About: Ted

Graphic by the PRCA   Increased purse pushes Estes Park rodeo into the Playoff Series ESTES PARK, Colo. – There is a proud history associated with Rooftop Rodeo, and the legend continues to grow with time. Estes Park’s rodeo has been named one of the best. It’s a six-time winner of the ProRodeo of the Year on the national stage, five with the PRCA and one with the WPRA. It has also been honored regionally as one of the best events in the Mountain States Circuit. The legacy will be enhanced for next year’s rodeo – set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 6-Saturday, July 11, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds – by being part of the 2026 Playoff Series. Rooftop Rodeo is one of four that will be welcomed into the series for the first time, joining festivals in Nashville; Elko, Nevada; and Sikeston, Missouri. “Being part of the Playoff Series is a big deal, because the series utilizes the top 60 rodeos in the country regarding overall payout,” said Cindy Schonholtz, Rooftop Rodeo’s coordinator. “Because of our tremendous partners here, we were able to increase our purse significantly this year.” It’s paying off. Estes Park’s annual event featured a record number of contestants in 2025, and that figure could increase with the importance of the Playoff Series. Cowboys and cowgirls will earn points based on how they place at each series rodeo. Twelve contestants in each event will qualify to compete at the series championship, which paid $32,000 to each of the winners just a month and a half ago. “Estes Park has always been a good place for the contestants to come because it’s a chance to cool off from the hot summer run and enjoy the surroundings, but we want to give them even more incentive to be here,” Schonholtz said. “Being a Playoff Series rodeo offers that. It’s going to add to our hospitality and our community. “Our rodeo caters to a variety of people, whether they’re locals who come every year or tourists who are in town for just a few days. We want to give them the best rodeo they can have.” The Playoff Series will begin in January at Odessa, Texas, and will feature events from Jackson, Mississippi, to Kitsap, Washington. It wraps the final weekend of September in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Rooftop Rodeo will be one of four Colorado stops on the series, which includes Denver, Greeley and Castle Rock. “Rodeo is a sport of opportunity,” Schonholtz said. “These contestants are not guaranteed anything but a chance to win money and earn Playoff Series points, and they’re going to come to Estes Park for that opportunity. “Having that ups our game and, in the process, improves the kind of rodeo our fans will get to see.” . . . Gates for Rooftop Rodeo open at 5 p.m. Monday, July 6-Saturday, July 11, with the preshow beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for the 2026 Rooftop Rodeo go on sale at 10 a.m. (Mountain time) Nov. 19. 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.

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.