Category Archives: Uncategorized

DUNCAN, Okla. – Before he arrived in this small southern Oklahoma city, Tanner Brunner new he had some work to do. He sat 11th in the Prairie Circuit steer wrestling standings, and only the top 12 in each event qualify for the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo. He needed to win the three-round aggregate title if he were to advance to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, where only the year-end and aggregate titlists in each event qualify. It’s the next step in the circuit system and another chance for big money, and Brunner started things off on the right foot Thursday during the opening night of the championship, knocking down his steer in 3.8 seconds to win the first round and collect $1,935. “I just wanted to make three good runs and hope it all comes together,” said Brunner, 26, of Ramona, Kansas. “The key is to take it one run at a time and see where it puts us after the third steer. It’s always good to have good horses underneath you, have Sean Mulligan hazing for you on the other side. It just came together.” He is coming off a solid season, having earned just shy of $75,000. That was good enough for 15th in the world standings, earning him a second straight qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale set for December in Las Vegas. He battled hard in the final few weeks of the regular season to sneak into the elite few that are allowed to play for the biggest pay in the game. And just like he did all this season and last, he leaned on his team, which included Mulligan and Mulligan’s great bulldogging horse, Miss Kitty. “She’s pretty automatic,” said Brunner, now competing in Duncan for the fifth time in his career. “When you’re bulldogging, you’ve got to think less and react more. She makes it pretty easy. “There’s a lot of trust with Sean. I feel 110 percent comfortable with him on the other side, what’s underneath me and what’s underneath him. I think we’ll have one of the best teams there.” Not only does Brunner want to win this championship, but he knows it’s the perfect place to keep improving on his game as he prepares to run at more than $26,000 a night in the Nevada desert. “This gets you into that finals mentality and gets you going,” he said. “You want to raise the level of competition every night. It’s a good way to prepare mentally and physically.” He’s doing that and then some. Two more nights like the first one could provide a big payday for the Kansas cowboy. “Winning money is the name of the game” Brunner said. “Hopefully I can put two more together.” Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 17-19 Duncan, Okla. Bareback riding: 1. Ty Blessing, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Jason’s Pride, $1,916; 2. (tie) Caine Riddle and Blaine Kaufman, 80.5, $1,197 each; 4. Garrett Shadbolt, 78, $479. Steer wrestling: 1. Tanner Brunner, 3.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Shane Frey, 4.5, $1,451; 3. Tom Uttermark, 4.8, $967; 4. Hunter Crawford, 5.1, $484. Team roping: 1. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 5.8 seconds, $1,935; 2. Paul David Tierney/Tanner Braden, 5.9, $1,451; 3. Curry Kirchner/Austin Rogers, 6.8, $967; 4. Blake Hughes/Braden Harmon, 7.3, $484. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Colt Gordon, 82.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild, $1,935; 2. Rowdy Chesser, 80.5, $1,451; 3. Trent Burd, 79.5, $967; 4. (tie) Preston Kafka, Tyrel Larsen and Dalton Davis, 72.5, $161 each. Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Jarrett, 9.1 seconds, $1,935; 2. Cody McCartney, 10.2, $1,451; 3. Cheyenne Harper, 11.0, $967; 4. Glenn Jackson, 11.2, $484. Barrel racing: 1. Tamara Reinhardt, 16.20 seconds, $1,935; 2. Michelle Darling, 16.38, $1,451; 3. Leslie Smalygo, 16.55, $467; 4. Jeanne Anderson, 16.61, $484. Bull riding: 1. Cody Keathley, 86 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Deets, $1,935; 2. Trevor Kastner, 84, $1,451; 3. Fulton Rutland, 82.5, $967; 4. Clayton Joe Appelhans, 81, $484.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Even warm October temperatures weren’t enough to keep throngs of people away from the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. But there’s much more that goes into the annual exposition, and that’s a good thing. The carnival, which is always a hit, was active throughout its run at the nine-day fair and rodeo, but the real focus has always been the youth and the exhibits they show. “It was another really good fair,” said Matt Hyatt, president of the Waller County Fair Association. “We had our second-largest auction in our history, and that means a great deal to us because it shows how much people are willing to give back to the kids.” This year’s event featured the inaugural Waller County Welding Competition, a Texas High School Welding Series event. It was a true showcase of young people displaying their talents. “It was spectacular,” Hyatt said. “It’s nice to have another event that’s targeted toward our young people. We also had another successful Barnyard Buddies, which is always a big day for us.” It was one of many, with several nights of busy action at the rodeo arena. The tie-down roping and team roping eliminator competitions featured the best in the game each night, then the PRCA rodeo featured big money paid out to a field that made up a record number of entrants. “We were really pleased with this year’s rodeo, the number of contestants that helped make our rodeo great,” said Clint Sciba, chairman of the WFCA’s rodeo committee. “Pete Carr and his crew did an incredible job again in producing our rodeo. It’s always great to work with them.” The concert lineup was highlighted by award-winning artists like Gene Watson, Jason Boland and the Stragglers and Restless Heart. “We really can’t do any of this without our volunteers, sponsors and buyers who give so much to our fair and rodeo,” Hyatt said. “We’re already gearing up for next year, which will be our 75th anniversary.”

Nebraska man steps up big to win BFO title in Waco, moves closer to the leaders WACO, Texas – As the 2019 Bullfighters Only season rolls toward its championship event, Beau Scheuth is at the right place mentally and physically. The Nebraska man proved it on Sunday by winning One HOT Bullfight in conjunction with the Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo in Waco, adding $5,000 to his season earnings and securing his spot among the top 12 men heading into the BFO Championship at Tropicana Las Vegas in December. “This was pretty crucial for me,” said Schueth, who missed two months of competition because of an injury suffered in the spring in Ada, Oklahoma. “I wasn’t able to go to as many bullfights, so these last few big events at the end of the year help solidify my spot and creep closer to the top three or four guys. I want to keep moving up and get within striking distance of a world title.” Schueth was back to his consistent ways in Waco, winning his opening. One HOT Bullfight featured nine athletes competing in three-man brackets, the winners advancing to the Hooey Championship Round. Schueth eliminated three-time world champion Weston Rutkowski and Dayton Spiel by posting the highest-marked fight of the day, an 88-point bout against a 1,300-pound paint bull named Padre from Penthouse Fighting Bulls. “I was the third guy out in our round, and both Dayton and Weston had really good fights with really good bulls,” said Schueth, who sits seventh in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. “I knew as long as I didn’t get caught (by the bull) and stayed away from the fence, I’d have a pretty good shot.” He was joined in the final round by Aaron Mercer and Dekevis Jordan, the latter of whom finished second in his bout but advanced due to an injury to the winner, Chance Moorman. Mercer is a newcomer to the BFO in 2019, but he has taken to freestyle bullfighting quickly. He sits No. 1 in the standings with $40,850 – a $4,370 lead over the runner-up, Weston Rutkowski. “The crowd was unreal,” Mercer said. “It was one of the biggest crowds that I’ve ever seen. It was packed, and the athletes showed up. It’s getting close to the end of the year, so we’re down to the final couple events to see who’s in the top. Everybody is bringing their A game. “It was a good bullfight.” It’s what the fans have come to expect at a BFO, especially the stand-alone events that showcase the top men and the elite Spanish fighting bulls that make it a dangerous clash in the dirt. There are just three more events remaining in the regular season, including a Wrangler Bullfight Tour stop this coming weekend in Arcadia, Florida. The final two will be stand-alone events: the BFO Kent Cup in Seattle, Washington, on Oct. 26 and the Speedway Series Finale at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 3. “These are classic stand-alone events, and they’re big for us,” Schueth said. “In Waco, every round was tough. Everybody had a shot. It just came down to how your bull was and how you handled him; that’s the way it should be.” Schueth did more than just handle his short-round bull; he also gained a bit of retribution. “That was the bull that laid me up in Ada,” he said. “’I knew it was going to be a good fight. I wanted to get some revenge for him knocking me out of competition for two months. I was happy to be matched up with him, because he was a pretty good bull.” Scheuth finished with 87 points, just a half point better than Mercer in the Final Round. “I want everybody to be 90,” Mercer said. “You always have that competitive factor that you want to win, but Beau turned it on and made a good fight. I want all the guys to fight their bull and put on a good show. “Do your best and cheer for your boys. These people are a big part of why I’m here. I wouldn’t have the drive to be a world champion without them. I’ve never worked harder in my life. I’m committing myself to work out every day, whether it’s a run down the road or three hours at Fit N Wise. I have this drive, and it’s because of the people around me.” One HOT Bullfight Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo Round 1: 1. Aaron Mercer, 86.5 points; 2. Kris Furr, 81; Zach Call, 80.5. Round 2: 1. Beau Schueth, 88 points; 2. Weston Rutkowski, 84.5; 3. Dayton Spiel, 82. Round 3: 1. Chance Moorman, 82.5 points; 2. Dekevis Jordan, 79.5; 3. Justin Josey, 77. Hooey Championship Round: 1. Beau Schueth, 87; Aaron Mercer, 86.5; Dekevis Jordan, 84.

