (tie) Rowdy Parrott, Dalton Massey and Dkota Eldridge, 3.8 seconds; 4. Will Lummus, 3.9; 5. Cody Devers, 4.2; 6. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Jesse Brown, 4.3; 8. Bridger Anderson, 4.4. Average: 1. Jesse Brown, 10.7 seconds on three runs; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 11.1; 3. Dalton Massey, 11.4; 4. (tie) Rowdy Parrott and Will Lummus, 11.8; 6. Bridger Anderson, 11.9; 7. Hunter Cure, 12.2; 8. Stetson Jorgensen, 12.4. Team roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott and J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 3.8 seconds; 3. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9; 4. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.0; 8. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1. Second round: 1. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 3.5 seconds; 2. Shay Carroll/Logan Moore, 3.7; 3. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord and Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 3.8; 5, (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin and Riley Kittle/Landen Glenn, 3.9. Finals: 1. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 4.5 seconds; 2. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 5.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 5.2; 5. (tie) Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison and Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin, 5.4. Average: 1. Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin, 14.0 seconds on three runs; 2. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 14.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 14.4; 5. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 14.5; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 14.8; J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 8.1 seconds on two runs; Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Logan Hay,  Continue Reading »

Organizers increase seating, add announcer and local dollars to shows GOODING, Idaho – Over the years, organizers of the Gooding Pro Rodeo presented by Idaho Ford Dealers have made quite a statement about producing something special. Those same folks are amping it up starting this year with the centennial celebration of the Gooding County Fair and Rodeo. There are multiple layers to that, which has become a known byproduct of this annual community event that features great fanfare.  “I think a lot of the new things we’re doing are things we need to do to make sure we’re always a the top of our game,” said Don Gill, manager of the fair and rodeo, which is set for Thursday, Aug. 14-Saturday, Aug. 16, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 13; all performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena.  “We’ve added 125 new seats on the northwest corner of our arena, and we’re adding that I call a ‘party deck’ just below that. It’s going to seat 16 people, and we’ll have an auction for who sits in that section for each night of the rodeo. “It’s an oversized (seating area) that we’re just putting in because we have groups that want to get box seats that can’t because we’ve sold our existing box seats out for so long. This is a way to give a company a chance to bring whoever they want to enjoy the rodeo that way.” It’s a significant change and an opportunity to meet the high demand that comes with the Gooding Pro Rodeo, but it’s not the only addition to the experience. For the first time ever, the event will include another announcer to join forces with longtime emcee Steve Kenyon. Gill will bring in Garrett Yerigan, a two-time PRCA Announcer of the Year. “Last fall before I ever talked to Garrett, Steve and I visited about it,” Gill said. “Steve’s done a great job for us for years, but our rodeo has gotten to the point where it’s a lot to ask of him. My little brother, Jon, is involved with the rodeo in Hermiston (Oregon), and he wanted to bring in something different to their tailgate show, so they had Steve come last year. When I heard them together in Hermiston, the two of them are far better than I have ever heard. “They work together really well, and I thought it would work great.” Yerigan – who announces many large events like The American, Cheyenne (Wyoming) Frontier Days and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo among others – is excited about being part of the mix in Gooding. “There’s a bit of a sibling rivalry thing between Jon and Don, and they want to rib each other and see who’s got the better rodeo,” said Yerigan, who was raised on rodeo in Oklahoma but now lives in Weatherford, Texas. “Don called me up and said, ‘Hey, I just want to give you a chance to come see which brother you like working for better.’ “I just laughed, but I guess between the two of them, they thought that I would be a good fit at Gooding.” The combination of Kenyon and Yerigan will provide a different spark to the incredible action Gooding Pro Rodeo has been known for over the last several years. “In my humble opinion, Garrett Yerigan is, if not the best, one of the three best rodeo announcers in the country right now,” said Kenyon, Gooding’s voice for 24 years. “He’s the youngest guy to ever be honored as Announcer of the Year in the PRCA. He’s just super talented.” The addition will create a new dynamic, but it’s one Gill and others in the region expect to add more benefits. Yerigan may be new to town this August, but he understands the reputation the local rodeo has on the national stage. There are many reasons the top contestants make their way to Gooding. The community also has upped the ante on providing even more incentives to cowboys and cowgirls. The “added money,” which is local dollars that are mixed with contestants’ entry fees to make up the purse, has been increased to $18,000 per event and per discipline in team roping. That means the overall added money for Gooding will be $162,000 before opening night begins. “When you put out a good product year after year and have created something special like that, it’s easy for the community to get behind,” Kenyon said. “We have done a great job of producing a great rodeo. What Don Gill has done with a bunch of crazy ideas that he managed to put together and make work year after year has allowed Gooding to build something the whole town can be proud of. “That community is proud of that event, and they should be. It’s a great rodeo.”

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Every professional athlete understands the importance of scouting an opponent. Cowboys are no different. Bronc busters want to understand a horse’s tendencies during a ride, and any knowledge of the animal helps. Take Zac Dallas and J Bar J Rodeo’s Stacked Deck, his match-up during Thursday’s 10th performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “I had a really good horse, and I’d drawn that horse before and won the rodeo,” Dallas said of his 85-point ride during the Killdeer (North Dakota) Mountain Roundup in 2023. “I was on my permit, too, so it was pretty exciting. “I was pretty tickled to see that horse by my name here.” He and Stacked Deck had a better day in west Texas, dancing across the CRC Roofers Coliseum dirt for 87.5 points to share the first-round victory in saddle bronc riding with Canadian Logan Hay, who competed last weekend. Dallas is coming off a spectacular first season in ProRodeo, one in which he qualified for the first time to the National Finals Rodeo. He finished 14th in the world standings and was also named the Resistol Saddle Bronc Riding Rookie of the Year. He came off that campaign into this one and immediately found the winner’s circle in Denver. “I’m just out here enjoying every minute of it and trusting in God’s plan,” said Dallas, 23, of Las Cruces, New Mexico. “I just show up and do my job every time and see how it works out.” Every cowboy dreams of playing on the sport’s biggest stage in Las Vegas. Dallas placed in just one round, but he found the positives in the experience; rodeo is a roller-coaster ride of emotions and outcomes, and there is only so much control an athlete has when it comes to the game. “I felt like I did my job on every horse for the most part,” he said. “All you can do is keep doing that, and everything will come around.” It seems to be working that way in 2025. He’s already cashed in for more than $6,000 in San Angelo money with another chance at adding to that sum. He will return to the legendary building for Friday’s championship round. “I’m just grateful to be here and to get a chance to get another one,” Dallas said. “This place is pretty awesome. They pack it out, and they’re really into it. They love it, so it definitely makes you want to ride better and do the best you can.” Because of technical difficulties, payouts for the second round are not yet available. We hope to have it updated when possible. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding: 1. Sage Allen, 89 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust; 2. Cole Reiner, 88; 3. Cole Franks, 87.5; 4. (tie) Jess Pope, Tucker Carricato and Mason Stuller, 87; 7. (tie) Taylor Broussard, Tilden Hooper and Clay Jorgenson, 86; 10. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 11. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 12. (tie) Kade Sonnier and R.C. Landingham, 84. Because of ties, only 11 bareback riders will be brought back to Friday’s championship round. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Jesse Brown, 2.9 seconds, $6,628; 2. Dalton Massey, 3.2, $5,763; 3. Mike McGinn, 3.4, $4,899; 4. Winsten McGraw, 3.5, $4,034; 5. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Tyler Waguespack, 3.6, $2,738 each; 7. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7, $1,009 each. Second round: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 2.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson and Dakota Eldridge, 3.3; 5. Jesse Brown, 3.5; 6. Tanner Brunner, 3.6; 7. (tie) Matt Reeves, Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Jesse Brown, 6.4 seconds on two runs; 3. Mike McGinn, 7.2; 4. Dakota Eldridge, 7.3; 5. Bridger Anderson, 7.5; 6. Dalton Massey, 7.6; 7. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 8. Will Lummus, 7.9; 9. Rowdy Parrott, 8.0; 10. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Justin Shaffer, 8.1; 12. Cody Devers, 8.4. Team roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott and J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 3.8 seconds, $5,165 each; 3. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9, $4,084; 4. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.0, $2,282 each; 8. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1, $240 each. Second round: 1. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 3.5 seconds; 2. Shay Carroll/Logan Moore, 3.7; 3. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord and Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 3.8; 5, (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin and Riley Kittle/Landen Glenn, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 8.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin, 8.6; 3. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7; 4. Jr. Dees/J.C. Flake, 8.8; 5. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 6. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 8. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 9. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 10. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 11. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 12. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4.  Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Logan Hay, on New Star Rodeo’s True Gritt, and Zac Dallas, on J Bar J Rodeo’s Stacked Deck, 87.5 points; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright, Stetson Wright and Blaise Freeman, 86; 6. (tie) Thayne Elshere, Ben Anderson and Dawson Hay, 85.5; 9. (tie) Kade Bruno and Bailey Small, 85; 11. (tie) Jake Finlay, Gus Gaillard and Ryder Sanford, 84.5. Because of ties, only 10 saddle bronc riders will be brought back to Friday’s championship round. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Kason Dyer, 7.4 seconds, $7,094; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons, Tyson Durfey, Ryan Jarrett and Shad Mayfield, 7.7, $4,781 each; 6. Kincade Henry, 7.9, $2,467; 7. Britt Bedke, 8.2, $1,542; 8. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4, $308 each. Second round: 1. Ty Harris, 7.0 seconds; 2. Marty Yates, 7.3; 3. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5; 4. Colton Suther, 7.6; 5. Shane Hanchey, 7.9; 6. (tie) Tate Teague, Cory Solomon and Marcos Costa, 8.0. Average leaders: 1. Shad Mayfield, 16.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Marty Yates, 16.4; 3. Kincade Henry, 16.7; 4. Chance Fleming, 17.1; 5. Garrett Jacobs,  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Jesse Brown’s mark on the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo didn’t last long. Five-time world champion steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack supplanted himself as the lone CRC Roofers Coliseum arena record-holder with a 2.8-second run during Thursday’s slack competition with just two handfuls of cowboys left to compete in the 10th performance of the rodeo in the evening. “I didn’t necessarily think I could beat 2.9,” Waguespack said of Brown’s run Wednesday night to win the opening round. “I knew I was going to have an outstanding chance and hopefully get back (to Friday’s championship) in good position in the average.” How did he know? It was the same steer Brown had when he tied the then-arena record with legendary bulldogger Roy Duvall, who set the mark in 1986, and Bryan Fields, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who did it in 2007. “That was the steer everybody would have wanted to have today just because of how much success Jesse had on it the night before,” said Waguespack, a 10-time NFR qualifier from Gonzales, Louisiana. “I feel like I got a great start, and the steer does everything else on his own.” Riding Sam Mason’s mare Baby, Waguespack also placed in the first round, knocking down his opening-round steer in 3.6 seconds to finish in a tie for fifth with Montanan Bridger Chambers; that was worth more than $2,700. With that, Waguespack shares the average lead with Brown with two-run cumulative times of 6.4 seconds. Both men credit the fast setup inside the historic coliseum. “I’ve been successful here a lot and have made a lot of fast, 3-second runs here,” Waguespack said. “To be 2 here is just unbelievable. A lot of great champions have rodeoed their whole life and never had an opportunity to be 2. It’s just super fun to be in a rodeo of that magnitude and have a run like that.”

