About: Ted

Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Emmett Edler, who has a dual role of graduate-student competitor and assistant rodeo coach, earned another qualification to the College National Finals Rodeo with his last-rodeo heroics this past weekend. With his move to No. 3 in the standings, all Central Plains Region steer wrestling representatives are Rangers. Nathan Duvall won the region, and Tydon Tsosie finished second. (FILE PHOTO BY DALE HIRSCHMAN)   ALVA, Okla. – Emmett Edler’s back was against the wall. Entering the final weekend of the Central Plains Region season, Edler needed to place high enough to sneak into the top three of the steer wrestling standings if he was going to extend his final year of intercollegiate eligibility into June with a qualification to the National College Finals Rodeo. He secured 80 points, most of which came by winning the opening round this past weekend at the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo in Guymon. With that, Northwestern Oklahoma State University scored a sweep, with all three Central Plains bulldoggers wearing the black Rangers vests. “I had looked through it and saw the points and had a pretty good idea of what I needed to do and what was going to have to play out,” said Edler, the Rangers’ assistant coach and a graduate student from State Center, Iowa. “I knew before it started that I at least needed to have a decent weekend.” He will join region champion Nathan Duvall of Henryetta, Oklahoma, and runner-up Tydon Tsosie of Crownpoint, New Mexico, at the college finals, which runs June 14-20 in Casper, Wyoming. In addition to the Northwestern trio atop the regional leaderboard, Sam Daly of Tryon, Nebraska, and Riley Smith of Poteau, Oklahoma, scored points in Guymon; Daly finished the year sixth and Smith eighth in the standings. “Probably one of the things I’m most proud of is what they did in the bulldogging,” coach Cali Griffin said. “For us to make all three qualifiers from one school just goes to show the effort Emmett has poured into that group. I’m so proud of what he’s doing with that group.” For his part, Edler was one of three Rangers to qualify for Guymon’s championship round in multiple events. He also advanced to the finale in tie-down roping, while Smith led the way by also advancing to the short round in tie-down roping and saddle bronc riding. Sadie Rempel of Nelson, Nebraska, was among the top 12 in barrel racing and team roping. “That was good, especially in calf roping,” Edler said. “I haven’t practiced it a whole lot, and it’s definitely my second event, so I was just happy to put a couple of good runs together and have some fun at this last rodeo. “Guymon’s always a great rodeo, and it’s just a great atmosphere. When you walk up there, it feels like a rodeo movie out of the ’90s: the music and the big arena and being outdoor and the sunshine in your face. It’s always a great feeling anytime you get to run one in a performance in Guymon. With this being my last year, I was just trying to soak it all in, because I knew that would be the last time I’d get to experience it at the college rodeo.” The goal, though, was to get back to Wyoming and join the likes of breakaway roper Taylor Munsell and steer wrestlers J.D. Struxness and Bridger Anderson as winners over the seven-day championship in Casper. “My whole intent with coming back for another year and rodeoing again was to have a chance to win a national championship,” Edler said. “I was starting to think I might have put the cart before the horse, because toward the end, I realized, ‘Hey, I’m going to have to bear down to make the college finals and even have a chance.’ “It was just a weird season for me.” It ended in the right way. While most of the Rangers closed out their seasons, there were two others who will join the bulldoggers at the college finals: Goat-tier Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma, and team roping-heeler Colter Snook of Ford, Kansas; both finished second in their respective standings. Northwestern had 13 contestants in the Guymon short round. Smith and Edler earned points in all their events and even placed in tie-down roping’s average: Smith was fourth, and Edler was sixth. Even though they had no-times in the championship round, Edler and Daly placed in the aggregate. Breakaway roper Saddie Hammond of Avondale, Colorado, led the way for the Rangers women, placing fourth in the short round and average. Dingman was joined in the final round of goat-tying by Tyra Tsosie, the twin sister of Tydon also from Crownpoint; Tsosie stopped the clock in 7.8 seconds to finish as the first-round runner-up and placed fourth overall. Dingman placed in a three-way tie for fifth place in the final round. Rempel was joined as a barrel-racing finalist by Waci Thomson of Lundbreck, Alberta, whose 17.23-second run was good enough for fifth in the opening round. Snook, a heeler who made the college finals last year as a header, earned points by placing fifth in the first round while roping with Dexton Hoelting of Western Oklahoma State College. Header Cooper Mott of Kansas, Oklahoma, made the final round with Braxton Hogle of Murray State College. The final round also featured Northwestern tandems Trisha Regner of Apple Valley, California, who roped with Rempel, and Y’Leigh Yarbrough of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, and John Harrell of Sperry, Oklahoma. “I think one of the cool things is that the top three bulldoggers in the region are from Northwestern,” Edler said. “I think it’s a testament to the work we’ve put in here. We do a lot of practicing and work really hard at it. Those guys that won first and second deserve every bit of it. They show up, they work hard, and they’ve been winners. I’m happy to be right there beside them.”