ALVA, Okla. – Both breakaway roper Taylor Munsell and steer wrestler Bridger Anderson got a big taste of what it means to be a champion this past summer when they left the College National Finals Rodeo as national champions. They not only want to defend their titles; they want do so in a big way. Anderson has kicked off the 2019-20 season with a second-place finish and two titles, the last of which came this past weekend at the Oklahoma State University rodeo. He and Munsell won their respective events at the season opener in Colby, Kansas, and they repeated it again in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Both are first in the Central Plains Region standings – Anderson has 440 points already this young season and is 260 points ahead of the No. 2 cowboy, while Munsell has 260 points and is 85 points ahead of the runner-up. “At the college rodeos, it’s nice being out there ahead of everybody,” said Munsell, a graduate assistant using her fifth year of eligibility for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team. “I don’t want to have to come in and win it in the end. My junior year was that way. All I needed to do was catch my calf in the short round in Guymon (Oklahoma) to win the region, and I didn’t catch my calf.” That’s why it’s important to do well during the fall portion of the rodeo schedule. Northwestern will close out the four-event campaign by hosting a three-day rodeo Oct. 31-Nov. 2. “It’s nice having a little bit of a comfortable fall, getting a lot of points at each of the college rodeos, but there’s a long way to go before we get to Casper,” Anderson said, referring to the home of the college finals in Wyoming. “We’re going to try to keep getting out on the barrier, keep getting our hands on steers and keep scoring points.” He had a solid fall a year ago and had a strong lead in the standings heading into the spring. Things didn’t go quite as well as he had liked during the final six events of the season, but Anderson held on to win the region. He wants to make a better showing this year. “I just need to keep out of my own head,” he said. “Whitt Crozier (of Oklahoma Panhandle State University) was really fast, and I had to talk myself out of running at the barrier to win first and possibly breaking the barrier. As long as we keep trying to make smooth runs, I think we can be pretty consistent, and that’s what it’s going to take to win the region again.” Both the Northwestern men’s and women’s teams finished second in Stillwater, so there were plenty of Rangers providing points along the way. Anderson downed his first-round steer in 4.3 seconds to finish in a tie for first, then was 4.2 to finish third in the championship round. Meanwhile, all-around cowboy Bo Yaussi scored points in two events for Northwestern: He placed in both rounds and finished third in the average in tie-down roping, then did the same thing as a heeler in team roping to finish second in the average with Colton Good of Western Oklahoma State College. Another Northwestern team roper, header Camden Hoelting, made the final round, then finished tied for third in the short-go and fourth overall while roping with heeler Rio Esquibel of Northeastern A&M. “We definitely have the potential to be a solid team,” said Anderson, a junior from Carrington, North Dakota. “We have a lot of solid people and should have a shot to do good at the regional standings. As a team, our goal is to try to win the regional championship or, at worst, finish second and get the team qualified for the college finals.” While Munsell led the way for the Rangers women, she was one of five who earned points in Stillwater. She was 3.3 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth in the first round, then was 3.0 to win the final round and the average. Meanwhile, Lindee Carson placed in both rounds and finished third in the average and Katelyn King made the short round, where she finished fourth and slid into fourth in the breakaway roping average. Goat-tier Megan Turek scored points in the opening round with a 7.2-second run to finish in a four-way tie for fifth place. Barrel racer Amber Scales placed in both rounds and finished third overall. “We rebounded really good after we didn’t do so well in Durant (Oklahoma),” Munsell said of the second rodeo of the season. “We had some girls come up and compete really well. We’re starting to get some confidence under our belts. We have a bunch of talent, but it’s green, and we just need to get that experience. “I think this team could really come together next semester and the next couple of years.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – The rodeo trail is an oxymoron of sorts; it can be the path to greatness and a chance for riches in Las Vegas each December, but it’s a lonesome highway filled with a roller coaster of emotions thousands of miles from home. Cheyenne Wimberely knows the curves and hills and the passing lanes along the way, and on Saturday night, they led the Stephenville, Texas, cowgirl to Bellville for the final performance of the Austin County Fair and Rodeo. “I’ve been here several times over the years,” said Wimberley, who stopped the clock in 15.26 seconds to finish second in barrel racing, pocketing $2,237. “I haven’t been here in a (performance) in quite a few years, because I’ve always been up in slack.” She obviously found it to her liking, and it’s a good step. She concluded the 2019 regular season on Sept. 30 with $90,361 and will return to the National Finals Rodeo for the third time in her long career. Here’s the rub, though: This marks her first appearance at ProRodeo’s grand finale since 1998. “I wasn’t sure when I left in ’98 that I’d ever go back,” she said. “We went a lot of miles this year, and that’s pretty much what drove me home the first time. It’s a long season, and we’re glad to be back in Texas.” Rodeo contestants that make their living in the game travel tens of thousands of miles a year in order to chase their gold-buckle dreams. She’s competed all across the country with a trailer full of horses. She raced at nearly 100 rodeos in 2019 and proved that she has the ability to ride great horses for big money. “I never quit riding, and I trained barrel horses and futurity horses,” Wimberley said “I did odds-and-ends jobs, and I was in the insurance business for about seven years. For the last 15 years, I’ve had numerous horses; I have 35 horses at my house right now.” The talented bay mare she rode in Bellville might just be one of the mounts she will have in Vegas in two months, so it was nice to get the 2020 campaign off to a good start. “She’s been off six months, so she’s just getting her groove back,” she said. “this is her second time to run, so I’m really glad she put a run together. “I think what makes this NFR qualification special is that I’m going on multiple horses. I rode four horses during the year. To be able to do that as a rider at my age, it was something I wanted to be able to master each horse, to be able to ride each horse to its capability. I think it was a huge achievement.” She also will be part of a neat family get-together in the Nevada desert. “My cousins are the Crawley brothers in bronc riding,” she said of Jacobs, a nine-time NFR qualifier and the 2015 world champion, and Sterling, a six-time finalist. “We are all going together for the first time. My dad played a big role in teaching them to ride and getting them started on horses.” But first things first, and that was doing well in Bellville. She was just 11-hundredths of a second behind the champion, Leia Pleumer, and both ladies have a strong start to 2020. “The committee did amazing here,” Wimberley said. “There aren’t many rodeos that tractor before the barrel racing and again during it. That makes for a better playing field and a more even playing field.” That makes the Austin County Fair’s Rodeo a pretty nice place to play. Austin County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 10-12 Bellville, Texas All-around cowboy: Clay Smith, $3,143 in steer roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 82.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rawhide, $1,923; 2. Leighton Berry, 77. $1,457; 3. Tanner Phipps, 76, $1,049; 4. (tie) Yance Day and Winn Ratliff, 74, $554 each; 6. Blade Elliott, 72, $291. Steer wrestling: 1. Kalane Anders, 3.5 seconds, $2,140; 2. (tie) Jacob Edler and Cody Harmon, 3.7, $1,722 each; 4. Cade Goodman, 4.1, $1,303; 5. (tie) Kodie Jang and Jacob Talley, 4.3, $884; 7. Shayde Tree Etherton, 4.4, $465; 8. Aaron Vosler, 4.5, $186. Team roping: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 3.8 seconds, $2,768; 2. Lightning Aguilera/Brady Norman, 4.1, $2,477; 3. (tie) Quisto Lopez/B.J. Dugger and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.2, $2,040; 5. Garrett Chick/Walt Woodard, 4.3, $1,603; 6. Colby Lovell/Corey Hendrick, 4.6, $1,311; 7. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 4.7, $1,020; 8. Caleb Smidt/Logan Moore, 4.8, $729; 9. Joe Hub Baker/Chuck Butler, 5.0, $437; 9. Aaron Macy/Jason Johe, 5.1, $146. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jarrod Hammons, on United Pro Rodeo’s Sky Fall, and Parker Kempfer, on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cimarron, 81.5 points, $1,684 each; 3. Cole Elshere, 80, $1,080; 4. Chet Johnson, 78, $699; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 77, $445; 6. Curtis Garton, 76.5, $318; 7. Rider Sanford, 74.5, $254; 8. Taygen Schuelke, 73.5, $191. Tie-down roping: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 8.1 seconds, $2,508; 2. Marcos Costa, 8.5, $2,181; 3. (tie) Kyle Parish and Tanner Green, 8.6, $1,690; 5. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Cade Swor, 8.7, $1,036; 7. Landyn Duncan, 9.2, $545; 8. Landyn Duncan, 9.2, $218. Barrel racing: 1. Leia Pluemer, 15.14 seconds, $2,632; 2. Cheyenne Wimberley, 15.26, $2,237; 3. Stevi Hillman, 15.32, $1,842; 4. Alishea Broussard, 15.37, $1,579; 5. Lisa Thornton, 15.45, $1,316; 6. Jimmie Smith, 15.48, $921; 7. Taylor Langdon, 15.50, $658; 8. Shelley Morgan, 15.54, $526; 9. Fallon Taylor, 15.55, $461; 10. Kelsey Knight, 15.56, $394; 11. (tie)Kelly Tovar, Cassidy Champlin and Lori Todd, 15.59, $197 each. Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Smith and Jim Locke, 9.7 seconds, $1,103 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, 10.0, $791; 4. Trevor Brazile, 10.2, $583; 5. Cole Patterson, 10.4, $375; 6. Jess Tierney, 10.7, $208. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.9 seconds, $1,207; 2. (tie) Jason Stockton and Lawson Plemons, 10.2, $895 each; 4. Tanner Green, 10.8, $583; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Landon McClaugherty, 10.9, $291 each. Average: 1. Cole Patterson,  Continue Reading »

