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Tanner Brunner has had just a taste of the National Finals Rodeo over the previous two seasons. Though things in Las Vegas didn’t go as he had hoped or expected – he has placed three times out of 20 rounds and earned $28,629 – he has a distinct hunger to return. Truth is, he’s earned his way there in two straight seasons when most steer wrestlers dream of reaching the grandest stage in the game one time in their careers. He’s making a statement as ProRodeo has returned on a smaller scale this month. In fact, he earned a share of the victory at two rodeos this past weekend: He and Gabe Soileau threw down their steers in 3.7 seconds to earn the title in Coleman, Texas, while Brunner and Trell Etbauer were 3.8 to claim the crown in Woodward, Oklahoma. For that, Brunner pocketed $5,191 and moved his season earnings to more than $26,000. He sits eighth in the world standings with a great deal of time left on the interrupted 2020 campaign. How much time is left in the season remains in the air; the typical year rolls Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, but this season is anything but typical. Some speculate whether the season will end as scheduled or be extended into, or possibly, through October. Nonetheless, the second weekend in June offered a big opportunity for Brunner, 27, of Ramona, Kansas. The weekend before, Brunner won the title in Mesquite, Texas, pocketing $1,077 in the process. It’s a solid re-start to his 2020 campaign, but it’s also something he needs. Last year, he earned just shy of $75,000 through the regular season and qualified for the 15th and final spot in Las Vegas. As many rodeos have been canceled or delayed because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, questions remain about what kind of money it will take to qualify for the NFR this year. For Brunner, he’ll take everything he can get.

The sun has set on a rough day in rodeo. While still feeling euphoric over the reopening of ProRodeo in the Arizona desert, the sport was dealt a difficult uppercut when seven Wyoming events announced their cancellations for the 2020 season Wednesday. That means no Cheyenne Frontier Days, “The Daddy of ’em All,” nor events in Cody, Sheridan, Casper, Thermopolis, Laramie and Rock Springs. It’s a devastating blow to the game that people play for the lifestyle, the passion and the comradery. This is a jab to the people who make their livings in the sport, but it’s also a slap to those communities that thrive when the rodeo comes to town. These decisions are not made in haste, and there has been great debate in each committee meeting as they stare at the prospects of producing an event that will face limitations. How can their stands be filled while social distancing is still in effect? How can the lack of ticket-buyers do anything but negatively affect the bottom line? Many of these community events struggle to be financially stable year after year, and the people making these decisions must take that into consideration. They also weigh what this means for the community. How can they approach potential sponsors whose doors have been shuttered for weeks? Maybe reigning six-time world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey expressed it best in a social media post from Wednesday afternoon: “Rodeos are community events; we have been a part of community events for over 100 years. If the community is struggling, how do we expect them to donate $250 to an ad in a program when they haven’t worked in over 50 days? How do we expect these people who are worried about feeding their families, losing their businesses and surviving, to put on a rodeo when their community is suffering?” There are thousands of us who make our livings in this game, and, yes, this affects how we feed our families and how we pay our mortgages and how we make sure our bills are covered. But we are a resilient bunch, and I’m proud of that. “Without rodeos, none of us have jobs, and I think we need to open our eyes and see that communities and volunteers work really hard to make this happen and if they can’t make it happen, we should at least praise them for trying,” Kimzey wrote. “This is out of their control; it’s coming from state government and probably lack of funds. Compassion goes a long way, and right now as an industry, we need to step up and be thankful for those that can still take place.” As of now, more than 150 PRCA events have been canceled. That equals millions of dollars in payout that will not be dispensed and hundreds of thousands of dollars not paid to contract personnel. But more than any of that, there are many more millions of dollars in economic impact that communities won’t see. The reality, though, is we’re less than three months into this social distancing. Many things, both positively and negatively, can happen in the nest few months. I choose to look at the positive. Here’s hoping for great things to come in the weeks and months ahead.

Two decades ago, I was preparing to spend my final Mother’s Day with my mom, who just weeks before had been told her cancer was terminal. It was the most emotional time of my life at the time, though I’ve shed many happy tears since. I was, and still am, a Momma’s Boy, and I’m damned proud of it. In the 20 years since, much has changed in my life. I married an absolutely wonderful and beautiful woman and have become a father two times over. I’ve gone from a 22-year legacy in the newspaper game to a business owner who is chasing his own rodeo dreams. I’m certain my mother would be very proud of what has transpired since we last visited, just as she was with everything that had gone on before her death. She would love my girls with her whole heart, and she would be would dote on them to her family and friends. That’s who she was. And while I know this is how life was meant to be and that I hold no regrets, there are pieces of me that wish my girls had met her. I wish they could see her smile, experience her love and feel the contagiousness of her laugh. As a man of faith, I know I’ll see her again someday. For now, though, I’ll cherish her “visits” during those special dreams, and I’ll continue to tell anyone who will listen about my mom and why I’m an unabashed Momma’s Boy.

During pandemic isolation, Proctor finding a silver lining to moments at home PRYOR, Okla. – Anybody who knows him will describe Coleman Proctor in an abundance of ways, but most will discuss his openness and ability to communicate with anyone and everyone. “I’m a pretty social person, so the hardest thing for me is being so far out of the loop,” Proctor said, describing his thoughts on self-isolation through the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s like being on my own little island.” His piece of paradise is 240 acres near Pryor, and he shares that plot of land with his wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters, Stella, 2, and Caymbree, 9 months. On a typical year, he would have just returned to Oklahoma from a spring run California. Instead, he’s been hanging out with his girls, performing tasks around his place and finding a little extra work when possible. “It’s actually been nice,” he said. “I’ve had a set of heifers I’ve been calving; we have about 240 head of cows, 40 of which were first-year heifers. “I’ve been catching up on the around-the-house stuff. My youngest has been changing, so that’s been fun to see in person. I got to see her crawl for the first time, and how she’s standing up and pulling herself up to things.” There were several little things he missed when Stella was this age that he’s not missing with Caymbree. That’s the life of a rodeo cowboy, especially one in the elite status like Coleman, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifying header. He’s roped with three cowboys at ProRodeo’s grand finale: Longtime friend Jake Long, Billie Jack Saebens and, most recently, Ryan Motes. Other than calls and other forms of communication, that’s really all he’s been able to do as far staying in touch with other ropers. “Motesy and I did a Zoom interview for our friends at Brazos Valley Equine, and that was the first time I’d seen him since we left Houston,” said Proctor, noting that he and Motes had competed in the first two rounds of the third set at RodeoHouston before it was canceled in March. “It was definitely odd leaving Houston and not knowing when we’d see each other again. “We’ve got our run down pretty good. I’m practicing on what makes me really good, and he’s practicing on what makes him really good. He and (wife) Courtney are the most hospitable people you’d ever meet. I’ve been missing out on being with them, grilling out and roping.” The hardest part of being at home, he said, is not having a steady income, which is proof of his roping prowess; he has made a pretty good living roping the horns. For a man who is used to the confidence it takes to pay the entry fees at rodeos and ropings and understand the opportunity before him, it’s a bit of a stretch to know the chances of that have been diminished greatly. “It feels like you’re spending a lot of money, and you’re not making a lot,” he said, noting that he’s taken on some skid-loader work recently. “I think we get accustomed to how rodeo can be a very profitable business.” He’s done pretty well over his career, most of it coming in the last six years. At the NFR alone, he has pocketed about $325,000, but that’s even small compared to the big win he and Motes secured at The American in 2019; they each earned $433,000 by winning the team-roping title, $50,000 of which helped them secure their NFR bids. He’s holding out hope everything recovers quickly from the pandemic, which not only hit the rodeo industry hard but also has affected the overall economy. “I think we’re going to see a pretty good drought of selling horses right now, and that limits everyone,” Proctor said. “Diesel is below $2 a gallon, and while that seems nice, it’s not good for anybody. Oil fields drive a lot of what we do. “Still, I love the time at home and the time I get to spend with my family. It’s been a lot of fun. We’ve been able to work on Steph’s breakaway roping.” Interest and financial support have boomed in breakaway roping over the last two years, and more rodeos are planning to include the event in their schedules. That might open the door for more opportunities for the family. Doing things with ropes is nothing new for Coleman Proctor. With the support of his parents, friends and other family members, he’s been doing it all his life. “Even though they were divorced, my mom and dad were very good friends,” he said. “Both would take me roping. Jake Long and I roped together when we were 2 and 3. That’s all I ever wanted to know. My freshman year of high school, Jake and I started going around Miami (Oklahoma) with our Fast Lane (roping dummy). We’d rope in parking lots all over town, and we’ve been kicked out of every parking lot. “We’d rope in all the different parking lots, and we’d save the Walmart parking lot to last. It didn’t have the best lighting, but they’d let us rope there longer.” Even then, he had an end goal in mind. “Even when I got jobs, it as what I needed to do to get my fees paid,” Proctor said. “Working was a way to gather up money. I wanted to rope for a living and make the National Finals.” He’s done that, and over time, his priorities have changed. That comes with having a family; in his case, Proctor looks directly into the eyes of his three girls. “My greatest accomplishment would be giving Stella and Caymbree everything I had,” he said. “I want Stella and Caymbree to feel it for the rest of their lives. “I want a gold buckle. Now I’ve made a living with a rope in my hand, but I want something more. Last year was the first time  Continue Reading »

