About: Ted

GUNNISON, Colo. – For nearly eight decades, the open horse show has been a staple for the Cattlemen’s Days celebration. Of course, the community-based gathering dates back even further, to 1900, when the inaugural Cattlemen’s Days helped bring people to the town of Gunnison to celebrate their lives and livelihoods. That was a time when horsepower was much more prevalent than it is in today’s society, but the celebration still honors its past. Of the events that bring the past and present together, the open horse show fits the bill. It will take place Saturday, July 3, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. “We base our horse show off the AQHA rules,” said Ivy McNulty, chairman of the volunteer committee that organizes show. “We have different classes, ranging from Western pleasure to limited English classes.” The number of participants varies, she said, depending on how the calendar works. Entries can range between 50 and 150; she’s unsure of what to expect since this year’s show takes place on the Fourth of July weekend. “We get people from all over to enter our show,” McNulty said. “I’ve had people from Kansas come and enter this show.” This isn’t like some of the national horse shows, but it’s big enough. There are five age divisions, and the top high-point rider in each age division will earn a buckle. There also will be other awards possible. “It’s not all kids,” she said. “We have anywhere from 8-under lead line on up. We’ve had women that have been 80 years old showing their horses. “There’s a whole bunch of horse showing out in the world, but Gunnison is not one of those big events. It’s an opportunity for the kids to show more. I know some people who come just to do the trail classes. It’s a good way to participate in the classes you want.” The show is just an extension of so many pieces of the Cattlemen’s Days puzzle. It takes all those pieces together to showcase the Gunnison Valley and all its people in a fabulous community event. “The sponsors are 100 percent the most important part of our horse show,” McNulty said. “It’s the only way I can put it on. We have a budget with the Cattlemen’s Days committee, but it all really comes from sponsorship. I’ve been part of the open horse show my whole life, competing in it, participating or running it, and we’ve had the same sponsors for years and years. I appreciate that very much. “I don’t think there’s one thing that makes Cattlemen’s Days special. I think it’s all of it. I’m a 4-H leader, and I think it’s the 4-H program, the carnival, the livestock shows, the horse shows, the rodeo and everything else. For a lot of people in this valley, this is the only weekend they have to show their horse.”

ATOKA, Okla. – The sloppy conditions at the Atoka ProRodeo may have muddied Tyler Pearson’s clothes over the weekend, but it didn’t dull the shine on his gold buckle. Originally from Louisville, Mississippi, Pearson and his family moved to this southeastern Oklahoma hamlet in 2017. He recalls it vividly, because that was the same year he won the PRCA steer wrestling world championship. “We’d never owned any land, and we found this place and it had 60 acres,” said Pearson, who lives with his wife, Carissa, son, Stetson; and daughter, Steelie. “The main thing was to come here and have some land. “There are a lot of guys around here that get after it and are really talented. We’ve got a lot of friends right here close. We’ve built some relationships here that are going to last a lifetime. We love the people here.” He also likes having the Atoka ProRodeo in town. For as cowboy friendly as the community is, it had never hosted a PRCA event until this year when Lane, Oklahoma-based McCoy Rodeo decided to produce it. Owned by Oklahoma rodeo star Cord McCoy and his family, the firm has set up two days of rodeo action. Pearson competed both nights in steer wrestling and team roping. It’s a chance for him to show off his world-championship talents in front of friends that may not get to see him work all that often. “We’re home the next few weeks, so we’re rodeoing around the house,” said Pearson, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who sits No. 2 in the world standings