Blanchard banks another victory
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the October 2011 issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. Arena records are starting to become a regular occurrence for Sydni Blanchard and Firewater Fie. Can arena records get old? “No, not at all,” said a smiling Blanchard, whose most recent conquest came at […]
Home Stretch
Steffes caps off 2011 campaign with win in Pendleton By Ted Harbin Dash Ta Vanilla is just 6 years old, but the palomino mare has proven to be quite special. In fact, Nilla’s main passenger, 24-year-old Nikki Steffes, already has adjusted her career plans in order to take advantage of the gifted young racehorse. After […]
A living room with a view
In one of the pieces I did for the Omaha World-Herald while covering the River City Rodeo, I wrote: “Gold buckles may be won in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo, but they are forged in Omaha.” (You can read the column by clicking HERE.) I’m watching the GAC coverage of the Justin Boots […]
Clem McSpadden I’m not
I’d done it before, albeit in a different venue while working a different sport in a different decade. Announcing, I thought, was supposed to come fairly easily to me. Announcing a rodeo was supposed to be right up my alley; I’m a rodeo storyteller, for heaven’s sake. So when I was asked to announce a […]
Whitaker is a winner
The 2011 season marked two significant accomplishments for Nebraska cowboy Kyle Whitaker. The biggest, and most celebrated, is his record sixth Linderman Award, given to the cowboy who best exemplifies the historic, all-around standard of being great hands in both timed events and roughstock events, qualifying in three events. In Whitaker’s case, he ropes calves, […]
Trying something new
I will be expanding my horizons starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, when I announce the ranch rodeo at the Dakota Bronc Sisk Memorial Arena south of Maryville on State Highway A. My friend, Tim Schafer, is conducting the event, which will feature four-person teams competing in steer sorting, steer mugging, calf rope’n tie […]
Gee sneaks into NFR field
Mickey Gee won the PRCA steer wrestling world championship in 1999, winning the average title at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in the process. He also claimed the NFR average title in 2003, the only other time the Wichita Falls, Texas, cowboy has played on ProRodeo’s grandest stage. That’s a pretty good winning percentage. Gee […]
Time to look at NFSR’s history
As I consider the work I’m doing on behalf of the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, I can’t help but think about the first time the championship took place at the Lazy E Arena. That was in 1984. The building was prepared in time for the steer roping finale to take place in conjunction […]
Timed-event horse of the year winners
The PRCA has released the 2011 AQHA Horse of the Year winners, including in barrel racing. There are some great stories that go along with some of these winners, and I hope to share them with you soon. Congratulations to all of those who earned a spot among the best in the business: Team Roping […]
Hempstead’s inaugural ProRodeo deemed a success
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The organizers of the annual Waller County Fair and Rodeo had no idea what to expect during this year’s event. They had dreamed big, changing from an amateur rodeo to the ranks of ProRodeo as a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. They hired the best personnel in the business, from […]
An interesting tidbit about the 2011 NFR
By the PRCA There will be 22 first-timers among the 104 PRCA qualifiers for the Dec. 1-10 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, including six in the bull riding field and five saddle bronc riders. It is the third lowest number of NFR rookies in the last decade. Rookie bull rider Chandler Bownds, 20, is the youngest […]
Results from Hempstead
Waller County Fair and Rodeo Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Final Results All-round: Caleb Smidt, $1,191, tie-down roping and team roping Bareback riding: 1. Steven Anding, 88 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Grass Dancer, $1,354; 2. Chris Harris on Carr’s Island Girl and Evan Jayne on Carr’s Power Aid, 83, $882; 4. Jake Brown on Carr’s High […]
ProRodeo tour changes format
By the PRCA The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has announced changes to the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour presented by Justin Boots, effective for the 2012 season. Under the new format, the field for the Justin Boots Playoffs and Justin Boots Championships will be determined by the PRCA World Standings rather than the tour standings. The […]
Veteran cowboys putting bronc, bareback riding clinic
Contestants interested in riding bucking horses – or riding them better – will have a chance to hone their skills during a bareback riding and saddle bronc riding school planned for Friday, Nov. 11-Sunday, Nov. 13, in Ponca City, Okla. The brainchild of all-around rodeo hand Justin Rumford, the clinic will be instructed by saddle […]
WPRA coverage from Omaha
Here are the stories that ran each day during the Justin Boots Championships during the River City Rodeo in Omaha, Neb. From THURSDAY From FRIDAY From SATURDAY
Is the third time a charm, too?
Matt Sherwood has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the third time in his career. I suspect that means his partner, heeler Cory Petska, has his eyes on the big prize in 2011. You see, Sherwood’s other two trips to ProRodeo’s grand finale came in 2006 and 2008. In each of those seasons, […]
The fields are set
ProRodeo’s 2011 regular season came to a close this past weekend, meaning the fields for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping have been established. There are some great storylines associated with the qualifiers, and be on the lookout for many of those in the coming days. Here’s one […]
Hempstead rodeo draws big names in first year with PRCA
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The word is out, and the contestants are responding. Some of the biggest names in rodeo will be in Hempstead this weekend for the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, with performances set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The rodeo has been a fixture of the community event for decades, but this […]
Get your news here
Saturday night’s escapades in Omaha were quite hectic. I apologize for not posting more or sooner. Click HERE to see the coverage for the Omaha World-Herald
Final night’s results from Omaha
Justin Boots Championships CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Neb., Sept. 24 Bareback riding: Semifinals: 1. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 86 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Black Cat, $7,040; 2. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 84, $5,280; 3. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 80, $3,520; 4. Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore., 79, $1,760; 5. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 78; 6. […]
Great animals leading the charge for Carr Pro Rodeo
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – There are an elite few who really understand what makes one of the world’s best bucking horses. Pete Carr is one of those people. Carr, owner of Dallas based Carr Pro Rodeo, has a pasture full of outstanding animal athletes on the company’s ranch near Athens, Texas, and the herd is still […]
Round 2 and average results from Omaha
Justin Boots Championships CenturyLink Center, Omaha, Neb., Sept 23 Bareback riding: Second round: 1. Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 88 points on Sutton Rodeos’ China Town, $5,808; 2. Brian Bain, Culver, Ore., 87, $4,400; 3. Ryan Gray, Cheney, Wash., 86, $3,168; 4. Kaycee Feild, Payson, Utah, 84, $2,112; 5. (tie) Jason Havens, Prineville, Ore.; Steven Dent, […]
The World-Herald coverage of rodeo
Click HERE to read today’s Omaha World-Herald coverage of the River City Rodeo and the Justin Boots Championships.
Committee, Carr trying to build fair & rodeo’s foundation
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – There’s a lot of pride that organizers have in the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. They point to great community interest. With that kind of support, they envision growth and development in the annual expo. They realize the foundation has already been laid, and now is the time to develop it. “We […]