EDITOR’S NOTE: This opinion piece was written for a young friend and partner, Sami McGuire, who has established her own marketing business, High Call Media. She was an intern of mine a few years ago, and she was requesting stories about entrepreneurs, so I obliged. You can follow her work by clicking HERE.  I was miserable. It wasn’t always that way. I love the craft of journalism: Interviewing and gaining background (visiting with people to get their sides and garnering as much information as possible through the process); telling stories (whether through writing or design or photography); and presenting that knowledge so readers or watchers would enjoy, be entertained and be informed. But things had changed around the plant, the largest metro newspaper in Oklahoma at the time. I was no longer allowed to write, edit, photograph and design; I was pigeonholed into a copy editing position that required late nights and weekends on the sports desk, and my favorite news subject, rodeo, was pushed aside for more coverage of the University of Oklahoma football and just about anything else that the new sports editor desired in his publication. My rodeo coverage was out. The new sports editor took the job in 2003. That December, for the first time in the history of the National Finals Rodeo, a staff member wasn’t covering it. It just so happens that three Oklahomans – Teddy Johnson, Janae Ward and Terry Don West – won gold buckles in Las Vegas that year. The “brief” appeared on Page 3 of the sports section. That’s when flustered became disgruntled, which eventually turned into misery. Since 2000, I had volunteered to assist the promotion for the rodeo in Pretty Prairie, Kansas, an event I had covered the three years previously for the nearest daily paper in Hutchinson, Kansas. It worked pretty well, too. Fast forward to 2005, and I was dating the love of my life, who lived four and a half hours away and had normal workday and weekend hours. Meanwhile, I was working nights and weekends. I was miserable. As July approached and my frustration grew, I looked forward to my escape to south central Kansas for that same little rodeo in Pretty Prairie. While there, I realized just how unhappy I was. I set out a plan to chase my own rodeo dreams, telling rodeo stories and promoting the sport and its people. Rodeo Media Relations was being born, and I didn’t even realize it. By the week’s end, I realized I was going to make it happen. Within short order, I left my job to become an entrepreneur, something I’d never envisioned. It was also something for which I was completely unprepared. It took time, and I didn’t have any income to prepare me for the time it was about to take. I’d given birth to an idea, but I had no idea how to take the first step. My love, who is now my wife, was a director with the Guymon (Oklahoma) Pioneer Days Rodeo, and I met with the folks in charge to set up a plan; I volunteered to promote the rodeo for its 2006 event as long as the committee offered to hire me in the years following. But that was just one. I kept reaching out to other committees, and the rejections kept coming back. This was an unknown commodity, and there was always a volunteer on the committee that handled publicity and promotion. Why hire an expert? Slowly, though, more people saw why there was a need. I attracted a few rodeo committees that liked the idea that there could be savings by hiring me; spend a little less on advertising and help get the word out through traditional media. I also signed on as the media director for an up-and-coming stock contractor. When I first began, the contractor produced seven rodeos; within a few years, we were working on 35 rodeos a year. That also put me in contact with several other rodeos that I continue to work each year. With each step, my biggest marketing tool – outside my amazing wife – has been the word spread by the committees that believe in my product and my techniques, both of which continue to evolve. But none of this wouldn’t have happened had I not met the right person (my wife), who helped shape me from a miserable person employed at a job I truly disliked into an entrepreneur who loves telling cowboy tales, promoting a lifestyle and a sport, all while sharing those experiences with the friends I’ve gained in rodeo. Oh, and, yes, I’m still for hire. http://TwisTedRodeo.com

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials focus their efforts toward next year ESTES PARK, Colo. – Due to uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic, the organizers of Rooftop Rodeo have decided to postpone this year’s event. “This was a difficult decision but one made in the interest of our community,” said Rob Hinkle, the Events and Visitor Services Director for the town of Estes Park. “We will focus our energy on bringing the Rooftop Rodeo back July 5-10, 2021.” Rooftop Rodeo has been a staple in the Rocky Mountain resort town, which annually sees more than four million visitors come through town. The annual rodeo has also been a fixture for those who make Estes Park their home. “Of course, we’d love to have a community celebration when we come out of this pandemic this year, but that’s just not a viable option at this point,” said Mark Purdy, chairman of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the Town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. “The reality is, Rooftop Rodeo exists because the businesses and the people of this town – and our national and regional sponsors – support it each year. “Right now, we need time to help our community recover. As we begin to plan for 2021, we hope to utilize Rooftop Rodeo as a way for this community to celebrate its recovery and resilience in trying times.”

Coronavirus pandemic forces Pioneer Days to move to August EDITOR’S NOTE: The times and actual dates may change. GUYMON, Okla. – The champions won’t be playing in May. For years, the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo has utilized the tag line, “Where Champions Come to Play the First Weekend in May.” With the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic shaking its nasty head around the region, the country and the world, the volunteer committee has opted to move this year’s festivities to the fourth weekend in August – the month has five weekends in it this year. “This decision is what’s necessary, but it was also forced on us with the state’s closure to non-essential business through the end of April,” said Mitch Egger, chairman of the rodeo committee. “Our rodeo was set to begin Monday, April 27, and we had slack competition scheduled right up until our first performance on May 1. “Because of the state order, it’s just not possible for us to go ahead with our rodeo under that time frame. Instead of canceling the rodeo altogether, we opted to move it to a date that worked well for virtually everyone involved.” The first day of competition for the 2020 Pioneer Days Rodeo will begin Monday, Aug. 17, and will continue for seven days. The paid performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug 22; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. Organizers of the other events associated with Pioneer Days – Mercantile, Rotary Barbecue, parade, carnival, etc. – will be making decisions about their events concerning the pandemic as well. Pioneer Days has been a staple in the Oklahoma Panhandle for 88 years. It was established in the 1930s as a way for the community to get together during the “Dust Bowl” years that infiltrated much of the Plains at the time. Leaders selected the anniversary of the Organic Act, which, on May 1, 1890, made No Man’s Land part of the Oklahoma Territory. That’s why contestants and rodeo fans alike have grown accustomed to having Guymon’s rodeo the first weekend in May annually. The rodeo has always been the cornerstone event around the community celebration. “We would love to have our rodeo the first weekend in May like we always do, but this is out of our hands,” Egger said. “We are in an unprecedented situation with the coronavirus, and we have to consider this community in everything we do. “Like our fathers did decades ago, we decided we wanted to continue to have a community celebration. This year it’s going to be in August, and we’ll have another reason to celebrate: We’ll enjoy time together after several weeks of self-isolation and be thankful for all that we have.”