at this point in the season. “It’s really convenient to be able to go to places that aren’t that far from the house instead of driving 20 hours to Reno (Nevada), which is what we’ll be doing pretty soon.” Rodeo is how he makes a living. So far this season, he’s pocketed just shy of $50,000. That’s more than double what he earned in all of 2020, which, like much of the world, was hampered by COVID-19. His goal is to secure his fifth NFR bid, then help do the same for his traveling partners, two-time world champion Tyler Waguespack and Kyle Irwin, a five-time NFR qualifier. For now, though, Pearson will take advantage of local rodeos to gather up dollars to return to the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, which takes the top 12 on the money list for competitors and rodeos primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. He’d like to qualify in both bulldogging and heeling. “I’ve roped a long time,” he said. “We’re just trying to circuit rodeo this year. I’m roping with (header) Rowdy Jones, who is an upcoming star. He’s going to be a name you hear for a long time. I’m just a stepping stone for him, but it sure is fun.” The tandem never found its way to the winner’s circle over the two nights of the Atoka ProRodeo, but Pearson earned a second-place finish in bulldogging Friday night. When it comes to competition, he understands how important it is to have quality horses. He’s co-owner of Scooter, a former steer wrestling horse of the year, and owns Metallica, which has been considered one of the top hazing horses. He also owns Dippin Dots, a 5-year-old appaloosa gelding Pearson uses in roping. “He’s just got a really good demeanor,” he said of the spotted horse. “He’s super calm, super chill. My kids can ride him, and he’s still so young. He handles about anything. He’s also a winner. I never thought I’d be on an appaloosa that had talent. He’s sure nice to heel on, and I just really like riding him.” The best part is that he got to do it at his hometown rodeo and win some money in the process. “It’s cool to have this little rodeo,” Pearson said. “We go all over, so it’s awesome to have one in your own back yard. It’s fun, and we get to visit with people we know. There are people in this town that didn’t know we rodeoed, so now they can come see you do it.” Atoka ProRodeoAtoka, OklahomaMay 22Bareback riding: 1. Mike Fred, 75.5 points on McCoy Rodeo’s 715, $256; 2. (tie) Dakota Mendez and Tim Murphy, 74, $160 each; 4. Colton Crawford, 73, $64. Steer wrestling: 1. Gus Franzen, 5.6 seconds, $278; 2. Tyler Ravenscroft, 6.2, $209; 3. Sean Mulligan, 6.5, $139; 4. Colton Swearingen, 15.3, $70. Team roping: 1. Mike Bacon/Dustin Davis, 5.2 seconds, $865; 2. (tie) Britt Smith/Jake Smith and A.J. Horton/Kyle Horton, 5.6, $541; 4. Jake Clay/Rance Doyal, 6.6, $216. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Danny Cassidy, 77.5 points on McCoy Rodeo’s Dun It, $256; 2. Brett Allen Coffman, 74, $192; 3. Trey Elshere, 69, $128; no other qualified rides. Breakaway roping: 1. Shelby Boisjoli, 2.3 seconds, $1,183; 2. (tie) Winter Williams, Abigayle Williams and Sawyer Gilbert, 2.5, $775 each; 5. Jaice Walters, 2.8, $367; 6. (tie) Jackie Crawford and Alex Loiselle, 3.0, 102 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Spence Barney, 10.6 seconds, $459; 2. Kyle Lucas, 11.4, $344; 3. Taylor Santos, 14.2, $229; 4. Landon McClaugherty, 15.7, $115. Barrel racing: 1. Molly Childers, 17.79 seconds, $468; 2. Taylor Reazin, 17.87, $423; (tie) LaRae Smith and Randee Hedrick, 18.10, $328 each; 5. Lindsey McLeod, 18.36, $233; 6. Torrie Edge, 18.48, $169; 7. Savannah Pearson, 18.52, $106; 8. Cassidy Champlin, 18.67, $42. Steer roping: First round: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., 12.6 seconds, $741; 2. Billy Good, 12.9, $556; 3. Slade Wood, 13.8, $371; 4. Landon McClaugherty, 14.1, $185. Second round: 1. Slade Wood, 11.4 seconds, $741; 2. Mike Chase, 12.0, $556; 3. Cole Patterson, 12.8, $371; 4. Shay Good, 12.9, $185. Average: 1. Slade Wood, 25.2 seconds, $1,112; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., 26.2, $834; 3. Shay Good, 28.8, $556; 4. Landon McClaugherty, 29.0, $278. Bull riding: No qualified rides.

