Monthly Archives: October 2025

Pete Carr’s great bucking horse, Dirty Jacket, has had a legendary career. The two-time Bareback Horse of the Year that bucked at 12 consecutive National Finals Rodeos performed for the final time of his long career during the Saturday night performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER) HEMPSTEAD, Texas – In the 15 years of professional rodeo during the Waller County Fair, the constant has been showcasing exceptional athletes. World-class bucking animals from Texas-based stock contractor Pete Carr Pro Rodeo have leapt out of the chutes in Hempstead. Among them was Dirty Jacket, a two-time PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year that has bucked 12 times at the National Finals Rodeo. “I remember the first time we had a PRCA rodeo here, that was one of the best-known horses Pete brought,” said Clint Sciba, a longtime member of the Waller County Fair Board and a co-chair of its rodeo committee. “Dirty Jacket’s been an amazing horse for a long time and has been a staple of our rodeo since 2011.” During the final ProRodeo performance of the 2025 fair, Dirty Jacket bucked for the final time. True to his championship nature, the powerful bucker guided Parker Fleet of Axtell, Texas, to the victory. The horse has been a winner his entire career, dating back to his first out in 2008. Over that 17-year stretch, he has been a major factor to dozens of victories. “I think it really says something about that horse that he went out a winner,” said Paul Shollar, also co-chairman of the rodeo committee. “For him to buck the final time at Waller County is a pretty special honor to us.” That was just one of many honors bestowed upon fair organizers. The biggest came just west of the rodeo arena on the same day, where the livestock auction raised a record $1.6 million. “There was a lot of bidding,” said Susan Shollar, chairwoman of the auction committee. “A big part of that was what we call the ‘scholarship lot,’ and the money raised there goes to a scholarship fund. In the middle of the auction, we auction an item – which was a Kawasaki Mule – and we usually get $5,000-$10,000 there, then what we do is take add-ons from anybody that’s there. “The Mule brought $76,000, and with add-ons, we hit $104,000.” There were 220 lots involved in the auction, and the average price per lot was $6,400. It didn’t matter if the lot was the grand champion steer or a rabbit that earned a ribbon, the giving nature of fair supporters shined. “Our auction has gotten to where it brings such big bids that it leaves a lot of people out,” Shollar said. “We encourage people to combine their money, so we had a lot of group purchases.” The consolidation worked, and it helped the bottom line while perpetuating a growing trend. It marked the sixth time the auction has brought in more than $1 million, including each of the past five years. While the auction brought out supporters, attendance for the exposition was high across the board. It was highlighted by the four nights of concerts. “I’m looking forward to seeing what our gates did, but it was a successful fair as far as the concerts,” said Michelle Gaston, chairwoman of the entertainment committee. “We started out with William Clark Green and Southall on the first Saturday, and the pavilion was packed before the rodeo was over. Easton Corbin closed the fair out with a packed house and a great show. “It was a big success, and we’re already working on artists for 2026.”

Leighton Berry was sidelined much of the 2025 season but returned to action the end of September. As the 2026 ProRodeo campaign kicked off at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, Berry had proven he was ready for action with the win. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)   HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Broken bones sometimes lead to broken dreams for competitors. Bareback rider Leighton Berry didn’t let it affect him much the initial shock of a broken riding hand. He actually took advantage of his time out of the arena. Two weeks after the injury, he and wife Kodi welcomed their son, Ledger, on April 28, 2025. That wasn’t all. “I had my hip fixed on June 4,” said Berry, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Weatherford, Texas. “I’d been pushing off hip surgery for the last year. I was supposed to have it done after the NFR in ’24, and I thought God was telling me something different. Sure enough, he has a funny way of showing that you probably should do what you’re going to say. “When I realized I was going to be out six to eight weeks with my hand injury and already and hadn’t had a great winter (portion of the season), I went ahead and had my hip fixed. Ever since I came out of the waiting room after my surgery, I’ve just been thinking about coming back a stronger bareback rider.” He returned to action during the last couple weeks of the 2025 regular season, which concluded Sept. 30. He placed in Pasadena, Texas, and shared the victory in Stephenville, Texas, which was the perfect precursor to his 2026 campaign. He just added to it Saturday night with a 90.