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LOVINGTON, N.M. – When Q Taylor and Tanner Butner left southeastern New Mexico earlier this week, they had to like their 88-point rides sitting atop the saddle bronc riding leaderboard. When the dust cleared Saturday night at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, they finished tied for fourth. It got a bit Western in Lovington on the final night of the nine-day exposition, with Stetson Wright and Brody Cress sharing the victory with 91-point rides. “Oh, yeah, I’m having lots of fun,” said Wright, 26, an eight-time world champion from Beaver, Utah. “These last couple of weeks, I’ve seemed to hit my groove in bronc riding again. The bull riding clicked was fast coming back, but the bronc riding was so slow. I finally just started creeping up, winning and getting on horses like that.” Wright matched moves with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Northern Exposure to set new standard. Two rides later, Wells scored big during his rematch with Carr’s Larry Culpepper – he was 90 on the red roan at Pecos, Texas, in June. “Larry is a legendary bronc,” Wells said of the bronc that’s bucked at the National Finals Rodeo six times. “I probably watched Cort Scheer win a round at the 2019 NFR on that horse a thousand times when I was younger. It’s an honor to put your saddle on him. A bronc like that doesn’t come around too often. He’s a special horse.” Each man pocketed $7,299, big earnings with less than two months remaining in the regular season. Wright entered this week 14th in the world standings with nearly $115,000 in earnings. He’s atop the money list in both the all-around ($366,668) and bull riding ($299,521). In Saturday’s bull riding, Wright was bucked down by Carr’s Hostel Take Over. He suffered a concussion. Before he wrapped his hand to the bull, he was happy with his bronc ride. “That was everything that I wanted,” Wright said of his matchup with Northern Exposure. “I didn’t have high expectations on that horse coming in. It’s a young one. They’ve had some low scores, and most of the guys buck off. I just gave him a little more rein, and I was hoping it would help. It looks like it did. I’m just pumped up to be here.” He sat out all of the 2024 campaign with a hamstring injury. It was the first time in five years that someone other than Wright had earned the PRCA all-around world title. He’s back in the hunt for a sixth, and being back on the rodeo trail has been the perfect medicine. “I got super hungry (to compete again),” Wright said. “I got so deprived of it, I couldn’t even think straight. Everybody told me that I should be done that I should hang it up and find a new career. I couldn’t wrap my head around that. I just kept dreaming I’d be back in these situations, these moments. This was everything. “A ride like that is what I shoot for every day. That’s what all these guys are out here doing. I’m just glad to be part of it.” While he competed at his first NFR a year ago, Wells understands the sentiment. Having the opportunity to test his skills on a horse he’s already found success was just icing on the cake. While he was 90, Wells finished second to Tanner Butner. Larry Culpepper, however, guided Zeke Thurston to 92 points to win Oakley, Utah, and Sage Newman to 88.5 to win the Days of ’47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City. This was the bronc’s third victory in a row. “To have him here in Lovington where they’ve got a pile of money up in a one-header, you want to have a bucker like that,” Wells said. “I just showed up trying to be aggressive and glad to hang out. He actually bucked a lot harder than the first time.