ATOKA, Okla. – Jake Clay and Rance Doyal are having a nice bit of luck roping at events in their home state of Oklahoma. On Friday night, the team ropers stopped the clock in 5.5 seconds to win the opening night of the Atoka ProRodeo at the Atoka Trail Riders Arena. That was worth $790 per man and gives them a nice bit of confidence heading into Saturday’s second day of competition. “I like that it pays this well for being a smaller rodeo,” said Clay, 22, a header Sapulpa, Oklahoma. “It’s perfect, because you get two rodeo counts for the circuit and get to rope for some decent money.” Every cent counts in rodeo, where dollars equal points. Only the top 15 contestants on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. The same is said for each circuit. Clay and Doyal compete in the Prairie Circuit, made up of contestants and events primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “It’s a good rodeo,” Clay said of Atoka. “It’s a little muddy, but that’s nobody’s fault. The steers are good, and we had a chance to win. That’s really all you could ask for. He and his partner are toward the top of the circuit standings. Clay sits second in heading, while Doyal is the No. 1 heeler; he lives just 50 miles northeast of Atoka in Hartshorne, Oklahoma. In March, the tandem pocketed $6,500 apiece by placing well at the Bob Feist Invitational during its one-year run at the Lazy E Arena near Guthrie, Oklahoma. While that money doesn’t count toward ProRodeo standings, it does come in handy. “My goal is to make the National Finals,” Clay said. “That’s always been a goal of mine, and I’m going to try to do what it takes to get there.” That included making a switch a year ago. As a heeler, he teamed with five-time NFR qualifier Coleman Proctor to win the aggregate championship at the 2019 Prairie Circuit Finals. Since then, the young cowboy is opening as many doors as possible to make his dreams come true. “I’ve always liked heading,” Clay said. “I’ve wanted to head, and I figured if I was going to do it, I may as well do it while I was young and see how it works.” It seems to be workout out quite well. Atoka ProRodeoAtoka, OklahomaMay 21Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Mark Kreder, on McCoy Rodeo’s Foxtrot, and Jayco Roper, on McCoy Rodeo’s Party Girl, 78 points, $204 each; 3. Tanner Phillips, 72, $117; 4. Danny Weil, 66, $58. Steer wrestling: 1. Adam Musil, 5.8 seconds, $323; 2. Tyler Pearson, 6.8, $243; 3. Sean Mulligan, 8.4, $162; 4. Shawn Musil, 10.0, $81. Team roping: 1. Jake Clay/Rance Doyal, 5.5 seconds, $790; 2. Dustin Morgan/Nick Rowland, 6.7, $592; 3. Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 7.5, $395; 4. Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 11.1, $197. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Timothy Troyer, 79 points on McCoy Rodeo’s Dun It, $267; 2. Dawson Dahm, 73, $200; 3. Brady Burton, 67, $133; no other qualified rides. Breakaway roping: 1. Jackie Crawford, 2.4 seconds, $1,249; 2. (tie) Tacy Webb and Martha Angelone, 2.6, $926 each; 4. Jenna Lee Hays, 2.8, $603; 5. (tie) Shai Schaefer and Shelby Boisjoli, 3.0, $301 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Landon McClaugherty, 13.8 seconds, $429; 2. Wyatt Muggli, 20.8, $321; 3. Kyle Lucas, 22.7, $214; 4. Layton Little, 24.6, $107. Barrel racing: 1. Shelby Janssen, 17.84 seconds, $573; 2. Stephanie Joyner, 18.01, $498; 3. Taitum Thomas, 18.07, $423; 4. Randi Holliday, 18.11, $349; 5. Tana Poppino, 18.20, $274; 6. Molly Childers, 18.27, $199; 7. Lindsey McLeod, 18.39, $125; 8. Katy Pendergrass, 18.70, $50.Steer roping: First round: 1. Bryce Davis, 11.6 seconds, $720; 2. Cole Patterson, 13.4, $540; 3. Landon McClaugherty, 13.5, $360; 4. Trent Johnson, 14.2, $180. Second round: 1. Jason Stockton, 11.7 seconds, $720; 2. Shay Good, 12.0, $540; 3. Matt Phipps, 12.6, $360; 4. (tie) Cash Myers and Tony Reina, 13.1, $90 each. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 28.9 seconds on two runs, $1,080; 2. Cash Myers, 32.2, $810; 3. Landon McClaugherty, 33.1, $540; 4. Bryce Davis, 11.6 seconds on one run, $270.   Bull riding: 1. Joseph McConnel, 87 points on McCoy Rodeo’s Real Gun, $403; 2. Joe Alejos Jr., 77, $330; no other qualified rides.

