Category Archives: Uncategorized

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Leighton Berry has earned a significant income in just a short time. Now in the fourth month of the year, the Weatherford, Texas, cowboy has already earned more than $115,000 and sits No. 1 in the bareback riding world standings. Nearly $11,000 of that has come over the last couple of weeks at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. Since February, Berry has earned at least a share of the championship at three of the biggest rodeos in Texas: Houston, San Antonio and San Angelo; he also won in Los Fresnos, Texas. He’s been on a roll that nobody would want to stop, and he proved again it inside the Foster Communications Coliseum. “First and foremost, I’ve got to thank God,” he said. “That’s been my No. 1 thing; I’ve been trying to focus on Him this year. It’s kept my head on straight and helped me with everything else in life, my workouts and everything I’ve got going on at home. I try to remind myself to be a good person and keep following God.” Prayer works, and it has for quite a while. Two years ago, Berry didn’t get the chance to compete in San Angelo. He’s suffered a broken back at a rodeo in Odessa, Texas, in January. Through his faith and his dedication to rehabilitation, he returned to action seven months later and came within a whisker of returning to the National Finals Rodeo; he first competed at the NFR in 2020, just a few weeks before his injury. He got his chance to play on the grandest stage in rodeo again last season, and he took full advantage. He earned more than $137,000 in just 10 December nights in Las Vegas and finished the 2022 campaign as the third-best bareback rider in the game. He’s just taken it a step up in the early stages of this season. In San Angelo, he finished in a four-way tie for third place in the opening go-round with an 87-point ride on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Rip, which was worth $2,523. He then won the San Angelo short round with an 88.5-point ride on Championship’s Cajun Queen and shared the aggregate championship with newcomer Andy Gingerich of Aberdeen, South Dakota. Both had a two-ride cumulative score of 175.5 points. “Everybody at Championship Pro Rodeo, mainly Will O’Connell, has done an outstanding job of putting together a great set of bucking horses that prove themselves time in and time out,” Berry said. “Pete Carr is the stock contractor in San Angelo and does a great job all the time of bringing the right stock contractors to his rodeos, whether it’s his amazing bucking stock or the best from other guys. “He tries to make it as even a pen of stock as he can whether it’s the bucking stock or the calves they rope or the steers they rope. That gives everybody as even of a shot to win.” Berry is an established veteran. Friday’s championship round featured 10 bareback riders, six of whom have made the NFR (two world champions). Three others – Gingerich, Luke Thrash and Jacek Frost – are all rookies. It just added to the flair that people in west Texas have come to expect at San Angelo’s rodeo. “I’m only 24, and I’ve been rodeoing the last couple of years, but I feel like I’m turning into a veteran because of all these young kids that are riding like superstars,” he said. “Bareback riding has exploded on the scene, and I’m glad to see it. It makes for better competition.” There was plenty of excitement all night, and the biggest winner fiscally was barrel racer Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas. She placed in a tie for second in the opening round, then won the second round. She and her big, gray gelding, Will, posted the second fastest run in the championship round to clinch the aggregate title. In all, Mowry pocketed $25,283. The packed house inside the historic coliseum made sure every contestant felt the energy. “The electricity in there is similar to the NFR,” Berry said of the Thomas & Mack Center, the home of ProRodeo’s grand finale since 1985. “You’re in a little dome building. The fans come to this rodeo for a reason. They make you feel right at home. “You get a cowboy feel to it and get chills down your spine. You feel like you’re in a gunslinger town.” Leighton Berry came to town with his pistols loaded and the No. 1 ranking in the world standings. He made sure to fire off a few shots of his own, and he has the San Angelo title because of it. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding: 1. Luke Thrash, 88.5 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Think Pink, $7,569; 2. Andy Gingerich, 87.5, $5,803; 3. (tie) Jess Pope, Clayton Biglow, Cole Reiner and Leighton Berry, 87, $2,523 each; 7. Orin Larsen, 86.5, $1,009; 8. Shane O’Connell, 86, $757. Final round: 1. Leighton Berry, 88.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Cajun Queen, $1,650; 2. Andy Gingerich, 88, $1,250; 3. Shane O’Connell, 87.5, $900; 4. Luke Thrash, 86.5, $600; 5. Jacek Frost, 86, $350; 6. Jess Pope, 85.5, $250. Average: 1. (tie) Leighton Berry and Andy Gigerich, 175.5 points on two rides, $6,686 each; 3. Luke Thrash, 175, $4,289; 4. Shane O’Connell, 173.5, $2,775; 5. Jess Pope, 172.5, $1766; 6. (tie) Jacek Frost and Clayton Biglow, 170.5, $1,135 each; 8. Richmond Champion, 169, $757.  Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Will Lummus and Josh Garner, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. Jay Williamson, 3.7, $3,975; 5. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline, Denard Butler and Remey Parrott, 3.8, $1,845 each. Second round: 1. Cash Robb, 3.2 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8, $3,549 each; 6. Stan Branco, 3.9, $2,271; 7. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Kassie Mowry was in a bit of a hurry during Thursday’s 10th performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. It’s good for her to be in that position, because she’s used to going fast. She trains barrel racing horses, and she’s pretty darn good at her job. She and her mount, Will, made everything happen in a rush, winning the second go-round and moving into the two-run aggregate lead. She will head into Friday’s championship round in the top spot with hopes of earning her second San Angelo title in six years. Her job wasn’t done once the race was over, though. She loaded up her stead – Will, an 8-year-old gray gelding – and headed back home to Dublin, Texas, because she has a morning schedule to keep before returning to Tom Green County Friday evening. “He always surprises people, because he’s so big that it looks like he’s just loping,” said Mowry, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “He’s a big boy. He’s 17 hands tall, but he can clock really well.” The tandem rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 14.04 seconds, the fastest of the rodeo. They have a two-run cumulative time of 29.86 seconds, the only team to post a sub-30-second aggregate. They finished the first round in a tie for second place, and with one night remaining, Mowry has already earned $11,753 in San Angelo. “This rodeo has been huge for me,” she said. “I actually won this rodeo in 2017, and it was a qualifier to get into Houston. I was nowhere in the standings, but I got invited into Houston and won Houston. I made the NFR that year because of San Angelo and Houston.” That’s valuable, because both rodeos are close to her home. Because she focuses her attention on training and showing colts through the futurity season, she expects her run in Angelo to be her last in ProRodeo until the first of July. “I’m not able to be gone (rodeoing) very much because of the colts and the futurities,” Mowry said. “I have to make every run count.” She’s doing that on Will, a big bruiser she estimates to weigh about 1,500 pounds. They’ll try their hand at the pattern inside Foster Communications Coliseum one more time. “I have a lot of confidence in my horse,” she said. “I feel like if he leaves the barrels up, he usually clocks really good. I just have to be good with my timing. He’s a lot of horse to get around a barrel, so my timing is really important to his success. “Because he’s had some injury issues, he’s really green for his age. He’s not been hauled a lot, but he’s big and he tries hard. He doesn’t back down.” Rookie bareback rider Luke Thrash also doesn’t back down from a challenge. He rode J Bar J Rodeo’s Think Pink for 88.5 points to win the first round, earning nearly $7,600 and giving himself a shot at the elusive title come Friday night. With that, he moved into fifth in the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings and moved into the top 15 in the world standings. There are still two nights of rodeo remaining in San Angelo. Friday features the top 12 contestants in each event battling for the rodeo’s title, and the Cinch Chute-Out will close out the three weeks of incredible action in west Texas. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Because of technical issues, not all events have round payouts. Bareback riding leaders: 1. Luke Thrash, 88.5 points on J Bar J Rodeo’s Think Pink, $7,569; 2. Andy Gingerich, 87.5, $5,803; 3. (tie) Jess Pope, Clayton Biglow, Cole Reiner and Leighton Berry, 87, $2,523 each; 7. Orin Larsen, 86.5, $1,009; 8. Shane O’Connell, 86, $757; 9. Bronc Marriott, 85.5; 10. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jacek Frost, 84.5; 12. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Caleb Bennett and Kody Lamb, 84. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Will Lummus and Josh Garner, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. Jay Williamson, 3.7, $3,975; 5. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline, Denard Butler and Remey Parrott, 3.8, $1,845 each. Second round leaders: 1. Cash Robb, 3.2 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8, $3,549 each; 6. Stan Branco, 3.9, $2,271; 7. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1, $662 each. Average leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 8.1 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Cody Devers, Will Lummus and Eli Lord, 8.2; 5. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 6. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 7. (tie) Talon Roseland and Jacob Talley, 8.5; 9. Cash Robb, 8.6; 10. (tie) Paul Melvin and Mason Couch, 8.8; 12. Tyler Pearson, 8.9. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds, $5,188 each; 3. Dustin Equsquiza/Levi Lord, Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0, $3,378 each; 6. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 4.1, $1,930; 7. (tie) Shay Carrol/Evan Arnold, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins and Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.2, $563 each. Second round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 3.4 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 3.6 seconds; 3. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 3.7; 4. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 6. (tie) Derrick Begay/Colter Todd and Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 8. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 8.8; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 9.1; 5. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 9.3; 6. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 9.3; 7. (tie) Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 9.5; 10. Tanner James/Jason Johe, 9.6; 11. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 9.7. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Dawson Hay, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s South Point Gambler; 2. Brody Cress, 87.5; 3. Wyatt Casper, 86; 4. Ian McGivney, 85; 5. (tie) Sage Newman and Ben  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – A San Angelo cowboy shined brightly Wednesday night at his hometown rodeo. The crowd inside Foster Communications Coliseum is always loud and always on point when it comes to enjoying the rodeo performances, but the sound exploded during Ty Harris’ 7.9-second run. It was his first of at least two runs, and he finished in a three-way tie for fifth place in the opening round. That’s worth $2,442 already, and he’ll make his second run Thursday to see if he can place again; most of all, he wants to earn his spot in Friday’s championship round of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo and put himself into contention to win his hometown rodeo. “I sure know I get excited,” Harris said of the crowd’s raucous ovation for his performance. “I’d rope here every day for $10. This is what it’s about; this is what dreams are made of. When I was growing up, I dreamt of stuff like this, but I couldn’t even put it into thoughts how it feels. “These people … this crowd … it doesn’t get any better. I’m so excited to be here, and I’m glad it worked out tonight.” Harris, 24, is a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who finished 11th in the 2022 world standings. He isn’t among the top 50 yet this year, but he pulled off the biggest victory of any cowboy in 2023 when he won the tie-down roping title at The American. As a cowboy that wasn’t invited into the field, he earned a share of the $1 million bonus with breakaway roper Jackie Crawford. In all, both Harris and Crawford left Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, with $600,000 in earnings. That will go a long way, but the money doesn’t count for the ProRodeo world standings. Money earned in San Angelo does, and he needs every dollar he can muster if he hopes to return to the NFR for a fifth straight year. “It was kind of a blur,” he said of his run. “It all happened fast. I didn’t know if (the rope) was going to go on (the calf). I thought I missed. Thank goodness (I didn’t). Hopefully we can put one more together.” Truth be told, he’d prefer three good runs in consecutive days to close out his run at home. Only the top 12 in each event from the preliminary performances advance to Friday’s round. Dawson Hay, a three-time NFR qualifier from Wildwood, Alberta, rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s South Point Gambler for 90.5 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead and give himself a good shot at the San Angelo title. Each time the horse has bucked in Las Vegas, he’s done so in bareback riding. Hay proved the paint horse has plenty of power to work in bronc riding.   “I didn’t now a whole lot about hat horse,” said Hay, the middle son of saddle bronc riding legend Rod Hay. “I just knew he was definitely a chance if I did my stuff. “We love coming here every single year. I can’t wait until the short round.” The championship round is where the best from three weeks in west Texas meet, and it’s the route all want to take to get to the coveted San Angelo title. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jess Pope, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted River, Clayton Biglow, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks, Cole Reiner, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Cat Nap, and Leighton Berry, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Rip, 87 points; 5. Orin Larsen, 86.5; 6. Bronc Marriott, 85.5; 7. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jacek Frost, 84.5; 9. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Caleb Bennett and Kody Lamb, 84; 12. (tie) Ty Pope, Dean Thompson and Tim O’Connell, 83.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds, $6,530; 2. (tie) Will Lummus and Josh Garner, 3.5, $5,252 each; 4. Jay Williamson, 3.7, $3,975; 5. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline, Denard Butler and Remey Parrott, 3.8, $1,845 each. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 3. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 5. Stan Branco, 3.9; 6. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 8.1 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Cody Devers, Will Lummus and Eli Lord, 8.2; 5. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 6. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 7. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 8. (tie) Paul Melvin and Mason Couch, 8.8; 10. Curtis Cassidy, 9.0; 11. (tie) Sam Powers and Stephen Culling, 9.1. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds, $5,188 each; 3. Dustin Equsquiza/Levi Lord, Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0, $3,378 each; 6. Chad Masters/Trey Yates, 4.1, $1,930; 7. (tie) Shay Carrol/Evan Arnold, Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins and Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 4.2, $563 each. Second round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 3.4 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 3.6 seconds; 3. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 5. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 6. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 8. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 8.8; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 9.1; 5. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 9.3; 6. (tie) Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn, Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 9.5; 9. Tanner James/Jason Johe, 9.6; 10. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 9.7; 12. Jase Staudt/Jhett Trenary; 9.8. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Dawson Hay, 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s South Point Gambler; 2. Brody Cress, 87.5; 3. Wyatt Casper, 86; 4. Ian McGivney, 85; 5. Sage Newman, 84.5; 6. (tie) Cash Wilson and Tanner Butner, 84; 8. (tie) Ryder Wright, Statler Wright, Jacobs Crawley and Chet Johnson, 83.5; 12. (tie) Wade Sundell, Ross Griffin, Brandon Lansford, Zac Dallas and Kolby Wanchuk, 83. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie)  Continue Reading »

There’s a lot going on this spring at Fort Hays State University in western Kansas. The school’s rodeo club is celebrating its 60th anniversary in style, introducing its inaugural class for induction into the Fort Hays State University Rodeo Hall of Fame during the college’s rodeo weekend, Thursday, April 20-Sunday, April 23. A reception, set for 3-6 p.m. Saturday, April 22, will honor Doug Philip, Neil Barstow and Bronc Rumford at the Schenk Building on the Ellis County Fairgrounds. The induction ceremony will take place at 7 p.m., followed by the Saturday night rodeo performance at the Ellis County Fairgrounds. “Establishment of the Rodeo Hall of Fame is a long-term way to recognize individuals who have had a significant impact on the program and/or the business of rodeo,” said Marcy Aycock, a member of the rodeo club’s advisory board. Philip was instrumental in establishing the rodeo club, providing resources to build the original bleachers and bucking chutes at the FHSU rodeo grounds. The rodeo arena bears his name as a tribute. Barstow is a 1970 Fort Hays State graduate helped building the rodeo program. He was a member of the 1969 Central Plains Region championship team. With his wife, Belinda, he founded Barstow Rodeo Equipment. Rumford is a 1974 graduate and, like the other two, was a stalwart rodeo cowboy. He remained close to FHSU over the years, serving as an assistant coach, then taking on the head-coaching duties for 15 years. He also remains influential in professional rodeo and this past December was awarded the PRCA’s Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award. The Fort Hays State Rodeo is the ninth of 10 Central Plains Region events. The regional season will conclude on the final weekend of April, and the top three athletes in the standings in each event will then advance to the College National Finals Rodeo. Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls from the region made up primarily of rodeo teams in Kansas and Oklahoma will converge on Hays that weekend to chase the points necessary to win the circuit titles or at least advance to the intercollegiate championship, which will take place in Casper, Wyoming, in June. It’s a major boon to Ellis County and Fort Hays State to have the program’s rodeo be such a springtime spectacular.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – It takes many elements for cowboys to find success in rodeo. For steer wrestler Ty Erickson, he needs a good bulldogging horse, a good hazer riding a good horse and a steer that helps them be fast. When it all comes together, elite cowboys like Erickson make it look easy. “The draw is dang sure important, because everywhere you go, you’re competing against the best 100 guys in the world,” said Erickson, the 2019 world champion and a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Helena, Montana. “When you can get a better steer, it gives you a better chance to win, and that’s what we’re looking for. “The saying that it’s the luck of the draw is true. There are steers in each herd that are easier to be faster on than others. I was fortunate to draw two good ones.” He competed in Friday’s fifth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo and stopped the clock in 3.9 seconds; he sits seventh in the first go-round. He followed that up with a 4.2-second run during Saturday’s matinee and moved into the two-run aggregate lead. He owns a one-tenth-of-a-second lead over a trio of bulldoggers and is virtually assured a place in the championship go-round, which takes place next Friday and features only the top 12 contestants in each event from the preliminary performances. It’s where the 2023 champions will be crowned, and now the Montana cowboy is in position to leave west Texas with the coveted crown. “That steer I had (Saturday) had been run a couple of times before I ran him,” he said. “I knew he was a really good chance. He’s the one that I really wanted, so I was fortunate to have him and made a really good run on him. “I’m really looking forward to Friday.” If things keep going his way, he has a good chance to take the title. He credited his two-run success to getting a good start out of the timed-event box. Steers are given a head start, and cowboys must cue their horses with good timing in order to get to the animals as quickly as possible. “I feel like a good start sets up my runs, and my horse, Crush, worked good on both of my runs,” said Erickson, who entrusts fellow veteran bulldogger Clayton Hass as his hazer. “With him, you don’t have to worry about what’s going on over on his side (of the steer). He does such a good job of hazing. He’s going to be where he needs to be to give myself the best shot to be fast.” It’s a winning formula. Erickson has faith in Crush, a black gelding his family has owned for eight years. “My wife actually bought him off Facebook,” he said. “The first couple of years, we just spent riding him. After that, we started training him in bulldogging. I’ve been rodeoing on him since ’19.” It coincided with his Montana Silversmiths gold buckle, a prize he will always cherish, and he’ll continue his battles in pursuit of more. Having success in San Angelo can go a long way toward that. “San Angelo is one of the best winter rodeos we get to go to,” Ericson said. “Everyone looks forward to coming here, because it pays so good and has a great history. They do an awesome job of packing that coliseum out, which makes it a lot more fun to compete when there are people making that much noise and enjoying themselves.” About 24 hours after Brenten Hall and Paden Bray posted the fastest run of the rodeo so far, world champions Erich Rogers and Paul Eaves did one better during the Saturday evening performance. They stopped the clock in 3.4 seconds to take the lead in the second go-round. They will not make it back to the championship round, so this was their best chance to cash in at San Angelo. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jess Pope, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted River, Clayton Biglow, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks, Cole Reiner, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Cat Nap, and Leighton Berry, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Rip, 87 points; 5. Orin Larsen, 86.5; 6. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jacek Frost, 84.5; 8. (tie) R.C. Landingham, Caleb Bennett and Kody Lamb, 84; 11. (tie) Ty Pope, Dean Thompson and Tim O’Connell, 83.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds; 2. Will Lummus, 3.5; 3. Jay Williamson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline and Denard Butler, 3.8; 7. Ty Erickson, 3.9; 8. (tie) Paul Melvin, Payden McIntyre and Wade Steffen, 4.0. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 3. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 5. Stan Branco, 3.9; 6. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 8.1 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Cody Devers, Will Lummus and Eli Lord, 8.2; 5. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 6. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 7. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 8. (tie) Paul Melvin and Mason Couch, 8.8; 10. Curtis Cassidy, 9.0; 11. (tie) Sam Powers and Stephen Culling, 9.1. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Jaxson Tucker/Wyatt Cox and J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds; 3. Dustin Equsquiza/Levi Lord, Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0; 6. (tie) Shay Carrol/Evan Arnold and Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 4.2; 8. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Bubba Buckaloo/Riley Wakefield, 4.3. Second round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Paul Eaves, 3.4 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 3.6 seconds; 3. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 5. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 6. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 8. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 8.8; 4. Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins, 9.1; 5. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 9.3; 6. (tie) Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn,  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The smile that pierced across Sage Kimzey’s lips revealed more than the emotions of winning a bull riding title; he’s done that countless times in his storied career. No, this smile said more in its creases and lines than many others. It showcased a sign of the times and an understanding that after almost a year on the injured reserve, the seven-time world champion is back and ready to contend for another Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. Kimzey won both go-rounds and dominated Easter Sunday afternoon to win the San Angelo Xtreme Bulls title at Foster Communications Coliseum and make a defining stand on what he hopes to do for the remainder of the 2023 ProRodeo season. “It’s big to go in and get the first big win under my belt since my injury,” said Kimzey, who suffered another injury to an already damaged left shoulder last June and had it surgically repaired. “For me, this is huge, especially coming off injury and having moderate success so far this year. “Once you get the ball rolling, this is a good time of year to be riding good, especially looking into the spring and summer months. It’s definitely been a process.” The shoulder injury came to a head last June after he was injured in Weatherford, Texas. He was third in the world standings. Even though he didn’t compete for three and a half months and missed many lucrative rodeos, the Oklahoma-born cowboy still finished 17th in the world standings. While his free-arm (left) shoulder is still not 100 percent, he was cleared to compete in time for the Xtreme Bulls event at Fort Worth, Texas, in mid-February. In less than two months of riding, he had shot up to 27th in the standings. His earnings on Easter Sunday will push him into the top 20. Kimzey won the first round with an 87.5-point ride on Stockyards Rodeo’s Crash Cart, while Missourian Creek Young was a point behind for second place. In the championship round, Kimzey rode Harper & Morgan’s Pickup Man for 89.5 points to take the top spot. Tyler Taylor of Stephenville, Texas, was the only other cowboy in the 10-man short round to earn a qualified ride; he was 86.