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret’s Out for 90.5 points. “This is pretty much how I pictured starting off my new year,” he said. “I had in my mind that I wanted it to start off with a 90. Back in 2020 before my first NFR, I was 90 points on (Carr’s) Fancy Free at this same rodeo, and it just set up my whole year. “I had a great horse from Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, one that’s probably going to be seen in the TV pen at this year’s National Finals. I made sure to get down here on time, and it sure paid off.” It’ll buy a lot of diapers for that 5-month-old baby boy. “Having a family now really fuels my fire, and I’ve been just thinking about going back to the basics, getting my mental game back where I was craving every bucking horse I got on no matter what rodeo I was at, what (money) as added and what kind of caliber horse is underneath me,” said Berry, who earned $1,951 for winning the Hempstead title. “I just really wanted to focus on going back to being Leighton Berry and enjoy riding bareback horses, because that’s what it’s all about. “Whenever Ledger got here, and I know a lot people say this, but it really does open your eyes and gives you a whole new perspective. I’ve always thought to be a better person with a lot of drive and passion for what I do, but knowing that I’ve got him to raise, give something to look up to and obviously provide for, It really did just light a whole new fire in me.” That passion is continuing to build. His bonding time with Kodi and Ledger was amazing, but he’s been craving the chance to spur bucking horses again. He was in Cheyenne, Wyoming, working for The Cowboy Channel and watched his younger brother, Kade, win the title. A few weeks later, Kade was sidelined on his own with an injury, so both second-generation cowboys are eager for action. “We were supposed to travel together this year, but we’re planning on both being 100 percent healthy by January,” he said. “You’re going to see a lot of the Berry Boys in the same rig in 2026. As humble as we try to be, we sure practice what we preach. We try to work hard and push each other, and nobody wants to win more than me and nobody wants to win more than me. We feed off each other and push ourselves and, at the end of the day, just have fun riding barebacks.” That’s not all Leighton Berry can do, though. He grew up also roping calves and steers, so he and saddle bronc rider Parker Fleet entered the team roping together. While they didn’t have any luck in that event, they were part of the all-around race. “Some of these Texas Circuit rodeos have always given need all-around prizes,” Berry said. “They give an AR-15 rifle for the all-around here, so why not go for it. “I love the way it feels when you win the all-around. To me, it means you’re somewhat the kinf of the rodeo, at least for the moment.” Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 2-4 Hempstead, Texas All-around cowboy: Parker Fleet, $2,267 in saddle bronc riding and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Leighton Berry, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Secret’s Out, $1,951; 2. (tie) Matt McLanahan, Andy Gingerich and Bryce Eck, 80.5, $1,106 each; 5. Colton Clemons, 80, $455; 6. (tie) Darien Johnson and Colt Eck, 79, $293 each; 8. Wayne Warneke, 77.5, $195. Steer wrestling: 1. Joseph Guze, 3.4 seconds, $2,189; 2. Gus Franzen, 3.7, $1,932; 3. Wyatt Fields, 3.9, $1,674; 4. Darcy Kersh, 4.0, $1,417; 5. (tie) Tory Johnson and Bryn Roy, 4.1, $1,223; 7. Dakota Champion, 4.2, $1,030; 8. (tie) Emmett Edler, Tucker Ravenscroft and Tyler Ravenscroft, 4.3, $730 each. Team roping: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/JC Flake, 3.8 seconds, $4,594; 2. Brayden Fillmore/Cody Lansing, 4.1, $4,054; 3. Cash Duty/Jake Edwards, 4.3, $3,513; 4. Marcus Theriot/Chase Graves, 4.4, $2,973; 5. Peyton Holliday/Gavin Foster, 4.6, $2,432; 6. (tie) Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Chris Francis/Cade Passig, Brenten Hall/Kaden Profili and Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 4.7, $1,757 each; 10. (tie) Riley  Continue Reading »