Dusty Myers, an old-school rodeo clown who also adds some new-school flavor, will bring his National Finals Rodeo resume to be one of the featured entertainers at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo during this year’s festivities, moved to the first weekend in June. (PRCA PHOTO BY CLICK THOMPSON)   BIG SPRING, Texas – Dusty Myers is a student first. His lessons have led him to be a well-recognized entertainer. His first appearance at this year’s Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo will reflect that. Howard County is the home of Quail Dobbs, a rodeo-clowning legend who has been inducted into four halls of fame, and Myers will be working on hallowed ground. “I’ve talked to the committee a couple of times over the years, and one of the reasons they wanted to bring me there was because I’m kind of an old-school rodeo clown,” said Myers, 44, of Jumpertown, Mississippi. “It’s exciting to me to get to go to someplace new.” Clowning is nothing new to Myers. He’s been nominated for PRCA Clown/Barrelman of the Year and Comedy Act of the Year. This past December, he was selected to work the National Finals Rodeo. Dobbs had a few of those honors over his career, too. “Lecile Harris was my role model,” Myers said, pointing out that the late-Mississippi rodeo clown has joined Dobbs in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “When I was 2 or 3 years old, I dressed up like a clown.” He’s still doing it. “For as long as I can remember, this is what I’ve done,” he said. “From a small child, I have loved being in the trailer and on the road. I love going to new places. It’s exciting for me to go to new rodeos, so when I book some new places each year, it is very exciting.” He’s added a few in 2026, but the biggest “new” in his career came at the NFR. Inside the Thomas & Mack Center with more than 17,000 packed into the coliseum, Myers shined in the dirt and in the barrel. It’s an honor he never expected. Why? “I try to stay in the Midwest, and I don’t really go out West that much,” Myers said. “A lot of the guys that’s been featured at the NFR over the years work a lot of them Western rodeos. I just didn’t feel like it would be me, but when it come down to the votes, I guess I had a chance.” Members of the PRCA decided the Mississippi man deserved the opportunity. “That means a lot to me,” he said. “Anytime you get to work some thing like the NFR, it absolutely does.” In the 66-year history of ProRodeo’s Super Bowl, less than 35 men have been chosen as its barrelman. Myers is in distinguished company, with men like Dobbs, Leon Coffee and Keith Isley. “I call myself a traditionalist,” Myers said. “I’m really an old-school rodeo clown. I still wear the makeup and the baggy clothes. I still do big-prop acts, and I want to mix it with the dancing, getting up in the crowd and bringing out the laughter. I’m kind of a mixture between what we call an old-school clown and what they call an entertainer.” His approach to his job is about bringing value to the rodeo, whether it’s laughing with folks in the stands or just interacting with announcer Anthony Lucia. “I tell a lot of jokes, and I like to do a lot of stuff with the crowd,” Myers said. “I try to do a lot of my own material so that it’s new and not something they see all the time. I’ve studied the guys that did that really well, so I enjoy bringing that into my own work.” “I’m excited to be there and help bring smiles to everybody’s faces.” That’s what being a clown is all about.

