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BIG SPRING, Texas – There’s a bit of a different pace to the way Bill Tutor goes to work as a rodeo cowboy. He’s not nearly as rushed as he was just a few years ago, when he was chasing every dollar possible across North America. He might be in Howard County, Texas, one night, then in Reno, Nevada, the next, so there wasn’t much time to linger about or celebrate the moment. He had plenty of time Saturday night to talk about his bareback riding victory at the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. He spurred Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hush Money for 84 points to win $1,799 and a buckle in the first year the rodeo is doling out the wearable trophies to its champions. “I don’t know how long Pete’s had that horse, but I found some videos before I came out here, and he looked great,” said Tutor, 33, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Huntsville, Texas. “That horse really bucked.” This marked Tutor’s second time to win Big Spring, and he’s had great success on Carr bucking horses over his career. He’s finished among the top 25 in the world standings seven times since turning pro 13 seasons ago, including those magical years in 2017-18 when he made back-to-back trips to the sport’s grand finale, the NFR. Life is a bit different now, but he still loves riding broncs. No, life changed a few years ago when he and his wife, Ashlyn, gave birth to their first son, Wes. They recently added to their brood, another son, Winston Roy, who was born June 6. “When I had my first little boy, I saw myself slowing down,” Tutor said. “I didn’t like to be away from home that much. I was still easing around going to some things aimlessly. This year, I thought, I needed some goals, so I set a goal on doing the best I can in the Texas Circuit, and that’s what I aim to do. “I thought about going somewhere, but I realized I’m just trying to stay in the Texas Circuit. It’s nice. I get to be home with my family every week.” They also join him on the road. In fact, Ashlyn and the boys were in Big Spring on Saturday night, so he’s living the best of both worlds. When he was still trying to hunt down world championships, the traveling was taking a toll. He was gone from his southeast Texas home for weeks, sometimes months, on end. This schedule allows him to be with his family as much as possible while still chasing his love of riding broncs. “Both boys have traveled great this week,” he said. “The bigger one can just sit in the car and talk and play well; the other one sleeps the whole time right now, but the older one has been a pretty good road warrior.” Like father like son. Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and RodeoJune 19-21All-around cowboy: Lane Webb, $2,508, tie-down roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 84 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hush Money, $1,799; 2. (tie) Payton Lackey and Brayze Schill, 81, $1,172 each; 4. Zach Hibler, 80, $654; 5. Owen Brouillette, 75, $382; 6. Monty Ray Fontenot, 69, $273. Steer wrestling: 1. Lane Webb, 10.0 seconds, $2,508; 2. Travis Staley, 10.2, $2,181; 3. (tie) Word Hudson and Ace Reese, 10.4, $1,690 each; 5. Clint Singleton, 10.8, $1,199; 6. Richard Newton, 11.8, $872; 7. Jett Barrett, 12.1, $545; 8. Cody Little, 12.4, $218. Breakaway roping: 1. Lindsey Baker, 2.2 seconds, $2,645; 2. Kimberly Luco, 2.3, $2,267; 3. Tibba Smith, 2.4, $1,889; 4. (tie) Makayla Boisjoli and Lari Dee Guy, 2.5, $1,449 each; 6. Caitlin Blackwell, 2.7, $1,008; 7. Kayelen Helton, 2.8, $756; 8. Sequin Brewer, 2.9, $504; 9. (tie) Jayme Marcrum and Keylie Tatum, 3.1, $315 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Apache Junction, $1,884; 2. Chase Brooks, 85, $1,444; 3. Chris Williams, 83, $1,067; 4. (tie) Jacobs Crawley and Cayden McFadden, 80, $565 each; 6. (tie) Cooper Thatcher and Tom Webster, 79, $283 each; 8. Cooper Lane, 78.5, $188. Team roping: 1. Roan Oldfield/Pace Blanchard, 4.4 seconds, $2,394 each; 2. Conley Kleinhans/Kyler Kanady, 4.7, $2,082; 3. Cody Carter/Blake Bentley, 5.0, $1,770; 4. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Joshua Torres/Creed West, 5.1, $1,301 each; 6. Kyler Beshirs/Wyatt Mask, 5.5, $833; 7. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 5.6, $521; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 5.8, $208. Barrel racing: 1. Shayna Wimberly, 15.68 seconds, $2,327; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.73, $1,978; 3. Caley Walkoviak, 15.78, $1,629; 4. Jimmie Smith, 15.89, $1,396; 5. Jacque Woolman, 15.92, $1,164; 6. Jennifer Driver, 15.93, $815; 7. (tie) Debbie Bloxom and Corley Cox, 15.94, $524 each; 9. Stacey Grimes, 15.98, $407; 10. Liz Herrin, 16.00, $349; 11. Morgan Addison, 16.02, $291; 12. (tie) Alex Lang and Bristan McCarley, 16.06, $116 each. Bull riding: No qualified rides. 

BIG SPRING, Texas – Lindsey Baker first started competing inside the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl as a college student at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. Now living in Alpine, Texas, she’s returned for the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. “I’ve always wanted to do good in the Rodeo Bowl, so this is exciting for me,” said Baker, who stopped the clock in 2.2 seconds during Friday’s second performance to take the breakaway roping lead with one night remaining in this year’s festival. “I didn’t really have a game plan because (the calves) are walking fresh. I just go with my gut whenever we rode in the box.” “Walking fresh” refers to cattle that have never been run through a rodeo arena’s chute system. The calves in Big Spring came right out of a pasture, so this was their first experience at a rodeo. Like humans, animals tend to have tendencies – whether they’re calves, steers or bucking horses – once they get an understanding of the game. New to the sport, these calves have yet to develop a pattern. That offers a new challenge for the contestants. The 10 ladies in Friday’s field had a little bit of assistance in the form of Lari Dee Guy, a nine-time WPRA world champion who has been widely recognized as one of the pioneers of breakaway roping’s resurgence in recent years. “Lari Dee was down there helping all the girls out, and I got a good idea of how I wanted to do it since I was the last one out,” Baker said. “Everything just worked out. Lari Dee really helped me out, and I had a good calf for that run.” It all must come together for any cowboy or cowgirl. Breakaway roping is the fastest event in rodeo, because the ladies must rope the calves around the neck first, then the clock stops when their rope breaks away from the string-tied knot on the saddle horn. The action electrified Friday night. “With walking-fresh calves, it’s all muscle memory,” Baker said. “If the shot’s there, you have to take it, because you don’t know if that calf’s going to just take off and get around you or if he’s going to stop and pull up because he feels that something is coming behind him. “It’s all reaction, and it’s fine, because you’ve just got to go with what feels right.” Rodeo isn’t her sole focus, though. She and her husband operate a ranch about 200 miles southwest of Big Spring, and they have other business ventures that need their attention. Rodeo is more of a hobby, but she’d love to have success and see what happens. Of course, she something special in G, a 21-year-old sorrel gelding that guided her to the top spot. “I call him G, because it’s actually short for Goober, but I’ve never called him Goober because I didn’t think he was a goober,” she said. “He’s been everywhere, all over the country. He is, by far, one of the strongest horses I’ve ever rode. When you need a horse to really get after one, I know I can rely on him. “I would love to make the (Texas) Circuit Finals. I didn’t have that on my list of goals for this year, but if things work out and God has a plan for you, you’ve just got to go with it.” Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and RodeoJune 19-21Bareback riding: 1. Brayze Schill, 81 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Bay; 2. Zach Hibler, 80; 3. Owen Brouilette, 75; 4. Monty Ray Fontenot, 69; 5. Rhett Hadley Kelley, 66; 5. Payton Blackmon, 65. Steer wrestling: 1. Bray Armes, 4.0 seconds; 2. Cimarron Thompson, 4.1; 3. Cody Harmon, 4.9; 4. Ty Cochrane, 5.1; 5. Boyd Sawyer, 5.3; 6. Casey Collins, 6.1. Tie-down roping: 1. Lane Webb, 10.0 seconds; 2. Travis Staley, 10.2; 3. (tie) Word Hudson and Ace Reese, 10.4; 5. Jett Barrett, 12.1; 6. Cody Little, 12.4; 7. Cory Rowland, 13.5; 8. Dean Holyan, 15.5. Breakaway roping: 1. Lindsay Baker, 2.2 seconds; 2. Kimberly Luco, 2.3; 3. Tibba Smith, 2.4; 4. (tie) Lari Dee Guy and Makayla Boisjoli, 2.5; 6. Caitlin Blackwell, 2.7; 7. Kayelen Helton, 2.8; 8. Sequin Brewer, 2.9; 9. (tie) Jayme Marcrum and Keyleigh Tatum, 3.1; 11. Emma Waldrop, 3.3; 12. Lauren Hopkins, 3.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Apache Junction; 2. Chase Brooks, 85; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 80; 4. Cooper Thatcher, 79; 5. Brody Cress, 78; 6. Cooper Lane, 78; 7. Wyatt LaVergne, 76; 8. Heston Harrison, 75. Team roping: 1. Roan Oldfield/Pace Blanchard, 4.4 seconds; 2. McCray Profili/McCoy Profili, 5.1; 3. Kyler Beshirs/Wyatt Mask, 5.5; 4. Lane Webb/Jake South, 6.5; 5. Payden Emmett/Jorge Pina Lopez, 9.4; 6. Jeff Kanady/Caden Beatty, 10.9; 7. Cody Little/Tom Epperson, 11.7; 8. Jim Breck Bean/Jasper Klein, 12.0. Barrel racing: 1. Shayna Wimberly, 15.68 seconds; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.73; 3. Jimmie Smith, 15.89; 4. (tie) Debbie Bloxom and Corley Cox, 15.94; 6. Stacey Grimes, 15.98; 7. Liz Herrin, 16,00; 8. Morgan Addison, 16.02; 9. (tie) Bristan McCarley and Alex Lang, 16.06; 11. Jordan Kirkes, 16.08; 12. Jo Fisher, 16.11.  Bull riding: No qualified rides. 

