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LOVINGTON, N.M. – A passion for horses has become a lifelong experience for a couple of cowgirls raised in Missouri. Kelsey Lauberth and Shelby Epperson have been involved with horses most of their lives, and now they make a living with it as the Trixie Chicks, a trick-riding duo that will perform at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7-Saturday, Aug. 10, at Jake McClure Arena. “I saw Shelby perform in November 2012, and that’s when I decided what I wanted to do,” said Lauberth of Poplarville, Mississippi. The duo is pretty good at it, which is why they’ll be in Lovington for the fair and rodeo. “I go to the PRCA Convention in Vegas every year, and I talked to them one time,” said Trey Kerby, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board’s rodeo committee. “They put on a show, and it’s going to look good in our arena. They can stretch those horses out and run. As long as they can hold their tricks, they can do it here. “It seems like a really good fit.” That’s good, because the Trixie Chicks are excited to be associated with one of the top expositions in the region. “We’re very excited,” Lauberth said. “New Mexico is one of my favorite places. The people there are a breed all their own as far as understanding rodeo and what we do.” As a specialty act at the rodeo, the Trixie Chicks will be trick riding and showcasing their own style of horsemanship. Laubert said the difference between them and other similar acts is in how they push the envelope often and how they enjoy mingling with fans. “One of the big things we pride ourselves on is to always be willing to push ourselves to go above and beyond,” she said. “We’re always trying to get faster horses and do bigger tricks. “We love the crowd interaction. As soon as we’re done performing, we go back to the audience and sign autographs and take pictures. We won’t leave until the last person has had time to talk to us. We love that part of it.” They should. The two are originally from Missouri, and Epperson still lives in Springfield. Both attended Missouri State University and were part of the equine department. “We started in December 2012,” Lauberth said. “I now live in Mississippi, but we come together for our events. I’ll bring a whole herd of horses with me so that we can make it the easiest for our horses.” They expect to have four to five in Lovington, and they’ll enjoy every moment. They chose this lifestyle because of their love for horses and their thrill-seeking personalities. “I love the adrenaline rush of it,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what venue or how many people you’re performing in front of; being able to be with my horses and perform is a thrill. Being able to showcase your skills on a fast horse is why I do this.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Boyd Polhamus has been the voice of ProRodeo for many years, having called the National Finals Rodeo 21 times in his storied career. He’s been the voice of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo the last two decades, lending his talents to one of the greatest events in the sport. He’ll return to western Kansas for this year’s event, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 5, at Roundup Arena. “Boyd is just part of the Roundup family,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “Boyd came to us in 1999, just four months after the death of Phil Gardenhire. He’s been here ever since, working with the great Clem McSpadden for about 10 years. “He worked great with Clem, but he does a great job for us all on his own. He adds something very good to our show.” For now, though, he’s done calling the action in Las Vegas, because he has a bigger job. He’s been named the NFR’s general manager, replacing longtime GM Shawn Davis, who held the post for 34 years. “That says so much about the respect the people in rodeo have for Boyd,” Trotter said. “He understands the importance of that event to our industry, so he’s the perfect man to fill that role.” Polhamus grew up in Wisconsin, rather distant from the rodeo-crazy Southwest. But a fire began to burn. “I won a pony in a raffle when I was 4 years old,” he said. “From that point forward, it was game on.” The game involved cowboys and cowgirls, bucking horses and nasty bulls. Polhamus lived it. He qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in six events his junior year and went to college in Texas to chase his rodeo dreams. It was there that his connection to rodeo changed from contestant to announcer, urged a little bit by classmates and his coach. “I remember back in college where we were out in the practice pen, and he started saying these things about everybody,” said Benje Bendele, the premier sound director in ProRodeo who has worked Roundup Rodeo every year since 2000. “From that point on, we all knew he had a gift, not only announcing and providing information to rodeo fans but entertaining them along the way. “I think he started taking it serious from that point on. Besides the NFR and Roundup, Polhamus has been the arena announcer for big rodeos in Houston, Denver and Pecos, Texas, to name a few. He has been named PRCA Announcer of the Year four times, and the WPRA has selected him as the announcer of the year three times. “Yes, this is a sport, but this is also a show, and it’s entertainment,” said Bendele, who attended Southwest Texas Junior College with Polhamus. “This is a show like someone producing a TV show. We’ve got to do it right every time; there is no margin for error. He helps us being the contract personnel. He helps me in the music; he helps the clown; he helps the scoreboard operator; he helps the people behind the chutes. “Boyd demands the quality of excellence from everyone without speaking a word, and he gets it because of the respect everyone has for him. He realizes that every show is a new show to the fans and that we must put on the best production every time.” Besides expertise, he carries a passion for rodeo. More, he adores the people involved in the sport, from the contestants to the personnel to the fans. “Boyd is a true rodeo fan, and he wants the people who buy a ticket to understand his excitement about a match-up,” Bendele said. “He puts his own excitement out there, and he pulls the fans into that excitement.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – For the people in Gunnison County, some of their greatest experiences every year happen at Cattlemen’s Days. Organizers of this year’s rodeo – set for Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison – are planning something spectacular for all three nights of the PRCA rodeo. “We wanted to give the folks that come to our rodeo something special, and I think we’re doing that with the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the volunteer committee that produces Cattlemen’s Days. “Their brand of entertainment is pretty incredible. The girls are fantastic trick riders and trick ropers, and they really know how to entertain a crowd.” Each girl on the team is a product of the Riata Ranch Youth Horsemanship clinics, and those chosen for the team go through an extensive program that focuses on all the physical attributes that promote positive life skills. For people in Gunnison, it is a true display of showmanship. “We don’t just trick ride or rope,” said Jennifer Welch Nicholson, who runs the operation. “We actually work with choreography, so we have a full production. We really work on timing and production and making the show make sense to the audience. “We combine the trick riding, roping and roman riding in one sequence.” That combination has earned the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls grand acclaim. They are known worldwide for their work and have traveled to 18 countries – and all across the United States – performing. Being a four-time nominee for the PRCA’s dress act award is a tremendous honor for her and the rest of the team. “It’s wonderful to think that our peers think enough of our show to nominate us,” Welch Nicholson said. “There’s a lot of great talent out there. “I’m very happy for the girls who put in their time and the hard work, because what we do takes a lot of hard work and dedication.” It also provides a great deal of entertainment to rodeo fans. “We’re very excited to have the Riata girls in Gunnison,” Coblentz said. “They add so much to the rodeo. Combining their talents with the rodeo and with our clown, John Harrison, is just going to make the whole experience better for everyone who comes to the rodeo.