CLAREMORE, Okla. –A decade ago, the organizers of the Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo were regularly seeking more sponsorships and hoping to fill the stands. My, how things have changed. Those same organizers are expecting good crowds for this year’s rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 28-Sunday, May 30, at Stampede Park in Claremore. Sponsors have come through, too, but there are reasons behind the rodeo’s success. “Pete Carr is very important to our rodeo,” volunteer David Petty said of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, the stock contractor that produces the annual event. “We were pretty stagnant and needed to do something, and we needed a professional that approached rodeo from a professional point of view. “The team that Pete has assembled throughout the last seven years we’ve had him are professional, they do their jobs and they do it well.” The result is in the product that happens in the arena. Rodeo is a mixture of elite athletic competition and family entertainment, and the Carr firm realizes that as well as any livestock producer in professional rodeo. By looking at rodeo as a two-sided puzzle piece, the contestants know the competition will be level, and fans see an engaging show. “Pete’s got a good following on the roughstock end, and cowboys will make sure they go to a Carr rodeo because they know there are good bucking horses and bulls,” Petty said. “Pete, being a former competitor himself, knew what it took to have a top-notch stock company. I think we’ve got a good partnership with Pete and his crew. Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s always done us a good job.” Claremore’s rodeo first hired the Carr team in 2013. A year later, the Stampede won the first of its five straight PRCA Small Rodeo of the Year awards. The proof is in the elite contestants that make their way to Rogers County every spring and in increased number of fans that make it part of their lives. “Pete’s team is in charge of the production of our rodeo,” Petty said. “The thing about Pete Carr Pro Rodeo is that they’re a respected company that guarantees us good contestants and good livestock for those contestants to compete on. They’ve got a tremendous crew. From the guys feeding and sorting in the back pens to the guys handling the production, they’re all important.” Northeast Oklahoma is home to people that truly understand rodeo, but the Stampede attracts a diversified fan base. That wasn’t always the case. That’s the case now. “The simple fact is that people aren’t saying it’s the same-old thing any more like they did for a long time,” he said. “They’re getting their entertainment dollar’s worth. It’s a pretty cheap ticket to see as much entertainment as they get to see. “When we hired Pete Carr, the coffee-shop talk changed a whole bunch, and people liked what they were seeing at our rodeo. That’s the thing we take pride in.”

ATOKA, Okla. – Cord McCoy knows what it takes to be a champion. He won five IPRA world titles nearly two decades ago as one of the top all-around cowboys in the Oklahoma City-based association, and he’s been in contention for the PRCA and PBR gold buckles over his lifetime. There was also the time he and his brother finished as runners-up for $1 million during marathon around the world on CBS-TV’s “The Amazing Race.” It’s no surprise that the world champions are ready to compete at the Atoka Pro Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 21-Saturday, May 22, at the Atoka Trail Riders Arena. In all, there are four PRCA world champions in the mix representing five gold buckles: Kollin VonAhn, a two-time heeling world champ; Tyson Durfey, the 2016 tie-down roping titlist; Ryan Jarrett, the 2005 all-around winner; and Tyler Pearson, the 2017 steer wrestling world champion that now lives in Atoka. There are two others won their gold buckles at the Timed Event Championship at the Lazy E Arena: Jess Tierney, the 2017 winner, and Taylor Santos, who won the TEC crown in 2020. “There is a great rodeo history right here in Atoka County,” said McCoy, a co-owner of Atoka County-based McCoy Rodeo, which is producing the rodeos. “If you look at that, you recognize that there’s been a need for a PRCA rodeo to take place right here, and I’m glad to be able to bring it to town.” Pearson makes a significant part of his living as one of the best bulldoggers in ProRodeo, and he moved to this southeastern Oklahoma community just before winning the world championship four seasons ago. He is scheduled to compete both nights in steer wrestling and team roping. But he isn’t the only man from Atoka County to have earned a PRCA gold buckle There are three others, and they’re successes have significant undertones. The first is steer roper John McEntire, who won three world titles. He was followed by his son, Clark McEntire, who also won three steer roping gold buckles. The third is Lane Frost, who won the PRCA’s bull riding world championship in 1987. “I was only 8 years old when Lane passed away in Cheyenne (Wyoming), but you don’t grow up around rodeo in Oklahoma without knowing who he was and what he meant to this sport and to this area,” McCoy said. “I think rodeo in this part of Oklahoma is just a natural fit, and you can see it with the names of the people that have won gold buckles that are from around here. “This is rodeo territory, and we are going to celebrate it.” Consider this: Atoka is also home to two up-and-coming superstars in ProRodeo. Wyatt Muggli is the No. 1 man in the PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year all-around race. His neighbor, Tuff Hardman, sits fourth in the rookie all-around list but is No. 1 in steer roping. Both men are scheduled to compete at their hometown rodeo. “Those two guys are as handy as you’re going to find in rodeo,” McCoy said. “I think a lot of people from right here in Atoka County are going to really enjoy seeing what we have to offer in professional rodeo.”