Monthly Archives: June 2025

PECOS, Texas – A month ago, Cole Franks was in the Utah mountains exchanging vows with his wife, Dustie. On Saturday night, he was riding one of the top bucking horses in ProRodeo, matching moves with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret’s Out for 90.5 points to win the bareback riding title at the West of the Pecos Rodeo. Yeah, life’s not that much different than it was before the day of his wedding, but that’s OK. He’s a rodeo cowboy, and Dustie Franks knew that when she accepted his proposal. “It’s pretty much the same as it has been,” said Franks, 24, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Clarendon, Texas. “I am sending her to meet me right at the end of the Fourth to drive to Calgary, but other than that, it’s the same lifestyle as always.” Such is the life on the rodeo road. Cowboys will traverse tens of thousands of miles in order to chase their dreams. After competing in Springdale, Arkansas, on Friday night, he and traveling partners Rocker Steiner and Waylon Bourgeois made their way to Pecos. They’ll compete Sunday in Greeley, Colorado. ProRodeo is rolling toward its busiest time of the year, with lucrative payouts across the country over the next several weeks. That’s why cowboys and cowgirls are traveling up and down the highways and getting to the next destination by air when possible; this is how they make a living. For his part, Franks just increased his 2025 earnings by $6,521 by winning the title in Reeves County. He remains fifth in the world standings, but he credited the Carr bucking horse for a lot of his success. “I knew it was going to be really electric and a lot of fun,” he said of the 7-year-old bay mare. “You just had to do your job. I almost tried to overhaul it.” Franks is talking about his spur ride, stroking the horse in rhythm with the animal’s bucking style. The better the spur ride, the better the cowboy’s half of the score. The combination of Franks’ solid footwork and Secret’s Out’s athletic performance provided another 90-plus-point ride – in all, there were five rides that were 90 or better. “That was a lot more fun than I was expecting, and I was expecting it to be a lot of fun,” Franks said with a laugh. “You have to do a lot on her. She’ll send your feet for you, but she won’t help you get them down all that much, so you have to really drive them back up. Still, that might be one of the funnest horses I’ve ever been on.” He’s been on a few. Of course, cowboys battle throughout the year, hoping to close the regular season as one of the top 15 in the world standings to earn a trip to the NFR, which takes place in December at Las Vegas. The 2021 Rookie of the Year, Franks earned trips that year, the next and again last year. He finished 17th in 2023 to just miss the mark. Once in Las Vegas, he has excelled. In 30 rounds, he’s pocketed more than $450,000. This year he’s earned just shy of $82,000 heading into Sunday’s showdown in Greeley. “My season has been a little mix; it’s been really good, then not so good, but it’s picking up now,” he said. “I’ve got some pretty fun horses up in these next couple of weeks. I’m just excited to keep the ball rolling.” West of the Pecos RodeoJune 25-28All-around cowboy: Slade Wood, $5,162 in team roping and steer roping. Bareback riding: 1. Cole Franks, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret’s Out, $6,521; 2. Bradlee Miller, 87.5, $5,000; 3. Kade Sonnier, 86.5, $3,695; 4. (tie) Darien Johnson, Waylon Bourgeois and Garrett Shadbolt, 83, $1,667 each; 7. Rocker Steiner, 81.5, $870; 8. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Owen Brouilette, $326 each, 81; 6. Sam Petersen, 80; 7. Gavin French, 78; no other qualified rides. Team roping: First round: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 6.6 seconds, $2,990; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 6.8, $2,600; 3. Manny Egusquiza Jr./Walt Woodard, 6.9, $2,910; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.4, $1,820; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 7.5, $1,430; 6. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 7.6, $1,040; 7. (tie) Jaxson Hill/Jessen James and Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 7.7, $455 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Kolby Krieger/Michael Fortenberry and Slade Wood/Cashton Weidenbener, 6.0 seconds, $2,795 each; 3. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 6.1, $2,210; 4. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 6.4, $1,820; 5. (tie) Jaxon Hill/Jessen James and Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 6.9, $1,235 each; 7. Clay Tryan/Cutter Thomison, 7.0, $650; 8. Forrest Fisher/Daniel Braman, 7.4, $260. Average: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 13.7 seconds on two runs, $4,485; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 14.4, $3,900; 3. (tie) Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili and Jaxon Hill/Jessen James, 14.6, $3,022 each; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 15.0, $2,145; 6. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 15.2, $1,560; 7. Slade Wood/Cashton Weidenbener, 15.3, $975; 8. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 15.5, $390. Steer roping: First round: 1. Bryce Davis, 11.3, $2,286; 2. David Witcher, 13.0, $1,989; 3. Riley O’Rourke, 13.2, $1,690; 4. Brodie Poppino, 13.8, $1,392; 5. Tony Reina, 14.0, $1,094; 6. Chad Mathis, 14.2, $795; 7. Jess Tierney, 14.6, $497; 8. Kelton McMillen, 15.4, $199. Second round: 1. Quay Howard, 11.2 seconds, $2,287; 2. Dalton Walker, 11.4, $1,989; 3. Billy Good, 1.6, $1,690; 4. Slade Wood, 11.8, $1,392; 5. Blake Deckard, 11.9, $1,094; 6. (tie) Jarett Holliday and Cody Lee, 12.1, $646 each; 5. Laramie Allen, 12.5, $199. Third round: 1. Vin Fisher, 11.0, $2,287; 2. Neal Wood, 11.2, $1,989; 3. Shad Mayfield, 11.2, $1,690; 4. (tie) Jarrett Holliday and Taylor Santos, 11.6, $1,243 each; 6. Chet Herren, 12.2, $795; 7. Cody Lee, 12.3, $497; 8. Seth Schafer, 12.4, $199. Average: 1. Bryce Davis, 39.7 seconds on three runs, $3,430; 2. Quay Howard, 43.7, $2,983; 3. Laramie Allen, 44.9, $2,535; 4. Mike Chase, 45.5, $2,088; 5. Tyler Hargrove, 45.8, $1,641; 6. Seth Schafer, 46.0, $1,193; 7. David Witcher, 47.4, $746; 8. Brodie Poppino, 47.8, $298. Saddle bronc riding: 1. 2. Tanner  Continue Reading »

