CLAREMORE, Okla. – When roper Jesse Stipes was injured a week ago, it wasn’t long before a call for help was made.

His cowboy friends went to work to help raise money to cover the expenses that have been and will be incurred because of a seriously broken leg that happened during the steer roping competition April 30 at Clovis, New Mexico.

“I got my slack under my stirrup as I was leaving to trip my second steer, and it just shot me out in front of my horse,” said Stipes, 41, of Salina, Oklahoma. “I landed on my feet, which, it turns out, might have been the wrong way to land.”

He suffered a compound fracture of his right leg, was transported to a hospital in Amarillo, Texas, and had surgery soon after. He is back in Salina recovering, but follow-up appointments and rehabilitation are now on his schedule.

Before the weekend came to a close, fellow steer ropers were already organizing a benefit that will take place during the Clem McSpadden Tub Handle Classic during the Will Rogers Stampede in Claremore. There will be a Calcutta auction at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, May 21, at Stampede Park, with a cowboy luncheon. A live auction will follow between the first and second rounds of competition, roughly 3:45 p.m.

“I can’t take credit for it, because Riley O’Rourke kind of came up with it and his dad called me and asked if we could do something like this,” said Brodie Poppino, 35, a four-time National Finals Steer Roping qualifier from Big Cabin, Oklahoma. “I called Marshall (Perkins) and David (Petty) in Claremore to make sure that would be alright, and they were good with it and asked me to handle it.”

“Anytime you get to help somebody that needs it, it’s just a blessing,” Poppino said. “You hate the situation of needing the help, but Jesse’s a good dude, a good Christian man. He’s got a good family, so we just want to help.”

Poppino is counting on his fellow cowboys and neighbors in northeastern Oklahoma to lend a helping hand. Poppino is one of a record 843 contestants that have entered the Will Rogers Stampede, about 80 of which are steer ropers competing at the Tub Handle Classic. Claremore’s rodeo has been a hot spot for cowboys and cowgirls who compete for big prize money, and that trend continues this year.

“We have always had a big number of timed-event contestants, but this year stands out,” said Petty, a longtime director of the rodeo. “To have almost 1,000 contestant says something about what Claremore is doing with its rodeo. On top of that, the cowboy mentality is something that’s hard to beat. Cowboys all come together to help out our friends.

“That’s why we were happy to host the benefit.”

Handmade bits and bridles, artwork and a stud fee are just a few of the items donated, and there are a number of smaller items that will be up for auction, like boots, packs and buckets.

“I think the cool thing is that we had an African safari donated that has like a $17,000 value to it that’s been donated,” Poppino said. “We’ve still got a little time before the auction, but it’s amazing to watch and see a community come together to help somebody.

“To see the sheer number of people willing to donate items or who are willing to be there to help out is amazing.”

The injury is a small part of what’s happening for Stipes. He’s been through them before, though this is significant. He will be out of competition for a few months; surgeons placed a rod from knee to ankle and included some plates and screws for good measure. That, combined with a hip replacement four years ago, means Stipes will have a right leg full of metal. Nonetheless, the healing has begun.

“This may not be the toughest part of it, but being able to accept some help is up there,” Stipes said. “I’m usually the guy that would like to help others, and I get a little uncomfortable when other people offer to help. It’s very humbling and very appreciated.”