Even during COVID-19 quarantine, Utah cowboy finds a silver lining SPANISH FORK, Utah – The last time Mason Clements strapped himself onto a bucking horse, he won the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo’s bareback-riding title and $23,500. That was more than a month ago, and he’s been itching to get back to the work of rodeo ever since. Alas, the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has stopped any chances of that for the time being, so he’s enjoying the opportunities the break from the rodeo trail have provided him. “It’s nice to have this time to clean up some stuff you have at the house, but it also sucks,” said Clements, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Spanish Fork. “We’re quarantined from a lot of people and rodeo. Not having the comradery we have in rodeo is a shock. Not being on the road is just a weird feeling. It’s just not normal. “I’m healthy, and I’ve already competed this year, then everything just stops.” That’s the nature of this pandemic. Schools have closed, events have halted, including sports all across this land. With ESPN airing “sports” like juggling dodgeball, social distancing has taken a whole new approach to athletic entertainment. While professional baseball players and basketball players are guaranteed salaries without playing games, it’s not the same in rodeo. The only way cowboys earn money is by winning it, beating most of the field on any given day or at any given rodeo. So, what is Clements up to during this national quarantine? “I try to go hunting as much as possible and working at the family business, Ready Mix Co.,” he said. “It’s hard to not be competing, but it’s also a really productive time. You don’t get a whole lot of time to strengthen yourself, stay super healthy and get things done at home. It’s an opportunity to get things done, and it also keeps the fire burning inside you. “You’re itching to get back on. You’re riding your spur board. It’s a good time to get that fire burning to ride again.” That’s the nature of a competitor, a person whose heart and soul is involved in the game he loves, in the passion for the fight between man and a bucking beast. It’s a love that has grown over time for the 27-year-old cowboy, who dangled his feet in rodeo as a youngster. Clements began chute-dogging, the precursor for steer wrestling where young contestants grapple steers to the ground right out of the chute. He started wrestling steers from horseback as a sophomore in high school, about the same time he started riding bulls. He qualified for the Utah High School Rodeo Association’s finals in both events in each of his final two seasons. “I rode bulls until I was 20, then I found bareback horses,” he said. “I was in a down area of my bull riding career; I was in a slump, and I was at a ProRodeo in Prescott (Arizona) and watched the bareback riding for some reason, and it really caught my eye that night.” Things changed dramatically after that. After a 12-hour drive to eastern Utah to try his hand at the game, he decided to make the switch. “I got bucked off both the horses I got on, but I remember thinking, ‘I can do that,’ ” Clements said. “That just kicked it off right there … the love of the fight to stay on. I immediately had a love and passion for it, and I didn’t even make the whistle. I craved it already.” He attended the College of Southern Idaho and began traveling the pro circuit with his coach, Cody DeMers, an NFR veteran. He learned a great deal in those early years on the backs of bucking horses and on the roadways between rodeos, and it began paying off. In 2016, he finished 18th in the world standings, just three spots out of qualifying for his first NFR, which features only the 15 best in the game in each event. He made the finale in both 2017 and ’18, finishing among the top 10 in both seasons. But that final season, he was riding in pain and had knee surgery after the NFR. He missed the early part of the 2019 season, then flourished to the finish. He finished 16th in the world standings, just one spot out of playing for the biggest pay in the game in Las Vegas. That served as a major motivating factor for Clements as he prepared for the 2020 season. In addition to winning San Antonio, he also won the title in Denver and pocketed some cash in Fort Worth. He sits fourth in the world standings with a little more than $36,000 in earnings, but his season is on hiatus, as is everyone else’s as they await the stop of the spread of the coronavirus. “I just use little tricks to stay sharp and stay focused in that bummer moment of not making it to the NFR last year and watching everyone else compete,” he said. “Through these experiences, you’ve just got more tricks in your bag. “It’s good to get back on my feet, be riding good and be strong. It’s nice to be making money again after a long, dry winter. When you don’t go to the finals, you’re not making any money.” Like most, Clements is unsure of what the future days and weeks will mean. He’s happy to be productive and get some things done with the family business and around his place in Spanish Fork. He’s recently engaged and planning a wedding next year, so he and his fiancé, Brianna, have plenty of irons in the fire. But there’s another inferno ablaze, and it’s deep inside his gut. “I’m excited to get the season going again,” Clements said. “It feels like the end of December and the beginning of January: I’m chomping at the bit again.”

GUYMON, Okla. – At rodeos all across this land, Andy Stewart’s voice has resonated across the grandstands and into the back pens to tell the tales of the sport. Along with local personality Ken Stonecipher, Stewart has been a mainstay at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, which will have four performances this year set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. Over the years, Stewart has been recognized as one of the very best in the business. He’s gained accolades and prestige, and this past December, his voice cascaded across Las Vegas as one of three announcers of the National Finals Rodeo. “That meant everything to me,” said Stewart, an 11-time nominee for the PRCA’s Announcer of the Year. “To earn that goal of being able to get behind the microphone at the pinnacle of our sport is very humbling. “It was everything I had hoped for. It was magical that first night I got to be on the microphone.” The magic exists because he is a student of the game. He knows the cowboys, the animals, the events. He understands that some fans in Gunnison, Colorado, may be more tourists, while many of those at Pioneer Days Rodeo have more knowledge about the game. His words and his actions reflect that. “One of the reasons Andy is so good and highly acclaimed in rodeo is because of his energy,” said Mitch Egger, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “He’s been part of our rodeo for so long, he just feels like family. There are many people that don’t remember Pioneer Days Rodeo without Andy Stewart involved. “The fact that we got to hear him at the National Finals is a big deal. Only three announcers are asked to be part of the NFR each year, and out of the hundreds of announcers that make a living in rodeo, he was recognized as one of the very best. He added to the NFR experience, and everybody there got to see why we know we have a gem in the Oklahoma Panhandle every May.” Stewart knows what it takes to work at an elite level. He works many of the biggest rodeos in the country, including the legendary Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo. One reason is because of his energetic, booming voice. Another is the extra work he puts ahead of each rodeo performance so that he can be the perfect voice of the fans. For every hour he’s on the microphone, Stewart spends many more going through biographies and background and looking over all the important statistics of each competitor in the show. He understands what it takes to compete at an elite level, and he wants fans to realize it, too. It is, after all, the perfect mix of world-class competition and true family-friendly entertainment. “I’m big on atmosphere,” Stewart said. “There are certain arenas that just have an atmosphere, and Hitch Arena is one of them. It’s part of the fabric of people’s lives in Guymon. It’s so familiar that it feels like home. That’s one thing that makes Guymon special and different than so many rodeos I work. “Another thing I appreciate about Guymon is that it’s not a very big community, but they continue to bring a world-class rodeo to town. It’s pretty special to me that a town that small can put on a rodeo of that caliber.” Indeed, it does and has for decades. It has returned to the PRCA’s tour system after being one of the original tour rodeos two decades ago. In 2015, Pioneer Days Rodeo was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and is the only Oklahoma-based rodeo enshrined in that museum. Each May, nearly 1,000 competitors find their way to the region once known as “No Man’s Land” to participate in one of the more popular events in ProRodeo. “There is so much tradition at Hitch Arena,” Stewart said. “People go there and expect quality, and that rodeo committee delivers quality every year. I don’t think the integrity of the rodeo changed in any way over the years and over the changes in stock contractors. It continues to be a highlight event in ProRodeo and in Guymon, Oklahoma.”

ALVA, Okla. – As the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic continues to strengthen, the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association last week decided to cancel the remaining events on the 2019-20 regional season. For Northwestern Oklahoma State University and the other colleges in the Central Plains Region season, that means the March 13-15 event in Fort Scott, Kansas, was the last event for this campaign, thereby eliminating the final four events in the circuit. “At this point, it means we’re done for the season,” said Stockton Graves, coach of the Northwestern men’s and women’s teams. “The last thing I’d heard was that the CNFR was still a go but it’s pending.” The College National Finals Rodeo is scheduled for June 14-20 in Casper, Wyoming, and features the best three contestants in each event – and top two teams – from each region. Typically, each region season will consist of 10 intercollegiate rodeos; the Central Plains Region ends with just six. “We would have loved to have had the last four rodeos,” Graves said. “I feel like we would have had more qualify for the college finals, but that’s just the way it is. We’re going to do our due diligence to flatten the curve the best we can. The quicker we can do that, the quicker this thing gets under control.” The virus continues to spread. Over the last week, confirmed cases in Oklahoma have increased from 17 to 53, and that trend likely will continue; at least, that’s been the situation nationwide. Because the coronavirus is a global pandemic, the best way to attack it from a general standpoint is to adhere to “social distancing.” “It’s pretty disappointing that we’re not able to finish the college season, and it’s extremely disappointing that we don’t get to go to those final four rodeos,” said Bridger Anderson, a Northwestern junior and the reigning college champion steer wrestler. “With everything that’s going on right now, it’s probably the right decision.” Anderson is one of the more fortunate ones. He is the No. 1 man in the region’s bulldogging standings, so he’s a lock to return to the CNFR and defend his championship. He’ll be joined by just one other Ranger, fellow steer wrestler Colt Madison of Whiting, Iowa, who sits third. “Fortunately, I came out unscathed, but I wasn’t looking to catch a break,” Anderson said. “I wasn’t looking to win on six out of 10 rodeos; that’s not a good way to win. Winning shouldn’t come easy. It should be a fair fight to win. “I was fortunate to have quite a few points, but anything was possible in college rodeo, and there were guys that could have caught me. By stopping the season now, that will leave a few contenders out of the mix, including reigning breakaway roping national champion Taylor Munsell of Arnett, Oklahoma. Now a graduate assistant coach with a fifth year of eligibility, Munsell had hoped to defend her title in June. “She’s out of the mix,” Graves said, noting that Munsell finished the shortened season fifth in the region. “She fully understands that and understand it’s just part of rodeo.” Also out of the mix are Rangers headers Zane Thompson of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Jaden Trimble of Coffeyville, Kansas; Thompson sits fourth in the region and Trimble fifth. College rodeo is just one of many sports that have been put on hold. The NCAA canceled its postseason tournaments in the winter sports, then canceled all spring sports altogether. None of the major professional associations are competing as of now, and those that return are waiting on word as to when that is to happen. Professional rodeo is in the same boat, and that also has an effect on Anderson, who sits 10th in the steer wrestling world standings. For now, though, he’s going to look toward the positives and see how things line up in the weeks and months ahead. “Hopefully, at this point, we’ll still be able to go to the college finals, but that’s still up in the air,” he said. “All I can do is sit back and watch and do what I can to keep myself and my family safe, doing what we can do to help out this pandemic.”