BIG SPRING, Texas – With two little ones eager to start competing in rodeo, it was only natural that Bray Armes turned his attention to them. A three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who just missed out on making it a fourth straight time in 2015, Armes and his wife, Neelley, met through the sport. They passed down their passions to Breely and Drake, and the two youngsters have taken to it well. The kids have found success along the way, and the intensity to their competitive nature has aged with them as they’ve grown. That’s why Dad is back on the rodeo trail. He returned to his ol’ stompin’ grounds during Thursday’s opening night of the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, where he posted a 4.0-second run to take the early steer wrestling lead. “Drake is trying to tell me I need to go (to the NFR) one more time because it blew his mind that I’d never won a go-round buckle, even though I won something way better,” said Bray Armes, 43, a Howard College graduate now living in Stephenville, Texas. “I won the NFR average, but I’d been there three times and never won a round. So, he said I’ve got to go back. “I told him, ‘No, I’ve got to finish raising you first.’ We’ll see what God has in store for us, and whatever His plan is, we’ll see.” Armes posted the best 10-round cumulative time at the 2013 championship to earn the prestigious title. For many, it’s the second-most title that rodeo competitors want to win; to beat the other top 14 in the world standings is quite a feat. While Drake, 16, is too young to compete in ProRodeo, Bray isn’t the only member of his family in the field in Big Spring. Neelley and Breely are competing in breakaway roping, so rodeo is definitely a family affair. Don’t be surprised to see Drake following in his daddy’s footsteps in a year and a half when he turns 18. He’ll have a good example. While Bray Armes owns the lead, he nitpicked at his run. He rushed a bit, he said, and tried to throw the steer too quickly. Instead of getting ahold of the steer’s nose on the transition, Armes missed but was able to power the animal over. “You don’t ever want to off-horn one, but when you feel like you’re a little behind in timing, you’ve just got one chance to do what you can,” he said. “I’m trying to win first every time.” That’s the mentality that has proven to be so successful over his career, and he’s not changing now, even though it’s been several years since he hit the rodeo trail. He’s stayed in good shape and credits part of that to taking years off the practice of wrestling livestock and the tens of thousands of miles ProRodeo cowboys travel per year in order to make the NFR. Oh, and never mind that his most entrusted teammate is Neelley, who not only competes herself but serves as the hazer – the person who rides on the other side of the steer to keep it lined out for the bulldogger – for her husband and others. “Neelly is as good a hazer as I’ve ever had,” Bray Armes said. “I know she’s going to give it everything she’s got every time. I’ve been blessed with a lot of good hazers, and she hazes just as good as any of them.” He’s back at it, proving that talent and fortitude can carry athletes even through the years. He loves the competition, but rodeo is about a lot more than that. While in town, he was able to share time with many people he’s known for two decades. He still cherishes the time he spent in this west Texas town. “I started bulldogging the summer before my senior year (in high school), and then I got hurt playing football, so I didn’t hardly bulldog much,” he said. “Greg Kernick was the rodeo coach here, and he was about the only coach that recruited me. That’s why I came here. “It’s been a blessing ever since. There are a lot of great people right here.” Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and RodeoJune 19-21Bareback riding: 1. Zach Hibler, 80 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Rodeo Colors; 2. Monty Ray Fontenot, 69; 3. Rhett Hadley Kelley, 66; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Bray Armes, 4.0 seconds; 2. Cimarron Thompson, 4.1; 3. Casey Collins, 6.1; 4. Wyatt Fields, 6.8; 5. Colton Swearingen, 14.6; no other qualified runs. Tie-down roping: 1. Ace Reese, 10.4 seconds; 2. Jett Barrett, 12.1; 3. (tie) Ryan Thibodeaux and Weldon Watson, 22.4 each; no other qualified runs. Breakaway roping: Results not yet available; they will be updated when possible. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sterling Crawley, 85.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Apache Junction; 2. Chase Brooks, 85; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 80; 4. Brody Cress, 78; 5. Wyatt LaVergne, 76; 6. Carson Neal, 67. Team roping: 1. Roan Oldfield/Pace Blanchard, 4.4 seconds; 2. McCray Profili/McCoy Profili, 5.1; 3. Payden Emmett/Jorge Pina Lopez, 9.4; 4. Jim Breck Bean/Jasper Klein, 12.0; 5. Mason Rust/JD McGuire, 20.0; no other qualified runs. Barrel racing: 1. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.73 seconds; 2. Corley Cox, 15.94; 3. Morgan Addison, 16.02; 4. Kirstin Carlson, 16.58; 5. Madison Bean, 20.92; 6. Gracen Harman, 26.04. Bull riding: No qualified rides. 

PECOS, Texas – The gateway to rodeo’s history is getting a facelift. Reeves County has made upgrades to the new entrance to Buck Jackson Arena, home of the West of the Pecos Rodeo, which will take place at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28. The changes are two-fold: The picturesque entryway will provide a pleasant visual experience to everyone passing by the historic complex, the longtime residence of the “World’s First Rodeo.” It will also enhance the experience for rodeo-goers to provide a respite from the hottest days of summer in west Texas. “The county will have the new entrance and ticket booths for the arena ready to go for the rodeo,” said Jake McKinney, a key member of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “There will be no more waiting in the hot sun to enter the arena.” That’s quite an invitation for folks that want to be part of the rodeo’s legacy. It’s also a signal to the progress Reeves County and rodeo officials are making with the facility, which has hosted the world-class event since 1936. In an April 11 news release issued by Reeves County, electrical and HVAC systems were being installed. Landscaping is complete, including an update around the monument. The enhanced entry experience is just another step in the upgrades being made to the arena.  As this year’s rodeo nears, there are other projects that should begin as soon as the final bull bucks. According to Reeves County, a new grandstands will be built, which the county promises will provide an unmatched viewing experience. There will be other updates made to the facility. “We’re being told the new VIP grandstands and a new press box will be done in time for our 2026 rodeo,” said Clay Ryon McKinney, Jake’s brother and chairman of the volunteer committee. “Those plans also include new bucking chutes, as well as a new center out-gate.” The enhancements are part of an experience officials want to give the fans who have flocked the rodeo for decades. It comes at a time when the community has already stepped up in a big way, and the rodeo committee has increased local dollars in the payout by nearly double to $20,000 per event. That’s a telling statement and one that will help draw even more contestants to town. In fact, more than 700 cowboys and cowgirls have put their names in the hat in order to compete over the four days in Pecos. Among them are the elite contestants in the sport, which is why making the upgrades to Buck Jackson Arena is such an important step for the region. “We want to put on the best event we can for this community, which has supported this rodeo for a long time,” Clay Ryon McKinney said. “We want it to be a great experience, and we’re excited about all the upgrades to the arena that have come and those that should continue to come in the future. It’s an exciting time in Pecos.”

PECOS, Texas – Family trips ring a little differently in the world of rodeo. Take Summer and Seth Boyd, who don’t rightfully take vacations with their daughters, but they’re always traveling together. In fact, they’ll be in Reeves County in a  week for the West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. Nine-year-old Emmie and her little sister, Jinsen, 7, are part of the family business, which is trick riding. They’ve joined their mother and perform at Western events across North America as Summer & Co. Fearless Equine Stunts team. “It’s so neat to be able to be at a rodeo with that much history,” Summer Boyd set, referencing the event’s status as the “World’s First Rodeo.” “I love all the history, and I think that’s fun even in home school. It’s so fun to get to go to these places and be part of it. We feel fortunate because we just feel like we’re such a small piece of it. We trick ride. We do what we like to do. “Because of that, we get to have all these wonderful experiences and meet all these neat people that becomes friends for life. It happens just because we worked at something we love to do. It’s almost surreal at times.” Boyd didn’t just pass down her trick-riding expertise to her children; she shared her passion for it, too. The family lives near Lovington, New Mexico, just a two-hour drive from Pecos. The Lea County Fairgrounds in their hometown features Jake McClure Arena, which is massive, much like the Reeves County complex. “We love big pens, because we like hard-running horses,” Boyd said. “We can work small pens, too, but it’s fun in trick riding to really let your horse open up and move. Since we live in Lovington and the community’s nice enough, we get to practice there some. We’re strong and our horses are strong, so we don’t have trouble in those big pens holding tricks or changing things up. “We’re happy to go out there and just let our horses run.” Their work in the arena is rodeo pageantry at its best. There is an art form to trick riding, and Summer Boyd has a pretty good handle on it. Her daughters have developed amazing skills in a short amount of time, and there’s a unique display of showmanship watching two young ladies pull off stunts that boggle the mind. “Doing this together as a family is every bit as wonderful as it seems like it would be,” Summer Boyd said. “I don’t think I would be doing it if not for them also being interested in doing it with me. It makes all the difference in the world, and it’s fun to do it with them.” Boyd has watched her children not only progress technically, she’s seen them flourish in confidence. Both are comfortable riding all sorts of horses, and Emmie has added a new skill to her repertoire. “My 9-year-old is Roman riding this year, so she has two little black ponies to do that,” Boyd said of riding a pair of equine superstars in unison while standing on the animals’ backs, with one foot on the pony on the left, and the other on the horse on the right. “She used to trick ride on one of them. “She outgrew a pony she was riding last year, so she passed it on to my youngest. They both have a big horse that runs hard and that they can do a lot of strap tricks. They use the ponies for tricks that you need to jump off, need to hit the ground and jump back on, the things they obviously couldn’t do on a big horse.” It’s certainly a spectacle, which is why the volunteers of the West of the Pecos Rodeo are bringing the family to town.

BIG SPRING, Texas – Over the past few years, organizers of this community’s annual rodeo have done things to make it a better experience for everyone involved. They want contestants to choose to be town for the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. From increasing the local dollars invested in the purse to creating a great hospitality area, there are plenty of incentives for more cowboys and cowgirls to make their way to Howard County. The more contestants, the better the rodeo. The better the rodeo, the better experience for fans and sponsors alike. Nothing happens without community effort, and members of the volunteer committee that set up the annual event are continually making the necessary updates. “We’re doing things we need to do to draw the cowboys and cowgirls to town,” said Zach Herrin, a key volunteer in the organization. “I think a lot of us realize that this is a special event to our area, and we want to make it the best it can be. The first thing is we need to make it a great competition in each event. By having that, we can continue to build our attendance, which will help sponsors understand their investment in our rodeo is worth it.” It’s all about providing the right incentives. Full-time rodeo contestants battle for big bucks across North America, so dollars are valuable at every stop. The purse is just one stimulus; there are others, and that’s where committee members are stepping up in another way for this year’s event. “To my knowledge, we’ve never given buckles to our winners, so this is just another thing we’re trying to do,” said Scot Herrin, Zach’s dad and a longtime member of the organization. “We’re just trying to do as many things as possible to make it the best rodeo we can for our size. “Zach was the main driver on this, because he went to college to rodeo and is a really good team roper. He knows a lot of the professionals. He went to school with them and ran with them. Giving buckles away is just another perk that we can do, and it’s not just any buckle; these are really nice.” Rodeo is unique in that there are no guaranteed salaries. Only the upper-echelon of competitors at each stop collect money, and the contestants must pay a fee in order to compete. Add in the cost of traveling across the country, and every penny earned is vital. With rodeo, dollars equal championship points, so money won counts toward the world standings. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the end of the regular season advance to the National Finals Rodeo. But there’s also a bit of pride that goes into the competition. Anything extra a rodeo can offer provides a greater incentive to cowboys and cowgirls. Long after the money’s been spent, the championship buckles will shine, whether they’re worn or stand in a trophy case. “I know how big of a deal it is to win a buckle,” Zach Herrin said. “I think this is a great way to give something special to our winners in Big Spring.”