Shank Stephens, riding for Oklahoma Panhandle State University several years ago, competes at Hitch Arena during the Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo, which takes place Thursday-Saturday in Guymon. (PHOTO BY DALE HIRSCHMAN)   GUYMON, Okla. – When Dusty Moore and Paul Peterson return to town, they’ll have a lot going on. They are two of the three pickup men who will work the annual Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. They’re also alumni of the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo team. “It’s pretty cool that we have two of our alumni here for the ProRodeo,” said Shelbie Rose, Panhandle State’s rodeo coach. “The same kind of thing happens at our college rodeo. If the kids want to pick up during the year at practice, they usually get to pick up at the college rodeo, too.” Pickup men are typically some of the most versatile cowboys. They know how to read livestock, and they’re horsemanship and roping skills are valuable. They can be called on to rescue another cowboy out of a wreck or handle any of the many other duties that come their way. For decades, the Panhandle State rodeo team has been training great cowboys and cowgirls. The program boasts of seven national team titles and 22 individual champions. The program will host its annual event – the Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo – from Thursday-Saturday at Hitch Arena. “The community we have is very vital,” Rose said. “Without it, there would be no Panhandle State rodeo team. It’s not just Goodwell, and it’s not just Guymon. It’s not even just Texas County. Our community is pretty broad, probably the whole Panhandle of Oklahoma and some of Texas, and it reaches a lot further than that.” The Panhandle State program and the Pioneer Days Rodeo volunteer committee have come to realize not only the community support but also the benefit they have in collaborating with one another. “I think the two go hand-in-hand,” said Ken Stonecipher, the committee’s chairman. “We can’t do this without them, and that’s not an exaggeration. They come during slack, sort cattle, load cattle, untie calves. The committee has some folks there, too, but without them, we’re not getting that all done.” The two entities share more than the arena. They share a passion for the sport, and they work closely together to ensure greatness happens for two weeks every spring. This first week belongs to the roughly 500 intercollegiate cowboys and cowgirls, and next week is the return of favor for when more than 1,000 ProRodeo contestants. “The Guymon ProRodeo committee has been absolutely great to us,” Rose said. “It’s a blessing to have our rodeo right before theirs. It allows us to share equipment and bulldogging cattle. They’ve helped us with roping chutes over the past several years. They always show up to our fundraisers. They buy ads to support our rodeo. “They’re a very big part of what we do.” The same can be said of the rodeo program’s work with the PRCA event. Competition for the ProRodeo begins two days after the championship round of the college rodeo and lasts for seven days. Panhandle State contestants and coaches are on hand through the duration. “I’ve known Shelbie since she was a student on the Panhandle State team, and she has an unmatched work ethic,” Stonecipher said. “You cannot outwork her. From the practice pen to fundraising to building new barns for the kids’ horses, she’s out there. “When student athletes come to college, they all don’t have the same amount of natural talent, but the thing that overcomes that difference in talent is hard work. Shelbie is a great person to lead that effort.” Pioneer Days Rodeo will certainly have a Panhandle State flair. Whether it’s the pickup men or student helpers or alumni riding broncs, the university’s reflection is seen throughout the seven-day rodeo. With 10 days of competition at Hitch Arena between the two events, Guymon becomes Rodeo Town. “Rodeo is a way of life out here,” Rose said. “Most of the people around here are tied to agriculture in some way, so rodeo is naturally a favorite sport. At the college, the rodeo program, by far, has had the most success. It’s a great place to have a rodeo program, because we have a lot of support. “It’s a staple around here, and people that aren’t from an ag background have really grown to love it because it’s one of the best things that happens around here.”

