Champs bring star power to RNCFR
GUTHRIE, Okla. – Wesley Silcox and Cody Teel are about as different as two bull riders can be. Silcox, 28, is from Utah and is now in his 11th season competing in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association; he is 5-foot-8 and has qualified to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo six times in his career. Teel […]
Harrison taking funny to Guymon
GUYMON, Okla. – 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 for ProRodeo’s super bowl, Harrison’s job was to man the specially made steel keg as […]
Much has changed in the last dozen years
I took special notice of Monday’s news release from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, especially concerning the note about legendary roper Joe Beaver crossing the $3 million mark in career earnings. I recall the pomp and circumstance surrounding the announcement of Beaver crossing the $2 million mark during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo a dozen […]
Barrel racing brings out the best
GUTHRIE, Okla. – Sherry Cervi is the most decorated cowgirl making a living on the ProRodeo trail today. Just a few months removed from earning her fourth Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Championship, Cervi is already prepared to run for another title: National Champion. She will be one of 24 barrel racers competing at the […]
Fort Worth offers nice paydays
Over the last five years, I’ve watched bareback rider Steven Peebles develop. Even as a young man, he was one of the very best at his craft. He keeps getting better. A couple of gnarly injuries the past two seasons have slowed the Oregon bronc buster down a tad, but he continues to be an […]
The ‘Ironman’ promises another great show
I’ve spent the last few days wrapping up the biggest portion of the advance work for the Timed Event Championship of the World. This year’s field of 20 top cowboys is outstanding. In fact, it features four former champions representing 11 titles: reigning and three-time champ Daniel Green, five-time winner K.C. Jones, two-time titlist Kyle […]
RNCFR has entertainment value
Tickets for RNCFR, including Randy Rogers Band and Rodney Atkins, go on sale Feb. 7 GUTHRIE, Okla. – When the stars align in central Oklahoma, spectacular things occur. That will be the case during the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for April 10-12 at the Lazy E Arena. It is the home of the […]
Bullfighters bring versatility to rodeo
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The life of a rodeo bullfighter comes quite naturally to Clay Heger. His father, the late Paul Heger, was a bullfighter and clown, and the younger Heger was just a month old when he went to his first rodeo. “I was in clown acts when I was 2 years old,” said Heger, […]
Great report on the NFR-Las Vegas
Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Howard Stutz put together THIS comprehensive opinion piece about the negotiations to keep the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas for the next 11 years. In his report, Stutz wrote, “The combined efforts of South Point owner Michael Gaughan, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas […]
Carr brings passion, talent to rodeo
STARKVILLE, Miss. – 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. Last year alone, Carr was nominated for the […]
Is 3rd time the charm for McCoys?
The person responsible for social media for the reality TV show “The Amazing Race” posted a photo Monday morning of the cast for the show’s 24th season, which is scheduled to begin Feb. 23 on CBS-TV. The photo reveals that The Cowboys, Oklahoma brothers Jet and Cord McCoy, will be part of the “All-Star Edition” […]
Carr animals stand out in Fort Worth
FORT WORTH, Texas – The inaugural Fort Worth Super Shootout on Thursday night turned into a presentation of rodeo’s brightest star displaying their talent on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo bucking animals. The shootout, which is part of the legendary Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo, featured event winners from some of the most prestigious rodeos […]
NFR staying in Las Vegas
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is staying in Las Vegas. Numerous sources contacted me Friday, and it was confirmed moments ago in a release issued by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, that the organization and Las Vegas Events agreed to terms to keep the NFR in Sin City. The boards of the respective entities voted […]
Cervi claims 4th gold buckle in record fashion
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story on the 2013 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Sherry Cervi’s world championship that appear in the January 2014 edition of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. As Sherry Cervi and MP Meter My Hay rounded the third barrel during their final run of the 2013 season, all […]
Answers seem a long ways away
Over the last week, I’ve visited with several people concerning all the goings-on with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and the top contestants in the game. The calls came from contract personnel, sponsors, committee members, contestants and former contestants. The calls have been about what the future holds for the sport of rodeo, the PRCA […]
The clouds are starting to part
Are the top cowboys still planning to leave the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association? The truth to that is still unknown. But there seems – the key word in this sentence is “seems” – to be some headway being made. Inference has been made to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, featuring the top cowboys in the […]
True champs chasing Timed Event title
GUTHRIE, Okla. – Few men can lay claim to being the Timed Event Champion of the World. Fewer can say they’ve done it twice; fewer yet have won the prestigious title more than that. In 2013, Californian Daniel Green placed his name on that hallowed list with his third gold buckle in the most unique […]
PRCA issues statement on recent events
EDITOR’S NOTE: Because of the story presented by a number of the top cowboys and cowgirls in ProRodeo that appeared on the group’s Facebook page and on TwisTED Rodeo (see HERE) on Jan. 6 and later appeared in subsequent publications, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association issued a statement to media representatives that requested it. Below […]
Whitney making plans to retire
BULL RIDER EXPECTS TO COMPETE ONE LAST SEASON BEFORE MOVING ON SAYRE, Okla. – Cody Whitney was just 8 years old when he first tied himself to a bucking bovine. Now 25 years later, he’s putting the wraps to a stellar bull riding career. Whitney – who lives in Sayre, Okla., with his wife Kori, […]
Top cowboys, cowgirls unite to protect their sport
EDITOR’S NOTE: The story that appears below was presented by a group of contestants that has created a Facebook page to present its case. For more information, check out the Support Rodeo Contestants page. A group of the top cowboys and cowgirls have been working diligently behind the scenes to try and protect the sport […]
Rodewald flying toward $1 million prize
Ryan Rodewald is a professional pilot based in Florida. It’s his job to make sure passengers are delivered from gate to gate safely and on time. But behind the yoke and gauges in those large jets oftentimes sits a rodeo cowboy who still holds a hankering for riding wild horses. After nine years away from […]
Janssen, Kennedy dominate Great Lakes
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appeared in the December 2013 issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. When Shelby Janssen competed at the 2012 Ram Great Lakes Circuit Finals Rodeo, she learned a few lessons inside Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. “Last year I won the first round, […]
Thompson adds major title to resume
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a story that appears in the December 2013 edition of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. It is from the WPRA World Finals. Hope Thompson trains horses and helps teach roping schools, so to say roping is her business is a bit of an understatement. After a […]
Reflecting on a great year
After two marvelous weeks in Las Vegas for ProRodeo’s grand finale, I returned home a week ago. Home is where my family is, which is why it’s such a big deal to me to be here. I’m gone from my girls enough throughout the year, so I cherish the time spent with them – and, […]