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Con Air. Kimzey knew there was something special with Pickup Man when he got the opportunity to ride the animal Sunday afternoon. “He’s a great bull,” he said. “I’ve seen him around for four or five years. A lot of guys don’t get along with him. “I knew there was something to him. He was in and out the whole time, and that makes it pretty tough to get by.” In all, Kimzey cashed out for $12,829 and pushed his season earnings to nearly $37,000. It was a great way for him to kick off a holiday celebrating his faith. After what has transpired in the last 10 months, he was excited to take his big payday and Xtreme Bulls championship buckle back to his wife, Alexis, and son, Steele, in Salado, Texas, about three hours east of San Angelo. “I’d known the surgery was coming,” Kimzey said. “Obviously I was hoping to get through my career before I had to have it repaired, and I was at least hoping I’d get through the year because I’d had such a good winter run. But it was one of those deals. I knew I had to do something about it; there was a lot of finality with that decision. “I was at peace with it. God’s timing was perfect. It happened on the year my son was born. I had a lot going on at home that kept my mind and my hands busy. I really didn’t miss (competing) a whole lot last year. I had bigger, more important stuff going on in my life at that time, and getting to spend my son’s first year of life with him … you can’t put a price on that.” Of course, optimistic people tend to look at things that way, whether they’re on the back of a raging bull or trying to use one arm to control a squirming infant while changing its diaper. “I didn’t have the emotional ups and downs that most people have when they have to take time off,” he said. “Emotionally I was at peace with it. I had support from my wife, and she was the one who took the brunt of it all. She was taking care of her 28-year-old husband and a 1-year-old baby.” Now that he’s back to his winning ways, he’ll return to supporting his family the best way he knows how. He’s won seven gold buckles in his short lifetime, but he’s not done. His goals are plentiful, and he’s got throngs of supporters who are there to help him achieve them. Rodeo fans across the world always applaud greatness, and there may be none better than those in San Angelo. “The crowd is so cool in San Angelo,” Kimzey said. “They are some of the most knowledgeable rodeo fans we ride in front of all year. The way that stadium is set up, they’re right on top of you. Whenever you do something good, they let you know it.” San Angelo Xtreme BullsApril 9First round: 1. Sage Kimzey, 87.5 points on Stockyards Rodeo’s Crash Cart, $3,321; 2. Creek Young, 86.5, $2,546; 3. (tie) Cody Teel and Jordan Hansen, 85, $1,550 each; 5. Jeff Askey, 84, $775; 6. Maverick Potter, 83.5, $553; 7. Stetson Wright, 83, $443; 8. Jestyn Woodward, 82.5, $332. Championship round: 1. Sage Kimzey, 89.5 points on Harper & Morgan’s Pickup Man, $3,985; 2. Tyler Taylor, 86.5, $3,394; no other qualified rides. Average: 1. Sage Kimzey, 177 points on two rides, $5,534; 2. Tyler Taylor, 165.5, $4,243; 3. Creek Young, 86.5 points on one ride, $3,136; 4. (tie) Cody Teel and Jordan Hansen, 85, $1,660 each; 6. Jeff Askey, 84, $922; 7. Stetson Wright, 83, $738;  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Thursday’s run didn’t work out the way the team roping tandem of Brenten Hall and Paden Bray had hoped. The duo suffered a five-second penalty when Bray only secured one leg instead of two in his heel loop, pushing their first-round time to 9.0 seconds. That takes them out of title contention at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, but it didn’t stop them from trying to make some money. They bounced back during Friday’s sixth performance and put together a 3.6-second run, the fastest of this year’s rodeo so far. “Because I caught just a leg last night, the average is not even in the equation,” said Bray, 24, a two-time National Finals Rodeo heeler from Stephenville, Texas. “We just had to take the gloves off and bring smoke and see what we could get done.” It moves them into the Round 2 lead and gives them a shot at good money. The second-round winners from the 2022 edition of San Angelo’s rodeo pocketed more than $5,000 apiece. That’s important because this is how cowboys make a living, but the money is also important for the standings. In rodeo, dollars equal championship points, so every cent counts for something. “That steer we had last night was pretty strong and wanted to push the rope,” he said. “He beat me to the ground, and I lost a leg (on his loop). I could have done a little bit better job; when my guy spins one for money, you’ve got to do your job. He did a really good job last night, and he did a great job tonight. He was rank both nights.” Hall, 23, is a three-time NFR header from Jay, Oklahoma, and is in his first year of teaming with Bray. Hall is 23rd in the world standings, and Bray is 21st on the heeling money list. They’re in good position as they wade through the spring portion of the season and await the hectic summer run of rodeos that begin in late June. “Angelo is a great rodeo and one of my favorites,” Bray said. “Just because a guy has some tough luck in the first round, they still have a chance to make some good money. We make a living at this, so it’s important for us to have as many chances to get paid as we can, and Angelo does that for us.” Bray is in his fifth year competing in the PRCA, but he’s been to Foster Communication Coliseum plenty in his lifetime. It’s just 155 miles from Stephenville to San Angelo, and he’s witnessed greatness in Tom Green County often. “Ty Harris and I have been best friends since before we were in high school,” Bray said of the tie-down roper, a four-time NFR qualifier from San Angelo. “I’ve been here a lot, and every year I get to come here, I get really excited. The fans feed off this rodeo. It’s a unique crowd, because they know rodeo and they care about rodeo. They’re here to see us show off and see us show our talents. “The loudest crowd I’ve ever heard in my life was when Ty tied his calf one year. It was louder than the NFR. They love rodeo, they love roping, and I appreciate what that committee does for us to come to a rodeo to experience all that. It’s truly a blessing.” San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jess Pope, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted River, and Clayton Biglow, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks, 87 points; 3. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jacek Frost, 84.5; 5. R.C. Landingham, 84; 6. (tie) Ty Pope and Dean Thompson, 83.5; 8. (tie) Kade Sonnier and A.J. Ruth, 83; 10. Gauge McBride, 82; 11. Chad Rutherford, 81.5; 12. Hunter Ramsey, 80.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds; 2. Will Lummus, 3.5; 3. Jay Williamson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline and Denard Butler, 3.8; 7. Ty Erickson, 3.9; 8. (tie) Paul Melvin, Payden McIntyre and Wade Steffen, 4.0. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 3. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 5. Stan Branco, 3.9; 6. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Cody Devers, Will Lummus and Eli Lord, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 4. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 5. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 6. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 7. Mason Couch, 8.8; 8. Curtis Cassidy, 9.0; 9. Stephen Culling, 9.1; 10. Boyd Sawyer, 9.3; 11. Bridger Anderson, 9.6; 12. Tucker Allen, 9.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds; 2. Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0; 3. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Bubba Buckaloo/Riley Wakefield, 4.3; 5. (tie) Ty Arnold/Kaden Profili, Clint Keller/Morgan Jones and Korbin Rice/Jake South, 4.4; 8. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 3.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 4. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 5. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 7. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 4.3; 8. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 8.8; 4. Tyler Mangus/Max Kuttler, 9.3; 5. Jake Clay/Kollin VonAhn and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 9.5; 7. Tanner James/Jason Johe, 9.6; 8. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 9.7; 10. Jase Staudt/Jhett Trenary; 9.8; 11. Korbin Rice/Jake South, 9.9; 12. (tie) Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn and Kellen Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Brody Cress, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Spotted Charm; 2. Wyatt Casper, 86; 3. Sage Newman, 84.5; 4. (tie) Cash Wilson and Tanner Butner, 84; 6. (tie) Ryder Wright and Statler Wright, 83.5; 8. (tie) Wade Sundell, Ross Griffin, Brandon Lansford, Zac Dallas and Kolby Wanchuk, 83. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Brush Minton,  Continue Reading »

GUYMON, Okla. – Over three-plus decades, Craig Latham left his mark on the Oklahoma Panhandle. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Deke, and moved to Goodwell to attend Oklahoma Panhandle State University, known nationally as Bronc Rider U. He was one of many that just added to that legacy, establishing himself early as an elite cowboy by winning the 1988 Resistol Rookie of the Year title. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo nine times before moving to the coaching ranks at his alma mater. He was the perfect man to take ownership of that post, a proud graduate who wanted to share that passion with others. After a 12-year battle with cancer, he died in October 2021, but his legacy continues to live and prosper in the community he claimed as home for most of his life. Along with his surviving family, the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo is renaming his specialty event the Craig Latham Memorial Saddle Bronc Riding. It will take place during the four performances of Guymon’s rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “This means everything to us,” said Lori Latham, his bride of 31 years. “This community, these people … it’s all part of who Craig was and still is. It’s about Panhandle State, the rodeo program there, the people in the community, the businesses. There has always been so much support here. It means everything to have him still be a part of it.” The family had a memorial stand-alone bronc riding event last fall at the Frontier Rodeo ranch near Freedom, Oklahoma, as a way to commemorate Latham’s career. The transition to Guymon came about after conversations with members of the rodeo committee. “We were talking with Lori about having this event at Craig’s hometown, and I thought it would be a good thing to include in our rodeo,” said Jeremy Carman, chairman of the volunteer group. “Craig always supported our rodeo. “When he was the coach at Panhandle State, he was always helping us by either promoting it or making sure we had members of his team on hand to assist the committee. He was an integral part of Pioneer Days Rodeo.” Lori Latham and her daughters, Chaney and Sadie and their families, will be on hand during the rodeo weekend, and the clan will be honored during Saturday night’s third performance. “We’re very glad to have this here where everything is part of Craig and who he was and what this community means to us,” said Lori Latham, who will have a buckle made for the champion. “Living here and growing into adults here in the Panhandle made us better and stronger people. “It’s not because of the elements here but because of the people and the support you have behind you.”

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Wyatt Casper is on the lookout for a new favorite rodeo. He might have found it Thursday night, when he rode Lancaster & Jones Rodeo’s Angel Fire for 86 points to move into second place in saddle bronc riding during the fifth performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “San Angelo is a lot like a mini-NFR in a way,” he said, referring to the National Finals Rodeo, the grand championship in the sport. “You’ve got that tiny arena, and that crowd is right there. You’re also in Texas, so everybody there loves that rodeo. The town is really good about coming out and supporting that deal. “If I can do well again next weekend, it’ll be up there on the list of my favorite rodeos.” That’s saying quite a bit for the Miami, Texas, cowboy, who won $600,000 a The American in 2020 and has qualified for three straight trips to the NFR. But in all his years of competing inside the Foster Communications Coliseum, he has never earned a trip to San Angelo’s championship round, which features only the top 12 contestants through the preliminary performances and is scheduled for next Friday, April 14. Heck, he’s never scored above 80 points in this west Texas town, about 330 miles from his home in the Panhandle. “It feels good to finally break that ice,” Casper said. “It makes you feel good when you draw a horse like that. If you screw up one like that, all your buddies are going to laugh at you, so there’s a little bit of nerves knowing you should do good on that horse. I feel like I’m to the point where I should ride a horse like that pretty good. “I’ve always wanted to get on that horse, and I’m glad I finally got to at San Angelo. That’s a really nice horse you get to go out there on and do your job. It makes bronc riding fun when you get on one of those.” He will have to wait out five more performances to see where his score falls on the leaderboard, but an 86-point ride in bronc riding should go above just getting him back to the short round; it also should secure him a pretty good first-round payout. In recent years, cowboys that scored 86 points placed second or third in the go-round. Most importantly, Casper knows where he will be in a week. “That rodeo has a bunch of (performances), and that would be pretty tough for one stock contractor to be able to handle all that,” he said, noting that the primary producer is Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. “Pete does a good job of bringing other contractors in, and they’re all bringing their best stuff. It makes it good for the cowboys that way.” Casper was one of two Panhandle cowboys to find success Thursday night. Quade Hiatt, a 23-year-old tie-down roper from Canyon, Texas, stopped the clock in 7.9 seconds to move into fourth place in the opening round. He will make his second-round run Saturday night. Hiatt is among the to 35 in the world standings, and doing well in San Angelo would go a long way to helping him move up the standings. He finished the 2021 season 31st on the money list and was 29th last year. He comes from a rodeo family. His father, Chad, won the intercollegiate tie-down roping national championship 31 years ago while attending Oklahoma Panhandle State University, and his maternal grandfather, Butch Myers, and uncle, Rope Myers, were world champion steer wrestlers. Quade Hiatt also felt a bit of relief by finally finding success in San Angelo. “I finally drew (a calf) that was pretty good, and I used him,” he said. “Chisum Allen let me ride his good horse, Rolex.” It all added up to a solid chance to finish strong for the Texas Panhandle cowboys. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jess Pope, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted River, and Clayton Biglow, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks, 87 points; 3. (tie) Richmond Champion and Jacek Frost, 84.5; 5. R.C. Landingham, 84; 6. (tie) Ty Pope and Dean Thompson, 83.5; 8. (tie) Kade Sonnier and A.J. Ruth, 83; 10. Gauge McBride, 82; 11. Chad Rutherford, 81.5; 12. Hunter Ramsey, 80.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds; 2. Will Lummus, 3.5; 3. Jay Williamson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline and Denard Butler, 3.8; 7. Wade Steffen, 4.0; 8. (tie) Jesse Brown, Kyle Irwin and Grant Peterson, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 3. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 5. Stan Branco, 3.9; 6. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Cody Devers, Will Lummus and Eli Lord, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 4. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 5. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 6. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 7. Mason Couch, 8.8; 8. Curtis Cassidy, 9.0; 9. Stephen Culling, 9.1; 10. Boyd Sawyer, 9.3; 11. Bridger Anderson, 9.6; 12. Tucker Allen, 9.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds; 2. Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0; 3. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Bubba Buckaloo/Riley Wakefield, 4.3; 5. (tie) Ty Arnold/Kaden Profili, Clint Keller/Morgan Jones and Korbin Rice/Jake South, 4.4; 8. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 3. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 4. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 6. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 4.4; 7. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 4.5; 8. Keeper Parker/Cole Rogers, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 8.8; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 9.5; 5. Tanner James/Jason Johe, 9.6; 6. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 9.7; 8. Jase Staudt/Jhett Trenary; 9.8; 9. Korbin  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – There was a time a few years ago that Wyatt Fields was learning techniques to better his curve ball. He was a pitcher whose fastball reached up to 90 mph and carried him to a college team. About three years ago, though, injuries caught up with him. Throwing that many pitches can wear on young arms, but Fields didn’t stay bogged down long. Ever the competitor, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a steer wrestler. “I was glad whenever I quit playing baseball, but I quit on a high note,” said Fields of Silsbee, Texas. “I’d had a good spring, and then I tore my shoulder up over the summer. A week later I was running steers and a month later I had my first horse.” His father is Bryan Fields, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who set the Thomas & Mack Center arena record with a 3.0-second run during the 2001 championship. He didn’t want his son to rodeo, and baseball took control for most of Wyatt Fields’ life. In fact, he didn’t even ride a horse until he was 20 years old This past weekend at the Garden City (Kansas) Community College rodeo, he proved the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. He managed his way into the short go-round by getting past a mediocre steer, then won the final round with a 4.2-second run. He finished second overall and led a swarm of Northwestern bulldoggers to score points for the Rangers in western Kansas. “I knew that first steer real well, because I’d had it two or three times before and knew he was one I could make the short round on but wasn’t a good enough steer to place very high,” Fields said. “I’d seen that second steer, too, and had run him a couple of times. I knew if I did everything right, I’d have a chance to win on him. “I also knew the caliber of the guys ahead of me and the caliber of steers we had. I figured I’d try to make my run and see what happens. It was anybody’s game at that point.” He made it his game and with it, he scored 110 points and plans to build on that with hopes of finishing the season among the top three steer wrestlers in the Central Plains Region to earn his spot in the College National Finals Rodeo. He has three events remaining to do so, but he’s got a good team with him. Of the top seven bulldoggers in the region, six are Rangers, with Kaden Greenfield of Lakeview, Oregon, leading the charge. “I’m starting to catch my stride, and everything’s falling into place,” said Fields, who transferred last fall from Cisco (Texas) College. “I’m going to try to make a late run to see if I can make the CNFR. “It’s really competitive at this school. It seems like all the guys have been successful this year, and I’m just glad I finally got to contribute a little bit.” He’s leaned on a few people to help him make his way in this rough-and-tumble game of rodeo. Steer wrestlers not only ride fast horses, but they leap from their running mounts onto steers that are running just as hard. Once they’ve gathered the cow, they must then control it and turn it onto its side. While his father had great success two decades ago, this is all new to the second generation. At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, Wyatt Fields has some size going for him. Once he gets the technique down pat, there may be some special things happening in the arena. Until then, he continues to work at his craft. When he’s not getting help from his father, he leans on Northwestern rodeo coach Stockton Graves, an eight-time NFR bulldogger, and other NFR qualifiers who still live near Alva and have been on ProRodeo’s biggest stage: Bridger Anderson and 2020 world champion Jacob Edler. “I’ve had great coaches, and they’ve all been extremely helpful,” Fields said. “The guys that are on the team are also really helpful. It’s not the easiest thing to do in the world. It takes an army, and we have the army to do it.” At Garden City, five Rangers tallied points in bulldogging, though all only placed in one round. Greenfield finished in a tie for second place in the long round with a 4.3-second run. While Fields claimed the short round, Trisyn Kalawaia of Waiakea, Hawaii, finished in a tie for second and placed third overall; Cameron Fox of Tulsa was fourth in the round and placed sixth; and Jeremy Plourde of Carleton, Michigan, finished fifth in the championship and placed fifth overall. Ben Jackson of Hudson Hope, British Columbia, earned a trip to the final round in both tie-down roping and team roping as a header. He and Zac Dunlap of Western Oklahoma State College shared the first-round win, then failed to secure a time in the championship. Jacob Haren of Erie, Colorado, tied his calf in 10.1 seconds to place in a tie for third in the long round, but he didn’t get a time on his second run. Denton Oestmann moved into the regional lead in tie-down roping with his second-place finish. He scored second-place points in both the championship round and the aggregate and hopes to continue to score points through the final three events of the campaign. For the women, Sierra Schott of McGlaughlin, South Dakota, placed in both rounds of barrel racing and finished fourth overall. Lindy Munsell of Arnett, Oklahoma, placed fifth in both go-rounds and the aggregate in breakaway roping. “My dad’s tougher on me than I’d sometimes like, but he’s brutally honest, and we all need that at times,” Fields said. “Stockton keeps everybody out here honest. It’s kind of intimidating being here because the top guys in the region are all at practice. “I’ve been blessed with as many coaches as I  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – In his first three years of competing inside Foster Communications Coliseum, Jess Pope hasn’t had much luck at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. That changed this year. He rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted River for 87 points to move into a tie for the bareback riding lead during Sunday afternoon’s fourth performance of this west Texas event. He shares the top spot with 2019 world titlist Clayton Biglow, who competed Friday night. “This is the first time I’ve ever done any good at San Angelo,” said Pope, the reigning world champion from Waverly, Kansas. “I’m looking forward to hopefully coming back to the short round (set for Friday, April 14). I’ve never drawn the right horses to get back to the short round, but I know that eventually they’ve got to run a good one under you.” Painted River is a second-generation National Finals Rodeo bucking horse. The 14-year-old mare’s mother is Riverboat Annie, a prolific red roan bucking horse that has become the cornerstone of the Carr breeding program; Painted River’s sire is Korczak, a paint stud that has bucked in both bareback riding and saddle bronc riding in Las Vegas. “I knew that (Cole) Franks had gotten on that horse last fall in Hempstead (Texas), and he had a lot of luck on it,” said Pope, who has qualified for the last three NFRs and won the average title each year he’s been there. “It’s one that they win on quite a bit, so I was excited to get on it.” Painted River has been a workhorse in San Angelo. In 2017, Chad Rutherford spurred her for 91.5 points to win the final round and the aggregate championship. In 2020, Biglow rode her for 89 points in the championship round to claim the top prize. It was the right kind of match-up for Pope, who needs as many dollars as he can get. He sits 46th in the world standings, and all of his earnings came from a successful run at Houston a few weeks ago. That came after he made some equipment changes to help with some neck issues he has struggled with through the winter run of rodeos. “I’ve changed a lot of everyday stuff and some habits I’ve had,” Pope said. “I got a new neck-roll and got a new vest, and that seems to help. I’ve got some ligaments in my neck that are inflamed, and they’re a lot like callouses. I’ve got some discs that are pushing into my spinal canal, making my nerves to shut down. “I haven’t really missed anything, but it really affected my performances at Fort Worth and San Antonio. My arm just went numb, so I knew I needed to do something about it.” Bareback riding is the most physically demanding event in rodeo, and cowboys wear thick pads around their necks to help protect them from the jarring their bodies take on just about every ride. Neck, shoulder and elbow injuries are the most common in the event. Pope is changing some exercises and routines he does even when he’s not on the rodeo trail to make sure he’s in the best shape possible to compete at an elite level. Doing well in San Angelo is proof that things are working and that he’s on the right path to repeat. “That ride makes me feel good,” Pope said. “I’ve had a couple weeks off since Houston, so I got to go home and take care of cattle and handling things around home. Being able to ride good and get on good horses boosts your confidence makes you realize you know how to do things when the winter has been as slow as it has for me. “The committee in San Angelo does a good job of getting people in their seats. It’s the closes thing to the NFR that we see all year with the electricity and having people right there on top of you making a lot of noise. It makes you want to do good for them, and it helps a lot in getting your motor running and getting amped up to compete.” He plans to return in just two weeks to see what it might be like to win the San Angelo title. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jess Pope, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Painted River, and Clayton Biglow, on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks, 87 points; 3. Richmond Champion, 84.5; 4. R.C. Landingham, 84; 5. Ty Pope, 83.5; 6. (tie) Kade Sonnier and A.J. Ruth, 83; 8. Gauge McBride, 82; 9. Chad Rutherford, 81.5; 10. (tie) Will Lowe, Kash Martin, Yance Day and Kaleb Norstrom, 80. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds; 2. Will Lummus, 3.5; 3. Jay Williamson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline and Denard Butler, 3.8; 7. Wade Steffen, 4.0; 8. (tie) Jesse Brown, Kyle Irwin and Grant Peterson, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 3. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 5. Stan Branco, 3.9; 6. (tie) Tucker Allen, Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Cody Devers, Will Lummus and Eli Lord, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 4. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 5. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 6. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 7. Mason Couch, 8.8; 8. Curtis Cassidy, 9.0; 9. Stephen Culling, 9.1; 10. Boyd Sawyer, 9.3; 11. Bridger Anderson, 9.6; 12. Tucker Allen, 9.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds; 2. Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0; 3. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Bubba Buckaloo/Riley Wakefield, 4.3; 5. (tie) Ty Arnold/Kaden Profili, Clint Keller/Morgan Jones and Korbin Rice/Jake South, 4.4; 8. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 3. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 4. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 6. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili,  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – There’s a fine line between having fun and having too much fun, and Cash Wilson was walking a tight rope Saturday night. “I was really having fun, and then I was having too much fun and set my rein down and spurred over my rein and about got myself in trouble,” said Wilson, who rodeo Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Downtown for 84 points to take the saddle bronc riding lead during the third performance of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. “That’s a really good horse that went to the (National Finals Rodeo) last year. It was definitely the one to have in the long round here. I felt like I left some points on the table, but I should be able to get another one in the short-go.” The final go-round is set for Friday, April 14, inside the Foster Communications Coliseum, the longtime home of this award-winning rodeo in west Texas. Only the top 12 contestants in each event from the 10 preliminary performances earn the right to compete on Championship Night, so it’s important for cowboys to find their way during the early days of this event. “Last year I finished in the crying hole (13th) to make the short-go, but because Rusty Wright got hurt, I got to ride in the short round,” said Wilson, who sits 19th in the world standings after finishing among the top five in the Resistol Rookie of the Year standings last season. “This is one of my favorite rodeos. I got to come here on my permit season, so this is my third year being here. “There are a lot of rodeo fans in San Angelo.” That’s true, and they pack the coliseum night after night. That actually gives the game’s players a bit of a boost. “It’s a lot different in front of a crowd like that,” said Wilson, 22, of Wall, South Dakota. “Your adrenaline is pumping, especially when you’ve got a good one drawn like I had tonight.” He wants to keep riding the momentum that has seen him step up on the money list. He’s taken advantage of good bucking horses and has earned just shy of $30,000 so far this season. He’d love to pad that as he pushes through the spring and into the busy summer run. “It’s been a good winter so far, so I just want to keep my head down and keep going,” he said. “Last year, I didn’t have any great success in the California run in the spring, but my confidence is up, and everything feels good. I just want to keep it rolling.” That’s the way Oklahoma barrel racer Wenda Johnson feels when she rides into San Angelo. The three-time NFR qualifier has had great success at this rodeo: She finished third a year ago, but won the title in 2021 and finished second in 2020. During Saturday afternoon’s second performance, she stopped the clock in 14.23 seconds to take the second-round lead. The final barrel racer to run Saturday was Taycie Matthews of Wynne, Arkansas, who posted a 14.37-second run. That was enough to move her into the overall lead with a two-run cumulative time of 30.20 seconds.   San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding leaders: 1. Clayton Biglow, 87 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks; 2. Richmond Champion, 84.5; 3. R.C. Landingham, 84; 4. Kade Sonnier, 83; 5. Gauge McBride, 82; 6. Chad Rutherford, 81.5; 7. (tie) Will Lowe, Kash Martin, Yance Day and Kaleb Norstrom, 80; 11. Lane McGehee, 79.5; 12. Clay Stone, 79. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds; 2. Will Lummus, 3.5; 3. Jay Williamson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline and Denard Butler, 3.8; 7. Wade Steffen, 4.0; 8. (tie) Jesse Brown, Kyle Irwin and Grant Peterson, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Tanner Milan and Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 4. Stan Branco, 3.9; 5. (tie) Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1; 7. (tie) Jesse BrownTrey Jackson and Levi Rudd. Average leaders: 1. Cody Devers, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Jesse Brown, 8.3; 3. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 4. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 5. Mason Couch, 8.8; 6. Curtis Cassidy, 9.0; 7. Stephen Culling, 9.1; 8. Boyd Sawyer, 9.3; 9. Gage Hesse, 9.7; 10. Wacey Dorenkamp, 9.8; 11. Kaden Greenfield, 10.1; 12. Newt Novich, 10.3. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds; 2. Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0; 3. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoyh Profili and Bubba Buckaloo/Riley Wakefield, 4.3; 5. (tie) Ty Arnold/Kaden Profili, Clint Keller/Morgan Jones and Korbin Rice/Jake South, 4.4; 8. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 3. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 4. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 6. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 4.4; 7. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 4.5; 8. Keeper Parker, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Ty Arnold/Kaden Michael Profili, 8.8; 4. Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 9.5; 5. Tanner James/Jason Johe, 9.6; 6. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoy Profili and Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 9.7; 8. Jase Staudt/Jhett Trenary; 9.8; 9. Korbin Rice/Jake South, 9.9; 10. (tie) Kreece Thompson/Landen Glenn and Kellen Johnson/Carson Johnson, 10.2; 12. Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Cash Wilson, 84 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Downtown; 2. (tie) Ryder Wright and Statler Wright, 83.5; 4. (tie) Wade Sundell, Ross Griffin and Brandon Lansford, 83; 7. Kai Rockhil, Lucas Macza and Damian Brennan, 82.5; 10. Gus Gaillard, 82; 11. Ira Dickinson, 81.5; 12. (tie) Carson Bingham and Sam Martin, 80. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Brush Minton, Hayden Ford and Chase Webster, 7.6 seconds; 4. (tie) Blake Ash, Roan Hudson and Ryan Jarrett, 8.1; 7. Cory Rowland, 8.3; 8. (tie) Austin Thomas Hines, Justin Smith and Sy Felton, 8.4. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 6.9 seconds, 2. J.T.  Continue Reading »

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Dakota Eldridge just plain needed that. On the opening night of the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo at Foster Communications Coliseum, Eldridge flattened his steer to the ground in 3.4 seconds to take the first-round steer wrestling lead and give him an edge as he readies for his second-round run Sunday afternoon. “This is one of those rodeos that I seem to draw good steers when I get here,” said Eldridge, a nine-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Elko, Nevada. “You’ve got rodeos throughout the year that you’ve had some good luck at, and it helps when you get to those. This one is one of those for me. “I have had one of the worst winters I’ve ever had rodeoing, but that’s something you’ve got to go through sometimes. You have to keep a positive attitude.” His mind is right, in spite of having earned less than $8,000 in ProRodeo so far this season. Because of that, he is not among the top 50 in the world standings as of this week, which is rather unusual for the Nevada cowboy. His worst season since he launched his career came in 2018, and he still finished among the top 25. “This rodeo’s bailed me out before,” he said. “The horse I’ve been riding, Benz, has been hurt, so that’s been part of it. “I rode Curtis Cassidy’s horse, Tyson, tonight, and he just makes my job that much easier. When you’ve got a good horse, you just have to worry about yourself.” Tyson has been named the PRCA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year on multiple occasions, including this past season. Benz, owned by fellow steer wrestler Clayton Hass, has also been recognized as one of the elite bulldogging horses in the sport. “That just goes to show you how important horsepower is in our event,” said Eldridge, who won the NFR average championships in 2015 and 2017. “I can’t thank Clayton and Curtis for letting me ride those great horses and giving me a chance to win because of it.”  He jumped on Tyson at The American and had great success there, earning more than $25,000. Even though it’s a large payout, the money earned in Arlington, Texas, does not count toward standings in the PRCA, rodeo’s largest sanctioning body whose members battle all year to advance to the NFR, the sport’s grand finale. Eldridge has capitalized well on his west Texas runs in the past. He’s made the NFR nine out of the last 10 years, and he is the defending San Angelo champion. He has given himself a chance to repeat. The hope is to have a solid run again Sunday and be one of the top 12 through the preliminary rounds to qualify for Championship Night on Friday, April 14. “Winning this rodeo back-to-back would be amazing, because it would shoot me up there not only in the top 50 but close to the top 15,” Eldridge said, pointing out that the rodeo’s big payout offers that opportunity. “I’ve always done well at this rodeo, and I always have good luck a the California rodeos we go to after this. With me being on Tyson out there, I’m super excited about my chances.” First things first, though; he needs to secure as many dollars as he can, and he knows San Angelo is the right place to do it.” “That building has a lot of energy to it, and it reminds me of the Thomas & Mack a little bit,” he said comparing Foster Communications Coliseum to the home of the NFR since 1985. “You’ve got a bunch of fans that really now rodeo, and they’re excited to see you win and do well.”   Rodeo is special in this part of the world, and the cowboys are excited to return every year. San Angelo Stock Show and RodeoMarch 31-April 14Bareback riding leaders: 1. Clayton Biglow, 87 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Stevie Knicks; 2. Richmond Champion, 84.5; 3. R.C. Landingham, 84; 4. Chad Rutherford, 81.5; 5. Yance Day, 80; 6. Clay Stone, 79; 7. Will Norstrom, 73; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Dakota Eldridge, 3.4 seconds; 2. Will Lummus, 3.5; 3. Jay Williamson, 3.7; 4. (tie) Eli Lord, Logan Kenline and Denard Butler, 3.8; 7. Wade Steffen, 4.0; 8. Grant Peterson, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds; 2. Brandon Harrison, 3.8; 3. Stan Branco, 3.9; 4. (tie) Joe Nelson and Talon Roseland, 4.1; 6. (tie) Trey Jackson and Levi Rudd. Average leaders: 1. Cody Devers, 8.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Jay Williamson, 8.4; 3. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 4. Mason Couch, 8.8; 5. Boyd Sawyer, 9.3; 6. Gage Hesse, 9.7. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 3.9 seconds; 2. Cyle Denison/Cody Hogan, 4.0; 3. (tie) McCray Profili/McCoyh Profili and Bubba Buckaloo/Riley Wakefield, 4.3; 5. (tie) Ty Arnold/Kaden Profili, Clint Keller/Morgan Jones and Korbin Rice/Jake South, 4.4; 8. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 4.5. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Coy Brittain/Colton Brittain and Billy Bob Brown/Kirby Blankenship, 4.0 seconds; 3. Garett Chick/B.J. Dugger, 4.1; 4. (tie) Tanner Green/Caleb Green and Reno Stoebner/Whit Kitchens, 4.2; 6. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 4.5. Average leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 8.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Tanner Green/Caleb Green, 8.7; 3. Garrett Tonozzi/Corey Hendrick, 9.5; 4. Tanner James/Jason Johe, 9.6; 5. Chris Francis/Cade Passig, 9.7; 6. Jase Staudt/Jhett Trenary; 9.8. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Wade Sundell, 83 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Pearl Harbour; 2. Kai Rockhill, 82.5; 3. Carson Bingham, 80; 4. Jacob Benham, 78; 5. (tie) Darcy Radel and Chris Williams76; 7. Lavern Borntreger, 74; 8. Brady Hill, 72. Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Hayden Ford and Chase Webster, 7.6 seconds; 3. (tie) Blake Ash, Roan Hudson and Ryan Jarrett, 8.1; 6. Cory Rowland, 8.3; 7. (tie) Austin Thomas Hines, Justin Smith and Sy Felton, 8.4. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 6.9 seconds, 2. Jerry  Continue Reading »

GUYMON, Okla. – Folks in this part of the world understand the life and legacy of the cowboy. The rugged terrain that makes up the Plains states can be harsh and unyielding. It takes stout men and women who can handle challenges in order to tame this land while raising the feed that feeds a country, which is why cowboys remain a vital part of the landscape in the Oklahoma Panhandle. As it has happened for 91 years, that legacy will be honored and revered during the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. Not only is it Oklahoma’s richest rodeo, but it’s the only PRCA event in the Sooner State that has been inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Because of all its credentials and its attractiveness to the sport’s biggest stars each year, there’s something about the area formerly known as “No Man’s Land” that hits a trigger when talking about rodeo. Since the National Finals Rodeo was first established in 1959, only two Guymon-born cowboys have earned the right to compete there, and they share the same last name. Bret Franks was 27 years old the first time he qualified for the NFR in 1997. He followed that up with bids in 1998 and 2000, establishing himself as one of the many top bronc riders coming out of this region. The others – men like Robert and Dan Etbauer, Craig Latham, Tom Reeves, Jeffrey Willert, Jesse Bail, Rance Bray, etc. – had ties to nearby Oklahoma Panhandle State University. But Franks was Guymon through and through. He married a Texas County girl, the former Darla Herald, and they began their family in the community. First there was Clint, then Cole came along, and the youngest of them all has become a subject when talking about the who’s who of bareback riders today. He has qualified for the past two NFRs and capitalized at both. In 2021, he earned a hair more than $150,000 in 10 days in the Nevada desert. This past December, he collected a hair less than $150,000. He’s finished third in the world standings in his inaugural trip, the same year he was the Resistol Rookie of the Year, and placed fourth in 2022. “I don’t really remember a whole lot about that first year,” Cole Franks said. “It was such a blur, because you had so much adrenaline going through you all day every day. This past year, you still had that adrenaline, but you knew what’s going on and how to handle all that. I was a little more relaxed, and but there was a lot less stress. “You knew the routine a little better. This year was a lot easier dealing with that stuff.” He’s earned $300,000 in just 20 NFR go-rounds, more than his old man earned in the three seasons in which he finished in the top 15 combined. That’s how much the money has changed in recent years. Cole Franks was just one of seven contestants with ties to the region who competed at the National Finals, and the best earner was Logan Hay, a bronc buster from Wildwood, Alberta, who attended Panhandle State. Hay pocketed $199,960, while his brother, Dawson, secured $101,405. Wyatt Casper, who was raised in Balko, Oklahoma, earned his third straight NFR qualification, while bareback rider Orin Larsen earned his eighth before an injured thumb took him out of action after the third round. Panhandle State alumnae Beau Peterson of Council Grove, Kansas, earned her first qualification to the National Finals Breakaway Roping, where she placed in four go-rounds and finished fourth in the aggregate race. Bull rider Josh Frost finished second in the world standings for the second straight year after a fantastic performance in Las Vegas, where he earned $181,073. For Logan Hay, he had the time of his life in his inaugural qualification to the NFR. The oldest son of bronc riding legend Rod Hay, he placed in seven go-rounds and finished second in the aggregate race to fellow Canadian and three-time world champion Zeke Thurston. “It was pretty wild to go in there and have that much success on my first one,” said Hay, 26. “I would have never dreamed it would go like that.” It certainly made for a memorable trip to Sin City for Hay, who grew up going to Las Vegas to watch his dad compete, then followed his brother to town in Dawson Hay’s first two qualifications. To be on the same stage as his brother and other elite bronc busters made for the opportunity of a lifetime. Franks also rides bucking horses, but he does so with a rigging instead of a saddle. He’s proven at a young age that he has the ability to compete at a high level. By finishing among the top bareback riders in his first two seasons in ProRodeo, Franks is doing many things right. Of course, he has a legacy to uphold. He finished second in the NFR average race, just eight points behind his traveling partner, Jess Pope, a three-time average champion and the reigning world titlist.    “It doesn’t surprise me that I’ve done that well, because that was my ultimate plan,” said Franks, whose father had his best year when Bret Franks finished third in the final 1998 world standings. “Being there with Jess and seeing him win the world motivates me to do it, too. “It was awesome being there for him, too. That’s really what it’s all about. It’s not a team sport, but it takes a lot of teamwork to get to that point.” There were many great things that happened at the NFR this past December, with the cream of the crop shining brightly in the City of Lights. It’s that type of competition that will be repeated the first weekend in May, when the champions play  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – When Lacey Geiger was looking for the next level of her education, she had some specific details she needed to hopefully finish her degree. She found them in Northwestern Oklahoma State University and its rodeo coach Stockton Graves. That’s when she opted to move from Central Arizona College to Alva to not only earn her bachelor’s degree but to also compete among the best in the Central Plains Region. “I was looking for a bachelor’s program in something that suited my degree,” said Geiger, a fourth-year student from Emmett, Idaho. “I saw Northwestern had a good rodeo program and that Stockton was the coach, and he has fantastic credentials. The school looked promising and had what I needed.” She proved the choice was right this past weekend when she shared the breakaway roping victory at the Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College rodeo; Geiger and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M’s Bailey Stuva finished the rodeo with a two-run aggregate of 5.7 seconds to split the title. With that, Geiger moved into second place in the regional standings, just 10 points behind Stuva. “It was a great experience, and my horse worked fantastic,” Geiger said of Oatie, a 15-year-old sorrel gelding she’s had for two years. “I couldn’t have asked for a better support team, a better coach or a better horse. Everything just happened to work in my favor. “To me, this is a pretty tough region, so for me to get a little bit of breathing room is important. It’s definitely something that will help me in the long run.” The goal is to finish among the leaders when the region’s season concludes in late April to earn a spot in the field at the College National Finals Rodeo; only the top two teams and the top three individuals in each event advance to Casper, Wyoming, to battle for the national titles. While she hasn’t earned a shot at that level yet, it’s something the Idaho cowgirl has been building toward through her college career. “I’ve definitely learned a lot in college rodeo, and it’s a completely different game coming from high school and junior rodeo,” she said. “I had to get used to it and had to build my skills and confidence in order to get here and get to placing again. I think now that it’s my fourth year and I haven’t made the CNFR yet, it gives me more motivation to make the college finals. It’s definitely a goal of mine.” It’s likely the goal of the hundreds of talented intercollegiate contestants battling through the rigors of the Central Plains season. The rodeo in Fort Scott was the sixth of 10 events on the calendar, and it was a turning point for Geiger and several others. She was joined in the championship round by fellow Ranger breakaway ropers Jentri Hulbert of Arcadia, Nebraska, and Jayden Jensen of Fallon, Nevada. Barrel racer Samantha Chambers of Calhan, Colorado, placed in the opening round, then won the short round to finish second overall. She moved up to third in the region. The Northwestern men were led by their top-of-the line group of steer wrestlers, which featured six cowboys earning points, including the top four led by Emmett Edler of State Center, Iowa, who finished fifth in the first round, won the championship round and had the best two-run aggregate to claim the title. He jumped up to second in the regional standings. Central Plains leader Kaden Greenfield of Lakeview, Oregon, added to his lead by winning the first round and finishing second in the short round and average. Tyler Scheevel of Lester Prairie, Minnesota, finished third overall after splitting second in the opening round with teammate Jacob Haren of Erie, Colorado, who placed third overall. Tevin Cowen of Harrold, South Dakota, and DeQuan Laskey of Jones, Oklahoma, tied for sixth in the opening round. In addition to his success in bulldogging, Haren also added key points as a header while roping with Ry Clark of Oklahoma Panhandle State University; they placed in the opening round and tied for the short-round win to finish second in team roping. Scheevel also scored important points in tie-down roping, placing fifth overall. As a heeler, Rhett Murray of Alma, Kansas, placed fourth in the short round and overall while roping with header Rhett Conkling of Southwestern Oklahoma State University. As the Rangers teams focus attention toward the final four events of the season, they have many positives to take from Fort Scott. It’s the final push to see who will walk away with the coveted regional titles and be among the qualifiers to the college finals. “If you have a coach like Stockton, who is constantly enforcing confidence and hard work and doing the little things right, it definitely helps you as a competitor,” Geiger said. “He’s big into the mental game, which you need in rodeo. He’s definitely a respectable competitor, and I respect him a lot as a coach. He not only helps us in rodeo itself, but he helps us in getting our minds right and pushing us to do well in practice and to work hard. “That’s what it takes to win at any level.”

GUYMON, Okla. – Peering through the reflective glass at his past, Justin Rumford was a comedy act waiting to happen. As a high-schooler in south-central Kansas, his actions oftentimes proved to be a mix of his small-town raising, a life lived on the rodeo trail and a hunger for a good time. He carried that on to the next level when he attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, and it was a big part of his lifestyle in the early stages of his rodeo career. There isn’t anything in rodeo that the fortysomething man hasn’t done. He’s been a bullfighter and a pickup man and a bronc rider and a bulldogger. He’s roped calves and roped steers, and through every layer of his life, he told funny tales, oftentimes about his own life. It made his transition into a popular rodeo clown that much easier. Rumford, who lives in Ponca City, Oklahoma, with is wife and their triplets, will return to the Oklahoma Panhandle for the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “We like having Rump around, because he’s funny and he’s a lot like the rest of us,” said Jeremy Carman, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “He is a great fit for our rodeo and the people who live out here in the Panhandle. He’s really one of us.” Whether he’s telling reride stories behind the chutes or entertaining the crowds who pile into Hitch Arena, it’s Rumford being Rumford. It’s the way he was as a 16-year-old in Abbyville, Kansas; it’s the way he is in his mid-40s. The stories are different, but they’re still comical. “He’s very easy to work with, because he understands rodeo so well,” said Ken Stonecipher, a longtime committee member and one of the announcers who calls the action in Guymon. “He understands what we need as a rodeo production, and he knows the right times to turn on his microphone and entertain the fans. “It’s almost like he’s visiting with each person in the stands. He makes it comfortable and funny. There’s just something special about the things he does.” It’s the reason why he’s been named the PRCA’s Clown of the Year 10 times over his relatively short career in greasepaint. Rumford’s storytelling and comedic techniques have come from a lifetime of experiences. He utilizes all that for RümpChät, a popular podcast he does with another rodeo personality, Josh “Hambone” Hilton, who is the sound director in Guymon each May. “It’s not just a rodeo podcast, but it’s very agriculture,” Rumford said. “We have a lot of farmers, ranchers and oilfield workers who listen. We’re a blue-collar, beer drinking-man’s podcast.” What’s said on air sometimes transitions into the rodeo arena, and vice versa. With a personality where life imitates art, Rumford is quite at home around bucking horses and timed-event steers. “I totally adjust everything,” he said. “You don’t want to push somebody on what they want to hear. When you’re in die-hard rodeo country, you have to feel it out and see what happens. “In Guymon, they’re rodeo-savvy, but they like to party. They are my kind of people.”

Futurity will showcase rising talent among broncs, cowboys alike GOODING, Idaho – Rodeo fans in southern Idaho have always had an affection for saddle bronc riding, the sport’s classic event. The organizers of the Gooding Pro Rodeo are offering another opportunity to see more bronc busting by hosting the Dirty Rotten Buckers, set for 2 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at Andy James Arena at the Gooding County Fairgrounds. Tickets are on sale now at GoodingProRodeo.com. “Everybody in southern Idaho loves to watch good bucking horses, so I think this will go over really well,” said Mitch Pollock, a National Finals Rodeo qualifier who lives in nearby Twin Falls, Idaho. “Gooding is a small farm town, and yet they pack that place up every year for their rodeo. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a big crowd to watch bucking horses.” Dirty Rotten Buckers is, at heart, a bronc futurity, a chance for stock contractors to test the ability of their younger horses that could grow to be some of the elite buckers on the rodeo trail today. It’s also a competition for the cowboys that ride the wild beasts. “The competitions are equally the same,” said Gene King, who co-owns Dirty Rotten Buckers with Jeremy Gordon. “There are some of these events that are team deals, but that’s not going to be the case with this. If you have one horse you want in the competition, then you can bring it. “For the cowboys, it’s a pretty good deal. We want the college kids, the young bronc riders, to be part of this. We’ll plan to buck some 30-35 horses, so we’ll only need about 45 head of livestock. We’re going to have $20,000 in added money, $10,000 for the cowboys and $10,000 for the horses.” That’s a hefty purse, and it will be part of the attraction to all competitors hoping to be involved. Cowboys and horse owners are looking forward to taking a shot at the lion’s share of the money in the pot. “It’s nice to know that most of the horses at this futurity are going to be proven, so it’s nice and reassuring that you know you have a chance,” Pollock said. “They put up quite a bit of money, so that’s nice. I don’t know another futurity that pays their bronc riders like this. With that much money added, it gives the bronc riders a chance at a nice paycheck.” King said last year’s winner pocketed more than $4,000. That kind of cash will be a nice drawing card for high-level cowboys looking to continue to build on their game. “It’s a great event,” King said. “There are a lot of great, up-and-coming cowboys that come, and we get a lot of great, up-and-coming livestock that you can watch. It’s a very unique event because a lot of time you won’t get this much young livestock at a rodeo at that many young cowboys. You’re going to see a lot of action in a short time during this futurity.” Action just what rodeo fans have come to expect in this part of the world. The College of Southern Idaho has long been a wonderful training grounds for rodeo contestants who want to make a living in ProRodeo, but there’s more to the rodeo history on this landscape. Each year, the Gooding Pro Rodeo features the greatest rodeo stars in the game. The event is set for Thursday, Aug. 17-Saturday, Aug. 19, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 16. By adding the Dirty Rotten Buckers to the schedule of events at the Gooding County Fairgrounds, fair and rodeo manager Don Gill indicated this is a great opportunity to build on an already-successful program. “We’re excited to work with Gene and Jeremy and everybody with Dirty Rotten Buckers to have this futurity in Gooding,” Gill said. “I know the people who love to watch rodeo and have a great time doing it are going to love this event. They’re going to have a chance to see some future stars, whether they’re cowboys or broncs, and they’re going to have a lot of fun while they’re at it.” That is, after all, a Gooding tradition.