Rodeo clown is a proven factor in entertainment at Estes Park rodeo ESTES PARK, Colo. – At his core, Justin Rumford is an entertainer. He has a comedian’s wit and perfect timing, whether it’s telling stories on his back porch or recording a podcast or standing in front of a crowd of thousands. His medium of choice is rodeo, and he returns to Estes Park for this year’s Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. He has a place in the spotlight in one of the most picturesque coliseums in the sport, and it will be another chance to share his brand of comedy for folks who are eager to be captivated. He’ll even have a bit of assistance. Because of a scheduling conflict for Rumford, veteran funnyman Matt Tarr will be on hand for the opening performance on July 5. Tarr may look and act completely different from Rumford, but he features a different flavor that has reached many fans. Like Rumford, Tarr has been recognized as one of the leading clowns and barrelmen in ProRodeo, a regular nominee for PRCA Clown of the Year, Comedy Act of the Year, Coors Man in the Can for the top barrelman and has been a finalist to be named the barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo. After the inaugural performance wraps, he’ll set the stage for Rumford’s return.  “People want to laugh at each other more than they want to laugh at something,” Rumford said. “When I’m in the arena, I’m saying the same stuff I’d say if I wasn’t clowning. It’s just me being me.” His monicker of “Rumpshaker” is fitting, and it’s more than his stature. Sure, his belly sticks out a bit, but Rumford just rolls with it. He makes fun of himself, which makes his schtick even more appealing to crowds. “The great thing that I love about Justin is that he’s not afraid to be himself,” said Andy Seiler, now working his 10th year as the Rooftop Rodeo announcer. “I think an urban audience more than any relates to that, and they pick up on that. “A guy like Justin is the same in and out of the arena. He plays a character, but that character is himself. It’s not fake. The fans can feel his authenticity.” Rumford’s validity shines, which is why organizers have signed the entertainer to a long-term contract. He’s not only performing during this year’s rodeo, but he’ll be back for years to come. “Justin is a fan favorite every time he’s here,” said Cindy Schonholtz, Rooftop Rodeo’s coordinator. “He’s got the perfect mindset to work the crowds in Estes Park. He’s funny. He’s engaging. We think having him here helps our rodeo.” It seems to be a win-win for the clown. He not only works the rodeo, but he can enjoy the trappings of the community while he’s in town with his wife, Ashley, and their triplets, Lola, Livi and Bandy. “When I get to Estes Park, it feels like I’m home,” said Rumford, a 10-time PRCA Clown of the Year from Ponca City, Oklahoma. “That was one of my first rodeos, and I know a ton of people in town. “It’s just fun. It’s one of those rodeo where it’s fun to be there. You’ve got great atmosphere, and how can you beat waking up overlooking that beautiful lake and the mountains surrounding you?” There are many great activities at the community that also serves as the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, and Rooftop Rodeo is one of them. With Rumford providing a plethora of belly laughs, the entertainment value at Granny May Arena increases. “He puts a little bit of makeup on, and away we go,” Seiler said. “He can say, ‘I’m being the same person I am every day when I wake up.’ I think that’s something that people can really relate to when they see Justin perform.” Gates for Rooftop Rodeo open at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, with the preshow beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about Rooftop Rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, or to order tickets online, log on to www.RooftopRodeo.com. Other ticket inquiries may be made by contacting the Town of Estes Park Events office at events@estes.org or (970) 586-6104.

PECOS, Texas – Noah Krepps and Clay Heger are the first responders for rodeo. Just like firefighters, police and paramedics, they ignore the instinct to run from danger. Instead, they head right for it. They put themselves in harm’s way in order to keep everyone else safe. No, they don’t carry a badge or cruise to the scene with lights and sirens. Krepps and Heger are bullfighters, men who stare danger in the eye to protect everyone in the arena during bull riding. They will be an integral part of the West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. “It is super cool to be part of the history behind that rodeo, and then to understand guys that have come through there and fought bulls before me,” said Krepps, 26, originally from Jasper, Arkansas, but now living in Montgomery, Alabama. “Thinking back at the guys that have been in that dirt and have been hired to do the same job as me, it’s something special to me.” Krepps fought inside that storied arena for the first time a year ago, but his counterpart has been part of the Pecos rodeo for more than a decade. Sure, there’s a bit of nostalgia that comes with working the World’s First Rodeo, but there’s also pride in everything they do. “The prestige of that rodeo is like few other rodeos out there,” said Heger, 37, originally from Hells Canyon, Washington, but now living in Stephenville, Texas. “They had Bad Company Rodeo there, so it puts pressure on us to have a good production and keep that legacy up.” While their main job is fighting bulls and saving cowboys, there’s a lot more to Heger and Krepps. Both are part of the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo crew and handle many of the behind-the-scenes work. They are up early, making sure the livestock is fed before they are. They arrive hours before each performance to help sort the animals for that night’s experience. “Whatever we need to do on either end of the arena to make the rodeo work is what we’re going to do,” Heger said. “I’d rather watch bucking horses or sort bucking horses, because they’re a little more individual. “I love bulls; it’s what I do. I can do that work all day and fight bulls, but I love watching horses, too.” That type of passion is what drove both men into the business. Heger was raised around rodeo, following in the footsteps of his rodeo clown father, Paul, and his bullfighting brother, who is just 17 months older. He moved to Texas as a teen to pursue his rodeo dreams, and he’s remained in the Lone Star State as he handles his business. Krepps also had some familial assistance in becoming a bullfighter. His step-brother, who is almost a decade older, rode bulls. Krepps wanted to follow suit. During a practice session, Big Brother stepped into the arena to help protect the bull riders but found himself in a bind. That’s when Little Brother jumped into the fray. “He was about to get run down,” Krepps said. “I don’t know if it was brother instinct or I just wanted to have something to do with it, so I ran down in there with him and helped him out.” That’s when a light went off in his head. “I thought, ‘Man, I like this,’ ” he said. Krepps was 16 years old and hasn’t looked back since. “Once I got a little taste of it, it was almost like a part of me, and I can’t get it out,” Krepps said. Heger saw that passion in the younger bullfighter the first time the two met. He had seen Krepps doing freestyle bullfighting, which is more of a competition and less protection, and knew there was talent in those cleats. “I knew his mentor, ‘Big Country,’ ” Heger said of Evan Allard, a veteran bullfighter from eastern Oklahoma. “I knew the kid was going to be tough, and he’s really come a long way.” While Allard showed Krepps the ropes of professional bullfighting, the younger man understands that lessons continue as the years roll on. “Clay is really good about keeping a guy grounded,” Krepps said. “Just being around somebody that’s been in the game that long on a consistent basis – watching him on how he handles the business side of it, too – has been really helpful to me. Our spark is our teamwork. We know where each other’s going to be before we do ourselves.” They work well together, which is vital when staring down danger, but it’s also part of being a member of the team that helps Pete Carr Pro Rodeo be one of the elite livestock and rodeo producers in the sport. “That crew is pretty awesome to be around, and we’re all really close and tight-knit,” Krepps said. “We’re more like a family. When you spend so much time together all year, it just works out that way. It’s easy to get behind something and be willing to do whatever it takes when you’re surrounded by people that want it to go as good as you do.”

Winget always ready and willing to help cowboys get down the road The gate of Ryan Winget’s walk is uniquely his. It’s not a swagger, but there’s energy to it. It’s a stride that identifies him, but the reasons for it have never defined him. Born two and a half months early, Winget has had cerebral palsy all of his 32 years. It just affects his lower extremities. He may move at a bit of a slower pace, but he’ll outwork and outwill anyone around him. That’s why he’s been the perfect teammate to many cowboys who make their livings on the rodeo trail. “Rhino is one of us,” said Cinch cowboy Shane Hanchey, a 15-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier – and the 2013 world champion tie down roper – from Sulphur, Louisiana. “That’s what’s cool about the rodeo world; we don’t let it back him down from what he can do. It’s really neat to have him part of the team, and he ain’t going to complain about anything. “At Houston this spring, he was on our horses every day getting them ready and helping us practice and all that comes with it. The personality he has … he just makes you confident. He goes into places, and he knows we’re going to do good. He just echoes a confidence that if you don’t have, you’ll have it after you’ve been around him a couple of days.” It’s infectious, but that’s been the case for Winget all his life. His smile shines, whether he’s warming up a horse for competition or watching the action from the edge of the arena. His demeanor, work ethic and love for the game have driven Winget, a man who has never allowed a lifelong disability slow him down much less stop him. “They said I’d never walk or never talk or do anything,” said Winget, a Cinch endorsee who attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University on a rodeo scholarship. “I just kept working at it and worked every day. I still work at it every day, and I think you’re trying not to let it get you down and just go day in and day out and keep pushing forward. That’s all you can do.” It’s a drive he obtained as a kid. He credits it to his family that not only helped bring him up that way but also instilled the fortitude to tackle all challenges head-on. He also takes a lot of pride in the labor he’s put into it himself, because much has gone into everything that has made him the man he is. “I think it’s a little bit of both,” he said. “My dad didn’t treat me any different than anyone else. My mom didn’t treat me any different. I think I also had the determination, and I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to be able to do everything everybody else could.” He’s roped. He’s chute-dogged. He’s even tried to ride a bull. He may not run a marathon, but don’t count him out trying one day. It’s that mental fortitude that has been transparent from a young age. “My dad trained racehorses for 10 years, so I’ve been around there,” Winget said. “I was around the racetrack a long time. I’ve been around horses all my life, and horses are something I’ll probably never take out of my life.” He understands equine flesh. He’s ridden many in his lifetime and has even been in the saddle of Tanner Milan’s mount, Eddie – the 2023 PRCA/AQHA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year that finished in the runner-up in voting last season – as they walked into the Thomas & Mack Arena for practice before the NFR. Those are moments of a lifetime, the dreams many young bulldoggers have when they sleep at night. Ryan Winget lived it. He could feel the power of the bay gelding through every stride the horse made. He could only imagine what it would be like to back in the timed-event box with that type of engine under him. “Being able to compete would be a dream come true,” he said. “If I could pick any event, it would probably be steer wrestling. I’ve had a lot of fun, and that event’s pretty cool to me. I’ve had guys come up to me and asked me about what’s going on, and I’ve never jumped a steer. I’ve thrown them on the ground but never jumped one. “They’re like, ‘But you’ve watched thousands of runs. You know how it’s supposed to look or what’s supposed to happen.’ Those guys asking me for advice is a pretty cool experience.” It’s a sign of the respect they have for him, who really hit bulldogging hard a dozen years ago. He’s a cousin with Jule Hazen, a three-time NFR qualifying steer wrestler from Protection, Kansas – Winget’s grandmother and Hazen’s grandmother are sisters. That relationship was forged as youngsters, and it bloomed over time. “I would always see him at Thanksgiving and would want to go with him during the summer,” Winget said. “He’s like, ‘Get out of high school, and I’ll let you go.’ So, once I graduated high school there in 2013, I wet with him and Chad Vancampen, and I’ve just gone every year with different guys since then.” That led to the college scholarship, where he assisted then-rodeo coach Stockton Graves, an eight-time NFR qualifier. It was just another shortened step Winget has taken in his path along the rodeo trail. He’s worked with a ton of bulldoggers over that time, but he’s also helped tie-down ropers like Hanchey. In fact, the world titlist was one of five men he teamed with at last year’s NFR. The others? Steer wrestlers Dakota Eldridge, Jesse Brown, Scott Guenthner and Dalton Massey. “I think starting out with Jule had a lot to do with me being with bulldoggers, because that’s what he did,” Winget said. “I ended up getting in with him, then I  Continue Reading »