GUYMON, Okla. – It’s been seven years since the committee that organizes the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo teamed with Freedom, Oklahoma-based Frontier Rodeo to produce the annual event, and that relationship isn’t ending anytime soon. “We just signed a multiyear extension with Frontier on their contract,” said Ken Stonecipher, chairman of the volunteer organization, which will celebrate the 93rd edition of Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “Frontier being the 10-time and reigning PRCA Stock Contractor of the year says it all. On the production side, what I really appreciate about with Heath Stewart is that not only does he bring really good guys that know their jobs and know how to do them, but they are very customer-focused in terms of how the committee wants to run things. They are very easy to work with.” The outfit has been named the PRCA’s top livestock producer each year for the past decade. In that span, Frontier is been named the Xtreme Bulls Stock Contractor of the Year three times. It also has earned two Remuda Awards for having the most even pen of bareback horses and saddle broncs. The company has also had multiple animals receive some of the highest honors in ProRodeo, including PRCA Saddle Broncs of the Year Medicine Woman, a four-time winner, and Maple Leaf; and two Bareback Horses of the Year, Full Baggage, which won the title three times, and Gun Fire, which has helped cowboys to a share of the Guymon title each of the past three seasons. The 2025 Pioneer Days Rodeo also marks the return of rodeo entertainer Robbie Hodges, who has been selected as the barrelman of the National Finals Rodeo and has been recognized as one of the top clowns in the sport for two decades. “The best way to describe Robbie is that he’s just a lot of fun,” Stonecipher said. “He’s fun inside the arena; he’s fun outside the arena. He’s laid back and casual, which is why he fits our rodeo really well. He’s also a good guy to have on the crew, making appearances and being at different events in town. He helps us a lot with our promotion when he’s here.” Hodges has a long history of working rodeos with the Frontier crew, so that helps with the collaborative efforts when it comes to production. A former bareback rider, he understands the balance it takes to work an event that is equal parts competition and entertainment. That combination of Frontier production and Hodges comedy works well together. “A lot of times, we defer to the judgment of Frontier Rodeo when it comes to our event, because they’re professional and, obviously, they’re the best at it,” Stonecipher said. “With the caliber of bucking stock they bring, it doesn’t matter if you draw Friday night or Sunday afternoon, you’re going to get one you can win on.” That means the four-performance rodeo should be exciting from start to finish. Longtime supporter Seaboard Foods noticed that years ago, which is why the local business has paved the way for every spectator to enjoy the Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon performances with free admission. It offers fans of all ages the chances to see great things happen inside Hitch Arena every year. Having the Frontier brand as part of the Guymon rodeo experience is also why so many contestants will make their way to the Oklahoma Panhandle this spring. A year ago, more than 1,100 cowboys and cowgirls were part of the competition. “Frontier’s got the best bulls and horses in the game,” said Josh Frost, the reigning bull riding world champion and an Oklahoma Panhandle State University alumnus. “To go along with that, they put on one of the best productions you’ve ever seen. From their arena crew to the chute help to the pickup men, it’s as professional a production as there is out there. “Everybody’s going to want to enter the rodeo, because they know the stock’s going to be good, and you’re going to have a chance to win regardless of what you draw.” That’s exciting for the cowboys, the fans and the local volunteers that put in a year’s worth of work to present something special for this region. This is the culmination of many pieces of an excellent puzzle coming together. It’s why Pioneer Days Rodeo was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2015 and continues to be one of the elite events in the country. “Frontier brings in other subcontractors to make sure the quality of livestock is good throughout all four performances,” Stonecipher said. “They’re just so easy to work with and so professional; it makes our job as volunteers a lot easier.”

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Over the past five seasons, steer wrestler Jesse Brown has accomplished a lot. He’s earned five straight qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo, where he’s won multiple go-rounds and staked his claim to being one of the top bulldoggers in the game. He’s won some of the biggest rodeos in the game, from San Antonio, Texas, to Pendleton, Oregon. He did something for the first time during Wednesday’s ninth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, knocking down his steer in 2.9 seconds to take the first-round lead inside CRC Roofers Coliseum. It was the first sub-3-second run of his lifetime, and with it, Brown tied an arena record initially set by Roy Duvall in 1986 and matched by Bryan Fields in 2007. “That barrier in San Angelo is one of the fastest starts you can get all year outside the NFR,” said Brown, 32, Baker City, Oregon. “I knew it was really fast, and I knew the steer was going to pick it up. You really have nothing to lose as far as if you miss the barrier, so you’re not going to win anything anyway because it was already so fast. I was just running at the barrier.” Contestants line up behind a barrier rope that is attached to a mechanism inside the timed-event chute. Once the steer is given its adequate head start, the barrier will release. Should the cowboy get a head start, the string tying the barrier will break, and that results in a 10-second penalty. Fellow Oregonian Dalton Massey was already 3.2, and Brown knew he had to post a time in that range if he hoped to earn a round payday. He entered this week’s competition fifth in the world standings with just shy of $39,000 in earnings. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. On top of that, he’ll make his second run prior to Thursday’s 10th performance with hopes of advancing to Friday’s championship round. He’s done wonders already with a partner he’s still learning about. “That horse I’m riding is Walt Arnold’s,” Brown said. “Her name is Shelby, and she’s a really nice horse. That was only the fifth time I’ve ever ridden her. I rode her at Austin and won some money there. They live pretty close and were nice enough to let me on.” It worked out better than even he expected. Another Oregon cowboy, Mike McGinn of Haines City, has the aggregate lead with a two-run cumulative time of 7.2 seconds. Brown could just be solid and still take the overall lead with a 4.2-second run or faster, but he’s hoping to at least secure a fast enough time to be in contention by the time the short round begins. “You sure want to be solid to make it back, but at the same time, you can’t really back off the barrier,” he said. “If you do, then you’re going to run (the steer) far. I’m still trying to come back in be in as good a position as you can, because I know how tough the average is.” Bulldoggers now just how tough San Angelo’s competition can be. They realize there will be some blazing fast times, but Brown now has a place among the fastest ever to do it in that storied building. He’s right up there with Duvall, who owns 24 NFR qualifications, the most by any steer wrestler ever, and Fields, who also owns the arena record of 3.0 seconds at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the NFR’s home since 1985. “Those two guys are a couple of legends in completely different eras,” Brown said. “That’s great company, and I’m just glad to be mentioned with those guys.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding leaders: 1. Sage Allen, 89 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust; 2. Cole Reiner, 88; 3. Cole Franks, 87.5; 4. (tie) Jess Pope, Tucker Carricato and Mason Stuller, 87; 7. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 8. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 9. (tie) Kade Sonnier and R.C. Landingham, 84; 11. (tie) Orin Larsen, Leighton Berry, Bradlee Miller and Sam Petersen, 83.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 2.9 seconds; 2. Dalton Massey, 3.2; 3. Mike McGinn, 3.4; 4. Winsten McGraw, 3.5; 5. (tie) Bridger Chambers and Tyler Waguespack, 3.6; 7. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson and Dakota Eldridge, 3.3 seconds; 4. (tie) Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7; 7. Mike McGinn, 3.8; 8. (tie) Landris White and Will Lummus, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. Mike McGinn, 7.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 7.3; 3. Bridger Anderson, 7.5; 4. Dalton Massey, 7.6; 5. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 6. Will Lummus, 7.9; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 8.0; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Justin Shaffer, 8.1; 10. Cody Devers, 8.4; 11. Landris White, 8.5; 12. Emmett Edler, 8.7.    Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott and J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 3.8 seconds; 3. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9; 4. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.0; 8. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord and Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 3.8 seconds; 3, (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin and Riley Kittle/Landen Glenn, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7; Jr. Dees/J.C. Flake, 8.8; 4. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 5. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 7. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 8. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 9. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 10. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 11. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 12. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Logan Hay, 87.5 points on New Star Rodeo’s True Gritt; 2. Blaise Freeman, 86; 3. (tie) Thayne Elshere, Ben Anderson and Dawson Hay, 85.5; 6. Kade Bruno,  Continue Reading »