Common sense seems to be missing in today’s society. Yes, I understand there is a pandemic, and I understand that certain restrictions must be met, but panic seems to be the norm in today’s society, and that means common sense has been thrown out with the wash. Late Tuesday afternoon, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly closed all school buildings for the remainder of the school year. From kindergarten classrooms to college dorms, vacancy is the name of the game. In northwest Missouri where we live, our schools are closed through April 3. That’s just shy of three weeks on break and a solid wait-and-see approach to what’s happening with COVID-19. Should the rest of the school year and activities be shut down when there are so many unanswered questions? Postponements are valid, because of the unknowns. Asking for social distancing is smart. Limiting contact, cutting down on numbers for a short time is a solid approach. Canceling the next two and a half months is panic. Here’s hoping other states utilize a more common-sense approach to the coronavirus than my home state of Kansas. Be smart, be conservative with contact and approach the future with open eyes and a mind focused on the health of everyone involved. Right now, the Kansas governor has raided the toilet-paper aisle in terms of common sense, and the state’s citizens will have to pay for her panic hoarding.

Pioneer Days is in limbo; committee continues to monitor coronavirus GUYMON, Okla. – The new normal isn’t quite normal to most, but the safeguards that have been put in place were developed to help control the spread of the coronavirus. Still, that leaves several community events in limbo, including the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “The reality we are facing is that this thing is global,” said Mitch Egger, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “We’ve decided to take a serious, common-sense approach to what we are going to do with Pioneer Days Rodeo, and we think that’s the best avenue at this point. “Instead of making a knee-jerk reaction or a panicked decision, we have decided to allow time to lead us. We are keeping an eye on the situation and how it affects Oklahoma, this region and this community. We understand the need for social distancing at this point, and we support that. But what’s it going to be like a month from now, much less a month and a half from now when the rodeo is scheduled?” The COVID-19 virus is a worldwide pandemic, and as of Tuesday, 17 cases of the coronavirus have been reported in Oklahoma, none of which have been identified in the three counties in the Oklahoma Panhandle. No cases have been reported western Kansas, and none have been reported in all of the Texas Panhandle. “What those figures tell us is that we need to be diligent in our approach to this pandemic and to make sure we do right by the people that would be part of our rodeo, whether it’s the cowboys, the fans, the sponsors or our volunteers,” said Ken Stonecipher, a longtime member of the Pioneer Days Rodeo committee. “With that, though, we realize the importance of continuing a very strong community event if possible. That’s why we are in a holding pattern right now. “The last thing we need to do is make a rash decision that could impact this community.” The committee’s directors will continue to monitor the coronavirus situation over the coming weeks and expect to make a more educated decision on April 9. Even then, the directors said, plans can be altered for everyone’s well-being if the need arises. “We’re in an unprecedented situation,” Egger said. “We’re really not sure what the next step is, but I think we can all agree that doing something now that we may regret later would be a bad idea. Let’s give this thing some time and see what happens in the weeks ahead. “Yes, we have things we’d like to get done, and we have sponsors and others in this community that have invested in Pioneer Days Rodeo 2020, but we must proceed with caution and make the best decisions we can based on the information we have at the time.”

ALVA, Okla. – Hannah Zimmers was excited to have qualified for championship round at a Central Plains Region rodeo for just the second time in her three-year college rodeo career. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the short round at the Fort Scott (Kansas) Community College rodeo was canceled this past weekend. Still, Zimmers’ breakaway-roping run of 2.7 seconds helped the Eureka, Kansas, cowgirl to the No. 2 spot overall. That was worth 126 points, which shot her up to ninth in the regional standings. “When I found out I finished second, I was happy,” said Zimmers, a junior who transferred to Northwestern Oklahoma State University after her freshman year at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. “Knowing I was second behind Kaycee Hollingback (of Southeastern Oklahoma State University), who just won The American, was a big deal. “It makes me feel really good to know that hard work pays off.” It’s been a work in progress for four years. She began competing in breakaway roping in her third year of high school, then opted to further her education at the college in Miami, Oklahoma, with a solid horse she had acquired. “I wasn’t near the caliber that my horse was, but I knew (coach) Stockton Graves had a good breakaway system at Alva, so that’s why I transferred,” Zimmers said. “That summer after my freshman year, my good horse had liver failure, so we had to put him down, and I’ve been in and out and borrowing horses. “My sophomore year of college rodeos, I didn’t catch anything. My confidence was super low. I questioned myself.” A year ago, she acquired another top horse from the northwest Missouri community of Savannah, home of tie-down roping world champion Tyson Durfey. Jet is a 16-year-old bay gelding, and after several months of working out the kinks, the tandem has found a winning edge. “The day I tried him out was just the second time he’d been out of the pasture in a few months,” she said of Jet. “We ran 24 calves, and he took it like a champ. I knew he was going to get me to the winner’s circle. It’s been a year that I’ve had him, and it’s finally come full circle.” Zimmers wasn’t the only Ranger to accrue points in Fort Scott. Barrel racers Makayla Mack of Christmas, Florida, and Samantha Chambers of Calhan, Colorado, finished among the top eight for the women. On the men’s side, the biggest gainers came in steer wrestling, where Bridger Anderson of Carrington, North Dakota, won the rodeo with a 4.3-second run. Beau Kelley of Artesia, New Mexico, was 4.5 to finish second, while Brayden Sorenson of Heber City, Utah; Zane Thompson of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Brent Woodward of Dupree, South Dakota, also finished among the top of the heap. Thompson also garnered points in tie-down roping, stopping the clock in 11.5 seconds to finish eighth. Saddle bronc rider Denton Mars of Freedom, Oklahoma, scored 68 points to finish in a tie for eighth place, while header Jaden Trimble of Coffeyville, Kansas, was 5.7 seconds with his partner, Marley Berger of Coffeyville Community College to finish in a three-way tie for second; heeler  Bo Yaussi of Udall, Kansas, roping with Brent Mibb of NEO, finished in a tie for seventh. While the coronavirus has wreaked havoc on the everyday goings-on, it also leaves the remainder of the 2019-20 Central Plains Region season in limbo. With that, Anderson remains the top dog in the circuit’s bulldogging standings; the reigning national champion has scored 635 points through six events and holds a lead of 285 points over the field. Colt Madison of Whiting, Iowa, sits third in the standings, while there are several other Rangers in contention to qualify for the College National Finals Rodeo in their respective events. The key to Northwestern’s success over the years has been a solid work ethic and the ability to help focus on a winning mentality. “Stockton has really been helpful in the mind game, especially in my case,” Zimmers said. “I’m the definition of a head case. He’s always so calm, cool and collected. He’s been around, and it shows. “He’s broken it town for me, but so have (breakaway ropers) Taylor Munsell (also a graduate assistant coach), Melissa Couture and Brandi Hollenbeck. They’re so good with what they do. During my freshman year, I was intimidated by them because they were good, but they’re really great and really helpful. I’m helping other people now, and I’m using the tips that Stockton, Taylor, Melissa and Brandi have given me.” That’s exactly what the college experience is all about.

McLeod battles through Jr. Ironman to claim crown, $11,750 GUTHRIE, Okla. – Long ago, Tee McLeod knew he was representing his home country of Canada, his home province of Saskatchewan. On Sunday morning, he earned the first international title in the young history of the Jr. Ironman at the Lazy E Arena. He was somewhat dominant over the three days of rugged competition, though it got a bit hairy at the end. “This is a dream come true,” said McLeod, 20, of Waldeck, Saskatchewan. “I prepared every day for two months. I did all the events every day and went to the gym. “This place is awesome. Everybody does a great job putting this on, and I’m just fortunate enough to be here.” He won the first two rounds, then finished second in Sunday’s final round. By winning the title and earning top pay in the rounds, he pocketed $11,750. Quade Hiatt, a two-time competitor from Canyon, Texas, finished second in the overall average, just three-tenths of a second behind the Canadian. For that, Hiatt earned $5,000. He also won the third round worth $750, and his calf horse, Hercules, was named the WCRA’s Top Horse of the Jr. Ironman, valued at another $250. Hiatt made a run for the title, though. His 4.7-second steer wrestling run to close out the competition on Sunday put the pressure on McLeod, who needed to be 7.2 seconds or faster to claim the top prize; McLeod stopped the clock in 7.0. “I’ve never been to anything like this,” he said “I had a good friend come and help me out, saddle my horses and get them warmed up. He talked me through it the whole way. (Helper) Paden Bray was huge, too. “That money is not like the big guys,” he said, referring to the $100,000 paid out to the winner of the CINCH Timed Event Championship, “but that’s life-changing money to me. I’m going to take it back to college, and it’s going to help out a bunch.” While the exchange rate might mean that he keeps the cash close to his vest at Eastern New Mexico State University instead of sending it home, he’s still awfully proud to carry on a strong Canadian legacy ini rodeo. “I have a lot of family and friends that were supposed to come down here,” McLeod said. “With the coronavirus, they didn’t want to come down here, but they got to watch it on TV. Representing Canada is awesome. I’ve done it my whole career, going to the high school nationals, but this is huge.” Jr. Ironman first round: 1. Tee McLeod, 39.3 seconds, $750; 2. Tyler West, 44.1, $250; 3. Sam Morgan, 47.8. Jr. Ironman second round: 1. Tee McLeod, 36.1 seconds, $750; 2. Tyler West, 39.5, $250; 3. Quade Hiatt, 40.3. Jr.  Ironman third round: 1. Quade Hiatt, 33.0 seconds, $750; 2. Tee McLeod, 46.5, $250; 3. Denton Good, 53.2. Jr. Ironman average: 1. Tee McLeod, 121.9 seconds on 12 runs, $10,000; 2. Quade Hiatt, 122.2, $5,000; 3. Tyler West, 151.5, $2,000.

