About: Ted

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Tony Reina has been around ProRodeo for more than three decades. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in tie-down roping in 2013 and has made five trips to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Reina added another prestigious title to his resume Tuesday, winning the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo’s steer roping crown. He roped three steers in a cumulative time of 37.2 seconds to win the aggregate championship. He also finished second in the opening round, earning $4,270 for his day in western Kansas. Dodge City Roundup RodeoSteer RopingJuly 30, 2024Steer roping: First round: 1. Cody Lee, 11.0 seconds, $1,802; 2. Tony Reina, 11.1, $1,567; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., 11.8, $1,332; 4. Luke Blanton, 12.4, $1,097; 5. (tie) Stratton Lopez, Cole Patterson, Brodie Poppino and Ryan Willberg, 13.5, $509 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Kyle Cauthorn and Jess Tierney, 10.2 seconds, $1,684 each; 3. Chet Herren, 10.3, $1,332; 4. Tanner Stec, 10.5, $1,097; 5. (tie) J. Tom Fisher, Tuff Hardman and Trenton Johnson, 10.6, $627 each; 8. (tie) John E. Bland and Jake Clay, 10.7, $78 each. Third round: 1. Chet Herren, 9.8 seconds, $1,802; 2. Will Eddleman, 9.9, $1,567; 3. Billy Good, 10.4, $1,332; 4. Tuff Hardman, 10.5, $1,097; 5. John E. Bland, 10.9, $862; 6. Ryan Willberg, 11.4, $627; 7. Brian Garr, 11.6, $392; 8. Coleman Proctor, 12.0, $157. Average: 1. Tony Reina, 37.2 seconds on three head, $2,703; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., 39.1, $2,350; 3. Will Eddleman, 41.7, $1,998; 4. Tuff Hardman, 42.5, $1,645; 5. Stratton Lopez, 43.2, $1,293; 6. Chet Herren, 20.1 on two head, $940; 7. John E. Bland, 21.6, $588; 8. Kyle Cauthorn, 23.5, $235.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Several years ago, the organizers of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo entrusted the production of it’s ProRodeo to a rising star in the stock-contracting game. Pete Carr Pro Rodeo was established two decades ago, and Lovington’s marquee event was one of the first in the country to bring in the Dallas-based company. In the years since, Carr and his team of professionals have proven to be the perfect choice to produce the annual event, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7-Saturday, Aug. 10; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 6. “One thing we’ve realized over the years is that Pete Carr and his stock are very good,” said Kyle Johnston, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board’s rodeo committee. “We trust what those people are going to do, and they make it very entertaining for our fans. “Pete and his guys are very good to work with, and that makes it easier on us when it comes to putting on this rodeo.” Carr is one of the most recognizable and reputable names in the sport. There have been six world champion animals: Bareback horses Real Deal, 2005; Big Tex, 2010; Deuces Night, 2012; and Dirty Jacket, 2014-15. Bayou Bengal, which was named the 2023 PRCA Bull of the Year. Over that stretch, Carr has been nominated for PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year 14 times. Most recently, though, the biggest honors in the firm’s history came this past April. Pete Carr and Dirty Jacket were inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. “We’re pretty blessed to have Pete Carr coming back to our rodeo,” said Kris Allen, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “The quality of his livestock is hard to beat. You’re going to see high scores, and because of that, we’re going to draw good cowboys and cowgirls. “With the mixture of his livestock, you’re going to see good quality of entertainment.” That’s important, because folks in Lea County, New Mexico, know rodeo like few other regions. This is cowboy country, and most of the fans understand the ins and outs of the game better than most other rodeo crowds. They know what looks good and what to expect with the Carr crew running the production. The fair board has also increased its contribution to the overall purse. The rodeo will feature an increase of $100,000 from last year’s event, which helps Lovington have the largest “added money” payout of all the rodeos across North America that week. “We’re doing a lot of things to help entice the contestants to come to Lovington for our rodeo,” Johnston said. “Increasing our added money is one thing, but having Pete Carr as our stock contractor is another.”   It’s not just the Carr animals that help make an impact. The livestock producer also enlists other contractors, who bring in their best animals. Last year, for example, Richmond Champion won the bareback riding title on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Uncapped. Bull rider Trey Kimzey won the title on Stockyards Rodeo’s Cheddar Biscuit. Having the top bucking stock in rodeo is a big deal.