FORT WORTH, Texas – When the hat-maker decided upon its Resistol Rookie Roundup presented by The Cowboy Channel, officials knew just the right stock contracting company to produce the annual event. Resistol reached out to Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, which will present the event for the fourth straight year during this year’s festivities, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 25-Saturday, April 26, at Cowtown Coliseum in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. The roundup will feature the top 15 first-year contestants in the standard ProRodeo events over that time. “When we partnered with Patrick Gottsch and The Cowboy Channel on that event, Pete was just a natural choice for us,” said Mary Jane Carpenter, Resistol’s brand director. “Resistol has a great relationship with him. He puts on a first-class event, and that’s what we were striving for. He understood our mission in making a well-produced event and the best type of stock we could provide for the rookies. “He was just a natural choice.” Carr has continued to be the right decision. In fact, he was named the 2024 Resistol Man of the Year, becoming just the 16th person since the award’s inception to receive the honor. Others include Gottsch, announcer Bob Tallman, former PRCA commissioner Karl Stressman and country artists George Strait and Cody Johnson. “This is an award that is selected by the president of our company,” Carpenter said of Dustin Noblitt, who took over the reins from Ricky Bolin a year ago. “It’s based on outstanding efforts in promoting the Western lifestyle, and Pete is a great choice for that award. He’s done so much for the Western industry. He’s worked really hard in support of cowboys, the industry, rodeo and in raising bucking horses.” Carr is a 15-time nominee for the PRCA’s Stock Contractor of the Year and has twice been named the WPRA’s Stock Contractor of the Year. In 2023, he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame alongside his great gelding, Dirty Jacket, a two-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year. Three other Carr horses – Real Deal in 2005, Big Tex in 2010 and Deuces Night in 2012 – have also won that honor, and Carr’s Bayou Bengal was the 2023 PRCA Bull of the Year. “Pete’s been a great promoter of the Western lifestyle, but he’s also an outstanding businessman as well,” Carpenter said. “He really brings a great perspective from both sides: the cowboy side and the business side. He’s just been a great proponent for the industry. He’s a self-made man, which is a great trait for a cowboy. He has built a very successful construction business in addition to being one of the best PRCA stock contractors out there. “He pours his heart and soul into it. There’s something about his love for the game and how giving he is, not only to rodeo but also to all the Western charitable events he participates in.” Resistol is the preeminent maker of Western hats and is based in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas. The Cowboy Channel has taken broadcasting rodeo to a new level. Combined, they are at the top of the rodeo industry, and they lean on Carr and his team of professionals to produce the Rookie Roundup. “Pete is a very turnkey operator, because he and his people know how to put on a rodeo from beginning to end,” Carpenter said. “He’s just a great choice to produce this event.” The opening performance of the roundup will feature each contestant battling in his/her respective discipline. After the opening round is complete, the top eight will advance to the Saturday night performance of the tournament-style competition. The contestants with the top four scores or top four fastest times in that semifinal round will advance to the championship, with the winner being crowned then. The dollars earned in Fort Worth that weekend will go toward Resistol Rookie of the Year standings. The top first-year money-earners in each event at the end of the regular season will win the rookie awards. While some may win multiple world championships over their careers, there is only one season in which a contestant can be named Resistol Rookie of the Year. “This event has grown so much,” Carpenter said. “We are so grateful to have it because the whole mission is to have it early in the year when they’re kicking off their professional careers. Now, they have a place they can meet and compete against all their peers, and then be allowed to have more formal training on what it means to be a professional cowboy. “They go through media interviews, some media training, and they will have a roundtable discussion with past rookie winners or world champions. They learn a little about getting a sponsor. When they check in, they will get a bag of essentials and a Resistol hat. They’re kicking off their careers with some education and some guidance on becoming a professional.” They’ll also see what it’s like to compete at a first-rate event produced by one of the top stock contractors in ProRodeo.

FORT WORTH, Texas – Gus Gaillard is looking for any advantage he can get in his first year of competing in ProRodeo. He’s a 22-year-old bronc buster from the tiny hamlet of Morse, Texas, not far south of the Oklahoma border in the Texas Panhandle. He’s been among the top 15 in the world standings early this season and working toward some incredible goals for his 2025 campaign. Like all cowboys who make a living in rodeo, he wants to advance to the National Finals Rodeo and battle for the world championship. He’d also like to be the top money-earner among first-year saddle bronc riders, which is why he’s looking forward to the Resistol Rookie Roundup presented by The Cowboy Channel, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 25-Saturday, April 26, at Cowtown Coliseum in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards. “The Resistol Rookie standings are going to change every week,” said Gaillard, the reigning intercollegiate champion who also helped Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, win the men’s team title last June. “Ira (Dickinson), Bailey (Small) and I go to school together, and we’ve been good buddies for a while now. We’ve all ride pretty dang good, and we all have a chance at it. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a new guy leading the rookie standings every week, so winning the Rookie Roundup will dang sure help a guy put his name a little higher.” The event will feature the top 15 rookies in each event competing on opening night. The best eight scores and times will advance to Night 2’s semifinals round, with the top four moving on to the championship. The contestant in that round with the best score or time will win the tournament-style rodeo and carry that momentum into the busiest time of the season over the summer run. “I’m going to do my best to be there and be ready for it,” Gaillard said. “I’m really excited about the Rookie Roundup. It’s something they’ve done for rookies and have done a pretty good job with it. It pays good, and the horses are good.” That’s because the organizers have entrusted the production to Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, one of the elite stock-contracting firms in the PRCA. The cowboys understand they’ll have a good shot at big money and a big title in their inaugural year of competing on the sport’s top level. “I’ve gotten along with Pete’s horses for a long time, and he’s dang sure got some buckers,” Gaillard said. “He’s got some stuff that will try you pretty hard, but Pete sure gives you a chance to win every time you get on one. If you do a good job and take care of business, you’ve got a pretty good chance of placing.” The Texan has been doing that and is riding momentum from 2024 into this season. In addition to the college titles, he finished the year with the most earnings of any PRCA permit-holding bronc rider with more than $70,000. “Winning that college team title was a pretty big deal, and then I was lucky enough to win the bronc riding, too,” Gaillard said. “I don’t want to be average; I want to be the very best, so that’s what I’ve set out to do.”