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 7-10All-around cowboy: Coleman Proctor, $8,749 in team roping and steer roping. Bareback riding: 1. Cole Franks, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Pink Smoke, $8,037; 2. (tie) Roedy Farrell, Bradlee Miller, Waylon Bourgeois and Dean Thompson, 86, $3,885 each; 6. Richmond Champion, 85, $1,340; 7. Jayco Roper, 84.5, $1,072; 6. (tie) Toby Deudney and Orin Larsen, 84, $402 each. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gary Gilbert, 3.7 seconds, $2,879; 2. Riley Duvall, 4.0, $2,503; 3. Jacob Daniell, 4.1, $2,128; 4. (tie) Bray Armes, Trevor Duhon and Grady Payne, 4.4, $1,377 each; 7. Brandon Harrison, 4.6, $626; 8. Tucker Allen, 4.7, $250. Second round: 1. (tie) Gary Gilbert, Jacob Edler and Tyke Kipp, 4.0 seconds, $2,503 each; 4. Justin Shaffer, 4.2, $1,752; 5. (tie) Jake Shelton and Garrett Oates, 4.4, $1,189 each; 7. (tie) Marc Joiner, Cole Walker and Jacob Daniell, 4.6, $292 each. Average: 1. Gary Gilbert, 7.7 seconds on two runs, $4,318; 2. Jacob Daniell, 8.7, $3,755; 3. (tie) Jake Shelton and Grady Payne, 9.4, $2,010 each; 5. Chance Howard, 10.0, $2,065; 6. Marc Joiner, 10.2, $1,502; 7 Jacob Edler, 10.4, $939; 8. Colt Honey, 10.9, $375. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Blane Cox, 9.0 seconds, $3,052; 2. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.2, $2,654; 3. Tyler Calhoun, 9.4, $2,256; 4. (tie) Chet Weitz and Marty Yates, 9.5, $1,658 each; 6. (tie) Paden Bray, Tyson Durfey and Austin Lawrence, 9.7, $663 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Kincade Henry and Quade Hiatt, 8.2 seconds, $2,853 each; 3. Marty Yates, 8.3, $2,256; 4. Ty Harris, 8.7, $1,857; 5. Monty Lewis, 9.4, $1,459; 6. Cade Wallis, 9.5, $1,061; 7. (tie) Lane Livingston and Brody Stallard, 9.6, $464 each. Average: 1. Marty Yates, 17.8 seconds on two runs, $4,577; 2. Kincade Henry, 18.4, $3,980; 3. Blane Cox, 18.9, $3,383; 4. Ty Harris, 19.3, $2,786; 5. Cole Clemons, 20.2, $2,189; 6. Paden Bray, 20.3, $1,592; 7. Pecos Tatum, 20.58, $995. 8. Bryce Derrer, 20.7, $398. Breakaway roping: First round: 1. Taylor Munsell, 2.2 seconds, $2,566; 2. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Hali Williams, 2.3, $2,016 each;  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – If there were a time machine, it may have appeared at the Lea County Fair during Friday’s third performance of the PRCA rodeo. In the mid-2000s, a young mare named Riverboat Annie was making a name for herself as one of the elite bucking horses in ProRodeo. She was the 2007 reserve world champion bareback horse and was selected to buck at the National Finals Rodeo for 10 straight years. She didn’t retire; she just changed jobs. Now 24, she’s the matriarch of the Pete Carr Pro Rodeo breeding program and has raised a herd of bucking babies. One of them is the spitting image of Momma, right down to the way the two perform in the arena. “That horse is really cool,” said Cole Franks, who rode Pink Smoke for 87.5 points to take the bareback riding lead in Lovington. The first time they ever bucked that horse, it was for a gender-reveal for (fellow bareback rider) Anthony Thomas. They bucked it with a dummy, and it was awesome. “From that moment on, I just couldn’t wait to get on that thing. It was fun, but a little bit harder than I expected.” It worked in Franks’ favor, and even he recognized the similarities between the two generations of buckers. “Riverboat wasn’t real tall, but she was built like a tank,” said Franks, a three-time NFR qualifier from Clarendon, Texas. “That’s about how he is, too. He’s built really well.” A red roan gelding, Pink Smoke is just 6, so he’s got some room to grow, both physically and mentally. The instinct is there. Of course, Riverboat Annie was just 6 years old when she was recognized as the second-best bareback horse in the sport 18 years ago.   