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Over the decades of excellence at Lovington’s rodeo, there have been repeat winners and people who have found a redemption of sorts. Rodeo can be an unforgiving sport. A misfire during an eight-second ride or run can spell doom, but there’s always something graceful about it, too. The next opportunity offers a chance at the fastest time or the highest score. Trouble on Day 1 might mean grand success 24 hours later. Brilliance is well within range every day, and that’s just the way the game is played. A trio of specialists will have that opportunity during this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7-Saturday, Aug. 10; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 6. “We’re bringing back our clown (Zack Cook) and our specialty act, Jessica (Blair-Fowlkes), who were here with us last year, and we’re also bringing back Summer and Co. to perform on Saturday night of mutton bustin’ (Aug. 3) and the Xtreme Bulls,” said Kyle Johnston, a Lea County Fair Board member and chairman of the rodeo committee. “We’ve heard some good things about Cookie from other rodeos, so we’re looking forward to that. He’s still pretty new to this, so we’re excited to help him step up his game. I think we’re going to see some good things out of him.” Cook is just in his fifth year of clowning, and he came about the job auspiciously. He was working as a laborer for the Cody (Wyoming) Nite Rodeo when the producer asked him to step in as the clown. He’s been growing his repertoire ever since. “I’m still nervous every time I get ready to go in the arena,” he said, noting that he travels the country with his wife and daughter. “I always have anxiety, am stressed, am nervous. I’m anticipating what’s going to happen. If I didn’t feel that, I’d probably have to give this all up. As soon as I get out there and say that opening joke, then all that goes away.” Summer and Co. is a Lea County original featuring trick rider Summer Boyd and her daughters, Emmie, 9, and Jinsen, 7. Boyd and her husband, Seth, have lived in Lovington for the past decade. She and the girls travel the rodeo trail in order to entertain crowds and showcase their talents and the adorable fun of two youngsters following in their momma’s footsteps. “It means a lot to be able to work that,” Boyd said. “People say in our industry that a lot of times you never get hired at your hometown rodeo. To be acknowledged and to be part of the event means so much to us. It’s a rodeo we go and watch when we’re at home, so this means so much.” The family has been featured at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo the last few years, and it’s always a highlight for them and so many that attend the world-class rodeo. While packed into the storied Jake McClure Arena, they also will witness the incredible horsemanship of Blair-Fowlkes, whether she’s doing a trick-riding act, a Roman-riding act, a liberty act or showing off her patriotism through a little Americana during the rodeo introduction. “Jessica is just very good, and her acts are very entertaining,” Johnston said. “We had lots of comments from people that really enjoyed it. It’s going to be hard to top it.”

Jestes, Tuckness understand uniqueness of Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – A decade ago, Nathan Jestes drove into this community for the first time to work as a bullfighter at the Gooding Pro Rodeo. “I remember pulling into town and wondering, ‘Where in the hell am I?’ ” said Jestes, a seven-time nominee for PRCA Bullfighter of the Year who has been selected to work the National Finals Rodeo four times. “Then the rodeo started. It’s a small community, but everybody comes to Gooding for a great time from all the surrounding communities. “As a rodeo athlete, you don’t necessarily hear the crowds, but you feel the energy. The atmosphere and energy inside that arena is something you’ve never felt before.” Jestes will return to work the Gooding Pro Rodeo for the 10th year and will be joined by Dusty Tuckness, a 10-time Bullfighter of the Year who has worked every NFR since 2009. They are excited to be part of the action, set for Thursday, Aug. 15-Saturday, Aug. 17, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 14. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. When the show begins, thousands pack into the Gooding County Fairgrounds for one of the best rodeos in the region. They will see some of the top bucking horses and athletic bulls in ProRodeo, and they’ll witness two of the greatest cowboy protectors in the sport. It’s a fantastic value for the endless entertainment possibilities. “It’s pretty cool to see how the rodeo’s grown in that small community,” said Tuckness, now in his sixth year at Gooding. “(Organizers) just put a lot of work into it, and it continues to grow. There are a lot of good rodeos that week, but if I had a pick, I’d pick Gooding every time.” The event is a different rodeo experience, even to the people who make a living in the sport like Tuckness and Jestes, who can feel the energy that comes out of the stands. Whether it’s dancing to the music or cheering for every ride and run, the people who come to enjoy the Gooding Pro Rodeo make it memorable. “Gooding is generally unique,” said Jestes of Douglas, Wyoming. “It’s a rodeo-knowledgeable crowd that loves to have fun. When the crowd knows what they’re watching and is having a good time, it transfers over to everybody: Contestants, the bullfighters, the other personnel and the members of the committee. “When you have fun doing your job, there’s no better place to be.” Make no mistake; Tuckness and Jestes take