ALVA, Okla. – Jacob Haren knows exactly where he sits with regards to the Central Plains Region standings. There are two events remaining on the season, and Haren is in a bit of scramble mode if he intends to return to the College National Finals Rodeo. A season ago, he won the region’s all-around title and competed in both tie-down roping and steer wrestling in Casper, Wyoming. His chances of repeating are slim this season, but he still has hopes of returning. “You’ve just got to step up and know you’re going to need something at the next two,” said Haren, a Northwestern Oklahoma State University graduate student from Callaway, Nebraska. “My goal is to get back to Casper.” He gave it his best effort as the Rangers played their game this past weekend at the Southwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo in Weatherford. Haren placed in both rounds and finished fourth in the team roping aggregate race while heading for teammate Rhett Murray of Alma, Kansas. Haren also finished among the leaders in the short round of tie-down roping and finished fifth in the average, then scored a fourth-place finish in the first round of steer wrestling. “I definitely had the opportunity to place really good in all three, but I just didn’t quite get done what I needed,” said Haren, whose best shot at making the college finals is in steer wrestling, where he was ranked fourth heading into the weekend. “It was good to have some success, especially after struggling at Garden City last week. “I think as a team, we practiced really hard after Garden City. We really busted our butts.” There were a lot of positives that came out of the Rangers’ performance in Weatherford. “We had lots of good stuff this week,” coach Cali Griffin said. “I think us changing around practice a little and the effort everyone put into this week really showed. I’m really happy for Haren. He finally had the rodeo he deserves and one that we all know he’s capable of. That kid puts in work day in and day out on multiple horses in multiple events every day, and I don’t think a lot of people realize how hard he works at it.” That’s the nature of being a rodeo cowboy, but there’s more to it for Haren, who also serves as the graduate assistant coach. In addition to working on his own game, he also handles many duties necessary to prepare the practice facilities and to help the other cowboys and cowgirls prepare. “I do whatever Cali needs me to do but also still getting in all my practice needs,” he said. “It can be a lot, but I’m glad I can help out.” Haren led the way for the men’s team but also was witness to other Rangers who found some success. Fellow tie-down roper Hazen Sparks of Talihina, Oklahoma, won the first round, while bulldogger Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa, placed in both rounds and finished third overall. Grady Aasby of Highmore, South Dakota, also made the championship round in steer wrestling. Team roper Colter Snook of Dodge City, Kansas, maintained his place atop the heading standings, placing fifth in both the final round and the average while roping with Cale Morris of Western Oklahoma State College. The Northwestern team of Kyler Altmiller of Canadian, Texas, and Sage Bader of Kim, Colorado, also qualified for the short round. Breakaway roper Y’Leigh Yarbrough of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, finished fifth in the long round, sixth in the short round and fifth overall. It was her top finish as a Ranger – she won the Kansas State University rodeo last fall while competing at Western Oklahoma, then transferred to Northwestern at the semester break. She was joined in the final round by Chase Kite of Beetown, Wisconsin, and Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma, the latter of whom stopped the clock in 3.1 seconds to finish in a tie for second place in the first round. Goat-tier Bennett McComas of Mandan, North Dakota, finished the first round in 8.3 seconds to qualify for the championship, where she was 10.8 seconds but did not place in either round.   “I was pretty happy with the way things went,” Yarbrough said. “I drew more on the stronger end of the calves, so I’m just thankful that I got them knocked down and got some points.” Yarbrough finished her degree at Western Oklahoma in December, then opted to transfer to Alva to continue her education and to compete in intercollegiate rodeo. While she knew her first-round calf was going to test her abilities, she got a bit of a push from Griffin. “Cali just told me to score (well) and catch him and that I would probably get another one,” Yarbrough said. “I think the advantage was the horsepower I have and being able to score on a long setup like that. My favorite setup is getting to run one down.” Her horsepower came from Bob, a 6-year-old sorrel gelding. He came in handy in Weatherford. “He’s the first horse I’ve ever raised,” she said. “I’m the only one that’s ever roped calves on him. He saw his first calf in June, and my good horse got crippled, so he had to get the call. He really had to step up to the plate.” With rodeos this weekend in Hays, Kansas, and the following in Guymon, Oklahoma, Yarbrough and her teammates will be making a strong push to close out the region season with hopes of advancing to the college finals. The Casper championship features only the top three individuals and top two teams from each region. “It’s going to be a tough two weeks, but we’re ready for it,” Griffin said.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Like a lot of folks from South Dakota, rodeo runs through Mason Moody’s blood. Now in his fourth year competing at the top level of the sport, he’s proving to those around him just why he loves the game he plays. He rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Richard Slam for 90.5 points to win Sunday’s San Angelo Xtreme Bulls at CRC Roofers Coliseum. “When you get that good of a bull under you, it’s never a walk in the park, especially when they’re (spinning) away from your hand,” Moody told The Cowboy Channel after pocketing $13,325. “You’ve really got to ride them pretty. There’s no getting by them on the outside. You’ve got to do the correct moves.” In fact, his focus on the fundamentals was a key reason why he lasted the eight seconds and built up such a big score. Bull riding is all about countering the moves made by the massive bovines, and Moody made the best of his situation. “There was a point where he kind of had me rocked out of there, and you just shove your hips hard and shove out your chest,” said Moody, 22, of Letcher, South Dakota. “Sometimes it works out, and sometimes they buck you off, but that’s part of bull riding.” Moody entered Sunday’s competition fifth in the world standings, and he knew he was matched with a powerful bull. Richard Slam is 5 years old and earned his first trip to the National Finals Rodeo in 2024. He’s been ridden just twice in his lifetime, the first last was August by Wacey Schalla in Lovington, New Mexico, for 89.5 points and the second Sunday afternoon in San Angelo. The black bull with a white face was out twice at the NFR, bucking off both Chase Dougherty (Round 4) and Trey Kimzey (Round 9). “I looked at Chase Outlaw’s ride from the other day here,” Moody said of the April 5 performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “(The bull) was really good. You’ve just got to keep your hips under you and go at him. I knew I had a chance to win. He was a good one to draw.” It helped in every way possible. With the win and the lion’s share of the cash paid out, Moody increased his season’s salary to $76,931 and moved up one spot to fourth in the world standings, surpassing Oregonian T.J. Gray along the way. It is just mid-April, and Moody’s already closing in on his 2024 earnings of $96,633. He finished last year 23rd in the world standings and missed the magical top 15 in order to play at the NFR by just eight spots. Now, the South Dakota bull rider is making the moves necessary to earn a spot in that elusive field this next December. He credited faith and a strong support system of family members for helping him shoot higher each season. “I have three older sisters that pushed me in the sport of rodeo, whether it was goat-tying or roping or riding bulls,” Moody said. “They were all good rodeo contestants. To have somebody like them to push you – and now we’re at the top of ProRodeo – and to have them still behind you every day is something I take for granted, but I can’t thank them enough.” San Angelo Xtreme BullsApril 131. Mason Moody, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Richard Slam, $13,325; 2. (tie) Cody Teel and Lane Vaughan, 88, $8,883 each; 4. (tie) Ky Hamilton and Jesse Petri, 87.5, $3,997 each; 6. Clayton Sellars, 87, $2,221; 7. Fulton Rutland, 85.5, $1,777; 8. Jace Trosclair, 83.5, $1,332.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Hundreds of rodeo’s greatest athletes have graced the CRC Roofers Coliseum. They’ve shared the spotlight in a building known for greatness. On Saturday night during the eighth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, nothing shined brighter than the career of two-time world champion bucking horse Dirty Jacket. Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s powerful bay gelding is 21 years old now, and Carr is sending the champ off in grand fashion. He first bucked in May 2008 when he was just 4 years old, and Colorado cowboy Jared Schlegel won the title on him. He’s been the primary contributor to dozens of other titlists since then and is a likely candidate to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Carr is giving the bronc a farewell tour in 2025, showing the athletically built equine superstar off to rodeo fans across the country. Dirty Jacket bucked for the last time in San Angelo on Saturday night. “He’s some kind of special,” announcer Boyd Polhamus said of the horse. “This is the last trip in San Angelo for the one and only Dirty Jacket.” Saddle bronc rider Keene Justeson of Malakoff, Texas, was the last man to ride the storied gelding inside those historical walls. He was just 78 points, but Dirty Jacket showed off a style that helped him become a two-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year. He won those awards in 2014 and ’15 but was recognized as one of the top three two years prior. Oh, and Dirty Jacket has already been inducted into one special museum; he was honored in 2023 into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. “The one that deserves most of the applause is the horse himself,” Polhamus said. “He made 12 consecutive trips to the (National Finals Rodeo). That’s a warrior’s horse. That’s a fierce, fighting force without question.” In his prime, Dirty Jacket set the standard for 90-point rides. He helped make magic happen, whether it was in Pecos, Texas, or Cheyenne, Wyoming. His explosions out of the chute became legendary, and though he doesn’t quite move like he did 10 years ago, he proved Saturday night that he is still a tremendous athlete. San Angelo has had its fair share of tremendous talent, and that included the team roping duo of Kolton Schmidt and Will Woodfin. They posted a solid, 4.7-second run during the seventh performance Saturday afternoon, then built on that in the nightcap. They were one of three teams in the eighth show to stop the clock in 3.9 seconds to move into a six-way tie for third place in the second round, only theirs stood out when combined with their first-round run. Schmidt, of Barrhead, Alberta, and Woodfin, of Marshall, Texas, moved into the two-run aggregate lead by just one-tenth of a second. They are a virtual lock for the championship round, which features only the top 12 from the preliminary performances in each event. That’s when they’ll battle for the San Angelo title. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding leaders: 1. Sage Allen, 89 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust; 2. Cole Reiner, 88; 3. Cole Franks, 87.5; 4. (tie) Jess Pope, Tucker Carricato and Mason Stuller, 87; 7. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 8. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 9. Kade Sonnier, 84; 10. (tie) Orin Larsen, Leighton Berry, Bradlee Miller and Sam Petersen, 83.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 3.2 seconds; 2. Mike McGinn, 3.4; 3. Winsten McGraw, 3.5; 4. Bridger Chambers, 3.6; 5. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7; 7. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson and Dakota Eldridge, 3.3 seconds; 4. (tie) Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7; 7. Mike McGinn, 3.8; 8. (tie) Landris White and Will Lummus, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. Mike McGinn, 7.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 7.3; 3. Bridger Anderson, 7.5; 4. Dalton Massey, 7.6; 5. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 6. Will Lummus, 7.9; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 8.0; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Justin Shaffer, 8.1; 10. Cody Devers, 8.4; 11. Landris White, 8.5; 12. Emmett Edler, 8.7.    Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9; 3. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.0; 7. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord and Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 3.8 seconds; 3, (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin and Riley Kittle/Landen Glenn, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. Kolton Schmidt/Will Woodfin, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7; Jr. Dees/J.C. Flake, 8.8; 4. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 5. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 7. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 8. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 9. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 10. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 11. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 12. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Logan Hay, 87.5 points on New Star Rodeo’s True Gritt; 2. Blaise Freeman, 86; 3. (tie) Thayne Elshere, Ben Anderson and Dawson Hay, 85.5; 6. Kade Bruno, 85; 7. Jake Finlay, 84.5; 8. (tie) Kolby Wanchuk and Wyatt Casper, 83; 10. (tie) Cooper Thatcher, Lefty Holman, Tanner Hayes, Jacobs Crawley and Parker Kempfer, 82. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kason Dyer, 7.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons, Tyson Durfey and San Angelo, 7.7; 5. Britt Bedke, 8.2; 6. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4; 8. Treg Schaack, 8.5. Second round leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 7.0 seconds; 2. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5; 3. Colton Suther, 7.6; 4. Tate Teague, 8.0; 5. Chance Fleming, 8.2; 6. (tie) Jacob Walters, Chizm KuyKendall, Cutter Carpenter, Colton Green and Cash Enderli, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Chance Fleming, 17.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 17.3; 3. Kody Mahaffey, 17.6; 4. (tie) Andrew Burks and Roy Lee, 18.1; 6.  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Any cowboy that has ever played the game inside Foster Communications Coliseum understands the energy and excitement that exudes from the building. For some, it’s a bit intimidating. The fans are packed on top of the action, and they’re loud and exuberant. But for others, it’s a memory they will carry with them for a lifetime. Winning a championship at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo is difficult, but those that do cherish the honor. Dawson Hay of Wildwood, Alberta, has already staked his claim in Tom Green County. He won the saddle bronc riding title in 2023, the year he won both go-rounds and earned 40 percent of bronc bustin’ purse. He’s in position to add to his trophy case after riding Penthouse Rodeo’s Bobs Alibi for 85.5 points during Thursday’s fifth performance of San Angelo’s rodeo. That pushed him into a tie for first in the opening round with South Dakotan Thayne Elshere and fellow Albertan Ben Anderson, who competed last weekend. Hay is in a great position to return to town a week from Friday for the championship round, which features only the top 12 contestants from the 10 preliminary performances. That’s where the champions will be crowned and will be handed the lion’s share of the money. The 26-year-old hand knows what it means to collect that kind of cash in San Angelo. Two Aprils ago, he cleared just shy of $16,000. That bounty can do a lot for a cowboy who hopes build a world championship resume. Hay is a second-generation bronc buster, following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Rod, a 20-time NFR qualifier. Dawson Hay is the most accomplished of Rod Hay’s kids, having qualified for the finale five times in the last six years. Dawson’s older brother, Logan, is a two-time qualifier, and their younger brother, Devon, is a rising Canadian star. Dawson Hay is third in the 2025 world standings with nearly $78,000 in earnings, so any earnings he can get over the next two weeks will come in handy. He finished the 2024 world standings with more than $300,000 in earnings, with more than half coming over that magical 10-day stretch during the NFR in December. He finished seventh on the money list. Over the course of his young career, Dawson Hay continues to prove that there’s talent seeping through his blood. Part of it involves genetics, but the rest falls his desire to win. He’s comfortable doing it in San Angelo. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding leaders: 1. Sage Allen, 89 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Cosmic Stardust; 2. Cole Reiner, 88; 3. Cole Franks, 87.5; 4. Jess Pope, 87; 5. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 6. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 7. Kade Sonnier, 84; 8. (tie) Orin Larsen, Leighton Berry and Bradlee Miller, 83.5; 11. Colton Clemens, 82.5; 12. Will Lowe, 81. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 3.2 seconds; 2. Mike McGinn, 3.4; 3. Winsten McGraw, 3.5; 4. Bridger Chambers, 3.6; 5. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7; 7. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson and Dakota Eldridge, 3.3 seconds; 4. (tie) Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7; 7. Mike McGinn, 3.8; 8. (tie) Landris White and Will Lummus, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. Mike McGinn, 7.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 7.3; 3. Bridger Anderson, 7.5; 4. Dalton Massey, 7.6; 5. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 6. Will Lummus, 7.9; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 8.0; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Justin Shaffer, 8.1; 10. Cody Devers, 8.4; 11. Landris White, 8.5; 12. Emmett Edler, 8.7.    Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9; 3. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres and Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.0; 7. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.8 seconds; 2, (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray and Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 3.9; 5. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 4.0; 6. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 4.1; 7. (tie) Mason Rust/Kaden Prince and Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 5. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 7. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 9. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 10. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2; 11. Clay Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 12.0; 12. Jet Toberer/Jake South, 14.3.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Thayne Elshere, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Squash Blossom Steely Dan, Ben Anderson, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Northern Exposure, and Dawson Hay, on Penthouse Rodeo’s Bobs Alibi, 85.5 points; 4. Jake Finlay, 84.5; 5. Kolby Wanchuk, 83; 6. (tie) Cooper Thatcher and Lefty Holman, 82; 8. Tejay Angland, 81.5; 9. Shorty Garrett, 81; 10. (tie) Tanner Butner and Isaac Diaz, 80.5; 12. Ira Dickinson, 80; 12. Tegan Smith, 79.5. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kason Dyer, 7.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons, Tyson Durfey and San Angelo, 7.7; 5. Britt Bedke, 8.2; 6. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4; 8. Treg Schaack, 8.5. Second round leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 7.0 seconds; 2. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5; 3. Colton Suther, 7.6; 4. Tate Teague, 8.0; 5. Chance Fleming, 8.2; 6. (tie) Jacob Walters, Chizm KuyKendall, Cutter Carpenter and Colton Green, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Chance Fleming, 17.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 17.3; 3. Kody Mahaffey, 17.6; 4. (tie) Andrew Burks and Roy Lee, 18.1; 6. Trent McDonald, 18.2; 7. Daxton Hill, 18.3; 8. (tie) Riley Webb and Sam Lewis, 18.9; 10. Dean Holyan, 19.3; 11. (tie) Roan Hudson and Tyson Durfey, 19.9.  Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Shai Schaefer, Jordi Edens, Bailey Bates, Kelsie Domer and Jenna Dallyn, 1.9 seconds; 6. Jill Tanner, 2.0; 7. Abby Cox, 2.1; 8. (tie) Shalee King, Ellie Meeks, Kristy Stewart, KC-Gail  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo coach Cali Griffin has a way to find the positives through some tough situations. The Rangers weren’t their typical dominant selves this past weekend at the Garden City (Kansas) Community College rodeo, but Griffin has been able to find the bright spots. “This is really going to motivate us going into the next three weeks,” Griffin said, noting that the trio of consecutive events will close out the Central Plains Region season. Tie-down roper Kerry Duvall led the way for the Northwestern teams, placing in both go-rounds and finishing tied for second overall. He posted a 9.9-second run to finish third in the opening round, then followed up with a 9.5 to finish second in the championship. “I was able to get a good chunk of points, and it’s awesome because now we’ve got three in a row,” said Duvall, a senior from Oakdale, California. “We’ve just got to keep the ball rolling. I love it, because I love taking off and going rodeoing. I’ll be at school for three days, then I’m in the rig taking off to another rodeo. “With the success of the previous one with me, I can just go out there and make two good runs on these calves at each of these rodeos and see if I can win something.” With his performance in western Kansas, Duvall moved into the top 10 in the regional standings. He’s got some ground to still make up, though; only the top three competitors on the list at the conclusion of the 10-event season advance to the College National Finals Rodeo, which takes place in June at Casper, Wyoming. “I knew I had a really good calf in the short-go, and I just went out there and made me another run,” Duvall said. “Now that I’ve gotten to this point in my life, I’ve started to realize just how fast I am and how I can just go out there and make a run and can be under 10 seconds. It’s easier for me because I can just back in the box and go make that run.” His experience can pay big dividends. He was one of 10 Rangers in Garden City’s championship round, joined by fellow tie-down roper Hazen Sparks of Talihina, Oklahoma, and steer wrestlers Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa, and Jacob Haren of Callaway, Nebraska. Sparks placed in both rounds and finished fifth in the aggregate. Edler was 6.3 seconds to finish in a tie for third place in the opening round, and Haren secured a sixth-place finish in the short round. The women were led by newcomer River Hamaker of Leon, Iowa. A breakaway roper, Hamaker placed in the championship round and finished fifth overall. “I’m really proud of River and Duvall both,” Griffin said. “They’ve really stepped up the last couple weeks.” Two other breakaway ropers – Brylee Zook of Garnett, Kansas, and Trista Regner of Apple Valley, California – scored points in the long round, stopping the clock in 2.3 seconds to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. Neither found much success in the short round. Goat-tiers Dale Lee Forman of Highmore, South Dakota, and Savannah Greenfield of Lakeview, Oregon, scored points; Forman finished fourth in the short round, and Greenfield was sixth in the first section. Team roping heeler Tess Mortenson of Souris, South Dakota, earned a spot in the final round while roping with Jezimay Watson of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. For Hamaker, it was the first time she’s earned points since transferring from Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College for the spring semester. “It was really exciting for me to be placing in a round and the average,” she said. “It’s really a blessing, and I felt like I finally was confident in myself and my abilities and just trusted in God, and it all worked out.” Like Duvall had in his trusty Dually, a 7-year-old sorrel gelding, Hamaker leaned on Little Bit, a 17-year-old sorrel mare. “She helps me with everything,” Hamaker said. “She’s an awesome horse and puts me in position to be successful every time. She’s the main part of my success.” The Iowa cowgirl chose to continue her education in Alva after graduating from Fort Scott. With it, she followed a path laid by Griffin, who was an assistant at the southeastern Kansas college a year ago. “I loved her when she was my coach there,” Hamaker said of Griffin. “I just knew she was going to help me be successful if I transferred here, and she’s really helped me a lot with my roping.” It’s part of the process for young contestants who thrive on achievement. “This past weekend was kind of my breakthrough,” Hamaker said. “I’m finally figuring out my roping, and now I know how to win and just keep ahold of that and start a winning streak.”

