About: Ted

ALVA, Okla. – For several years, Pacman was the perfect horse for Kody Woodward. Now, Pacman is doing the same for another member of the family, Brent Woodward, a senior steer wrestler at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The speedy sorrel gelding proved it again this past weekend by guiding Brent Woodward to the title at the Fort Hays (Kansas) State University Rodeo. “This was really good for me,” said Woodward, the third member of his family from Dupree, South Dakota, to be part of the Northwestern rodeo team. “I haven’t been doing very good at these college rodeos. It should be a confidence booster to finally win one. “I’m hoping to do good at these next two rodeos and sneak up into the third spot.” He’s talking about the Central Plains Region standings. With rodeos in Guymon, Oklahoma, this week and Colby, Kansas, the first weekend in May, the intercollegiate athletes have just two more shots to finish among the top three in the circuit in order to advance to the College National Finals Rodeo; it takes place June 13-19 in Casper, Wyoming. After winning the title in Hays, Woodward shot up to 13th in the region. There are plenty of points available for him to advance to the finale, but things will have to go his way. He trails the leader, teammate Riley Westhaver of High River, Alberta, by 285 points but is just 141 points away from third place. Woodward earned 130 points in Hays. Kody is 10 years older than Brent, and Pacman was his bulldogging horse a decade ago when he was trying to make the college finals. Since then, Pacman’s been ridden by some of the best cowboys in rodeo. Now, he’s helping more college students learn the game. “He’s a pretty solid horse, and I’ve got a good haze horse, Junior,” Brent Woodward said of the horses he uses as a team. “Bradley Ralph has been my hazer, and he always does a good job of getting the steers lined out for me. “Kody (trained) both those horses. That’s more of what my brother does. He picks them out, and we start on them and make runs on them.” That type of training has worked. Woodward led the way for the Rangers in Hays, but there were others who overcame the snow and colder conditions to gather points. Heeler Bo Yaussi of Udall, Kansas, placed in both rounds and finished fourth overall while roping with Garrett Elmore of Western Oklahoma State College. Header Zane Thompson of Cheyenne, Wyoming – roping with Zach Woods of Western Oklahoma – earned points in the first round by placing in a tie for sixth place with the Northwestern tandem of Taylor Carson and Cale Koppitz, both of Alva; both teams stopped the clock in 9.7 seconds. Tie-down roper Tucker Huffman of Mutual, Oklahoma, picked up a third-place finish in the opening round as well. Breakaway roper Hannah Zimmers of Eureka, Kansas, led the way for the Northwestern women. She placed in both rounds and finished third overall.

CHILDRESS, Texas –Rodeo rigs in all shapes and sizes will soon converge on this community of 6,200 and increase the population considerably. That’s what happens when the STS Championship comes to town, with competition set for April 30-May 2 at the Mashburn Event Center and Arena in Childress. The event, named for hometown tie-down roping world champion Stran Smith, will feature three days of timed-event competition, most of which will involve youth from across the region. “One way or another, I’ve been involved with this event since they’ve had it,” said Smith, now retired from competition and working on other business opportunities and being a dad. “It’s nice to be involved, especially when you’re talking about an event that involves so many kids.” The extravaganza begins open ladies breakaway roping Friday morning, and it is expected to attract many of the top female ropers in the sport. Over the past few years, the money and participation in breakaway roping has exploded, and the interest and viewership has followed suit. The American in Arlington, Texas, was the first to push it onto the national scene, but many other event organizers have decided to jump on the bandwagon. In fact, the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping took place this past December in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo. There is more to come Many of the elite tie-down ropers in ProRodeo will be featured Friday afternoon during an open calf roping that is being organized by another Childress cowboy, NFR qualifier Stetson Vest. He expects many of the top ropers to be on hand, mainly because the time of the event fits perfectly into the rodeo season. “It’s going to be 50 to 60 guys, and we will have three rounds and a short-go,” Vest said of the format. “The calves are supposed to be fresh, and we’re going to have the score out there for them. It’s going to be a fun roping, but I’m going to have it where it’s more like an old-school roping.” Saturday morning’s festivities will begin with the 19-under 4D barrel race with side pots that enable competitors to qualify for Vegas Tuffest Junior World Championship – the side pots are $100 for each young racer, and the divisions are set up at 19-under and 12-under. That will be followed by the 10-under and 12-under co-ed breakaway roping, the 15-under girls breakaway roping and the 10-under double-mugging. Day 2 will wrap with 19-under and 15-under girls goat-tying, then the 12-under co-ed goat-tying. An 8 a.m. church service will open the final day, followed by boys 15-under tie-down roping, 12-under co-ed roping, 19-under boys tie-down roping and ladies 19-under breakaway roping. “Youth rodeo is important, and the growth in youth rodeo is tremendous compared to when I started rodeoing,” Vest said. “I’ve seen the young, hungry kids coming up in our ranks now, and they started when they were kids. The talent is unbelievable. “There are more opportunities for young kids now than there ever were before. It’s more competitive, and these kids are getting an edge because of it.”