PECOS, Texas – Unseasonably mild temperatures didn’t cool the action inside Buck Jackson Arena during Friday’s third performance of the West of the Pecos Rodeo. The “World’s First Rodeo” featured three 91-point rides, two of which came in bull riding by two of the top cowboys in the discipline, eight-time world champion Stetson Wright – who has nine National Finals Rodeo qualifications in saddle bronc riding and bull riding – and four-time NFR qualifier Creek Young. Wright bounded into the arena aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Whiskey River, matching every move the big, white bull threw at him. Young scored his high-marked ride on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Heartbreaker, and the two share a commanding lead heading into Saturday’s final performance. “Josh Frost rode that bull at the finals, so I was excited to get on him,” Wright said of the 2024 world champion bull rider. “They’ve been big numbers on him, so I knew what I had at stake here.” Wright is the winningest cowboy of this era. He won five straight all-around gold buckles from 2019-23. The only reason he didn’t make it six was because an injury sidelined all of the 2024 campaign. The Beaver, Utah, cowboy also won bull riding crowns in 2020 and ’22 and added a saddle bronc championship in 2021. “(Carr general manager) Billy (Jones) and Pete (Carr) brought really great stock,” said Wright, who also sits sixth in bronc riding after an 83.5-point ride on Carr’s Apache Junction. “That’s the caliber that they bring. You can see that at any one of their rodeos, and I was just lucky I was part of them tonight.” Like Wright, Young missed the 2024 NFR after suffering a broken femur late in the regular season. He’s more in scramble mode right now, sitting 43rd in the world standings. The third big score came when Tanner Butner spurred Carr’s Dirty Roots to take the bronc riding lead. Butner, who won the Pecos title three seasons ago, just added to his lore in west Texas. “Pecos has always treated me good,” said Butner of Daniel, Wyoming. “I like showing up here. Pete’s always got some pretty dang fun horses. “I’d seen (Dirty Roads) a few times, and everybody that’s been on him said he’s pretty dang good. He’ll be a little wild sometimes but usually goods, so I figured I might as well try him out.” It wasn’t all big scores in Reeves County. There were some fast times, too. Breakaway roper Chenoa VandeStouwe of Weatherford, Oklahoma, stopped the clock in 3.3 seconds to sit in a three-way tie for third place in the second round. Combined with her 4.0-second first-round run, though, she sits atop the average with a two-run cumulative time of 7.3 seconds. Nobody in west Texas has been hotter than Bray Armes of Stephenville, Texas. He won rodeos in El Paso and Big Spring last week and owns the steer wrestling lead in Pecos. He is tied for the top spot in the opening round with 2020 world champion Jacob Edler; both cowboys posted 4.4-second runs. Armes then knocked down his second steer Friday night in 4.5 seconds, and he owns a three-tenths-of-a-second lead over the field. “When you get on these waves, you just try to stay on top of them,” said Armes, a three-time qualifier and the 2013 NFR average titlist. “They were 5.0 on that steer the last time, and I knew if I (got a good start), I could be a little faster, and that’s what I tried to do. My horses are just working great. We’re just going to try to ride this wave as long as we can.” West of the Pecos RodeoJune 25-28Bareback riding: 1. Bradlee Miller, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Chrome Molly; 2. Kade Sonnier, 86.5; 3. (tie) Darien Johnson and Garrett Shadbolt, 83; 5. Tilden Hooper, 81; 6. Sam Petersen, 80; 7. Gavin French, 78; no other qualified rides. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 6.6 seconds; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 6.8; 3. Manny Egusquiza Jr./Walt Woodard, 6.9; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.4; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 7.5; 6. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 7.6; 7. (tie) Jaxson Hill/Jessen James and Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 7.7. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Kolby Krieger/Michael Fortenberry and Slade Wood/Cashton Weidenbener, 6.0 seconds; 3. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 6.1; 4. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 6.4; 5. (tie) Jaxon Hill/Jessen James and Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 6.9; 7. Clay Tryan/Cutter Thomison, 7.0; 8. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 7.5. Average leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 13.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 14.4; 3. (tie) Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili and Jaxon Hill/Jessen James, 14.6; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 15.0; 6. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 15.2; 7. Slade Wood/Cashton Weidenbener, 15.3; 8. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 15.5. Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. David Witcher, 13.0 seconds; 2. Chad Mathis, 14.2; 3. Jess Tierney, 14.6; 4. Kelton McMillen, 15.4; 5. Seth Ross, 15.6; 6. Slick Ellis, 16.5; 7. Coleman Proctor, 16.9; Jake Clay, 17.0. Second round leaders: 1. Quay Howard, 11.2 seconds; 2. Dalton Walker, 11.4; 3. Slade Wood, 11.8; 4. Jarett Holliday, 12.1; 5. Laramie Allen, 12.5; 6. Coleman Proctor, 12.7; 7. John Clark, 12.8; 8. Jake Clay, 13.4. Third round leaders: 1. Neal Wood, 11.2 seconds; 2. Shad Mayfield, 11.2; 3. (tie) Jarrett Holliday and Taylor Santos, 11.6; 5. Seth Schafer, 12.4; 6. Mike Chase, 12.7; 7. Jess Tierney, 12.8; 8. Scott Snedecor, 13.6. Average leaders: 1. Quay Howard, 43.7 seconds on three runs; 2. Laramie Allen, 44.9; 3. Mike Chase, 45.5; 4. Seth Schafer, 46.0; 5. David Witcher, 47.4; 6. Scott Snedecor, 55.0; 7. Logan Currie, 56.9; 8. Brian Garr, 58.7. Saddle bronc riding: 1. 2. Tanner Butner, 91 on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Roads; 2. Ryder Sanford, 88; 3. (tie) Ryder Wright and Brody Cress, 86.5; 5. Lefty Holman, 84; 6. Stetson Wright, 83.5; 7. (tie) Chase Brooks and Cash Wilson, 83. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Marty Yates, 8.8 seconds; 2. Tyson Durfey, 9.2; 3. Jett Barrett,  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – The excitement is building, and the anticipation has spread across the Gunnison Valley. It’s time for the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration, and 125 years of history will envelop not only the town but also the region. This is an opportunity for locals to gather together and enjoy the fellowship of one another in the perfect setting. That was the idea when the event was founded in 1900, and it’s the expectation of everyone who has ever called Gunnison County home. Children will arrive with their prized projects, whether they’re lambs, steers, arts and crafts or a handful of other exhibits that will be put on display. Parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles will cherish those shining moments. Ribbons will be handed out, and champions will be crowned. It’s just part of the Cattlemen’s Days experience, which takes place in early July at the Fred Field Western Center. The highlight, of course, is the annual rodeo, which will feature hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls all battling for big money in the valley. The rodeo will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 10-Saturday, July 12, at the grandstands and will be produced by Texas-based Stace Smith Pro Rodeos, an 11-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year. “I believe everyone in our community is excited about this year’s Cattlemen’s Days,” said Brad Tutor, president of the volunteer committee that organizes the annual shindig. “We’ve got a lot of activities going on, just like we do every year. The big deal for us is that this is our 125th year, so we want to have the best Cattlemen’s Days ever. “There’s been a lot of talk about our rodeo over the years being one of the best in Colorado. We’re proud of that, and that’s one of the reasons why we trust Stace and his crew. They put on a fabulous production, and it always fits well with our rodeo and our community.” Part of that production will include longtime emcee Andy Stewart, who has been nominated for PRCA Announcer of the Year, music director Randy Mayer and entertainer Brian Patton, who not only provides comedy but also has a specialty act in which he rides a saddle- and trick-trained brahma bull. The key component in all that is to bring quality entertainment to the people of Gunnison. The rodeo has been a highlight of the annual gathering for more than a century, and it will continue to be. It’s the perfect mix of family-friendly fun and world-class competition. Just take a gander at last year’s Cattlemen’s Days titlists to see the results. The list of top finishers is littered with National Finals Rodeo qualifiers, contestants like 2005 all-around world champion Ryan Jarrett, who shared the tie-down roping victory, and 2014 barrel racing titlist Fallon Taylor, who finished second. “We’re definitely proud of our rodeo and all that it brings to town,” Tutor said. “There are a lot of people from around here who keep up with rodeo, and many of the cowboys they see competing here are the ones they watch all year on TV and see competing at the NFR.” There are many things to be honored about when it comes to the community’s annual exposition. The volunteer committee is continuing to be a benefactor to others in the Gunnison Valley, but it has adjusted a little bit in how it goes about that business. Cattlemen’s Days is teaming with Golden Circle of Champions, which helps raise awareness and funds in the fight against pediatric cancer. To that end, the Thursday, July 10, performance of the rodeo will now be Gold Night in honor of that cause. The Friday performance will be Patriot Night, and Saturday will be Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy Night. Each show will be the perfect setting to honor so many in a way befitting their challenges and their service. “Our goal as a committee is to have the best entertainment possible,” Tutor said. “I think doing things this way gives us that chance this year.”

PECOS, Texas – Ryder Sanford called them a speed bump. When the 2024 regular season came to a close Sept. 30, they were agony. After finishing the 2023 campaign as the Resistol Rookie of the Year and qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo, Sanford was on his way back to being one of the top 15 saddle bronc riders in the world standings. A broken saddle was one speed bump. An injured left shoulder was the other; it kept him out of action 10 days. When the final audit to the earnings was complete, he sat 16th, a couple thousand bucks outside the field for ProRodeo’s grand finale. “I’m really confident right now,” said Sanford, 26, of Sulphur, Louisiana. I had a few things happen that kept me from going there, but I’ve got those things taken care of, and, shoot, I’ve got all the confidence in the world.” It showed during Thursday’s second performance of the West of the Pecos Rodeo. Sanford matched moves with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Uptuck for 88 points, dancing across the Buck Jackson Arena dirt as if an orchestra were playing. That gave him the lead with two nights remaining at the “World’s First Rodeo.” “I was looking up some videos of that horse earlier today, and I’ve seen him around a good bit,” Sanford said. “I’ve been wanting to get on him for a long time, and he definitely lived up to my expectations. That kind of horse is why we do this.” Uptuck has twice been selected to perform at the NFR, an honor for bucking horses. Only 100 broncs are chosen, and that comes down to a decision by the 15 men who get to ride them in Las Vegas. The powerful bay with a blaze face and white stocking legs has proven to be home in this west Texas community. He led Tanner Butner to the Pecos title three years ago. “When you draw a horse like that, you’re trying to get here as fast as you can,” Sanford said. “We drove 20 hours from Reno (Nevada) to get here.” He is in the mix this season. He sits 20th in the world standings with just shy of $50,000. He needs to move up at least five spots by the time the 2025 campaign ends, but there are a lot of lucrative rodeos coming up quickly for the Louisiana cowboy. “My year has been pretty steady,” said Sanford, who has five rodeo wins already this year. “I don’t have any big wins since the (Southeastern) Circuit Finals, but I’m just chipping away. This will definitely give me the momentum I need for the rest of the summer.” West of the Pecos RodeoJune 25-28Bareback riding: 1. Bradlee Miller, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Chrome Molly; 2. (tie) Darien Johnson and Garrett Shadbolt, 83; 4. Tilden Hooper, 81; 5. Sam Petersen, 80; 6Gavin French, 78; no other qualified rides. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 6.6 seconds; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 6.8; 3. Manny Egusquiza Jr./Walt Woodard, 6.9; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.4; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 7.5; 6. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 7.6; 7. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.8; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 8.3. Second round leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 6.1 seconds; 2. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 6.4; 3. (tie) Jaxon Hill/Jessen James and Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 6.9; 5. Clay Tryan/Cutter Thomison, 7.0; 6. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 7.5; 7. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 7.6; 8. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.8. Average leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 13.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 14.4; 3. (tie) Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili and Jaxon Hill/Jessen James, 14.6; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 15.0; 6. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 15.2; 7. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 15.5; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 17.1. Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. David Witcher, 13.0 seconds; 2. Chad Mathis, 14.2; 3. Jess Tierney, 14.6; 4. Slick Ellis, 16.5; 5. (tie) Laramie Allen and Rocky Patterson, 17.4; 7. Brian Garr, 17.9; 8. Ryan Rochlitz, 18.4. Second round leaders: 1. Quay Howard, 11.2 seconds; 2. Dalton Walker, 11.4; 3. Jarett Holliday, 12.1; 4. Laramie Allen, 12.5; 5. John Clark, 12.8; 6. Rocky Patterson, 13.8; 7. Seth Schafer, 14.3; 8. Neal Wood, 14.6. Third round leaders: 1. Neal Wood, 11.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Jarrett Holliday and Taylor Santos, 11.6; 4. Seth Schafer, 12.4; 5. Jess Tierney, 12.8; 6. Scott Snedecor, 13.6; 7. Quay Howard, 13.7; 8. John Clark, 14.4. Average leaders: 1. Quay Howard, 43.7 seconds on three runs; 2. Laramie Allen, 44.9; 3. Seth Schafer, 46.0; 4. David Witcher, 47.4; 5. Scott Snedecor, 55.0; 6. Logan Currie, 56.9; 7. Brian Gar, 58.7; 8. Jarrett Holliday, 23.7 seconds on two runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ryder Sanford, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Uptuck; 2. Brody Cress, 86.5; 3. Lefty Holman, 84; 4. Cash Wilson, 83; 5. (tie) Shorty Garrett and Jacobs Crawley, 82.5; 7. (tie) Darcy Radel and Statler Wright, 81. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Marty Yates, 8.8 seconds; 2. Tyson Durfey, 9.2; 3. Jett Barrett, 9.3; 4. Ike Fontenot, 9.4; 5. John Douch, 10.4; 6. Riley Istre, 10.6; 7. Jared Turner, 10.6; 8. Travis Staley, 11.0. Second round leaders: 1. Lane Livingston, 8.9 seconds, $3,929; 2. Bradley Bynum, 9.0, $3,416; 3. Sterling Smith, 9.7, $2,904; 4. Luke Coleman, 10.1; 5. Tyson Durfey, 10.2; 6. (tie) Riley Istre and Marty Yates, 10.6; 8. Ike Fontenot, 11.7. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Tyson Durfey and Marty Yates, 19.4 seconds on two head each; 3. Bradley Bynum, 20.7; 4. Ike Fontenot, 21.1; 5. Riley Istre, 21.2; 6. Jett Barrett, 21.5; 7. (tie) Lane Livingston and Cory Solomon, 23.3. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Grace Felton, 3.4 seconds; 2. Samantha Fulton, 3.5; 3. (tie) Josey Murphy and Madalyn Richards, 3.7 each; 5. Cadee Williams, 3.8; 6. Lindsey Baker, 3.9; 7. Haiden Thompson, 4.0; 8. (tie) Lari Dee Guy and Ali Norcutt, 4.1; 10. (tie) Lauren Hopkins and Lucy Richards, 4.2. Second round leaders: 1. Taylor Raupe, 2.8 seconds; 2. Erin Johnson, 3.2; 3.  Continue Reading »

