Invitational a big deal to young cowgirl
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kirbee Spire has two words about the American Royal’s Invitational Youth Rodeo. “It’s awesome,” said Spire, the reigning breakaway roping champion from Maryville, Mo. Why? “It’s really fun to go into an atmosphere like that, especially since it’s set up exactly like the NFR,” she said, referring to the Wrangler National […]
Breeding program on display in Hempstead
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Clint Cannon rides bucking horses for a living. He knows, probably better than most, just how important it is to have a high quality horse underneath him. It’s that knowledge that helped guide him to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three times so far in his career. He points to the great […]
Carr Pro Rodeo a piece of event’s success
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – When Chad Decker looks around Lone Star Arena, he knows what will happen the final weekend of September. “I know the contestants will be ready and the animals will buck,” said Decker, chairman of the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo committee, which produces the event set for 7 p.m. Friday, […]
Zinser program set the bar high
Forty years ago, there wasn’t much talk about breeding programs among rodeo stock contractors. Somewhat quietly, it seems, Jim and Maggie Zinser were breaking new ground. On their ranch near Claire, Mich., the Zinsers were in the process of breeding bucking horses in a fashion that has become the trick of the trade four decades […]
Circuit leaders are ready to ride in Duncan
DUNCAN, Okla. – Call it a happy coincidence or a great opportunity, but winning the Prairie Circuit wasn’t exactly in the plans written by Corey Navarre and Caine Riddle. Still, that’s the case for the brothers-in-law. Navarre, of Weatherford, Okla., has earned $10,455 this season and leads the bull riding standings as the top 12 […]
A change of seasons
Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo moves event to the end of September STEPHENVILLE, Texas – More people needed more of a chance to see a great event. “We wanted to accommodate our little town, and we want to make a bigger and better rodeo,” said Chad Decker, the chairman of the volunteer committee […]
Grabbing the sheep by the wool
American Royal’s mutton busting is a fan favorite for some, family time for others KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For a good portion of her life, Jennifer Pope’s participation in rodeo was as a fan. That’s changed, now. With her husband, Bret, they are now the parents of rodeo cowboys, and there’s not much that’s going […]
Steer ropers to make a push in Stephenville
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Folks around Erath County know rodeo. They live it. But for rodeo’s greatest players, this year’s Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo is an even bigger deal. With the change in dates to the final weekend of the 2012 regular season, Stephenville will be a hot spot for those cowboys and […]
The maker of athletes
I got to interview Jim Zinser today, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m working on a piece about the incredible bloodlines he developed over the course of owning J-Bar-J Rodeo. It’s quite amazing what Zinser has brought to the world of ProRodeo, and it’s hard to believe it’s been four years since he sold the […]
School tours give kids an ag background
Schoolchildren learn how food goes from farm to plate at the American Royal KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Al Davis wasn’t sure what to think. An elementary school teacher had just pointed to a farm animal and told her class it was a camel. The problem was, it was actually a Brahman bull. Yes, Brahman bulls […]
Rangers ready to tackle rodeo season
ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo teams have high expectations. To meet them, they must handle the rigors of the 10-event National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s Central Plains Region. It all starts Friday, Sept. 21-Sunday, Sept. 23, at the Colby (Kan.) Community College Rodeo. “Between the kids returning and the ones who are […]
The celebration continues
American Royal brings a fun atmosphere with an after-the-rodeo dance KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Royal understands tradition, from its decades of producing championship events to holding tight to its mission for youth, education and agriculture. That’s why many associated with this year’s fall festival are excited about the overall celebration that will surround […]
Fair is a big show for a small price
Volunteers come out to support the annual event, raise money for scholarships HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair and Rodeo is an exposition, an exhibition and a great place for affordable family entertainment. It’s also an entity that gives back to the community primarily through scholarships. “The scholarship program means more to the board […]
Chasing every dollar
There were numerous great storylines coming out of this season’s Pendleton (Ore.) Roundup, which wrapped yesterday with the short go-round and crowning of champions. The PRCA focused its piece on Bobby Mote, and rightfully so. He’s a four-time world champion bareback rider who is in the top five of the world standings. He won the […]
Royal offers unique opportunity
Reigning champs have a chance to win American Royal twice in same season KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eight contestants have an opportunity to accomplish something that’s never been done in the history of the American Royal Rodeo – they can win two titles in the same season. It’s possible because one month makes a big […]
It’s Whitfield vs. Solomon
Roping legend will battle young gun again at Hempstead rodeo HEMPSTEAD, Texas – There has to be something in the east Texas water. Whatever it is, the world of rodeo is reaping the rewards. You see, east Texas seems to breed top quality tie-down ropers, many of whom will converge on the Waller County Fair […]
Elite contestants ready to return home
Anderson, Lowe grew up at the American Royal and hope to win it this September KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Jeanne Anderson can’t remember the first time she attended the American Royal. “I grew up as a little kid playing in the stockyard,” said Anderson, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from White City, Kan. […]
Cannon, Carr bring a history to Hempstead
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Whether it’s Window Rock, Ariz., or Eagle, Colo., bareback rider Clint Cannon knows he’s going to do all he can to compete at rodeos produced by Carr Pro Rodeo. It’s a little easier when it happens in his back yard, which is the case at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, set […]
Rodeo clown plans to put on a show in K.C.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Cody Sosebee knows his silhouette better resembles Alfred Hitchcock than most rodeo clowns. “Some people see me weigh about 150 pounds more than the guy next to me, but that’s OK,” said Sosebee, who will work his entertaining magic during the American Royal Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, […]
World titles are what define Brazile
Defending champ hopes to add to his gold buckles by repeating at the NFSR GUTHRIE, Okla. – Trevor Brazile is defined by many things, and most of them are gold. In all, the Decatur, Texas, cowboy owns 16 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association gold buckles, nine of which are the most coveted in the sport of […]
Shada Brazile is dialed in aboard Dial It
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the September edition of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. When Brittany Pozzi rode Dial It Fast during the Ram Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo in Waco, Texas, this past January, Trevor Brazile saw something he liked in the horse. “I’d like to head some steers […]
Peebles making a big move
Steven Peebles had a Joe Theismann moment, and it happened on the biggest stage of his chosen sport, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Theismann was sacked by Lawrence Taylor during a 1985 Monday Night Football game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants and suffered gruesomely broken leg. It was – and still […]
On the mend and on the trail
I see where Clint Cannon has returned to competition. Cannon, a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Waller, Texas, leads the bareback riding at the Kendall County Fair and PRCA Rodeo in Boerne, Texas, with a 77-point ride on Bad Company Rodeo’s Easy Lover. It’s a good sign. Cannon, who was working his way […]
It wasn’t as bad as it seemed
The frustrations are minor; they really are. But today was one of those days. I intended to focus on interviews today since I had the freedom to do so. I made some calls, but none of them were returned. That happens a lot in the storytelling business; it happens a lot less now that cell […]