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – There are many big things that come with organizing a rodeo as big as the one every summer in this southeastern New Mexico community. From making sure the arena is ready to hiring the right personnel to gathering all the workers together to make last-minute checks of everything, from the bucking chutes to the back pens. But the volunteer committee that handles all the work never has to worry about what’s going to happen during the rodeo. “When Pete Carr and his crew gets to town, I can relax,” said Trey Kerby, the rodeo committee chairman for the Lea County Fair Board. “They’re so good at what they do, and they take their jobs seriously. They work very hard at it.” He’s talking about the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo team, which will produce the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7-Saturday, Aug. 10, at Jake McClure Arena; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 6. “I don’t think any other stock contractor could be any better,” he said. “Pete is very sharp and knows what he’s doing. Those guys put on an excellent show.” Whether it’s one of the dozens of bucking animals that has appeared at the National Finals Rodeo or the overall production of the two-hour shows for five nights during the height of the fair and rodeo, the folks in Lea County lean on the Carr crew. “You count the Carr animals at the NFR, and you can tell he’s got a bunch of great ones,” Kerby said. “He takes great pride in the animals, and it shows in the arena. They’re always in great shape when they get here, and I’d say most of the NFR animals every year have bucked in Lovington.” That’s true, and that’s one of the reasons top cowboys make their way to Lea County every August. The combination of a good purse and great livestock makes Lovington a key stop on the schedule of rodeo’s top contestants. “I think Pete’s just tried to fortify a herd of animals that a guy has a chance to win on,” said Luke Creasy, a bareback rider from Hobbs, New Mexico. “With a lot of the horses he has, you have a chance to be 90 on a horse any day of the week at his rodeo. That’s important when we’re rodeoing.” It really doesn’t matter the event, either. There will be a host of saddle bronc riders and bull riders who will test their talents on Carr stock the second week of August. “Pete has put together a good set of bulls,” said J.W. Harris, a four-time world champion bull rider from Goldthwaite, Texas; he also is the reigning Lea County Fair and Rodeo champ. “I think he wants to show that he’s got great bulls to go with his great horses. “You know when you go to his rodeos you’re going to get on a good one. I like going to Pete’s rodeos because he’s got good people who work for him, but having all those good animals sure makes it easier for us to go to.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Decades ago, the Cattlemen’s Days celebration was created for ranchers and farmers to gather together, rejoice and compare their labors. It continues to this day, with the celebration taking place from Friday, July 5-Sunday, July 14, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. “Cattlemen’s Days is different than your typical county fair, mainly because it’s not a fair,” said Eric McPhail, the Gunnison County director for the Colorado State University Extension Office. “It’s a place where kids can exhibit their 4H and FFA projects, then Cattlemen’s Days is a rodeo and a rodeo committee, and the two go side-by-side.” “The Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo dates back with the ranchers, and that all started in 1900. That combination of where you can have 4H and the rodeo have been a win-win for a specific event.” It makes for something special to hit the Gunnison Valley every July. “The most important thing about Cattlemen’s Days is that it is time for the celebration, getting the understanding and inspiration that there is a future to agriculture and a future for the rural way of life,” McPhail said. “It’s special here, because there are so many dedicated volunteers that put these events on. Its’ a fun time for everybody. “It’s one of the best PRCA rodeos in the country and one of the most successful livestock sales for the kids in the state. It’s just very well supported. This is definitely a fun place to be involved.” He has seen a great deal in the 13 years since he moved to Gunnison from his Texas home. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s in animal nutrition at Texas A&M University, and he’s shared that knowledge with youth across the county. It’s a vital part of the process that means so much to the community. “Our 4H program has been part of Cattlemen’s Days since the late 1930s, and there’s a history there that all the old-timers are able to get around and support 4H because of it,” he said. “I’d say 4H, in general, is more than just something to do. It teaches the kids skills that they otherwise wouldn’t get.” It’s more than preparing livestock for show, though that is still a major part of the 4H program. “It teaches them leadership skills,” McPhail said. “It helps in honing their skills on a certain project, whether it’s baking food or raising a steer or learning about one of the many STEM projects we have, like robotics. Many say the best skills they learned in life came through their 4H program. “During Cattlemen’s Days, I love the pride these kids have in showing their exhibits. We are blessed that we live in a community that values those skills and values the kids for them.” The community has a great deal of pride in seeing the youth of today working toward tomorrow. It involves children spending less time on their phones or playing video games and focusing on the tasks at hand. That’s an important part in their development. “This community wants to keep alive the feeling that hard work pays off,” McPhail said. “It’s hard to live here through the winters, but the people here see these kids working for something. I think that feeling of hard work is something a community can get behind.”

Estes Park’s accommodations allow contestants a break from rodeo trail ESTES PARK, Colo. – For those that don’t know, Rooftop Rodeo is a big deal. Not only has it been a tremendous community event for 93 years, but it has reached the national stage as far as professional rodeo is concerned. This year’s rodeo is set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena in Estes Park inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. Over the years, Rooftop Rodeo has been named Rodeo of the Year six times, most recently in 2017 as the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association’s Medium Rodeo of the Year. “When a committee goes above and beyond for those cowboys, they deserve the awards,” said Taci Bettis, the 2017 Rooftop Rodeo champion barrel racer from Round Top, Texas. “When you put in that much effort, that’s what you get.” Estes Park served as a starting point for Bettis, who has made the National Finals Rodeo each of the past two seasons. “That was part of those weeks in July when I set everything off,” said Bettis, the 2017 WPRA Rookie of the Year. “I’d never been at that arena before, so it was special.” A great arena and a picturesque setting are just parts of the experience for ProRodeo’s stars. Estes Park has outstanding accommodations and terrific dining options. More importantly, there are so many things to do, from go-cart tracks to golf to simply visiting Rocky Mountain National Park. In fact, several contestants arrive early or stay late so they can enjoy a bit of a vacation in the Rockies and take a break from the heat of the summer rodeo run. “I grew up in Colorado, so I’ve been coming here since Little Britches Rodeo,” said K.C. Jones, a nine-time NFR qualifier originally from Los Animas, Colorado. “I was telling the guys in the rig that the good thing about Estes Park is there’s a lot to do.” Contestants that are making the trip can learn more at www.VisitEstesPark.com. Or they can as Rooftop Rodeo veterans, who take advantage of the location for a little R&R. A few years ago, saddle bronc rider Hardy Braden set his schedule so he was in town for several days before and after his appearance. “I try to make it a regular stop,” said Braden, a 2017 NFR qualifier from Welch, Oklahoma. “It’s on the way normally. We just came from Vernal (Utah). This is a beautiful place, so I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to just come hang out.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Larry Wheeler has a great amount of pride for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. He has lived in this community all his life and has been attending or showing or working at the annual exposition ever since his birth. That’s just the way things are in the Wheeler family; it’s important to be involved and active. Nobody is more active in this year’s fair and rodeo, set for Friday, Aug. 2-Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington. Wheeler, 55, is the chairman of the Lea County Fair Board, a group of volunteers that lead others willing to answer the call to produce one of the biggest expositions in the Southwest. “My brother, Dickie, started showing when I was just a baby, so I’ve been there even before I can remember,” he said. “It’s something we’ve always looked forward to. We passed it on down to our kids, and they’re involved. I’ve got a stepson that’s showing steers, and my brother’s grandkids are still showing.” That’s the legacy instilled by his father, Jimmie Wheeler, who died in March. That birthright is still on display. Larry Wheeler is now in his third year on the fair board, his first as chairman. “When County Commissioner (Dean) Jackson got elected, he asked me to come on as a board member,” Wheeler said. “I was beef superintendent for three or four years, then I was asked to be