The high-marked ride came at a good time for Franks, who entered the week ninth in the world standings with $116,626. He needs to keep adding to his totals if he wants to remain in the hunt for the world championship. Only the top 15 in the world standings at the end of the regular season advance to the NFR, where the gold buckles are handed out to the titlists. “As good as this rodeo pays, finishing second would be just fine with me,” he said. “Sure, I want to win, but a check’s a check.” Every dollar is vital, but so is performing well. That can be a struggle with less than two months remaining in the season, especially for bareback riders. They’ve been on dozens of bucking horses over he last few weeks alone. “Everybody’s hurting a little bit,” Franks said. “My forearm huts. My neck hurts. My hip hurts. Everything hurts. “If I don’t have much of a chance of winning money this time of year, especially when I’m hurting like I am, I’ve just got to take a day off. It’s no use getting on a bucking horse for free.” He’s sore, but he toughed it out Friday night. The rewards outweigh the pain any day. Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 7-10Bareback riding leaders: 1. Cole Franks, 87.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Pink Smoke; 2. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Dean Thompson, 86; 4. Richmond Champion, 85; 5. Jayco Roper, 84.5; 6. Orin Larsen, 84; 7. Zach Hibler, 83.5; 8. (tie) Jacek Frost and Jacob Lees, 82. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Gary Gilbert, 3.7 seconds; 2. Riley Duvall, 4.0; 3. Jacob Daniell, 4.1; 4. (tie) Grady Payne, Trevor Duhon and Bray Armes, 4.4; 7. Brandon Harrison, 4.6; 8. Tucker Allen, 4.7. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Gary Gilbert, Jacob Edler and Tyke Kipp, 4.0 seconds; 4. Justin Shaffer, 4.2; 5. (tie) Jake Shelton and Garrett Oates, 4.4; 7. (tie) Marc Joiner and Jacob Daniell, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Gary Gilbert, 7.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Jacob Daniell, 8.7; 3. (tie) Jake Shelton and Grady Payne, 9.4; 5. Marc Joiner, 10.2; 6. Jacob Edler, 10.4; 7. Colt Honey, 10.9; 8. Riley Westhaver, 11.4 Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Blane Cox, 9.0 seconds; 2. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.2; 3. Tyler Calhoun, 9.4; 4. (tie) Chet Weitz and Marty Yates, 9.5; 6. (tie) Paden Bray and Austin Lawrence, 9.7; 8. Joel Harris, 9.8. Second round leaders: 1. Kincade Henry, 8.2 seconds; 2. Marty Yates, 8.3; 3. Ty Harris, 8.7; 4. Monty Lewis, 9.4; 5. Cade Wallis, 9.5; 6. Lane Livingston, 9.6; 7. Blane Cox, 9.9; 8. Cole Clemons, 10.3. Average leaders: 1. Marty Yates, 17.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Kincade Henry, 18.4; 3. Blane Cox, 18.9; 4. Ty Harris, 19.3; 5. Cole Clemons, 20.2; 6. Paden Bray, 20.3; 7. Pecos Tatum, 20.58. Tanner Green, 23.8; 8. Tom Crouse, 23.8. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Taylor Munsell, 2.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Hali Williams, 2.3; 4. (tie) Timber Allenbrand and Madalyn Richards, 2.4; 6. (tie) Jessi Everett and Macy Young, 2.6; 8. (tie) Shacie Marr, Jackie Crawford and Tibba Smith, 2.7. Second round leaders: 1. Haiden Thompson, 2.3 seconds; 2. Cheyanne McCartney, 2.7; 3. Hali Williams, 2.8; 4. (tie) Taylor Munsell and Bailey Bates, 3.0; 6. Neelley Armes, 3.1; 7. Madalyn Richards, 3.3; 8. Ariana Varischetti, 3.9; 9, Taylor Raupe and Kayce Edwards, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. Cheyanne McCartney, 5.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Hali Williams, 5.1; 3. Taylor Munsell, 5.2; 4. Madalyn Richards, 5.7; 5. Neelley Armes, 6.0; 6. Ariana Varischetti, 6.7; 7. Kayce Edwards, 9.5; 8. Taylor Raupe, 9.7; 9. (tie) Haiden Thompson and Bailey Bates, 15.5; 5. Maddy Deerman, 15.7; 6. Timber Allenbrand, 2.4 seconds on one run; 7. (tie) Jessi Everett and Macy Young, 2.6; 9. Janae Todacheenie, 3.2; 10. Jayden Rodriguez, 3.3.