BIG SPRING, Texas – Folks in this neck of the woods are proud of the 91-year history of the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo. Organizers have worked tirelessly over the years to bring a top-tier event to town every June. They want the annual event to be a showcase of tremendous talent, which will just add to the overall experience. With that in mind, the volunteer committee is opting to change dates beginning with the 2026 rodeo. “We’re moving our dates up two weeks to the first week of June next year,” said Scot Herrin, a longtime committee member. “We want to do that to draw those contestants but also do it so we can accommodate their schedule. This will put us before Weatherford, so we think it will work better for the contestants.” This year’s Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. With great acts during the rodeo and live concerts after the Friday and Saturday performances, there are big things to celebrate at. Alas, members of the committee want to ramp everything up starting next year. “The way we are right now, there are some really big rodeos that are on top of us that pull contestants away from Big Spring,” Herrin said, pointing out that the Reno (Nevada) Rodeo is likely the best-paying rodeos in June, begins at the same time and is 1,400 miles northwest of Howard County. “We can’t compete with that, so we tried to make our new schedule where it would be a perfect run for those contestants to come through and be at these Texas rodeos before they head to Reno and all those other rodeos out West.” He also noted that Big Spring’s rodeo has traditionally been the same week as the College National Finals Rodeo, and there are dozens of younger contestants who are part of intercollegiate programs that might be missing out on an opportunity to gain some valuable experience inside the rodeo bowl. “That’s just another conflict for us,” he said. “We’ve needed to do it for a long time, and our facility just keeps getting better with the hospitality we’re providing. We’re trying to make it easier for contestants to come to Big Spring and make it a great experience.” This is just the next step with a group of people who have the foresight to make things better, from contestants to sponsors to members of the community who want to enjoy a great show. “We’ve got big plans for our future,” Herrin said. “We want to increase our livestock pens, some horse stalls and our parking. All these things are in motion, and we expect to have that done in the next few years. Our next step after that is to improve the VIP and sponsor experience and our facilities. “It’s a puzzle that all fits together.” The pieces will begin to be attached just as soon as this year’s rodeo concludes. It’s going to be an adjustment for members of the community and those with ties to this west Texas gem, but it’s one that members of the committee expect to be a benefit. “I think it’s going to be an even better date,” Herrin said. “School will have been out for just a little bit, so a lot of people should still be around. The weather should be a little better, so I think that’s a positive note there. It’s not going to be nearly as hot, so I think it will be better all the way around. “There are always pros and cons on picking a date for an event like this, but I think there are a lot more pos than cons to moving our rodeo to the first week of June.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Volunteers who help produce the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration know it takes great teamwork to pull off something of that magnitude. From working with the carnival to organizing the 4H and FFA exhibits to partnering with the rodeo contract personnel to so many others in the Gunnison Valley, little happens without synergy. There’s no way Cattlemen’s Days is a success without it. With 125 years invested, this is truly a community effort, and that’s being showcased more than ever with this year’s Cattlemen’s Days parade, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13, along the same route as it’s always been “There was some talk about having to alter our parade route, shortening it to just four blocks on Main Street,” said Kevin Coblentz, a longtime volunteer with the organization. “Fortunately, we’ve had some people really step up so we can continue to have the type of parade this community is used to and that this town deserves.” The most necessary adjustment was to provide barricades to help direct traffic, especially off East Tomichi Avenue, where U.S. Highway 50 comes into town from the Monarch Pass. Members of the volunteer committee were searching for ways to help pay the $12,000 fee it will take for a barrier company to provide assistance. Local home health care provider Bre Norris made the first donation and got the ball rolling. Coblentz was talking to a friend about Norris’ generosity, so Richard Buffington decided to get involved. He’s the regional manager for Builders FirstSource, a millwork company that served as the presenting sponsor for the Colorado Stampede in Grand Junction, Colorado. The company invested $5,000 into the project, so the foundation had been laid. “The city really stepped up and helped us,” Coblentz said, pointing to City Manager Amanda Wilson and Jason Kibler, the city’s Streets & Refuse superintendent. “Those two really helped us out with the negotiations, and we got another $6,000 from the city to help us with putting on the parade as we’ve always been able to.” While it’s a community event, the Cattlemen’s Days Parade is no small-town affair. It’s a big deal to residents and former residents. Many who are originally from Gunnison return to town for the annual celebration, which is why class reunions are always a special feature during the procession. “The city continues to do a great job for this community,” Coblentz said. “I think Cattlemen’s Days has formed a great relationship with the city, and that’s always going to benefit everybody.” The celebration began in 1900 and features the longest continuous-running rodeo in Colorado. Cattlemen’s Days was created as a way to bring everyone in the county to town for fun-filled events and a chance to gather together. It may have been the only time all year that friends saw one another, and that legacy continues today. “Everybody wants to see our 125th year be successful,” Coblentz said. “I think that’s a big reason why this all came together. This is what our community needs.”

PECOS, Texas – Being athletic and agile has been a trademark for Allan Dessel. That talent is why he first became a bullfighter, following in the footsteps of his father. He utilized those skills to work in the business of his dreams, professional rodeo. He was good, selected to work several championship events. He was still pretty young when Dessel decided to double-dip to open the doors for opportunities to work as either a bullfighter or rodeo clown. As the years have passed, he’s focused on the latter and will make his way to this year’s West of the Pecos Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. “I feel like my walk-and-talk (comedy) is really strong, but my dance act is very much crowd-participation,” said Dessel of Paullina, Iowa, in the state’s northwestern corner. “It’s not a classical clown act at all. I do dance evolution. I do every major dance hit, starting with the Charleston all the way up to now, and I do it for four minutes. “I don’t wear a mic, so I don’t say anything during the dance. We just play music, and I dance. It’s kind of like being in a small bar, and you always have fun in a small bar. If there’s one person in a small bar having fun, then you’re all having fun.” Dessel makes it fun, for himself and for the audience. The musical variety not only sparks nostalgia, but it helps energize the crowd. That’s what entertainers do. That’s a specialty for Dessel, who will be making his first appearance inside Buck Jackson Arena, home of the “World’s First Rodeo.” “I’m a big believer that you’ve got to remember where we came from, because history repeats itself,” he said. “It’s very important for me to be part of those longstanding rodeos. I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work something like that. “Remembering where you came from – whether it’s rodeo or your family or whatever – is always important. When you get the opportunity to work a rodeo that’s as longstanding as Pecos, it’s very humbling.” It’s also a chance to showcase his talent. When he opted to become a clown, he made the decision to study under John Harrison, one of the most distinguished entertainers in rodeo today. Each of the past two years, Harrison has been named the PRCA Comedy Act of the Year, the Coors Man in the Can and the PRCA Clown/Barrelman of the Year. He was the right man to help Dessel make the transition. “I didn’t really see it until John said something, and then I started thinking about it,” Dessel said. “I was always the kind of guy that was willing to do whatever it took to make a rodeo work.” He’s still doing it, and he’ll have the opportunity to make everything happen in Pecos, a rodeo that’s made some significant changes over the years. One big move the volunteer committee made this year was to nearly double the local dollars invested into the purse. “I love the fact that they’re moving forward, trying to better the sport,” he said. “One day, all of us are going to quit rodeoing, but hopefully rodeo lives on a lot longer than the rest of us. By doing things like that, the rodeo committee in Pecos manages to ensure the legacy continues to live.” In its heart, rodeo is a competition. It started in downtown Pecos more than 140 years ago with ranch hands testing their talents against one another. It’s continued because of that foundation. For most folks, though, rodeo is a night out on the town. It’s a chance to see some great competition while also being entertained. Dessel helps with that, providing his own agility and ability to not only make rodeo fans relive a little musical history but also help put the smiles on the faces in the crowd. “It’s fun, and that dance act is fun for me to do,” Dessel said. “I enjoy it, and I want everyone else to enjoy it, too.”

ALVA, Okla. – The College National Finals Rodeo is a time to shine, but it’s also a week of redemption for some. Take Northwestern Oklahoma State University cowboy Emmett Edler, who returns to the intercollegiate championship after a less-than-stellar finale a year ago. He knows this is an opportunity, and he’s focused on the best outcome possible as he looks ahead to the June 15-21 event at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming. “I think it’s going to be a good year,” said Edler, a senior from State Center, Iowa. “Now that I’ve been there, seen it and got to experience what it’s like, I think it’ll be a whole different perspective going into it. I’m going to be a lot more prepared.” He’ll also be a bit busier and have a boatload of confidence with him as he arrives in Casper. Edler dominated the Central Plains Region’s steer wrestling race, running away with the title. He also earned points in tie-down roping and team roping through the season and finished second in the all-around race. That means he’ll add another event to his repertoire at the college finals, tie-down roping. He will be joined in Casper by header Colter Snook, a sophomore from Dodge City, Kansas, and goat-tier Payton Dingman of Pryor, Oklahoma. The trio will try to take their momentum from the 10-event season into the four-round championship. “I would really like to win a national championship in steer wrestling, and it would be awesome to go out there and do well in calf roping, too,” Edler said. “I know it’s not my main event and there are a lot of really wolfy guys that are going to be there in calf roping, but I want to do as well as I can. The main thing in calf roping is catching. If I can make three consistent runs and do what I can on the calves I’ve drawn, I would be happy with that.” His experience of having performed in that arena will be valuable, but the Rangers’ first-timers are excited to be in the mix at college rodeo’s marquee event. “I wanted to catch all the cows during the season and not break a barrier, but I missed my wrap in Garden City (Kansas) and broke the barrier in Durant (Oklahoma) and Hays (Kansas),” said Snook, who will rope with Cale Morris of Western Oklahoma State College. “My goal is to catch all four cows and have a good time.” That’s easier said than done. Contestants know that in order to place high in go-rounds, they must be fast. The faster cowboys and cowgirls try to be, the more chances they’re making, which opens the door for failure. “Only one team caught all four last year,” Snook said of the 2024 finale. “I might as well go catch all four and see what happens.” Consistency is the name of the game, and the most steady team will likely come away with the college championship. He’ll lean on his partner in crime, Cajun, a 15-year-old bay gelding to help put him and Morris into position. “He’s the hardest-running horse I’ve ever been on,” said Snook, the second-place finisher in the region’s heading standings. “If I’m scoring solid, then I can get out and be at the (steer’s) hip when other people are two coils out.” That means he trusts the speedy stead to put him in position faster than others, which helps him turn the steer in a better position for his heeler. “I just drop it on his head and roll him out of there and be able to handle cattle really good,” he said, noting that the better the header handles the cow, the more opportunities the heeler has to make a solid catch. Teamwork is vital. While Snook will entrust Morris and Cajun, Edler has four other partners to help him. He will continue to ride Easy, a horse he’s used all year that’s owned by Logan Mullin, who will help guide the steers into place for Edler while riding Bullfrog, a hazing horse owned by the Swayze family in Freedom, Oklahoma. In tie-down roping, Edler will ride a horse owned by Tanner Scheevel, a Northeastern Oklahoma A&M cowboy who won the region’s all-around race and finished second in calf roping. Dingman will be riding Dolly, an all-around horse that she’s also used in breakaway roping. After taking a couple years off the event while in high school, she added goat-tying to kick off her college career. “I hadn’t tied in two years before this year, so everybody was joking, ‘You’re definitely going to make the college finals.’ ” said Dingman, who finished third in the region to punch her ticket to Casper. “Then I did, but I don’t think it really stuck for a couple weeks after that. “I really don’t think it’s going to hit me until we get there, because you see the girls that are at the college finals, and you think about what it’s going to be like in that arena and in that environment. Now, I actually get to do that. It’s something you dream about. I’m living that dream that I had always wanted. I’m super excited.” She should be. She’s done something many freshman never do. Her success in the inaugural season of her intercollegiate career has also opened other doors. She has signed on to be a student assistant to coach Cali Griffin, and she will also serve as the region’s student director next year. She credited her success to the setting Griffin placed in the practices. “I think tying with the girls and the practices with Cali were helping to keep the environment fun, which was really helpful,” Dingman said. “I think the region really helped me. It was intimidating at first, but it pushed me a little bit. When you’re tying with girls that have been doing it and are a little bit better than you, I feel like it makes you  Continue Reading »

