Colleges to benefit from challenge
STILLWATER, Okla. – The focus of any college program is to better prepare students for life off campus. With that thought in mind, organizers of the Colt Starting Challenge USA have teamed together with a few select colleges and universities to bring its competition to their communities in order to showcase true horse trainers with […]
Rangers preparing for season opener
ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team has spent weeks preparing for the upcoming season. The practice is about to be put to the test with the first event of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Central Plains Region, which takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Cherokee, Okla., just a stone’s throw […]
It’s voting time in the PRCA
I saw the full list for of PRCA end-of-the-year-award nominees yesterday, and it’s filled with some of the most talented, hard-working people I’ve worked with. It is my honor at every rodeo at which I’m hired to share time with these people. They work hard for their wares week in and week out, and these […]
A swing of momentum
REIGNING CHAMPS GAIN CONFIDENCE WITH RUNS IN KANSAS CITY KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A year ago, bull rider Tim Bingham was down and almost out. The year-long struggles had worn him out, and the end of the 2013 season couldn’t come soon enough. That changed in just eight seconds on the final weekend of September, […]
Board has big plans for fair’s future
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair Board is made up of visionaries who donate their time to the annual exposition. Not only has the group worked hard preparing for this year’s event – set for Friday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Oct. they’ve got their sights set on a bright future for Waller County Fair and Rodeo. […]
Texarkana enjoys Carr’s passion
TEXARKANA, Ark. – The accolades are nice, but the reason Pete Carr produces rodeos is found deep in his love for the sport. Over the years, Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo has been recognized as one of the top livestock firms in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In 2013 and ’14, Carr has been nominated […]
Frost to speak at rodeo banquet
DUNCAN, Okla. – It’s been more than 25 years since Lane Frost was killed during the final round of the 1989 Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo. He was a world champion bull rider and a fan-favorite who held a glimmering personality and a loving nature despite the rough-and-tumble sport in which he competed. He also […]
A Kansas championship
WORLD’S BEST STEER ROPERS TO COMPETE FOR GOLD BUCKLE AT KANSAS STAR ARENA MULVANE, Kan. – For the first time in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association history, a world championship will be crowned in Kansas. The Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping will crown the first world champion of 2014 during its two-day run Nov. 7-8 […]
Rodeo clown living his dreams
HARRISON WILL BE ONE OF THE MANY ENTERTAINING ASPECTS OF THE AMERICAN ROYAL PRORODEO KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For 10 December nights in the City of Lights, John Harrison rolled out an oversized protective barrel that served as his front-row seat for bull riding during the 2013 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. As the barrelman selected […]
Waller County Fair continues to blossom
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair is more than a local gathering; it’s an exposition in every sense of the word. Hempstead is a thriving community of 6,000 people just 50 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Over the course of nine days each fall, it’s a boomtown with loads of entertainment. That’s the way […]
New challenge accepted
AMERICAN ROYAL TO CONDUCT FIRST BUSINESSMEN’S STEER CHALLENGE DURING RODEO KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Royal ProRodeo has found a new fan-favorite event. The 2014 rodeo will feature the inaugural Businessmen’s Steer Challenge, which will have a preliminary round during the Friday, Sept. 26, performance of the American Royal ProRodeo at Hale Arena. The […]
Horse lovers enjoy the Challenge
STILLWATER, Okla. – Bill Stiffler saw the Colt Starting Challenge USA competitions as the perfect opportunity for his horse rescue operation. Stiffler, president of Friends of Horses in Centennial, Colo., needed good trainers to work with the horses that are at his complex. He found the right people through the unique competition, which matches trainers […]
Wards gunning for circuit titles
DUNCAN, Okla. – Andrew and Reagan Ward’s goal was simple from the start: Get to Duncan in October, then move on. While the mindset was straightforward, the path was steeped with landmines. From roping competitors to tough-to-handle steers to long drives and little sleep, there have been many challenges in the 2014 season for the […]
American Royal preparing for festival with youth as the beneficiary
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Every move made inside the American Royal complex is specifically designed for the association’s mission. As the foundation that holds the footing for everything involved in the American Royal and its fall festival, the mission is to promote and celebrate the excellence in agricultural progress and develop future generations of leaders […]
Trainer brings her passion to work
STILLWATER, Okla. – Michelle Gilles is a horse trainer and a competitor. She also is a wife and mother, and no matter where she goes, she does so with her family involved. Whether it’s working her business at their home near Lubbock, Texas, or on the road at competitions, it’s certainly family time. “A family […]
Trainers shooting for finale
COLT STARTING CHALLENGE TO HAVE ITS FINALS IN VEGAS DURING COWBOY FANFEST STILLWATER, Okla. – There is tremendous excitement centering around the unique Colt Starting Challenge USA. The new venture features horse trainers showing off their natural horsemanship skills over a two-day contest. The word is getting out, and the popularity of the events is […]
I am not Lazy Johnny Jackson
Over the last couple of days, I’ve had two dear friends contact me about Lazy Johnny Jackson, a character on Facebook. To set the record straight, I am not Lazy Johnny Jackson, though I do follow his posts. For those not in the know, LJJ likes to stir the pot. In fact, he follows professional […]
Event challenges horse trainers
COMPETITION WILL BRING TOGETHER TOP HORSEMEN WORKING WITH NOVICE ANIMALS STILLWATER, Okla. – For centuries, training horses has been a major part of ranch work worldwide. The key, all horsemen say, comes in the early stages of a colt’s development. “The funnest time of training horses is the first few days,” said Victor Sundquist, a […]
Freshman dominates CNFR to claim title
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the August issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. It is republished here with the approval of the WPRA. The reality of Cool Rowdy was that nobody wanted him. Not the Engessers, who owned him, and not anyone else for that matter. The family […]
Veterinarian making the cut in barrels
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the August issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. It is re-published here with the WPRA’s approval. Like a lot of circuit cowgirls, Fonda Galbreath has a full-time job, leaving her little time to compete in ProRodeo. That means traveling shorter distances in order […]
Champs crowned in Lovington
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Trevor Brazile owns 19 world championships and a countless number of individual rodeo titles. J.R. Vezain doesn’t own any gold buckles just yet, but he’s got all the talent, drive and, now, the ride equipment to make a move for that elusive title. During Saturday’s final night of the Lea County Fair […]
Tutor takes lead on Dirty Jacket
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Dirty Jacket is a special bucking horse, and nobody in ProRodeo knows that better than bareback rider Bill Tutor. “If you do your job right, he’s taking you to the pay window every time if not winning it,” said Tutor, a second-year pro from Huntsville, Texas. “I finished second in Eagle (Colo.) […]
Cooper honors Tuffy with solid run
LOVINGTON, N.M. – In his seven years in ProRodeo, Tuf Cooper has earned two tie-down roping world championship gold buckles and six qualifications to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. He hasn’t, however, done very well at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “I placed fourth in the first go-round last year, and that was the […]
Champ races into circuit lead
DUNCAN, Okla. – The rodeo trail can be rugged. Cowboys, cowgirls and their equine partners spend hours, even days, driving cross country chasing their gold-buckle dreams. It’s a tough life, but one most wouldn’t trade for the world. They’re competitors, and the rodeo road leads to championships. Across the Plains, many seek the coveted title […]