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Tanner Butner, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Chilly Winds, and Q Taylor, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Roots, 88 points; 3. Ben Andersen, 86.5; 4. Isaac Diaz, 86; 5. Zac Dallas, 85; 6. (tie) Shorty Garrett and Cooper Thatcher, 84.5; 7. Weston Patterson, 83.5; 8. Lefty Holman, 82. Team roping: First round  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Horsepower is vital for every cowboy, but it’s a major component to success when it comes to rodeo. Ask Marty Yates. He’s had his share of top horses, which have helped guide him to 10 National Finals Rodeo qualifications over the last 11 years. He’s got another one in Snoop, a 6-year-old gelding that helped push him into tie-down roping’s top spot with two big runs Thursday at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. “This brown horse is the key,” said Yates, 31, of Stephenville, Texas. “I scored good, but he just gave me a great throw and gave me a good go from the stirrup. He’s just so easy to rope on. He’s going to be a lot of fun.” Snoop is a bit of a prodigy, still young but able to do some amazing things. Speed is vital in the timed events, and the brown bombshell made things happen quickly. Yates is tied for third place in the first go-round after posting a 9.5-second run Thursday morning. He followed that with an 8.3 in the nightcap and has a six-tenths of a second lead on the field with two days remaining at Lovington’s rodeo. “I’ve placed here and there, whether it be a round or in the average,” Yates said. “I’ve almost always left with some money out of the Lea County Fair.” Those dollars are important. Only the top 15 contestants on the money list in each event when the season concludes Sept. 30 will advance to the NFR, the sport’s Super Bowl that takes place over 10 days in Las Vegas. A year ago, for example, Yates won the second round and finished fifth in the aggregate race in southeastern New Mexico to pocket $5,300. He returned to the finale after missing it in 2023. Yates is 10th in the world standings with $105,155. That seems like a lot, but it’s relative. Two cowboys – Riley Webb and Shad Mayfield – sit 1-2 on the money list but have also earned $100,000-plus more than Yates. It just takes more money than it used to in order to play for the biggest pay in the game, so taking advantage of good calves and cashing in when opportunities allow “I didn’t know a whole lot about that calf,” Yates said. “This is just the second time these were ever even roped. They were fresh this morning. “I got a really good start. My horse worked really good and gave me the advantage.” It all comes back to the equine partner. The better the horses are, the better the runs can be. Even at just 6, Snoop is proving to be an asset. “We’ve been seasoning him on our way to Vegas,” Yates said. “We’ll get to do some more seasoning out there on him. “It’s cool to be able to have a year like this. The last couple of years were kind of a struggle. I made the finals once out of the last two years, but I was just never confident about any of my roping. I’ve finally got a horse that actually wants to do it, and I can be competitive again.” Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 7-10Bareback riding leaders: 1. Richmond Champion, 85 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Cat Ballou; 2. Orin Larsen, 84; 3. Jacek Frost, 82; 4. Weston Timberman, 81.5; 5. Cole Reiner, 78; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Gary Gilbert, 3.7 seconds; 2. Riley Duvall, 4.0; 3. Grady Payne, 4.4; 4. Brandon Harrison, 4.6; 5. Tucker Allen, 4.7; 6. (tie) Jake Shelton and Riley Westhaver, 5.0; 8. Zane Cline, 5.2. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Gary Gilbert and Jacob Edler, 4.0 seconds; 3. Justin Shaffer, 4.2; 4. Jake Shelton, 4.4; 5. Marc Joiner, 4.6; 6. Shane Frey, 4.8; 7. Grady Payne, 5.0; 8. Colt Honey, 5.1. Average leaders: 1. Gary Gilbert, 7.7 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Jake Shelton and Grady Payne, 9.4; 4. Marc Joiner, 10.2; 5. Jacob Edler, 10.4; 6. Colt Honey, 10.9; 7. Riley Westhaver, 11.4; 8. Ty Cochrane, 13.8 Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Blane Cox, 9.0 seconds; 2. Tyler Calhoun, 9.4; 3. (tie) Chet Weitz and Marty Yates, 9.5; 5. (tie) Paden Bray and Austin Lawrence, 9.7; 7. Joel Harris, 9.8; 10. Cole Clemons, 9.9. Second round leaders: 1. Kincade Henry, 8.2 seconds; 2. Marty Yates, 8.3; 3. Ty Harris, 8.7; 4. Monty Lewis, 9.4; 5. Cade Wallis, 9.5; 6. Lane Livingston, 9.6; 7. Blane Cox, 9.9; 8. Cole Clemons, 10.3. Average leaders: 1. Marty Yates, 17.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Kincade Henry, 18.4; 3. Blane Cox, 18.9; 4. Ty Harris, 19.3; 5. Cole Clemons, 20.2; 6. Paden Bray, 20.3; 7. Tanner Green, 23.8; 8. Tom Crouse, 23.8. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Taylor Munsell, 2.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Hali Williams, 2.3; 4. Timber Allenbrand, 2.4; 5. (tie) Jessi Everett and Macy Young, 2.6; 7. Shacie Marr, 2.7; 8. Weslynn Reno, 3.1; 9. (tie) Janae Todacheenie and Codie Harmon, 3.2. Second round leaders: 1. Haiden Thompson, 2.3 seconds; 2. Cheyanne McCartney, 2.7; 3. Hali Williams, 2.8; 4. (tie) Taylor Munsell and Bailey Bates, 3.0; 6. Jade Mitchell, 4.8; 7. (tie) Martha Angelone and Maddy Deerman, 12.3; 9. Shacie Marr, 15.4. Average leaders: 1. Cheyanne McCartney, 5.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Hali Williams, 5.1; 3. (tie) Haiden Thompson and Bailey Bates, 15.5; 5. Maddy Deerman, 15.7; 6. Timber Allenbrand, 2.4 seconds on one run; 7. (tie) Jessi Everett and Macy Young, 2.6; 9. Janae Todacheenie, 3.2; 10. Jayden Rodriguez, 3.3.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Tanner Butner, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Chilly Winds; 2. Isaac Diaz, 86; 3. (tie) Shorty Garrett and Cooper Thatcher, 84.5; 5. Bryan Huey, 79; 6. Levi Mines, 77; 7. Jake Finlay, 76; 8. Gus Galliard, 74. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Roan Oldfield/Jake South, 5.1 seconds; 3. Jr. Dees/Coleby Payne, 5.3; 4. Jeff Flenniken/Buddy Hawkins II,  Continue Reading »

Sosebee to expose his personality for fans at Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo SALT LAKE CITY – The first thing fans will notice about Cody Sosebee is his dialect He’s from western Arkansas, and his roots shine in conversation, as does his personality. Sosebee has a unique flair about him, which is why he’s so good at what he does. As one of the most sought-after clowns and entertainers in ProRodeo, he will lend his talents and southern drawl to Utah’s Own Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5; Saturday, Sept. 6; and Monday, Sept. 8, in the Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. Tickets can be purchased at UtahStateFair.com/tickets. “I’m really pumped to work that rodeo,” said Sosebee, 53, of Charleston, Arkansas. “It’s my first time there, and I’m anxious to get to entertain in front of the great fans. Utah has possibly the best rodeo fans in the world. All the rodeo clowns want to work Utah rodeos because of the beautiful setting and the wild fans.” He will get to for three September nights during the Utah State Fair. Sosebee not only provides comedy relief during the rodeo but also showcases his talents in other ways. Packed into his larger-than-life persona – and a body to match – are boundless amounts of energy, fan-loving acts and knee-slapping