Andy Seiler announces his passion for Estes Park and the Rooftop ESTES PARK, Colo. – The first time Andy Seiler arrived in Estes Park, he was immediately taken in by its beauty. It’s hard to find a place with as much eloquence, a touch of grace with what looks to be within reach of the heavens. What he quickly found out, though, was there’s much more to the town than its status among tourists. There’s a Western heritage, which is reflected in the annual Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. “Estes Park is not just a great guest destination, but it’s also a place rodeo contestants look forward to visiting every year,” said Seiler, now in his 10th year announcing Rooftop Rodeo. “I’ve actually heard of multiple contestants who skip other rodeos so they could stay in Estes Park a couple of extra days. “That says something about Estes Park, but it’s also says something about Rooftop Rodeo.” He’s right. Millions of tourists make their way to this town of 5,800 people between Memorial Day to Labor Day, and hundreds of them are cowboys and cowgirls who are in town during early July. They enjoy the trappings the community has to offer as well as the scenic overlay from Rocky Mountain National Park. “I can bring my family, and we can kind of recharge our batteries in one of the most beautiful spots in the country,” said Seiler, who lives in Ocala, Florida, with his wife, Lauren, and their two children. “Living in Florida, being in the Rocky Mountains is a nice change in July. It’s also one of the things that’s a feature in my cap, not just the rodeo but the town of Estes Park. “It’s just an easy place to visit. Every time I’ve been there, I feel like it’s a family reunion. You feel like you’re a part of their family, and they treat you as such. That matters, because you’re now part of a team. You want to feel like you’re part of what’s happening. They’ve been growing, and while I can’t take credit for the growth they’ve experienced, I’m proud to say that I’ve been there since they’ve been growing.” That’s been the case for the last decade, but local organizers have done some things to help that growth continue. They’ve listened to the contestants and made the changes necessary to improve. The rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, will feature an increased payout this year. The town is contributing $10,000 per event, which will then be added to the contestants’ entry fees to make up the purse. That’s an upturn of more than $20,000 overall in prize money. “The neat thing about when rodeos do that is now it puts the ball in the cowboys’ and cowgirls’ court to make a business decision,” Seiler said. “If a rodeo is making changes and adding a little more money to elevate their product, then you have to consider events like that. Kudos to Rooftop Rodeo for doing that, because it’s easy to stay stagnant. “If you don’t continue to make those changes, you’re not going to continue to get the caliber of talent you want, because the ‘added money” seems to be increasing in most places because events want the top level of talent.” Rodeo is a fine mix of competition and family-friendly entertainment. Cowboys and cowgirls not only battle for the titles and the paydays, but also dollars equal championship points in the sport. Only the top 15 on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the sport’s grand finale, the National Finals Rodeo. By increasing the local money into the purse, the town and the rodeo are providing even greater incentives for the sport’s elite to make their way to Estes Park. “I think rodeo has changed in how serious people are about their business,” Seiler said. “They’ve got books about how they enter, but they’ve also got a nutrition book and a fitness book. I think that’s why we see the caliber of talent not only rise, but we’re seeing success at a younger age.” Yes, Seiler is Rooftop Rodeo’s emcee, the man who calls the action, educates the crowd and energizes everyone within earshot, but he’s also a rodeo fan with the best seat in the house. He sits horseback while doing his job, maneuvering about Granny May Arena to not only get the best perspective of the action but to also interact well with the fans. He has the ability to take his words and help make fir a better experience for every fan in the complex. “I probably work 20 percent of my rodeos horseback, and it just depends on where I am as to what works best,” he said. “In Estes Park, I’d say it’s about 95 percent urban people at the rodeo, so when you’re horseback, you can get right next to people and really point things out. You get a feel for the audience. “I just feel there’s such a strong connection with them because I can see them, and they can see me. It just make sense there more than anywhere else.” The connection is real and the presentation seamless, because Andy Seiler is more than the voice of Rooftop Rodeo; he’s also the face of Estes Park’s Western heritage. Gates for Rooftop Rodeo open at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 5-Thursday, July 10, with the preshow beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. For more information about Rooftop Rodeo, which is a Town of Estes Park signature event, or to order tickets online, log on to www.RooftopRodeo.com. Other ticket inquiries may be made by contacting the Town of Estes Park Events office at events@estes.org or (970) 586-6104.

PECOS, Texas – This west Texas community of nearly 15,000 folks is about to experience a population explosion. The reason is the West of the Pecos Rodeo, the World’s First Rodeo and home of some of the greatest competition in Western sports. The history tells a brilliant tale, but the future might be even brighter, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the volunteers that produce the annual event. “Because of our great partners, we were able to increase our ‘added money’ starting this year,” rodeo committee chairman Clay Ryon McKinney said of the local dollars that will be mixed with contestants’ entry fees to make up the overall purse. “We had a lot of people who stepped up to make this happen, and we think it’s going to just help make our rodeo even better.” That’s why the community is ready to host an influx of cowboys and cowgirls into Reeves County for this year’s rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena in Pecos. Contestants are always seeking incentives, and the folks in Pecos have rolled out a doozy. The local dollars added in the mix have almost doubled, from $97,200 a year ago to $180,000 in 2025. “That’s a hell of a good incentive to go to Pecos,” said Jake Finlay, a saddle bronc rider from Goodiwindi, Queensland, Australia, who shared the title a season ago with Montanan Sage Newman. “It seems like the money’s starting to match the level of stock. We’ve still gone to Pecos because of those good horses, but increasing the added money is definitely going to help a lot.” Finlay was a college champion at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and has won the national circuit title, too. Now living in Canyon, Texas, with his wife, Janie, and their newborn daughter, he’s eager to earn his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo. He’s been close on several occasions over his career, finishing among the top 25 three times, but he’s never quite earned a shot over the hump. He finished 21st a year ago, just six spots out of making that magical trip to Las Vegas in December. “Winning Pecos last year was incredibly important,” said Finlay, 30. “Making a good ride on a good horse like that before we get right into the deep of the rodeo season gave me a hell of a lot of confidence going into the rest of the season.” Steer wrestler Tucker Allen utilized his 2025 victory in Pecos to catapult him to his first NFR. He also won the Reno (Nevada) Rodeo title the same week, which helped him build momentum to earn a spot in ProRodeo’s grand championship. He finished 11th in the world standings with $185,000, with nearly half coming during his 10-day run in Las Vegas. “Winning Pecos was pretty damn cool,” said Allen, 25, of Ventura, California. “That’s one of the rodeos you always want to win. It’s like a Cheyenne (Wyoming) or Salinas (California) or Pendleton (Oregon). It’s especially cool not being from there, but I’ve always heard about it. It’s a cool buckle to have.” He left Reeves County with almost $4,300 in his account, but he’ll have an opportunity to double that total if he were to have the same kind of fortune in Pecos this year. While there’s a lot going on that week with big-paying rodeos spread out – it’s almost 1,400 miles from Pecos to Reno – the purse increase just adds more reasons why cowboys and cowgirls must make their way to west Texas. “It’s especially important with Pecos being a tour rodeo,” Allen said. “With the way the tour system is set up now, we almost have to go. I’m glad to hear they upped their money, because that’s even more incentive for us to go. That’s a rodeo you’ve got to work. “I know it’s a hard time of the year, but that’s one of the rodeos you should be going to.”

BIG SPRING, Texas – That’s not makeup on the faces of Clay Heger and Noah Krepps. It’s greasepaint, a longstanding tradition for rodeo clowns and bullfighters who work at such places as the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. Krepps and Heger are bullfighters, the men who stand in the face of danger to keep everyone as safe as possible during bull riding. They’re matadors without capes, using their athleticism to divert the bulls’ attention from fallen cowboys and others in the arena. They’re pretty good at it, too. “I absolutely love fighting bulls,” said Heger, 37, originally from Hells Canyon, Washington, but now living in Stephenville, Texas. Heger has been with Big Spring’s rodeo for more than a decade as part of the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo team. His is an important job, one that entails a variety of tasks. In addition to saving lives in the arena, he and Krepps work closely with other Carr staff members to ensure the care of the animals while also preparing for each performance. “We take care of animal welfare right at the beginning of the day,” Heger said. “The animals eat before we do, because without them, we can’t do what we like to do in rodeo. Animals always come first, then we’re doing what we need to do to get them ready. Whatever else we need to do on either end of the arena, we’re going to do to make the rodeo work.” That’s life on the rodeo trail, something both men enjoy. Their passion involves bullfighting, but they also love the game. “It’s definitely passion,” said Krepps, 36, originally from Jasper, Arkansas, now living in Montgomery, Alabama. “Once I got a little taste of it, it became part of me, and I can’t get it out.” He’s perfectly fine with that, and that’s why he’s excited to return to Big Spring for the community’s marquee event. He arrived in Howard County for the first time a year ago and found something special in it. For one, there’s grand history with the rodeo, which is celebrating its 91st year. The event also takes place in the rodeo bowl, which was built 75 years ago. He has the opportunity to share the dirt with some of the greatest to have ever been part of the sport. “I’ve never seen an arena like that,” he said. “Everybody’d talked about it, but until then, I’ve never seen one built into the ground like that. I loved every bit of it.” Heger and Krepps work in unison to do their jobs as bullfighters. They position themselves in ways that not only helps the fallen bull rider but can also expedite how they can draw the animal out of a bad situation. If need be, they will take the hits that might be meant for others, but their biggest maneuvers come from their years of reading animals and understanding how to keep everyone out of harm’s way. For Heger, he’s spent a lifetime doing this. Whether he’s feeding the animals or watching broncs buck or staring a snorting bull in the eyes, his experiences have served him well. “My dad was a rodeo clown, and I was going to rodeos fresh out of the hospital after being born,” he said. “My brother was a bullfighter, and he let me tag along when he was trying to start fighting bulls, then I got the bug for it, and it took off.” Colt Heger is 17 months older than his little brother, but he was the guiding force. Over his years of battling bovines, Clay Heger has proven himself among the elite. He’s been nominated for PRCA Bullfighter of the Year and has been an integral part of many big-time rodeos. He moved to Texas as a teenager to attend Odessa College and started fighting bulls at intercollegiate rodeos in this part of the country. Returning is a lot like a family reunion. “The committee in Big Spring is just able to adapt to any situation out there,” Heger said. “They’re building a community around that rodeo. It’s a community effort that comes out, and they work year round for it.” Even with just one year under his belt, Krepps has witnessed the same thing. “There’s a lot of appreciation for that rodeo,” he said. “Between the rodeo committee and the community that comes to the rodeo, you can just tell that everybody is really invested and involved with what’s going on. They want it to be good for everybody.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Bucking horses run in the blood of the Hayes family from Hayden, a community of 1,900 in northwest Colorado. Kaitlynn Hayes was just 9 years old when she got the idea for her business, which now operates as Rocky Mountain Mini Broncs & Bulls/KH Bucking horses. She’s a producer and has been such most of her life. Now, 16 years after she started, she’s created a brand that not only showcases smaller bucking animals but also helps develop young cowboys and cowgirls through a passion they all share. In fact, starting young people out in such a way has already proven to be successful. Her brother, Keenan, is just 22 but already has set records in ProRodeo. Three seasons ago, he collected more than $108,000 en route to setting a new earnings mark for permit-holders, those still on a test drive for the PRCA. A year later, he became the first PRCA rookie to win a bareback riding world championship, finishing the season with single-season earnings mark of $435,050. He returned to the sport’s grand finale again last year, finishing the campaign third in the world standings. The future generation of bucking horse and bucking bull riders is on its way to Gunnison for the Mini Broncs & Mutton Bustin’ set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 3, at the Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. This event is a week prior to the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, set for Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13. “Karla Rundell and I have become personal friends, and we were talking one day about mini broncs,” Kaitlynn Hayes said. “She told me they used to do them in Gunnison a long time ago, and I thought, “We should bring them back.’ I also thought it would be great if we could do something with the Golden Circle of Champions.” It’s the perfect fit: Mini broncs celebrating the accomplishments of athletic youngsters while also joining with Cattlemen’s Days’ beneficiary. Golden Circle of Champions helps raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer. In addition to the evening’s festivities, the youngsters in competition will also be on hand during a special clinic for youth that begins at 10 a.m. that day. “I work in health care and have since I was 16 years old,” Hayes said. “I love being able to help people on that side, especially when they are very vulnerable and not really having the best time of their life. I love being able to help them and, at the same time, put a smile on their face and give them something to look forward to while being a friend to them. “The clinic will a peer mentorship, where these kids who ride mini broncs and bulls can talk to the kids who’ve been fighting pediatric cancer and other children and tell them why they do this.” The mini bronc and bulls contestants will come from across the country and showcase their talents on mini bulls and ponies. It’s a great chance to see what rodeo’s future looks like at its most genuine level, where the love of the game can be seen through the smiles of young people.  “I do this for the love I have for bucking horses and children,” she said. ”I love the fact that I get to help make a difference in kids’ lives,” she said. That’s the mindset that helps heal minds, bodies and souls while also creating champions.

