Gem State Classic is up for top rodeo
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, […]
Bullfighters earned the job in Duncan
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 […]
Rodeo’s best makes Bellville great
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 […]
Peck has seen Bellville rodeo grow
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. […]
Rangers find early-season success
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 […]
Waller County expo is a true value
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 […]
Concerts bring joy to local fair
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, […]
Isley will inject Duncan with humor
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 […]
Champs find Bellville invigorating
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 […]
A life lost too soon
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 […]
Fair takes education a step further
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 […]
Updates hitting the heart of the fair
HEMPSTEAD, Texas – In the eyes of the Waller County Fair Association’s board, each step toward improving the fairgrounds is a chance to give back to the community that supports the annual exposition. “This year, the board of directors approved another half-million dollars toward our capital campaign improvements,” said Matt Hyatt, the fair board’s president. […]
Rodeo experts boast about Eagle
EAGLE, Colo. – John and Sandy Gwatney have seen and experienced many things in their rodeo careers. Whether it was on the contestant side or the production side, the husband-wife tandem has been around the good and the bad in rodeo. They know what it takes to be involved in the best that the sport […]
Proctor chasing another circuit title
DUNCAN, Okla. – Coleman Proctor has already secured his fifth qualification to the National Finals Rodeo, but he had reasons to stay closer to his property near Pryor, Oklahoma, and focus on rodeos in the Prairie Circuit. Caymbree Proctor was born July 29, and the team roping-header wanted to be home for that. The rodeo […]
Steer ropers love Bellville rodeo
BELLVILLE, Texas – With just a few weeks remaining in the 2019 ProRodeo season, steer roper Vin Fisher Jr. understands what it means to kickstart the new year well. He sits second in the world standings and has assured himself a 16th qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, the year-end championship for […]
Braden chasing 2nd straight title
DUNCAN, Okla. – The hardest part of Hardy Braden’s job – outside driving tens of thousands of miles a year to do it – is being matched with the right partner. Braden is a saddle bronc rider from Welch, Oklahoma, and he’s pretty good at it. He qualified for the National Finals Rodeo in 2017 […]
Grover makes the right calls in Eagle
EAGLE, Colo. – The voice is smooth, the words are filled with knowledge. Scott Grover has proven that being a rodeo announcer is more than a job to the man from Weston, Missouri; it’s a passion that matches the action inside the Johnette Phillips Arena during the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo. “This rodeo is […]
Comforts of home
Waller County Fair and Rodeo offers incentives for rodeo contestants HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The one thing contestants have come to learn about the Waller County Fair and Rodeo is that there are plenty of incentives to compete. “This is a really good rodeo with good money,” said Lane Ivy, a National Finals Rodeo qualifier from […]
Rodeo is another great Eagle event
EAGLE, Colo. – The people that live in Eagle County and the surrounding communities have come to expect great happenings. The Eagle County Fair and Rodeo is no different, which is why it was a virtual sellout each of the four performances for this year’s rodeo, which took place July 24-27. There are numerous factors […]
Furr on fire in Bristol
North Carolinian earns second BFO Speedway Series title BRISTOL, Tenn. – Simply put, Kris Furr was ready to get back to work. His job? Juking and jumping over Spanish fighting bulls. After suffering a groin injury last month in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Furr proved why he remains one of the best in the business by […]
Gizmo brings gadgets to Bellville
BELLVILLE, Texas – Dale McCracken has multiple personalities, but it’s not a disorder. It’s quite the opposite, really. Like a superhero donning his cape, McCracken covers his face with greasepaint and enters the world of his alter-ego, Gizmo, the funnyman/barrelman who has entertained rodeo crowds for much of his life. It’s as if Dale drives […]
Cabral finally grabs Lovington title
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Cody Cabral knew he had a good opportunity Saturday at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. That’s why he flew in and borrowed a horse to could compete on the final day of Lovington’s rodeo, and he made the opportunity pay off. He wrestled two steers in a cumulative time of 7.3 […]
Bronc busters post big scores
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Tanner Aus and Jacobs Crawley both ride bucking horses for a living, they just do it in a little different manner. On Friday night, they did better than anybody and left the Lea County Fair and Rodeo either leading or owning a share of the lead in their respective events. “Lovington has […]
Scarlet casts a web for Shadbolt
LOVINGTON, N.M. – Garrett Shadbolt knew a little bit of the history of Scarlet’s Web. What he didn’t know was the 17-year-old bay mare’s history at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. Over the last five years, cowboys have won the bareback riding title on the powerful horse three times. Now he’s trying to make […]