BELLVILLE, Texas – Parker Kempfer calls his win at last year’s Austin County Fair and Rodeo the biggest of his young career. Now he has a chance to do it two years in a row. On Friday night, he rode Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cimarron for 81.5 point to share the saddle bronc riding lead with Jarrod Hammons with one performance remaining in this year’s rodeo. “This one here means about as much to me as anything,” said Kempfer of Melbourne, Florida. “I lost to friends from college almost a year ago, and this was his hometown.” Kempfer graduated from Texas A&M a year ago, and his friends, Will and Bailee Byler, died last November. Returning to Bellville this October brought back emotions and, very well may have, brought out the best in the cowboy now competing in his rookie season in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “I’ve been on my permit for a couple years, and it’s been a great year,” he said. “I’m going back to the permit finals in Vegas (in conjunction with the National Finals Rodeo). It’s just another step. You’ve got to keep improving and keep learning. “I’ve learned so much this year just getting to rodeo this summer. I’ve just got to keep working at it and hopefully it goes well this year; hopefully I can stay healthy and keep rolling.” If things go as well as they did Friday night, then the 2020 season might be the perfect storm for the Florida cowboy, a sixth-generation cattle rancher when he’s not on the rodeo trail. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, then earned his masters at Texas A&M-Commerce. It was the first time he tried his hand on Cimarron, but he got a few hints of good things from one of his friends. “My traveling partner got on him about a year ago and said he was really fun, but I didn’t tink he would be that cool,” Kempfer said on a crisp evening with temperatures in the low 50s. “It was a blast. “I’m hitting the last few rodeos in Texas before heading home next week. I’m going to enjoy a little bit of aa time in Florida, where it’s a little bit warmer than here.” The main thing, though, is to get off to a good start on the 2020 campaign, which began Oct. 1. “It’s huge to get started good to the season, because I want to get my qualifications up enough to maybe get into the big winter rodeos,” he said. “Coming off your permit, you don’t have your qualifications as high as everybody else, so you just want to get out to a good start. I’m going to keep pushing my goals and see if we can get there.” Austin County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 10-12 Bellville, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 82.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rawhide; 2. Leighton Berry, 77; 3. Tanner Phipps, 76; 4. Yance Day, 74; 5. Blade Elliott, 72; 6. Tucker Zingg, 61; 7. Tyler Johnson, 59; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Jacob Edler and Cody Harmon, 3.7 seconds; 3. Cade Goodman, 4.1; 4. (tie) Kodie Jang and Jacob Talley, 4.3; 6. Shayde Tree Etherton, 4.4; 7. Josh Clark, 4.6; 8. Tory Johnson, 4.8. Team roping: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 3.8 seconds; 2. Lightning Aguilera/Brady Norman, 4.1; 3. (tie) Quisto Lopez/B.J. Dugger and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.2; 5. Colby Lovell/Corey Hendrick, 4.6; 6. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 4.7; 7. Caleb Smidt/Logan Moore, 4.8; 8. Joe Hub Baker/Chuck Butler, 5.0; 9. Aaron Macy/Jason Johe, 5.1; 10. (tie) Lane Ivy/Dillon Wingereid and Jess Tierney/Joel Oden, 6.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jarrod Hammons, on United Pro Rodeo’s Sky Fall, and Parker Kempfer, on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Cimarron, 81.5 points; 3. Cole Elshere, 80; 4. Chet Johnson, 78; 5. Jacobs Crawley, 77; 6. Curtis Garton, 76.5; 7. Taygen Schuelke, 73.5; 8. Ben Andersen, 64. Tie-down roping: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 8.1 seconds; 2. Marcos Costa, 8.5; 3. (tie) Kyle Parish and Tanner Green, 8.6; 5. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Cade Swor, 8.7 each; 7. Landyn Duncan, 9.2; 8. King Pickett, 9.6. Barrel racing: 1. Leia Pluemer, 15.14 seconds; 2. Alishea Broussard, 15.37; 3. Lisa Thornton, 15.45; 4. Jimmie Smith, 15.48; 5. Taylor Langdon, 15.50; 6. Shelley Morgan, 15.54; 7. Fallon Taylor, 15.55; 8. Kelsey Knight, 15.56; 9. (tie)Kelly Tovar, Cassidy Champlin and Lori Todd, 15.59; 12. Deb Guelly, 15.65. Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Smith and Jim Locke, 9.7 seconds, $1,103 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, 10.0, $791; 4. Trevor Brazile, 10.2, $583; 5. Cole Patterson, 10.4, $375; 6. Jess Tierney, 10.7, $208. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.9 seconds, $1,207; 2. (tie) Jason Stockton and Lawson Plemons, 10.2, $895 each; 4. Tanner Green, 10.8, $583; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Landon McClaugherty, 10.9, $291 each. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 20.3 seconds on two head, $1,811; 2. (tie) Jim Locke and Trevor Brazile, 21.1, $1,343 each; 4. Jess Tierney, 22.0, $874; 5. Tuf Cooper, 22.9, $562; 6. Scott Snedecor, 24.4, $312. Bull riding: 1. (tie) Parker McCown, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Amish Burnout, and J.T. Moore, on United Pro Rodeo’s Happy Days, 88.5 points; 3. Foster McCraw, 86; 4. Matt Palmer, 83; 5. Braden Richardson, 81; 6. Chris Bechthold, 78.5; 7. Brett Custer, 73; no other qualified rides.

BELLVILLE, Texas – The 2019 ProRodeo regular season was a big learning experience for steer wrestler Jacob Edler. “I was excited to have the year that I had, but I had higher hopes and expectations,” said Edler, who finished the campaign 23rd in the world standings with more than $55,00 in earnings. “This is the best year I’ve ever had and the brokest I’ve ever been. I’ve come to find out you’ve got to be in the top 15 to make any money in this game.” Only the top 15 in the world standings in each event advance to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. It’s a goal for every cowboy that competes for a living, and Edler fits that bull well. He’s already off to a good start for the 2020 season, which began Oct. 1 – he placed in Hempstead, Texas, last week and sits atop the leaderboard this week at the Austin County Fair and Rodeo after posting a 3.7-second run during Thursday’s opening night, sharing the lead with Cody Harmon, who competing in Wednesday’s slack. “The end of the 2019 season didn’t fair out, so since Oct. 1, I’ve been hungry and ready to get after 2020,” said Edler of State Center, Iowa. He had a little help from his horse, Rattle, owned by fellow steer wrestler Matt Reeves. It takes solid teamwork between horse and rider to make it work, and he was also assisted by Cameron Moorman, who served as the hazer. “I’ve had quite a bit of success on her,” Edler said. “She just fits me like a glove.” That’s important, because the first key to a fast time is to have an equine partner that can get the cowboy to the steer in a hurry and in position. Everything else that happens falls on how well the cowboy handles his business, something the Iowa man has learned. This past year, he gained a great education while traveling the rodeo trail with two-time world champion Hunter Cure. “Hunter’s a winner in everything he does,” Edler said. “I’m glad I got to see him on the road, in the practice pen and even out there working by my side. No matter what we’re doing, we’re going to do it right and try to do it as perfect as we can, and the results show.” Even though he’s been part of ProRodeo for eight seasons, he’s still relatively young in some aspects of the game. Three years ago as a senior at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, he finished second at the College National Finals Rodeo to teammate J.D. Struxness. The two traveled after that, and Struxness made the first of three qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo. “I have climbed mountains since I first started,” Edler said. “I was a kid from Iowa with a mullet halfway down my back. I was shell-shocked when I went to my first PRCA rodeo. The only reason I’ve gotten to where I am today is the people who have taken the time and seen the potential in me and helped me. “That year, I don’t know how we got anybody to the NFR. We might have been more focused on having a good time than bulldogging, but it’s a process that you’ve got to grow up and mature through it. When it’s your time, you’ve just got to be ready for it.” Austin County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 10-12 Bellville, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 82.5 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s Rawhide; 2. Leighton Berry, 77; 3. Yance Day, 74; 4. Tucker Zingg, 61; Tyler Johnson, 59; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. (tie) Jacob Edler and Cody Harmon, 3.7 seconds; 3. (tie) Kodie Jang and Jacob Talley, 4.3; 5. Shayde Tree Etherton, 4.4; 6. Dylan Schroeder, 4.9; 7. Maverick Harper, 5.2; 8. Gabe Soileau, 5.3. Team roping: 1. Lightning Aguilera/Brady Norman, 4.1 seconds; 2. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.2; 3. Colby Lovell/Corey Hendrick, 4.6; 4. Shane Philipp/John Philipp, 4.7; 5. Caleb Smidt/Logan Moore, 4.8; 6. Joe Hub Baker/Chuck Butler, 5.0; 7. Aaron Macy/Jason Johe, 5.1; 8. (tie) Lane Ivy/Dillon Wingereid and Jess Tierney/Joel Oden, 6.5; 10. Landon McClaugherty/Joel Hurta, 10.5. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jarrod Hammons, 81.5 on United Pro Rodeo’s Sky Fall; 2. Cole Elshere, 80; 3. Chet Johnson, 78; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: 1. Zack Jongbloed, 8.1 seconds; 2. Tanner Green, 8.6; 3. (tie) Shad Mayfield and Cade Swor, 8.7 each; 5. Landyn Duncan, 9.2; 6. King Pickett, 9.6; 7. Benny Mosley, 10.1; 8. Reid Zapalac, 10.2. Barrel racing: 1. Lisa Thornton, 15.45 seconds; 2. Taylor Langdon, 15.50; 3. Shelley Morgan, 15.54; 4. Fallon Taylor, 15.55; 5. (tie)Kelly Tovar, Cassidy Champlin and Lori Todd, 15.59; 8. Deb Guelly, 15.65; 9. Amanda Slaughter, 15.66; 10. (tie) Abby Phillips and Shelby Bates, 15.69; 12. Amy Jo Reisdorfer, 15.70. Steer roping: First round: 1. (tie) Clay Smith and Jim Locke, 9.7 seconds, $1,103 each; 3. Tuf Cooper, 10.0, $791; 4. Trevor Brazile, 10.2, $583; 5. Cole Patterson, 10.4, $375; 6. Jess Tierney, 10.7, $208. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.9 seconds, $1,207; 2. (tie) Jason Stockton and Lawson Plemons, 10.2, $895 each; 4. Tanner Green, 10.8, $583; 5. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Landon McClaugherty, 10.9, $291 each. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 20.3 seconds on two head, $1,811; 2. (tie) Jim Locke and Trevor Brazile, 21.1, $1,343 each; 4. Jess Tierney, 22.0, $874; 5. Tuf Cooper, 22.9, $562; 6. Scott Snedecor, 24.4, $312. Bull riding: 1. Braden Richardson, 81 points on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Knot Head; 2. Chris Bechthold, 78.5; 3. Brett Custer, 73; no other qualified rides.