on the fair board. My dad and Dickie both served as beef superintendents as well. “I had never really thought about being on the fair board, but my family’s been involved in the fair all my life. We’ve shown steers for 57 years in a row at the Lea County Fair. Even being involved with it for years and years, there was a lot more to it when I got into the position on the fair board. It’s been quite a learning experience, but I’ve really enjoyed being on the board.” He’s done a great job, too, but that’s just what Jackson envisioned when he asked Wheeler to be more involved. “I think Larry brings a very level head to the fair board,” said Jackson, a former fair board chairman. “Larry has been involved in the show part of the fair his whole life, and he grew up in the steer barn. “The fair is so important to me, and I wanted to put two individuals on there that I knew would work for it, which is why I asked Larry and Trey (Kerby) to be on the fair board.” Kerby also serves as the board’s rodeo chairman, and he’s worked alongside Wheeler for several years as they prepare and work the five performances inside Jake McClure Arena. “Larry brings a personal touch, a local touch, and he brings experience,” Kerby said. “I know a little more about the rodeo side. I’ve had to learn some of the stuff on the fair side. There’s so much to know about that. The rodeo and the entertainment get all the glory, but there’s so much more. “Larry knows so much about the shows, the little particulars about how to do things – something as particular as how to take the picture to show the animal and the kid the best they can show it. The fair gets a little overlooked, but truly that’s why we’re there: For the kids.” It’s a nine-day exposition that is great for the entire family. Between the concerts, exhibits, daily shows, livestock shows, carnival and rodeo, there will be many activities. “I think it’s an incredible event for the people of Lea County and the surrounding areas of west Texas,” Wheeler said. “There aren’t too many counties that are able to do what we do here as far as the entertainment and the PRCA rodeo. A lot of city folks enjoy the carnival. To be able to put that all together for a $10 ticket is pretty incredible. “I go to the (New Mexico) State Fair and the Eastern New Mexico State Fair and some other shows in Texas, and most are not able to have this much for the people to come do. My hat’s off to our commissioners for allowing it. It wouldn’t be possible without them. “What makes things even better is that we have so many wonderful sponsors that are willing to give, to support this fair and help make our fair so great. Our sponsors know what this fair means to the people of Lea County, and they are willing to help make it a great experience.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The first time Johnny Dudley appeared at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, he was cast in a supporting role. Now, he will be one of the main characters for this year’s event, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 5, at Roundup Arena. That includes Xtreme Bulls at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 30. Five years ago, Dudley spent a portion of his week in Dodge City visiting celebrated rodeo clown Justin Rumford, who then put Dudley into one of his acts. “My family and I left Joseph, Oregon, heading to Leoti (Kansas),” he said. “My wife and Ashley (Rumford) are best friends, and Rump and I are great friends. He asked me to do his cheerleading act, so I acted like a drunk guy and did a backflip off the top of the gate.” It was a hit, but that’s not why he’s returning half a decade later. It’s the comedy and acts he provides that makes him a sought-after entertainer in rodeo. “We really like what we’ve seen and heard about Johnny,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “We believe he will interact well with our team and our fans.” That’s the mark of a good entertainer, and Dudley has been recognized as such. Just last year, he was nominated for the PRCA Clown of the Year and Comedy Act of the Year. While it’s nice to have that added to his name, it’s not what defines the man from Denton, Texas. “All the buckles and glory and big rodeos are things that most rodeo clowns want, but I just want people to say I’m a good guy,” Dudley said. “Everybody wants to be recognized in their field, but at the end of the day, I’m just out doing my job.  But with that recognition, other people see that, and it leads to bigger and better rodeos, which leads to more money, which leads to my family having a better life. Known by the moniker of “Backflip,” family is the most important part of his life. When he can, he tries to spend as much time with his wife and two boys as possible. But life in rodeo oftentimes means being away from loved ones for an extended time. “My boys are 3 and 5 now, so they’re at the point when the realize that Dad’s leaving,” he said. “I grew up in a single-parent home. When I was a kid, I never had anybody teach me how to fish or play baseball with me. I always said I wanted a boy that I could enjoy the outdoors with. Now that I have a 5-year-old that wants to do that, I try to make all the time I can with him.” A former Marine, he knows that being on the road is the best way he can support his family. But when one is good at his job, he knows a busy schedule is important. “The best part of my job is just getting people to laugh,” Dudley said. “When people come to a rodeo, I don’t know the difficulties they have in their life. For two hours, if I can help them forget about that and laugh and smile, then it’s worth it. “In the stands, there might be a millionaire sitting next to a broke person. For those two hours, those same people are sitting side by side enjoying the same thing.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Casey Lincoln found his way to this community of 6,500 people through football. After high school in southeast Arizona, he attended Mesa (Arizona) Community College to play the game he loved. After his time there, he received a scholarship to continue his education and his playing days at Western State University, and he fell in love with everything about Gunnison. That’s why he returns every summer to volunteer his time and his talents to the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration, set for Saturday, July 5-Sunday, July 14, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. “The first year I was up there, in an attempt to learn more about the football program, I stayed in Gunnison and worked out with the football team,” said Lincoln, who now lives in San Tan Valley, Arizona, just outside Phoenix. “I got a job at a welding business, because I grew up doing it and became a certified welder in junior college. “I just love the small-town feel of Gunnison.” That’s why he makes the 12-hour drive every July to make sure he’s part of the community’s celebration. “I really enjoy it in Colorado in the summer, and I made some lifelong friends with Kevin Coblentz and his family and others in town,” he said. “Some aren’t in town anymore, but they seem to come back to town every year for the rodeo. “It was my home away from home for a couple of years, and it’s really good to catch up.” Lincoln is one of dozens of volunteers who make Cattlemen’s Days work, and he isn’t the only one to travel a great distance just to devote several hours, time and talents to the process. Whether they are helping get the complex ready or helping with the 4H exhibits or greeting contestants at the rodeo, each task is important for the heritage of the celebration. “The great thing about Cattlemen’s Days is that we have an outstanding group of volunteers that put in so much work just to make an event of this magnitude happen,” said Coblentz, president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “Some of the stuff we need done is hard labor, and we always have the people there to get it done. “Casey is just one of several of our volunteers who travel to be here, and I appreciate them and all the others for all they do. Casey’s been a close friend of ours for several years, and we love to have him back every year for Cattlemen’s Days. He’s good people.” Lincoln is also fascinated with rodeo. He’s a member of the Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo Association, an amateur group that has events primarily in Arizona and New Mexico. “I grew up team roping and riding horses, but I never competed in actual rodeos, but it’s something that’s near and dear to my heart,” said Lincoln, who is a heavy equipment trainer and consultant for a Caterpillar dealership in the Phoenix area. “Going to Gunnison is a good vacation from work.” And a good escape from the heat in Arizona. The average July temperature in his hometown is a high 106; meanwhile in Gunnison, the average July high temperature is 80. “Getting away from the heat is a big reason why I go back,” he said. “But I also like the small town that Gunnison is. In Phoenix, from my house to work can take two and a half hours, depending on traffic. It’s a nice change of pace to go up to Gunnison, and you can drive across town in five minutes. “It’s just a wonderful place to be in July.”