comedy. “I think I bring a sense of energy to an event, and I try to bring a new level of energy,” he 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.” The rodeo will feature world-class competition, with many of the top cowboys and cowgirls battling for the big bucks in the state’s capital city. Alas, it’s more than a contest. Rodeo features family-friendly entertainment, which is where Sosebee enters the picture. A former bareback rider, he transitioned from the game and onto the stage. He went from spurring bucking horses to showing off talents with his antics and acts. The most intriguing thing about Sosebee is that he’s just being himself, and it works. Over his lifetime, he’s been nominated more than 20 times for PRCA Clown of the Year and Comedy Act of the Year, winning the last in 2018. That was a year after he was selected to work as the barrelman at the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale. It was a tribute bestowed upon him by the top bull riders in the game. “Jokes are the unfortunate situations of other people, but you can’t hardly tell some jokes anymore for fear of upsetting some people,” Sosebee said. “I’ve changed my jokes in my acts to being about me; everything’s about me. I laugh at myself. I’m a big, chubby, dancing guy. I look funny when I walk. I sound funny when I talk. It’s OK to laugh at yourself.” Sosebee’s self-deprecating humor appeals to the throngs of people who enjoy his talents. If he’s laughing at himself, others are laughing right along with him.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – It wasn’t choreographed, but Gary Gilbert was certainly involved in a dance just before his steer wrestling run Wednesday night. It was during the first performance of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, and his horse, Pop Rocks, was more interested in performing pirouettes in the timed-event box. Gilbert settled his partner down, then put the hammer down, stopping the clock in 4.0 seconds. It was the fastest run of the night and of the second round so far, and it pares well with his first-round leading 3.7-second run. “The horse was sore the last month after a wreck in Pecos (Texas),” Gilbert said of the 9-year-old sorrel gelding. “I didn’t take him to the vet initially. Then did, so he hasn’t been anywhere. I’ve been busy working at home, but I should have practiced to where he had some confidence. I guess he probably thinks it’s still hard, so it took me a little bit to get him set. “He worked good this morning, but since I didn’t practice, I didn’t get to build him back up.” Once everything calmed down at the starting block, the two blasted into the arena chasing the brindle steer. Once Gilbert caught the cow, he knocked it on its side despite not finishing the run quite as well as he would have liked, missing the nose and just throwing the animal to the ground with just its horns. “He just stopped and caught me, and it set me back a bit,” said Gilbert, 39, of Paradise, Texas. “I knew I needed to be fast, so I just tried it.” Originally from South Dakota, he left home two decades ago to attend Eastern Wyoming College before transferring to West Texas A&M in Canyon. He’d never planned to stay in the Lone Star State, but he’s still there. Every dollar he can get out of Lovington can help him toward his 2025 goals. “If I predict it, I don’t think I win worse than third (in the aggregate),” he said. “I should place in both rounds. I guess the hard decision is if I’m going to go to Hermiston (Oregon) or not.” There are dozens of rodeos this week, and there are a handful that are considered tour rodeos. Lovington is one, and so is Hermiston. Both also offer big purses, so this is a good chance to gain some ground in the world standings. Still, it’s a day’s drive, and the cost of diesel