Edler moves into Gunnison lead
GUNNISON, Colo. – Jacob Edler has a college degree, but his education continues in professional rodeo. The lessons are coming to fruition, and he proved it Friday night at the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo. He wrestled his steer to the ground in 3.7 seconds and owns a lead of seven-tenths heading into Saturday’s final performance […]
Top artists coming to Lovington
LOVINGTON, N.M. – The Lea County Fair and Rodeo is known for having the best concert series in the Southwest, and this year’s lineup is no different. “We’ve got a great entertainment lineup,” said Dean Jackson, a Lea County commissioner and former chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “We, as a commission, have some […]
Blasting into Rooftop’s lead
Blasingame closer to NFR bid with quality run with Bates in Estes Park ESTES PARK, Colo. – Ty Blasingame’s rodeo lifestyle got a little easier in March when he and his then-partner, Kyle Lockett, won RodeoHouston and more than $55,000. That pushed him to No. 1 in the team roping-heading world standings, a spot he […]
Colletti soars on pink night
GUNNISON, Colo. – Over his career, Casey Colletti has found great success at Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, but he’s never won the bareback riding title in Gunnison. That could change this year. On Thursday’s opening night, he spurred Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Sun Catcher for 87 points to take the early lead and. Almost as […]
O’Connell is ready to ride again
ESTES PARK, Colo. – Tim O’Connell’s final ride of the 2018 season earned him his third straight world championship, but it almost ruined his 2019 campaign. Almost is the key word. On Thursday night during the fourth performance of Rooftop Rodeo, O’Connell rode Cervi Rodeo’s San Luis for 87 points and owns the bareback riding […]
Bendele’s fingers do the walking
DODGE CITY, Kan. – When Benje Bendele clicks his fingers, something magical usually happens. Ah, the life of the preeminent sound director in ProRodeo. If it happens in the arena, the speakers rumble with a complementary sound. It’s a split-second, a click and a style that has led the Texan to many of the biggest […]
Coach rolls into Rooftop lead
Graves continues to teach his students while showing off a winning formula ESTES PARK, Colo. – Stockton Graves’ focus on rodeo is quite a bit different than it was a decade ago. He’s a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in steer wrestling who last played in Las Vegas in December 2011. Since then, he’s focused […]
Wright gets a kick at Rooftop
Saddle bronc rider leaves Estes Park with the top spot and stitches ESTES PARK, Colo. – So far, Jake Wright knows exactly what happened to him Wednesday night during the third performance of Rooftop Rodeo. He just may not remember it for long. Wright rode Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Buckin’ Crazy for 83.5 points to take […]
Injury won’t stop Rumford in Eagle
EAGLE, 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 Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24-Saturday, July 27, at […]
Dent making most of 2019
Veteran cowboy shares bareback riding lead at Rooftop Rodeo with Lamb ESTES PARK, Colo. – Rodeo cowboys don’t really retire; they slow down their travel and re-prioritize their lives a bit from the rodeo trail. Steven Dent is planning on 2019 being his last to really chase qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo, where only […]
OPINION: Defining heroes the right way
ESTES PARK, Colo. – There’s a reason that our heroes have always been cowboys, and Steven Dent epitomized that Monday night during the first performance of the Rooftop Rodeo in Estes Park. Dent was one of two cowboys to post 83-point rides in bareback riding, so after the last horse bucked in that discipline, he […]
Trixie Chicks riding into Lea County
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 […]
Polhamus lends voice to Roundup
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 […]
Cowboy Girls will add to local rodeo
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 […]
Carr a key factor in Lea County
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 […]
4H a big part of Cattlemen’s Days
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 […]
Rooftop offers an escape
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 […]
Wheeler brings experience to fair
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 […]
Dudley ready to rock Roundup
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. […]
Volunteers are key to event
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 […]
BFO makes a statement
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 […]
Band returns to Gunnison
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 […]
Lovington eager for Sosebee’s return
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 […]
Georgia on their minds
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 […]