Gainesville stop was a Classic in every way possible   GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Luke Kaufman and Ross Hill made clear statements about the Bullfighters Only Southern Classic presented by Franklin County Livestock this past weekend. “I’ve watched bullfighting very closely for the last 15 years, and that was probably the rankest 20 bullfights in one night that I’ve ever seen,” said Kaufman, BFO’s production manager. “I’ve watched every Wrangler Bullfight Tour tape there is, every stand-alone bullfight there’s been, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in one two-hour show. “We had a guy score 88.5 points in a three-man bullfight, and he finished in last place. That was insane.” Hill has been around the game longer and still stands as a wily veteran in the BFO. He’s seen thousands of bullfights and hundreds of events over his storied career, and even he was in awe of what happened in Gainesville. “Without a doubt, it’s one of the top bullfights I’ve seen in my career,” said Hill, a BFO pioneer from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. “Just watching everybody step up was great, then you got to see the young guys just now coming up and stepping into it all. It was just amazing, and it goes back to what we’re doing with the Development Camps.” Of the men in the field, many were former BFO D-Camp participants. Fifteen qualifiers battled on Friday night to fill five spots in the field with the top 10 men in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings on Saturday night. Many of them had been through the camps. “Chance Moorman went out there and was 91 points twice,” Hill said. “When you see him lay down two front flips and do what he did with that bull, he could have just led that bull around with a lead rope. That was one of the coolest events I’ve ever been to.” Moorman earned his victory in style. Being 90 points in any bullfight is tough, and to do it twice in one night is incredible. But what was bigger was that he was part of the greatest three-man round in BFO history. While his 91-point bout won the round, first-timer Dekevis Jordan was 90.5 to finish second and three-time world champion Weston Rutkowski was 88.5 points to finish third. “When I saw that I was in the same round with Weston in both Reno and Gainesville, I knew it was going to be really good,” said Moorman, 18, of Lytle, Texas. “When I saw that Dekevis was drawn into our round after he came out of the qualifier, I knew it was going to be a very tough round. We had the three-time champ and two young kids that like to jump out of the building.” It certainly was electric. “Weston set the bar high, and Chance and I knew we really had to do something special to beat that,” said Jordan of Madill, Oklahoma. “I knew both of us were going to do something over that bull. I had to do something next level.” That happened in both height and performance for Moorman and Jordan, the latter of whom just completed Development Camp earlier in June and was competing at his first BFO event. “It was pretty awesome to be part of that, a dream come true,” Jordan said. “It was a blessing, and those guys made me feel like I fit right in. “There was a lot to learn over the weekend. I haven’t been around that many people in a professional event like that. It was new to me, and I’m the newest guy on the team. I’ve got some adapting to do. I learned that you enjoy everything that’s going on and that at the end of the day, you’ve just got to fight your bull.” It came down to basics for many, but there were big dollars up for grabs. For winning the Southern Classic title, Moorman pocketed $12,000 and moved into the No. 2 position in the world standings. He now trails the top dog, Aaron Mercer of Calgary, Alberta, by $4,000. “That’s just a crazy feeling,” Moorman said. “I’ve gone through a rough patch. I’ve been drawing on the smarter set of bulls, and I’ve been getting thrown around. To come in here and put it all on the line and come out with the win and be second in the world is just crazy. “I didn’t know if there was any way I could put myself back in close of reach of that world title, but here we are. It’s going to be a crazy summer.” The money is a great incentive. BFO paid out more than $60,000 this past weekend with over $30,000 paid in Gainesville; the largest payout of the summer run of freestyle bullfighting. But there are hundreds of bouts that lie ahead before the world champion is crowned at the Tropicana Las Vegas in December. “The one thing about what we saw in Gainesville is the young talent that can really play this game,” Kaufman said. “It was almost like a passing of the torch. To see Ross, Weston and Toby (Inman) out there doing the best they can, then you see these 18-year-old and 19-year-old Chance and DJ out there letting it all hang out. “There are two kinds of bullfighters out there: Those that have seen it all, and those that are too young and dumb to know better. They came together pretty good.” It bodes well for what’s coming in freestyle bullfighting. The BFO was created four years ago and has quickly become the face of the game. It has rebranded and helped regenerate an audience, and the top men in the game earn their way to specialized events like the one in Georgia. “This is the gateway for the BFO to come to the East Coast,” Kaufman said. “We’ve done the Speedway Series down here, but I would compare that to the Wrangler Bullfight Tour in that it is  Continue Reading »

GUNNISON, Colo. – The sentiment “Back by Popular Demand” may be cliché, but it’s also fitting for the return of Ken Stonecipher and the Wooden Nickel Band to Gunnison for Cattlemen’s Days. “When we brought Ken and the band to town last year, we quickly realized that we wanted them back this year,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “We had so many people telling us how much they liked the band and how much fun both nights were, so it was a no-brainer.” Cattlemen’s Days will run from Friday, July 5-Sunday, July 14, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. The band will perform after the Friday and Saturday rodeo performances – at Wapiti Ridge Saloon on July 12 and at Garlic Mike’s after the final night of the rodeo. “We’re excited to be coming back Gunnison and to be in town for the rodeo,” said Stonecipher, who has led the band for nearly 20 years. “It was such a great experience to be there last year, and it’s really an honor to be invited back. “The crowds were great, and we really like the environment.” He considers the band’s sound dancehall music, a variety of cover songs that most have heard and that will entice those that enjoy dancing. “The first filter on what we play is songs that I like,” he said. “There are a lot of good songs out there that aren’t good for dancing. They’re good to listen to in a concert. “I grew up in dancehalls, so I have an ear for that kind of music, stuff that is a good two-step and is a good waltz. That’s how we put our set list together. We try to have something for everybody, from Hank Williams Sr. to the Turnpike Troubadours. We try to have something people can enjoy.” That’s the epitome of dancehall music. “We try to play your favorite, but we’ll dang sure play music you can dance to,” Stonecipher said. “We play to have fun, but we want the people that are dancing to have fun, too.” The Wooden Nickel band has been transformed over the years. After playing and singing primarily in church services, he and another musician would play acoustically. The duo then added a bassist, then a drummer. Now it’s a five-piece band with all the fixings. Only Stonecipher remains from the original band, but he’s added the flavor of professional musicians who enjoy the opportunity to play their brand of music. They average between 20-30 shows a year, depending on his work schedule and when he might be announcing rodeos across the Midwest. “We have a variety of old and new, and we put it all together,” Stonecipher said. “I’m a rodeo guy, so I think I understand rodeo crowds. They don’t call music classic because it’s old; they call it classic because it’s good.” And that’s just what people in Gunnison will get on the final weekend of Cattlemen’s Days.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – People in southeast New Mexico can’t get enough of Cody Sosebee. The celebrated clown will return to this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7-Saturday, Aug. 10, at Jake McClure Arena; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 6. “He’s really good with the crowd,” said Trey Kerby, chairman of the rodeo committee on the Lea County Fair Board. “We try to have a specialty act every year, so that allows him to engage with the crowd. He’s all around the arena, and he’s fun to be around. “He’s about as normal a person as you can get and has a heck of a sense of humor.” That’s why Sosebee will be back in Lovington this August, to share his humor, antics and personality with the large crowds that pack the arena. “There are a lot of cowboys that come to that rodeo from the ranches and the farms,” Sosebee said. He knows cowboy. He’s been one all his life. He may not wear the hat as often, but he understands the Western lifestyle and what rodeo means to a region. Before he began clowning, Sosebee rode bareback horses and has been around rodeo as long as he can remember. He also is good friends with longtime Lovington rodeo announcer Andy Stewart, and their rapport is evident. “I like how well Cody works with Andy,” Kerby said. “They’re pretty flawless together.” Much of his humor comes from his size: Sosebee is bigger than most rodeo clowns, and his raw athleticism shows through the extra cushions his body allows. His acts just accentuate it all into one funny package. “Having the ability to laugh at myself is probably my biggest strength,” he said. “I don’t take anything too serious. When I’m watching a comedian, the funniest thing I see is when they’re honestly open and having a good time.” His work in the arena hasn’t been unnoticed. He was named the Comedy Act of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association last year and has been nominated for that award and Clown of the Year for many years. In 2017, he was selected to work the National Finals Rodeo. “I am very humbled by it, because I automatically thought of the guys who had come before me who had never been selected to work the finals,” he said. “There’s no way to describe it, because the guys voted for it. I can take that with me forever.” His biggest attribute, though, is that he wants the fans to have a good time. “I think I bring a sense of energy to an event, and I try to bring a new level of energy,” Sosebee said. “I try to bring a high level of energy to your show. I think rodeo competes with other extreme sports, and I think we’re in a class of entertainment like those. “When people come to an event, they want to see the level of high energy for the entire two hours they’re there, and that’s what I want to give them.”

