About: Ted

Trevor Brazile just beat his own record. On Saturday night during the final five rounds of the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, Brazile clinched his 25th world championship, his seventh Montana Silversmiths gold buckle in steer roping. After Friday’s opening night, he had placed in four go-rounds and led the average most of the way, pocketing $17,364 in the process. Brazile led the world standings heading into The Clem, then kept his foot on the pedal through the weekend. He finished the weekend by placing in six go-rounds and winning the average, earning $56,708 at the arena in Mulvane, Kansas. He finished his year with $128,553. It was a two-man race most of the weekend between Brazile and Vin Fisher Jr., whose big hiccup came with a no-time on Friday. Still, Fisher had the best financial weekend of them all. He won three rounds, placed in four others and finished second in the average. He won $60,988 at The Clem. Fisher finished the year as the reserve world champion with $120,832. It is the best year he’s ever had regarding earnings.   *Totals are not official; journalist doing math is not always an accurate telling, and official amounts have not been released just yet. Once they are, the figures will be updated.

PRYOR, Okla. – Coleman Proctor had more fun this year than he’s ever had in his 15-year ProRodeo career. He and his heeling partner, Ryan Motes, ignited their seasons in one of the biggest ways possible, battling through The American qualifiers to advance to championship day. There, on that Sunday in early March, the tandem won the championship and the $100,000 that is awarded to winners in each event. But because they were qualifiers, they were eligible for a share of the $1 million side pot. They split it with bull rider Joao Ricardo Vieira, meaning each man pocketed $433,000 that day. “Winning The American was huge,” said Proctor, who utilized $50,000 of that money to count toward the world standings in accordance with PRCA rules. “After we won The American, we decided to keep our ears pinned back and go hard. We went to California, and I bought some new horses. “As it got later in the season and my wife and I were expecting our little girl, Ryan and I had a talk before the summer started, and I told him I wanted to skip the Northwest (run of rodeos beginning in August) and be home for Steph and the family after the baby came.” That baby, Caymbree, was born July 29, and Proctor was there for her birth. Then he hit the rodeo trail for a couple of weeks to close out events closer to home in August before settling in to care for his family. All the while, he had his eyes set on his fifth qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “The American was a game-changer on our regular season standings,” said Proctor, 34, who lives in Pryor with his wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters, including 2-year-old Stella. “We had a chance to break the regular-seasons earnings record, then we realized we were going to be in the top five, so that allowed me to go this summer then sit home for four to five weeks and be a dad. “Winning The American set us up financially, and it made a big change in a lot of places, but it really changed the year for me and made it to where I didn’t have to be gone as much, so that was a lot of fun.” He had all the amusement and still pocketed $104,318, sitting third in the heading world standings. He trails the leader, Clay Smith, by $46,000, but Proctor can make up that ground in a hurry. The NFR features a $10 million purse, with go-round winners earning $26,231 each of the 10 December nights. He and Motes teamed late last summer and made a serious push to earn an NFR bid in 2018. Both men fell just short, finishing 18th in their respective standings; only the top 15 contestants in each event at the end of the regular season qualify for the season-ending championship. Proctor returned to the Nevada desert and serves as a host of the pregame show on the Cowboy Channel; it was the first time he’d been to the NFR when he wasn’t competing. “It was a real eye-opening experience for me, and the biggest thing I came away with last year was that it was almost relaxing,” he said. “I got to see the guys who struggled through the week, see them fight that battle. I’ve been that person before, waking up with sleepless nights, cold sweats. Your whole year comes down to that, and it can be a lot of pressure. “What I gained was that you can enjoy these 10 days. It should be fun. It’s what we’ve dreamed of since we were kids. It gave me a new perspective heading out there this year.” That might just be the attitude necessary when he arrives in Sin City. He’s had success at the NFR in the past, and he’s partnering with a man who’s done well. In fact, the last time Motes played on ProRodeo’s biggest stage in 2015, he earned $133,000 and finished the year No. 2 in the world standings. “Ryan is one of the greatest guys,” said Proctor, who credits a big deal of his success to his sponsors, Southern Welding, SpeedRoping.com, Riverbend Arena, Lonestar Ropes, Justin Boots, Wrangler, Coats Saddlery, CSI Saddlepads, Brazos Valley Equine Hospital, DF Quarterhorses, Purina, Hot Heels, Classic Truck Sales and American Hat Co. “He’s a super person in and out of the arena. After winning The American, he was probably one of my biggest advisers, because he’s pretty savvy on all that. He’s also super savvy at the finals. He’s had a lot of success there. I’m looking forward to roping with him in Vegas. I know we’re a team that ropes fast, and you have to do that in that building.” Through his four previous appearances, Proctor has gained considerable experience with the goings-on in the Nevada desert over those magical 10 days. He knows the appearances, stresses