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Jordan Driver is in the driver’s seat of this year’s San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo’s barrel racing competition. She rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 14.04 seconds during Sunday’s fourth performance inside Foster Communications Coliseum to not only take the second-round lead but also moved into the top spot in the two-run aggregate with a cumulative time of 30.04 seconds. “I knew I had a chance after my good first round to make the finals,” she said of the championship round, which takes place Friday, April 18, and will feature only the top 12 contestants in each event from the preliminary rounds. “I just let it all hang out. I’ve been prepping that horse for The American this coming weekend, so this was my first run back on him in a couple of weeks. “I was super pleased with how he worked and excited for hopefully making the finals back here in a couple of weeks.” Driver made her first run of 16.00 seconds last Monday at 1st Community Credit Union Spur Arena, just missing out on the money paid out in the opening round. It set her up to a sprint to the finish, and she’s taking advantage of it. While riding Cyrus, a 7-year-old sorrel gelding, Driver catapulted into the lead; she is almost two-tenths of a second ahead of Heather Crowley in the round just shy of three-tenths of a second ahead of average runners-up Julie Plourde and Krystall Dillman, both of whom have a two-run cumulative time of 30.31 seconds. “I’ve never made the short round in the four years I’ve been competing here,” Driver said. “The best I’ve done is place in the second round last year.” She finished sixth last April and pocketed nearly $2,400, but she’s on pace to win the top money in that round in 2025. More importantly, she’s in a position to battle for the elusive San Angelo title. “Big Spring is more of my hometown, but I always consider San Angelo as a hometown rodeo, too, because we know so many people and have had so many people be supportive of me and come watch here,” Driver said. “This has been one of my favorite rodeos since I started entering and getting to watch my mom before I was entering. Angelo is a really sentimental and fun rodeo for me.” She’s proving it in the arena. A big finish would help her in a lot of ways. She is eighth in the Texas Circuit barrel racing standings, and she will likely move up when this rodeo concludes. The biggest leap is toward the world standings, where she sits 17th on the money list – only the top 15 at the end of the regular season advance to the National Finals Rodeo. On top of all that, Driver is a senior at Tarleton State University and hopes to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo for the fourth straight year in June. She finished seventh in the intercollegiate standings in 2023 and third last year. She is third in the Southwest Region with just a couple events remaining on the schedule. “Ultimately, I want to make the National Finals Rodeo,” she said. “The college finals is a big deal to me. I’ve been close to winning it, and my mom won it. With this being my last year, I want to win the college finals and, by December, be in Vegas for the NFR.” She’ll have a lot of help getting there if it is to happen. Both parents, Jennifer and Dane Driver, have competed in ProRodeo and remain supportive. In fact, Jordan Driver and her mom will hit the road together from time to time. “They’re supportive of what I do and are always a phone call away,” Jordan Driver said. “If we’re in the rig together, we’re still going to try to outrun each other. I think that helps keep us on top.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Reiner, 88 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Tator Tot; 2. Cole Franks, 87.5; 3. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 4. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 5. Kade Sonnier, 84; 6. (tie) Orin Larsen, Leighton Berry and Bradlee Miller, 83.5; 9. Colton Clemens, 82.5; 10. Will Lowe, 81; 11. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jade Taton, 80. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 3.2 seconds; 2. Mike McGinn, 3.4; 3. Winsten McGraw, 3.5; 4. Bridger Chambers, 3.6; 5. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7; 7. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson, Bridger Anderson and Dakota Eldridge, 3.3 seconds; 4. (tie) Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7; 7. Mike McGinn, 3.8; 8. (tie) Landris White and Will Lummus, 3.9. Average leaders: 1. Mike McGinn, 7.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Dakota Eldridge, 7.3; 3. Bridger Anderson, 7.5; 4. Dalton Massey, 7.6; 5. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 6. Will Lummus, 7.9; 7. Rowdy Parrott, 8.0; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Justin Shaffer, 8.1; 10. Cody Devers, 8.4; 11. Landris White, 8.5; 12. Emmett Edler, 8.7.    Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9; 3. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.0; 6. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1; 8. Jaxson Tucker/Sid Sporer, 4.2. Second round leaders: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Levi Lord, 3.8 seconds; 2, (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill, Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray and Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 3.9; 5. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 4.0; 6. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 4.1; 7. (tie) Mason Rust/Kaden Prince and Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 5. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 7. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 9. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 10. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2; 11. Clay Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 12.0;  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Rodeo is one of the most unique of professional sports, and a big part of that is its inclusion of livestock in the competition. Cowboys know they need good partners to find success, whether it’s riding a great horse or being matched with the right cow. Bulldogger Dalton Massey used both to his advantage to post the fastest run of the rodeo, stopping the clock in 3.2 seconds to take the first-round steer wrestling lead during Saturday afternoon’s second performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo inside Foster Communications Coliseum. “I’ve never had any luck in the performances in San Angelo,” said Massey, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Hermiston, Oregon. “I’ve always heard about guys getting into a good bunch of steers and winning everything. Last night we were watching the rodeo, and I thought, ‘Boy, we’ve got a chance this year.’ “There was just great run after great run.” Winsten McGraw of Gill, Colorado, posted a 3.5-second run to take the early lead Friday night, and Bridger Chambers of Stevensville, Montana, was just a tenth of a second behind. Things got even faster just a few hours later with Massey and one of his traveling partners, fellow Oregonian Mike McGinn, who was 3.4. “Having the top two times out of the same rig is awesome,” said Massey, the 11th-ranked steer wrestler in the world standings. “That’s exactly what you plan on doing. It’s awesome that we were really doing good here.” McGinn posted another solid run during Saturday evening’s third performance, knocking his steer to the ground in 3.8 seconds. He sits sixth in the second round, but his two-run cumulative time of 7.2 seconds moved McGinn to the top of the aggregate leaderboard. Massey was 4.4 Saturday night and is third in the average race with a two-run time of 7.6. Both men are riding Eddie, a 12-year-old bay gelding that is owned by Canadian Tanner Milan. “I don’t think that horse has any flaws,” Massey said of Eddie, the 2023 PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year. “You can score on him; you can go as fast as you want on him. He sets your feet where they need to be set, and it just makes your job way easier. He gets your feet on the ground so fast every time that you’ve got a chance to win no matter what you draw.” San Angelo is the final event of the prestigious Texas Swing of rodeos, and it’s a great place to win a lot of money. That’s important, because dollars equal points. Massey has accrued more than $29,000 so far and would love a big payday in west Texas to secure his third straight trip to the NFR. “They pack that little building, and it’s a great atmosphere,” he said. “I don’t know how many seats they have in there, but they’ve got lights and smoke machines and the music loud. They’ve got good announcers, good contractors and they do a great job putting on a rodeo. That makes it a lot of fun.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Reiner, 88 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Tator Tot; 2. Cole Franks, 87.5; 3. Waylon Bourgeois, 85.5; 4. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 5. Kade Sonnier, 84; 6. (tie) Orin Larsen and Leighton Berry, 83.5; 8. Will Lowe, 81; 9. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jade Taton, 80; 11. (tie) Jacob Lees and Donny Proffit, 79. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dalton Massey, 3.2 seconds; 2. Mike McGinn, 3.4; 3. Winsten McGraw, 3.5; 4. Bridger Chambers, 3.6; 5. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7; 7. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson and Bridger Anderson, 3.3 seconds; 3. (tie) Weston Taylor, Hunter Cure and Cash Robb, 3.7; 6. Mike McGinn, 3.8; 7. Landris White, 3.9; 8. Emmett Edler, 4.0. Average leaders: 1. Mike McGinn, 7.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Bridger Anderson, 7.5; 3. Dalton Massey, 7.6; 4. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 5. Stetson Jorgensen, 8.1; 6. Cody Devers, 8.4; 7. Landris White, 8.5; 8. Emmett Edler, 8.7; 9. Skyler Woolls, 8.9; 10. (tie) Holden Myers and Ben Kilburg, 9.0; 12. Gavin Soileau, 9.2.    Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. Brye Crites/Tyler Worley, 3.9; 3. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy, Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.0; 6. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1; 8. Jaxson Tucker/Sid Sporer, 4.2. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill and Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 3.9 seconds; 3. Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 4.0; 4. (tie) Mason Rust/Kaden Prince and Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.4; 6. (tie) Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina and Roan Oldfield/Creed West, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 5. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 7. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 9. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 10. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2; 11. Clay Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 12.0; 12. Jet Toberer/Jake South, 14.3.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Thayne Elshere, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Squash Blossom Steely Dan, and Ben Anderson, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Northern Exposure, 85.5 points; 3. Jake Finlay, 84.5; 4. Kolby Wanchuk, 83; 5. Cooper Thatcher, 82; 6. Lefty Holman, 82; 7. Tejay Angland, 81.5; 8. Shorty Garrett, 81; 9. (tie) Tanner Butner and Isaac Diaz, 80.5; 11. Ira Dickinson, 80; 12. Tegan Smith, 79.5. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kason Dyer, 7.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Tyson Durfey, 7.7; 4. Britt Bedke, 8.2; 5. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4; 7. Treg Schaack, 8.5; 8. Garrett Jacobs, 8.7. Second round leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 7.0 seconds; 2. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5; 3. Colton Suther, 7.6; 4. Tate Teague, 8.0; 5. Chance Fleming, 8.2; 6. (tie) Jacob Walters, Chizm KuyKendall, Cutter Carpenter  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – There were parts of the 2024 season that were simply aggravating for bareback rider Kade Sonnier. “I get stuck in this a lot, but I was really caught up with the end result,” said Sonnier of Carencro, Louisiana. “I didn’t make the (National Finals Rodeo). I had a little bit of hard luck batting some injuries, and it was just nagging injury after nagging injury.” Plain and simple: Sonnier wasn’t winning. He finished the 2023 campaign at the NFR, the sport’s grand finale, where he pocketed $112,000 over 10 December nights. He finished the yar third in the world standings with more than $270,000 in earnings. Then, last spring, he won the $100,000 top prize at The American, a stand-alone event in Arlington, Texas. “When I really thought about it, I was fortunate to win The American last year, and sometimes I lose sight of that,” he said. “I ended the year winning more money than some of the guys that made the NFR, so I can’t say I didn’t accomplish all I wanted last year. I didn’t accomplish my end goal, which was to be the world champ, but at the end of 2024, I had to change my mindset.” It’s working so far. He rode Macza Pro Rodeo’s Montana Cat for 84 points during Friday’s opening night of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo to jump into the early lead with hopes of returning in two weeks for the championship round and battle for that prestigious San Angelo title. “I can’t say I’m 100 percent confident I can make it back (to the short round), because there’s some pretty good matchups coming up,” Sonnier said. “I’ve looked back at the last few years, and it looks like 84 to 85 points usually makes it back, but I’m just pretty happy that I won the performance.” Friday’s rodeo marked the first time Sonnier was matched with Montana Cat, a Canadian bucking bronc. The Louisiana cowboy did his homework, though, and knew what to expect. “In addition to changing my mindset, I also ended up switching riggings between Fort Worth (in January) and Houston (in March), and when I went to Houston, it finally felt like my hand was back to normal. It’s funny how one little change like that, and everything comes back. “I never want to use an excuse or say the horse wasn’t enough or my rigging messed up or anything like that. As the true competitor in my, my thought is, ‘What can I do to be better?’ But at the end of the day, you’re only as good as your equipment.” Everything held up quite for the packed house inside Foster Communications Coliseum, and Sonnier is hoping he’ll get another shot to show off his talents during the April 18 championship. “When (stock contractor) Pete Carr told me I was first, I said, ‘I guess we’re going to start off with a bang,’ ” he said. Mission accomplished. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 4-18Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kade Sonnier, 84 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Montana Cat; 2. Orin Larsen, 83.5; 3. Richmond Champion, 80; 4. Brett Williams, 70; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. 2. Winsten McGraw, 3.5 seconds; 2. Bridger Chambers, 3.6; 3. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7; 5. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson and Bridger Anderson, 3.3 seconds; 3. (tie) Weston Taylor and Hunter Cure, 3.7; 5. Landris White, 3.9; 6. Emmett Edler, 4.0; 7. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Tres Colvin, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Bridger Anderson, 7.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 3. Cody Devers, 8.4; 4. Landris White, 8.5; 5. Emmett Edler, 8.7; 6. Skyler Woolls, 8.9; 7. (tie) Holden Myers and Ben Kilburg, 9.0; 9. Gavin Soileau, 9.2; 10. Jeffery Gregersen, 9.5; 11. (tie) Tres Colvin and Ty Cochrane, 9.7.    Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy and Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 4.0; 4. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1; 6. Jaxson Tucker/Sid Sporer, 4.2; 7. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 4.3; 8. Kash Bonnett/Logan Cullen, 4.4. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill and Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 3.9 seconds; 3. (tie) Mason Rust/Kaden Prince and Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.4; 5. (tie) Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina and Roan Oldfield/Creed West, 4.6; 8. Jhett Trenary/L.J Yeahquo, 4.7. Average leaders: 1. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 5. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 7. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 9. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 10. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2; 11. Clay Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 12.0; 12. Jet Toberer/Jake South, 14.3.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Thayne Elshere, 85.5 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Squash Blossom Steely Dan; 2. Jake Finlay, 84.5; 3. Ira Dickinson, 80; 4. Tegan Smith, 79.5; 5. Carson Bingham, 79; 6. Skinny Parsons, 78.5; 7. Coleman Shallbetter, 76; 8. Spencer Wright, 75.5; 9. Sawyer Erickson, 66; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Kason Dyer, 7.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Tyson Durfey, 7.7; 4. Britt Bedke, 8.2; 5. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4; 7. Treg Schaack, 8.5; 8. Garrett Jacobs, 8.7. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5 seconds; 2. Colton Suther, 7.6; 3. Tate Teague, 8.0; 4. Chance Fleming, 8.2; 5. (tie) Jacob Walters, Chizm KuyKendall, Cutter Carpenter and Colton Green, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Chance Fleming, 17.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 17.3; 3. Kody Mahaffey, 17.6; 4. Andrew Burks, 9.2; 5. Trent McDonald, 18.2; 6. Daxton Hill, 18.3; 7. Sam Lewis, 18.9; 8. Dean Holyan, 19.3; 9. (tie) Roan Hudson and Tyson Durfey, 19.9; 11. (tie) Coy Skocdopole and Travis Staley, 20.0.  Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Shai Schaefer,  Continue Reading »

We have the early leaders in timed events at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, so check it out. The first round of barrel racing is complete, with Abby Fields of Stephenville, Texas, winning the opener with a 15.70-second run to pocket nearly $11,000. First performance is 7 p.m. Friday at Foster Communications Coliseum. Abby Fields of Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Teel Sikes and Brandon Harrison, 3.7 seconds; 3. (tie) Colten Leech, Ben Kilburg, Cimarron Thompson and Coy Johnston, 3.8; 7. (tie) Tyke Kipp and Cody Devers, 3.9. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Denell Henderson and Bridger Anderson, 3.3 seconds; 3. (tie) Weston Taylor and Hunter Cure, 3.7; 5. Landris White, 3.9; 6. Emmett Edler, 4.0; 7. (tie) Gavin Soileau and Tres Colvin, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Bridger Anderson, 7.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Hunter Cure, 7.7; 3. Cody Devers, 8.4; 4. Landris White, 8.5; 5. Emmett Edler, 8.7; 6. Skyler Woolls, 8.9; 7. (tie) Holden Myers and Ben Kilburg, 9.0; 9. Gavin Soileau, 9.2; 10. Jeffery Gregersen, 9.5; 11. (tie) Tres Colvin and Ty Cochrane, 9.7.     Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Nicki Northcott, 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Hiyo Yazzi/Shawn Murphy and Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 4.0; 4. (tie) Chet Weitz/Blake Walker and Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 4.1; 6. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 4.3; 7. Kash Bonnett/Logan Cullen, 4.4; 8. Laramie Allen/Kelby Frizzell, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Jade Corkill and Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 3.9 seconds; 3. (tie) Mason Rust/Kaden Prince and Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 4.4; 5. (tie) Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina and Roan Oldfield/Creed West, 4.6; 8. Jhett Trenary/L.J Yeahquo, 4.7. Average leaders: 1. Jhett Trenary/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 9.1; 3. (tie) Roan Oldfield/Creed West and Chet Weitz/Blake Walker, 9.2; 5. Manny Egusquiza/Walt Woodard, 9.6; 6. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 9.7; 7. Coy Brittain/Eddie Medina, 9.8; 8. Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 9. Devon Johnson/Boogie Ray, 10.4; 10. Forrest Fisher/Caleb Green, 11.2; 11. Clay Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 12.0; 12. Jet Toberer/Jake South, 14.3.   Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Tyson Durfey, 7.7 seconds; 3. Britt Bedke, 8.2; 4. (tie) Sam Lewis and Dean Holyan, 8.4; 6. Treg Schaack, 8.5; 7. Garrett Jacobs, 8.7; 8. Roan Hudson, 8.8. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Calhoun, 7.5 seconds; 2. Colton Suther, 7.6; 3. Tate Teague, 8.0; 4. Chance Fleming, 8.2; 5. (tie) Jacob Walters, Chizm KuyKendall, Cutter Carpenter and Colton Green, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Chance Fleming, 17.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 17.3; 3. Kody Mahaffey, 17.6; 4. Andrew Burks, 9.2; 5. Trent McDonald, 18.2; 6. Daxton Hill, 18.3; 7. Sam Lewis, 18.9; 8. Dean Holyan, 19.3; 9. (tie) Roan Hudson and Tyson Durfey, 19.9; 11. (tie) Coy Skocdopole and Travis Staley, 20.0.   Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Shai Schaefer and Jordi Edens, 1.9 seconds; 3. Abby Cox, 2.1; 4. (tie) Shalee King, Ellie Meeks, Kristy Stewart and KC-Gail Churchill, 2.3; 8. (tie) Georgia Shields, Haley Sage, Montana Brown, Jayme Marcum, Cheyenne Britain and Kaydin Finan, 2.4. Second round leaders: 1, Summer Williams, 1.7; 2. Kieley Walz, 1.8; 3. Megan Powell, 1.9; 4. Carlee Potter, 2.0; 5. Shalee King, 2.1; 6. (tie) Bethanie Harkey, Jordi Edens and Simone Park, 2.2; 9. Carly Christian, 2.3; 10. (tie) Bailey Curie, Samantha Fulton and Sawyer Gilbert, 2.4. Average leaders: 1. Jordi Edens, 4.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Shalee King, 4.4; 3. Kristy Stewart, 4.8; 4. Sawyer Gilbert, 4.9; 5. Ellie Meeks, 5.1; 6. (tie) Emilee Charlesworth, Cheyenne Britain and Shai Schaefer, 5.4; 9. Haley Sage, 5.5; 10. (tie) Macy Auclair and Libby Winchell, 5.6; 12. Kassidy Dennison, 5.8.    Barrel racing: First round: 1. Abby Fields, 15.70 seconds, $10,942; 2. Tiany Schuster, 15.71, $9,379; 3. Tana Renick, 15.86, $7,815; 4. (tie) Jordon Briggs, Hailey Kinsel, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.88, $4,820 each; 8. Jodee Miller, 15.91, $2,084; 9. Leslie Smalygo, 15.94, $1,563; 10. Krystal Dillman, 15.95, $1,042.