Northwestern Oklahoma State Univerity freshman Riley Smith grabbled the steer wrestling title for the Rangers this past weekend at the Fort Hays (Kansas) State Rodeo. It was his first intercollegiate title. (PHOTO BY DALE HIRSCHMAN)   ALVA, Okla. – Riley Smith’s rodeo resume looks like an octopus’ arms. He’s a bronc rider, a team roper, a steer wrestler and a tie-down roper for Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He might be one of the busiest cowboys at any intercollegiate rodeo. The kicker? He wasn’t even raised in a rodeo family. “My grandpa team roped a little bit,” he said. “Ever since I’ve started, I’ve worked both ends of the arena and tried to do as many events as I could. I just enjoy doing all of it, and I think it helps be to be able to go to a rodeo and if one thing doesn’t go well, then I have another even that I can try to make up for it.” He more than made up for it this past weekend, winning the Fort Hays (Kansas) State University rodeo’s steer wrestling title. He dropped his first steer in 4.7 seconds to finish in a three-way tie for second place, then stopped the clock in 5.3 seconds to finish fourth in the championship round. His two-run cumulative time of 10.0 seconds was just enough for the outright victory. “I do all the events, but steer wrestling is definitely my top priority,” said Smith, a freshman from Poteau, Oklahoma. “I knew I wanted to go to a school where I was going to grow with that. I looked at a couple of schools that were closer to my home in southeast Oklahoma. “But I came up here and saw what they had, and I really liked it. I thought it would be a good group of people to be around to help me get better and push me.” It must be working. The Rangers had five bulldoggers in the Fort Hays State short round, and all gathered points. Nathan Duvall of Henryetta, Oklahoma, finished third; Tydon Tsosie of Crownpoint, New Mexico, was fourth; Sam Daly of Tryon, Nebraska, was sixth; and Hazen Sparks of Talihina, Oklahoma, joined Smith in that three-way tie for runner-up in the opening round. In the Central Plains Region standings, Duvall leads the charge with 735 points. Tsosie is second, 170 points behind. Four more Rangers bulldoggers are among the top 10. Smith, who sits eighth, has a legitimate chance to move up in the points race during the final rodeo of the region’s season this coming weekend in Guymon, Oklahoma. “That would mean a lot,” said Smith, who recognized a lot of things must go right if he were to finish among the top three and advance to the College National Finals Rodeo. “That’s been my goal since I came here. I had to send my bulldogging horse home at the start of this semester because she got hurt, and it’s been rough just trying to get some practice runs in and trying to get a horse I can get a feel for.” He’s found it in Daly’s Rogue, an 11-year-old sorrel gelding. The combination of a trusted stead and all-around athleticism worked in Smith’s favor. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity, and coming to college has been a lot of fun and been a lot of help in my events because I’ve had a lot of resources and a lot of supportive people,” he said. “I think I drew good, and I also rode Sam Daly’s bulldogging horse. He gave me a good opportunity to do my job. After I sent my bulldogging horse home, I’ve been mounting out on other people’s horses, and Sam was nice enough to let me ride his and haze for me as well.” That’s teamwork at its finest. “I’m really excited for Riley to get his first college rodeo win under his belt,” coach Cali Griffin said, pointing out that assistant coach Emmett Edler has been an asset. “Emmett’s been doing a great job in the practice pen with the guys, and I think it shows in the standings as well as individual rodeo placings. “Riley is a great kid who works hard in multiple events for us. I’m glad to see his hard work is paying off.” The Rangers had several others in the championship round at Hays, including tie-down roper Kerry Duvall of Oakdale, California, who finished sixth. Bleu Hall of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, led the way for the Rangers women, placing sixth in both breakaway roping and goat-tying. Maggie King of Granville, New York, scored a tie for third place in the opening round of goats. Joining Hall in the breakaway finale were Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma, who earned the most points, and Savannah Greenfield of Lakeview, Oregon, who also earned a short-round bid by winning the first round of team roping with teammate Grady Aasby of Highmore, South Dakota. Dingman placed in both rounds and finished second in breakaway roping. The tandem of Greenfield and Aasby weren’t the only Rangers in the short-round field of team ropers. Y’Leigh Yarbrough of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, and John Harrell of Sperry, Oklahoma, placed in the first round. Header Carter Anderson of Merriman, Nebraska, placed in the finale and average while roping with James Drueke of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Header Kendyll Miller of Hennessey, Oklahoma, made the short round with Cole Beasley of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. With just one rodeo remaining, there are several Rangers fighting to finish among the top three to advance to Casper, Wyoming, in June. Dingman is second in goat-tying; Miller and Brylee Zook of Garnett, Kansas, are in the mix in breakaway roping; Anderson has an outside shot in tie-down roping; and Colter Snook of Ford, Kansas, is third in heeling. Duvall and Tsosie are locked into their steer wrestling qualifications to the college finals, but there are three other Northwestern cowboys in the hunt: Edler, a graduate student from State Center, Iowa,  Continue Reading »