Santos holds off Tierney to become 16th man to win CINCH Timed Event crown GUTHRIE, Okla. – Taylor Santos’ youth was spent in roping pens and rodeo arenas. When he wasn’t practicing or competing, he was watching it on TV. The family’s pile of video cassettes included years of the CINCH Timed Event Championship, and those images helped fill the young cowboy’s thoughts of being one of the greatest ever. Fast forward to Sunday, when his dreams were realized. He roped, tied and wrestled 25 animals in a cumulative time of 340.4 seconds over just three days to win $103,000 and become just the 16th person in the 36-year history of the CTEC to claim the elusive title. “This is a long three days, but it’s so worth it,” said Santos, 25, of Creston, California. “It was a blast.” Yes, it was. Of course, when one pockets that kind of cash, it’s bound to be more exciting. But there was more to it. The weekend’s festivities featured one of the tightest championships in recent history. Only 30.2 seconds separated first through fifth place, and Santos edged the runner-up – 2017 champion Jess Tierney – by just 7.3 seconds. “Things can go great or they can go the other way, but this weekend went really good,” said Tierney, the rodeo coach at Western Oklahoma State College, who pocketed $29,000. “I’d say that money will fit just right. “I feel like I overcame some things, but I had great help and some great support. There are some things I’d change, but there are some things I wouldn’t change. In anything you do, you can win something or you can learn something, and I think I got to do both this weekend.” This was just an extension of recent first for Santos. In 2019, he qualified for the National Finals Rodeo for the first time in his young career. He finished 10th in the tie-down roping world standings and earned $81,076 in Las Vegas this past December. All the while, he also gained a boatload of confidence, and that carried over into this weekend. Still, he had to overcome some early jitters. “After getting that first steer under my belt, I felt a lot better about things,” Santos said, referring to Friday afternoon’s first run of the opening round. “You don’t have time to overthink things too much. It’s definitely a battle and definitely a marathon.” This endurance-test included his older brother, Lane Karney, who just completed his fourth CTEC. In his first trip to the Lazy E Arena in 2017, Karney enlisted in Santos’ help. That, too, paid off for the younger sibling, albeit three years later. “Lane and I are two years, two weeks apart in age,” Santos said. “Every day of our lives, we were basically matching each other. “I’ve been on the waiting list the last couple of years. I’m glad I’ve seen it on TV and on the tapes so many times, but that first year I came with Lane, I realized that it’s completely different than what it looked like on the big screen. I got a whole new vision and idea of what the event was. I learned a lot that year.” And it paid off in his first time competing at the “Ironman of ProRodeo.” It’s not often that newcomers walk away with the biggest check at this unique event, but this marks the second straight year that a CTEC rookie earned the crown – a year ago, Georgia cowboy Justin Thigpen won the title, then he missed this year after suffering an injury just two weeks ago. “Taylor is a great kid with an amazing talent,” Tierney said. “Everybody here was such a great talent, and that made for fun watching.” First round: 1. Jordan Ketscher, 65.3 seconds, $3,000; 2. Marcus Theriot, 65.8, $2,000; 3. Roger Nonella, 68.6, $1,000. Second round: 1. Jess Tierney, 58.3 seconds, $3,000; 2. Haven Meged, 59.3, $2,000; 3. Clay Smith, 63.7, $1,000. Third round: 1. Taylor Santos, 56.6 seconds, $3,000; 2. Marcus Theriot, 58.6, $2,000; 3. Seth Hall, 61.8, $1,000. Fourth round: 1. Clay Smith, 53.4 seconds, $3,000; 2. Haven Meged, 65.2, $2,000; 3. Jess Tierney, 66.4, $1,000. Fifth round: 1. Clay Smith, 45.8 seconds, $3,000; 2. Kyle Lockett, 51.2, $2,000; 3. Clayton Hass, 52.8, $1,000. Average: 1. Taylor Santos, 340.4 seconds on 25 runs, $100,000; 2. Jess Tierney, 247.7, $25,000; 3. Seth Hall, 351.5, $15,000; 4. Clay Smith, 360.6, $10,000; 5. Marcus Theriot, 370.6, $7,500; 6. Haven Meged, 395.1, $5,000; 7. Paul David Tierney, 400.4, $4,500; 8. Jordan Ketscher, 445.7, $3,000. Total money: 1. Taylor Santos, $103,000; 2. Jess Tierney, $29,000; 3. Clay Smith, $17,000; 4. Seth Hall, $16,000; 5. Marcus Theriot, $11,500; 6. Haven Meged, $9,000; 7. Jordan Ketscher, $6,000; 8. Paul David Tierney, $4,500; 9. Roger Nonella and Clayton Hass, $1,000 each.