and caring for horses can be draining. He relies on a schedule to get him through the hectic time. “It’s almost easier once you get out there,” he said, noting that between packing and planning for Vegas, he also is producing fun roping this weekend, capped off with an NFR simulated roping set up like the Thomas & Mack Center, all at Riverbend Arena in Inola, Oklahoma. “The preparation at the finals is getting your autograph times set, lining up this and that. Steph does a great job and is such a huge part of this, but that part is all in her wheelhouse. I really enjoy the time with the sponsors, meeting the public and getting to the autograph sessions.” His personality is the perfect fit for fans that want to get close to the top cowboys in the game. That’s why he’s so popular among those tens of thousands of fans who flock to Vegas every day during that 10-day stretch. But his main job is to compete that night and give  Continue Reading »

MULLEN, Neb. – In the sandhills of northwest Nebraska, the landscape features rolling hills and grasslands filled with cattle. This is where Steven Dent grew up and where he learned the value of nature alongside hard work in the ranching industry with his family. This is where he gained the understanding of what a strong work ethic can do for an individual and why it’s vital to gathering great achievements. It’s one of the many reasons Dent has been so successful in rodeo and why he returns for the 10th time to ProRodeo’s grand championship, the National Finals Rodeo, set for Dec. 5-14, in Las Vegas. “That’s really all I know anything about,” said Dent, 33, who lives about 25 miles north of Mullen with his wife, Kay, and their three children: son, Cylas, 6, and daughters Emri, 4, and Dailie, 2. “I grew up with ranching and rodeo with some high school sports sprinkled in. That’s pretty much everybody in this area. Even if you don’t work on a ranch, it’s what makes our economy roll. “There are about 450 people that live in Mullen, so you know everybody. It’s a good place to raise a family.” It’s also the area that raised him. He was part of a state championship football team and also won a state title in wrestling. He was just as competitive in rodeo, and he carried that with him to Ranger (Texas) College, where he won the all-around championship at the 2007 College National Finals Rodeo, helping Ranger to the men’s team title that year. “I feel like my ranching background taught me how to work hard, which led to success on the football field and in wrestling,” he said. “Then, when you are successful in one thing, you’re competitive and you hunger to be successful and find a way to win. “I think it all ties together, from ranching all the way to how you work for what you aspire to become, the training it takes to be successful and just knowing that you can be the best at what you try to be the best at. That success through high school and leading into college and on to rodeo gives you the confidence you can take the next step.” He credits great coaches for teaching him how to win the right way, which included making a list of goals. “If you don’t have the other stuff and just try to rodeo, it would be hard to know hot to prepare and how to set goals, how to reach the pinnacle of your sport,” he said. Dent has been at the greatest heights of his sport most of his 14-year career. In 2006, he was named the all-around and bareback riding rookie of the year, and a year later, he made his way to Las Vegas for the first time. Last year, he finished his best season ever, co-winning the NFR average championship and pocketing more than $145,000 over those 10 December nights. He finished the campaign with $254,734, good enough for second place in the final world standings. “That was great, and it’s probably the biggest win of my career,” he said. “But as far as going into this year, it really means nothing. All that matters now is my first-round horse on Dec. 5. “It’s a humbling sort, because we are on animals. You can win Houston one day and get drilled the next. I can’t go in thinking I won the average last year. For me, it’s motivation just to compete at the finals and to have the opportunities that are there for me.” The key to Dent’s success over the years was learning to let go of the past. Good rides can’t guarantee success in the future, and wrecks might just be followed with a winning performance. The focus has to be on the upcoming situation. Afterall, he’ll have 10 chances at $26,231, which is what go-round winners will pocket each night in Sin City. “The NFR’s a hard rodeo,” he said. “You can go to 10 straight rodeos in the middle of the summer and maybe do bad at one, then you change scenery and drive across the country and it’s a whole new day. It’s hard to do that in Vegas, especially when you’re young. I would do bad on one and it’s hard to push it away. “I’ve learned over the years to get away from it. I don’t really care about what happened the day before. I try to do as good as I can on the horse I have that night. It sounds simple, but it’s harder to do, and I struggled with that when I was younger.” While it’s a new rodeo every night, there is the added pressure of playing the game on its biggest stage. The NFR features a $10 million purse, and that’s big because the contestants in each event with the most money won through the season are crowned world champions. So far, that coveted Montana Silversmiths gold buckle has eluded Dent, but he doesn’t let that worry him. His experiences have allowed him a refreshing outlook on his job, and that’s riding bucking horses for a living. Still, he knows why the stress of Vegas can become cumbersome. “You know the whole Western world is watching it,” said Dent, who credits much of his success to his sponsors, Kraye Angus, Barstow Pro Rodeo Equipment, Nuttelman Panels & Fencing, Sandhills Physical Therpy, Tehrani Motors, Top Tree Ranches and Smith Pro Rodeo. “You want to show why you’re supposed to be there. Even if you don’t win anything, you want to ride good. If you get in a slump there, it can wear on you. “The last two finals were the best I’ve ever had. Along with my experience, I’ve got confidence going in there that I’m going to have success there.” He finished the regular season with $93,799 and enters the NFR 10th in the world standings. That’s  Continue Reading »