PECOS, Texas – When the winter and spring were a little colder than usual, team ropers Andrew Ward and Jake Long were eager for the calendar to change into the summer. Despite an unusually mile night temperature-wise during Wednesday’s opening performance, Ward and Long got hot and own the second-round and aggregate leads at the West of the Pecos Rodeo. “We are pumped to make a good run and maybe win something at this rodeo,” said Ward, 34, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Edmond, Oklahoma. “We don’t know what (the rest of the field) is going to do (over the next three days), but we went out in the lead. That’s fun.” Yes, it is. They roped their first steer in 7.6 seconds during the opening round Wednesday morning. They stopped the clock in 6.1 seconds to take the second-round and average leads, while also putting a bullseye square on their backs for the rest of the competition to target. Both men are outside the top 40 in their respective disciplines, and they know getting on a roll this time of year can be beneficial. In an sport where dollars equal championship points, the goal is to finish the regular season among the top 15 on the money list to advance back to the NFR. Both have excelled there. Ward, a header, won the NFR aggregate title in 2021 while roping with Buddy Hawkins; Long, a heeler, won the same crown this past December while competing with Clint Summers. “I think our styles go well together,” said Long, a 14-time NFR qualifier from Coffeyville, Kansas. “We’ve had a slower start than we were anticipating, but it feels like we’re catching our rhythm. We’ve been making good runs and putting some runs together.” The timing is right. While this is the “World’s First Rodeo,” there are move contestants in the mix at this year’s festival than most recent years. Why? The volunteer committee that organizes the annual event increased its share of the purse, nearly double to $20,000 per event. Those dollars are mixed with contestants’ entry fees to make up the total payout. “This is a big arena, and if you’re not on the right end of the (randomly drawn) cattle, it can be tough,” Long said. “But the committee really put the money up this year and became a tour rodeo, so now it’s a rodeo you don’t want to miss.” There was more to Long’s day in Reeves County. When he arrived in this west Texas desert town, he was met with muddy conditions – a rarity for this neck of he woods. He got stuck, and committee chairman Clay Ryon McKinney not only pulled him and his rig out of the mud at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, but he also gave them a home and RV hookups for the day “Getting stuck in the mud is something I didn’t ever think would happen in Pecos, Texas,” Long said. “Clay really opened up his hospitality to us, so we got to get some good rest, and I guess the good lucked rubbed off.” Good roping or good luck, the tandem will take it. “The steers play a humongous part in this,” Ward said. “If you draw strong, it’s hard to recover. The barrier (the steer’s head start) is real long – I think it’s 24 feet with a 20-foot box, and it’s a hand-pulled barrier – so the cows are running. When you get one that lets you catch up and beat them like we did, it’s nice.” Just like the summer, Ward and Long are heating up at just the right time. West of the Pecos RodeoJune 25-28Bareback riding: 1. Bradlee Miller, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Chrome Molly; 2. (tie) Darien Johnson and Garrett Shadbolt, 83; 4. Gavin French, 78; no other qualified rides. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 6.6 seconds; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 6.8; 3. Manny Egusquiza Jr./Walt Woodard, 6.9; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.4; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 7.5; 6. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 7.6; 7. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.8; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 8.3. Second round leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 6.1 seconds; 2. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 6.4; 3. (tie) Jaxon Hill/Jessen James and Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili, 6.9; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 7.5; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 7.6; 7. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.8; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 8.3. Average leaders: 1. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 13.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 14.4; 3. (tie) Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili and Jaxon Hill/Jessen James, 14.6; 5. Tyler Wade/Wesley Thorp, 15.0; 6. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 15.2; 7. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 15.5; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 17.1. Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. Jess Tierney, 14.6 seconds; 2. Laramie Allen, 17.4; 3. Ryan Rochlitz, 18.4; 4. Seth Schafer, 19.3; 5. Jody Rowland, 22.5; no other qualified times. Second round leaders: 1. Laramie Allen, 12.5 seconds; 2. Seth Schafer, 14.3; 3. Neal Wood, 14.6; 4. Ryan Rochlitz, 17.3; 5. Rowdy Bond, 18.0; no other qualified times. Third round leaders: 1. Neal Wood, 11.2 seconds; 2. Seth Schafer, 12.4; 3. Jess Tierney, 12.8; 4. Laramie Allen, 15.0; 5. Evan Allard, 16.6; no other qualified times. Average leaders: 1. Laramie Allen, 44.9 seconds on three runs; 2. Seth Schafer, 46.0; 3. Neal Wood, 25.8 seconds on two runs; 4. Jess Tierney, 27.4; 5. Ryan Rochlitz, 35.7; 6. Evan Allard, 16.6 seconds on one run; 7. Rowdy Bond, 18.0; 8. Jody Rowland, 22.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Cash Wilson, 83 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Miss Texas; 2. Shorty Garrett, 82.5; 3. Darcy Radel, 81; 4. Joe Macqueen, 78; 5. Dawson Hay, 76; 6. Warwick Southern, 74; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Marty Yates, 8.8 seconds; 2. Tyson Durfey, 9.2; 3. Jett Barrett, 9.3; 4. Ike Fontenot, 9.4; 5. John Douch, 10.4; 6. Riley Istre, 10.6; 7. Travis Staley, 11.0; 8. Paden Bray, 11.1. Second round leaders: 1. Lane Livingston, 8.9 seconds, $3,929; 2. Bradley Bynum, 9.0, $3,416;  Continue Reading »

PECOS, Texas – Organizers of the “World’s First Rodeo” are doubling the fun for fans this year. For the first time in recent memory, and possibly in the sport’s history, the West of the Pecos Rodeo will feature two announcers emceeing the event horseback during the exposition, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. Garrett Yerigan will join the stage set by Pecos veteran Anthony Lucia, and the tandem will both be saddled – on separate horses, of course – as they put their expertise on display for the fans who take in the world-class rodeo. “For as long as I can remember, we’ve had a horseback announcer in Pecos,” said Clay Ryon McKinney, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the rodeo. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had two horseback announcers.” It’s not just the uniqueness of having two emcees riding around the massive arena; there’s also the fact that both are part of an elite corps of PRCA announcers. In fact, they own the last four awards for PRCA Announcer of the Year. Yerigan won the honor in 2021-22, and Lucia has claimed the last two buckles. “The mere fact that the people of ProRodeo thought and voted for me is overwhelming,” Lucia told ProRodeo Sports News in December. “It’s an overwhelming sense of pride and gratefulness. It’s not anything but that because I’m nothing without this industry. “I’m so grateful to be a part of this industry because I genuinely love rodeo. I’m a rodeo geek. I eat it, live it, breathe it and I dream about it at night.” It seems the same can be said about Yerigan. He and Lucia not only share a friendship but also a passion for the sport. Both were raised around it. Lucia was introduced to the business early in life with a father, Tommy Lucia, being recognized as one of rodeo’s greatest entertainers. Anthony Lucia was part of his dad’s act, then got into the specialty act business himself; he even performed at the National Finals Rodeo. He has competed and worked television commentary before becoming an announcer. Yerigan’s parents were heavily involved, and he went to his first rodeo at 2 weeks old. Mom, Kathy, was a barrel racer; dad, Dale, was a bulldogger, and both excelled in the International Professional Rodeo Association. Dale Yerigan is now the IPRA’s general manager. That background comes into play when each man takes the microphone, but they’re not the only topnotch part of the West of the Pecos Rodeo. While their voices will ring across Buck Jackson Arena, veteran Benje Bendele will be complimenting that with music and effects. He has been the sound director in Pecos for years and will be inducted into the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame this Friday. “We’re very blessed to have the talent we have as part of our rodeo,” McKinney said. “It’s about giving the fans a better experience, and I think they’re going to enjoy it when it comes together.”