Two former champions sit atop the CINCH Timed Event Championship standings GUTHRIE, Okla. – Since the early days of the CINCH Timed Event Championship, the name Tierney has been a staple at the Lazy E Arena. Over the 36 years of the “Ironman of ProRodeo,” a Tierney has been crowned its champion seven times. It began in 1987, when Paul Tierney won the first of his four titles – the last time in 2000. Youngest son Paul David followed with titles in 2014 and ’16, then Jess earned the 2017 crown. This is no easy title to claim, either. Only 15 men in the event’s history have been crowned titlists, because the unique challenge pits top all-around cowboys competing in each of the five timed events to complete a round. Over the five-round weekend, each man will make 25 runs over just three days. On Friday night, Jess Tierney put the finishing touches to a long, two-round day with the fastest-round of the weekend so far, stopping the clock in a cumulative time of 58.3 seconds to win the second go-round and pocket $3,000 for doing so. “These rounds are really good for getting your fees back, but you don’t want to focus on winning the rounds, because it’s such a marathon here,” he said. “If you focus on going too fast here, a bunch of crazy stuff can happen. “Solid rounds are great. I’ve watched (seven-time winner) Trevor Brazile for years, and he wasn’t scared of winning three or four rounds. Anytime you can put a good round together, it just gives you confidence going into the next one.” In fact, Jess Tierney finished the opening round in seventh place, then utilized a strong second performance to move into the No. 2 spot, just 7.2 seconds behind leader Jordan Ketscher’s 130.1-second cumulative time on 10 runs. “It’s a long weekend,” said Tierney of Hermosa, South Dakota, now living in Altus, Oklahoma, where he is the rodeo coach at Western Oklahoma State College. “It’s the longest weekend I have all year. Anytime you can keep your mind straight here – where you’re making practice-type runs but still hustling and trying to get the most out of yourself and out of your horse – that’s when I’ve had the best luck.” It happens because of his experience and his talent, but there’s also something special that occurs at the CTEC. Because he competes in each event, he relies on other cowboys and their horses to assist. “Tony Reina (who has made both the National Finals Rodeo in tie-down roping and the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping) has been a huge blessing this year letting me use his good mare as a calf horse,” Tierney said. “He’s a great guy to have in my corner, as is my dad. I have never been here without (team roper) Jace Crabb; nothing rattles that guy. (Steer wrestler and hazer) Kody Woodward has always been here. I don’t even call those two. They just now they’re going to be here. “The thing about the Timed Event is that it’s a huge mental game. I don’t know anybody that’s come to this event that’s just awesome in all five events. There are going to be obstacles. When you get here, you’ve got to play the game where you can see those obstacles coming.” Ketcher hasn’t had many obstacles. He took the lead in the opening round, which took place Friday afternoon. The 2018 CTEC winner from Squaw Valley, California, Ketscher never relinquished the top spot. He won the opening round and has just continued to build. “My whole game plan was to make solid runs and rope what I draw, and it seems to be working out,” he said. “I still don’t have a great amount of experience in (steer roping), but being around here the last four years, I’ve seen these scenarios play out. It’s just about me not getting ahead of myself and grinding it out.” How will he approach the final three rounds of this unique competition? “I’ll try not to do anything different,” he said “I’ll just keep making my runs and let the cards fall where they’re going to fall.” The Jr. Ironman took on a bit of an international flavor, when Canadian Tee McLeod won the opening round Friday morning. He roped, tied and wrestled four animals in a cumulative time of 39.3 seconds to claim the $750 prize. Reigning champion Tyler West finished second in 44.1 seconds to pocket $250. First round: 1. Jordan Ketscher, 65.3 seconds, $3,000; 2. Marcus Theriot, 65.8, $2,000; 3. Roger Nonella, 68.6, $1,000. Second round: 1. Jess Tierney, 58.3 seconds, $3,000; 2. Haven Meged, 59.3, $2,000; 3. Clay Smith, 63.7, $1,000. Average leaders: 1. Jordan Ketscher, 130.1 seconds on 10 runs; 2. Jess Tierney, 137.3; 3. Marcus Theriot, 140.4; 4. Roger Nonella, 153.4; 5. Taylor Santos, 156.9. Jr. Ironman first round: 1. Tee McLoud, 39.3 seconds, $750; 2. Tyler West, 44.1, $250; 3. Sam Morgan, 47.8.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – A friend summed up the CINCH Timed Event Championship to Marcus Theriot in a perfect way, and the young Mississippi cowboy has taken it to heart. “He said, ‘It’s like driving on ice; every time you try to speed up, something bad might happen,’ ” said Theriot, 22, now competing at the CTEC for the fourth time. “You just need to keep the process of getting through the event, getting through all 25 head.” On Saturday morning during the third round, that process paid off. After leader Jordan Ketscher of Squaw Valley, California, suffered a 60-second heeling run (the equivalent of a no-time), Theriot moved into the lead. He held it through the final two events of the early-afternoon session and carries a 14.8-second advantage over the No. 2 man, Taylor Santos of Creston, California. “This whole deal is a blast,” said Theriot, whose 58.3-second third round was the second-fastest of the matinee performance. “By Round 4, it’s getting tiring, but this is the greatest deal: five events, and you get to show what you’ve got and how handy you are in all of them.” Santos had a breakout third round. By posting the winning 56.6-second round (the fastest of this year’s CTEC so far), he pocketed $3,000. Newcomer Seth Hall, who serves as an injury replacement, was 61.8 seconds to finish third in the round. In the Jr. Ironman, it’s been the Tee McLeod show. The young cowboy from Waldeck, Saskatchewan, has won the first two go-rounds (worth $1,500) and has an 8.2-second lead on eight runs over the No. 2 man, reigning champion Tyler West of Mertzon, Texas. While McLeod has top finishes in both rounds so far – he stopped the clock in 36.1 seconds Saturday morning – West is a two-time runner up. With second-place earnings dishing out $250 each round, the Texan has pocketed $500 so far. NOTE: Cody Doescher of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma – who missed the third round after suffering a knee injury Friday night – has opted to try his hand at heading and heeling over the final two rounds of this year’s CTEC. He will try to break the existing arena records: Jade Corkill set the heeling mark at 4.3 seconds in 2013, and Spencer Mitchell followed a year later with the heading mark of 4.3 seconds. CINCH Timed Event Championship Third round: 1. Taylor Santos, 56.6 seconds, $3,000; 2. Marcus Theriot, 58.6, $2,000; 3. Seth Hall, 61.8, $1,000. Average leaders: 1. Marcus Theriot, 198.7 seconds; 2. Taylor Santos, 213.5; 3. Jess Tierney, 218.8; 4. Seth Hall, 222.3; 5. Paul David Teirney, 224.5. Jr. Ironman second round: 1. Tee McLeod, 36.1 seconds, $750; 2. Tyler West, 39.5, $250; 3. Quade Hiatt, 40.3. Jr. Ironman average leaders: 1. Tee McLeod, 75.4 seconds on eight runs; 2. Tyler West, 83.6; 3. Quade Hiatt, 89.2.

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Jordan Ketscher is making a habit out of winning the first round of the CINCH Timed Event Championship. Ketscher, the 2018 titlist, made runs in all five timed events in a cumulative time of 65.3 seconds, the fastest of the opening round. It was worth $3,000. A year ago, the Squaw Valley, California, also won the first round, then suffered a knee injury in the third round. Here’s hoping that doesn’t happen again. “My whole game plan was to make solid runs and rope what I draw, and it seems to be working out,” said Ketscher, who moved into the top spot after then-leader Seth Hall of Albuquerque, New Mexico, failed to secure a time in the final event of the round, steer roping; that earned Hall a 60-second time, the equivalent of a no-time. “I still don’t have a great amount of experience in (steer roping),” Ketscher said, “but being around here the last four years, I’ve seen these scenarios play out. It’s just about me not getting ahead of myself and grinding it out.” How will he approach the final four rounds of this unique competition? “I’ll try not to do anything different,” he said “I’ll just keep making my runs and let the cards fall where they’re going to fall.” The Jr. Ironman took on a bit of an international flavor, when Canadian Tee McCloud won the opening round Friday morning. He roped, tied and wrestled four animals in a cumulative time of 39.3 seconds to claim the $750 prize. Reigning champion Tyler West finished second in 44.1 seconds to pocket $250. RESULTS First round: 1. Jordan Ketscher, 65.3 seconds, $3,000; 2. Marcus Theriot, 65.8, $2,000; 3. Roger Nonella, 68.6, $1,000. Jr. Ironman first round: 1. Tee McLoud, 39.3 seconds, $750; 2. Tyler West, 44.1, $250; 3. Sam Morgan, 47.8.

2017 world champion healthy, ready for CINCH Timed Event Championship GUTHRIE, Okla. – After coming off the greatest ProRodeo season of his life, Erich Rogers entered the 2018 CINCH Timed Event Championship on a mission. He was solid on opening day and sat second in the aggregate after the first two go-rounds. He took the lead early in the third round, then his mission came to an end with a knee injury that eventually required surgery. Still, it didn’t stop the cowboy from Round Rock, Arizona. He returned to ProRodeo a few months later and qualified again for the National Finals Rodeo. He returned to Oklahoma a year ago and showed the grit and talent he possesses. He’s never earned the title at the “Ironman of ProRodeo,” but few have. In fact, in the 36-year history of this unique challenge, only 15 men have been crowned titlists. He’d love to be the 16th man at this year’s championship, set for Friday-Sunday at the Lazy E Arena. “It would be awesome to win that title,” said Rogers, the 2017 heading world champion. “I’ve placed there before, but to place third last year and finish on a healthy scale, it was an awesome feeling. To win would be the coolest feeling ever. It would be another belt buckle hanging at my house, and I could show people that we did this.” The CTEC features 20 of the greatest all-around timed-event cowboys in the game, all battling for the elusive title and a Montana Silversmiths gold buckle that comes with it. Fans from all across the country converge on middle-America to see a true spectacle take place in that historic Oklahoma red dirt. The combatants come from all over, too: Mississippi, California, Wyoming, and many places in between. Each has a reason why competing at the CTEC is a big deal to them. “It’s the funnest event of the year besides the NFR,” said Rogers, a nine-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “You have 20 of the best guys that compete in five different events, and some of them are outstanding in their own events and have to make up time in other events. It doesn’t get any funner than that.” “What makes this so special is the comradery of the guys there. You sit there and watch those guys compete to the best of their ability, and they’re all there to help you out. You’re basically trying to help each other beat one another.” That’s the cowboy way, and it spreads across all lines through a spectacular weekend of competition and entertainment for fans. Each day kicks off with the Jr. Ironman, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. It features 10 of the greatest young all-around hands in rodeo competing for the prestigious title and $10,000 provided to the event winner. As has happened in years past, the annual chuckwagon gathering and junior cook-off will take place in conjunction with the festivities. It was named the 2017 American Chuck Wagon Association’s event of the year. Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, and the dinner will begin at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased through www.Ticketmaster.com. What makes it so challenging is that each competitor must make runs in each of the five timed events – heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping – to complete a round. On top of that, there are five rounds spread out over just three days. For the Jr. Ironman, the 10 young cowboys will make runs in each event besides steer roping, and they will battle through three rounds. “I love to be there for the fans” Rogers said. “To put in the work that I do and the grind that I do, it’s an awesome feeling to know they’re there to support me and the other guys. “The whole purpose of competing there is to do our best and give the fans a good show. Without the fans, it would be tough to have the Timed Event. I feel like it’s only getting bigger and better.”