Bareback riding rookie Toby Deudney picked up the biggest win of his career after scoring 93 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler to claim the San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out title. (PHOTO BY JENNINGS RODEO PHOTOGRAPHY)   SAN ANGELO, Texas – Toby Deudney isn’t just carrying the Australian flag as he rides bucking horses in the United States. He’s trying to create something back home while competing 8,500 miles away. He crossed a hemisphere and the Pacific Ocean to live out his dreams. “There’s not very many bareback riders in Australia,” said Deudney, 20, of Tumut, New South Wales. “I’m hoping to build a legacy for bareback riders in Australia so we can have some more. I’m hoping everyone at home can look and think, ‘OK, we’re from Australia, but we can make it.’ ” Deudney is making it so far. He arrived in the United States two and a half years ago. On Saturday night, he scored the biggest ride – and the biggest win – of his young career during Saturday’s San Angelo Cinch Chute-Out. The driving force was his dance partner, Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler, the 2023 and ’24 PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year. The match-up was worth 93 points. “I had some nerves, but I was really excited,” said Deudney, who attends Odessa (Texas) College and sits No. 2 in the Caprock Region’s bareback riding standings. “It was just a blas the whole time. “This will be one to remember.” The Aussie entered the weekend No. 6 in the Resistol Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year Race. The $7,500 he earned in San Angelo will move him into the top five. He is not among the top 50 in the world standings, but he will be next week. “It’s been kind of a rough year,” he said. “I’m just trying to build on it. I bought my card, because I thought it was time. Well, it’s time. I guess that was just the right time, and now I’m just going to build it from there.” Night Crawler is an electric bay that has been featured in the “TV pen” of bareback horses at the National Finals Rodeo. Deudney was the first contestant out in the championship round, setting the tone early. He’d like that to continue so he can join the Pickett horse in Las Vegas soon. The last Australian bareback rider to make it to the NFR was Jamie Howlett. The 35-year-old from Roma, Queensland, qualified in 2020. “I’m planning on making them yellow bucking chutes,” Deudney said. “I hope to be a world champion.” Other winners were steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack (3.9 seconds); tie-down roper Tom Crouse, who won the tie-breaker with Kyle Lucas, (7.5 seconds); barrel racer Jana Bean (14.35 seconds); team ropers Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres (16.1 seconds); saddle bronc rider Blake Steuck (88 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Straight Moonshine); and bull rider Tristen Hutchings (86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bone Tomahawk in the first round; none of the bull riders had qualified rides in the chute-out round). San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Cinch Chute-Out April 18 Bareback riding: First round: 1. Keenan Hayes, 93 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Nite Faded; 2. Brayze Schill, 90; 3. Toby Deudney, 88. Championship: 1. Toby Deudney, 93 points on Pickett Pro Rodeo’s Night Crawler, $7,500; 2. Brayze Schill, 90.5, $3,000; 3. Keenan Hayes, 87, $2,000. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.5 seconds; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 4.1; 3. Ty Erickson, 4.3. Championship: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 3.9 seconds, $7,500; 2. Ty Erickson, 4.3, $3,000; 3. Jesse Brown, no time. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Kincade Henry, 8.8 seconds; 2. Tom Crouse, 8.9; 3. Kyle Lucas, 9.1. Championship: 1. (tie) Tom Crouse and Kyle Lucas, 7.5 seconds, $5,250 each; 3. Kincade Henry, 9.4, $2,000. Crouse wins tie-breaker. Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. (tie) Blake Steuck, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Chilly Winds, and Coleman Shallbetter, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Stockyards Babe, 87 points; 3. (tie) Roper Kiesner and Damian Brennan, 86.5. Championship: 1. Blake Steuck, 88 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Straight Moonshine, $7,500; 2. Coleman Shallbetter, 87.5, $3,000; 3. Roper Kiesner, 77, $2,000; Team roping: First round: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 3.8 seconds; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Coleby Payne, 4.0; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.1. Championship: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 16.1 seconds; 2. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Tanner Tomlinson, Coleby Payne, no time. Barrel racing: 1. Jana Bean, 14.48 seconds; 2. Taylor Baize, 14.51; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 14.55. Championship: 1. Jana Bean, 14.35 seconds, $2,000; 2. Taylor Baize, 14.42, $1,250; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 19.53, $250. Bull riding: First round: 1. Tristen Hutchings, 86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bone Tomahawk; 2. Sage Vance, 85.5; 3. Jhett Wheeler, 81.  Championship: 1. (tie) Sage Vance, Tristen Hutchings and Jhett Wheeler, 0, $4,167 each.