ALVA, Okla. – A student’s education doesn’t end with graduation. No, a good student is always learning, always craving a chance to be better. Even as his sophomore year has wrapped, Northwestern Oklahoma State University cowboy Colter Snook added a few more lessons to his notebook over the past week at the College National Finals Rodeo. “I’ve just got to score better and need to stop being so danged afraid of the barrier,” said Snook, a team roping header from Dodge City, Kansas. “I was never once on the barrier and about half a foot off it on average.” The barrier line is a rope that crosses the heading box and offers the steer the adequate head start. Being “on the barrier” means the cowboy and his horse are timing the start at the most opportune moment. In an event where times are separated by tenths of a second, every millimeter counts. Being late could be the difference between a good time and one, well, not so good. Alas, breaking the barrier is also deficit, adding 10 seconds to a qualified time. All those factors play a mental game in a competitor’s mind. Add adrenaline and the pressure of the college finals, and there was a lot going on in the young roper’s mind, but he found success in spite of it. Roping with Cale Morris of Western Oklahoma State College, the tandem stopped the clock in 6.2 seconds to finish in a tie for second place in the opening round. They were solid in Round 2 with a 7.0-second run. Things got a little dicey after that. Despite having a no-time in the third round, their two-run cumulative time of 13.2 seconds earned them a fourth steer in Saturday’s championship round. “In that third round, I safety’d up a little bit. I had a good shot on my second swing, and I rated my horse off and took another swing,” Snook said. “I split the horns. If I would have just cut loose with it, I probably would’ve got them both covered.” Both? Yeah, he’s referring to his final-round run, another no-time. Though Snook got a better start, he failed to secure the dally – team ropers use ropes not tied to the saddle horn like tie-down and breakaway ropers, so in order to tighten the line, they must wrap the ends of their ropes around the horn. By the time he gathered his dally, he, Morris and the steer were near the end of the tiny arena in Casper, Wyoming. “I turned (the steer) right back around, but Cale’s horse had to turn completely around,” Snook said. “Cale hit the front leg. “I just need to be sharper. If I break the barrier, it’s not the end of the world. I need to stop being afraid of it. Even if we’d broke the barrier on that third cow, it would have kept us in it.” Senior Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa, was in the mix in two events, tie-down roping and steer wrestling, the latter of which is his specialty. Edler won the Central Plains Region’s bulldogging title and finished second in the all-around race, therefore allowing him the opportunity to compete in a second event. Though he failed to secure a time in tie-down roping, he placed in the opening round of bulldogging with a 4.7-second run. Fate stepped in quickly to halt Edler’s title hopes with a second-round no-time, but he rebounded with a 5.3 in the third round – he didn’t place among the top eight, but it was a solid way to complete his intercollegiate career. Freshman goat-tier Payton Dingman took the educational aspect of the experience to heart. She stopped the clock on all three runs, with her best being a 6.7-second affair that earned her a top-15 finish in the third round. She finished 15th overall but gathered no points. Every run and every chance in the arena, though, built her confidence heading into her sophomore campaign. “I really didn’t know what to expect going into it,” said Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma. “I thought I had myself pretty calm about the whole situation, and it was a really great experience. Everybody there took me under their wing and just showed me all the places I need to go and where I needed to be. I learned a lot. “I think in the first round, I went through every single emotion before I tied. Whether I was calm or nervous, I tried literally everything to get myself to calm down. I didn’t make a bad run; I made a little bobble worked through it.” Her biggest hiccup came in the second round, when she posted a 7.9-second run to finish tied for 42nd out of 54 competitors. It was a bit of a speed bump, trying to do too much to be faster. “Finally, by the third round, I felt like I was just myself again,” she said. “I just slowed down, tied the goat and just wanted it to be smooth, which is what I needed to do in the first two rounds. I just had myself so worked up to be so fast. Next year I know I just need to go in there and make a smooth run.” The adage “slow is smooth; smooth is fast” comes into play because it calls for less thinking through the process and allowing athleticism and muscle memory to take over. “I feel like every point that I’ve gone through, either at college rodeos or school, I’ve definitely learned something, especially from this experience,” Dingman said. “Now, I know how to control my nerves a little bit better and not just stress out so much.”

BIG SPRING, Texas – There’s a bit of a different pace to the way Bill Tutor goes to work as a rodeo cowboy. He’s not nearly as rushed as he was just a few years ago, when he was chasing every dollar possible across North America. He might be in Howard County, Texas, one night, then in Reno, Nevada, the next, so there wasn’t much time to linger about or celebrate the moment. He had plenty of time Saturday night to talk about his bareback riding victory at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. He spurred Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hush Money for 84 points to win $1,799 and a buckle in the first year the rodeo is doling out the wearable trophies to its champions. “I don’t know how long Pete’s had that horse, but I found some videos before I came out here, and he looked great,” said Tutor, 33, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Huntsville, Texas. “That horse really bucked.” This marked Tutor’s second time to win Big Spring, and he’s had great success on Carr bucking horses over his career. He’s finished among the top 25 in the world standings seven times since turning pro 13 seasons ago, including those magical years in 2017-18 when he made back-to-back trips to the sport’s grand finale, the NFR. Life is a bit different now, but he still loves riding broncs. No, life changed a few years ago when he and his wife, Ashlyn, gave birth to their first son, Wes. They recently added to their brood, another son, Winston Roy, who was born June 6. “When I had my first little boy, I saw myself slowing down,” Tutor said. “I didn’t like to be away from home that much. I was still easing around going to some things aimlessly. This year, I thought, I needed some goals, so I set a goal on doing the best I can in the Texas Circuit, and that’s what I aim to do. “I thought about going somewhere, but I realized I’m just trying to stay in the Texas Circuit. It’s nice. I get to be home with my family every week.” They also join him on the road. In fact, Ashlyn and the boys were in Big Spring on Saturday night, so he’s living the best of both worlds. When he was still trying to hunt down world championships, the traveling was taking a toll. He was gone from his southeast Texas home for weeks, sometimes months, on end. This schedule allows him to be with his family as much as possible while still chasing his love of riding broncs. “Both boys have traveled great this week,” he said. “The bigger one can just sit in the car and talk and play well; the other one sleeps the whole time right now, but the older one has been a pretty good road warrior.” Like father like son. Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and RodeoJune 19-21All-around cowboy: Lane Webb, $2,508, tie-down roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 84 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hush Money, $1,799; 2. (tie) Payton Lackey and Brayze Schill, 81, $1,172 each; 4. Zach Hibler, 80, $654; 5. Owen Brouillette, 75, $382; 6. Monty Ray Fontenot, 69, $273. Steer wrestling: 1. Lane Webb, 10.0 seconds, $2,508; 2. Travis Staley, 10.2, $2,181; 3. (tie) Word Hudson and Ace Reese, 10.4, $1,690 each; 5. Clint Singleton, 10.8, $1,199; 6. Richard Newton, 11.8, $872; 7. Jett Barrett, 12.1, $545; 8. Cody Little, 12.4, $218. Breakaway roping: 1. Lindsey Baker, 2.2 seconds, $2,645; 2. Kimberly Luco, 2.3, $2,267; 3. Tibba Smith, 2.4, $1,889; 4. (tie) Makayla Boisjoli and Lari Dee Guy, 2.5, $1,449 each; 6. Caitlin Blackwell, 2.7, $1,008; 7. Kayelen Helton, 2.8, $756; 8. Sequin Brewer, 2.9, $504; 9. (tie) Jayme Marcrum and Keylie Tatum, 3.1, $315 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Apache Junction, $1,884; 2. Chase Brooks, 85, $1,444; 3. Chris Williams, 83, $1,067; 4. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Cayden McFadden, 80, $565 each; 6. (tie) Cooper Thatcher and Tom Webster, 79, $283 each; 8. Cooper Lane, 78.5, $188. Team roping: 1. Roan Oldfield/Pace Blanchard, 4.4 seconds, $2,394 each; 2. Conley Kleinhans/Kyler Kanady, 4.7, $2,082; 3. Cody Carter/Blake Bentley, 5.0, $1,770; 4. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Joshua Torres/Creed West, 5.1, $1,301 each; 6. Kyler Beshirs/Wyatt Mask, 5.5, $833; 7. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 5.6, $521; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 5.8, $208. Barrel racing: 1. Shayna Wimberly, 15.68 seconds, $2,327; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.73, $1,978; 3. Caley Walkoviak, 15.78, $1,629; 4. Jimmie Smith, 15.89, $1,396; 5. Jacque Woolman, 15.92, $1,164; 6. Jennifer Driver, 15.93, $815; 7. (tie) Debbie Bloxom and Corley Cox, 15.94, $524 each; 9. Stacey Grimes, 15.98, $407; 10. Liz Herrin, 16.00, $349; 11. Morgan Addison, 16.02, $291; 12. (tie) Alex Lang and Bristan McCarley, 16.06, $116 each. Bull riding: No qualified rides. 

BIG SPRING, Texas – Lindsey Baker first started competing inside the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl as a college student at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. Now living in Alpine, Texas, she’s returned for the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. “I’ve always wanted to do good in the Rodeo Bowl, so this is exciting for me,” said Baker, who stopped the clock in 2.2 seconds during Friday’s second performance to take the breakaway roping lead with one night remaining in this year’s festival. “I didn’t really have a game plan because (the calves) are walking fresh. I just go with my gut whenever we rode in the box.” “Walking fresh” refers to cattle that have never been run through a rodeo arena’s chute system. The calves in Big Spring came right out of a pasture, so this was their first experience at a rodeo. Like humans, animals tend to have tendencies – whether they’re calves, steers or bucking horses – once they get an understanding of the game. New to the sport, these calves have yet to develop a pattern. That offers a new challenge for the contestants. The 10 ladies in Friday’s field had a little bit of assistance in the form of Lari Dee Guy, a nine-time WPRA world champion who has been widely recognized as one of the pioneers of breakaway roping’s resurgence in recent years. “Lari Dee was down there helping all the girls out, and I got a good idea of how I wanted to do it since I was the last one out,” Baker said. “Everything just worked out. Lari Dee really helped me out, and I had a good calf for that run.” It all must come together for any cowboy or cowgirl. Breakaway roping is the fastest event in rodeo, because the ladies must rope the calves around the neck first, then the clock stops when their rope breaks away from the string-tied knot on the saddle horn. The action electrified Friday night. “With walking-fresh calves, it’s all muscle memory,” Baker said. “If the shot’s there, you have to take it, because you don’t know if that calf’s going to just take off and get around you or if he’s going to stop and pull up because he feels that something is coming behind him. “It’s all reaction, and it’s fine, because you’ve just got to go with what feels right.” Rodeo isn’t her sole focus, though. She and her husband operate a ranch about 200 miles southwest of Big Spring, and they have other business ventures that need their attention. Rodeo is more of a hobby, but she’d love to have success and see what happens. Of course, she something special in G, a 21-year-old sorrel gelding that guided her to the top spot. “I call him G, because it’s actually short for Goober, but I’ve never called him Goober because I didn’t think he was a goober,” she said. “He’s been everywhere, all over the country. He is, by far, one of the strongest horses I’ve ever rode. When you need a horse to really get after one, I know I can rely on him. “I would love to make the (Texas) Circuit Finals. I didn’t have that on my list of goals for this year, but if things work out and God has a plan for you, you’ve just got to go with it.” Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and RodeoJune 19-21Bareback riding: 1. Brayze Schill, 81 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Bay; 2. Zach Hibler, 80; 3. Owen Brouilette, 75; 4. Monty Ray Fontenot, 69; 5. Rhett Hadley Kelley, 66; 5. Payton Blackmon, 65. Steer wrestling: 1. Bray Armes, 4.0 seconds; 2. Cimarron Thompson, 4.1; 3. Cody Harmon, 4.9; 4. Ty Cochrane, 5.1; 5. Boyd Sawyer, 5.3; 6. Casey Collins, 6.1. Tie-down roping: 1. Lane Webb, 10.0 seconds; 2. Travis Staley, 10.2; 3. (tie) Word Hudson and Ace Reese, 10.4; 5. Jett Barrett, 12.1; 6. Cody Little, 12.4; 7. Cory Rowland, 13.5; 8. Dean Holyan, 15.5. Breakaway roping: 1. Lindsay Baker, 2.2 seconds; 2. Kimberly Luco, 2.3; 3. Tibba Smith, 2.4; 4. (tie) Lari Dee Guy and Makayla Boisjoli, 2.5; 6. Caitlin Blackwell, 2.7; 7. Kayelen Helton, 2.8; 8. Sequin Brewer, 2.9; 9. (tie) Jayme Marcrum and Keyleigh Tatum, 3.1; 11. Emma Waldrop, 3.3; 12. Lauren Hopkins, 3.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Apache Junction; 2. Chase Brooks, 85; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 80; 4. Cooper Thatcher, 79; 5. Brody Cress, 78; 6. Cooper Lane, 78; 7. Wyatt LaVergne, 76; 8. Heston Harrison, 75. Team roping: 1. Roan Oldfield/Pace Blanchard, 4.4 seconds; 2. McCray Profili/McCoy Profili, 5.1; 3. Kyler Beshirs/Wyatt Mask, 5.5; 4. Lane Webb/Jake South, 6.5; 5. Payden Emmett/Jorge Pina Lopez, 9.4; 6. Jeff Kanady/Caden Beatty, 10.9; 7. Cody Little/Tom Epperson, 11.7; 8. Jim Breck Bean/Jasper Klein, 12.0. Barrel racing: 1. Shayna Wimberly, 15.68 seconds; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.73; 3. Jimmie Smith, 15.89; 4. (tie) Debbie Bloxom and Corley Cox, 15.94; 6. Stacey Grimes, 15.98; 7. Liz Herrin, 16,00; 8. Morgan Addison, 16.02; 9. (tie) Bristan McCarley and Alex Lang, 16.06; 11. Jordan Kirkes, 16.08; 12. Jo Fisher, 16.11.  Bull riding: No qualified rides. 