ALVA, Okla. – A change in approach has already begun working for Northwestern Oklahoma State University cowboy Zane Thompson. “I’ve done a lot of thinking about it and questioning why I haven’t made the college finals yet, and at the end of the day, I realized that I just needed to be more aggressive,” said Thompson, a senior from Cheyenne, Wyoming. “Not very often do we practice just to catch; we are aggressive in practice. “This year I just decided I’m going to go at them. I’m not going to be silly about it, but if my shot’s there, I’m not going to second-guess myself.” He’s a header, and this past weekend at the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Rodeo in Durant, he partnered with heeler Sam Goings of Oklahoma Panhandle State University to win both rounds and the overall team roping title. “It’s a great start to the year,” said Thompson, who transferred this year from Western Oklahoma State College. “I feel like I got the ball rolling. I’ve never had the college season I really wanted, and this is my last shot at it. It felt great to show up, have my horse do good and for me to do my job and come out on top.” The tandem took advantage of a good steer to win the first round, but part of that was the change in mentality when it came to the cowboy’s approach to his game. “I didn’t take the highest percentage shot, but the last three years that I’ve come to these rodeos, I’d always take safety’d up,” he said. “After the first rodeo of the year in Colby (Kansas), I decided I wasn’t going to lay off too much. “That steer had his head up, and my man did a great job to finish it up. In the short round, we drew great again, but I knew I needed to make sure I got out without breaking the barrier.” In college rodeo, contestants earn points for how well the place in rounds and the average, with 60 points going to the winner and 10 points for sixth place. By dominating things in Durant, Thompson earned 180 and now has the lead in the Central Plains Region’s heading standings. “It’s really nice to be ahead of the game this early instead of feeling like you have to battle back the whole time,” he said. He wasn’t the only Northwestern header to find success at Southeastern. He was joined on the leaderboard by Camden Hoelting, who finished third overall while roping with Michael Esquibel of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Reigning national champion steer wrestler Bridger Anderson finish the rodeo tied for second overall with teammate Brent Woodward, while Braden Sorenson also earned points for the Rangers. Anderson remains the top dog in the region standings. For the women, breakaway roper McKayla Alliston had the highest point earnings by finishing fourth overall, while defending national champ Taylor Munsell added to her total; she is fourth in the region. Megan Corr added points in goat-tying, while Sierra Schott scored in barrel racing. For Thompson, it’s just the next step in what he hopes is a solid year. He spent the first three seasons of college rodeo in Altus, Oklahoma, before transferring to Northwestern. He made the move for one reason: “They win,” he said. “It’s a great program, and Stockton (Graves) is a guy that’s won and has been at the very highest level. I don’t care if it’s football, baseball, basketball or rodeoing, when you’re around a guy that’s successful and can learn from him, that’s what you do. I wanted to get around Stockton and get around some guys that really work at it.” He knows a bit or two about being around greatness. He is the son of Frank Thompson, the 2000 world champion steer wrestler. In addition to team roping, Zane Thompson also ropes calves and wrestles steers, and he’s carrying on a family tradition quite well. “Ever since I was a little kid, I knew that if you wanted to rope calves or team rope, you had to go south (from Wyoming),” Zane Thompson said. “I remember being 12 years old and knowing that when I go to college, I was either going to Oklahoma or Texas. “I’m glad I did.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – Many of the biggest names in rodeo will converge on this southeast Texas community, starting tonight for the Austin County Fair and Rodeo. The showcase begins with slack on Wednesday, featuring hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls making their runs in non-performance competition that all counts toward this year’s championship at Bellville’s rodeo, which will have three shows set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. In all, there will be at least 60 contestants that have qualified for either the National Finals Rodeo or the National Finals Steer Roping, the season-ending championships in ProRodeo. Of those, 14 contestants have won world titles that make up more than 50 Montana Silversmiths gold buckles. Of course, the biggest name in the game is Trevor Brazile, who has trimmed his rodeo schedule but still has qualified for the steer roping finale that takes place in late November in Mulvane, Kansas. He will compete solely on Wednesday night and is chasing his 25th gold buckle Also in the mix are cowboys that have won multiple world titles, like seven-time champ Rich Skelton, four-time titlists Tuf Cooper and Scott Snedecor, three-time winner Jade Corkill and two-time world champions Walt Woodard and Caleb Smidt, the latter of whom is competing at his hometown rodeo on Saturday night. Smidt finished the 2019 regular season as the No. 1 cowboy in the tie-down roping world standings and is hoping to close out the campaign by defending his 2018 world championship. The 2020 campaign began Oct. 1, so he not only is keeping his game sharp but is also hoping to get off to a good start to the new season even before the current campaign comes to a close at the NFR in Las Vegas in December. It’s proof that the best in the game make their way to Austin County each October, because they know there is a great opportunity at Bellville’s rodeo.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – There really aren’t many rodeos across the United States that Bradley Harter hasn’t won. He just wrapped up his 17th season in ProRodeo, closing out the campaign last weekend by finishing 12th in the world standings with $99,351. He began the 2020 regular season by sharing the saddle bronc riding victory at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo; he also won the crown in 2016. He rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Life of Riley for 82 points to share the title with brothers Jacobs and Sterling Crawley, who matched that score on Friday night. Each man pocketed $1,403 that counts toward the National Finals Rodeo that will take place in 14 months. “This is a great rodeo; I love coming here,” said Harter, 38, of Loranger, Louisiana. “We’re coming off a dramatic ending to 2019, so this is more of a relaxing environment. You get a good start to the next year, but you keep getting on great horses and go to a great rodeo that pays really well.” Harter and the Crawleys have other business to tend to before focusing on the 2020 campaign too much. Each man has qualified for the 2019 NFR based on their finish through the regular season, which concluded Sept. 30. This marks Harter’s 11th qualification to ProRodeo’s grand finale, which features only the top 15 in each event in a rugged test of talent and guts over 10 nights in December. “For me, I like getting on three to four (horses) a week, so I like to keep my subconscious sharp and my body loose,” he said. “I say trust your stuff, so I get on good horses, and I can trust my ride instead of going into the NFR cold. “The Crawleys are tough to beat; they’re great bronc riders. That’s another great thing about this rodeo; you’re still competing against great guys on great stock. There was a line of cars to get in, so you know it’s a great rodeo.” Though he’s nine years younger than Harter, Cory Solomon from nearby Prairie View, Texas, is every bit as veteran. He was raised in Waller County, and he has made hundreds of runs inside the rodeo arena at the Waller County Fairgrounds. This is his hometown rodeo, and on the final night of this year’s event, he roped and tied his calf in 8.8 seconds to finish in a tie for fifth place, with $910. “This rodeo is very important to me,” said Solomon, 29, a six-time NFR qualifier. “You’ve got people that don’t understand rodeo that you with to high school with, and they come out to watch. One of my biggest sponsors is Sim-Tex, and they come out to watch. It’s one of those rodeos that your family and friends come out to watch. It’s almost the hardest rodeo to win, because you want to do good.” That’s the inner-pressure that comes from wanting to be at one’s best in front of hundreds of people excited to see a local cowboy do well. “Everybody’s so supportive, so I try to my best every time I come to town.” Actually, Solomon has spent a considerable amount of 2019 in Waller County. He suffered an injury to his hand at the 2018 NFR, which kept him sidelined until March. Things didn’t get much better as the season went on. “I’m at about 80 percent,” he said. “I missed a lot of good rodeos. I started back up trying to make up early this summer, and I was doing OK and hurt my knee. Everything happens for a reason.” Though disappointed he wasn’t competing, he focused on what he could do. In the process of rest and rehabilitation, Solomon found something that might help him make a big change in the 2020 season. “I was pretty blessed to find another really good horse out of Brazil, that I’ll get in about a week,” Solomon said. “I’m pretty close to being heeled up with possibly the best horsepower I’ve ever had, so 2020 is the most excited I’ve been in my life. “I feel like I spent more time at home this year than ever. I’ve never had roping taken away from me. I’ve not won, but I can always figure out a way to get back to winning. When you absolutely cannot rope, it’s another battle that I’ve had to fight this year. Hopefully it makes me stronger than I am right now.” Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-5 Hempstead, Texas All-around cowboy: Clay Smith, $4,388 in steer roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Yance Day, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s YoYo, $1,884; 2. (tie) Win Ratliff and Zach Hibler, 84, $1,256 each; 4. Paden Hurst, 691; 5. (tie) Craig Wisehart and Cole Reiner, 82, $377 each; 7. (tie) Waylon Guy Bourgeois and Anthony Thomas, 79, $220 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Cody Doescher, 4.0 seconds, $2,356; 2. Dylan Schroeder, 4.2, $2,049; 3. (tie) Payden McIntyre and Jacob Edler, 4.5, $1,583 each; 5. (tie) Kalane Anders and Ben Goodman Jr., 4.6, $873; 7. (tie) Heath Thomas, Levi Rudd and Chase Crane, 4.7, $239 each. Team roping: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Jake Long, 3.8 seconds, $3,264; 2. Lane Ivy/Dillon Wingereid, 4.4, $2,920; 3. Garett Chick/Walt Woodard, 4.5, $2,577; 4. (tie) Mason Boettcher/Ty Arnold and Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 4.6, $2,061 each; 6. (tie) Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain and Cody Snow/Travis Graves, 4.7, $1,374 each; 7. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson and Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 5.0, $515 each. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Mike and Ike, Sterling Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Brown Eyed Girl, and Bradley Harter, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Life of Riley, $1,403, 82 points; 4. Wyatt Casper, 78, $674; 5. Jarrod Hammons, 76, $429; 6. (tie) Logan Hay, Dean Wadsworth and Roper Kiesner, 75, $245 each. Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Marcos Costa, 8.4 seconds, $2,616; 2. (tie) Clint Singleton, 8.5, $2,275; 3. Blane Cox, 8.6,  Continue Reading »