DUNCAN, Okla. –For much of his life, Cord McCoy made a living as a rodeo cowboy. He won his first buckle at age 5, then progressed up the youth ranks into high school, then intercollegiate rodeo at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, where he was a regular qualifier to the College National Finals Rodeo. As a young professional, he won five International Professional Rodeo Association titles, his latest in the 2003 season that saw him break earnings records. In 2005, he was one of the top bull riders in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and qualified for that year’s NFR. He followed with six qualifications to the Professional Bull Riders World Finals. That’s why the return of PRCA rodeo to this region in May is called Cord McCoy’s Pro Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 7-Saturday, May 8, at Stephens County Arena in Duncan. Tickets go on sale Monday, April 19, and can be purchased at Crutcher’s Western Wear in Duncan or online at McCoyRodeo.com. “Back when I was rodeoing, Duncan was always the first of May, and I made sure to enter it every year that I could,” said McCoy, who operates the Oklahoma-based livestock production firm McCoy Rodeo with his wife, Sara, and Joe Waln, a third-generation stock contractor. “It was a big deal to me to go to that rodeo. I want it to be a big deal again.” It’s been several years since the May ProRodeo has taken place in Duncan, but McCoy wants to bring it back and is glad to have it be the opening event of the 2021 McCoy Rodeo Tour, presented by ProVantage Animal Health. Oklahoma has always been home to the cowboy that grew up in a rodeo family in Tupelo, Oklahoma. He claimed his IPRA gold when the International Finals Rodeo took place in Oklahoma City, and one of his biggest victories in his 2005 NFR season happened in Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo in the state’s capital city. “I’ve always had a big love for rodeo,” he said. “To turn back and be able to produce those events is even better. Over the last 20 years, we’ve had a lot of experience producing rodeos, producing events and producing bull ridings. We feel that we’ve had the years to get better at that.” This is more than a typical rodeo. In Duncan, McCoy has enlisted the help of some of the sport’s brightest stars who also have ties to Oklahoma. That includes the specialty act of Ripley, Oklahoma-based Rider Kiesner and Bethany Isles, who were named the PRCA Dress Act of the Year in 2020, and Cody Webster of Wayne, Oklahoma, the reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year. “I’ve always been taught, and I firmly believe, that if you want to be successful, you have to surround yourself with successful people,” McCoy said. “Rider, Bethany and Cody are the best, and I’m glad they’re on board for both Duncan and Atoka rodeos.” McCoy will cross Interstate 35 for the second event of the tour, which takes place May 21-22 in Atoka, Oklahoma, a community in southeastern Oklahoma. It’s just a 12-minute drive from there to McCoy Ranch in Lane, Oklahoma. Even before he retired from bull riding seven years ago, McCoy was raising bucking bulls and showing them at PBR events all across the country. He’s produced his own events in numerous states, and he’s seen what it takes to keep crowds coming back for more. Now, he wants to package it all together. He’s teamed with Waln, a well-respected bucking-horse producer from South Dakota, to develop an overall rodeo firm. He wants to produce a live event for fans, but he also understands the needs of rodeo contestants. McCoy wants to outfit them with great livestock and a fun show to be part of when the time comes. “Rodeo is an athletic competition, but it’s also entertainment,” McCoy said. “You want to put it all together and make as many people happy as possible. That’s the great thing about rodeo. It can happen; it’s something we’re going to try to do every time.”