Cinch bronc busters combine for big earnings and a world title It was a good year to be a Canadian saddle bronc rider competing at the 2022 National Finals Rodeo. For just the second time in the history of the championship event, six bronc busters from north of the 49th Parallel earned the right to compete at Las Vegas in December. The Maple Leaf flags were waving across the Thomas & Mack Center, and the cowboys’ performances proved the spectacular pride each cowboy held. “It’s pretty awesome that we had over a third of the bronc riders at the NFR,” said Logan Hay, a first-time qualifier from Wildwood, Alberta. “We had a bunch of fans back home that were texting and calling us every night telling us how cool it was to see us at the NFR. It’s cool that Canada was so well represented at the NFR.” It was way more than that. All six Canadian cowboys also are Cinch endorsees, so they not only look great but also ride great. It was evident by the time the NFR came to a close. Combined, they pocketed just shy of $685,000. It was a fantastic 10 days in the Nevada desert, and it only got better when Zeke Thurston added his third NFR average title and his third Montana Silversmiths gold buckle. “I think that says a lot about the bronc riders we’re producing in Canada,” said Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta. “I think the whole country should be proud of that.” It is. Hay and Thurston were joined in Las Vegas by four other Albertans: Kolby Wanchuk of Sherwood Park, Layton Green of Millarville, Kole Ashbacher of Arrowwood and Logan Hay’s younger brother, Dawson. Of the half-dozen, only Logan Hay and Ashbacher were competing at their first finale. It made for some interesting fun. Part of that was having Thurston and the elder Hay involved into the chase for the world title. Those two alone accounted for 67 percent of the Canadian bronc riders’ earnings in Sin City. “That’s what we went there to do,” said Wanchuk, a two-time NFR qualifier who finished the 2022 season eighth in the world standings with more than $210,000, $80,500 of which came in Las Vegas. “To be able to make that happen and virtually everybody having some luck out there was awesome, and then we had Zeke coming home with the world title. “Dawson made one of the best rides I’ve ever seen. Logan won three rounds, so everybody was a force to be reckoned with. It was a hard bronc riding. It was an absolute battle every night.” Yes, it was. Of the 10 rounds, a Canadian won six of them – Wanchuk and Thurston finished in three-way tie for first on the final night. That was a dominating showcase of bronc-riding talent. Thurston won his third gold buckle, and Logan Hay finished third in the world standings with nearly $340,000 – $200,000 of which happened inside the Thomas & Mack Center. Throw in Dawson Hay, who was the third Canuck to cross the $100,000 mark while competing at the NFR for the third time; he closed out the year with $213,122, $101,405 of which came over 10 December nights. “Now that I’ve had time to reflect on it and it wasn’t just happening every night, it was pretty wild to go in there and have that much success at my first one,” said Logan Hay, whose father, Rod, was a 20-time NFR qualifier. “I would have never dreamed it would go like that. Lots of guys’ first NFRs can be a shell-shocker, but I really wasn’t nervous, which is pretty shocking to me. I was waiting to get nervous.” Maybe his experience as a spectator and family member is a reason for that, but there’s no telling what can happen when eight seconds of dynamite explodes out of the yellow bucking chutes. “Being there and riding there are two different things,” said Logan Hay, who placed seven times. “It helps having been there, but I was honestly most nervous before the grand entry. It got really crazy. “Representing Canada in Vegas was awesome. Layton and Zeke were a little bit ahead of us, but the other four of us started together. It was pretty cool for us to all be there together like that.”   Each man has his own pedigree. Thurston and the Hays are sons of NFR qualifiers, while Wanchuk was raised by a rodeo entertainer and a barrel racer. Ashbacher and Green were raised on their family’s ranches, but it all added up to a pretty magical 2022 season. Four of the bronc riders also competed at the Canadian Finals Rodeo, where Thurston made it a clean sweep by winning the average and the Canadian title. “We all wanted to be the ones winning the world, but Zeke is such a great guy and has done so much for bronc riding,” Wanchuk said. “It’s cool to see him win another, and it’s the first finals I’ve been to where he won it.” What also was cool was that Logan Hay was also in the middle of the championship race with Thurston and Californian Lefty Holman. It made the first venture behind the yellow bucking chutes that much more memorable. “That was crazy,” Logan Hay said. “That never really sunk in until the end of the ninth round. Just to have a chance was incredible. Roddy (his dad) told me that night that he was only in the world-championship race one time by the ninth round. It was going to be a long shot for Zeke not to win it, but it was so cool to be in the picture.” In addition to his gold buckles, Thurston also had a level of experience going in. That was his eighth straight trip to the big show; the next closest Canadian in the mix was Green, who was competing at his third. Thurston first won rodeo’s gold in 2016,  Continue Reading »

GUYMON, Okla. – In a typical day, Nathan Jestes’ life is pretty unassuming. He’s a husband to Bridget and a daddy to Harper, 2, and Channing, 6 months. There isn’t much to tell about the Wyoming man until you see him change into his superhero outfit, a jersey outfitted with his sponsors and enough padding to protect him while he goes about the job of saving lives. Jestes is a professional bullfighter, and he will return to the Oklahoma Panhandle for the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 7. He will work with another veteran lifesaver, Cody Webster, in protecting everyone during bull riding at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “Anytime you get to work such a prestigious event like Guymon and events that are part of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, it’s one of those things that’s definitely got a unique feel to it,” said Jestes, who works many of the biggest rodeos in the country and travels the rodeo trail with his family. “When you get there, you know where you’re at. It’s always an honor and a privilege.” He’s earned that right. Jestes has been selected to work the National Finals Rodeo four times in his career. He’s also been nominated as the PRCA’s Bullfighter of the Year seven times in his career. While working Pioneer Days Rodeo, he’ll be matched with Webster, a 10-time NFR bullfighter who is the two-time reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year. “Web and I have always worked good together,” Jestes said. “He’s one of those guys that when you step into the arena with him, it just makes our job easier. I can trust he’ll have his stuff handled, and he knows I’ll be right there when I’m needed. “It’s just second nature to us anymore. We’re able to react and do our jobs. We can trust each other to do our parts. When you work with someone like that, it just makes your job easier.” Make no mistake: Their jobs aren’t easy, but they are vital. Bulls are aggressive by nature, and it takes a bit of gumption to ride a bucking bovine; it takes more guts to step into the arena and be in a position to keep those bull riders – and everyone else in the arena – safe after each ride ends. To do that, bullfighters use their ability to “read” the animals, react to their maneuvers and control their own athleticism to keep themselves and all others out of harm’s way. It takes special souls to be able to look danger in the eyes and attack it head-on. That’s what happens when Jestes and Webster enter the arena. They are combatants and caregivers all wrapped up in an athletic ball of talent. “I fight bulls because it’s what I love to do,” Jestes said. “I have an amazing schedule, and I work a lot of the best rodeos all year long, and Guymon is one of those. To be selected to fight at the NFR is a huge honor. To get to step down in that arena, to get to breath that air that not a lot of people get to breath and protect the best bull riders in the game, it’s the biggest privilege I’ve ever had in my life, other than being a dad. “With Frontier (Rodeo’s) stock and the prize money Guymon has available, it’s a good time of year for every contestant to come. That makes Guymon the best quality rodeo you can have.”

Cinch stars Boisjoli, Meged to tie the knot, intertwine their roping lives Shelby Boisjoli always believed she’d marry a cowboy. Raised near the town of Langdon, Alberta, just outside Calgary, Boisjoli and her two sisters were raised around horses and cattle while building a fascinating resume of athletic achievements. It served as the catapult for her to become one of the greatest breakaway ropers of this era. It’s also why she’s head over heels for a cowboy who not only shares her interests but also her lifestyle. While Boisjoli is a three-time qualifier to the National Finals Breakaway Roping, Haven Meged is a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and the 2019 world champion tie-down roper. The two Cinch contestants have set a wedding date for May 13 near Lipan, Texas. “It was kind of important to me to be with a cowboy, because that’s how I was raised,” Boisjoli said. “I was raised around cowboys, hard workers and that way of life. It’s great that I have somebody that knows all of that. We never run out of things to talk about. We love our lives equally, and we get to do it together every day.” The couple lives near Stephenville, Texas, and they’ve known each other most of their lives. Meged was raised near Miles City, Montana, where his folks operate the Miles City Livestock Commission, the sale barn in the community of 8,400. He and Boisjoli were around each other often through the years. “The rodeo world gets pretty small sometimes,” said Meged, who became just the fourth man in ProRodeo history to win a college title (while at Tarleton State University) and a world title in the same year. “We’d see each other rodeoing and at the jackpots. We saw each other at the high school nationals and at the junior high nationals. It was just part of growing up in rodeo for the most part.” They actually moved to Texas at about the same time. Boisjoli transitioned to the Lone Star State shortly after high school to attend Ranger College. In 2019, when Meged was setting the calf roping world on fire, she was the reserve college champion breakaway roper. That was the same year popularity of breakaway roping began to skyrocket. She also found her way to Stephenville, the Cowboy Capital of the World. While Meged’s credentials were more known – he became the first Resistol Rookie of the Year in tie-down roping to win the Montana Silversmiths gold buckle since Joe Beaver accomplished the feat in 1985 – Boisjoli was establishing a name for herself. Men and women who compete with a rope were talking about her ability. “Shelby is a much better roper,” Meged said. “She can out-rope me any day.” They laughed about it a bit, but he was certain. She was in the field for the inaugural breakaway roping finals, which took place in conjunction with the NFR during it’s COVID-induced, one-year stay at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. She finished the 2020 season eighth in the world standings. A year later, she was the reserve world champion. In 2022, she earned more money than ever and was fifth on the money list, a testament to how much things have changed with women’s roping. They ride horses extremely well, and they can handle about any task assigned them. They began dating in 2020. By October, it was serious enough to tell everyone on social media. Their first date? “I went and worked the sale barn with him,” Boisjoli said with a laugh. “She’s such a hard worker,” Meged said of his bride-to-be. “She does so much for me, so much for us. She’ll do whatever it takes. Her heart is probably the best thing about her.” That’s a common thread for the pair. They’ve leaned on it already. With both competing at an elite level of rodeo, they tried to figure out the best time to have their nuptials. Springtime seemed best, but that’s difficult when looking at the various schedules. They opted for the second weekend of May knowing their wedding will still be a destination site for friends and family from up North. “Trying to rodeo for a living, we’ve both got our own things going on along with all this trying to get everything ready,” said Meged, who admits that he leaves most of the planning to his partner. He is, however, handling all the plans for the honeymoon, which will be in the Dominican Republic. “Haven makes sure everything is done outside, and he doesn’t have to worry about the wedding planning,” Boisjoli said. “I’ve been taking care of that. He’s been taking care of the horses and pretty much everything that needs to be done outside, so that leaves me free to handle the rest of it. “We actually tried to have the wedding in April. By the time we got to picking a venue, all of the dates were already taken, so May 13 won by default.” It’s also before Meged and Boisjoli take off on the busy summer run. Because they are not able to enter rodeos together, their rigs will part ways once the summertime hits, and they’ll see each other intermittently until rodeo’s regular season comes to a close Sept. 30. “That’s probably the hardest part, the being away from each other,” he said. “We’ll see each other about once a week, sometimes more, sometimes less. It sucks, but it’s also our job. Hopefully someday we can get that changed so we can enter together. “It’s pretty rare that we get to be up at the same rodeo on the same day. When they come, we try to just enjoy it.” From roping to riding to caring for others, the couple shares similar interests. They work together well, and one is a compliment to the other. As they prepare for the next steps in their lives together, they’re at least starting off with the right foot forward. “He does all  Continue Reading »

ALVA, Okla. – In just a few days in mid-February, Northwestern Oklahoma State University senior Jaden Trimble went from nowhere to somewhere in the Central Plains Region’s heading standings. That’s how fast things can change when fortune is on one’s side in team roping. While competing with Cale Morris of Western Oklahoma State College, Trimble earned second-place finishes in both go-rounds and won the overall title at the Kansas State University rodeo in Manhattan, Kansas. “We needed it real bad,” said Trimble of Coffeyville, Kansas. “We didn’t win anything this last semester; it was rough. Winning that rodeo was a great way to start off the spring semester, and I hope it started ta roll. It’s something to build momentum on.” Yes, it is. Trimble and Morris stopped the clock in 6.3 seconds to finish second in the opening round, then were second with a 7.0 in the short round. Those combined runs gave them the shot in the arm they needed, filled with 160 points apiece. Trimble is tied for seventh in the region’s heading standings, and that gives him a chance at some big things in over the next two months. The K-State rodeo is a milestone event. Not only is it the first event of the spring semester every year, but it also marks the halfway point of the 10-event season. It takes place inside Weber Arena on the agriculture school’s campus, and it provides a unique setting for the college competitors from across the region. “That’s a pretty cool experience,” Trimble said. “It’s a really small building with a lot of seating. They fit a lot of people in there and it’s really loud, and that makes it a lot of fun.” It’s also a tight fit for the team ropers. Trimble and other headers will rope the horns, then turn their horses left and drive toward a fence that is in close proximity. That puts a lot of pressure on the heelers to stop the clock in a timely fashion without incurring any penalties. “Cale did a wonderful job,” Trimble said of his partner. “That’s the kind of steers we hadn’t had a lot of luck roping this year, and I would say his job is harder. When it really counted, he had to take a tough shot a lot of people aren’t willing to take.” It paid off and put the Ranger in solid position with five events left on the campaign. Like all contestants in all events, Trimble would love to finish the regular season among the top 3 in the region standings and secure his first bid to the College National Finals Rodeo. “To do that, we’re going to need to place at a few more rodeos,” he said. “I’d just like five more of those (championship) buckles after this. I don’t want to be greedy, but I’d sure be fine with that. “If we just keep our heads down, do our thing and take care of what we need to, the rest is going to fall into place.” While Trimble had the most success of all members of the Northwestern rodeo team, he was joined by tie-down ropers Ben Jackson of Hudson Hope, British Columbia, who placed in the short round and finished third overall, and Denton Oestmann of Auburn, Nebraska, who placed in the long round and finished sixth. Steer wrestler Cameron Fox of Tulsa, Oklahoma, placed fourth in the final round and fifth overall, while Grady Aasby of Highmore, South Dakota, placed in both rounds and finished sixth. For the women, breakaway roper Jentri Hulbert of Arcadia, Nebraska, finished third in the opening round, while barrel racer Julianna Sprague of Kincaid, Kansas, placed in both rounds and ended up sixth overall. Goat-tier Laci Geiger of Emmett, Idaho, finished fifth in both the short round and the aggregate, while Morgan Poust of Hughesville, Pennsylvania, was sixth in the final round and the average. Now at the halfway point of the regional campaign, the Northwestern rodeo teams understand where they stand and what it will take to earn the right to compete at the college finals. “I would love to make the college finals,” Trimble said. “It has been a goal of mine for a long time, but I’m just trying to take it one steer at a time. The points are going to work out at the end as long as I do my job. I don’t want to get ahead of myself. If I’m looking at the points every day, all I’m going to do is fret about it more. “I want to take it steer for steer and let the rest play out. That gives me the best shot at winning.”

