About: Ted

Big crowds hang around for ‘slack’ competition at the Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – Rodeo is a unique sport. It’s often wild and Western, with excitement and danger mixed together in a two-hour performance. The world standings are based on money earned, so when the regular season comes to an end on Sept. 30, only the top 15 contestants on the money list in each event advance to the sport’s playoffs, the National Finals Rodeo. It’s a 10-day run for the gold, and it’s where they’ll see the best livestock and have the opportunity to make a substantial income in short order. To get there, cowboys and cowgirls will travel tens of thousands of miles and compete at about 100 rodeos over the course of a campaign. The Gooding Pro Rodeo is one of hundreds of events in the PRCA, but it’s well-established and much appreciated. Its performances are for Thursday, Aug. 18-Saturday, Aug. 20, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 17. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. As happens every August, hundreds of ProRodeo contestants will make their way to Gooding. In fact, there will be more contestants than will fit in the performances, and a good portion of them will compete in an extra session, known as “slack.” They’ll compete against the same men and women who will be part of the paid performances. “Gooding is a great rodeo,” said Kodie Jang, an Australian-born steer wrestler now living in the States and competing in ProRodeo for a living. “The atmosphere is good, whether you’re in slack or a performance.” That’s telling. Cowboys and cowgirls know they have the support of some of rodeo’s greatest fans. They’ve created an identity that is uniquely Gooding. “It’s great,” fellow bulldogger Bridger Anderson said. “It has a fast start, good steers and a great crowd. We usually have to be in slack afterward because we’re trying to work six rodeos in three days. The crowd sticks around for slack after, and it’s always a blast.” The reason behind it is the crowd. Fans pack the stands, and they get into the overall entertainment of the show. In fact, they make it entertaining themselves. Cowboys and cowgirls from all over the spectrum have said so. The most common theme among them is about the “beer worthy” section, where big things are recognized for being beer worthy. “That rodeo has really good contractors and a really good committee,” Jang said. “I’ve been beer worthy winning a check and beer worthy for getting my shirt ripped off. It’s always a good time at Gooding, Idaho.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Patrick Smith first qualified to the National Finals Rodeo in 2003. He was 23 years old. Tanner Tomlinson 2. Now, the two cowboys are roping together with hopes of advancing to ProRodeo’s grand finale at Las Vegas in December. They took another step toward it Friday night with a 4.0-second run to take the team roping lead at Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo. “I love it here,” said Tomlinson, 21, a third-year pro from Angleton, Texas. “I placed here my rookie, and last year we were long, but I still love it. The fans are great, and the committee is, too.” Tomlinson is the 15th-ranked header in the world standings after finishing 25th in 2020 and 20th last year. Smith is the veteran in the tandem and owns two Montana Silversmiths gold buckles, one in 2005 and another five years later. “I haven’t been here a whole lot, but it’s beautiful,” said Smith, 42, of Lipan, Texas. “They’ve done a great job of adding money to the rodeo, taking care of all the contestants. You can work it in. It’s a bit of a drive over here, but it’s a good enough rodeo right here before (Wyoming rodeos) Cheyenne, Casper and Sheridan. “Guys are starting to recognize Gunnison and make sure we’re entered, because it’s that good of a rodeo.” It also got fast in team roping on Friday night. Tomlinson and Smith are a half-second faster than the field with one night remaining in this year’s rodeo. They should snag some good money, which will help them in their bids to advance to the NFR together – only the top 15 contestants on the money list in each event at the end of the regular season make the finale. It’s one thing for a good header to rope with a good heeler; that’s what makes teams so special. It’s quite another thing when one of them is twice as old as the other. Smith was the Resistol Rookie of the Year in 2003 while roping with Matt Tyler. He has qualified for the NFR roping with Clay Tryan, Trevor Brazile and Kaleb Driggers – all three are world champions. Tomlinson is now getting that type of experience with his heeler. “It’s a true blessing,” he said, realizing he’s half Smith’s age. “I believe the good Lord put us together for a reason, and I think it’s showing. I’ve learned so much from this guy, and I’m blessed to be around him and be part of it.” The teaming of their talents works. “There’s no doubt in my mind if I do my job that we’ll be (at the NFR) this year,” said Smith, the No. 18 heeler in the world standings. “This guy (Tomlinson) is on fire; he heads as good as anybody on the planet. I’m just so blessed to have a good