BFO Southern Classic to host top bullfighters chasing big money GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Ross Hill’s passion for freestyle bullfighting was grown organically; his childhood revolved around watching iconic bullfighters and legendary bulls at Harper & Morgan rodeos across the southern United States. Hill, now in his late 30s, is a world-renowned bullfighter and will compete in the Bullfighters Only Southern Classic presented by Franklin County Livestock, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28-Saturday, June 29, at the Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center in Gainesville. “Being close to home is the perfect spot. A lot of my fans are in the area and want to come to that,” he said. “It’s also the largest purse event we have east of the Mississippi, and I’d like to be the first to take that home. Them boys are in my territory now.” He’s right about the purse, which will pay out more than $30,000 over the two days of freestyle bullfighting – a true man-vs.-beast, gladiator sport that pits athletic men against aggressive and agile Spanish fighting bulls that were bred for this type of fight. In fact, the Gainesville purse will be the largest of the summer run. “I’ve been really focused on the BFO Development Camps and the instruction with all those,” said Hill, from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. “I took a bit of a break, started training myself. I’m ready to get back at it.” Chad Ellison of nearby Carnesville, Georgia, will provide the bulls for the event, featuring the BFO’s top 25 men. Fifteen athletes will be part of Friday’s Qualifier Round, with five winners advancing to Saturday’s performance to match their skills with the top 10 bullfighters in the game. Saturday’s performance will feature five three-man brackets, with the winner of each advancing to the Hooey Championship Round. Once there, the top score will claim the victory and the biggest paycheck. “I’ve got 80 bulls that all came out of California, and we’ve got a lot of young bulls that have a lot of potential,” said Ellison, who will have 35 bulls in Gainesville. “We’re still trying to figure out what we’ve got, but we have some serious talent on the bull side.” That’s important, because half the score is based on the bull and his willingness to stay in the fight. With scores on the 100-point scale, bulls account for up to 50 points. The bullfighters will earn their share of the points based on their ability to move around and over the bull. Ellison takes great pride in having quality animals that will help the bullfighters score big points. “We don’t want anybody to get hurt,” he said. “We want to make it really cool for the crowd. From time to time, you want to see a guy get hooked, because people come to see a wreck, but we want the bull to be honest and help guys be in the high 80s or low 90s.” Scores like that mean great fights, and each move in the arena is thrilling for those in the stands. The bullfighters like it too; rookies and veterans alike. “’This is my first big spot, so I’ve got to earn my place and show them that I’m going to be here for a while and show that I can run with the top guys,” said Dekevis Jordan, a 20-year-old bullfighter from Madill, Oklahoma, who just went through the Development Camp system earlier this month. “I can’t wait. I have the same dreams as the rest of the guys. I’m going to accomplish mine. I want to make it to Vegas in December.” His confidence is high, but it takes that type of bravado to step into the arena with a beast intent on destruction. But the brotherhood in the BFO has been the best part of Jordan’s experience with the best bullfighters in the world. “It’s a family, and everybody has your back,” he said. “You help everybody out, and nobody bumps heads. Somebody else can win, and we’re going to be on the side rooting for them.” Having the best in the business showcase their talents with his bulls has been a win-win for Ellison, who just returned to the stock contracting game earlier this year because of his involvement with the BFO. “I think the BFO really helps the bullfighters out, but it’s also a lot better for the guys that have bulls,” he said. “I think the sport is headed the right way, where the bullfighters get the credit they deserve for the talent they have. “The talent the BFO has is like no other, and the money these guys can win is amazing. It pays good for me, and the guys are really good to work with. It’s a top-notch professional outfit all the way around.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Tomas Garcilazo is quite proud of who he is, from his upbringing in Mexico City to being a citizen of the United States. He combines it all in one of the greatest acts in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. In fact, Garcilazo was recognized as the PRCA’s Dress Act of the Year last year and also in 2007, 2012 and ’13, and he will be part of the action at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 31-Sunday, Aug. 5, at Roundup Arena. Garcilazo is a charro and carries on the family heritage of La Charreria, a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican charro. As did his elders, Garcilazo takes pride in his horsemanship and roping skills, which will be on display during each of the three Stampede performances. “We want to bring the best acts to Dodge City Roundup than we can, and what a better way to do it than bringing in the Act of the Year,” said Dr. R.C. Trotter, president of the volunteer committee that produces the ProRodeo Hall of Fame event. “We have a large Hispanic community. “Tomas fits that very well. His act is phenomenal, and I know the people who come to our rodeo will love what they see. We believe there are some people in southwest Kansas that would love to come to our rodeo just to see Tomas.” Garcilazo is one of two featured entertainers that will be a big part of this year’s Claremore rodeo, joining funnyman “Backflip” Johnny Dudley, who has been nominated for PRCA Clown of the Year, Comedy Act of the Year and also was a finalist to be the barrelman at the 2018 National Finals Rodeo. “When you bring someone to provide a treat, it’s nice because you contribute something to the community,” said Garcilazo, who has been selected to perform the opening act at the NFR a dozen times. “It’s going to bring more people together.” Rodeo is more than a competition. The stampede will feature the very best in the sport, from numerous world champions in every event to the very best animal athletes in the game. But it’s also an action-packed couple of hours of entertainment. To help make a rodeo even more entertaining, specialty acts provide theatrics to the competition. Garcilazo is the best at what he does. “It’s an honor because specialty acts are so competitive,” he said. “I’m very flattered that what I do as a charro and representing my culture and my tradition with my horses and myself has been recognized with those contractors, committees and contestants that are part of the PRCA. “I emphasize the tradition a lot. The heritage is very strong. For me, it is big that those are being carried on in modern day and that it is a privilege for me to keep up with this way of life. Cattle, horses and roping were all involved in my childhood.” Those lessons learned decades ago are still vibrant in his mind. That’s why he continues to entertain and show the world his talents. “On my mother’s side, they are all churros,” Garcilazo said. “I grew up competing all my life. I picked my skill with a rope and had a vision to develop this with the horses. “It’s a way of developing my dream. My rope, as a child, was a toy. Now I develop the artistry with a rope in such an extensive way. It takes time, effort, patience and the (willingness to) develop all the desires to succeed in horse and roping skills.” It is Garcilazo’s passion to share his talent – and his heritage – with the world. “Being in the entertainment business, you get to see the different traditions and different people from different personalities,” he said. “When you develop something with passion with your heart and express this on stage, it shows. When I see a performer, when they do these with their heart, it shows right away. I have a lot of passion for what I do, and I hope everyone sees that.”