BIG SPRING, Texas – With two little ones eager to start competing in rodeo, it was only natural that Bray Armes turned his attention to them. A three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who just missed out on making it a fourth straight time in 2015, Armes and his wife, Neelley, met through the sport. They passed down their passions to Breely and Drake, and the two youngsters have taken to it well. The kids have found success along the way, and the intensity to their competitive nature has aged with them as they’ve grown. That’s why Dad is back on the rodeo trail. He returned to his ol’ stompin’ grounds during Thursday’s opening night of the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, where he posted a 4.0-second run to take the early steer wrestling lead. “Drake is trying to tell me I need to go (to the NFR) one more time because it blew his mind that I’d never won a go-round buckle, even though I won something way better,” said Bray Armes, 43, a Howard College graduate now living in Stephenville, Texas. “I won the NFR average, but I’d been there three times and never won a round. So, he said I’ve got to go back. “I told him, ‘No, I’ve got to finish raising you first.’ We’ll see what God has in store for us, and whatever His plan is, we’ll see.” Armes posted the best 10-round cumulative time at the 2013 championship to earn the prestigious title. For many, it’s the second-most title that rodeo competitors want to win; to beat the other top 14 in the world standings is quite a feat. While Drake, 16, is too young to compete in ProRodeo, Bray isn’t the only member of his family in the field in Big Spring. Neelley and Breely are competing in breakaway roping, so rodeo is definitely a family affair. Don’t be surprised to see Drake following in his daddy’s footsteps in a year and a half when he turns 18. He’ll have a good example. While Bray Armes owns the lead, he nitpicked at his run. He rushed a bit, he said, and tried to throw the steer too quickly. Instead of getting ahold of the steer’s nose on the transition, Armes missed but was able to power the animal over. “You don’t ever want to off-horn one, but when you feel like you’re a little behind in timing, you’ve just got one chance to do what you can,” he said. “I’m trying to win first every time.” That’s the mentality that has proven to be so successful over his career, and he’s not changing now, even though it’s been several years since he hit the rodeo trail. He’s stayed in good shape and credits part of that to taking years off the practice of wrestling livestock and the tens of thousands of miles ProRodeo cowboys travel per year in order to make the NFR. Oh, and never mind that his most entrusted teammate is Neelley, who not only competes herself but serves as the hazer – the person who rides on the other side of the steer to keep it lined out for the bulldogger – for her husband and others. “Neelly is as good a hazer as I’ve ever had,” Bray Armes said. “I know she’s going to give it everything she’s got every time. I’ve been blessed with a lot of good hazers, and she hazes just as good as any of them.” He’s back at it, proving that talent and fortitude can carry athletes even through the years. He loves the competition, but rodeo is about a lot more than that. While in town, he was able to share time with many people he’s known for two decades. He still cherishes the time he spent in this west Texas town. “I started bulldogging the summer before my senior year (in high school), and then I got hurt playing football, so I didn’t hardly bulldog much,” he said. “Greg Kernick was the rodeo coach here, and he was about the only coach that recruited me. That’s why I came here. “It’s been a blessing ever since. There are a lot of great people right here.” Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and RodeoJune 19-21Bareback riding: 1. Zach Hibler, 80 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Rodeo Colors; 2. Monty Ray Fontenot, 69; 3. Rhett Hadley Kelley, 66; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Bray Armes, 4.0 seconds; 2. Cimarron Thompson, 4.1; 3. Casey Collins, 6.1; 4. Wyatt Fields, 6.8; 5. Colton Swearingen, 14.6; no other qualified runs. Tie-down roping: 1. Ace Reese, 10.4 seconds; 2. Jett Barrett, 12.1; 3. (tie) Ryan Thibodeaux and Weldon Watson, 22.4 each; no other qualified runs. Breakaway roping: Results not yet available; they will be updated when possible. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Apache Junction; 2. Chase Brooks, 85; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 80; 4. Brody Cress, 78; 5. Wyatt LaVergne, 76; 6. Carson Neal, 67. Team roping: 1. Roan Oldfield/Pace Blanchard, 4.4 seconds; 2. McCray Profili/McCoy Profili, 5.1; 3. Payden Emmett/Jorge Pina Lopez, 9.4; 4. Jim Breck Bean/Jasper Klein, 12.0; 5. Mason Rust/JD McGuire, 20.0; no other qualified runs. Barrel racing: 1. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.73 seconds; 2. Corley Cox, 15.94; 3. Morgan Addison, 16.02; 4. Kirstin Carlson, 16.58; 5. Madison Bean, 20.92; 6. Gracen Harman, 26.04. Bull riding: No qualified rides. 

PECOS, Texas – The gateway to rodeo’s history is getting a facelift. Reeves County has made upgrades to the new entrance to Buck Jackson Arena, home of the West of the Pecos Rodeo, which will take place at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28. The changes are two-fold: The picturesque entryway will provide a pleasant visual experience to everyone passing by the historic complex, the longtime residence of the “World’s First Rodeo.” It will also enhance the experience for rodeo-goers to provide a respite from the hottest days of summer in west Texas. “The county will have the new entrance and ticket booths for the arena ready to go for the rodeo,” said Jake McKinney, a key member of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “There will be no more waiting in the hot sun to enter the arena.” That’s quite an invitation for folks that want to be part of the rodeo’s legacy. It’s also a signal to the progress Reeves County and rodeo officials are making with the facility, which has hosted the world-class event since 1936. In an April 11 news release issued by Reeves County, electrical and HVAC systems were being installed. Landscaping is complete, including an update around the monument. The enhanced entry experience is just another step in the upgrades being made to the arena.  As this year’s rodeo nears, there are other projects that should begin as soon as the final bull bucks. According to Reeves County, a new grandstands will be built, which the county promises will provide an unmatched viewing experience. There will be other updates made to the facility. “We’re being told the new VIP grandstands and a new press box will be done in time for our 2026 rodeo,” said Clay Ryon McKinney, Jake’s brother and chairman of the volunteer committee. “Those plans also include new bucking chutes, as well as a new center out-gate.” The enhancements are part of an experience officials want to give the fans who have flocked the rodeo for decades. It comes at a time when the community has already stepped up in a big way, and the rodeo committee has increased local dollars in the payout by nearly double to $20,000 per event. That’s a telling statement and one that will help draw even more contestants to town. In fact, more than 700 cowboys and cowgirls have put their names in the hat in order to compete over the four days in Pecos. Among them are the elite contestants in the sport, which is why making the upgrades to Buck Jackson Arena is such an important step for the region. “We want to put on the best event we can for this community, which has supported this rodeo for a long time,” Clay Ryon McKinney said. “We want it to be a great experience, and we’re excited about all the upgrades to the arena that have come and those that should continue to come in the future. It’s an exciting time in Pecos.”

BIG SPRING, Texas – Over the past few years, organizers of this community’s annual rodeo have done things to make it a better experience for everyone involved. They want contestants to choose to be town for the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. From increasing the local dollars invested in the purse to creating a great hospitality area, there are plenty of incentives for more cowboys and cowgirls to make their way to Howard County. The more contestants, the better the rodeo. The better the rodeo, the better experience for fans and sponsors alike. Nothing happens without community effort, and members of the volunteer committee that set up the annual event are continually making the necessary updates. “We’re doing things we need to do to draw the cowboys and cowgirls to town,” said Zach Herrin, a key volunteer in the organization. “I think a lot of us realize that this is a special event to our area, and we want to make it the best it can be. The first thing is we need to make it a great competition in each event. By having that, we can continue to build our attendance, which will help sponsors understand their investment in our rodeo is worth it.” It’s all about providing the right incentives. Full-time rodeo contestants battle for big bucks across North America, so dollars are valuable at every stop. The purse is just one stimulus; there are others, and that’s where committee members are stepping up in another way for this year’s event. “To my knowledge, we’ve never given buckles to our winners, so this is just another thing we’re trying to do,” said Scot Herrin, Zach’s dad and a longtime member of the organization. “We’re just trying to do as many things as possible to make it the best rodeo we can for our size. “Zach was the main driver on this, because he went to college to rodeo and is a really good team roper. He knows a lot of the professionals. He went to school with them and ran with them. Giving buckles away is just another perk that we can do, and it’s not just any buckle; these are really nice.” Rodeo is unique in that there are no guaranteed salaries. Only the upper-echelon of competitors at each stop collect money, and the contestants must pay a fee in order to compete. Add in the cost of traveling across the country, and every penny earned is vital. With rodeo, dollars equal championship points, so money won counts toward the world standings. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the end of the regular season advance to the National Finals Rodeo. But there’s also a bit of pride that goes into the competition. Anything extra a rodeo can offer provides a greater incentive to cowboys and cowgirls. Long after the money’s been spent, the championship buckles will shine, whether they’re worn or stand in a trophy case. “I know how big of a deal it is to win a buckle,” Zach Herrin said. “I think this is a great way to give something special to our winners in Big Spring.”