For the first time since 2005, money won at the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede will count toward the world standings and for qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo beginning this year. The Stampede and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced their new partnership. For years, Calgary’s rodeo was associated with the PRCA, but that changed 15 years ago. The Stampede opted to be a stand-alone, invitation-only event, according to a story written by longtime rodeo journalist Joe Kusek in November 2005. With the new partnership, money won at the Calgary Stampede by PRCA cowboys will count toward the world standings. How that money will be counted remains to be seen. Like The American, which will have its seventh edition this weekend, Calgary winners pocket $100,000. Only $50,000 of that prize from The American counts toward the world standings. That’s been the case for several years with the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association, which has included Calgary earnings in its world standings. Jean Winters pocketed the top prize in 2013 and earned her only NFR bid that season; she entered the NFR with $69,847, so her Calgary take carried her to Vegas that season. This year’s Stampede also will feature team roping, the first time since its inception in 1912. According to a story by Chelsea Shaffer of the Team Roping Journal, team roping will not be part of the rodeo performances. The organizers will conduct team roping after the July 7 performance, and it will feature two preliminary rounds and a championship round. For more information, read Shaffer’s story HERE. The Stampede will continue to invite competitors through a qualification process, the PRCA’s release stated. It will allow contestants at the top of their game to receive a spot in the field. All invited athletes must have a PRCA membership. That’s not always been the case. In recent years, the field of bull riders featured a healthy dose of cowboys who ride strictly in the Professional Bull Riders ranks and did not possess PRCA cards. The Calgary Stampede also will be broadcast live on the Cowboy Channel, as has been the case for many top rodeos in the PRCA in 2020.

Clarendon College champions will be part of The American next weekend CLARENDON, Texas – Halfway between Amarillo and Childress along U.S. Highway 287 in the Texas Panhandle are two billboards representing the Clarendon College rodeo team. One reads: “Home of Wyatt Casper, 2016 National Champion Saddle Bronc Rider.” The other: “Home of Riggin Smith, 2019 National Champion Saddle Bronc Rider.” In a town of around 2,000 people, Clarendon College has an enrollment of about 1,100 students and two national champion bronc busters. They arrived at the small school in the small Texas town from small communities of their own – Smith from the hamlet of Winterset, Iowa, which is more than twice as big as Clarendon, and Casper from Balko, Oklahoma, a burg of around 600 people. They’ve made names for themselves everywhere they’ve gone, and this coming weekend will test their skills on one of the biggest national stages available at The American, a two-day rodeo that will pay out more than $2 million Saturday and Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “It’s one of the biggest rodeos of the year, and only 16 guys get to go to it in bronc riding,” said Casper, who worked his way through a series of qualifying events and last week’s semifinals to advance into the final field. “It’s a shot at a million dollars. Winning the semifinals out of 50 guys is a big deal, too.” Yes, it was. At The American semifinals, the 50 qualifiers each rode one horse. The top 10 advanced to Sunday’s short go-round, and only the top six earned the right to compete at “Jerry Jones World” in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. There were 10 contestants per event that were invited based on how they finished the 2019 season; the rest of the field advanced through the qualifiers. Because of that, Casper and Smith are in line to win at least a share of the $1 million side pot. In The American’s inaugural year, bareback rider Richmond Champion won the bareback riding title and was the only qualifier to win his event. He left Arlington with $1.1 million – $1 million for being the qualifying winner, and $100,000 for winning the event. Last year, three athletes split the $1 million side pot. Each earned $433,000. All of it is life-changing money, and it’s the dream of every qualifier that has earned the right to compete in just a few days. “This is really a big opportunity that God has blessed me with,” Smith said. “If I could win a million dollars or part of it, it would mean some financial stability for me and allow me to help my family out. I don’t really worry about too much, but you wouldn’t have to worry about money for a while.” Sometimes it’s nice to just dream, but there’s more to it for the men from Clarendon. Rodeo is how they plan to make the bulk of their livings, and riding for money like that is an added benefit. This is actually Casper’s second qualification to The American; he also earned a spot in the 2016 field, just four months before he earned his national title at the College National Finals Rodeo. Since then, he’s been hot on the rodeo trail. Now living in Pampa, Texas, Casper is the No. 1 man in the PRCA world standings with $66,645 – an incredible amount given that it’s just the first week of March, and there are seven more months remaining in the ProRodeo season. He owns a lead of more than $20,000 over the No. 2 man. “I think having a few years’ experience helps a lot going into this situation,” Casper said. “It’s still a big deal, but I see these fellas every weekend. It’s going to be hard to beat them, but that’s the way it is every week. You’ve got to do the best you can on the horse you’ve got. You can only focus on what you can do and not worry about anything else.” Some of that comes through experience, some through education. That’s why he leans on his experiences at Clarendon College. “With two of us from there going to The American, hopefully it gets some more recruits for the college and makes the rodeo program a little tougher,” he said. “They’ve done awfully good in the last year winning the region and being tough enough to finish as the third best team in the nation.” That’s the way Smith sees it, too. He chose Clarendon based on the original billboard, which was erected shortly after Casper won his crown. As a 2017 high school graduate, Smith noticed the giant sign upon is recruiting visit and decided to try to add another to the college’s program. “I think having Wyatt and I make The American just verifies that if you want to be a bronc rider, Clarendon is the place to go to college,” Smith said. Coach “Bret (Franks) is so good at working with everybody, and he’s really good at teaching just about anybody.” That’s part of why the Clarendon men won the Southwest Region title a year ago and finished third at the college finals. It’s why the Bulldogs continue to reload year after year. It’s also why Casper is in line to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo this season and why he and Smith have a chance to make a big payday at The American. “I’d say this is the best I’ve ever ridden,” Casper said. “I’ve ridden 100 percent of the horses I’ve attempted this year and was over 80 points on 25 of them. You’ve got to stay on them to get a score. “I’m really wanting to go into the NFR in the top five at least and come out of there the world champion. I believe it’s going to take at least $105,000 to make the finals.” He’s well on his way, and earning big bucks in Arlington this next weekend could make  Continue Reading »

Texan has the target on his back as he prepares for the 2020 Jr. Ironman GUTHRIE, Okla. – Tyler West had a slip on the third run of the 2019 Jr. Ironman, but he didn’t let that get him down. He battled back over the final two days of the competition, producing an event-record 32.2-second third round to win the championship. That wherewithal proved to be beneficial, and he will return to defend his title at this year’s event, set for March 13-15 at the Lazy E Arena. “When I think about winning it last year, it makes me want to win it again,” said West of Mertzon, Texas, a sophomore at Southwest Texas Junior College. “The first day wasn’t a good day, taking a 60 (second run). I realized I needed to just have fun. I realized it was just like going to rodeos and doing what I love to do. “Having fun carries into winning.” In both the Jr. Ironman and the CINCH Timed Event Championship, a 60-second run is the equivalent to a no-time. For West, that happened on his first heeling attempt, the third of 12 runs he made over the weekend. But his perseverance was a building-block for the cowboy. He finished his freshman year in Uvalde, Texas, as the reserve national champion in steer wrestling at the College National Finals Rodeo. “It’s just proof that hard work pays off,” he said of his second-place finish at the College National Finals Rodeo last June. “When you give your all to something, you can expect big things. I wasn’t expecting to finish second, but I was doing the best I could do. I was thankful for how it all happened.” He’ll bring that back to this year’s Jr. Ironman as one of four cowboys to return from the 2019 edition: reserve titlist Trevor Meier of Garden City, Kansas; Rylen Sutherland of Benton, Kentucky; and Quade Hiatt of Canyon, Texas. Meier, who led the race after Round 2, suffered a 60 in heeling on the final day. He finished as the runner-up. “I’m glad I get a second chance to redeem myself,” he said. “It would be really nice to come out first instead of second.” Like West, Meier competes in three of the four Jr. Ironman disciplines in college, where he is a sophomore at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He doesn’t look at last year as a bad outcome; it was a learning opportunity. “Probably the best thing I learned was keeping your head up for every run,” Meier said. “Even if something doesn’t go right, you just roll on. “The thing I’m looking forward most to is being there with Cooper (Slavin), my cousin. It’ll be good to experience it with him.” Meier and Slavin (of Goodwell, Oklahoma) are actually two sets of cousins in this year’s field of 10 young cowboys; they are joined by Sutherland and his cousin, Kolton Powell of Benton, Kentucky. “Cooper and I are close enough in age that we competed at Little Britches Rodeos, junior high and high school, and we’ve roped against each other a bunch,” Meier said. “Living down here close to him, we get to practice together quite a bit.” That practice will come in handy, as will the work done by every cowboy in this elite field. The Jr. Ironman is a tremendous challenge, battling through four timed events: heading, heeling, tie-down roping and steer wrestling. It’s a test of talent, horsemanship and mental fortitude over three days of competition. Each round will pay the winners $750, but the biggest earnings come in the 12-run aggregate, with the winner collecting $10,000. The incentive is well worth the challenges each man will face. “The biggest thing about that event is that being consistent wins in the long run,” West said. 2020 Jr. Ironman Championship Contestants Tyler West – Mertzon, Texas                                                 Trevor Meier – Garden City, Kansas Rylen Sutherland – Benton, Kentucky                                   Quade Hiatt – Canyon, Texas Denton Good – Long Valley, South Dakota                           Dalton Hartle – Rochester, Indiana Cooper Slavin – Goodwell, Oklahoma                                   Kolton Powell – Benton, Kentucky Tee Mcleod – Waldeck, Saskatchewan                                 Sam Morgan – Southwest Ranches, Florida