MILAN, Minn. – On an early November Sunday morning in Calgary, Alberta, the life of J.D. Struxness changed dramatically. Everlee Grace Struxness entered this world on Nov. 10, weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces and measuring at 19 inches long. “It was something else,” Struxness said. “I’ve had quite a few happy tears in my eyes.” Now, he has even more motivation to close out the 2019 ProRodeo season on a high note. That chance comes with his third qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in four years, with ProRodeo’s grand finale set for Dec. 5-14 in Las Vegas. First, though, his focus was on being with his newborn baby girl on her special day. “We were actually picking steers in Checotah (Oklahoma) for the NFR on Saturday (Nov. 9),” he said, noting that he got the call from is girlfriend, Jayden Crowe, late that evening informing him of the situation. “Stockton (Graves) drove me to the airport in Dallas so I could fly up there.” No matter the love a man feels for anyone else, there’s something completely different when a child of his own is born. “It’s really special, and I got to feel it in FaceTime videos and pictures on the way to the airport, then I got to feel that again when I got to Calgary,” he said. It’s that feeling he’ll have every time he looks at her face, and he’ll have a couple weeks’ worth in the Nevada desert. He earned the right to be among the steer wrestlers competing in Vegas by finishing the regular season $82,829, good enough for 10th in the world standings. Now, he hopes to pad his 2019 earnings at the NFR, where go-round winners will pocket $26,231 each night for 10 go-rounds. After all, he’s got plenty of diapers to buy over the next couple of years. “I’m ready to be back,” said Struxness, 25, of Milan, Minnesota, primarily living in Alva, Oklahoma, home of his alma mater. “Making it to the NFR is always our goal, and there’s a really good chance to make some money this year.” He knows all about that. In his first year of playing the game in Sin City in 2016, he earned nearly $130,000 in 10 December nights, including at least a share of four round victories. A year later, he won just shy of $110,000 over the same stretch. He missed making the championship in 2018, finishing a disappointing 27th in the world standings – only the top 15 contestants on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the NFR. That’s a big reason why his excitement level is high heading into the richest rodeo in the world. “It was frustrating on my part because I felt like I shouldn’t have missed it last year,” said Struxness, who attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, before transferring to Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where he earned the steer wrestling title in 2016. “Looking back on the mistakes I made, they were just little ones that are fixable and shouldn’t have made. “I think it was more that I got too comfortable last year and lost focus. But missing the finals last year lit a fire into me, and it made that fire burn even hotter. Having the baby is just a little extra motivation to keep you sharp and keep you on point.” A big reason for his focus comes with his four-man traveling posse this year. Graves, the man who drove him to the airport the day Everlee was born, is the established veteran of the group, having qualified for the NFR seven times before taking over as rodeo coach at Northwestern. Also in the mix were Billy Boldon and Bridger Anderson, the latter of whom won the 2019 college bulldogging title while also attending Northwestern. Through the rigors of the season, where the foursome traveled tens of thousands of miles, Struxness competed primarily on Freeway, an 11-year-old blue roan gelding owned by Graves. “I practiced on that horse when Stockton was starting him, and he’s always been easy for me to ride and get along with,” said Struxness, who credits his sponsors – Arena Trailer Sales, 4-Star Trailers, Wrangler and Nutrena – with helping him compete on a high level. “We clicked then, and that’s the way he was all summer. “He gave me good goes, so all I had to do was handle my job on the ground and pull a check.” While he competed on his own horse, Peso, at previous NFRs, he’ll ride Freeway at this year’s NFR, and Graves will be hazing on a horse owned by fellow steer wrestler Kody Woodward. “We’ve been using that haze horse all summer, and Stockton’s pretty confident in that horse,” Struxness said. “He wanted to go out there with me this year and make sure his horse was functioning at its highest level. He’s been out there before and knows how to do it. We’re really confident in the team we have going out there.” He’s also confident in Graves, who recruited him to Northwestern and who has continued to coach him in ProRodeo. “It’s good that he’s going with me this year,” Struxness said. “Every time I’ve made the finals, we’ve had a few conversations during the week. He’s always had good advice for me out there. This year having him out there, he’ll be able to take care of the horses because he knows what they’ll need to preform out there. “We’ll talk every night, and he’ll give me the advice I need right there on the spot. Confidence should be pretty high with everybody. It should turn into a good week.” It’s already been a great year. A cowboy doesn’t earn more than $80,000 without it, and it all started off with a victory in Reno, Nevada, where he pocketed $12,725. He had a few other wins along the way, but most of his success came  Continue Reading »