PECOS, Texas – Family trips ring a little differently in the world of rodeo. Take Summer and Seth Boyd, who don’t rightfully take vacations with their daughters, but they’re always traveling together. In fact, they’ll be in Reeves County in a  week for the West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. Nine-year-old Emmie and her little sister, Jinsen, 7, are part of the family business, which is trick riding. They’ve joined their mother and perform at Western events across North America as Summer & Co. Fearless Equine Stunts team. “It’s so neat to be able to be at a rodeo with that much history,” Summer Boyd set, referencing the event’s status as the “World’s First Rodeo.” “I love all the history, and I think that’s fun even in home school. It’s so fun to get to go to these places and be part of it. We feel fortunate because we just feel like we’re such a small piece of it. We trick ride. We do what we like to do. “Because of that, we get to have all these wonderful experiences and meet all these neat people that becomes friends for life. It happens just because we worked at something we love to do. It’s almost surreal at times.” Boyd didn’t just pass down her trick-riding expertise to her children; she shared her passion for it, too. The family lives near Lovington, New Mexico, just a two-hour drive from Pecos. The Lea County Fairgrounds in their hometown features Jake McClure Arena, which is massive, much like the Reeves County complex. “We love big pens, because we like hard-running horses,” Boyd said. “We can work small pens, too, but it’s fun in trick riding to really let your horse open up and move. Since we live in Lovington and the community’s nice enough, we get to practice there some. We’re strong and our horses are strong, so we don’t have trouble in those big pens holding tricks or changing things up. “We’re happy to go out there and just let our horses run.” Their work in the arena is rodeo pageantry at its best. There is an art form to trick riding, and Summer Boyd has a pretty good handle on it. Her daughters have developed amazing skills in a short amount of time, and there’s a unique display of showmanship watching two young ladies pull off stunts that boggle the mind. “Doing this together as a family is every bit as wonderful as it seems like it would be,” Summer Boyd said. “I don’t think I would be doing it if not for them also being interested in doing it with me. It makes all the difference in the world, and it’s fun to do it with them.” Boyd has watched her children not only progress technically, she’s seen them flourish in confidence. Both are comfortable riding all sorts of horses, and Emmie has added a new skill to her repertoire. “My 9-year-old is Roman riding this year, so she has two little black ponies to do that,” Boyd said of riding a pair of equine superstars in unison while standing on the animals’ backs, with one foot on the pony on the left, and the other on the horse on the right. “She used to trick ride on one of them. “She outgrew a pony she was riding last year, so she passed it on to my youngest. They both have a big horse that runs hard and that they can do a lot of strap tricks. They use the ponies for tricks that you need to jump off, need to hit the ground and jump back on, the things they obviously couldn’t do on a big horse.” It’s certainly a spectacle, which is why the volunteers of the West of the Pecos Rodeo are bringing the family to town.

Rodeo clown is a proven factor in entertainment at Estes Park rodeo ESTES PARK, Colo. – At his core, Justin Rumford is an entertainer. He has a comedian’s wit and perfect timing, whether it’s telling stories on his back porch or recording a podcast or standing in front of a crowd of thousands. His medium of choice is rodeo, and he returns to Estes Park for this year’s Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. He has a place in the spotlight in one of the most picturesque coliseums in the sport, and it will be another chance to share his brand of comedy for folks who are eager to be captivated. He’ll even have a bit of assistance. Because of a scheduling conflict for Rumford, veteran funnyman Matt Tarr will be on hand for the opening performance on July 5. Tarr may look and act completely different from Rumford, but he features a different flavor that has reached many fans. Like Rumford, Tarr has been recognized as one of the leading clowns and barrelmen in ProRodeo, a regular nominee for PRCA Clown of the Year, Comedy Act of the Year, Coors Man in the Can for the top barrelman and has been a finalist to be named the barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo. After the inaugural performance wraps, he’ll set the stage for Rumford’s return.  “People want to laugh at each other more than they want to laugh at something,” Rumford said. “When I’m in the arena, I’m saying the same stuff I’d say if I wasn’t clowning. It’s just me being me.” His monicker of “Rumpshaker” is fitting, and it’s more than his stature. Sure, his belly sticks out a bit, but Rumford just rolls with it. He makes fun of himself, which makes his schtick even more appealing to crowds. “The great thing that I love about Justin is that he’s not afraid to be himself,” said Andy Seiler, now working his 10th year as the Rooftop Rodeo announcer. “I think an urban audience more than any relates to that, and they pick up on that. “A guy like Justin is the same in and out of the arena. He plays a character, but that character is himself. It’s not fake. The fans can feel his authenticity.” Rumford’s validity shines, which is why organizers have signed the entertainer to a long-term contract. He’s not only performing during this year’s rodeo, but he’ll be back for years to come. “Justin is a fan favorite every time he’s here,” said Cindy Schonholtz, Rooftop Rodeo’s coordinator. “He’s got the perfect mindset to work the crowds in Estes Park. He’s funny. He’s engaging. We think having him here helps our rodeo.” It seems to be a win-win for the clown. He not only works the rodeo, but he can enjoy the trappings of the community while he’s in town with his wife, Ashley, and their triplets, Lola, Livi and Bandy. “When I get to Estes Park, it feels like I’m home,” said Rumford, a 10-time PRCA Clown of the Year from Ponca City, Oklahoma. “That was one of my first rodeos, and I know a ton of people in town. “It’s just fun. It’s one of those rodeo where it’s fun to be there. You’ve got great atmosphere, and how can you beat waking up overlooking that beautiful lake and the mountains surrounding you?” There are many great activities at the community that also serves as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and Rooftop Rodeo is one of them. With Rumford providing a plethora of belly laughs, the entertainment value at Granny May Arena increases. “He puts a little bit of makeup on, and away we go,” Seiler said. “He can say, ‘I’m being the same person I am every day when I wake up.’ I think that’s something that people can really relate to when they see Justin perform.” Gates for Rooftop Rodeo open at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, with the preshow beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about Rooftop Rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, or to order tickets online, log on to www.RooftopRodeo.com. Other ticket inquiries may be made by contacting the Town of Estes Park Events office at events@estes.org or (970) 586-6104.

PECOS, Texas – Noah Krepps and Clay Heger are the first responders for rodeo. Just like firefighters, police and paramedics, they ignore the instinct to run from danger. Instead, they head right for it. They put themselves in harm’s way in order to keep everyone else safe. No, they don’t carry a badge or cruise to the scene with lights and sirens. Krepps and Heger are bullfighters, men who stare danger in the eye to protect everyone in the arena during bull riding. They will be an integral part of the West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. “It is super cool to be part of the history behind that rodeo, and then to understand guys that have come through there and fought bulls before me,” said Krepps, 26, originally from Jasper, Arkansas, but now living in Montgomery, Alabama. “Thinking back at the guys that have been in that dirt and have been hired to do the same job as me, it’s something special to me.” Krepps fought inside that storied arena for the first time a year ago, but his counterpart has been part of the Pecos rodeo for more than a decade. Sure, there’s a bit of nostalgia that comes with working the World’s First Rodeo, but there’s also pride in everything they do. “The prestige of that rodeo is like few other rodeos out there,” said Heger, 37, originally from Hells Canyon, Washington, but now living in Stephenville, Texas. “They had Bad Company Rodeo there, so it puts pressure on us to have a good production and keep that legacy up.” While their main job is fighting bulls and saving cowboys, there’s a lot more to Heger and Krepps. Both are part of the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo crew and handle many of the behind-the-scenes work. They are up early, making sure the livestock is fed before they are. They arrive hours before each performance to help sort the animals for that night’s experience. “Whatever we need to do on either end of the arena to make the rodeo work is what we’re going to do,” Heger said. “I’d rather watch bucking horses or sort bucking horses, because they’re a little more individual. “I love bulls; it’s what I do. I can do that work all day and fight bulls, but I love watching horses, too.” That type of passion is what drove both men into the business. Heger was raised around rodeo, following in the footsteps of his rodeo clown father, Paul, and his bullfighting brother, who is just 17 months older. He moved to Texas as a teen to pursue his rodeo dreams, and he’s remained in the Lone Star State as he handles his business. Krepps also had some familial assistance in becoming a bullfighter. His step-brother, who is almost a decade older, rode bulls. Krepps wanted to follow suit. During a practice session, Big Brother stepped into the arena to help protect the bull riders but found himself in a bind. That’s when Little Brother jumped into the fray. “He was about to get run down,” Krepps said. “I don’t know if it was brother instinct or I just wanted to have something to do with it, so I ran down in there with him and helped him out.” That’s when a light went off in his head. “I thought, ‘Man, I like this,’ ” he said. Krepps was 16 years old and hasn’t looked back since. “Once I got a little taste of it, it was almost like a part of me, and I can’t get it out,” Krepps said. Heger saw that passion in the younger bullfighter the first time the two met. He had seen Krepps doing freestyle bullfighting, which is more of a competition and less protection, and knew there was talent in those cleats. “I knew his mentor, ‘Big Country,’ ” Heger said of Evan Allard, a veteran bullfighter from eastern Oklahoma. “I knew the kid was going to be tough, and he’s really come a long way.” While Allard showed Krepps the ropes of professional bullfighting, the younger man understands that lessons continue as the years roll on. “Clay is really good about keeping a guy grounded,” Krepps said. “Just being around somebody that’s been in the game that long on a consistent basis – watching him on how he handles the business side of it, too – has been really helpful to me. Our spark is our teamwork. We know where each other’s going to be before we do ourselves.” They work well together, which is vital when staring down danger, but it’s also part of being a member of the team that helps Pete Carr Pro Rodeo be one of the elite livestock and rodeo producers in the sport. “That crew is pretty awesome to be around, and we’re all really close and tight-knit,” Krepps said. “We’re more like a family. When you spend so much time together all year, it just works out that way. It’s easy to get behind something and be willing to do whatever it takes when you’re surrounded by people that want it to go as good as you do.”