Cutter Carpenter moved into the tie-down roping lead at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo after posting a 7.4-second run Friday night. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)   HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Cutter Carpenter had a little advantage over the tie-down roping field at this week’s Waller County Fair and Rodeo. He was inside the same arena last weekend during the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association Finals, which kicked off the rodeo-friendly exposition. He won a round, and that built a level of confidence in the calf roper who competed in intercollegiate rodeo at Trinity Valley Community College and East Texas A&M University. It all came together with a 7.4-second run during Friday’s second performance of the ProRodeo, and Carpenter now owns the lead with one day remaining in Hempstead. “I’ve got a great horse,” Carpenter said, referring to Twix, a 9-year-old sorrel mare he’s ridden three years. “I scored so good, I thought I broke the barrier. I had to throw within two swings, and everything was set up real fast.” Yes, it was, especially for the Texas roper, who holds a lead of more than half a second over the second-place cowboy. Carpenter just wrapped his rookie season in the PRCA and is looking to capitalize on his sophomore season at the first event of the 2026 season. The winners in each event earn an automatic bid into RodeoHouston, which is one of the highest-paying rodeos in the sport that takes place each March. He has big plans for the next 12 months of his life. “I’m going to try to make the (National Finals Rodeo) this year,” he said. “Hopefully I get into Houston after this rodeo. I want to do good there and start my winter off good. I had a pretty good summer this year, so I hope I can get that ball rolling earlier this next season and get some money going.” That’s the name of the game. Not only does the cash help cover expenses that come with the life and lifestyle, but dollars equal championship points. Only the top 15 on the money list when the regular season concludes Sept. 30 advance to the NFR, the sport’s 10-round grand finale that takes place each December in Las Vegas. He plans to utilize Twix to make it all happen. “I love the way she stands in the corner at full attention,” Carpenter said. “She leaves off my hand good, and if I need to pull (back to slow the horse) to get out of the barrier, I can, and she still drops and fires as hard as she can just like we leave normal.” Horsepower is vital in rodeo, so Twix gives Carpenter a chance to build his resume. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 2-4 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Matt McLanahan, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Betty Boop, and Andy Gingerich, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s River Monster, 80.5 points; 3. Colton Clemons, 80; 4. Wayne Warneke, 77.5; 5. (tie) Kash Martin and Brayze Schill, 77; 7. Blayn Hughston, 73; 8. Daxtyn Feild, 72. Steer wrestling: 1. Cade Goodman, 5.2 seconds; 2. Wade Steffen, 5.7; 3. Shane Frey, 5.9; 4. Cody Harmon, 6.1; 5. Heath Thomas, 6.2; 6. Denell Henderson, 6.4; 7. Chase Pope, 6.6; 8. Justin Shaffer, 6.8; 9. Boyd Sawyer, 7.6; 10. Ty Allred. Team roping: 1. Marcus Theriot/Chase Graves, 4.4 seconds; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 4.7; 3. Riley Kittle/cory Petska, 4.8; 4. Zane Huffman/Bryce Bunting, 11.6; 5. Paul Tierney/Kollin VonAhn, 14.3; 6. Casper Ringelstein/Joel Galvan, 15.2; 7. Gabe Williams/Gus Mosley, 19.6; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Darcy Wockner, 83 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s; 2. (tie) Rig Smith and Talon Elshere, 81; 4. Spur Montag, 79; 5. (tie) Kaden Horrocks and Carson Bingham, 78; 7. Waitley Sharon, 77.5; 8. Logan Nunn, 75.5. Tie-down roping: 1. Cutter Carpenter, 7.4 seconds; 2. Dalton Porch, 8.0; 3. Cole Eiguren, 8.6; 4. (tie) Bryson Sechrist and Kyan Wilhite, 8.7; 6. (tie) Guy Raasch and Marty Yates, 9.1; 8. Jesse Clifton and Cody McCartney, 9.2; 10. (tie) Max Mathis and Jarvis Demery, 9.3. Breakaway roping: 1. Jade Mitchell, 1.6 seconds; 2. (tie) McKenna Hickson and Hali Williams, 1.7; 4. Abby Cox, 1.9; 5. Shayla Smith, 2.0; 6. (tie) Jacelyn Frost, Jordi Edens Mitchell and Whitney Profili, 2.1; 9. Mattie Hodges, Montana Brown, Hannah Phillips and TiAda Gray, 2.2. Barrel racing: 1. Tiany Schuster, 15.27 seconds; 2. Morgan Bagnell, 15.32; 3. 9 Wimberley, 15.44; 4. Stormie Wisnoski, 15.51; 5. (tie) Tara Carr, Jodee Miller and Lanita Peirce, 15.52; 8. Brooke Krolczyuk, 15.54; 9. Kristin Dunn, 10.55; 10. (tie) Taylor Baize and Dena Kirkpatrick, 15.56; 12. Kristi Cole, 15.57; 13. Gracen Harman, 15.59; 14. Jordan Driver, 15.61; 15. (tie) Rainey Skelton and Abbie Crews, 15.65. Bull riding: 1. Bryce Jensen, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Ringo; 2. Cooper James, 83; 3. Dylan Rice, 77.5; no other qualified rides.