partner, great heel horses and (have) my family with me. “I don’t have a whole lot of years left in me, so I’m going to enjoy it and hope to finish with a bang.” Rodeo’s unique in that contestants must earn their money through competition, and that means extensive travel. With other big-money rodeos on the horizon, they are busy trying to put the finishing touches together with two and a half months left in the regular season. It’s not an easy road, and they don’t have an NFL or NBA team to foot the bill for all the expenses that come with it. They do it because they love it. “Without the sponsors and them being here for us as a team, we wouldn’t be here with the fuel prices and the prices of horses and hay and everything else,” Smith said. “We also want to thank the rodeos and the fans. We’re looking forward to a great year.” Cattlemen’s Days has already seen record crowds with a Saturday night show left on the calendar. The contestants have taken note, and Gunnison isn’t the only community hosting big numbers of fans at their rodeos. “I think 2020 got everybody wanting to get out an do more, and I think rodeo is making a major push worldwide,” said Smith, who last qualified for the NFR in 2015. “I think people are looking for the organic side of the other sporting events and the mess of other sporting events and all the political-ness of it. “America is rodeo, and rodeo is America. That’s what we stand for: God first and country next. I’m proud to be part of it.” Cattlemen’s DaysGunnison, Colo.July 14-16Bareback riding: 1. Dean Thompson, 81.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. Jayco Roper, 79.5; 3. (tie) Kade Berry and Colton Crawford, 77; 5. Matt Tuni, 76.5; 6. Quentin Holcomb, 75; 7. Will Lowe, 74.5; 8. Donny Proffit, 74. Steer wrestling: 1. Justin Shaffer, 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Ty Everson and Justin Kipp, 4.0; 4. Cole Trainor, 4.1; 5. Rooster Yazzie, 4.2; 6. Jace Logan, 4.3; 7. (tie) Cash Robb and Tucker Allen, 4.5. Team roping: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.0 seconds; 2. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 4.5; 3. Kolby Krieger/Cutter Thomison, 4.7; 4. Chad Masters/Paul Eaves, 4.8; 5. Clayton Van Aken/Jayden Johnson, 4.9; 6. Chance Hine/Bodie Hine, 5.0; 7. Marcus Battaglia/Jason Johe, 5.1; 8. Braden Pirrung/Coley Nicholls, 5.3. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jake Clark, 85.5 points on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Southpoint Buckle; 2. Cree Minkoff, 82.5; 3. Tyler Beebe, 81.5; 4. Statler Wright, 91; 5. Jake Watson, 80; 6. (tie) Dean Wadsworth and Keene Justesen, 79; 8. Chris Williams. Tie-down roping: 1. Justin Brinkerhoff, 8.7 seconds; 2. Chase Webster, 9.2; 3. Cody Darnell, 9.6; 4. Cole Ford, 9.7; 5. Chet Boren, 10.0; 6. Westyn Hughes, 10.1; 7. James Kolacek, 10.2; 8. Wade Hatch, 10.4. Barrel racing: 1. Jimmie Smith, 18.02; 2. Kelly Yates, 18.31; 3. Brooke McGehee, 18.32; 4. Carly Longo, 18.45; 5. Jenna Pruitt, 18.47; 6. Wendy McKee, 18.48; 7. Shali Lord, 18.55; 8. Kelcey McNamee, 18.52; 9. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 18.66; 10. Kristin Carlson, 18.70.     Continue Reading »

Tegan Smith carrying a family tradition into an elite rodeo status The state of Iowa isn’t quite as well known in the rodeo world as others. Cinch cowboy Tegan Smith is trying to change that. The 24-year-old saddle bronc rider has one qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that takes place in Las Vegas every December. He earned his trip last season and promptly found success. He won the third go-round and finished 10th in the final world standings. “When I was growing up getting on the mini bulls and steers when I was in youth rodeo, Dad and I talked and laughed that we were riding bulls, but we’re going to ride broncs some day,” said Smith of Winterset, Iowa, a community of 5,300 not far from Des Moines. “I was 14. I got on that first one, and it rared out of (the chute) and loped, and I stayed on. I knew then that this is what I’m going to do.” There’s joy in his voice when he talks about his youth. His grandfather rode broncs and bulls, and his dad and uncle also competed in rodeo. “It’s just what we’re supposed to do,” he said. “I’ve always rode bulls and broncs. I did it through high school. I rode bulls in college and made the college finals in bull riding. I won the all-around title in the Southwest Region because of bull riding. “Then it was time to go rodeoing (for a living), and I always knew I wanted to be a bronc rider.” Iowa is best known for its political caucuses, corn, the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones, but there are some pretty handy cowboys. Smith now travels the rodeo trail with Wade Sundell, the 2018 world champion from Boxholm, Iowa. Over the last six seasons, there have been three Iowa-born cowboys that have won a combined five Montana Silversmiths gold buckles: Sundell, three-time bareback riding titlist Tim O’Connell from Zwingle and 2020 steer wrestling champ Jacob Edler from State Center. Smith’s first cousin, Riggin, also won the 2019 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s saddle