Prairie Circuit has a strong NFR
DUNCAN, Okla. – The Prairie Circuit has a grand history in professional rodeo. World champions from the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region dot the landscape, just as the tiny towns and larger communities: Shoulders, Duvall, Etbauer, Ferguson, Roberts, Ward and Gorsuch are just a few of those who have worn the coveted gold buckles. Add Kimzey to that […]
IFR an Oklahoma tradition
CHAMPIONSHIP HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF SOONER STATE CONTESTANTS OKLAHOMA CITY – Middle America is the perfect home for the International Finals Rodeo. “There are a lot of people in the state of Oklahoma that still love rodeo,” said Fields, a three-time International Professional Rodeo Association world champion steer wrestler from Oklahoma […]
Money on their minds
COWBOYS, COWGIRLS HOPE TO ROPE IN CASH DURING IFR45 OKLAHOMA CITY – Walt White owns eight International Professional Rodeo Association tie-down roping world championships. He won’t win No. 9 this year, but he is still happy to be part of the field at International Finals Rodeo 45, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 and 7:30 […]
Painting a brilliant picture
Inside every artist are a set of eyes that see things differently, that view the world in different dimensions. Inside every cowboy rests a powerful workmanlike nature and a task-driven demeanor. For the most part, they are opposite personalities, but they are both the truthful passions of a man named Chance Hays. He is from […]
Wrestling for the gold
TOP BULLDOGGERS RACE FOR TITLE; OKLAHOMA COWBOYS RETURN TO GLORY DAYS OKLAHOMA CITY – In all likelihood, the race for the International Professional Rodeo Association’s steer wrestling world championship will be between four cowboys. Canadian Cody Mousseau owns a small lead over Brian Barefoot of Dunn, N.C.; Brad Stewart of Mt. Ulla, N.C.; and Justin […]
Worth the wait
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a story I wrote for the January issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official magazine of the WPRA. For 10 nights, it seemed, Fallon Taylor exited the Thomas & Mack Center arena with a smile on her face as she and Babyflo sprinted past the famous yellow chutes. Even more […]
’16 Little Britches Finals moves to Lazy E Arena
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The National Little Britches Rodeo Association Finals is moving to the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla., beginning in 2016. “We are extremely proud to be selected as the host facility for the NLBRA Finals and look forward to growing our partnership,” said Dan Wall, general manager of Lazy E Arena. […]
Johnson returns to elite status
OKLAHOMA CITY – Eleven months ago, tie-down roper Trenton Johnson was just getting out of hip surgery that saw him on crutches for eight weeks. He spent four months going through physical therapy for a repaired hip labrum and a hip microfracture, then he handled the rehabilitation himself while taking care of the business of […]
The silver anniversary
IFR TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS AS AN OKLAHOMA CITY INSTITUTION OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s capital city is much different than it was in January 1991. There’s an NBA franchise in town, and the 89ers became the RedHawks and are now the Dodgers. Gary Gibbs was in his third season as coach of the Sooners football […]
Be blessed in 2015
On these final few hours of 2014, it’s easy to reflect on what happened the previous 364 days. Family-wise, there were multiple trips to the emergency room. That comes with having children, of course, but two of the four were with my wife. Fortunately all were resolved well, but not without staying a few nights […]
A Minor adjustment
21-TIME CHAMP READY TO DEFEND TITLES AT IFR 45 OKLAHOMA CITY – Shawn Minor approaches rodeo much like a factory-worker. “I just want to be a rodeo cowboy,” said Minor, a 21-time International Professional Rodeo Association world champion from Camden, Ohio. “I have a wife and two kids, and I’ve got to provide for them. […]
There’s no step with us this Christmas
For me, Christmas is always about family, reflection and showing my love for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Family is the perfect way to see God’s love for us. It’s evident in the eyes of our children, in their laughter, in the beauty that is my wife. This year has been exceptional in that […]