GUYMON, Okla. – Deep down, Justin Rumford is a cowboy, and rodeo has been part of his life since the day he was born. Through his years handling various duties for his family’s stock contracting firm to his time spent on the rodeo trail, his comedic nature has shined a spotlight on the game and his own personality. Now he has parlayed that into the perfect job. He returns to Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo for the second time in four years. As the reigning eight-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Clown of the Year, Rumford will be one of the featured pieces of the rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 1; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. “I competed in the ProRodeo at Guymon seven times in steer wrestling and a few other times when I was in college,” said Rumford, a third-generation cowboy now living in Ponca City, Oklahoma. “I always liked Guymon, because it seems to be the main takeoff for rodeo for the spring and summer run.” He started competing as a youngster growing up in Abbyville, Kansas. His grandfather, Floyd, founded Rumford Rodeo Co. His dad, Bronc, was an all-around champion who took over the stock contracting firm, and Justin joined in the family business. In his lifetime, he’s done just about everything possible in the sport, but he’s found his calling dressed in baggy clothes and wearing greasepaint. It’s the perfect combination of a witty personality raised on rodeo. “This clowning deal is the best thing I’ve ever had,” Rumford said. “It’s something in rodeo that I can have a lot of longevity in. There’s not a ton of risk, and it’s something I enjoy so much.” It shows in and out of the arena, a place he knows like the back of his hand. He’s roped and wrestled, ridden bucking horses and fought bulls. He’s been a flankman and a truck driver, and he’s loved every minute of it. “I’ve been involved in rodeo my whole life,” he said. “I’ve never done anything else, and I’ve never wanted to do anything else. I’ve always wanted to be successful. A (few) years ago when I started this venture, I knew if I really worked hard and tried really hard that I could get to the top in a hurry.” He did. In just his second year as a full-time rodeo clown, he won the PRCA’s top award. He’s followed that the four years since, and he continues to be one of the most sought-after rodeo clowns in the game. But there are many reasons behind it. “I have seven acts,” Rumford said. “At a lot of rodeos I work, there are lots of performances, so I like to change it up. I’m not a specialty act; I’m a clown act. “I’m constantly trying to think of new stuff.” Whether it’s “Fat Elvis” on a mini bike or the Rumford rendition of Spiderman, the acts are a big part of the entertainment value. But he’s the perfect all-around entertainer, a man who understands the timing that comes with rodeo. It’s all part of making the production come across as seamless as possible. If there is any downtime in the competition, Rumford is on hand to engage the crowd. It’s a vital piece of the keeping the family-friendly entertainment part of each performance. “I think my specialty is walking and talking and being in the arena,” he said. “I feel like I can connect with the crowd pretty good. Even when my microphone isn’t on, I’m still talking to fans. You can do a lot without saying a word.” That’s an integral part of being a clown; sharing a particular move or a flashing glance in the right direction. As a clown with a bit of a bigger build, it is primary target of comedy is himself. “People want to laugh at each other more than they want to laugh at something,” Rumford said. “When I’m in the arena, I’m saying the same stuff I’d say if I wasn’t clowning. It’s just me being me.” He looks forward to returning to the Oklahoma Panhandle to entertain, this time in front of some of the most knowledgeable rodeo fans in the country. It will be a different type of experience, but it will still be all Rumford comedy. “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.”

GUTHRIE, Okla. – Championship dreams begin early for rodeo cowboys. It may happen the first time they put on the distinguishable hats or the first time they swing their ropes. It may happen the first time they nod their heads in competition or win their first buckles. Whatever served as the incubator long ago is now the driving force behind years of hard work in search of that elusive world championship. Ask Haven Meged, who was just 21 years old when he won his first Montana Silversmiths gold buckle in tie-down roping this past December. Or ask Clay Smith, who was 28 when he won his second straight heading world title three months ago. Or ask Justin Thigpen, who, at age 37, won the CINCH Timed Event Championship in his first year of competing at the “Ironman of ProRodeo” last March. He will have his chance to defend that title over a three-day, five-round championship fight March 13-15 at the Lazy E Arena. “I enjoyed the event last year,” said Thigpen of Waycross, Georgia. “You have to work five events every day, and it’s a test. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I love the idea of getting to work all your events.” Outside of single steer roping, he’s a regular competitor in the other events, and it showed last year when battled through the most unique challenge in rodeo – each man must compete in each of the five timed events (heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping) per round for five rounds, stretched out over just three days. The weekend also is a celebration. The CINCH Fan Zone will have autograph sessions after the 7:30 p.m. performances on Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14. It will also feature a bar, games, giveaways, a lounge area to watch each performance live, a photo booth and the CINCH Kids Dummy Roping. The competition, though, is a grueling examination of each man’s physical attributes and mental fortitude. Because of that, it’s one of the toughest events to win in Western sports. “I think having the success I’ve had helps,” said Thigpen, a 17-time International Professional Rodeo Association world champion. “The steer roping is the newest thing, but I’m a student of the game.” His studies paid off, and he owns the hardware to prove it, just like Meged and Smith, two others in this field of 20 amazing cowboys that won gold in 2019. All are set for the battle to commence in mid-March. Though Meged is a first-timer in this group, he knows quite a bit about it. He was in the inaugural Jr. Ironman field and is that event’s first graduate into the CTEC. “I’m excited to compete with K.C. Jones,” said Meged of Miles City, Montana. “I used to rope with him a lot, and he perfected my tie. To compete against those guys in that field is really awesome. “Coming off the momentum of the world title is awesome. You get on a roll, and it’s no different than anything else. You’ve got to keep it simple. It comes down to us taking care of the things we can control.” That mindset worked for Thigpen, just as it did for Smith in his first year competing in 2014. Smith was in position to win the title on the final day that year but settled for second place. It was still one heck of a showing for a cowboy that was called to be an injury replacement just days before the first round began. In fact, it may have been the catalyst he needed in his career. Since then, he has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo each of the past five years. For his part, Thigpen didn’t rest on his laurels or the $107,000 he earned last March. He utilized the money while building a house, then went back to work. In addition to his competition schedule, he also operates a livestock production company, putting on rodeos primarily in the Southeast. “Not much has really changed since last year,” he said. “I go to rodeos throughout the whole country. We pretty much stayed with the same routine: We just continue to do what we love.” That passion speaks to what drives each of the competitors in this year’s field. It’s a love of the game while chasing the dreams of winning the CINCH Timed Event Championship. CINCH Timed Event Championship Contestants Justin Thigpen – Waycross, Georgia                                     K.C. Jones – Burlington, Wyoming Erich Rogers – Round Rock, Arizona                                    Shank Edwards – Tatum, New Mexico Clay Smith – Broken Bow, Oklahoma                                    Paul David Tierney – Oklahoma City Jess Tierney – Hermosa, South Dakota                                Lane Karney – Creston, California Marcus Theriot – Poplarville, Mississippi                               Cody Doescher – Webbers Falls, Oklahoma Clayton Hass – Stephenville, Texas                                      Kyle Lockett – Visalia, California JoJo LeMond – Andrews, Texas                                            Jordan Ketscher – Squaw Valley, California Cody Cabral – Hilo, Hawaii                                                    Trell Etbauer – Goodwell, Oklahoma Haven Meged – Miles City, Montana                                     Taylor Santos – Creston, California Seth Hall – Albuquerque, New Mexico                                  Thomas Smith – Barnsdall, Oklahoma Jr. Ironman Championship Contestants Tyler West – Mertzon, Texas                                                 Trevor Meier – Garden City, Kansas Rylen Sutherland – Benton, Kentucky                                   Quade Hiatt – Canyon, Texas Denton Good – Long Valley, South Dakota                           Dalton Hartle – Rochester, Indiana Cooper Slavin – Goodwell, Oklahoma                                   Kolton Powell – Benton, Kentucky Tee Mcleod – Waldeck, Saskatchewan                                 Sam Morgan – Southwest Ranches, Florida