BIG SPRING, Texas – The greatest athletes stand on their own talents and how they battle through competition. Historical figures like Babe Ruth, Wilt Chamberlain and Roger Staubach have stood the test of time. Their exploits in their arenas of work are parts of lore, along with the championship resumes they built. Rodeo has its own, but it’s more than the names of Roy Cooper, Ote Berry or Lary Mahan. As a sport based on the Old West, champions also come in animal form, like the great bronc Descent or Bodacious, the bull with a bad reputation. Fans who want to be part of the action that is rodeo also hope to see the electricity that comes from amazing animals and the cowboys that ride them. That’s what many will expect from the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. “One of the great things about our rodeo is our stock contractor,” rodeo committee chairman Cash Berry said of Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. “He’s got some of the best bucking stock in rodeo, and a lot of those animals will be here and be part of our rodeo. “We pay attention to rodeo all over, and if you look at some of the big rodeos that have already happened this year, they’re winning on Pete’s animals. That makes it exciting for us and gives us an idea of what we’re going to see in Big Spring.” Just recently at Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo, Texan Rocker Steiner won bareback riding after posting a 90-point ride on Carr’s Worth The Whiskey, a bronc that has received high scores all season. Sage Allen was 89.5 points at San Angelo in April, while Cole Franks was 87.5 points in San Antonio earlier this year. “Pete makes sure to bring the kind of animals that will be a great fit for our rodeo,” said Berry, the fourth generation of his family to be involved in the hometown event. “Everyone wants to see the big rides and big scores, and we’re going to get that. “We see a lot of National Finals Rodeo qualifiers come to our rodeo. Part of that is because we’ve increased our (purse), but another part of that is because Pete brings the horses, bulls and timed-event cattle that makes our rodeo better. Cowboys just want a chance to win, and Pete does a good job of giving everyone who enters our rodeo a shot.” That’s a staple for a quality stock contractor, and the Carr name has been synonymous with that for two decades. He is a 15-time nominee for PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year, a two-time winner of the WPRA Stock Contractor of the Year and has had hundreds of animals selected to perform at the NFR, the sport’s grand finale. In addition, Carr has been inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame and was named the 2024 Resistol Man of the Year. Add that to the list of great champions that carry the Carr brand, and there’s a lot that goes into making the Big Spring rodeo a success. “We are a historic rodeo, and we pride ourselves in making sure we put on a great event for our fans and for the contestants alike,” said Zach Herrin, a member of the volunteer organization that presents the event. “We trust what Pete and his crew do when they get to town, because we know that’s going to help us be the best rodeo we can be.” A key ingredient in that is working closely with announcer Anthony Lucia, sound director Josh Hilton, the entertainers – rodeo clown Justin Rumford and trick riders Summer & Co. Fearless Equine Stunts trio – and the Carr team to ensure the competition and production are equally as great as they can be.   “We work hard all year to make sure everything comes together for the community,” Berry said. “Once it’s time for the rodeo, we rely on the professionals we bring in to put on the show that has everybody talking about our rodeo for another year.”

Cattlemen’s Days honoring its 125th consecutive celebration GUNNISON, Colo. – For folks in the Gunnison Valley, the word “continuous” is as important as that first cup of coffee in the morning. This is home to the longest-running continuous rodeo in Colorado and one of the oldest events of its kind in the United States. This year marks the 125th consecutive Cattlemen’s Days rodeo, and that sentiment brings such great pride to the people in this community since they’ve fought to make it happen. Cattlemen’s Days began in 1901 as a way for those in the valley to gather and celebrate their Western way of life. The dates were chosen to conduct the event just before the busy haying season. It has continued through two world wars, several other international conflicts and two pandemics. When COVID threatened the rodeo’s cancelation five years ago, community members bonded together. It occurred because a select few realized the rodeo’s impact to the folks in the valley The show must go on, they said. Nothing had stopped Cattlemen’s Days before, and they weren’t about to let it happen in 2020. Local businessman Kevin Coblentz, who had already served as president of the volunteer-based organization two years, stepped in for another and led the charge to ensure the streak continued. He had help from several others and a proud group of residents who found the dollars to make sure there was a rodeo. “Kevin and Brad Tutor were a huge part of that,” said Roger Johnson, a longtime Cattlemen’s Days committee member and a past president. “There were others on the committee that put in their two cents worth and fought to have that.” That’s why the community will celebrate another milestone 125 years after the celebration began with a rodeo on Main Street. This year’s Cattlemen’s Days will take place Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison, and there’s no better way to honor the event than to look at its legacy. Johnson is a bit of a historian for Cattlemen’s Days. He was president in 2000 during the festival’s centennial celebration and helped organize a video commemorating it. He’d done his research and continues to expound upon the growth and development of Gunnison’s marquee event. “Like everything else, it got started in the late 1800s but wasn’t officially recognized as an organized rodeo until the 1900s,” he said. “The first ones were held just across from my house on the highway here where the railroad tracks split. It featured all sorts of things, but mainly it was bronc riding and horse racing. Those two events stayed for the longest time until horse racing ended a few years ago. “But the rodeo has been continuous even through world wars and the Korean War and the Vietnam War and everything else. We’ve always had a rodeo every year.” Cattlemen’s Days started on the dirt streets downtown. Folks from all over made their way to town, whether by horse and buggy or horseback or any way they could make the trek. Livestock for the rodeo was driven into town from Mergelman Flats, similar to the cattle drives that paved the way for westward expansion of the United States. “That was the only time that herd ever saw a human, so you can just imagine what that was like,” Johnson said. There was a shindig in town, and it may be the only time some families and ranch hands would see friends annually. From 1913-’28, the rodeo and races took place at the Colorado Normal School, now Western Colorado University. It returned to downtown for a few years before the Cattlemen’s Days committee was established in the mid-1930s. The western center that houses the annual gala was created in 1938 and has served as the home of Cattlemen’s Days since. “We’ve had the college’s economics department do our studies for us, and Cattlemen’s Days is still the largest moneymaker of the year for the community,” Jonson said. “They’re saying tourism is taking over as the main staple for Gunnison, but a lot of tourism comes in July when we have Cattlemen’s Days. I still think it’s an extremely important part of the Gunnison community.” The economic impact to the town is important, but there are bigger things at play. This is the community’s jubilee, its county fair. It’s the time of year for class reunions and family gatherings. Children work all year on their 4H projects to have them ready for Cattlemen’s Days. It’s the perfect setting for longtime friends to honor one another and to showcase their pride in Gunnison. “Everything still centers off the rodeo,” Johnson said. “If you didn’t have the rodeo, none of the other things would have taken place in the style they do now.” Johnson served on the committee for about 20 years but continued to volunteer his efforts, working on the timed-event crew until a couple years ago. He’s offered his post to the younger generation, opening opportunities for others to learn the importance of Cattlemen’s Days and what it means to serve the community. Since joining the committee 29 years ago to his status today, Johnson has seen the development of the town’s rodeo. He’s witnessed the growth of the sport from his younger days as a rodeo cowboy originally from Minnesota to the professional athletes competing for more prize money than ever. He’s seen his hometown rodeo go from a small event to one of the top events of its size in the country. Gunnison’s rodeo has an incredible history that has outlived generations of community servants and continues to thrive. It’s foundation was laid on the dirt-and-gravel streets along Main Street and has been built into a magnificent showcase of athletic talent and a community’s fortitude to continue that legacy. Cattlemen’s Days remains a staple in Gunnison, and it’s the perfect reflection of everything that’s right in this picturesque Rocky Mountain community.