EAGLE, Colo. – The crisp mountain air in this beautiful community makes for the perfect summertime escape for many. It’s also a great place to be for rodeo contestants the final week of July, because they know it’s a refreshing break from the heat of the season and the chance to rope big bucks at the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24-Saturday, July 27, at Johnette Phillips Arena on the Eagle County Fairgrounds. But it’s not just the animals that love the atmosphere in Eagle; the great bucking animals from the Texas-based livestock firm of Pete Carr Pro Rodeo love it, too. It’s the arena that features one of the world-record, 94-point bareback rides; Ryan Gray rode Carr’s Grass Dancer a decade ago to share the mark. It’s not the only 90-plus-point ride that’s occurred inside Johnette Phillips Arena. In fact, 90s have been a common occurrence in Eagle. “Pete has a bunch of great horses,” said Bill Tutor, who scored 90.5 points on Carr’s Bright Lights to win the bareback riding title a year ago. “It doesn’t matter how big the rodeo is; if it’s one of Pete Carr’s rodeos, you know you’re going to get on something that you want to get on. “All those horses are awesome in their own way and are fun to get on.” Tutor is a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who has seen his share of high-marked rides in Eagle. That’s a big reason why he will return. Pete Carr credits it to the change in temperatures from a run of Texas rodeos to their permanent stay at the Carr ranch in east Texas. “Eagle is a pretty special place, even if we’re just talking about the atmosphere,” said Pete Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo. “The animals just love the weather there.  It’s really great for us as well when you figure we’re a Texas livestock company. Getting to go to Eagle in July from this kind of heat in Texas is a nice change for the horses and bulls.” The cowboys know they have a good chance to win on any animal, and that’s another key factor in why they put the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo on their schedules. “Pete Carr has a lot of good bucking horses, and they all dang sure bucked out there,” said Will Lowe, a three-time world champion bareback rider. Casey Colletti is a three-time NFR qualifier from Pueblo, Colorado, and he has had a great history in Eagle County over the years. “It’s awesome for a lot of reasons, but partly because it’s Colorado,” Colletti said of Eagle. “It’s beautiful there. It’s by the river; it’s in the mountains. It’s Colorado in July. “Those animals get out of the hot Texas heat, and they get in the mountains and that cool air, and it makes them feel better. When they feel that good, they show it. That’s pretty cool.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – One thing members of the Cattlemen’s Days committee understand is that people in the community want to see the best. That’s why the committee has gone above and beyond to make sure that happens during the annual PRCA rodeo, set for Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. “We’ve considered the options of what we can do to bring more cowboys and cowgirls to our rodeo,” said Kevin Coblentz, the volunteer committee’s president. “We try to have as much hospitality as possible, we offer bonuses for our performance winners and we just try to treat them with the respect they deserve.” Rodeo contestants travel tens of thousands a mile a year to make a living. In addition to the expenses that come with that type of schedule, they must pay entry fees in order to compete. The only way the make any money at a rodeo is to beat most of the others in the field. “The rodeo life can be a lot of fun, but there’s a lot that goes into it,” Coblentz said. “You have independence and get to travel. If you’re good enough, you can make a living, but it takes a lot of work to get to that point. There aren’t that many that actually qualify for the NFR.” The National Finals Rodeo is the sport’s grand finale that takes place at Las Vegas in December, but only the top 15 contestants on the money list at the end of the season in each event advance. That’s why rodeos with bigger purses provide more incentive. Count Cattlemen’s Days in that category, and this year, the committee has taken that up a notch. The contestants’ entry fees are mixed with what rodeo insiders call “added money,” locally provided dollars that help make up the total purse. “We decided to up our added money to $5,000 in each event and in both heading and heeling in the team roping,” Coblentz said. “We wanted to offer as much of an incentive for these cowboys to come to Gunnison. If they’ve been here before, we want them back. If they haven’t, we want them to see what our rodeo and our community is about. “We’re very proud of what we have here, and we hope the cowboys who come will understand why.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Craig Wisehart has been to Gunnison’s Cattlemen’s Days several times over his career. He knows the PRCA rodeo’s history and its Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign. When he arrived in this beautiful mountain community last July, he realized the opening night was the much-celebrated pink night. Then he learned about the bonus paid out to the best scores and best times in each event for those wearing pink. “My buddy, Tyler Ferguson, told me there was a pretty good bonus for wearing a pink tonight,” said Wisehart, who lives in Stephenville, Texas, but still calls Kersey, Colorado, home. “I told him, ‘I was silly and left all my pink shirts in Texas.’ He told me there was a Tough Enough to Wear Pink booth on the other side of the arena and to get one. “I ran over there, and they fit me with one, and here we are.” Adorned with the pink attire with a Gunnison logo, he matched moves with Stace Smith’s Kicking Feathers for 85 points to claim the bonus. Any competitor who competes and wears pink attire on this year’s pink night – set for Thursday, July 11, at the Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison – is eligible for a share of the $15,000 bonus provided by Wrangler and local sponsors through the Cattlemen’s Days Tough Enough to Wear Pink program. It breaks down to $1,875 per discipline. “For years, our thoughts as the Cattlemen’s Days committee has been to always be willing to give to our contestants, whether it’s providing our time to help, giving them hay, making sure our hospitality is top notch or doing anything they might need,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the volunteer committee that produces the rodeo. “This is another great thing that is available to our contestants on the first performance of our rodeo, and I think it’s great for the cowboys and cowgirls who come to Gunnison. We want them to leave here knowing they are appreciated by us.” Many contestants that didn’t know before are learning about that giving nature. Those that arrive for the July 11 performance take note of the awesome pink setting around the rodeo arena. “We love to see the contestants that compete that night wearing pink,” Coblentz said. “We know it’s not always feasible for them because they’re on the road so much, but it’s always nice to see them supporting the pink night we have and for all the rodeos that do something special in support of the fight against cancer.”

Four of the eight 2018 winners, including a world champ, earned NFR bids ESTES PARK, Colo. – Rooftop Rodeo has always been an important stop for the top cowboys and cowgirls in ProRodeo. Whether it’s the mountain beauty of Estes Park or the big money up for grabs, it’s the perfect setting for those that make their living playing the game they love. Hundreds of them will return for this year’s event, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena in Estes Park inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. Of the eight champions from the 2018 Rooftop Rodeo, half utilized the money won in this Colorado resort town to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that features only the top 15 money-earners in each event. “We pride ourselves on being a place the contestants want to come to every summer,” 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. “To see that so many of our champions went on to the NFR shows the caliber of contestants we attract here. “One of our winners was Caleb Smidt, who went on to win the world title. Another was Will Lummus, who was in the hunt for the championship until the ninth round of the NFR. I know we’re excited to see cowboys like that back here.” Lummus, in fact, set a Rooftop Rodeo record with a 3.2-second run to win the second round and the overall title. It was one of the catalysts to his first qualification to ProRodeo’s finale. “That was the fastest steer I’ve ever thrown,” said Lummus of West Point, Miss. “(In 2017), I was 4.5 on both steers and didn’t win anything. I like Estes Park. It’s an awesome place to be. They have always had good steers, and just the environment … “I’m from Mississippi, and we don’t have mountains. Everywhere you go around here, the scenery is beautiful. There are great cattle, a great committee; this is a great place to have a rodeo with great fans. It’s a wonderful place to be.” The $4,526 he pocketed was pretty wonderful, too. Rodeo is a unique sport; not only do dollars help pay bills and cover expenses with traveling across the country, but they also serve as championship points. The contestants with the most money won in each event are crowned world champions. Others Rooftop Rodeo champions who made it to Las Vegas last December were team roping header Tyler Wade, who pocketed $4,440 in Estes Park, and saddle bronc rider Brody Cress, who earned a little more than $7,000. “I love it over here,” Wade said. “The mountains are awesome. There are a lot of committees that don’t take care of their contestants quite as good as I think they should, but they do here. We appreciate every bit of it.”

Rooftop Rodeo offers patrons the chance at a Gold Buckle Experience ESTES PARK, Colo. – The most honored prize in rodeo is a world champion’s gold buckle. It’s the wearable trophy the epitomizes many hours of hard work, tens of thousands of miles driven and excellence in the arena in a given year. It’s a celebration, too, which is one of the reasons behind the newly dubbed Gold Buckle Experience at this year’s Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena in Estes Park inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. This is the reincarnation of the VIP Experience for the annual rodeo, with a jazzed-up name to go along with the type of offerings available to those that wish to be part of it. “The Gold Buckle Experience is going to allow people and our VIPs to enjoy our rodeo in a special way” 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 town of Estes Park really opened up something great for our rodeo with the additions they did last year, and it’s going to be the same type of atmosphere with a great name.” The Gold Buckle Experience allows patrons a tour of the rodeo grounds before the show, access to the exclusive VIP patio at the west gate, dinner in the hospitality area, drinks and the opportunity to utilize the padded seats in the grandstands. “We sell our Gold Buckle Experience tickets at $100 apiece, and those people will have a permanent host for the evening,” said Rob Hinkle, the community services director for the town of Estes Park. “This year in the Gold Buckle area, we have a stage that we will be able to convert into an elevated viewing area with its own bar. “By doing this, it allows us to put this really nice viewing platform in position, which we hope will enhance the experience for those patrons.” Over the years, Rooftop Rodeo has been recognized as one of the premier stops in rodeo. Much of it has to do with the picturesque setting of Estes Park, but it also has to do with the hospitality provided and the nature of the competition. Cowboys and cowgirls have marveled at the fans who make their Rooftop Rodeo experience even better. That’s why the event has been named Rodeo of the Year six time. “What we love about our rodeo is that it’s the highest altitude of any rodeo in the country, and it offers a beautiful setting,” Purdy said. “This community welcomes our visitors, and that hospitality rings true to the cowboys and cowgirls that come to our town to compete.”