Winget always ready and willing to help cowboys get down the road The gate of Ryan Winget’s walk is uniquely his. It’s not a swagger, but there’s energy to it. It’s a stride that identifies him, but the reasons for it have never defined him. Born two and a half months early, Winget has had cerebral palsy all of his 32 years. It just affects his lower extremities. He may move at a bit of a slower pace, but he’ll outwork and outwill anyone around him. That’s why he’s been the perfect teammate to many cowboys who make their livings on the rodeo trail. “Rhino is one of us,” said Cinch cowboy Shane Hanchey, a 15-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier – and the 2013 world champion tie down roper – from Sulphur, Louisiana. “That’s what’s cool about the rodeo world; we don’t let it back him down from what he can do. It’s really neat to have him part of the team, and he ain’t going to complain about anything. “At Houston this spring, he was on our horses every day getting them ready and helping us practice and all that comes with it. The personality he has … he just makes you confident. He goes into places, and he knows we’re going to do good. He just echoes a confidence that if you don’t have, you’ll have it after you’ve been around him a couple of days.” It’s infectious, but that’s been the case for Winget all his life. His smile shines, whether he’s warming up a horse for competition or watching the action from the edge of the arena. His demeanor, work ethic and love for the game have driven Winget, a man who has never allowed a lifelong disability slow him down much less stop him. “They said I’d never walk or never talk or do anything,” said Winget, a Cinch endorsee who attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University on a rodeo scholarship. “I just kept working at it and worked every day. I still work at it every day, and I think you’re trying not to let it get you down and just go day in and day out and keep pushing forward. That’s all you can do.” It’s a drive he obtained as a kid. He credits it to his family that not only helped bring him up that way but also instilled the fortitude to tackle all challenges head-on. He also takes a lot of pride in the labor he’s put into it himself, because much has gone into everything that has made him the man he is. “I think it’s a little bit of both,” he said. “My dad didn’t treat me any different than anyone else. My mom didn’t treat me any different. I think I also had the determination, and I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to be able to do everything everybody else could.” He’s roped. He’s chute-dogged. He’s even tried to ride a bull. He may not run a marathon, but don’t count him out trying one day. It’s that mental fortitude that has been transparent from a young age. “My dad trained racehorses for 10 years, so I’ve been around there,” Winget said. “I was around the racetrack a long time. I’ve been around horses all my life, and horses are something I’ll probably never take out of my life.” He understands equine flesh. He’s ridden many in his lifetime and has even been in the saddle of Tanner Milan’s mount, Eddie – the 2023 PRCA/AQHA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year that finished in the runner-up in voting last season – as they walked into the Thomas & Mack Arena for practice before the NFR. Those are moments of a lifetime, the dreams many young bulldoggers have when they sleep at night. Ryan Winget lived it. He could feel the power of the bay gelding through every stride the horse made. He could only imagine what it would be like to back in the timed-event box with that type of engine under him. “Being able to compete would be a dream come true,” he said. “If I could pick any event, it would probably be steer wrestling. I’ve had a lot of fun, and that event’s pretty cool to me. I’ve had guys come up to me and asked me about what’s going on, and I’ve never jumped a steer. I’ve thrown them on the ground but never jumped one. “They’re like, ‘But you’ve watched thousands of runs. You know how it’s supposed to look or what’s supposed to happen.’ Those guys asking me for advice is a pretty cool experience.” It’s a sign of the respect they have for him, who really hit bulldogging hard a dozen years ago. He’s a cousin with Jule Hazen, a three-time NFR qualifying steer wrestler from Protection, Kansas – Winget’s grandmother and Hazen’s grandmother are sisters. That relationship was forged as youngsters, and it bloomed over time. “I would always see him at Thanksgiving and would want to go with him during the summer,” Winget said. “He’s like, ‘Get out of high school, and I’ll let you go.’ So, once I graduated high school there in 2013, I wet with him and Chad Vancampen, and I’ve just gone every year with different guys since then.” That led to the college scholarship, where he assisted then-rodeo coach Stockton Graves, an eight-time NFR qualifier. It was just another shortened step Winget has taken in his path along the rodeo trail. He’s worked with a ton of bulldoggers over that time, but he’s also helped tie-down ropers like Hanchey. In fact, the world titlist was one of five men he teamed with at last year’s NFR. The others? Steer wrestlers Dakota Eldridge, Jesse Brown, Scott Guenthner and Dalton Massey. “I think starting out with Jule had a lot to do with me being with bulldoggers, because that’s what he did,” Winget said. “I ended up getting in with him, then I  Continue Reading »

BIG SPRING, Texas – Folks in this neck of the woods are proud of the 91-year history of the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. Organizers have worked tirelessly over the years to bring a top-tier event to town every June. They want the annual event to be a showcase of tremendous talent, which will just add to the overall experience. With that in mind, the volunteer committee is opting to change dates beginning with the 2026 rodeo. “We’re moving our dates up two weeks to the first week of June next year,” said Scot Herrin, a longtime committee member. “We want to do that to draw those contestants but also do it so we can accommodate their schedule. This will put us before Weatherford, so we think it will work better for the contestants.” This year’s Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. With great acts during the rodeo and live concerts after the Friday and Saturday performances, there are big things to celebrate at. Alas, members of the committee want to ramp everything up starting next year. “The way we are right now, there are some really big rodeos that are on top of us that pull contestants away from Big Spring,” Herrin said, pointing out that the Reno (Nevada) Rodeo is likely the best-paying rodeos in June, begins at the same time and is 1,400 miles northwest of Howard County. “We can’t compete with that, so we tried to make our new schedule where it would be a perfect run for those contestants to come through and be at these Texas rodeos before they head to Reno and all those other rodeos out West.” He also noted that Big Spring’s rodeo has traditionally been the same week as the College National Finals Rodeo, and there are dozens of younger contestants who are part of intercollegiate programs that might be missing out on an opportunity to gain some valuable experience inside the rodeo bowl. “That’s just another conflict for us,” he said. “We’ve needed to do it for a long time, and our facility just keeps getting better with the hospitality we’re providing. We’re trying to make it easier for contestants to come to Big Spring and make it a great experience.” This is just the next step with a group of people who have the foresight to make things better, from contestants to sponsors to members of the community who want to enjoy a great show. “We’ve got big plans for our future,” Herrin said. “We want to increase our livestock pens, some horse stalls and our parking. All these things are in motion, and we expect to have that done in the next few years. Our next step after that is to improve the VIP and sponsor experience and our facilities. “It’s a puzzle that all fits together.” The pieces will begin to be attached just as soon as this year’s rodeo concludes. It’s going to be an adjustment for members of the community and those with ties to this west Texas gem, but it’s one that members of the committee expect to be a benefit. “I think it’s going to be an even better date,” Herrin said. “School will have been out for just a little bit, so a lot of people should still be around. The weather should be a little better, so I think that’s a positive note there. It’s not going to be nearly as hot, so I think it will be better all the way around. “There are always pros and cons on picking a date for an event like this, but I think there are a lot more pos than cons to moving our rodeo to the first week of June.”

PECOS, Texas – Being athletic and agile has been a trademark for Allan Dessel. That talent is why he first became a bullfighter, following in the footsteps of his father. He utilized those skills to work in the business of his dreams, professional rodeo. He was good, selected to work several championship events. He was still pretty young when Dessel decided to double-dip to open the doors for opportunities to work as either a bullfighter or rodeo clown. As the years have passed, he’s focused on the latter and will make his way to this year’s West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. “I feel like my walk-and-talk (comedy) is really strong, but my dance act is very much crowd-participation,” said Dessel of Paullina, Iowa, in the state’s northwestern corner. “It’s not a classical clown act at all. I do dance evolution. I do every major dance hit, starting with the Charleston all the way up to now, and I do it for four minutes. “I don’t wear a mic, so I don’t say anything during the dance. We just play music, and I dance. It’s kind of like being in a small bar, and you always have fun in a small bar. If there’s one person in a small bar having fun, then you’re all having fun.” Dessel makes it fun, for himself and for the audience. The musical variety not only sparks nostalgia, but it helps energize the crowd. That’s what entertainers do. That’s a specialty for Dessel, who will be making his first appearance inside Buck Jackson Arena, home of the “World’s First Rodeo.” “I’m a big believer that you’ve got to remember where we came from, because history repeats itself,” he said. “It’s very important for me to be part of those longstanding rodeos. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work something like that. “Remembering where you came from – whether it’s rodeo or your family or whatever – is always important. When you get the opportunity to work a rodeo that’s as longstanding as Pecos, it’s very humbling.” It’s also a chance to showcase his talent. When he opted to become a clown, he made the decision to study under John Harrison, one of the most distinguished entertainers in rodeo today. Each of the past two years, Harrison has been named the PRCA Comedy Act of the Year, the Coors Man in the Can and the PRCA Clown/Barrelman of the Year. He was the right man to help Dessel make the transition. “I didn’t really see it until John said something, and then I started thinking about it,” Dessel said. “I was always the kind of guy that was willing to do whatever it took to make a rodeo work.” He’s still doing it, and he’ll have the opportunity to make everything happen in Pecos, a rodeo that’s made some significant changes over the years. One big move the volunteer committee made this year was to nearly double the local dollars invested into the purse. “I love the fact that they’re moving forward, trying to better the sport,” he said. “One day, all of us are going to quit rodeoing, but hopefully rodeo lives on a lot longer than the rest of us. By doing things like that, the rodeo committee in Pecos manages to ensure the legacy continues to live.” In its heart, rodeo is a competition. It started in downtown Pecos more than 140 years ago with ranch hands testing their talents against one another. It’s continued because of that foundation. For most folks, though, rodeo is a night out on the town. It’s a chance to see some great competition while also being entertained. Dessel helps with that, providing his own agility and ability to not only make rodeo fans relive a little musical history but also help put the smiles on the faces in the crowd. “It’s fun, and that dance act is fun for me to do,” Dessel said. “I enjoy it, and I want everyone else to enjoy it, too.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Volunteers who help produce the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration know it takes great teamwork to pull off something of that magnitude. From working with the carnival to organizing the 4H and FFA exhibits to partnering with the rodeo contract personnel to so many others in the Gunnison Valley, little happens without synergy. There’s no way Cattlemen’s Days is a success without it. With 125 years invested, this is truly a community effort, and that’s being showcased more than ever with this year’s Cattlemen’s Days parade, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13, along the same route as it’s always been “There was some talk about having to alter our parade route, shortening it to just four blocks on Main Street,” said Kevin Coblentz, a longtime volunteer with the organization. “Fortunately, we’ve had some people really step up so we can continue to have the type of parade this community is used to and that this town deserves.” The most necessary adjustment was to provide barricades to help direct traffic, especially off East Tomichi Avenue, where U.S. Highway 50 comes into town from the Monarch Pass. Members of the volunteer committee were searching for ways to help pay the $12,000 fee it will take for a barrier company to provide assistance. Local home health care provider Bre Norris made the first donation and got the ball rolling. Coblentz was talking to a friend about Norris’ generosity, so Richard Buffington decided to get involved. He’s the regional manager for Builders FirstSource, a millwork company that served as the presenting sponsor for the Colorado Stampede in Grand Junction, Colorado. The company invested $5,000 into the project, so the foundation had been laid. “The city really stepped up and helped us,” Coblentz said, pointing to City Manager Amanda Wilson and Jason Kibler, the city’s Streets & Refuse superintendent. “Those two really helped us out with the negotiations, and we got another $6,000 from the city to help us with putting on the parade as we’ve always been able to.” While it’s a community event, the Cattlemen’s Days Parade is no small-town affair. It’s a big deal to residents and former residents. Many who are originally from Gunnison return to town for the annual celebration, which is why class reunions are always a special feature during the procession. “The city continues to do a great job for this community,” Coblentz said. “I think Cattlemen’s Days has formed a great relationship with the city, and that’s always going to benefit everybody.” The celebration began in 1900 and features the longest continuous-running rodeo in Colorado. Cattlemen’s Days was created as a way to bring everyone in the county to town for fun-filled events and a chance to gather together. It may have been the only time all year that friends saw one another, and that legacy continues today. “Everybody wants to see our 125th year be successful,” Coblentz said. “I think that’s a big reason why this all came together. This is what our community needs.”