GUYMON, Okla. – Organizers of the community’s largest annual event are shining a new light on Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. “Those arena lights that we had were 30-plus years old, so we just upgraded to better technology,” said Ken Stonecipher, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “We actually noticed when we started getting drone photos of the arena that there were some dark spots, which showed just how uneven those lights were starting to become. They were just getting worn out. They were also the old-type of lights that takes 15 minutes to warm up before the fully come on. With the LED technology that’s available today for about half as many fixtures, we have better lights, much less power consumption and will be a lot easier to control.” With the changes to the community arena, city staff can control the lighting remotely. The plan for the upgrades came after the rodeo committee received grant money from Guymon Convention and Tourism. “Sims Electric in Guymon donated all the labor to put those up,” Stonecipher. “It’s pretty exciting, because it’s been on our list for a while for something we need to do. When Sims stepped up to the plate and offered to install them, it seemed like something we could get done this year. “Manny Montelongo is the owner at Sims, and they are always involved in doing stuff. They are very conscientious about giving back to the community, and it is very much appreciated.” The updated lighting is just one of several improvements being made to the complex. Volunteers are also working to enhance the announcer’s stand and have already installed four new corrals near the campground for pickup men. “The announcer’s stand has had two major issues,” Stonecipher said. “There have been leaks in the roof, which has caused damage on the inside. The other issue was the windows. They started out being plywood, then we got some Plexiglass ones that were removable. The problem there is the high winds in the area. We have trouble keeping them in there during storms.” The replacements will be glass windows that swing open and latch closed. This was afforded after the placement of new bucking chutes two years ago. The city sold the old chutes, then used the proceeds to fund arena improvements, which include a reconstructed roof. The new ceiling was raised six inches on the front side to offer a steeper pitch to help shed water. The roof was replaced with a thicker gauge metal to make it more durable. “We then reframed it,” Stonecipher said. “PTCI was just out there rewiring all the television cable and Internet cable. Sims Electric stripped out all the electrical, and they’re going to rewire all new lights. We’re also going to extend the roof of the announcer’s stand over to the VIP deck to the north, so that will all be under a roof. “That’s all been a needed upgrade. It’s not only to stop the water intrusion, but it will also elevate the experience for our sponsors and guests that are up there.” The new corrals will replace temporary paddocks that were put in place each year for the pickup men. Pipe was donated, and a handful of committee members were a good part of the labor force to put the fencing in place and weld it together. “We’ve set up panels for them to make temporary corrals for years, so this just allows us to use those panels where they’re needed somewhere else and make it a little nicer for the pickup men to have a place for their horses,” Stonecipher said. “The city also put some new hydrants in to water those horses, so it’s going to be really nice for those pickup guys. “They’re the hardest-working men at our rodeo all week, so if we can make it a little handier for them and their livestock, it’s going to be a nice addition. We’ve been able to do some work ourselves on these projects, but really we have to tip our hats to Rhodes Construction, Wilson Welding and Sims Electric for everything they’ve done to help us.” It takes the willingness of volunteers and the assistance of supporters to pull off projects like the upgrades. Businesses, volunteers and community members make it happen.

Breakaway roping will add high-speed excitement to Estes Park rodeo ESTES PARK, Colo. – Erin Johnson and Kelsie Domer have centered their lives around roping. Combined, they have a baker’s dozen of Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world championships, and they’re looking forward to heading to Estes Park for Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. For the first time in Rooftop Rodeo’s storied history, breakaway roping will be one of the featured events, showcasing the eloquence and speed in the blink of an eye. Ladies will compete for big bucks alongside their male counterparts all while trying to stop the clock in less than 3 seconds. “Breakaway roping has been around for decades, but the interest has really shot up the last few years,” said Cindy Schonholtz, the Rooftop Rodeo coordinator. “We’re excited to bring breakaway roping to Estes Park starting this year, and we’re making as big of a deal out of it as we can. Just like we are with all events this year, our ‘added money’ will be $10,000.” She’s referring to local dollars that are injected into each event. With nine disciplines, that money increases the community’s support to $90,000 for the rodeo. Those dollars are then mixed with the contestants’ entry fees to make up the total purse, which last year was just shy of $120,000. That number will increase significantly in 2025. “We are so grateful for every single Mountain States Circuit rodeo that has breakaway roping, because there are so many girls up here that are really craving the opportunities that breakaway roping and professional rodeo have to offer,” said Erin Johnson, a three-time WPRA world champion breakaway roper from Fowler, Colorado. “It’s just phenomenal. A rodeo like Estes Park can make a huge difference for the circuit girl to get a chance to step up. I’ve gone to the Estes Park rodeo with my husband for 20 years to watch him rope calves. It’s beautiful there. The hospitality is outstanding. It’s very unique in its culture and its setting, and I’m glad I have the opportunity to rope there, too.” Johnson won her WPRA breakaway roping gold in 2011-12 and 2015, years before the WPRA established ProRodeo Breakaway Roping. She qualified for the first four National Finals Breakaway Roping championships that take place in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo. She’s seen her sport blossom in ways many never imagined. When she last won a world title, she finished the year with $12,752 in earnings. Domer was also on board before breakaway roping took off. She won the 2017-19 breakaway titles and also added world championships in 2012 and 2018 in tie-down roping and all-around buckles in 2012, ’17, ’20 and ’21. She is a three-time qualifier to the breakaway championship and earned the ProRodeo Breakaway Roping gold last year while earning just shy of $170,000. “I think it’s great that we’ve got another rodeo, and then to be equal added money right off the bat is awesome,” said Domer of Dublin, Texas. “It’s a busy time of year, but it’s cool to have that option to go to that spot, because we haven’t ever had it before. “I’ve heard a lot of people say that everybody likes to go there. It’s always fun to go to new places and to places like that, where I’m sure it’s going to be beautiful and cool you off for a little bit, too.” She realized many things have happened since last year’s Rooftop Rodeo to offer this opportunity. “The committee, the stock contractor and everybody involved has obviously been on the same page to make things better and allow things to grow year after year, and that’s awesome,” Domer said. “We would love to see that everywhere we go, but it’s nice to see that happen there in a short amount of time.” The addition and increased purse will be a big deal to both champions and other ladies who will put their names in the hat to compete in Estes Park. For Johnson, having an event of this magnitude in her home state is crucial. Like Rooftop Rodeo, she is part of the Mountain States Circuit, a regional affiliation for competitors and events primarily in Colorado and Wyoming. Any dollars she earns in Estes Park will count for both the circuit and the world standings. “I’m flattered that they think that much of breakaway, and they think that much of the girls they’re seeing roping,” Johnson said. “I’m glad they do, because there are so many girls competing now and so many more of them coming along all the time. They all rope so good, so they put on a show. It’s fast, and it’s a professional event. The quality of roping just goes up for us every year. “It’s flattering to me that a rodeo like Estes Park is willing to just jump on board and offer the same money. I’m excited.” Rooftop Rodeo will take place July 5-10. Gates open each night at 5 p.m. The pre-show begins at 6:45 p.m., and the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. For more information about the Rooftop Rodeo or to purchase tickets, visit rooftoprodeo.com. Inquiries about tickets may be made by contacting the Town of Estes Park Events Office at 970-577-3900 or events@estes.org. The Rooftop Rodeo is a Town of Estes Park signature event.