Alpha Bull, Bullfighters Only increasing exposure of freestyle bullfighting CALGARY, Alberta – Bullfighters Only founder Aaron Ferguson and Alpha Bull founder Chad Besplug grew up just 45 minutes from one another in the foothills of southern Alberta. Their professional careers have followed eerily similar paths – Ferguson as a bullfighter, Besplug as a bull rider. Besplug is a two-time Canadian champion, and Ferguson was selected twice to fight bulls at the National Finals Rodeo. At the completion of their rodeo careers in 2015, both were at the top of their game. Now, they have proven that their unique abilities translate outside of the arena as well. Ferguson’s Bullfighters Only and Besplug’s Alpha Bull are known for producing world-class events, and they’ve teamed up for four consecutive years to bring bullfighting to Canadian fans. “We grew up in the same part of Alberta, but didn’t really know each other that well until we founded our companies,” Ferguson said. “Using Chad’s events as a platform, we put our efforts together to bring freestyle bullfighting up to Canada. It’s growing fast and producing some great athletes.” Proof comes via Aaron Mercer, the first-ever Canadian to occupy the No. 1 spot in the BFO Pendleton Whisky World Standings. He got his start through BFO Canada competitions and has been dominating events across North America, with four wins and two runner-up finishes in the last month and a half. “It’s insane that he’s gotten to the top so fast and great to have a Canadian on top of the standings,” Besplug said. “He was virtually unknown at this time last year. I’ve watched the top guys and gotten to be friends with some of those guys. What has impressed me is how hard they work.” BFO and Alpha Bull have produced more than a dozen events so far, and the growth continues to be rapid. That’s a good thing for Canadian bullfighters and even U.S. stars willing to test their skills north of the border. “Freestyle bullfighting is a whole new avenue for fans in Canada,” said Weston Rutkowski, the three-time reigning BFO world champion. “It brings a different excitement to the events. Chad puts on great events, and they’re very entertaining from the get-go.” The only downfall has been the lack of quality fighting bull contractors in Canada. That’s why Alpha Bull and Bullfighters Only have reached out to Oregon stock contractor Trevor Hamsher to haul his top-flight animals to BFO Canada events. “With this change, fans will get to experience the level of excitement that has become synonymous with BFO,” Ferguson said. “Bringing in an experienced contractor with quality bulls is imperative to the sport’s continued growth as it allows the athletes to showcase their true capabilities.” Fans are pushing for the market to expand, which is why Besplug and Ferguson are working together to make it happen. More events are already on the 2019 schedule than ever before, and both Alpha Bull and the BFO are looking to increase that again next year. “As a pure man-vs.-beast sport, it’s tough to compare it to anything else; the excitement is insane,” Besplug said. “I’ve seen lots of bad wrecks and lots of action in bull riding, but watching someone like Weston going against the best bulls in the world just puts you on the edge of your seat, and it’s pretty intense.” BFO and Alpha Bull will be a major aspect of the Calgary Stampede’s Bulls After Dark, which will take place Friday, July 12-Saturday, July 13, at the Nutrien Western Events Centre at the Calgary Stampede.

Munsell, Anderson claim intercollegiate crowns at CNFR ALVA, Okla. – Reaching the pinnacle of one’s sport is the dream of every athlete. Taylor Munsell and Bridger Anderson have done that for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team. They added just the second and third national rodeo championships in the school’s history, and they did it in dominating fashion at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming. “Winning the national title is pretty cool,” said Anderson, a sophomore steer wrestler from Carrington, North Dakota, who knocked four steers to the ground in a cumulative time of 19.1 seconds. “We knew that my teammates and I had a good chance of winning a national title. It was pretty exciting that Taylor and I were able to walk away with it. “You can’t complain about bringing two more titles home to Northwestern Oklahoma State University.” Munsell, a senior breakaway roper from Arnett, Oklahoma, finished with a four-run cumulative time of 10.5 seconds. Like Anderson, she shared the first-round win with a blazing 2.1-second run. She followed that with a 2.3-second run, which was good enough for a tie for second place in the second round. “I have to credit much of my success to that horse,” Munsell said of Monster, a 13-year-old bay gelding. “There are not a lot of horses that will let you be 2.1 and 2.3, then let you track two down, swing a rope over them and help you rope smart. He’s 100 percent every time. “This feeling is so amazing. My support system is so big. Everyone around me has been so great to help me get here.” Anderson earned his share of the first-round title with a 3.9-second run, then was 3.8 in the second round to place third. After his third-round steer moved left into him, he settled for a consistent 4.7 to earn the top spot heading into the championship round. Both Rangers had solid leads as they awaited their fourth run of a hectic week. “I was just trying to hit the barrier and make smooth runs, and I think that was the biggest key to success,” said Anderson, who was joined as Central Plains Region titlists by Munsell and tie-down roper Riley Wakefield of O’Neill, Nebraska. Everything went smooth for Munsell, and the first three were solid for Anderson. The fourth, however, made for some tense moments inside the Casper Events Center. “My fourth run was terrible, but we had enough time built up that it worked out,” he said. “My high school wrestling instincts took over. That was a huge relief.” A solid run consists of a bulldogger transitioning from his horse to the steer and securing both horns. Anderson’s fourth-round steer slipped its left horn under his arm, but the North Dakota cowboy was able to maintain his hold and throw the animal down in time to claim the national title by two-tenths of a second. “I didn’t have any jitters for the short round and was feeling pretty confident,” he said. “As soon as I missed that left horn, I went into pure panic mode. My body shook for five hours after that; it was terrorizing. I was doing anything I could to get him laid over.” There was never any panic when it came to Munsell’s approach to the national championship. Like any national championship playoff in college sports, only the elite few in every event advance to the college finals. Once there, it comes down to which contestant has the best run during the week of competition. It can be a rugged test, but those that have been battle-tested can prevail. “I was really trying to stay positive and not let any doubt set in,” said Munsell, who won more than $20,000 in February by finishing as the runner-up at The American. “I knew I’d roped good enough. I perfected it on the dummy every day. I went to all the evening church services, and they helped keep your mind in the right place.” Even though she just finished her undergraduate degree, Munsell will continue her education at Northwestern, working to obtain a master’s degree in health and sports science education. She will have one more year of eligibility and will serve as a graduate assistant for coach Stockton Graves. Now she and Anderson can work toward defending their titles. “It would be something to win it two years in a row,” said Munsell, whose 270 points was enough for the Rangers women to finish sixth in the nation. “There are a lot of runs between now and then, but that would be the big goal.” Both will compete professionally over the summer and into the fall, and then it will be time to return to the 10 events on the Central Plains Region calendar. “That first day you win that college championship is cool, and it’s a big deal,” Anderson said. “The very next day, it’s back to square one. You forget about the championship you’ve already won, and you focus on the next one. We’ll try to win another regional championship, get back to the college finals and see where that takes us.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – John Harrison has a lot in his bag when it comes to entertaining, and that’s why he will return to Gunnison for this year’s Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo. He’s an athlete, trick rider, rodeo clown, barrelman and comedian, all rolled up in a package that’s both fun and funny. He will be one of the featured pieces of this year’s rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11-Saturday, July 13, at Fred Field Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. “We had John here last year, and we realized quickly that he’s someone we want to have back again,” said Kevin Coblentz, president of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo. “He has the perfect personality for our rodeo, and his comedy is family friendly, which is exactly what we like to see.” Plenty of athletes will be part of Gunnison’s rodeo, an attractive spot for many in the game to play at the professional level. With a record purse available this year, hundreds of the top cowboys and cowgirls will make their way through the Rocky Mountain passes to ensure their chance at those dollars. But Harrison might be the most athletic of them all, and he utilizes that in some comedic ways to produce an award-winning showcase throughout each of the three performances. He is a four-time winner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Comedy Act of the Year and a three-time winner of the Coors Man in the Can award, an honor bestowed upon the top barrelman in ProRodeo based on peer votes. He also has worked the barrel at the National Finals Rodeo three times. But those awards don’t define the third-generation cowboy. “I love my job, but the best part is the traveling and doing things with my family,” Harrison said. “There’s the stress of getting animals and everything ready for a performance, but the reward is great when the crowd comes out to enjoy the rodeo. “For two hours, they get to get away from their life, and I’m glad I can be part of it.” Raised in Soper, Okla., to a rodeo family, Harrison began his entertainment career as a trick rider. He joined the PRCA in 1999, and within five years, he had transitioned to being a clown and barrelman. It provided greater opportunities and has allowed him the chance to showcase the funny side of his amazing abilities. “Everything’s changed since I first started clowning,” said Harrison, 40, the grandson of 1962 world champion bull rider Freckles Brown. “What brings me the most joy is for all of us to be on the road and getting to do things as a family. I love that my kids are with me for the summer run. They’re going to have memories that will last forever.” They will be with him in Gunnison, and he’s excited to be part of the historic event. “It is a traditional rodeo with a great feel to it, having the track that runs on the outside of the arena,” Harrison said. “You can’t beat being in the Rockies in the middle of the summer. Plus, I think the traditional rodeos are always fun to work.”