BIG SPRING, Texas – There are certain things about west Texas that will likely always be part of its lore. The climate is dry, the terrain rugged. It takes a resilient soul to toil in it. It’s where the West was initially developed, the former Mexican Territory. From here, settlers expanded beyond and found their way to the shores of the Pacific. Those that stayed understood the challenges and the benefits before them. They knew the importance of being hospitable, being there for neighbors and friends while caring for one another. Friends were like family, even if there were miles and time between visits. That mindset helped develop events like the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, now celebrating its 91st year. The tradition continues with this year’s rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. Like the generations before them, organizers have placed a premium on being great hosts to their visitors. In this case, it will be the hundreds of contestants who make their way to Howard County for the three-day event. “I think hospitality is very important, but it’s still a little new to us to some degree,” said Scot Herrin, the rodeo committee’s secretary and the man who leads the charge for the hospitality area. “This will be our fourth year doing it, and I think we get better and better every year. The feedback we’re getting is awesome.” The redirection to creating a specific center came about while Herrin was working in the arena. He’d visit with contestants, who were asking if the rodeo committee offered hospitality, a place where contestants and personnel could congregate for a meal and fellowship. That sparked the idea to create the program.  “I always wanted to have it, and when we started it, we reached out to some businesspeople in the area to see if they would donate their time and expense cooking for our hospitality area,” Herrin said. “They jumped in. Not only have they done it, but they’ve done a good job. The fellowship they have with the contestants as they come through is priceless, too. They just love what they’re doing.” Local businesses have stepped up in a big way to support the rodeo and the people that make it happen. The hospitality area for Thursday night’s performance will be presented by H&P Energy Services, while the Friday morning slack will be served by Iron Equipment Rentals. On Friday night, Endurance Lift Solutions will support the hospitality area, while R.C. Specialties will handle the load Saturday. “Those businesses donate their time, donate their food, and it’s always something really, really good,” Herrin said. “It’s not just sandwiches. We try to start a couple of hours before the (performances), and we’ll really go after the performances. The bull riders are the last event, so they’ll come in and enjoy a meal. I sat down with (bull rider) Dustin Boquet last year while he was eating. It wasn’t his best night, but he was enjoying the food and said, ‘You bet, I’ll be back.’ “I think having a good hospitality makes a difference.” That type of dedication has been noticed. Contestants travel great distances in order to compete. A five-hour drive from Big Spring to El Paso is nothing the men and women who rope and ride for a living. Howard County is also an easy stop for a shot at big cash as contestants from across the Lone Star State make their way to outposts like Reno, Nevada, which begins the same day but continues for another week after Big Spring’s rodeo concludes. Being able to enjoy a home-cooked meal served by smiling faces is always nice, especially for cowgirls and cowboys who stare at highway pavement most of the time and compete for a spare few seconds when it’s time to make a ride or a run. Many contestants also love the history that comes with competing inside the rodeo bowl, which was built 75 years ago. “It’s a very neat setting,” said steer wrestler Gary Gilbert, a South Dakota cowboy who attended West Texas A&M in Canyon before settling in Paradise, Texas. “Big Spring has a great rodeo committee, and they have great hospitality. “I haven’t really used it a lot, but it’s nice to know they have breakfast for slack or still have dinner after the performance. I’m one of those guys that doesn’t like to eat before I bulldog, so it’s nice to get something after a performance at places like that where it’s still available. It sure makes it nice when we’re getting ready to head out again.” Volunteers are pulling out all the stops. Shuttles are available to help contestants maneuver between their homes away from home – elaborate rigs outfitted with horse trailers that feature living quarters – to handle business and grab a bite to eat. “We’ve just got good members of the committee,” Herrin said. “They saw a need, and it takes a little while to get from the contestant parking to the secretary’s office. Some of the members had buggies and realized they could give you a ride. That went over really well. “This year we’re going to try to have even more buggies and try to be more hospitable.” Just like their predecessors did nearly a century ago, organizers of the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo are always looking for ways to make the event better while being perfect hosts to the visitors that are so vital to the community.

BIG SPRING, Texas – Emmie and Jinsen Boyd do things about which most adults wouldn’t dream. Emmie is 9, older than Jinsen by two years, and they perform before large crowds at a young age. In the arena with their mom, Summer, the Boyds are prolific horsewomen who showcase their talents and enthrall audiences across North America as trick riders as Summer & Co. Fearless Equine Stunts team. The trio returns to the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Surge Energy Rodeo Bowl. “Doing this together as a family is every bit as wonderful as it seems like it would be,” Summer Boyd said. “I don’t think I would be doing it if not for them also being interested in doing it with me. It makes all the difference in the world, and it’s fun to do it with them.” The Boyds were a big hit last June when they performed in front of the energized crowd inside the historic rodeo bowl. That makes their adventure back to Howard County even more invigorating for the family. They will be joined by returning funnyman Justin Rumford, a 10-time winner of the PRCA Clown of the Year who has been recognized as one of the elite entertainers in ProRodeo. “The whole experience last year was great,” Boyd said. “It was a great crowd, a great committee and a great community. We just love being in Big Spring. In fact, my oldest said, ‘I think this may be one of my favorite rodeos just because of all those reasons.’ “We really just enjoyed that community.” The rodeo bowl features a unique setting, where the crowd is virtually on top of the action. It makes for a great experience for fans, who are there to see a high-caliber performance from the athletes and the entertainers. That atmosphere, though, is just as incredible to folks like the Boyds, who work about 20 rodeos a year. “I think we adapt to a variety of arenas we work in,” she said. “I think it’s a really important quality to build and adapt to who you’re catering to, who you’re with and what you’re around. I feel like adaptability and being easy to work with are two really important things in what we do. I also love a rodeo committee that is willing to grow. “They want to make it a better rodeo. Some places we go, the committee might be more close-minded because that’s the way things have always been done. The committee in Big Spring had some big ideas and good ideas and are willing to learn from others around them.” Being flexible also allows Boyd and her family to develop the right kind of show. There’s something special about seeing young girls do incredible tricks while horseback. “I try to match the girls with the horses based on speed and what that girl is doing at the time,” Boyd said. “My 7-year-old doesn’t need a horse with as much speed as the 9-year-old does. Emmie is Roman riding this year, so she has two little black ponies for that. She used to trick ride on one of them. She outgrew the pony she was using last year, so she passed it on to my youngest. “We have a pretty good assortment, but the thing I found is keeping all three of us in horses is like slave labor. It’s as much work as trick riding, probably more. I’m always working on a new horse to see who is going to end up fitting and where we can slide it in.” It’s a labor of love, and the proof is in the smiles of each of their faces as they perform their stunts and skills. The trio works to perfect each maneuver and each opportunity to work closely with their horses. Being from Lovington, New Mexico, they have a good understanding of what they’re going to experience in mid-June in Big Spring. “We’re somewhat acclimated to the heat, because my oldest makes us practice no matter what the weather’s like,” Boyd said with a laugh. “It’s never too hot or never too cold for us, because the chances are she’s already made us practice in that weather.” Come snow or heat or dark of night, the Boyds will be ready for what the fans in Howard County want to see when it comes to rodeo week.

GUNNISON, Colo. – Even before he could walk, Michael Albers was making his mark on medical history. “He was the first baby in the world they were able to expand T cells, and he opened the portal for all the other children fighting leukemia,” said his mother, Shelley Albers, who pointed out that Michael’s T cells had been sent to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia by his oncologist, Dr. Maureen O’Brien, now at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. It has led to CAR T cell therapy, a new approach to cancer treatment in which the Philadelphia hospital uses the bodies’ own immune cells, which fight infection, to kill off cancer cells. “Now, there is a huge tower of research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to this research specifically,” Shelley Albers said. In a 2013 clinical trial, Michael received the immunotherapy blinatumomab, which had been sent to the United States from Munich. After the treatment’s success, he underwent a bone-marrow transplant that was provided by a mother that had donated the blood from her umbilical cord. Blinatumomab was then picked up by Merck, a pharmaceutical company, in December 2014. “It is now the frontline treatment for leukemia in children, and this research has spun off in a lot of different directions for all people,” Shelley Albers said, noting her son was just a few weeks shy of his first birthday when he was undergoing those treatments. Michael’s story is one of the reasons why the volunteers who organize the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration are so intent on helping with the fight against pediatric cancer. It’s why the group has teamed with the Golden Circle of Champions, a cause that was conceived to raise awareness and provide funds to help local children battling cancer. Cattlemen’s Days is focusing its attention on raising funds and awareness for such diseases through its association with the Golden Circle of Champions. It will be the focus the annual event, set for Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. In fact, the opening performance of the rodeo will be Gold Night in recognition of the cause. “Our giving focus is on the Golden Circle of Champions, because we want to put our attention on these kids and help fight childhood cancer,” said Karla Rundell, second vice president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “We want everyone wearing gold during the first night of the rodeo and honor any family that has their lives affected by pediatric cancer.” Michael was just an infant when he was undergoing treatment. His T-cell expansion opened the door for more research, which helped develop more procedures to help others – children and adults alike – in their battles with cancer. “This is bigger than us,” Shelley Albers said, adding that her son has been cured for more than seven years. “Dr. O’Brien has been spearheading this, and they’re saving life by life by life on the front range. That’s why I advocate hard, and I advocate like a soldier and a warrior for her and this cause and for these kids to bring awareness.” Shelley Albers and her son were part of the Cattlemen’s Days contingent to the Golden Circle of Champions banquet this past December during the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Michael was one of 20 children honored during the event, which also featured NFR contestants and other personnel who wanted to be part of the cause. Michael was teamed with steer wrestler Ty Erickson, the 2019 world champion and a nine-time NFR qualifier; tie-down roper Cole Clemons; bullfighter Dusty Tuckness; and clown John Harrison, who has been a featured entertainer at Cattlemen’s Days multiple times. During their red-carpet introduction, Erickson and Clemons showed their own personalities by doing the worm, which not only invigorated the crowd but also enthralled their young counterpart. “It was cool and really fun,” said Michael, who also took in other fun aspects of his trip to Las Vegas. “We went to the M&M store and the Coca-Cola factory, and it was fun going down the red carpet and all that.” At 11, he didn’t really understand the enormity of ProRodeo’s grand finale. Michael is more in tune with his YouTube channels – Albers7 and Icon Slurp – than keeping tabs on the men and women who earn the right to perform in the Nevada desert each year. It didn’t take long before he realized their status in rodeo. He and his mom went to one of the 10 rounds at the Thomas & Mack Center, where Michael held up signs and was recognized on the in-house big screens. “It wasn’t like in your fantasy movie where you think, ‘I would really like to meet this guy,’ ” he said. “But then when you’re there in person, you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, I know him. He’s my friend.’ ” It’s experiences like those that help drive the cause for Golden Circle of Champions. Contestants wore gold during the Dec. 8 performance of the NFR as a sign of support. “Michael loved the actual rodeo and holding up the cowboy signs,” Shelley Albers said. “Once he developed that personal connection to them and he saw them out in the arena, he had signs we held up for Ty and Cole, and we rooted for them. When the camera pointed to them, he loved that. He thought it was the coolest thing in the world to have that connection.” That bond was created during a special day in Las Vegas. Golden Circle of Champions provided Western outfits for the children, and Michael suited up with a signed cowboy hat, jeans and a nice shirt emblazoned with sponsors’ insignias. Gunnison committeeman Kevin Coblentz even let Michael borrow a Western buckle to tie the outfit together. It’s the perfect accessory for Cattlemen’s Days, which celebrates the ranching and agriculture foundation of the Gunnison Valley. The committee is taking advantage of this “Golden Opportunity” to help raise awareness and funds for Golden Circle of  Continue Reading »