Cinch cowgirl shares her passion with the next generation Children’s dreams tend to take on their own roads, serving as pathways to accomplishing their passions whether the kids know it or not. Backyard football games turn into organized contests. Over time, a handful of youngsters will realize their dreams of being Super Bowl champions. For Cinch barrel racer Sherry Cervi, her childhood memories of Martha Josey’s youth races enabled her to develop her love affair with horses and riding them fast. It’s a big part of why she’s a 19-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and a four-time world champion. She’s offering that as another avenue for young girls who aspire to be the next big name in barrel racing through the Sherry Cervi Youth Championships, a showcase of four events each yearthat give young ladies a competitive edge in a sport she loves. “My memories of going to Martha Josey’s youth race is what started it,” Cervi said. “Martha inspired me to give back to kids. What she’s done for kids and adults over the years is amazing. She’s given so many people their starts. Kids are our future. It’s something I’m passionate about.” The first of four Cervi events happened in January in Tucson, Arizona, near her hometown of Marana, and featured 400 entries. That’s the limit to help with the event’s production, in which the world champion is very involved. “We have great volunteers, and with 400 entries, it makes for a long day already,” she said. “If we didn’t limit it, I’d be putting a lot of stress on our team and all those volunteers. I want it to be something where you can run barrels, and the kids still have time to hang out with other kids and get to know one another. “I met kids when I was younger that I still know. Their goals should be to meet three new friends and stay in contact with them through the years.” The youth championships began in 2008, with Cervi working with a good friend, Shane Parsons, who owns an arena in Ceres, California. She wanted to produce a youth barrel race on the West Coast, because there weren’t many at the time. The whole concept has continued to blossom. “What started out as a little event has become really big,” Cervi said. “The sponsors are awesome, and I have a great team behind me. This is my passion, and they’ve all sacrificed and made it their passion, too. “We give away 10 saddles at each race. We also give scholarships and have a lot of cool prizes. Our goal is kids can come with their families, and it’s a great experience for them and they leave with great memories.” The races of a lifetime Sherry Cervi was born to do this: The training, the racing, the working with children. She is the youngest of two daughters raised by Mel and Wendy Potter, who own a horse ranch in Marana and a farm in Bancroft, Wisconsin. Even now, with her parents aging, Cervi and her husband, 2017 world champion heeler Cory Petska, divide their time between Arizona, their place near Stephenville, Texas, and the family farm in Wisconsin. They still train horses and compete, though their competition schedule has been reduced over time. “Our schedules vary,” she said. “The last couple of years, we spent more time in Wisconsin. My dad’s up there in age, and Cory and I try to help out as much as we can. I’ve got some young horses coming, and I still want to make the NFR. My parents are older, and I really want to spend as much time with them as I can.” Still, if the opportunity allows it, look for Cervi to press for a return to the grandest stage in rodeo. She and James share the record with the most NFR qualifications in WPRA history, and Cervi is the only WPRA member to cross $3 million in ProRodeo earnings. Of course, she purchased her card when she was just 12 years old, a sign of the times. Not long after, the age for admittance into the WPRA was raised to 18. Cervi was 19 years old when she qualified for the NFR for the first time in 1994. A year later, aboard Sir Double Delight, she won the first of four gold buckles. She and Troubles ruled the roost Four years later, while riding Jet Royal Speed, a big bay she called Hawk, Cervi added her second world championship. It proved a few things: her first title was no fluke, she was a whale of a horsewoman and she knew what it took to raise and train great horses. That never stopped. She’s had a stable full of amazing horses over her career. A decade or so later, a second-generation Mel Potter-raised mare, MP Meter My Hay, proved to be a little, yellow lightning bolt of energy. Stingray guided Cervi to both the 2010 and 2013 gold buckles, and the legacy just continued to build. Can she add to it? “Because I know what it takes and the sacrifices you have to make, I have to be committed 100 percent,” Cervi said. “It’s not that I’m not committed, but life continues and things come along that take your attention. Before now, it was all about rodeo. All we thought about was getting to the next rodeo. Age and life responsibilities makes it to where rodeo is somethings not first. “When the time’s right, I do want to be back (at the NFR). I love competing, but there are other things I need to take care of. Being in Wisconsin is where I needed to be and where I wanted to be. When that’s not the case, then we’ll see what happens.” Through all the accolades, Cervi continues to be the same humble and caring person she was before she ever rode speedy horses to fame. She strives to be better at her horsemanship than she was  Continue Reading »

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Ask any of the bull riders competing in this day and age, and most can explain the history of the sport. Dozens of bull riders will be carrying on that legacy and testing their talents at Bullnanza presented by Lane Frost Brand, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Lazy E Arena. Tickets can be purchased at McCoyRodeo.com. “It’s a legendary bull riding, and I’m pretty excited they’re bringing it back this year,” said Josh Frost, a four-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Randlett, Utah. “It was one of the first stand-alone bull ridings ever, and it was around for a long time. “I know Lane Frost Brand is sponsoring it, and they’re one of my sponsors. It should be a pile of great bulls and great money up for grabs.” Josh Frost is a second cousin to the late Lane Frost, who was instrumental in the original Bullnanza in 1989. He helped produce the event, lining up bull riders and bulls to be part of the bull riding. He also competed alongside many other stars in that era. The 1987 world champion from southeastern Oklahoma was killed five months after the first Bullnanza, and his life and legacy were memorialized in the movie “8 Seconds.” “This is Bullnanza, and the history in that building and the namesake of that bull riding is something you want to be involved in,” said Brennon Eldred, a four-time NFR qualifier and four-time PBR World Finals qualifier from Sulphur, Oklahoma. “It’s a pretty big deal, and it’ll be a pretty big deal to be the first event back for me and to try to get the win. “It would be great to put my name in the history books as a Bullnanza champion.” That’s the goal of all 60 men who have put their name in the hat to compete this coming weekend. Just as it was the case 34 years ago during the inaugural Bullnanza, the event is an Oklahoma production. McCoy Rodeo owner Cord McCoy is the man behind the scenes bringing the legendary bull riding back to its original home at the Lazy E. With $15,000 in sponsorship money mixed with the entry fees of 60 cowboys, the purse is expected to exceed $20,000. That is a nice incentive for the men who utilize that money in many ways; in rodeo, dollars not only pay bills but also serve as championship points. The top 15 bull riders on the money list at the end of the regular season will advance to the NFR. “I’m going to be out in San Antonio that weekend, and it worked out that I could trade my semifinals there so I can be at Guthrie on Friday,” said Frost, the reigning two-time reserve world champion. “With that kind of money, it’s worth the trip up there, then I will go back to San Antonio for Saturday’s short round.” There will be 30 bull rides each night, and all cowboys will be matched with top stock, including McCoy’s Ridin’ Solo, which was named the 2020 PBR Bull of the Year. Solo also was selected to buck at the 2022 NFR, proving his worth across multiple levels. “I’ve seen him about every trip the last few years, and he’s awesome,” Eldred said of the Oklahoma-raised bull. “I’ve never been on him. I’d like to have a crack at him. I couldn’t think of a better place than the Laze E. If the time’s right, I’ll let the chips fall where they may.” While he’s focused on the PBR the last five years, Eldred is excited to make his return to PRCA events. Bullnanza, which was a precursor to the PBR three decades ago, is part of the 2023 Xtreme Bulls tour. The Oklahoma bull rider understands the event’s place in rodeo history; not only has he competed at a Bullnanza, but his father-in-law, Donald Owens, was one of the big names in the 1990s. “The legends paved the way for us to do this,” Eldred said. “It’s so cool. I’m going to try to rodeo more this year and try to get back to the yellow bucking chutes (at the NFR). I’m excited to kick it off there. There’s so much history at the Lazy E that you feel a different vibe when you get inside that building.” If history could talk, it would do it at the Lazy E, and the topic would be Bullnanza.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – For Oklahomans who grew up around rodeo, the Lazy E Arena is a storied complex that generates decades worth of memories. It was built in time to produce the 1984 National Finals Steer Roping to take place in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo, which was housed at the Myriad Arena in downtown Oklahoma City. Shortly thereafter, the first Timed Event Championship began its reign as one of the most unique showcases in Western sports. Since then, it’s hosted countless other championships, including the inaugural stand-alone bull riding known now as Bullnanza presented by Lane Frost Brand, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Lazy E Arena. Tickets are available at McCoyRodeo.com. Cord McCoy knows almost every detail possible about the Lazy E Arena, from attending Bullnanza as a youngster to competing at it when he was an Oklahoma superstar in the PBR. “This place holds a special place in my heart and in the hearts of a lot of Oklahoma kids who grew up around rodeo and bull riding,” said McCoy, owner of Lane, Oklahoma-based McCoy Rodeo, which is producing the PRCA Xtreme Bulls event. “After I got hurt, I got on my first bull back in competition at the Lazy E, so it means a lot to me every time I come back here.” McCoy suffered a serious head injury in September 2004 while competing at the Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo in Oklahoma City. He spent nearly seven months rehabilitating and recovering and was finally cleared to ride in time to compete at the 89er Days Rodeo at the Lazy E Arena in April 2005. While he didn’t have much success that weekend, he built up momentum he needed. An all-around champion most of his life, the cowboy focused solely on bull riding. He battled through the rigors of the PRCA season and earned his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo. He was 25 years old. “That was a special time for me and my family,” McCoy said. “I’d been able to overcome a lot in that time because of my faith in God and my family, all of which was behind me and pushing me all the way.” As the years advanced, he became a popular figure in the PBR, competing at its World Finals six times. He officially retired as a bull rider a decade ago, but he’s been one of the top bull stock contractors ever since. Two seasons ago, he founded McCoy Rodeo and teamed with third-generation South Dakota stock contractor Joe Waln to begin producing rodeos in the PRCA. By producing Bullananza and returning it to its rightful home at the Lazy E Arena, McCoy is recreating memories for thousands of folks across Oklahoma that want to re-trace the footsteps of some of the greatest events in the state’s Western history. “I’m pretty proud to be from Oklahoma and to produce rodeos in Oklahoma,” McCoy said. “To produce an event like Bullnanza means that we’re doing a lot of things right, and it’s an exciting time to enjoy the rodeo history that we have in Oklahoma and at the Lazy E.”