Jacelyn Frost is carrying on a family tradition in rodeo, and she proved it with her fast time in breakaway roping. (PHOTO BY PEGGY GANDER)   HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Rodeo is more than a family tradition for Jacelyn Frost. It’s a way of life, and she’s living it. She’s a senior on the rodeo team at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, some 18 hours south of her hometown of Randlett, Utah. While Frost is studying to be a teacher, she understands rodeo will be in her future. “I just love the lifestyle, the community, the drive of wanting to do good every single time, having to work hard for something,” said Frost, who stopped the clock in 2.1 seconds Thursday to take the breakaway roping lead during the opening performance of the Waller County Fair’s ProRodeo. “Just growing up around it, I love it.” That passion is what drives her to compete. She’s focused on roping calves, but she grew up competing in multiple events – that’s somewhat of a family trait. Her older brothers, Joe, Josh and Jate, have been all-around hands, so she’s following suit. She’s competing in both breakaway roping and goat-tying while in college. Her brothers were a bit of an oddity in the sport. All three have excelled in bull riding – Joe led the way, qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in 2014. Josh followed suit with five NFR bids in six years, closing that streak with the coveted world championship in 2024. Jate has been among the top 35 each of the past two seasons. “It’s pretty rare to see bull riders be calf ropers and steer wrestlers, but all my brothers have always done every event,” Jacelyn Frost said, noting that the family has celebrated Josh’s gold buckle over the past several months. “We’ve watched him work his entire life for this goal. We watched every single hard day, good day, and it was pretty amazing to be there to watch him accomplish what we all dream of.” She’s certainly not resting on her brother’s accomplishments, and she has big goals. With Hempstead’s rodeo being the first of the 2026 campaign – the ProRodeo season runs from Oct. 1-Sept. 30 – she has hopes to build off this early success. When she’s not competing for Tarleton State, she’ll hit the road, including trips toward home to compete in the Wilderness Circuit, made up of rodeos and contestants primarily in Utah, Nevada and southern Idaho. “I want to make the college finals in both goat-tying and breakaway, then make the Wilderness Circuit Finals and hopefully make it on to the (National Finals Breakaway Roping) next year,” Frost said. Her confidence level is high, but much of that comes with experience. Another aspect is having the right kind of horsepower, and that comes from BB gun, an 18-year-old bay gelding. “He’s really good, and he’s really nice in all short setups,” she said. “I actually bought another one a month ago that’s hopefully going to be my second string.” Frost will need a team of great horses to make a run for the championship. To be one of the elite, it takes talent mixed with fortitude, because the road to the National Finals is long and winding. Being the youngest and the only girl has helped bring out the best in her. “My brothers made me tough, but they also protect me,” Frost said. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 2-4 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Colton Clemons, 80 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Fox Hole Gunner; 2. Kash Martin, 77; 3. Blayn Hughston, 73; 4. Daxtyn Feild, 72; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Cade Goodman, 5.2 seconds; 2. Cody Harmon, 6.1; 3. Heath Thomas, 6.2; 4. Denell Henderson, 6.4; 5. Justin Shaffer, 6.8; 6. Boyd Sawyer, 7.6; 7. Trevor Crainer, 11.7; 8. Ryan Nettle, 18,1. Team roping: 1. Zane Huffman/Bryce Bunting, 11.6 seconds; 2. Gabe Williams/Gus Mosley, 19.6; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Darcy Wockner, 83 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s; 2. Rig Smith, 81; 3. Spur, 79; 4. Waitley Sharon, 77.5; 5. Tom Webseter, 74; 6. Leon Fountain, 69; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: 1. Conway Thomas, 10.2 seconds; 2. Neil Dove, 14.8; 3. Trevor Crainer, 19.6; 4. Colby Holt, 20.7; no other qualified rides. Breakaway roping: 1. Jacelyn Frost, 2.1 seconds; 2. Jenna Fulton, 2.5; 3. Audrey Cunningham, 4.2; Clair Dale, 12.2; no other qualified runs. Barrel racing: 1. Emma Parr, 15.67 seconds; 2. Ashlyn Goven, 15.69; 3. Jimmie Smith, 15.87; 4. Kaycee Thomas, 15.98; 5. Katie Halbert, 20.36; 6. Jordynn Knight, 20.81; no other qualified runs. Bull riding: 1. Bryce Jensen, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Ringo; 2. Dylan Rice, 77.5; no other qualified rides.

