Planes, trains and automobiles
Social media is an amazing thing. Over the last couple of days, I’ve witnessed several of my friends make their long-haul trek to Las Vegas for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Many are hauling trailers loaded with some of the greatest animal athletes in the game, so it’s imperative that they make the long drive. […]
Returning to my roots
One of my first writing assignments for my college newspaper was covering the football team for which I played. It was the first of many football assignments I’ve had over the last 27 years. On Saturday, I will return to one of my old haunts, covering an NCAA Division II playoff game between Northwest Missouri […]
My Thanksgiving message to you
Over the last four months, I’ve been blessed to work numerous events spread out from Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma. I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories of dozens of people. I’ve worked some of the noted events in the game, from ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee Dodge City Roundup Rodeo to […]
Hazen finds his niche in bulldogging
ASHLAND, Kan. – As Jule Hazen sat in the stands at a college rodeo during his third year in school, he saw something that changed his life. The 32-year-old, who grew up on a farm and ranch in southwest Kansas, paid particular attention to steer wrestling. Though he had never competed in the event, it […]
Durfey focused for the NFR
COLBERT, Wash. – Tyson Durfey arrived in Las Vegas one December ago with a bitter taste in his mouth. Durfey failed to qualify for the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, finishing the regular season as the No. 18 tie-down roper in the world standings; only the top 15 earn the right to compete in ProRodeo’s […]
Johnson has a strong plan for NFR
SHERIDAN, Wyo. – Chet Johnson likes Canada, especially during the summer months. It provides a great respite from the heat cowboys can encounter while competing in rodeo in the lower 48 states. Sure, it gets a little damp, but it’s relatively cool and offers quite a bit to someone like Johnson, a saddle bronc rider […]
Jarrett taking business to NFR
COMANCHE, Okla. – Ryan Jarrett is a cowboy, and rodeo is his business. Right now, business is good. Jarrett, the 2005 all-around world champion from Comanche, will return to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the eighth qualification of his career. While in Las Vegas for the Dec. 5-14 championship, Jarrett hopes to collect his […]
Corrington has title on his mind
HASTINGS, Minn. – The 2013 ProRodeo season has been nothing shy of spectacular for saddle bronc rider Tyler Corrington. He’s hoping it just gets better. Corrington will get his shot during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, set for Dec. 5-14 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. It’s the sport’s grand finale, where […]
Willis ready for world-title hunt
WHEATLAND, Wyo. – Tyler Willis has had a busy fall, and it’s not been in a rodeo arena. Willis, a 23-year-old bull rider from rural eastern Wyoming, will ride his next bull at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, ProRodeo’s grand finale set for Dec. 5-14 in Las Vegas. For the last several weeks, though, Willis […]
Smith primed and ready for NFR
EASTLAND, Texas – A year ago, Jared Smith was living at his parents’ home near Williston, Fla., doing whatever he could while on injured reserve from rodeo. This year, he’s busy preparing his body for the rigors that come with 10 days of riding bareback horses at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand […]
Colletti excited about business trip
PUEBLO, Colo. – Casey Colletti has never taken his status as one of the elite ProRodeo cowboys for granted. Riding bucking horses in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is just too hard, too demanding on the body. Bareback riding is the toughest event on a cowboy’s body, where his hand is wedged into a rigging […]
Elshere ready for NFR’s pressure
FAITH, S.D. – One trait cowboys learn early in life is to overcome any obstacle that comes their way. Cole Elshere and his family, like so many in South Dakota, experienced true devastation in early October when a blizzard blanked their home. Tens of thousands of cattle perished statewide, including a good portion of the […]
Scheer zeroed in on gold buckle
ELSMERE, Neb. – If the third time is the charm, Cort Scheer must like his chances at this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Scheer is the No. 6 saddle bronc rider in the world standings, and the Elsmere cowboy is headed to the NFR for the third time in four years. Through the rigors of […]
Armes rides roller coaster to NFR
PONDER, Texas – The 2013 ProRodeo season has been quite a roller coaster ride for Bray Armes. The 31-year-old steer wrestler from Ponder has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the second straight year, finishing the regular season with $57,094 in earnings and No. 14 on the money list; only the top 15 […]
Friends produce benefit for Ford
LAS VEGAS – Bruce Ford is a five-time world champion bareback rider and a member of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. He’s also a survivor and one of the most caring and most giving men anyone could ever meet. That’s what his friends say, and they should know. A great number of Ford’s friends have […]
Faith guides Winters to the NFR
TEXLINE, Texas – Tucked inside the New Mexico-Texas state line, just 10 miles from Clayton, N.M., is the home of Jean and Guy Winters. It’s there that they have raised and educated their two sons, Pecos, 17, and Brazos, 15. It’s where they have focused their lives on the basics: Faith, love and family. You […]
Cooper ready for his run at NFR
MONUMENT, N.M. – The terrain around Monument is rugged, but so are the people who live in Lea County, N.M. It’s home to Jim Ross Cooper, where the landscape molded him as much as his famous rodeo family. You see, the four-time team roping qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has a powerful legacy […]
Benbenek racing toward her dreams
AUBREY, Texas – From the first day she swung her leg over a horse, Gretchen Benbenek has had a love affair with the majestic animals. These days, she chases that passion while riding racehorses on the ProRodeo trail, and she’s pretty good at it, too. Raised on Montana, Benbenek was part of two women’s national […]
NFR horse Open Range dies
Carr Pro Rodeo’s Open Range was an outstanding athlete, selected as one of the top 100 bucking horses in ProRodeo to perform at the upcoming Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The bay was just 6 years old when it died Thursday in Bryan, Texas. Ranch manager Jeremy Hight checked on the bucking horses and bulls at […]
Holeman, Benbenek earn circuit crowns
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a story that appears in the November 2013 edition of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. June Holeman was giddy. It was Saturday, Oct. 19, and she stood inside the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center in Duncan, Okla., with as big a smile as the 70-year-old […]
Dirty Jacket is the Real Deal
Dirty Jacket and Real Deal are two very athletic geldings owned by Pete Carr, and they were two of the biggest stars this past weekend at the Texas Stampede in Allen, Texas. Wes Stevenson rode Real Deal, and young gun Orin Larsen rode Dirty Jacket; both posted scores of 88 points to share the event […]
J. Tom Fisher wins Round 6
1. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 10.8 seconds, $5,077; 2. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan., 11.1, $4,077; 3. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 11.8, $3,077; 4. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D., 11.9, $2,077; 5. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas, 12.3, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. J.P. Wickett, Sallisaw, Okla., 78.1 seconds on six head; 2. Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas, 83.7; […]
Brazile wins his third go-round
1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, 9.3 seconds, $5,077; 2. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 10.5, $4,077; 3. Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 11.2, $3,077; 4. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 12.3, $2,077; 5. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas, 14.2, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas, 99.2 seconds on seven head; 2. Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas, […]
Snedecor claims eighth-round win
1. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas, 10.2 seconds, $5,077; 2. Joe Wells, Cisco, Texas, 11.1, $4,077; 3. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas, 11.2, $3,077; 4. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 11.6, $2,077; 5. Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas, 12.1, $1,077. Average leaders: 1. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas, 110.4 seconds on eight head; 2. Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas, 113.3; […]