Santos is heating up in August
By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – With just two months remaining in the ProRodeo regular season, tie-down roper Taylor Santos is a man on a mission. “I’m just trying to get every dollar I can this time of year,” said Santos, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Creston, California. He gave himself a […]
O’Connell stays hot in Dodge City
DODGE CITY, Kan. – The first time Tim O’Connell won the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo’s bareback riding title, he was 24 years old, a newlywed to his wife, Sami, and had been to the National Finals Rodeo just twice in his lifetime. Much has changed since 2016, but one thing remains the same; he wants […]
Sparing eyes 2nd Roundup title
DODGE CITY, Kan. – There is a silver piece of hardware with some red rubies and a Budweiser logo that rests on a special place in a home near Helena, Montana. Timmy Sparing won it eight seasons ago when he was crowned the steer wrestling champion at the 2014 Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. He’s trying […]
Wright is alright on Family Night
By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – There may be no family more synonymous with rodeo than the saddle bronc riding Wright family from Utah, so it is only fitting that one of them came to dominate on Family Night at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. Stetson is a five-time world champion from Milford, […]
Gooding is cowboys’ favorite
Bulldoggers don’t wrestle with their decisions to compete at Idaho rodeo GOODING, Idaho – It’s been more than 15 years, but Hunter Cure remembers his first visit to this community. “I went to Gooding my rookie year, and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Cure, a two-time world champion steer wrestler from Holliday, Texas. “I’ve never […]
Teenager Bass wins X Bulls title
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Canyon Bass is a man of few words. He’s just 18 years old, so maybe they just haven’t developed yet, but he let his actions do the talking during the Dodge City Roundup Xtreme Bulls Tuesday night. “I’ve been to a few Xtreme Bulls, but I haven’t come out on top […]
Askey earn his first X Bulls title
By LUKE CREASYFor TwisTed RodeoLOVINGTON, N.M. – The ProRodeo competition at Jake McClure Arena at the Lea County Fairgrounds kicked off Tuesday, and the Lea County Xtreme Bulls provided plenty of action for fans. There were several qualified rides, and eight of the 12 men in the championship round recorded scores, making for one of […]
Ogden getting ready for BFO
Top bullfighters in the game are preparing for the Utah Championship OGDEN, Utah – There is one thing in common about the men who will be part of the Bullfighters Only Utah Championship, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, at the Weber County Fairgrounds in Ogden. They all want to win this freestyle bullfight. […]
Rodeo’s elite ready for Roundup
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Each August, Roundup Rodeo announcer Boyd Polhamus opens championship night by introducing most of the world champions that are competing for that year’s Dodge City title. Over the last decade, there have been hundreds of gold buckle-wearing souls that have been part of the final night of Roundup Rodeo. In that […]
Swafford: Epitome of volunteerism
DODGE CITY, Kan. – For most of his life, Rod Swafford has been part of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. He’s been a member of Roundup since 1978 and been a director for the past 42 years. He’s not just one of the dozens of people necessary to pull off an event like the rodeo; he’s […]
Fair offers entertainment time
LOVINGTON, N.M. – The 2022 Lea County Fair and Rodeo has plenty going on during its nine-day run. From various livestock shows to the exhibits in the Yucca Building, amusement attractions and carnival rides, concert series and five nights of high-flying, heart-stopping rodeo action, the entertainment options at the 86th fair and rodeo are endless. […]
Rodeo puts ‘good’ in Gooding
Veteran cowboys know to put southern Idaho rodeo on their schedules GOODING, Idaho – It’s been two decades since Will Lowe made his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo and was the overall and bareback riding Resistol Rookie of the Year. That was 2002, the same year the Gooding Pro Rodeo returned to its […]
Board keeps fair a hot-ticket item
LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo is the biggest community event for this nearly 4,400-square-mile section of land in extreme southeastern New Mexico. There are 75,651 souls that live within the county’s borders, and most of them make their way to their county exposition throughout the 10-day affair, set for Friday, July […]
Rodeo will honor many this year
LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo offers locals a great opportunity to gather together and celebrate all that the community has to offer. It’s also a time to reflect and appreciate how it all came to be. “We have certain days to celebrate during our fair and rodeo, but we wanted to […]
Kenyon finds home in Gooding
Well-known announcer has a great history with well-known Idaho rodeo GOODING, Idaho – Steve Kenyon is from Oregon, lives in Texas and makes Gooding his home for about a week every August. It’s a great place to be for a man with one of the most recognized voices in rodeo. Now in his 21st year […]
Roundup is loaded with Gun Fire
DODGE CITY, Kan. – Over the last few years, a buckskin mare born in the prairies of northwestern Oklahoma has made quite a name for herself. Now 11 years old, Gun Fire is a proven winner and is a major part of the equation for winning bareback rides. A year ago, a newcomer to the […]
Carr committed to Lovington rodeo
LOVINGTON, N.M. – It’s been nearly 20 years since Pete Carr and his stock contracting firm first arrived in southeastern New Mexico to produce the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. Over that time, Carr and his team of professionals have proven to be in the upper echelon of livestock producers, and it’s a key reason […]
Gooding has the right tools
Idaho rodeo uses leather-like look on concrete wall for safety’s sake GOODING, Idaho – It stands but just a few feet tall, but the wall that surrounds Andy James Arena was troublesome. The animals that were part of the annual Gooding Pro Rodeo couldn’t see the gray concrete. Horses would run into it; cowboys were […]
Allen’s commitment is on giving
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Kris Allen has always known the importance of giving. It’s why he decided to be a firefighter, now retired from the Hobbs Fire Department. It’s also why he has agreed to be a member of the Lea County Fair Board, a group of 10 people in charge of operating the Lea County […]
Lord takes family life on the road
Colorado Cinch cowgirl keeps her priorities in place while still competing Shali Lord had just made a run at the Greeley (Colorado) Stampede and was just waiting for word from four hours away in her hometown of Lamar, Colorado. Rain had hit that area, and she was unsure of what was going to happen with […]
Hooper’s trip to Gunnison pays off
GUNNISON, Colo. – In the world of rodeo, Tilden Hooper has been around the block a few times. He’s 34 years old, which is on the senior end for bareback riders, especially for one who almost saw his career come to an end a decade ago because of a serious neck injury. When he wasn’t […]
Age is nothing to roping leaders
GUNNISON, Colo. – Patrick Smith first qualified to the National Finals Rodeo in 2003. He was 23 years old. Tanner Tomlinson 2. Now, the two cowboys are roping together with hopes of advancing to ProRodeo’s grand finale at Las Vegas in December. They took another step toward it Friday night with a 4.0-second run to […]
Fans show for extra session
Big crowds hang around for ‘slack’ competition at the Gooding Pro Rodeo GOODING, Idaho – Rodeo is a unique sport. It’s often wild and Western, with excitement and danger mixed together in a two-hour performance. The world standings are based on money earned, so when the regular season comes to an end on Sept. 30, […]
Clark cashes in on Pink Night
GUNNISON, Colo. – In the world of rodeo, many cowboys – especially those that ride bucking horses and bulls – will travel together to help keep the costs down and to provide a bit of a team atmosphere. Jake Clark has some good ones, and they’re always helping each other. Between Clark, Wyatt Casper, Brody […]