ZWINGLE, Iowa – To break down bareback rider Tim O’Connell’s seventh ProRodeo season, it’s a simple procedure. He spent the first five and a half months of 2019 recovering from a major injury. Over the final three months and 10 days of the season, he dominated. He finished the regular season with $113,168 and sixth in the world standings. It was a miraculous run for a man who already owns the last three world championships, but it also was a different year that featured a complex surgery, five months of rehabilitation, two months of living away from home and more time with his family than he’s ever experienced in his professional career. “From June 20 to the end of the season, I won more money this year than I did last year,” said O’Connell, 28, of Zwingle, now living in Marshall, Missouri, with his wife, Sami, and their 1-year-old son, Hazen. “I thought that was pretty cool based on how I competed. I rodeoed a lot differently than I did in years past. “This year, I entered two or three rodeos a day and gave myself the best option possible based on where I drew the best horses. I think that really made a difference.” It did, but it was a long road to get there. The road began at the 2018 National Finals Rodeo, and it will culminate in this year’s championship, set for Dec. 5-14 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The story winds around the final night of last year’s campaign, the 10th round of the NFR. O’Connell rode J Bar J Rodeo’s All Pink for 87 points to finish fifth in the round. After the qualifying eight seconds, All Pink got the champ out of position, flipped the cowboy over his bareback rigging and had O’Connell in a precarious position with his hand still attached to the horse. Only when the horse step on him did his hand pop out of the rigging. Alas, his shoulder was damaged severely. If he were a ragdoll, O’Connell’s left shoulder would have been held together by just a few stitches. So, on Jan. 16, well-known rodeo surgeon Dr. Tandy Freeman performed the procedure to repair the extensive damage to the cowboy’s shoulder. “Six out of the eight tendons in my shoulder were torn,” said O’Connell, who credits much of his success to his sponsors, 12 Gauge Ranch, Polaris, Panhandle and Rock and Roll Clothing, Justin Boots, Veach’s Custom Leather, Ortho Equine, Capri Campers, Twin Cities Featherlite, American Hat Co. and Super Duty Fans. “My shoulder was hanging on by a thread. “They fixed the tendons and a capsule, and I started rehab 48 hours after surgery.” The rehabilitation included some intense workouts. With the cowboy intent to beat the initial deadline of return to action in six months, he put in six days a week, but that backfired a bit. When he saw Freeman again in April, he and his family opted to move to Texas for a few weeks to complete therapy. That’s when he was introduced to sports massage therapist Benny Vaughn. “Tandy called him his 911,” O’Connell said. “I worked out at Fit N Wise in Decatur (Texas) and saw Tandy every other week for checkups. I finished down there until a week before I started rodeoing in June. “I was down there two months, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without Cody Lambert,” he said of the former NFR qualifier who still is heavily involved in the PBR. “The Lambert family actually put us up. They were such a blessing. We stayed in his bunkhouse, which is nicer than 90 percent of America’s homes. He’s a good man, and I wasn’t the only one he put up while I was there. He takes care of rodeo cowboys.” His extensive time away from the rodeo arena meant more time with his wife and son, and that was very important to the three-time champ. The rodeo schedule – especially from the end of June to the final day of the regular season on Sept. 30 – oftentimes means he’s away from them for extended periods of time. By missing out on rodeos in Denver, San Antonio, Houston and Arlington, Texas, he was able to share more experiences while watching Hazen grow first-hand instead of increments at a time. “I got to be home, be a dad, be a husband and experience real life,” he said. “I was getting a little sour of rodeo at the end of last year. I think God finally said, ‘If you don’t want to take a break, then I’m going to make you take a break.’ “I see it more as a blessing than as a curse. I got to be with my son at his first birthday party instead of being at The American, and I got to take care of a lot of things.” Those little things can be missed, so he cherished every episode. He also gained a hunger for competition that might have been missing. “It lit a fire in me,” said O’Connell, whose father, Ray, was a pickup man, and whose brother, Will, is considered one of the best pickup men in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “I had good days, and I had bad days. I’m a competitor, and I don’t like sitting on the sidelines and watching. But my wife kept me grounded and kept me humble, and that kept my spirits up. “Sitting out relit a passion for rodeo in me.” It showed, and he actually scored big even through the final 30 days of the campaign. That included victories in Elk City, Oklahoma; Ellensburg, Washington; and Fort Madison, Iowa … all took place in the same week, totaling $21,000. “I didn’t go to any rodeo that didn’t count for the world standings,” he said, pointing out that he missed financially rewarding opportunities at the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede and event that were part of the World Champions  Continue Reading »