Monthly Archives: June 2026
Kirbys big in Roundup history
Written on June 30, 2026 at 6:19 pm, by Ted
Jim Kirby has followed in the footsteps of his father as a director with Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. The whole Kirby clan has been involved with Roundup over the years. (PHOTO BY TED HARBIN) DODGE CITY, Kan. – Jennifer Kirby wasn’t there when her husband, Jim, was making a steer wrestling run at the Continue Reading »
Franks repeats as Pecos champ
Written on June 27, 2026 at 11:33 pm, by Ted
Cole Franks rides Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Scarlet Dunn It for 90 points to repeat as the West of the Pecos Rodeo bareback riding champion. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) PECOS, Texas – Five months ago, Cole Franks was in a recovery room coming out of anesthesia. He’s just had a successful hip surgery to Continue Reading »
Tryan takes Frizzell to Pecos lead
Written on June 27, 2026 at 12:07 am, by Ted
Team ropers Clay Tryan, right, and Kelby Frizzell had a good Friday. They are placing in both rounds of team roping and lead the average race at the West of the Pecos Rodeo. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) PECOS, Texas – Clay Tryan has done just about everything there is to do in team roping. Continue Reading »
Fisher feels at home in Pecos
Written on June 25, 2026 at 11:53 pm, by Ted
Vin Fisher has been coming to the West of the Pecos Rodeo since he was a small child. On Thursday, the Andrews, Texas, cowboy jumped into the lead in both steer roping and the all-around. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) PECOS, Texas – “The World’s First Rodeo” dates back to 1883 when ranch cowboys met Continue Reading »
Lefty rides right to lead Pecos
Written on June 24, 2026 at 11:57 pm, by Ted
Five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Lefty Holman rides Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s River’s Ghost for 88.5 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead during Wednesday’s first performance of the West of the Pecos Rodeo. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) PECOS, Texas – Rodeo is equal parts athleticism and luck of the draw. Saddle bronc Continue Reading »
Friday Night Lights hits town
Written on June 24, 2026 at 11:25 am, by Ted
(PHOTO COURTESY BRIGHTLIGHT DRONE SHOWS) GUNNISON, Colo. – Friday Night Lights has a new take this July. Instead of Texas high school football, the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration is taking it in a different direction during its inaugural after-party on Friday, July 10, following the second performance of the PRCA rodeo. As soon as the Continue Reading »
Bulldogs win four national titles
Written on June 23, 2026 at 5:33 pm, by Ted
Clarendon College freshman Tagg Bond is one of three Bulldogs to win a national championship last week at the College National Finals Rodeo. He was joined by bareback rider Carson Hildre and steer wrestler Andrew Morian, and the Clarendon’s men won the team title for the third time in six years. (PHOTO BY JACKIE JENSEN) Continue Reading »
Roundup increasing its purse
Written on June 23, 2026 at 12:18 pm, by Ted
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Dollars make sense in rodeo. Unlike other professional sports, cowboys and cowgirls do not receive guaranteed contracts. Contestants only earn money at rodeos by beating most of the field. On top of that, they cover their own traveling costs and pay a fee in order to compete. Volunteers with Dodge City Continue Reading »
Edler, horse honored at CNFR
Written on June 22, 2026 at 10:35 pm, by Ted
Emmett Edler makes a 4.2-second run during Saturday’s short round of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. He won the round and finished fourth in the steer wrestling final standings, and his mount, D1, was named the Steer Wrestling and Men’s Horse of the Year. (PHOTO BY JACKIE JENSEN) ALVA, Okla. – Continue Reading »
Ranches part of Estes history
Written on June 22, 2026 at 4:31 pm, by Ted
Like many existing ranches in the Estes Valley, Meadowdale Ranch has an established history. All ranches near Estes Park carry on a legacy of Western heritage, which is just one reason they have ties to the annual Rooftop Rodeo. (COURTESY PHOTO OF TONI BROWN) Rooftop Rodeo to honor local operations and their Western heritage Continue Reading »
Family brings tradition to life
Written on June 20, 2026 at 11:07 am, by Ted
Louis Garcilazo is a fourth-generation charro, carrying on the family’s legacy as a horseman and an entertainer. He will be part of the family act that includes his father, four-time PRCA Dress Act of the Year Tomás Garcilazo, and his mother, Justine Garcilazo, during the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo. (PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARRO ON THE Continue Reading »
Stars making their way to Pecos
Written on June 19, 2026 at 12:03 pm, by Ted
Heeler Jake Long, left, and header Andrew Ward won the West of the Pecos Rodeo last June, and it served as the catalyst for the tandem’s team roping world championship in December. (PRCA PHOTO BY CLICK THOMPSON) PECOS, Texas – The race for a rodeo world championship takes 14 and a half months. The Continue Reading »