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – After two and a half years away from the game he loves, Yance Day has returned with a vengeance. He showed it Friday night, when the Oklahoma cowboy took the bareback riding lead at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo with an 85-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s YoYo. In doing so, he made an emphatic statement that he is back to chase his dreams. “I want that gold buckle,” said Day, 29, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. “That’s what I see in my head, and I’m going to do what it takes.” The proof comes in the way he’s conducted himself since his return. It’s paying off when he arrives at the arena. He liked the little he knew about YoYo, a horse that has bucked at the National Finals Rodeo. “All I knew is just what I’d seen on the stock stats, and I saw a lot of 21s and 22s (based on scores of up to 25 for each judge),” he said. “I was pretty excited to see those numbers, and I was more than happy to make the trip down here. “I went over to Leesville (Louisiana) and was 82 and winning it when I left, and I’m winning it when I leave here, so I’m pretty tickled.” Day left rodeo to help out his family back home, but after time away, he realized he needed to return to the sport. He received assistance from a couple of former bareback riders, Brody Cooper and D.V. Fennell, the latter of whom is a two-time NFR qualifier. “Brody took me under his wing, and I just started working out like crazy,” Day said. “He pushed me, irritated me on some days, but for the most part he helped me out a bunch. “With D.V., it started out when Brody took me under his wing. I started driving a truck for him, and we’d talk about things.” After retiring from rodeo, Fennell started Mane Line Transportation, a trucking company based in Oklahoma. While he made ends meet behind the wheel, Day gathered lessons while crossing the country and having conversations with his boss. “We’d talk about what I was doing, and I’d be driving past Colorado Springs, and he’s say, ‘Champ there; my name’s on the wall.’ That helped me more than anything. Him telling me stuff that he’d won kept it in my mind. I want to be able to say that.” If he finishes the 2020 regular season the way he’s started it this week, he might say that quite often over the next 12 months. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-5 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Yance Day, 85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s YoYo; 2. (tie) Craig Wisehart and Cole Reiner, 82; 4. (tie) Waylon Guy Bourgeois and Anthony Thomas, 79; 6. Leighton Berry, 78; 7. Tim Murphy, 77; 8. Tyler Berghus, 76.5. Steer wrestling: 1.  Dylan Schroeder, 4.2 seconds; 2. Jacob Edler, 4.5; 3. Ben Goodman Jr., 4.6; 4. (tie) Heath Thomas, Levi Rudd and Chase Crane, 4.7; 7. Garrett Oates, 4.8; 8. A.D. Davis II, 4.9. Team roping: 1. Dustin Egusquiza/Jake Long, 3.8 seconds; 2. Lane Ivy/Dillon wingereid, 4.4; 3. Garett Chick/Walt Woodard, 4.5; 4. Mason Boettcher/Ty Arnold, 4.6; 5. (tie) Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain and Cody Snow/Travis Graves, 4.7; 7. (tie) Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II, Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson and Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 5.0; 10. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 5.2. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Mike and Ike, and Sterling Crawley, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Brown Eyed Girl, 82 points; 3. (tie) Logan Hay, Dean Wadsworth and Roper Kiesner, 75; 6. Riggin Smith, 73; 7. Toby Collins 70; 8. Ben Andersen, 61. Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Marcos Costa, 8.4 seconds; 2. (tie) Clint Singleton, 8.5; 3. Blane Cos, 8.6; 4. Sy Felton, 8.7; 5. (tie) Tanner Green and Tyler Prcin, 8.8; 7. (tie) Charlie Gibson and Hudson Wallace, 8.9. Barrel racing leaders: Kelly Bruner, 15.27 seconds; 2. (tie) Amanda Cupp and Lauren Davang, 15.54; 4. Stephanie Fryar, 15.60; 5. Jimmie Smith, 15.63; 6. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 15.64; 7. (tie) Ashley Castleberry and Abby Phillips, 15.65; 9. (tie) Taryn Boxleitner and Jessi Fish, 15.66; 11. (tie) Abby Pursifull and Kelsey Knight, 15.68. Bull riding: 1. Creek Young 82 points on Lancaster & Jones’ Mr. Jones; 2. Laramie Mosley, 81; 3. Jacob O’Mara, 80; no other qualified rides.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Virtually every year of his young life, Dylan Schroeder has attended the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. It was more than a family tradition; it was a major event, and he knew what it meant for the communities in the county of 51,000. His father, Paul, is a former Waller County Fair Association board member. “I grew up watching this rodeo every year, and it’s an honor to be able to ride here,” said Dylan Schroeder, who owns the steer wrestling lead at this year’s rodeo after posting a 4.2-second run during Thursday’s opening night. “To make a good run really feels good. “This is my third year here, and I have never done any good here. I finally drew a good steer and got to use him.” Hempstead’s rodeo is the first of the 2020 season. ProRodeo’s regular season runs from Oct. 1-Sept. 30 ever year, so it’s a chance to start the new campaign off on a good foot. For 2019, Schroeder finished the season 13th in the Texas Circuit standings, one spot out of qualifying for the regional finale that will take place at Waco, Texas, in January. That’s not too bad for a man that was still testing the ProRodeo waters a week ago. In this sport, newcomers to the game compete on their permits, meaning they need to earn at least $1,000 in the year to earn the right to compete as full-fledged Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association members. Schroeder ended his year as the No. 3 bulldogger in the permit-holder standings and has transitioned to his rookie season. As with any person who plays this game, the ultimate goal is to advance to the National Finals Rodeo and compete for the elusive world championship. More immediate, though, he’d love to win the PRCA’s Rookie of the Year title. “You’ve got to travel pretty hard to make that happen,” said Schroeder, a 22-year-old cowboy who will graduate from Texas A&M in December. “I want to thank (fellow bulldogger) Cade Stanton for letting me ride his good yellow horse since mine got hurt. If it wasn’t for his great team of horses, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’ve been doing lately.” Of course, a big part of what’s leading him to success is the support he gets from his family and from so many others in Waller County. “I wouldn’t be here today without my family’s backing and help,” he said. “I grew up playing other sports, and they rodeod. One year we went to the NFR, and I came home and I said I wanted to get back into this. “We went from having one horse to 12 horses in about two months, so I had to learn on the fly just to catch up with the competition.” Mission accomplished. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-5 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Craig Wisehart, 82 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Kattle Katie; 2. Waylon Guy Bourgeois, 79; 3. Tim Murphy, 77; 4. Tyler Berghus, 76.5; 5. Tucker Zingg, 75; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Dylan Schroeder, 4.2 seconds; 2. Cade Staton, 5.4; 3. Ryan Nettle, 5.5; 4. Justin Shaffer, 6.3; 5. Remey Parrott, 6.7; no other qualified runs. Team roping: 1. Mason Boettcher, 4.6 seconds; 2. Landon McClaugherty/Joel Hurta, 12.1; no other qualified runs. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Logan James Hay, 75 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Silver Coast; 2. Riggin Smith, 73; 3. Toby Collins 70; 4. Ben Andersen, 61; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Russell Schilling, 11.2 seconds; 2. Trenton Smith, 11.3; 3. Regan Holcomb, 12.8; 4. Todd Danley, 15.1; no other qualified runs. Barrel racing leaders: 1. Kassidy Lovell, 15.76 seconds; 2. Alyssa Urbanek, 15.79; 3. Miranda Emmert, 15.81; 4. Tiany Schuster, 15.96; 5. Callie Albrecht, 16.36; 6. Shelby Hermann, 21.11; 7. Amanda Slaughter, 21.85; no other qualified runs. Bull riding: 1. Jacob O’Mara, 80 points on Lancaster & Jones’ Bust a Jigg; no other qualified rides.

DUNCAN, Okla. – When Michelle Darling crossed the finish line inside Dodge City (Kansas) Roundup Arena on her final run in early August, she knew she’d reached a big goal this season. She and her mount, Martini, stopped the clock in 17.17 seconds that night, finishing the rodeo with the average championship and, more importantly, $6,826. That secured her qualification to the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. But she wasn’t done. She also won the rodeo in Phillipsburg, Kansas, that week and followed it with the title in Lawton, Oklahoma, the next. She ended the regular season with $16,114 and ended the Prairie Circuit’s regular season atop the regional standings, less than $600 ahead of the No. 2 cowgirl in the race, Jamie Chaffin of Burwell, Nebraska. “I’m pretty excited about that, because it’s been neck and neck this season,” said Darling of Medford, Oklahoma. “I didn’t know if I was going to make my count this year. I had to go to the last six rodeos of the (circuit) season, and thankfully I got them in.” ProRodeo features a unique format. Not only do dollars count as points toward the world standings, but money won in the circuit rodeos counts toward the circuit money list. In addition, cowboys and cowgirls must compete in at least 15 rodeos in the region made up primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Darling finished the year with 16 events. “I got a pretty good start when I won those three rodeos,” she said. “I placed at a couple other pretty good ones, then my stud (backup) horse ended up winning Vinita (Oklahoma). That really made the difference.” For the most part, though, Darling earned her money on the back of Martini, an 8-year-old palomino mare that Stevi Hillman rode to the National Finals Rodeo in 2016 – Darling was pregnant at the time, so she offered Martini to the Texan, who won nearly $52,000 in Las Vegas that December. “That horse has a big heart,” Darling said. “She’s got a lot of try and is really gritty. She will never give up.” Now the tandem will be in a big-time race to the finish for the circuit championship while running through the three go-rounds in Duncan. Not only are Darling and Chaffin in the race, but the next four girls in the standings – Ivy Hurst, Emily Miller, Jeanne Anderson and Leslie Smalygo – all have outside chances to move to the top of the leaderboard. “This will be my third year to make the circuit finals,” Darling said. “The first year I was there, I won the first round, placed in the second round and, in the third round, I tipped a barrel to win it. Last year I didn’t run my good horse, but it was a good experience. “This year I’ll be running my good horse. My goal is to win it and hopefully make the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo.” Only the year-end and circuit finals-average championships earn the right to compete in Kissimmee, Florida, next spring, so it’s a big deal to do well in Duncan. “That committee does a dang good job with that rodeo,” she said. “They feed us good, and they try their best to keep the ground good. They give us free stalls, which is great. If it wasn’t for that committee, I don’t know where we’d have the circuit finals. We appreciate that committee for putting up the money to have the circuit finals for us.”