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Barrel racing at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo is always tough. There are dozens of outstanding horses with exceptional jockeys involved in ProRodeo. With 275 barrel racers entered, this year’s competition is exceptional. On Saturday afternoon, Dona Kay Rule and her horse, High Valor, shot past them all, posting a 14.17-second run to take the second-round lead; she also leads the aggregate with a two-run cumulative time of 30.08 seconds. “That was really, really fun, except for almost falling off on Barrel 1,” Rule, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Minco, Oklahoma, said with a laugh. “I didn’t like that very well, but I knew I had to sit back up and hurry if I wanted to win 10 cents at this rodeo.” She has already pocketed $1,599 for placing seventh in the first go-round, which took place nearly two weeks ago and served as the first step in the progressive format; only the top 120 of the total list of competitors advanced to compete in the second round. “In the first round, I was the 260th in a very deep arena, so I was very proud of my horse,” she said. She should be. Valor is a 12-year-old sorrel gelding that has been selected as the WPRA AQHA Barrel Racing Horse of the Year each of the past two seasons. He’s been exceptional in just about any type of arena, and he proved that Saturday in Foster Communications Coliseum. “It feels good, and it’s very exciting to compete in that building,” Rule said. “There’s a lot of history. I know the San Angelo committee is excited to have a non-COVID event. “I’m so excited to be able to go again and have it be more open. Generally, Valor feels extremely good. I have had a little bit of a sore joint, as we do when we age, but it seems to be hanging in there.” Rule finished the year 13th in the final world standings, and though she earned a bid to compete at the NFR, she wasn’t able to do so. Prior to the start of competition, the pandemic protocol revealed she had tested positive for COVID, and she was replaced. Is there another NFR in the plans for her and Valor for 2021? “I’ll just leave it in God’s hands and go do what I do,” she said. “I’ll take care of my horse. Run by run, I’ll have my team as good as I can. I’m just grateful to do what I do. I know it’s all a gift, and I’m just delighted to be here.” Here is a good spot. While there are three more performances and 36 more schedule runs left in the preliminary go-rounds, Rule and Valor are in good shape to make a third run inside San Angelo’s storied coliseum during the championship round, set for Friday, April 23. “I would be tickled to death to come back,” Rule said. “There are a lot of great horses to go. We’ll just sit back and see what happens.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoApril 9-23Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Hot Flash; 2. (tie) Tilden Hooper and Zach Hibler, 87; 4. Caleb Bennett, 86.5; 5. Tim O’Connell, 86; 6. Chad Rutherford, 85.5; 7. (tie) Luke Creasy and Garrett Shadbolt, 85; 9. Kaycee Field, 84.5; 10. Cauy Pool, 84; 11. Kody Lamb, 83; 11. (tie) Tanner Aus, Bill Tutor, Jamie Howlett and Hunter Carter, 82.   Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 3.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Brandon Harrison, Jacob Edler and Jacob Talley, 3.5; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Gavin Soileau and Kalane Anders, 3.6; 8. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Cody Devers, 3.7. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Pearson and Kyle Irwin, 3.6; 3. T.J. Hall, 3.7; 4. (tie) Jay Williamson, Cody Moore, Gavin Soileau, Termaine Debose and Cody Harmon, 3.8 seconds. Average leaders: 1. Gavin Soileau, 7.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Jacob Talley, 7.8; 3. (tie) Jesse Brown, Jacob Edler and Cade Stanton, 8.0; 6. (tie) Taz Olson and Nick Guy, 8.1; 8. (tie) Shane Frey, Billy Boldon and Ryan McKay Nettle, 8.2; 11. (tie) Cody Devers, Remey Parrott and Tory Johnson, 8.3. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 3.9 seconds; 2. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 4.0; 3. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp and Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 4.2; 5. (tie) Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, Cooper White/Tucker White and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.3; 8. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 4.4. Second round leaders: 1.(tie) Dustin Eguisquiza/Travis Graves and Cyle Denison/Brady Norman, 3.5; 3. (tie) Clay Tryan/Jake Long and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 3.6; 5. Jr. Dees/Rich Skelton, 3.7; 6. Erich Rogers/Paden Bray, 3.8; 7. Clint Summers/Rosh Ashford, 3.9; 8. (tie) Kal Fuller/Coleby Payne and Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 4.0. Average leaders: 1. Jake Orman/Brye Crites, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Clay Tryan/Jake Long, 8.4; 3. Coy Rahlmann/Douglas Rich, 9.5; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 8.6; 5. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 8.9; 6. Cooper White/Tucker White, 9.0; 7. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 9.4; 8. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.0; 9. Cory Clark/Wyatt Cox, 10.8; 10. Jaguar Terrill/Sid Sporer, 11.0; 9. Wyatt Muggli/Casey McCleskey, 13.8; 11. Dustin Egusquiza/Travis Graves, 12.5; 12. Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison, 13.6. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Kolby Wanchuck, 86 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Desert Stomper; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 84; 3. (tie) Cort Scheer, Isaac Diaz and Jarrod Hammons, 83.5; 6. (tie) Allen Boore, Chase Brooks and Sage Newman, 83; 9. Lucas Macza, 82.5; 10. Cash Michael Wilson, 82; 11. Brody Cress, 81.5; 12. (tie) Mitch Pollock, Taos Muncy and Tyrel Larsen, 81. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Tuf Cooper, 7.3 seconds; 2. Bradley Bynum, 7.5; 3. Tanner Green, 7.6; 4. Shad Mayfield, 7.7; 5. Reid Zapalac, 7.9; 6. Riley Pruitt, 8.0; 7. (tie) Kincade Henry, Beau Cooper, Seth Cooke and J.D. McCuistion, 8.1. Second round leaders: 1. Haven Meged, 7.2 seconds; 2. Sy Felton, 7.4; 3. Clint Robinson, 7.8; 4. Cooper Martin, 8.0; 5. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Caleb Smidt,  Continue Reading »

Florida cowboy climbs standings with San Angelo X Bulls win SAN ANGELO, Texas – In a matter of minutes, Clayton Sellars shot up seven spots to sixth in the bull riding world standings? How does that happen so quickly? The key ingredient was riding two bulls en route to his title at the San Angelo Xtreme Bulls on Sunday afternoon in Foster Communications Coliseum. As the only cowboy in the mix to do so, he pocketed $15,217 and pushed his season earnings to $32,704. “This means I’ve got a good start going into the meat of the summer run, and I have all the confidence in the world,” said Sellars, a two-time National Rodeo Finals qualifier from Fruitland Park, Florida. “It means a lot to win a big deal like this.” Only six men earned qualified rides in the first go-round, and Sellars was the only cowboy to cover eight seconds in the championship round, matching moves with Stockyards Rodeo’s Soy El Fuego for 91 points. For that feat alone, he collected $7,144. In the opening round, he rode Rafter H Rodeo’s Shagga for 89.5 points to finish second, just a half point behind Laramie Mosley’s round-winning ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Royal Reel. With the title and the big bucks, Sellars also moved to the lead in the PRCA’s Xtreme Bulls standings. “Moving up in the world standings is always a plus,” he said. “You want to climb in the standings all the time, but I really don’t like to pay attention to the standings until it’s all over. “It’s super important to do well at these events, especially the Division I bull ridings like this. The top bull riders are going to enter them, so to win is a really big deal. When you have the opportunity to do it on a big stage, it’s crucial.” The bulls were especially tough during Sunday’s event. Of the 30 cowboys who competed in the first round, only six had qualified rides. Of the 10 in the short-round, only Sellars managed to hang on. That equates to just 18 percent of the bulls being ridden. “There were a lot of tough bulls,” Sellars said. “I think this is one of the toughest pens of bulls we get every year.” Five stock contractors had their best animals inside the coliseum for the one-day event, and that added up to some spectacular bucking action. For his part, Sellars rode three bulls while in San Angelo, scoring 81 points on the opening weekend. Covering three in a row is big in bull riding, where the animal wins most of the time. “My job is to stay on the bulls I get,” he said. “When you do it, it means you’re doing your job and doing it well. Momentum is important, but it’s not the whole factor. Bull riding is a big mental game, so it definitely helps. When you have something like that building your confidence, it helps a guy moving forward.” San Angelo Xtreme BullsApril 18First round: 1. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Royal Reel, $3,340; 2. Clayton Sellars, 89.5, $2,590; 3. Dustin Boquet, 86.5, $1,947; 4. Maverick Potter, 84, $1,304; 5. Levi Gray, 81.5, $875; 6. Garrett Smith, 80.5, $681. Championship round: 1. Clayton Sellars, 91 points on Stockyards Rodeo’s Soy El Fuego, $7,144; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Clayton Sellars, 180.5 points on two rides, $5,483; 2. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on one ride, $4,233; 3. Dustin Boquet, 86.5, $2,161; 4. Maverick Potter, 84, $2,090; 5. Levi Gray, 81.5, $1,375; 6. Garrett Smith, 80.5, $1,018.