115 years of The Daddy of ’em All
The 115th edition of the world famous Cheyenne Frontier Days has begun with the first performance Saturday afternoon. Over the next week, the biggest names in rodeo will try to add a (or another) Cheyenne title to their resume. It’s a coveted championship. And the prize money isn’t too shabby either. In fact, the overall […]
Pierce, Barrington share Old Fort Days Rodeo title
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a recap of the Fort Smith, Ark., rodeo that appears in the July 2011 issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News. There was something magical in the air surrounding Kay Rogers Park’s Harper Stadium on May 31, the second night of the Old Fort Days Rodeo. The Fort Smith, Ark., rodeo is […]
Special events make an impact on Lovington’s fair
LOVINGTON, N.M. – In every community, there are children who would love the opportunity to be a cowboy or a cowgirl, even for a day. Without events like the Special Rodeo, many children never would get the opportunity. Physical disabilities don’t allow for them to rope or ride. They still dream nonetheless. That’s why the […]
That’s a Pretty Prairie, and they’re helpful there
Rodeo people are the greatest in the world. The rodeo committee at Pretty Prairie, Kan., tops my list right now. We limped into Pretty Prairie at 45 mph (which is really tough on me) at 3:30 a.m. for slack Wednesday morning. After slack, several of the rodeo committee men helped me figure out what was […]
Carr livestock evens the playing field for all contestants
LOVINGTON, N.M. – The terrain that is part of the southeast New Mexico is rugged; so are the cowboys that make this their home. This is ranching country, and the men who work this land know their business. That’s why some of the greatest timed-event cowboys in ProRodeo history come from this neck of the […]
Closer to home
I just got into the good ol’ USA. It was a good trip to Canada. I have a rodeo Thursday and Friday, then I’m heading home. Highs were unusual, 70s and lots of short-lived storms. There were even some tornadoes.
Tour helps add to the prestige of an already good rodeo
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Community is the foundation for the eight-day Lea County Fair and Rodeo. It’s why ticket prices are just $5. It’s why the Lea County Commission underwrites the event, which begins Friday, Aug. 5, and has been a southeastern New Mexico showcase for 76 years. It’s why the rodeo is part of the […]
Temperatures in the 70s in the heat of the day
Since the last week of June, I’ve been to Clear Lake, S.D., back home, to Park Rapids, Minn., for July 1-3, then drove 900 miles overnight to Choteau, Mont., for a one-performance rodeo on the Fourth. I knew I was going to be rolling in just after the performance started, so I put on my […]
Celebrated artists bringing their acts to Lea County
LOVINGTON, N.M. – When the Eli Young Band announced itself to the music world, it did so with great gusto. Its debut album, Jet Black & Jealous, entered the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart at No. 5; it was No. 2 on iTunes. It featured the band’s first Top 10 song on country radio, “Always […]
Lerwill excited for his return to Buck Wild Days Rodeo
SILVERTON, Texas – Some people are always searching for that one thing that will make their lives complete. That’s not Troy Lerwill, a Utah man who lives his life on the rodeo trail entertaining hundreds of thousands of fans a year. Lerwill gets to laugh and carouse and, what might be most impressive, is that […]
It was quite an experience to say the least
It was 11:15 p.m., dark and raining as I made my way to TeePee Creek, Alberta. I was on the sixth hour of my drive and less than 20 miles from my destination. I was on the phone with the head committeeman for the rodeo there when I came across four teens in a car […]
Roach roping her way to a world title
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appeared in the July 2011 edition of Women’s Pro Rodeo News. It was the cover story, and it was great getting to know a little more about a young Texas roper. Jaymee Roach likes to have fun. She likes to smile and laugh, and, her friends say, she likes for others […]
Calgary title on the line today
The Calgary Stampede has been a world-class operation for many years. It might be getting better. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. Central Time Sunday, the top 10 contestants in each event through nine straight performances have earned the right to compete for the $100,000. That’s pretty incredible. What’s more incredible is the list of top names […]
Bringing you news
A big announcement in the world of rodeo is coming soon. I’ll keep you posted, but I might be releasing it as early as Friday. Keep checking back.
Top animal athletes, great weather draw cowboys to Eagle
EAGLE, Colo. – For a rodeo cowboy, there are few things that can top winning one’s hometown rodeo. Cody Martin is hoping to find out when the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo kicks off its 2011 run, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 27-Saturday, July 30. Back-to-back wins in the Rocky Mountain community would be […]
Gizmo’s comedy a good fit for Fair and Rodeo crowd
LOVINGTON, N.M. – There’s a lot to Dale McCracken. The Missouri man has multiple personalities, but it’s not a disorder. Like a superhero donning his cape, McCracken paints his face with greasepaint and enters the world of his alter-ego, Gizmo, a comedian who has entertained rodeo crowds for much of his life. It’s as if […]
Sherwood, new partner find Fourth of July fireworks
PIMA, Ariz. – As folks in this region understand, sometimes it takes just a spark to ignite a wildfire. World champion team roper Matt Sherwood is hoping that’s the case for his 2011 season. The spark came during the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Fourth of July run, where Sherwood and partner Cory Petska of Marana, […]
McCoy in Australian competition
SYDNEY, Australia – The last time Cord McCoy was in the picturesque city of Sydney, he and his brother, Jet, were on a sprint around the world for the $1 million first-place prize on the CBS-TV reality series “The Amazing Race.” Most recently, McCoy was Down Under fighting for another bull riding title while competing […]
If you can’t be there …
If you can’t be in Alberta for the Calgary Stampede, you can still catch all the fascinating action livestreaming on the Internet HERE. The show opened with rookie bronc riding, and the young cowboys were in a dogfight with the exceptional young horses in the mix. I’m not sure who all the commentators are, but […]
Stampeding in Calgary
The Calgary Stampede began its world-renowned 10-day festival Friday. It’s been called the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth; it’s definitely a showcase of the best in rodeo. Its championship is one every ProRodeo contestant wants to win. The opening performance featured a who’s who of winners, like world champions Wesley Silcox, bull riding; Chad Ferley, […]
A steep incline
I fought an uphill battle all the Fourth run. I had to turn out a couple good ones due to a groin injury, but I’m feelin’ good again now! It was a hectic week where the good ones were a little off, and JMac (Justin McDaniel) and I drew some colts that we couldn’t even get […]
A flight that didn’t happen
Rodeo bloggers D.V. Fennell and Justin McDaniel talk about a flight that didn’t happen, even after it did.
Runnin’ hot
The Fourth of July rodeo run was plenty lucrative in 2011. In fact, 59 cowboys and cowgirls earned at least $10,000 during the one week of rodeoing. Of course, that meant a lot of long hours on the road. It mean all-night drives and rushed trips to airports. Barrel racer Brenda Mays said she began […]
Still breaking records
It’s been a few years since Ty Murray was on top of the rodeo world. More than a decade. It’s been 13 years since he won his then-record seventh all-around world championship. It’s been 12 years since Murray set the high-water mark for Cowboy Christmas earnings, those dollars won at rodeos over the lucrative Fourth […]