BLACKFOOT, Idaho – For years, the Eastern Idaho State Fair has been recognized as one of the very best state fairs in the country. Now, its rodeo is following along those same lines. For the first time in its history, the Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo has been nominated for Small Rodeo of the Year, a recognition that it is one of the top five rodeos in its size category and one of the top 20 of more than 600 events in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “Our fair has been recognized as one of the top state fairs in the nation,” General Manager Brandon Bird said. “The Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo has exceeded our expectations and has become a shining star in our nine days of grandstand events.” It was one of many stars in Blackfoot during the exposition. “The fair has some amazing grandstand events,” said Valorie Smith, chairwoman of the volunteer committee that produces the event. “I think the fair’s history of outstanding entertainment, combined with the 117 years of incredible fair history, is why our rodeo is so good. “We focus on the cowboys, and I believe that’s one of the reasons we received the nomination.” For nearly two decades, the fair was host to the Intermountain Pro Rodeo Finals. That changed eight seasons ago when the fair’s board and others pushed for its association with the PRCA, the premier sanctioning body in the sport. Rodeo of the Year honors are separated into four categories: large indoor, large outdoor, medium and small. Because of its purse, Blackfoot’s annual rodeo is in the bottom category, but it’s far from small. In fact, big names not only made their way to eastern Idaho for the event, they found it to their liking. “I think the reason the rodeo was nominated was an interesting combination of things,” said Steve Kenyon, the voice of this year’s Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo. “The hospitality was really good, and the livestock was outstanding. The rodeo was on a Monday and Tuesday, and the saddle bronc riding on Tuesday was NFR caliber up and down the line. “Stetson Wright won the rodeo with a 90-point ride in bronc riding, and Jordan Hansen was 89 points to win the bull riding. You have to hand it to (stock contractor) Powder River; they really brought the livestock.” Wright is a PRCA rookie who leads the all-around world standings and is second in the bull riding world standings, while Hansen is en route to his second straight National Finals Rodeo; they were just two of many NFR qualifiers who competed at the event. Riverton, Wyoming-based Powder River Rodeo Co. is now a nine-time nominee for the PRCA’s Stock Contractor of the Year, and it’s been the producer of Blackfoot’s rodeo for eight years. It’s just one of several aspects of the rodeo that have been rewarded through end-of-the-year awards. Jill Franzen-Loden, the reigning Sound Director of the Year, has received her third straight nomination, and Clay Heger, who worked with Ezra Coleman in Blackfoot, is now a four-time nominee for Bullfighter of the Year. “When you bring the best, you’re going to get the best out of it,” Kenyon said. “Then when you couple that with a really slick production, you can’t help but have a great rodeo.” That’s been the war cry for the committee since its inception. From making sure every contestant is greeted to providing the warmth and comforts of home as much as possible, the rodeo is being recognized. “I’m the mother of rodeo kids, and they have always shared with me that they miss home-cooked meals while they’re on the road,” said Smith, whose oldest sons, Wyatt and Garrett, have both qualified for the NFR. “We want to provide them with that home-cooked meal both nights, and we keep it open late, even after the rodeo’s over so we can feed the committee, the contestants who compete in slack, the contract personnel and the bull riders. “We cater to the contestants because they are a big part of what we do.” It’s been proven for years; committees that have gone over and above to pamper the cowboys are recognized. From the Pendleton (Oregon) Round-Up to the San Antonio Stock Show to the Days of ’47 Rodeo in Deadwood, South Dakota, it pays to do the right things year after year. All three of those events are multiple Rodeo of the Year awards in their respective divisions. “The crowds were amazing,” Kenyon said. “This really was one of the most responsive crowds I’ve ever had the opportunity to announce for. They were fun, they were loud and they really got to it. “With Jill working her magic on the sound with them, I just thought it was amazing. Lori Fanzen told me before I went that I would love the crowd. It was electric.” That’s just what Smith and her band of volunteers envisioned when they set sail on this project. It’s taken time, but the crowds and cowboys have made their way to Blackfoot. Early on, Corey Foster, a fair board director and member of the rodeo committee, saw the vision of where this rodeo could go. “When the decision was made to go to a PRCA rodeo eight years ago, the fair board’s goal was that with great partners and individuals assisting us this could be Idaho’s Newest, Baddest Pro Rodeo,” Foster said. “That soon became our tag line. “I think we have turned some heads and changed some opinions of the rodeo since then.” For seven years, Chad Nicholson called the action inside the arena, telling the tales that interest spectators and contestants. He died earlier this year in an ATV wreck, but his work done at the Eastern Idaho State Fair will long be remembered. “This should have been Chad’s rodeo,” Kenyon said. “The only reason I was there was because of his untimely passing. I’m sure Chad would have been really proud that this rodeo  Continue Reading »

DUNCAN, Okla. – There’s an art to being a professional bullfighter, and Wacey Munsell and Wayne Ratley are perfecting it. Both will be performing that duty at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. This is Munsell’s ninth selection to help protect bull riders at the regional finale and Ratley’s first, but they’re about to experience something together that many peers would like. “This is a big deal,” said Munsell of Ulysses, Kansas. “There’s a lot of talent in this circuit, so it makes me feel pretty good hat the talented people want me there.” Their selections are based on votes from the top bull riders in the region, whose necks and everything else are on the line after a ride is complete, whether that’s after the qualifying eight seconds or before. Even before the bull riders hit the ground, men like Ratley and Munsell step into the fray to keep everyone in the arena out of harm’s way. “You’re out there with your buddies and protecting them,” said Ratley of Sharon, Kansas. “There’s a certain feeling you get, that you’re out there doing your job and protecting them. You allow them to get to their next event in one piece. “Being selected to work the circuit finals is a great feeling that those guys trust me to be there for them. When I first started fighting bulls, I made a point that I would never buy a sanctioned card unless it was the PRCA or the PBR; my first finals I would ever work would be the circuit finals or the PBR finals.” It’s quite an honor, given that there are numerous top bullfighters that live in the circuit, made up of rodeos and contestants primarily from Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “The Prairie Circuit Finals is the hardest one to get because there are so many good bullfighters that live around here,” he said. “To get that call is pretty humbling.” Each man works about a half dozen circuit rodeos a year, but Duncan’s championship will mark the first time the two will work together. “I think it’s pretty neat that we have two guys from Kansas doing this,” Munsell said. “Out of anywhere in rodeo, I’d say the Prairie Circuit has the strongest corps of bullfighters going.” That includes Munsell and Ratley; Munsell is the elder statesman of the two at just 33 years old. He has worked some of the biggest events in the country, including Denver and Omaha, Nebraska. Last December, he was called into action to work the National Finals Rodeo after another bullfighter, Nate Jestus, suffered an injury. Ratley is just 28 years old and has been fighting bulls for nearly seven years. He is now in just his second year fighting bulls in the PRCA. He is thrilled to work alongside Munsell. “Wacey is a veteran of the game and very well respected,” Ratley said. “He’s been selected in the top five in the PRCA for a reason and selected to work the circuit finals for a reason. I hope I can keep going back and working with him.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – It takes the best to make the best, and that simple motto is the foundation behind the volunteers that produce Bellville’s annual rodeo. The examples come in multiple packages, including Boyd Polhamus, the four-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Announcer of the Year from nearby Brenham, Texas. Not only has he earned all the accolades, he’s also a fixture at the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand championship. Polhamus has announced the NFR 21 times over three decades and now serves as the event’s general manager. He is the voice of the Austin County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. As in years past, he will be joined by Dusty Tuckness, the nine-time and reigning PRCA Bullfighter of the Year who has worked every NFR since 2009; Sandy Gwatney, the two-time and reigning Secretary of the Year; and Josh “Hambone” Hilton, the 2017 Sound Director of the Year. Like Polhamus, all three are fixtures in Bellville and are vital to the goings-on in and around each performance. “The best part of my job is seeing all my friends,” said Sandy Gwatney, who works dozens of rodeos each year alongside her husband, John, a production expert who, too, has worked many of the largest rodeos in the game. “Everybody asks if I get homesick. I say, ‘No, I get road-sick.’ When I go home for too long, I don’t get to see my people.” Her people have rewarded her again. “Comparison-wise, winning this year was just as exhilarating and just as exciting,” Gwatney said. “After having one in ’16 and not winning in ’17, I just figured I was a one-shot wonder. It doesn’t get me down, though, because I’ve been voted among the top 5. By telling me I’m in the top 5, I already see that I’m winning. It’s almost as exciting as winning for me.” This year’s rodeo will include clown/entertainer Dale “Gizmo” McCracken, who was named the 2017 Comedy Act of the Year. He brings his own brand of funny to the table, and he’s been recognized as one of the best in ProRodeo. “That rodeo wants to be the best, so they hire the best,” John Gwatney said. “That’s the commitment they’ve made over the last few years. They’ve also increased the prize money, and they have steer roping there, which a lot of rodeos don’t have. It adds to what they want to do to have a professional rodeo in Bellville.”