ALVA, Okla. – The four months that led up to the fall semester may have been the toughest of Savannah Greenfield’s young life. There were painful days. There were difficult days. There were days she didn’t want to do the work necessary but did it anyway. She had good days and bad, all the things that come with a significant athletic injury, but she persevered. After suffering a serious knee injury tying goats in April, she underwent surgery to repair her ACL, MCL and meniscus. That was just the starting point; the hard work followed. While building the muscles, ligaments and tendons in her leg, she was also reforming her mind and her mental approach to sports. Spending a summer – typically the busiest time in the rodeo industry – away from the game she loved created a hunger to return to action. Twelve weeks after surgery, she was back. “At the first two rodeos at Colby (Kansas) and Durant (Oklahoma), I hit a barrel to place – I hit the second barrel to win the long round at Colby, and I hit a second barrel at Durant to place at least second or third,” said Greenfield, a junior at Northwestern Oklahoma State University from Lakeview, Oregon. “I knew at Stillwater I had to keep them all up.” She did, rounding the cloverleaf pattern at the Oklahoma State University rodeo in 15.88 seconds to place in the first go-round and secure her spot in the 12-lady championship-round field. That’s where she blazed a new trail, stopping the clock in 15.32 seconds to win the final performance and the barrel racing title while riding Bently, a sorrel gelding. “I was nervous coming into the short round, and lo and behold, I ran the fastest time of the rodeo,” she said. “It was honestly a pretty special win after having knee surgery in May and working all summer really hard. To get back to be able to be released to ride and rope at 12 weeks was unbelievable; I think that’s pretty soon to be back from knee surgery, but (noted rodeo surgeon) Tandy Freeman made it possible. “It was really special to be able to win it.” She was the top cowgirl on a successful Northwestern women’s team over this past weekend. The Rangers finished second in Stillwater, which provided a glimpse of what coach Cali Griffin has been seeing from the athletes in her second year. “I talked last week about the women’s team just being different, and I think it’s showing in the best way,” Griffin said. “We have a really young group of girls, and they’re on their way to doing big things. The expectation of what that group brings to the arena is high, and they are really starting to build on each other’s successes. “Savannah has fought hard to get back from hurting her knee. I know it’s been a battle, but to see her get a win again finally, and in that fashion, was pretty cool.” The Northwestern women were also aided by a couple of second-place finishes. Sophomore Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma, placed in both rounds to be the runner-up in goat-tying, and Brylee Zook of Garnett, Kansas, won the first round of breakaway roping with a 2.0-second run, finished tied for second in the short round to earn the silver medal. Another breakaway roper, Lexi Graham of Lake Luzerne, New York, placed in the opener, while goat-tiers Trinity Kruse of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, and Bleu Hall of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, qualified for the championship round without placing. “We all got together (last) Tuesday and turned in some team and personal goals,” Dingman said of the women’s team. “I think all the girls have done a really good job of stepping up, and I feel like we’re a team more than ever. We’ve had a lot of ladies in the short round, and our girls have really been working hard. It’s paying off, and it shows. “It was so exciting to see this weekend that we even had a freshman in the short-go in breakaway. We also had girls that transferred here, and they’re making the short-go at every rodeo. It’s really fun to see, and it’s a great team to be part of.” Many people are noticing. Even as a sophomore, Dingman is showing off some key skills that come in handy with the program. “It’s been so fun seeing her develop from a freshman trying to make her mark, to be a true leader on the team,” Griffin said of Dingman, who qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo this past June. “I’ve put her in some leadership roles this year and asked her to step up, and she has. She’s developed the ability to control her emotions more and be a player every time. It’s fun to watch.” It’s also exiting to see the Bulldogging Capital of College Rodeo continue to excel, with transfer student Nathan Duvall leading the way for the Northwestern men. Duvall, who comes from the famous steer wrestling family in eastern Oklahoma, stopped the clock in 5.0 seconds to finish fourth in the opening round. He then posted a 4.0-second run, the fastest of the rodeo, to win the short-round and the aggregate title. “This means quite a bit,” said Duvall, a junior from Henryetta, Oklahoma, who qualified for the CNFR in June while competing at Conners State College in Warner, Oklahoma. “I am just trying to get me back to the college finals this year.” Riding his 10-year-old palomino Turnpike, Duvall moved into the Central Plains Region lead with 325 points. He understands the reputation Northwestern offers in rodeo, especially steer wrestling. Two Rangers – J.D. Struxness in 2016 and Bridger Anderson in 2019 – have won intercollegiate titles in bulldogging. “The biggest reason I went here was just so I can bulldog a bunch, and that’s what they do here,” he said, noting that the defending region champion, Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa,  Continue Reading »