Snoopy adds flair for clown
Written on June 16, 2026 at 11:28 am, by Ted
John Harrison’s trick horse, Snoopy, is quite the character. His personality is unique, and Harrison has made it part of a comedy act, which will be part of this year’s West of the Pecos Rodeo. (PHOTO BY CODY CARDENAS) PECOS, Texas – When Snoopy arrived at southeastern Oklahoma, his new owner had big plans Continue Reading »
Merritt has laughs for Gunnison
Written on June 15, 2026 at 10:33 am, by Ted
Matt Merritt is the reigning PRCA Clown of the Year, and he will be one of the featured entertainers at this year’s Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo in Gunnison. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) GUNNISON, Colo. – Matt Merritt knew early what he wanted to do with his life. “I was pretty young when I realized Continue Reading »
Gooding’s crazy idea works
Written on June 12, 2026 at 12:06 pm, by Ted
Southern Idaho community has become a major player in rodeo GOODING, Idaho – In rodeo, this community of less than 4,000 souls is seen as the “Little Engine That Could.” Much like the classic children’s story by Watty Piper, many underestimated what the Gooding Pro Rodeo could become. The people in the southern Idaho town Continue Reading »
After-party coming to the rodeo
Written on June 11, 2026 at 11:57 am, by Ted
Randy “Stretch” Mayer will return to his ol’ disc jockey days as the featured attraction during the after-party following the Friday, July 10, performance of the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo. Mayer, who has worked some of the biggest events in rodeo and is a regular nominee for PRCA Music Director of the Year, has been Continue Reading »
Charros to celebrate heritage
Written on June 9, 2026 at 4:21 pm, by Ted
Tomás Garcilazo will return to the West of the Pecos Rodeo, showcasing his Mexican heritage as a charro. His act now incorperates his family, including wife Justine and oldest son Louis. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) A celebrated horseman, Garcilazo and family will be in Pecos PECOS, Texas – For years, Tomás Garcilazo has been Continue Reading »
Queen has a local passion
Written on June 8, 2026 at 10:58 am, by Ted
Finch is living a Rooftop Rodeo dream she’s had since she was young ESTES PARK, Colo. – With a diploma in hand and a sash across her chest, Lily Finch is entrenched in a summertime tradition that is Rooftop Rodeo. As this year’s matriarch of the royalty program, Finch is the Rooftop Rodeo queen, a Continue Reading »
Bean sprints to Big Spring title
Written on June 6, 2026 at 11:22 pm, by Ted
Madison Bean was the third to last cowgirl to run at the 2026 Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo and posted the fastest time, a 15-58-second run to win the title. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) BIG SPRING, Texas – When Madison Bean says she was born to be a barrel racer, she means it. Continue Reading »
Coblentz has new role for rodeo
Written on June 6, 2026 at 10:41 am, by Ted
GUNNISON, Colo. – Six years ago, the world faced an uncertainty as a global pandemic raged. Schools and businesses shuttered. Professional rodeo, which boasts of more than 600 events annually, had been reduced by hundreds. Not many braved the idea of mass gatherings during the uncertainty revolving around COVID. It put a 120-year tradition on Continue Reading »
Ropers stay steady at wet rodeo
Written on June 5, 2026 at 11:32 pm, by Ted
Header Dustin Egusquiza turns his steer for his heeler, J.C. Flake, during their 4.0-second run Friday night to take the team roping lead at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) BIG SPRING, Texas – A slight drizzle sprinkled over team ropers Dustin Egusquiza and J.C. Flake, but they were Continue Reading »
McGehee draws the right color
Written on June 4, 2026 at 11:17 pm, by Ted
Lane McGehee rides Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted Colors for 83 points to take the early bareback riding lead at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. (PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN) BIG SPRING, Texas – Bareback rider Lane McGehee just had a feeling about his Thursday night match-up at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion Continue Reading »
Pecos arena gets big upgrade
Written on June 4, 2026 at 11:22 am, by Ted
PECOS, Texas – There is a new look to the “World’s First Rodeo.” While history is certainly on the side of the West of the Pecos Rodeo, Reeves County officials have made some important upgrades to Buck Jackson Arena. Everything is ready in time for this year’s event, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 24-Saturday, Continue Reading »
Rangers ready for college finals
Written on June 2, 2026 at 10:01 am, by Ted
As student director for the Central Plains Region, Northwestern Oklahoma State University sophomore Payton Dingman had an automatic bid for the College National Finals Rodeo. She wanted to earn a spot in the championship, though. She did by finishing second in the region and will compete alongside five athlete on the men’s side, Colter Snook, Continue Reading »