EAGLE, Colo. – Bareback rider Bill Tutor has been to hundreds of rodeos throughout his six years in ProRodeo, but there’s something about returning to this mountain community along Interstate 70. “Since I was a permit-holder, Eagle has always been an exceptional rodeo, so it’s really exciting to win it,” he said of the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24-Saturday, July 27, at Johnette Phillips Arena on the Eagle County Fairgrounds. “The stock is always fantastic; you’ve got to be in the high 80s just to place there. To win the that rodeo is cool, because I’ve always put Eagle on such a pedestal.” He’s proven the reasons, and he plans to return to this year’s event to defend his 2018 title. He was 90.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bright Lights to claim the crown, and he knows once he returns that he will draw a similar horse the next time he arrives. “One year, my traveling partner, Jake Brown, was 90.5 points and finished fourth,” said Tutor, a two-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Huntsville, Texas. “To be that many points and still finish fourth says a lot about that rodeo. “It’s a great time of year to be in the mountains. The crowd’s always into it, and it’s a really neat arena. The rodeo committee treats you so well. As a cowboy, especially that time of year when you’re actually living on the road, it means a lot to have rodeo committees treat you like family.” It has been nominated for Medium Rodeo of the Year in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, a distinction provided to the top five vote-getters in each of the four size categories. What’s bigger yet is that the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo was confirmed as one of the top 20 rodeos in the country. It proves the hard work done by local volunteers and dedicated county personnel is paying off. “They pack that arena every single night of that rodeo even though Eagle is a small town,” said Payden McIntyre, the defending steer wrestling champion from Douglas, Wyoming. “It’s easy to get to Eagle, but it’s hard to get down through the fairgrounds because there are so many cars there. “It’s pretty impressive that a community that size can put together something like that every year.” It’s one of the many reasons so many top cowboys and cowgirls make their way to the picturesque community. But McIntyre has other reasons to compete in Eagle; primarily, it’s part of the Rocky Mountain Circuit, a PRCA regional organization that features contestants and rodeos in Colorado and Wyoming. The circuit finale takes place each fall in Loveland, Colorado, and McIntyre is a six-time qualifier. “It’s pretty awesome to win it,” he said, noting he’d earned the title one other time. “It’s a good circuit rodeo that’s going on during Cheyenne (Frontier Days Rodeo in Wyoming), so it’s a good one to sneak off to that week. Eagle is also one of the bigger circuit rodeos. By the time you’re done there, you’ve got a pretty good idea if you’re going to make the circuit finals.” But the rodeo isn’t just a regional locale; it’s a big-time stop for the best in the game. In addition to Tutor, there are other NFR qualifiers that have found success in Eagle; world champions Spencer Wright and Ryder Wright shared the saddle bronc riding title last year, and the cowboys that placed in bull riding read like a who’s-who of ProRodeo’s elite. “The purse is always good, so you can count on that,” Tutor said. “It’s definitely a good rodeo to boost you in the standings. It’s a beautiful rodeo, the setting is great, the weather is great and it has a great committee. You get Pete Carr as the stock contractor, so you know the horses are going to be great, and there’s always a big crowd.” There are plenty of things to like about the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo.

Knee injury hasn’t slowed down the clown, one of the funniest men in rodeo ESTES PARK, Colo. – Deep down, Justin Rumford is a cowboy, and he’s not about to let a knee injury slow him down much – even if it was a severe knee injury. In fact, he will return to this year’s Rooftop Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds. But that’s what being a clown is all about for Rumford. “We’re bringing Justin back because he’s the fans’ favorite every time he’s here,” 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. “He’s funny, engaging and makes our rodeo better just because he’s here.” Rumford was injured in January at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. He worked the next week in Rapid City, South Dakota, then found out just how bad the injury was. He suffered three ligament tears – ACL, MCL and PCL – a broken tibia and a double meniscus tear, so he had surgery Feb. 7. He returned to the arena six months after, and he hasn’t looked back sense. “I’ve been doing all the therapy and the rehab, and by Aug. 1, I should be about 90 percent,” said Rumford, the six-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Clown of the Year. “I can still do everything I normally do except for some of the acts or work the barrel. For the most part, I can do about 95 percent of everything I did before.” That’s a good thing for rodeo fans in Estes Park. As he continues to heal, he continues to be the vibrant personality that has been his gift all his life. Raised in south-central Kansas to a rodeo family, Rumford has been around the game since the day he was born. He is a third-generation stock contractor. Rodeo is in his blood. He’s roped and bulldogged; he’s ridden broncs and fought bulls; he’s even driven the semi-tractor trailers that haul prized steads. Now he’s living a dream. “This clowning deal is the best thing I’ve ever had,” said Rumford, who lives Ponca City, Oklahoma, with his wife, Ashley, and their triplets, Livi, Lola and Bandy. “It’s something in rodeo that I can have a lot of longevity in. There’s not just a ton of risk, and it’s something I enjoy so much.” Now he’s the preeminent funnyman in professional rodeo, just as his awards describe. He’s a comedian by nature, something he shared through every level of rodeo on which he’s performed. Whether he’s entertaining a crowd or sharing stories after the performances end, he is the life of the party. “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.” That’s why people in Estes Park like having him around, and the feeling is reciprocated. “That’s just a beautiful location,” he said. “It’s a great committee with awesome hospitality; it’s an awesome town, and it’s got a park right across the arena for the kids. Estes Park is just a fun place to be.” That’s one of the reasons contestants have considered Rooftop Rodeo one of the very best in the country, but there are other reasons. The volunteers on the committee come together every year to not only put on a great community event but to also cater to the athletes who make rodeo so great. “I think a big part of why people like coming to Estes Park is the way the contestants are treated,” Rumford said. “There are free stalls, and in the hospitality building, they’ve got a huge corner for kids that has a bunch of toys. “The money’s great for the contestants, and everybody on the committee treats you like family. They have a ton of 50-amp RV hookups for contestants, and after a busy Fourth of July, it’s nice to pull in somewhere like Estes Park and just plug into one of those outlets and just relax.” That down time is critical for the cowboys and cowgirls who make their living traveling hundreds of miles in a given day just to compete. It also allows them to perform at an optimum level when the time comes.