Casper claims first Pioneer Days title, while Pope earns his 3rd GUYMON, Okla. – There was a time a few years ago that Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo featured short-round Sunday. There was a touch of reflection during the final performance of this year’s event, with five of the 10 champions crowned Sunday afternoon. It’s a reminder of why this event was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame 10 years ago. Just as it was when Robert, Dan and Billy Etbauer and their friend, Craig Latham, were dominating bronc riding, the forces came together in 2025 to create a showcase in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper – fresh off his National Finals Rodeo average championship in 2024 – won Guymon for the first time in his career, while bareback rider Jess Pope took the crown for the third time in four years. “I knew I had a pretty good chance to win this year,” said Casper, who was raised just 40 minutes from Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena in the tiny hamlet of Balko, Oklahoma. Casper rode Vold Rodeo’s Gossip Girl for 88.5 points to and collect his first Pioneer Days Rodeo trophy belt, a unique prize in ProRodeo. He also snagged $3,920 “Gossip Girl has been good, and the guys have been high scores on her all last year and the year before,” said Casper, 28, of Miami, Texas, 110 miles south of Guymon in the Texas Panhandle. “I was coming up here pretty confident that we had a pretty good horse.”  Pope was in the same boat. He first won Guymon in 2022 when he rode Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire for 91 points. He shared the championship a year ago with Dean Thompson, the reigning world champion; Thompson was 90 on Gun Fire, and Pope matched that score on Frontier’s Breaking News. The good news for the 2022 titlist and five-time NFR qualifier was that he was being matched with electric black horse again. When the dust settled Sunday afternoon, it was valued at 90.5 points and $3,514. “She’s just a unique animal,” Pope said. “Before Breaking News came around, I don’t think there was any other animals that were as unique as (C5 Rodeo’s) Virgil and Gun Fire. I’ve been fortunate enough to get on both of those horses. I’ve been on Gun Fire like six times, and I’ve been on Breaking News three times now. “Every time she jumps in the air, there’s so much electricity coming through your feet that you have to hustle the whole time, but at the same time, it feels just like what a bareback horse is supposed to feel like. She’s just a super special animal.” Pope isn’t too bad himself. He’s a three-time NFR average champion who won that prestigious title 2020-’22. “I believe that I’m one of the best bareback riders that’s ever been in the sport, and I carry myself to that standard,” he said. “I make myself have to try to be that good, but me believing that I’m that good forces me to go out and perform like that. If I don’t, I’m very mad at myself, and so it just makes me want to do it even more.” That’s what it takes to be an elite athlete, especially in rodeo. Casper has been in that capacity for several years. Like Pope, he’s been to the NFR every year since 2020. Last year, he earned $439,332 and finished third in the world standings. He’s 11th on the money list with nearly $53,000 in 2025 earnings but should move up a bit with his win on his home turf. “That feels good to finally get the win here,” Casper said. “I’ve placed second here before and maybe a couple of top 10s, but it’s great to get the win.” The Oklahoma Panhandle has been home to champions for decades, and that continued this year. Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days RodeoMay 2-4All-around cowboy: Coleman Proctor, $6,375 in team roping and steer roping. Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jess Pope, 90.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Breaking News, $3,514; 2. Cole Franks and Garrett Shadbolt, 88, $2,342; 4. (tie) Kashton Ford and Sam Petersen, 87, $1,054; 6. Bradlee Miller, 86.5, $586; 7. Clay Jorgenson, 86, $468; 8. Mason Stuller, 85, $351. Team roping: First round: 1. Chet Weitz/Bryce Graves, 7.2 seconds, $2,484; 2. Laramie Allen/Kelby Frizell, 7.5, $2,160; 3. Tanner Green/Josh Patton, 7.7, $R1,836; 4. Zane Thompson/Chad Mathes, 8.1, $1,512; 5. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 8.7, $1,188; 6. (tie) Nick Sartain/Garrett Gorman and Carson Coffelt/Shane Jenkins, 9.0, $702 each; 8. Cameron Ritchey/Jesse Jolly, 9.1, $216. Second round: 1. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 7.1 seconds, $2,484; 2. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 7.2, $2,160; 3. Corben Culley/Trent Vaught, 7.3, $1,836; 4. Laramie Allen/Kelby Frizell, 7.5, $1,512; 5. Britton Grinstead/Scott Daily and Wyatt Bray/Paden Bray, 7,7, $1,026 each; 8. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 8.2, $216 each. Third round leaders: 1. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman, 6.1 seconds, $2,484; 2. Chet Weitz/Bryce Graves, 6.6$2,160; 3. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 6.7, $1,836; 4. Jack Fischer/Cole Cooper, 7.2, $1,512; 5. Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, 7.6, $1,188; 6. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 7.7, $864; ; 5. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 7.9, 540; 6. (tie) Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight and Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins, 8.9, $108 each. Average leaders: 1. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 23.5 seconds on two runs, $3,726; 2. Jack Fischer/Cole Cooper, 25.3, $3,240; 3. Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight, 28.7, $2,754; 4. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 30.6, $2,268; 5. Jake Clay/Tanner Braden, 30.9, $1,781; 6. Carson Coffelt/Thomas Jenkins, 31.2, $1,296; 7. Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, 35.5, $810; 8. Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins, 36.4, $324. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Holden Myers, 3.6 seconds, $2,516; 2. Matt Reeves, 3.9, $2,188; 3. Royce Johnson, 4.0, $1,860; 4. Sam Goings, 4.1, $1,532; 5. Hazen Sparks, 4.4, $1,203; 6. Trace Harris, 4.5, $875; 7. Cody Devers, 4.6, $547; 8. Nick Guy, 4.7, $219. Second round: 1. Quint Bell, 3.6 seconds, $2,498; 2. Justin Shaffer, 4.0, $2,172; 3. (tie) Tyler Mann and Riley Westhaver, 4.1, $1,684 each; 5. (tie) Jason Thomas, Riley Duvall and Holden Myers,  Continue Reading »

GUYMON, Okla. – Bubba Buckaloo and Joseph Harrison don’t really rodeo like they used to. The team ropers – and neighbors in southern Oklahoma near Lake Texhoma – have other priorities in their lives. Both train horses, and that accomplishes a couple of things: It allows both to stay closer to home while also making a living as cowboys. Both have qualified for the National Finals Rodeo. Buckaloo is a header, and he played on ProRodeo’s grandest stage in 2018. Harrison is a heeler, and he earned six straight trips to the championship from 2017-2022. Alas, there is no rust in their game, and they’re proving that in the Oklahoma Panhandle this week. They stopped the clock in 7.7 seconds during Saturday afternoon’s second performance of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo. They sit fourth in the third round, but the tandem has already placed twice so far: Buckaloo and Harrison finished fifth in the opening round, which occurred Wednesday, then won the second round Thursday. They hold a five-second lead in the three-run aggregate. “I’ve placed in some rounds here in the past,” said Buckaloo, 36, of Kingston, Oklahoma. “Last year, my little boy was born during this rodeo, so I didn’t enter, but the year before, I won third, and that’s the best I’ve ever done. This is the most money I’ve ever won out here.” That fact has already been outdone. The duo has already secured nearly $4,000 in Guymon earnings and will secure a few more thousand dollars before the week is done. That’s also the most Harrison has pulled out of Texas County, though he does own a one of the most cherished prizes in the sport: A Pioneer Days Rodeo championship belt. Harrison and his then partner, Charly Crawford, shared the overall victory in 2017. “It’s funny, but I’ve been high call back at this rodeo twice and couldn’t win it,” said Harrison, 37, of Marietta, Oklahoma. “I won third once, and then no good one time. The year that Charly and I won it, we were sixth high call back on two, and everybody else messed up and we split it. This time, we were second on two, and the guys in front of us got us by eight-tenths of a second, so they have a little time to mess with. If they catch clean, chances are they’ll probably get us, and I wish them good luck. “But I really would like to win this rodeo with Bubba Buckaloo.” Guymon is unique in that it features hornless cattle in team roping, and they’re walking fresh, meaning that they’ve come straight out of the pasture and into the rodeo arena. That adds a bit of wildness to the event and adds to the prestige of winning Pioneer Days. “I rope with Joseph all the time, and we usually keep four or five muleys and rope them year ’round,” Buckaloo said. “But having them fresh like this, it’s definitely a chore.”  While many of the 1,100 contestants competing at this rodeo have their sights set on qualifying for the NFR, Buckaloo and Harrison are content in their decision to stay close to home. Their ProRodeo goals involve the Prairie Circuit, a series of PRCA events primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “We’re not really rodeoing to try to make the finals,” said Harrison, who lives about six hours from Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “This is a circuit rodeo for us, and it’s a great, great rodeo and so much fun. We came up here to have a good time and to try to make a little bit of money. “We’ve just been jackpotting and staying around the house. I’ve been entering some colts in the futurities, and that deal has been pretty good.” Whatever success the two find in Guymon is just gravy on top of biscuits. The food’s still good, but why not try to make it better. “It’s been awesome out here, because we’ve slowed down from rodeoing, and the only thing you get to do now is tell stories,” Buckaloo said. “To win Guymon would be awesome.” Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days RodeoMay 2-4 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kashton Ford, 87 po0ints on Championship Rodeo’s Cajun Queen; 2. Will Lowe, 82.5; 3. Donny Proffit, 82; 4. Andy Gingerich, 81.5; 5. Ty Hawkes, 81; 6. Jade Taton, 77; 7. Owen Brouilette, 76.5; 8. Cole Hollen, 74. Team roping: Third round leaders: 1. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman, 6.1 seconds; 2. Chet Weitz/Bryce Graves, 6.6; 3. Korbin Rice/Cooper Freeman, 6.7; 4. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 7.7; 5. (tie) Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight and Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins, 8.9; 7, Clay Smith/Nicky Northcott, 10.6; 8. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 11.8. Average leaders: 1. Bubba Buckaloo/Joseph Harrison, 23.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Curry Kirchner/Tyler McKnight, 28.7; 4. Chad Masters/Cory Petska, 30.6; 4. Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins, 36.4; 5. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 42.5; 6. 6. Teagan Bentley/Dusty Taylor, 44.9; 7. Chet Weitz/Bryce Graves, 13.8 seconds on two runs; 8. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman, 14.7. Steer wrestling: Third round leaders: 1. Cody Devers, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jace Melvin, 4.5; 3. Matt Reeves, 4.7; 4. Cole Walker, 5.0; 5. Trace Harris, 5.1; 6. (tie) J.D. Struxness and Tucker Alberts, 5.2; 8. Tyler Mann, 5.9. Average leaders: 1. Matt Reeves, 13.2 seconds on three runs. 2. Cody Devers, 14.5; 3. Trace Harris, 15.1; 4. Tyler Mann, 15.2; 5. Jace Melvin, 15.4; 6. Tucker Alberts, 17.6; 7. Sawyer Strand, 23.9; 8. Hadley Sanders, 25.9. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Rusty Wright, 86.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Top Pick; 2. Zac Dallas, 85.5; 3. (tie) Thayne Elshere, Waitley Sharon and James Perrin, 82; 6. Cash Wilson, 81; 7. Cooper Thatcher, 79; 8. Carson Bingham, 77.  Breakaway roping: Third round leaders: 1. Aspen Miller, 2.4 seconds; 2. Beau Peaterson, 2.8; 3. Molly Hamilton, 3.5; 4. Shalee King, 3.8; 5. Lari Dee Guy, 3.9; 6. Sami O’Day, 4.5; 7. Shai Schaefer, 4.6; Emilee Charlesworth, 12.2. Average leaders: 1. Aspen Miller, 8.1 seconds on three runs; 2. Beau Peterson, 10.8; 3. Shalee King, 11.0;  Continue Reading »