their jobs seriously. Their primary purpose is to help protect fallen bull riders and others in the arena during the final event of the night, and it takes a focused mind and an aggressive nature to make that happen. Both men will utilize their ability to read livestock and their athleticism to help draw the animals away from their targets. If there’s a wreck, they will jump into the middle of it, but most of their efforts seem almost choreographed. It’s like a little dance in the dirt, and it can be exquisite. “Nate and I work a little bit throughout the year, but come August and September, there aren’t too many rodeos we don’t work together,” Tuckness aid. “It’s good to work with a guy like Nate who’s got your back. When you go to those big rodeos like Gooding, that’s where everybody’s at. We have five or six weeks left in the regular season; everybody’s tired, but that’s when you’ve got to mash on the gas and finish strong.” Having that familiarity is helpful. “There’s nothing like it to me,” Jestes said. “Me and Tuck are good friends, and we fight a lot of rodeos together. We know what each other’s doing. It just makes our job that much easier in the arena. We are going to be at our spots, and we can anticipate each other in an instant. It’s hard to beat that kind of chemistry.” That’s true. “The best part is the people you work with,” said Tuckness of Meeteetse, Wyoming. “When you’ve got a good crew, it’s hard to call it work. At Gooding, they provide a great crew, from multiple award winners to great stock to everything that makes it run so smoothly. They get guys that want to put on the best show that week. It’s not just one thing; it’s the whole thing mixed together.” Of course, Gooding also where great work is rewarded by a special group of fans who offer up a “Beer Worthy” sign when they think something magnificent happens in the arena, whether it’s a fast time in team roping or a big buckoff in bronc riding. When Tuckness and Jestes make a big save, the signs are targeted directly on them. “Being ‘Beer Worthy’ means everything, because Gooding, Idaho, is the only place where you can be ‘Beer Worthy,’ ” Jestes said. “When you’re there, you want to be ‘Beer Worthy.’ ”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo featured a new attraction a year ago, and it might grow into one of the most popular pieces of the annual exhibition. The Lea County Fair Board will begin its second year of the peewee showmanship competition, featuring children between the ages of 5-8. It will take place during this year’s fair, set for Friday, Aug. 2-Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington. “There are a couple of other county and regional shows that do this, so we wanted to see what it could do here,” said Dustin Gaskins, the agriculture teacher and FFA adviser at Eunice High School and a fair board member. “Last year, we showed in beef cattle with a bottle calf, so this year we started to implement it into other species.” This is a great opportunity for the youngsters to get their feet wet in showing animals instead of just watching their big brothers or big sisters have exhibits at the county fair. “We have younger siblings that go to the fair and see their older siblings able to show,” said Amber Groves, chair of the livestock committee and a livestock superintendent. “These younger kids are always involved in the work that is put in, but they weren’t getting to show. Now, they get to show the work they’ve put in. “My hope is that it grows in the future so that those kids feel included when they get to the fair.” For most families that show livestock, it’s just part of their daily lives. They already have animals for which they are caring, and developing the skills to show allow the younger generation to learn by doing. It’s a caregiver’s mentality; those animals are fed before their human counterparts and receive the best treatment possible. Livestock showing involves a little more tender, loving care for the particular animals involved. They have to be trained with a halter and lead rope and not be skittish around people. The animals’ calmness and demeanor go a long way when it is shown at the county fair. “We’re just trying to get some of the younger kids involved,” Gaskins said. “We want to help them get involved and get them hooked on showing before they’re of the age to do it full time.” Children must be in the third grade in order to join a 4H club, where they can be involved in a variety of activities. The pee wee show allows kids just a few years younger the opportunity to work with animals and put themselves in the spotlight. “Our goal is to help grow our numbers across the board and taking the pee wee group and growing them into regular showmanship,” he said. “We hope this will help grow our 4H numbers for our county. A lot of parents are really interested in it. We had a couple of parents who reached out to specific superintendents originally and were pushing for it; those superintendents brought it to us as a fair board. I think the parents are excited about it.” It’s just another step in the right direction for many rural families “I enjoy seeing the kids, the livestock,” Gaskins said. “Being an FFA adviser, I help a lot in the barns, and I get to see the kids grow. That’s the best part of the fair for me.”