bronc riding championship while competing at Clarendon (Texas) College. Both Smith boys attended that college, coached by three-time NFR qualifier Bret Franks. That year that his cousin claimed the title, Tegan Smith finished third at the College National Finals Rodeo. “We went and checked out all those other schools,” Tegan Smith said of him and his family. “Dad always said he wished he would have went south to go to college to rodeo, further away from home. I was either going to school there to rodeo for Bret Franks or Panola (Texas) College to rodeo for Jeff Collins (the 2000 world champion bareback rider). “That facility at Clarendon was phenomenal, and Bret had the perfect set of practice horses. Jeff and Bret are good friends, so you were actually getting coached by both of them.” There was also a little history at Clarendon. Fellow Cinch endorsee Wyatt Casper had won the college title for the college in 2016, so that just added to the intrigue. “He was just some Oklahoma team roper who decided to be a bronc rider, and now he’s one of the best in the world,” Smith said. It’s the process that comes with learning through every phase of life. Smith is on the verge of becoming one of ProRodeo’s elite bronc riders. He’s played on the biggest stages of the sport. When necessary, he’ll still reach out to his mentors for assistance. He travels with one in Sundell, but he doesn’t mind contacting his father or Franks or anyone else with advice. “Right before the spring started this year, I went back over to Clarendon and got on some practice horses,” he said. “Some were still those same old good ones I was excited to get on every week. Bret was great when I was going to college there, but when I finally left, it made me realize what he was talking about. It was all parts of life, not even riding broncs. “Nobody from Iowa had gone to the National Finals in bronc riding that I would know, but Wade did it. Once I got on the road and realized how hard it was, I had a lot of respect for him. Now, he’s a nine-time National Finals qualifier and a world champion. It’s crazy that he’s done it that good and for that many years.” The yellow bucking chutes at the NFR offer a glowing view of the sport’s championship event, but they also serve as motivation for young cowboys who want to play the game at its highest level. Smith had dreamed of the moment when a surge of electricity burst out of one of those chutes with him on the back of it. “It was the coolest experience,” Smith said. “When you’re a young guy starting out, that’s what you dream of. I always told myself I wasn’t going into the Thomas & Mack until I made it, so I got to hold myself to that. Wade and I walked down (the alley that leads to the arena floor) carrying our stuff in. We walked to the out-gate. You look around, and you realize you’ve done it. “It makes all the hard work, all the stress, all the miles make sense.” The hard work started 10 years ago when he was still a teenager. Over time, he’s adjusted his approach and improved along the way. He’s still doing that. How much has he improved since turning pro in 2018? “You think you ride good, but then you watch all these other guys straight-up beating you, and you have to ride better,” he said. “You don’t realize you’re doing it, but mentally you’re just getting better every day. I’d say the biggest reasons for getting better is mental and in your own maturity.” Consistency is key when it comes to competition, especially in rodeo. There are times through the summer run  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – In the world of rodeo, many cowboys – especially those that ride bucking horses and bulls – will travel together to help keep the costs down and to provide a bit of a team atmosphere. Jake Clark has some good ones, and they’re always helping each other. Between Clark, Wyatt Casper, Brody Cress and Lefty Holman, the foursome has some handy credentials and some bronc savvy. It all comes into play in one way or another. Only one of the four made his way to Gunnison for the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo; Casper is at home for a couple weeks with an injury, while Holman and Cress are competing this week at the Calgary Stampede, an invitation-only event that features a $1.5 million purse. Clark made the most of his opportunity, riding New Star Pro Rodeo’s Southpoint Buckle for 85.5 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead. “I saw a couple of videos of him at Fort Worth (Texas from earlier this year),” said Clark of Crane, Oregon. “He’s always been a nice horse. He’s a pretty young one, but he’s really good.” Stace Smith Pro Rodeos is the stock contractor of record at Cattlemen’s Days, but the company oftentimes brings multiple contractors to Gunnison to ensure the competition is as even as possible. “Stace tries to get the best stock at all of his rodeos,” Clark said. “We normally have a chance to win every time we nod out head. All the horses that were out tonight were the good ones.” Clark was also wearing a pink shirt, which helped him earn a $1,000 provided from the Cattlemen’s Days Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign and other sponsors that helped come up with the money. Only the contestants with the top score or the fastest time in each event that were wearing pink were eligible for the bonus. “Wyatt Casper called me right as I got here, and he told me about the bonus,” he said. “I got ahold of a friend that lives here, and his cousin got me a pink shirt. I put it on right before I crawled on.” With fuel being around $5 a gallon, every dollar helps for contestants who make a living competing one rodeo at a time. He appreciates the Gunnison rodeo because of the crowd and the committee’s dedication to breast cancer awareness, but he also appreciates being able to travel the rodeo trail with some of the best in the game. Cress is a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has won the NFR three times; he’s also third in the world standings. Casper is a two-time NFR qualifier who is fourth on the money list, while Holman qualified for the finale in 2020 and is 11th in the standings. “It’s great traveling with them,” Clark said. “Every time I get off a horse, they better me. They’re the best going, hands down, and they’ve helped me more than anything. They changed my bronc riding.” Cattlemen’s DaysGunnison, Colo.July 14-16Bareback riding: 1. Jayco Roper, 79.5 points on United Pro Rodeo’s Enough Said; 2. Kade Berry, 77; 3. Quentin Holcomb, 75; 4. Will Lowe, 74.5; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Justin Shaffer, 3.8 seconds; 2. Ty everson, 4.0; 3. Cole Trainor, 4.1; 4. Tucker Allen, 4.5; 5. Hadley Jackson, 4.7; 6. Kodie Jang, 5.0; 7. Cody Pratt, 5.1; 8. Brock Powell, 5.2. Team roping: 1. Kyon Kreutzer/Clancey Kreutzer, 4.5 seconds; 2. Kolby Krieger/Cutter Thomison, 4.7; 3. Chad Masters/Paul Eaves, 4.8; 4. Clayton Van Aken/Jayden Johnson, 4.9; 5. Chance Hine/Bodie Hine, 5.0; 6. Braden Pirrung/Coley Nicholls, 5.3; 7. Blaine Redhorse/Justin Borrego, 6.2; 8. Payton Norell/Jace Norell, 6.3. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jake Clark, 85.5 points on New Star Pro Rodeo’s Southpoint Buckle; 2. Cree Minkoff, 82.5; 3. Statler Wright, 91; 4. Jake Watson, 80; 5. Zac Dallas, 76; 6. Jesse James Kirby, 73; 7. Brody Wells, 70; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: 1. Chase Webster, 9.2 seconds; 2. Cody Darnell, 9.6; 3. Cole Ford, 9.7; 4. Westyn Hughes, 10.1; 5. James Kolacek, 10.2; 6. Wade Hatch, 10.4; 7. (tie) Logan Vick and Sy Felton, 11.7. Barrel racing: 1. Kelly Yates, 18.31 seconds; 2. Brooke McGehee, 18.32; 3. Carly Longo, 18.45; 4. Jenna Ppruitt, 18.47; 5. Wendy McKee, 18.48; 6. Shali Lord, 18.55; 7. Kelcey McNamee, 18.52; 8. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 18.66; 9. Kathryn Varian, 18.82; 10. Kaylee Barker, 19.00.    Bull riding: 1. Jeff Askey, 88.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeos’ Big Country; no other qualified rides.

GUNNISON, Colo. – Hadyn Perkins is a very busy young lady, and she’s about to be busier. As a member of the Future Fitters 4H Club, she will be actively involved in Cattlemen’s Days, which runs through Saturday, July 16, at the Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. It’s a hectic time for many families in the Gunnison Valley, but it’s also a perfect time to enjoy all that their lives have to offer. “For me, showing livestock is about the experience, the family time that is involved with it and the learning,” said Hadyn, 16, who lives in Gunnison with her father. “My dad owns his own business; my mom passed away, so it’s just my dad. He showed when he was younger.” Those times together make it all special for the teenager. She loves what she does and all the experiences that come with it. Oftentimes, they travel to eastern Colorado for more family time and a chance to showcase what she’s learned over the years and what she wants to do. “The Western Slope doesn’t have really big jackpots, and my uncle is the ag teacher in Lamar (Colorado),” she said. “On weekends, we go there and spend time with him, then we travel all over and go to the shows.” She has gone to five shows over the last year, two in Tribune, Kansas, and one each in Elkhart, Kansas; Garden City, Kansas; and Monte Vista, Colorado. She placed in the top five of showmanship at each. She’s done pretty well close to home, too. At Cattlemen’s Days, she has won the goat show each of the past five years, lambs for the last three years and the pig show once. She’s won showmanship with all animals for the past several years. What does she like most? “Probably pigs,” Hadyn said. “My uncle breeds and sells show pigs, so it’s what we’ve learned to enjoy. I think it’s also where most of my family bonding time happens.” Once the showing begins at Cattlemen’s Days, though, she’ll turn her attention to whatever need is pressing with her schedule. She will be showing swine, lambs, goats and a steer. She’s also going to show why family means so much to her through her genealogy exhibit. “I’m looking forward to mostly just getting together with my friends during Cattlemen’s Days, and for the show,” she said. Hadyn is homeschooled and involved. She knows the priorities in her life, and she presents them in a way befitting a grand champion.