Monthly Archives: July 2025

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair and Rodeo is an investment into the community and into future generations. As always, finding ways to benefit area youth is foremost in the minds of the members of the Waller County Fair Association, which organizes the annual exposition, but there’s so much more that goes into producing  Continue Reading »

Yerigan, Kenyon will join forces to announce the action in Gooding GOODING, Idaho – The eloquence of Steve Kenyon’s voice has reigned over the Gooding Pro Rodeo for more than two decades. His calls as the event’s emcee are as iconic as the rodeo itself. He’s been “Beer Worthy” since the vibrant signs were first  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Seth Peterson began his ProRodeo career in 2021 as a permit-holder, a designation for young contestants trying to prove themselves. He became a card-carrying member of the PRCA two years later, and he competed primarily in the Mountain States Circuits, a region made up of rodeos and contestants from Colorado and  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The last words Clay Tom Cooper heard from his older brother involved a statement he already knew, but they brought to life the relationship the two have shared for a lifetime. “He told me, ‘I love you, and I respect you for always being honest with me,’ ” Clay Tom Cooper said.  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Quade Benton is just 4 years old, but he’s willing to battle for what he wants. “I’m going to fight my daddy for those spurs,” he said. Daddy is Trey Benton, who has found some magic in western Kansas. For the second time in six years, he collected the spurs awarded  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – In the classical ballet that is professional rodeo, having the right dance partner can make all the difference. It’s a big reasons hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls make their way to southeastern New Mexico for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6-Saturday, Aug. 9; that also  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The volunteers who help organize Lovington’s annual rodeo do everything they can to make it as special as possible for everyone involved. That sometimes calls for adjustments to be made, and it’s the case for this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6-Saturday, Aug. 9; that  Continue Reading »

Gooding Pro Rodeo teams with JAE Foundation on mental health GOODING, Idaho – The Gooding Pro Rodeo has always been about giving back. Whether it was to the community as part of the county’s annual celebration – this year marks the 100th Gooding County Fair and Rodeo – or to the contestants who battle throughout  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Fairgoers in southeastern New Mexico have grown accustomed to a homegrown festivity. The Lea County Fair and Rodeo features nine days of entertainment, from Friday, Aug. 1-Saturday. Aug. 9. It’s an opportunity for local residents to enjoy all the activities, including the concerts, carnival, rodeo, livestock shows, other exhibits and plenty of  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – A couple of decades ago, Justin Rumford was engrossed in the tourism that is part of this western Kansas community. Tens of thousands of visitors arrive in Dodge City to relive history, the television series “Gunsmoke” and take a peek at what life was like for the early settlers and cowboys  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Rodeo is unique. It’s competition, but it’s also entertainment. The Lea County Fair Board has recognized that, which is why there will be a couple of true entertainers for this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6-Saturday, Aug. 9; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls,  Continue Reading »

Munsell found a passion in breakaway roping and is breaking barriers Taylor Munsell may as well have been born carrying a rope. When one is raised in the western Oklahoma hamlet of Arnett and in the Munsell clan, it’s just a way of life. “Team roping is what my family’s known for,” said Munsell, a  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Amber Groves smiles a bit as she reflects on the past two years at the Junior Livestock Sale at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. The emotion comes from watching the children succeed, seeing their parents’ pride and everyone on the fairgrounds knowing that a bunch of hard work has been justly  Continue Reading »

Local, regional, national supporters help bring top talent to Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – Maybe the most difficult question to answer in southern Idaho is this: What makes the Gooding Pro Rodeo special? Sure, there’s incredible action with ProRodeo’s elite in the mix. There are incredible bucking athletes and timed-event horses. Those things stand  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – It started with a query from a friend about 15 years ago. That was just the little engine that could for Shona Able and her husband, John. They jumped aboard, and the train has been rolling down the tracks for them ever since. “My friend, Lisa McNeill, was in charge of the  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – For several years, a transition has been in place at Roundup Arena. Major enhancements have happened, from bettering the electrical to adding aluminum bleachers to an upgraded entryway with a spiffier ticket booth. Every step of the process is done with the audience in mind. That includes a new food court,  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – This was the perfect night for the Hildreth family to celebrate. First, Jace and Coy posted the fastest team roping run of Saturday’s third performance of the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, stopping the clock in 5.3 seconds to finish in a tie for eighth place, with $1,129 per man. A few minutes  Continue Reading »

Cattlemen’s Days committee buys swine, donates it to family GUNNISON, Colo. – The foundation of every county fair is giving back to the community, especially youth. It’s no different for Cattlemen’s Days, which has been celebrating 125 years for a week and a half. It’s an opportunity for children to showcase their hard work and  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – Two years and 16 days ago, Jacobs Crawley’s long career as an elite bronc rider was put into jeopardy. He’d suffered a broken back while competing at the 2023 Greeley (Colorado) Stampede. It was bad, a burst fracture of his T12 vertebra and damage to the T11 and L1. He had surgery  Continue Reading »

NFR champ Lockhart takes the title on final night of Estes Park’s rodeo ESTES PARK, Colo. – Fourth of July may have been six days ago, but there were plenty of fireworks during Thursday’s final performance of the 2025 Rooftop Rodeo. Eighteen-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Lisa Lockhart provided the dramatic climax with a lightning-fast  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – Cody Pratt loves Cattlemen’s Days almost as much as locals. Of course, having continued success in one arena is always important, but there’s more to it. There’s a feeling that encompasses the Fred Field Western Center when the rodeo is in town, and it’s even more sensational now celebrating its 125th year.  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Every cowboy knows he needs a good horse under him in order to find success. Shad Mayfield has one in Lollipop, the 2024 tie-down roping horse of the year. She was the guiding force behind his first all-around world championship last season, one that watched him earn nearly $400,000, $111,062 of  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Cynthia Hawley is one of four new faces on the Lea County Fair Board, but she’s hardly a stranger to the exposition. “I’m a Lea County native, born and raised,” said Hawley, whose appointment came from Gary Eidson, the Lea County District 3 commissioner, and was made official in February. “I’ve been  Continue Reading »

ESTES PARK, Colo. – It’s one thing for Rooftop Rodeo to include ladies breakaway roping into its schedule; it’s another to place the event on the same plateau as all the others in its inaugural year. That’s why 70 cowgirls entered into the fray to test their talents in Estes Park, and the competition is  Continue Reading »