A true International Finals
IFR 45 TO FEATURE A STRONG CONTINGENT OF CANADIANS OKLAHOMA CITY – The International Finals Rodeo has grown in to a true international championship. Of the 126 contestants that have qualified to compete at IFR 45 from Jan. 16-18 at the Jim Norick State Fair Arena, two dozen are from other countries. That serves as […]
Stampede tabbed rodeo of the year
CLAREMORE, Okla. – David Petty was in shock and couldn’t think of the words to say; his wife, Dawn, couldn’t stop crying. Bob Morton just grinned and took it all in. Their hearts and souls – countless man-hours – have gone into the labor of love they call the Will Rogers Stampede. Claremore’s rodeo had […]
Scheer finishes 2014 strong
LAS VEGAS – Cort Scheer entered the 2014 National Finals Rodeo with hopes of a world championship. Instead, he pocketed more than $93,000 over the 10 days of ProRodeo’s grand championship event and left Las Vegas with a big piece of disappointment. How can that be? He needed $10,000 more. Instead, he finished the season […]
Durfey closes 2014 with NFR check
LAS VEGAS – The National Finals Rodeo is no different than any of the numerous trips across the country for tie-down roper Tyson Durfey. Along the way, a cowboy will experience the highs and lows – the trips to the peaks of the mountaintops followed by the ever-braking skids to the valleys with those rides […]
Irwin wins reserve world title
LAS VEGAS – It didn’t take steer wrestler Kyle Irwin long to reflect on his 2014 season. Just moments after making his final run at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Saturday, the Robertsdale, Ala., cowboy knew he’d lived a magical season, including $88,000 earned over 10 December nights in Sin City. “It was everything […]
Champion finishes ’14 at No. 3
LAS VEGAS – The Nevada desert was a pretty good home for bareback rider Richmond Champion. Over 10 days, Champion rode bucking horses to the tune of $108,140, pushing his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association season earnings to nearly $200,000. He placed six of the last seven go-rounds at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, including two […]
Pierce earned big money in Vegas
LAS VEGAS – Barrel racer Carlee Pierce has made more money in Las Vegas during her two previous qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. She never had a better 10 days. On Saturday night, the Edmond, Okla., cowgirl raced around the cloverleaf pattern in 13.97 seconds to place third in the 10th go-round, adding […]
Cord McCoy’s Western Days
POPULAR COWBOY TEAMS WITH SYCAMORE SPRINGS RANCH FOR 4-DAY FESTIVAL LOCUST GROVE, Okla. – Cord McCoy has traveled around the world three times and has crisscrossed this country more times than he can count. The Oklahoma cowboy made a name for himself as a professional rodeo cowboy. He owns qualifications to the National Finals […]
Branquinho wins fifth gold buckle
Steer wrestling: 1. Dru Melvin, 3.4, $19,002; 2. Casey Martin, 4.0, $15,018; 3. Clayton Haas, 4.1, $11,340; 4. Seth Brockman, 4.2, $7,969; 5. Cole Edge, 4.4, $4,904; 6. Kyle Irwin, 4.5, $3,065. Average: 1. Luke Branquinho, 41.6 seconds on 10 head, $48,732; 2. Ty Erickson, 49.3, $39,537; 3. Dakota Eldridge, 56.0, $31,262; 4. Kyle Irwin, 60.7, […]
Tryan, Corkill repeat as champs
1. Brandon Beers/Jim Ross Cooper, 4.1 seconds, $19,002; 2. Tom Richards/Cesar de la Cruz, 4.6, $15,018; 3. Aaron Tsinigine/Clay O’Brien Cooper, 5.5, $11,304; 4. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 6.0, $7,969; 5. Jake Barnes/Junior Nogueira and Riley Minor/Brady Minor, 6.5, $3,985 each. Average: 1. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 70.1 on 10 head, $48,732; 2. Jake Barnes/Junior Nogueira, 57.1, […]
Waiting on results, but Spencer Wright is champ
The youngest of the NFR Wright brothers won the average and gold buckles.
Spencer wins Wrights’ 4th title
1. Cody DeMoss, 86 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat, $19,002; 2. Jacobs Crawley, 83, $15.018; 3. Wade Sundell, 82, $11,340; 4. Jesse Wright, 81.5, $7,969; 5. Spencer Wright, 79, $4,904; 6. Jake Wright, 78, $3,064. Average: 1. Spencer Wright, 807.5 on 10 head, $48,732; 2. Cort Scheer, 764, $39,537; 3. Jake […]