BELLVILLE, Texas – A few decades ago, Bellville’s rodeo committee consisted of just one man. Al Peck changed that with one simple question: “I just asked the guy that was on the committee if I could help,” he said. “I just wanted to be involved, and it really mushroomed since I started.” That’s no exaggeration. Ray Burger was the lone man on the rodeo committee for the Austin County Fair and Rodeo until Peck offered assistance 35 years ago. The two of them worked together for a bit, making sure the fans got what they were seeking in their hometown rodeo. Now Peck remains on the committee, one of dozens of people who help organize and handle the duties that are involved in producing the annual event, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. “It just flourished from there,” Peck said. “There are people that just come out of the woodworks to help. We have people from all works of life wanting to help.” In honor of his years of service to the rodeo, the committee honored Peck with a lifetime buckle. A lifelong cowboy – he competing in team roping until just a few years ago – he stands for what that buckle represents. “When this all started, my wife and I were just beginning to rodeo,” he said. “Our kids were still pretty young at the time, and they were beginning the youth rodeo stuff. “I guess that buckle means I’ve been on the rodeo committee longer than anybody that’s still alive. I wanted to see the rodeo get better, and it has, but that’s because of the people who volunteer to be on the rodeo committee. I could go on and on about the ones who contribute to the rodeo and have for many years.” It’s a sense of community pride for Peck, who knows how much people in Austin County look forward to the fair and rodeo every October. Each year, hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls from across North America converge on this community of nearly 4,300 people to take part in a progressive, yet historical rodeo. “I think what makes the rodeo has a lot to do with the enthusiasm that all the volunteers put into the thing,” said Peck, 75. “It’s a big joint effort by everybody on the rodeo committee. It’s a good show, and we usually have good acts. We draw a lot of good contestants; we get a lot of the top-name contestants because it’s starting the new (season) in rodeo. “We are a contestant-friendly rodeo committee, and we’re glad they’re here. We try to make it as good as possible. We want the ground to be as good for everybody in every event. We know they are traveling, so we want to make them feel at home. I think everybody enjoys the enthusiasm we show toward the contestants, and they come out for that.” The fans that come out for the three performances realize they have something special, which is one reason why it is so packed. Another reason is that the admission price is hard to beat. “Once you enter the fairgrounds, you don’t have to pay anything extra to go to the rodeo,” he said. “When we fill the bleachers, that’s part of the entertainment package that a person pays for the fair. I think this community is Western and rodeo-related, and I think they really enjoy the rodeo.”

ALVA, Okla. – As a freshman two seasons ago, Amber Scales earned her first intercollegiate barrel racing victory at the Colby (Kansas) Community College rodeo. While she didn’t gain the title in the northwest Kansas community this past weekend, Scales posted the fastest time in the championship round and earned all-important points that have her sitting fourth in the Central Plains Region standings. “Winning Colby was very important, because the weekend before, a friend’s little boy passed away in a pony riding accident,” said Scales, a junior from Pittsburg, Kansas. “I was riding for Max (Henderson).” She was also riding for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team, and she did well. After failing to finish atop the leaderboard in the opening round with a 17.41-second run, Scales turned up the heat in the short round, stopping the clock in 16.95 seconds. She finished fourth overall with a two-run cumulative time of 34.36 seconds. “My main thought heading into the short round was that I was going to fix (the turn on) my third barrel and have a snappier first barrel,” she said. “I was just going to trust my horse.” She should. She’s had Roman – a 15-year-old buckskin gelding – for six years. He’s been a key factor in her success, from winning the Colby title two years ago to where she wants to be this season for the Rangers. “He’s got grit, and he’s just funny,” Scales said. “He’s got a lot of personality, and he’s ornery. He doesn’t look like he’s running most of the time, but he’s moving fast. He’s just long-strided. “My plan is to use Roman as just an outside horse and have a backup ready for the indoor rodeos. I just need to keep him sound. If I can do that, he usually does pretty good.” Like Scales, senior goat-tier Megan Turek of St. Paul, Nebraska, squeaked into the short round with an 8.2-second run, then made a solid run of 7.6 seconds on the final day to finish second in the championship round. Her two-run total of 15.8 seconds was good enough for fifth in the aggregate. “I was first out in slack on Friday morning,” Turek said. “I bobbled a little bit after I flanked him, so I didn’t think I’d make it back. I decided to go for it in the short round. Last year, I didn’t capitalize on the short rounds as much as I wanted to, so I just changed my mind set and decided to go for it.” It paid off, and she and Scales weren’t the only cowgirls to make a big move. Reigning national champion breakaway roper Taylor Munsell of Arnett, Oklahoma, failed to finish among the top six in the first round, then shared the fastest-run in the short round with a 2.6. That pushed her two-run cumulative time to 5.6 seconds, good enough for second place overall. She sits second in the regional standings. More importantly, the Rangers women finished third in Colby, the same as the men, who were led by the defending national champion steer wrestler, Bridger Anderson, a junior from Carrington, North Dakota. He won the first round with a 4.3-second run, then shared the short-round title with a 4.5 to win the overall championship. Anderson shared the final-round title with teammate Colt Madison, a senior from Whiting, Iowa; Madison finished second overall. Another teammate, Chase Finnell, a sophomore from Freedom, Oklahoma, finished third in the opening round but was saddled with a no-time on the final day. The Northwestern team ropers came on strong, led by the tandem of Brandon Hittle of Harveyville, Kansas, and Sean Doherty of Kim, Colorado, who finished second in the short round and the average. Heeler Bo Yaussi of Udall, Kansas, finished third in the first round and fifth overall with header Kolton Good of Western Oklahoma State College. Header Jaden Trimble of Coffeyville, Kansas, teamed with Marley Berger of Coffeyville Community College to finish in a tie for fourth in the opening round, alongside the Northwestern team of Brent Woodward of Dupree, South Dakota, and Daycen Hunt of Ridgeview, South Dakota. Tie-down roper Riley Morrow of Cyril, Oklahoma, won the first round with a 9.0-second run, half a second over the No. 2 roper; a long run in the short round took Morrow out of placing in the average. It was a good start for both the Rangers men and women with nine rodeos remaining on the schedule for the year; three more will take place during the fall semester, with Northwestern hosting its rodeo Oct. 31-Nov. 2. “I think we’re going to do really good this year,” Scales said. “We have a really strong team, and everybody supports each other.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – People are always looking for the best deals, the most obvious bang for their bucks when it comes to being entertained. With a $10 admission, there’s not a greater value than the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. Whether it’s the rodeo, the carnival, the livestock shows or the concerts, a great deal is packed into the nine-day exposition, set for Friday, Sept. 27-Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead. “Our fair and rodeo is about our community, and we want everybody to be able to afford all the fun we have going on,” said Matt Hyatt, president of the Waller County Fair Board. “We want to keep the price to where it’s a good deal for families to enjoy it. The fair and rodeo only comes around once a year, so it’s important that we do that.” The rodeo arena is an active place for eight of the nine nights, opening with a Waller Youth Rough Stock Rodeo and closing with three nights of the top PRCA contestants in the country battling for big money. In between, there will be the Ladies Ranch Rodeo, the Waller County Team Roping, and two Eliminator events (tie-down roping on Tuesday, Oct. 1, and team roping on Wednesday, Oct. 2) – both Eliminators begin with eight contestants/teams, with the slowest times in each round being eliminated until the eventual champion is crowned. “We’ve known for years that rodeo is big in this part of the country,” said Clint Sciba, chairman of the fair board’s rodeo committee. “We have a lot of ropers in Waller County, which is why we came up with the Eliminators, and we have people who just love to watch the action.” But there’s so much more, including 10 musical acts of various genres that will hit the heart strings of live-music fans of all ages – from newcomers like Katy resident Hayden Baker to top-selling artists like Gene Watson and Restless Heart. Saturday, Sept. 28: Cody Wayne, 7:30 p.m.; Gene Watson, 9:30 p.m.; Kyle Park, 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3: Jeff Woolsey, 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4: Hayden Baker, 7 p.m.; Tanner Fenoglio, 8:30 p.m.; Jason Boland and the Stragglers, 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5: Kris Jones, 8 p.m.; Jarrod Birmingham, 9:30 p.m.; Restless Heart, 11:30 p.m. “We are also going to have dueling pianos on the first Friday night (Sept. 27) as part of our kickoff party,” Hyatt said. The popular carnival will start it’s four-day run beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, then will start the rides at 1 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday. As it has for several years, Moore Amusements will have plenty of rides for fairgoers of all ages. New to this year’s schedule is the Waller County Welding Competition, a Texas High School Welding Series event beginning at 7 a.m. on the opening Saturday, Sept. 28. “That series goes all over our area, and we’re hosting one this year,” Hyatt said. “We’ll probably have 300-400 kids there. It’s just one of the new things we have going on. We’re also going to have an app on your phone that will help everyone know what’s going on. “We are also revamping our vendors, moving more to food trucks and food trailers.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – When it comes to entertainment, southeast Texas is somewhat of a hotbed for talent. The Waller County Fair Association has long realized the importance of live music, which is why there are dozens of hours of it for fairgoers to enjoy during this year’s Waller County Fair and Rodeo, planned for Friday, Sept. 27, to Saturday, Oct. 6, at the fairgrounds in Hempstead. In all, 10 acts will perform, starting with the kickoff concert series on Saturday, Sept. 29, that features Cody Wayne at 7:30 p.m., followed by Gene Watson at 9:30 p.m. and Kyle Park at 11:30 p.m. Watson released his first top 10 hit in 1975 and had more than 20 over his established career. Now in his 70s, “The Singer’s Singer” is still showcasing a talent that has much acclaim. That classic country sound is what drew Park to the game, and he picked up a guitar for the first time at age 14. In his time making music, Park has had seven No. 1 songs on the Texas Regional Radio Report. “Being an older act, we did match Gene Watson up well on that Saturday night,” said Toya Talbott, chairwoman of the entertainment committee. “By having him earlier, that allows our older folks who would really enjoy his music to enjoy their evening at the fair, then we have Kyle Park following for the younger people.” It’s a great way to kick off so many fantastic things happening over the nine-day fair, but it’s only the beginning. On Thursday, Oct. 3, Jeff Woolsey will be playing at 8 p.m., while local act Hayden Baker of Katy, Texas, will open the festivities for Friday, Oct. 4, performing at 7 p.m. “He’s been coming on like gangbusters,” said Matt Hyatt, the fair board’s president. “We’re excited to have him here.” He will be followed at 8:30 p.m. by Tanner Fenoglio, a Texas-based artist, and at 10:30 p.m. by Jason Boland and The Stragglers, a Texas Country/Red Dirt Country band that has been a big name in that genre for nearly two decades. “We’ve always just wanted to entertain ourselves and put out music that would be a part of people’s lives, not just something passing to them,” Boland said in a statement on the band’s website. “We want to be something more monolithic. “We’re just a social experiment at this point.” That is why that type of music has remained popular, especially in southeast Texas. “When you combine a Texas act like Tanner Fenoglio with a well-known Texas Country group, I think we’re going to have a great chance to reach our young people and people who really like that type of music,” Talbott said. “It sets up our final weekend well.” The final evening of the fair will be highlighted by the legendary group Restless Heart, which was established 35 years ago and has had six No. 1 songs to its repertoire. What’s more is the band has had 25 songs on the charts over the years. The evening kicks off with an 8 p.m. show featuring Kris Jones, best known as the father who was videoed by his daughter in a parking lot as Jones belted out Chris Stapleton’s hit-making version of “Tennessee Whiskey.” Jones will be followed by Jarrod Birmingham at 9:30 p.m. He was raised in south Texas and is a former professional bull rider, so he’s a natural fit to perform at the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. “I never really quit riding bulls,” Birmingham said in a release. “The music just sort of took over, but what you see is what you get with me, and that’s how I want to come across through my music.” Restless Heart will then close the fair during its show beginning at 11:30 p.m. “They will be the last show of this year’s fair, and I think their music will touch many of our fairgoers,” Talbott said. “I’m excited to have them coming to Waller County. I think that final night will be something that will excite many people here.”