ALVA, Okla. – The College National Finals Rodeo is a time to shine, but it’s also a week of redemption for some. Take Northwestern Oklahoma State University cowboy Emmett Edler, who returns to the intercollegiate championship after a less-than-stellar finale a year ago. He knows this is an opportunity, and he’s focused on the best outcome possible as he looks ahead to the June 15-21 event at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming. “I think it’s going to be a good year,” said Edler, a senior from State Center, Iowa. “Now that I’ve been there, seen it and got to experience what it’s like, I think it’ll be a whole different perspective going into it. I’m going to be a lot more prepared.” He’ll also be a bit busier and have a boatload of confidence with him as he arrives in Casper. Edler dominated the Central Plains Region’s steer wrestling race, running away with the title. He also earned points in tie-down roping and team roping through the season and finished second in the all-around race. That means he’ll add another event to his repertoire at the college finals, tie-down roping. He will be joined in Casper by header Colter Snook, a sophomore from Dodge City, Kansas, and goat-tier Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma. The trio will try to take their momentum from the 10-event season into the four-round championship. “I would really like to win a national championship in steer wrestling, and it would be awesome to go out there and do well in calf roping, too,” Edler said. “I know it’s not my main event and there are a lot of really wolfy guys that are going to be there in calf roping, but I want to do as well as I can. The main thing in calf roping is catching. If I can make three consistent runs and do what I can on the calves I’ve drawn, I would be happy with that.” His experience of having performed in that arena will be valuable, but the Rangers’ first-timers are excited to be in the mix at college rodeo’s marquee event. “I wanted to catch all the cows during the season and not break a barrier, but I missed my wrap in Garden City (Kansas) and broke the barrier in Durant (Oklahoma) and Hays (Kansas),” said Snook, who will rope with Cale Morris of Western Oklahoma State College. “My goal is to catch all four cows and have a good time.” That’s easier said than done. Contestants know that in order to place high in go-rounds, they must be fast. The faster cowboys and cowgirls try to be, the more chances they’re making, which opens the door for failure. “Only one team caught all four last year,” Snook said of the 2024 finale. “I might as well go catch all four and see what happens.” Consistency is the name of the game, and the most steady team will likely come away with the college championship. He’ll lean on his partner in crime, Cajun, a 15-year-old bay gelding to help put him and Morris into position. “He’s the hardest-running horse I’ve ever been on,” said Snook, the second-place finisher in the region’s heading standings. “If I’m scoring solid, then I can get out and be at the (steer’s) hip when other people are two coils out.” That means he trusts the speedy stead to put him in position faster than others, which helps him turn the steer in a better position for his heeler. “I just drop it on his head and roll him out of there and be able to handle cattle really good,” he said, noting that the better the header handles the cow, the more opportunities the heeler has to make a solid catch. Teamwork is vital. While Snook will entrust Morris and Cajun, Edler has four other partners to help him. He will continue to ride Easy, a horse he’s used all year that’s owned by Logan Mullin, who will help guide the steers into place for Edler while riding Bullfrog, a hazing horse owned by the Swayze family in Freedom, Oklahoma. In tie-down roping, Edler will ride a horse owned by Tanner Scheevel, a Northeastern Oklahoma A&M cowboy who won the region’s all-around race and finished second in calf roping. Dingman will be riding Dolly, an all-around horse that she’s also used in breakaway roping. After taking a couple years off the event while in high school, she added goat-tying to kick off her college career. “I hadn’t tied in two years before this year, so everybody was joking, ‘You’re definitely going to make the college finals.’ ” said Dingman, who finished third in the region to punch her ticket to Casper. “Then I did, but I don’t think it really stuck for a couple weeks after that. “I really don’t think it’s going to hit me until we get there, because you see the girls that are at the college finals, and you think about what it’s going to be like in that arena and in that environment. Now, I actually get to do that. It’s something you dream about. I’m living that dream that I had always wanted. I’m super excited.” She should be. She’s done something many freshman never do. Her success in the inaugural season of her intercollegiate career has also opened other doors. She has signed on to be a student assistant to coach Cali Griffin, and she will also serve as the region’s student director next year. She credited her success to the setting Griffin placed in the practices. “I think tying with the girls and the practices with Cali were helping to keep the environment fun, which was really helpful,” Dingman said. “I think the region really helped me. It was intimidating at first, but it pushed me a little bit. When you’re tying with girls that have been doing it and are a little bit better than you, I feel like it makes you  Continue Reading »

Andy Seiler announces his passion for Estes Park and the Rooftop ESTES PARK, Colo. – The first time Andy Seiler arrived in Estes Park, he was immediately taken in by its beauty. It’s hard to find a place with as much eloquence, a touch of grace with what looks to be within reach of the heavens. What he quickly found out, though, was there’s much more to the town than its status among tourists. There’s a Western heritage, which is reflected in the annual Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. “Estes Park is not just a great guest destination, but it’s also a place rodeo contestants look forward to visiting every year,” said Seiler, now in his 10th year announcing Rooftop Rodeo. “I’ve actually heard of multiple contestants who skip other rodeos so they could stay in Estes Park a couple of extra days. “That says something about Estes Park, but it’s also says something about Rooftop Rodeo.” He’s right. Millions of tourists make their way to this town of 5,800 people between Memorial Day to Labor Day, and hundreds of them are cowboys and cowgirls who are in town during early July. They enjoy the trappings the community has to offer as well as the scenic overlay from Rocky Mountain National Park. “I can bring my family, and we can kind of recharge our batteries in one of the most beautiful spots in the country,” said Seiler, who lives in Ocala, Florida, with his wife, Lauren, and their two children. “Living in Florida, being in the Rocky Mountains is a nice change in July. It’s also one of the things that’s a feature in my cap, not just the rodeo but the town of Estes Park. “It’s just an easy place to visit. Every time I’ve been there, I feel like it’s a family reunion. You feel like you’re a part of their family, and they treat you as such. That matters, because you’re now part of a team. You want to feel like you’re part of what’s happening. They’ve been growing, and while I can’t take credit for the growth they’ve experienced, I’m proud to say that I’ve been there since they’ve been growing.” That’s been the case for the last decade, but local organizers have done some things to help that growth continue. They’ve listened to the contestants and made the changes necessary to improve. The rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, will feature an increased payout this year. The town is contributing $10,000 per event, which will then be added to the contestants’ entry fees to make up the purse. That’s an upturn of more than $20,000 overall in prize money. “The neat thing about when rodeos do that is now it puts the ball in the cowboys’ and cowgirls’ court to make a business decision,” Seiler said. “If a rodeo is making changes and adding a little more money to elevate their product, then you have to consider events like that. Kudos to Rooftop Rodeo for doing that, because it’s easy to stay stagnant. “If you don’t continue to make those changes, you’re not going to continue to get the caliber of talent you want, because the ‘added money” seems to be increasing in most places because events want the top level of talent.” Rodeo is a fine mix of competition and family-friendly entertainment. Cowboys and cowgirls not only battle for the titles and the paydays, but also dollars equal championship points in the sport. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the sport’s grand finale, the National Finals Rodeo. By increasing the local money into the purse, the town and the rodeo are providing even greater incentives for the sport’s elite to make their way to Estes Park. “I think rodeo has changed in how serious people are about their business,” Seiler said. “They’ve got books about how they enter, but they’ve also got a nutrition book and a fitness book. I think that’s why we see the caliber of talent not only rise, but we’re seeing success at a younger age.” Yes, Seiler is Rooftop Rodeo’s emcee, the man who calls the action, educates the crowd and energizes everyone within earshot, but he’s also a rodeo fan with the best seat in the house. He sits horseback while doing his job, maneuvering about Granny May Arena to not only get the best perspective of the action but to also interact well with the fans. He has the ability to take his words and help make fir a better experience for every fan in the complex. “I probably work 20 percent of my rodeos horseback, and it just depends on where I am as to what works best,” he said. “In Estes Park, I’d say it’s about 95 percent urban people at the rodeo, so when you’re horseback, you can get right next to people and really point things out. You get a feel for the audience. “I just feel there’s such a strong connection with them because I can see them, and they can see me. It just make sense there more than anywhere else.” The connection is real and the presentation seamless, because Andy Seiler is more than the voice of Rooftop Rodeo; he’s also the face of Estes Park’s Western heritage. Gates for Rooftop Rodeo open at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, with the preshow beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about Rooftop Rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, or to order tickets online, log on to www.RooftopRodeo.com. Other ticket inquiries may be made by contacting the Town of Estes Park Events office at events@estes.org or (970) 586-6104.