DUNCAN, Okla. – Keith Isley is one of the most decorated clowns in rodeo. Now Isley will bring his brand of funny to the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Arena in Duncan. “I thoroughly enjoy watching people have a good time and enjoy what I do or what I say,” said Isley, who entertained the crowds at the circuit finale six years ago and last year. “Just seeing people enjoy it and have a good time. Sometimes later in the year, you’ll get home and have some letters for you and have some pictures of you that kids have drawn. “It’s the little things that really make me feel like I’m accomplishing something.” He has accomplished much. He’s been named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown of the Year six times, the Coors Man in the Can five times, the PRCA Comedy Act of the Year six times and PRCA Specialty Act of the Year three times. For three straight years, from 2009-11, he won the funnyman’s trifecta: Clown of the Year, Coors Man in the Can and Comedy Act of the Year. Those are just a few pieces of the puzzle that makes Isley such a commodity. In addition to being one of the best funny men in the business, he also has some of the top acts in rodeo. He’ll bring it all with him when he arrives at the southern Oklahoma. “I enjoy what I do, and it’s a lot of fun when you’ve got a good crowd and a good announcer,” Isley said, noting that while in Duncan, he will work with Greg Simas, who is calling the action at the Prairie Circuit Finals. “When you see people with smiles on their faces, and then people come up to you and appreciate what you do, that makes what we do a lot more worthwhile.” Isley sees a lot of smiles and has for much of his professional life. Though he was considered a class clown, being a comedian didn’t come easily. “Oh, it was natural if I knew you, but if I didn’t know you, it was really hard,” he said. “When I started the comedy, that was really hard for me to get used to because I didn’t know those people watching me.” He has since overcome his stage fright to become one of the most sought-after entertainers in the game. There’s good reason for it, too. Part of a good clown’s job is to fill any down time that could some during the event. If there’s a pause in the action, Isley knows it’s his turn to step up to the plate. “I like to play on the crowd,” he said. “I like to have fun with people that like to have fun.” It works, but Isley has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. He loves working with animals and allowing them to steal the show. When it’s all put together, it’s an award-winning showcase that reaches so many people. “I’ve undoubtedly been the most blessed man who’s ever bought a PRCA membership,” he said The fans are pretty blessed, too.

BELLVILLE, Texas – Rodeo can be a fickle business, but it’s driven by passion. Thousands of men and women make their livings in the game, knowing full well that they must do better than most of the rest if they are to do so. It’s a competitive atmosphere that forces people to “put up or shut up.” It’s why hundreds of them will make their way to the Austin County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10-Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Austin County Fairgrounds in Bellville. They know that if they do well enough, they can leave town with good money. “These rodeos have gotten better as far as the added money,” said team roping heeler Martin Lucero, a 16-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who won the Bellville title last year roping with Cory Kidd V. “You can win a lot more money than we used to.” Money is one of the very attractive things about Austin County’s rodeo. The committee that organizes the event provides $5,000 in local money – or “added money” in rodeo terms – for each event; those dollars are then added to the contestants’ entry fees to make up the total purse. In this particular sport, dollars equal points; the contestants in each event who finish the season with the most money will be crowned world champions, so that’s important. But winning, in any level of sport, is vital to competition. The Bellville rodeo is also unique in that it is one of the first events of the new season. The 2019 campaign will end Sept. 30, so having a rodeo the second weekend in October means a new starting point for the 2020 season. It’s a good chance to kick start another year of opportunities. “Some people are ready to go home and rest after the regular season ends, but I’m ready to get back after it,” Kidd said. “You never know; the money you win here might be what pushes you over the edge and gets you to the NFR.” Last October, Kidd and Lucero were just two of nine people who left Austin County with the rodeo title, and each person can look at that victory as a stepping stone in some capacity. Steer roper Vin Fisher Jr., earned $2,400 the most of any winner in Bellville last year. He now sits No. 2 in the world standings and has secured his 16th qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. Steer wrestler Jacob Talley utilized the momentum by his victory as preparation for the 2018 NFR, where he placed in five go-rounds and pocketed $65,000 over 10 December nights. Bareback rider Tim Murphy pocketed just shy of $1,500, and he now stands third in the Texas Circuit standings. He also got to experience something special in southeast Texas. “Man, it’s an awesome crowd,” said Murphy of Wheeler, Texas. “They’re active, and I like it when a crowd gets into the rodeo.”

I admired Max Henderson, though I didn’t really know him. I learned most about him through his family’s social media posts, and I found him to be a profound soul, a bright person, someone who loved greatly and had a passion for horses. He was funny and quirky and shared his smile easily. Viewing videos in which he was the star, I found myself laughing hysterically and marveling at his personality. Just as I’d learned more about him, social media was how I learned about his death Sunday evening. Max died after being involved in a horse accident earlier that day. He was 7 years old. Now his parents, Shane and Missi Henderson, and his little brother, Murph, will forever mourn the loss of this little gem. Parents aren’t supposed to bury their children, but the Hendersons will, and I hurt for them. God gained another angel tonight, but hearts ache, and everyone who has ever been touched by Max Henderson will need all the love they can get.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair and Rodeo’s main mission is the children. Whether it’s showing livestock at the show-barn or displaying foods and wares, the bottom line is in the education of youth. Those who are involved in showing at the fair are constantly around agriculture for the majority of their lives; it is something passed on through generations and is vital to this county. There’s more to educating youth than giving them an opportunity to showcase their months of hard work, and the Waller County Fair Association realizes this. One recent display was the establishment of Barnyard Buddies, a program that offers a day at the fair for children with special needs. Now in its fifth year, Barnyard Buddies will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, and will allow Waller County special-needs students to enjoy a day at the fair. “Not only do we get the special-needs kids here, but we have more kids from various organizations at our schools in Waller County that come to help out,” said Julie Abke, a fair board director who oversees the program. “It gets better every year. This year, we have the Ronald McDonald Shoe Car coming. We will also have new entertainment for the children to see.” Barnyard Buddies is a special cause for Abke; her mother was a special-education teacher. Abke likes the idea of giving the special-needs children a chance to interact with the fair and enjoy something they might not have a chance to do without the program. “It’s just great to see the smiles on their faces and them laughing and having a good time,” Abke said. “They do appreciate it, and they do like it.” More education will happen this year with the creation of Ag Voyage, the new education committee that enables students the opportunity to learn more about the sources of their food and how agriculture affects many different areas of our lives. The children will experience many hands-on activities as they learn about the importance of agriculture. The idea was the brainchild of another voluteer, Kristy Hyatt, the committee’s chairwoman, and the group chose the name Ag Voyage because, “It’s a journey” toward learning more about agriculture. “Because the fair’s all about education, we thought it would be really nice to have an educational committee,” Hyatt said. “We will teach kids about different cuts of meat, where cotton comes from, or what grain is used food-wise. “For those who do not have the ability to show animals, it gives them a chance to learn more about agriculture,” said Crystal Januhowski, a member of the Ag Voyage committee and an associate director of WCFA. “It seems there are less and less people in agriculture, so our long-term goal is to raise more awareness and always remind kids about the importance of agriculture. It’s important, because you have some kids who don’t know where their food comes from, where fresh vegetables come from or what it takes to raise a cow. “With this program, we want to have those answers and share this with the young people who haven’t had the opportunity to be involved with agriculture. Even now, some people lose sight of what the Waller County Fair is. We don’t want people to lose sight of it.” This is another of several reasons’ Ag Voyage is so pertinent. “I think we as a fair should do all we can to educate our community about the importance of agriculture and its place in this fair,” said Matt Hyatt, president of the fair board. “Ag Voyage falls in line with all our principles and what we are trying to do with youth. As our children grow into adults, their understanding of where food comes from is something they can share with the next generation.” It is creating a mindset in a young person that can conceive a lifetime understanding. After all, that’s what education is about. “We want to keep kids interested, but this is also about educating the community, too,” Januhowski said. “There are so many important things the community can learn in this process, which is why it means so much to many of us who are associated with the fair.”