and other expenses add up. Gilbert has a few goals he wants to accomplish, namely to finish high enough in the standings to get into some of the biggest winter rodeos like Houston and San Antonio. He has some ground to make up, though. He’s outside the top 50, and only the best 40 from this year get into Houston in 2026. He wants to gain enough ground to secure his spot in those lucrative events. Runs like he made Wednesday will go a long way toward that. He and Pop Rocks will also get to work on how to better work in the timed-event box. “I started him when he was 7, but then I took a year off because I was hurt,” Gilbert said. “He’s finding it, but it’s been slow. He’s been good. He’s just a cool horse.” He’ll make the perfect dance partner after all. Lea County Fair and RodeoLovington, N.M.Aug. 7-10Bareback riding leaders: 1. Richmond Champion, 85 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Cat Ballou; 2. Orin Larsen, 84; 3. Jacek Frost, 82; 4. Weston Timberman, 81.5; 5. Cole Reiner, 78; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Gary Gilbert, 3.7 seconds; 2. Riley Duvall, 4.0; 3. Grady Payne, 4.4; 4. Brandon Harrison, 4.6; 5. Jake Shelton, 5.0; 6. Zane Cline, 5.2; 7. Marc Joiner, 5.6; 8. Jay Williamson, 6.8. Second round leaders: 1. Gary Gilbert, 4.0 seconds; 2. Jake Shelton, 4.4; 3. Marc Joiner, 4.6; 4. Shane Frey, 4.8; 5. Grady Payne, 5.0; 6. Cody Cabral, 5.3; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Gary Gilbert, 7.7 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Jake Shelton and Grady Payne, 9.4; 4. Marc Joiner, 10.2; 5. Riley Duvall, 4.0 seconds on one run; 6. Brandon Harrison, 4.6; 7. Shane Frey, 4.8; 8. Zane Cline, 5.2 Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Blane Cox, 9.0 seconds; 2. Chet Weitz, 9.5; 3. Paden Bray, 9.7; 4. Joel Harris, 9.8; 5. Cole Clemons, 9.9; 6. Kincade Henry, 10.2; 7. Ty Harris, 10.6; 8. Hayden Ford, 11.2. Second round leaders: 1. Kincade Henry, 8.2 seconds; 2. Ty Harris, 8.7; 3. Blane Cox, 9.9; 4. Cole Clemons, 10.3; 5. Paden Bray, 10.6; 6. Landyn Duncan, 11.1; 7. Tanner Green, 12.0; 8. Hayden Ford, 13.0. Average leaders: 1. Kincade Henry, 18.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Blane Cox, 18.9; 3. Ty Harris, 19.3; 4. Cole Clemons, 20.2; 5. Paden Bray, 20.3; 6. Tanner Green, 23.8; 7. Dean Holyan, 28.5; 8. Jake Shelton, 29.2. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Cheyanne McCartney and Hali Williams, 2.3 seconds each; 3. Timber Allenbrand, 2.4; 4. (tie) Jessi Everett and Macy Young, 2.6 each; 6. Janae Todacheenie, 3.2; 7. Jayden Rodriguez, 3.3; 8. Maddy Deerman, 3.4; 9. Georgia Shields, 4.7; 10. Bailey Bates, 12.5. Second round leaders: 1. 1. Haiden Thompson, 2.3 seconds; 2. Cheyanne McCartney, 2.7; 3. Hali Williams, 2.8; 4. Bailey Bates, 3.0; 5. Jade Mitchell, 4.8; 6. (tie) Martha Angelone and Maddy Deerman, 12.3. Average leaders: 1. Cheyanne McCartney, 5.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Hali Williams, 5.1; 3. (tie) Haiden Thompson and Bailey Bates, 15.5; 5. Maddy Deerman, 15.7; 6. Timber Allenbrand, 2.4 seconds on one run; 7. (tie) Jessi Everett and Macy Young, 2.6; 9. Janae Todacheenie, 3.2; 10. Jayden Rodriguez, 3.3.  Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Isaac Diaz, 86 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Uptuck; 2. (tie) Shorty Garrett and Cooper Thatcher, 84.5; 4. Levi Mines, 77; 5. Slade Keith, 70; 6. 7. Cayden McFadden, 69; Oistin Charleston, 68; no other qualified  Continue Reading »

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Nobody could blame J.R. Stratford for having payback on his mind when he arrived in southeastern New Mexico. He’d been matched with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cowtown earlier this year, and things didn’t go well. His August Redemption Tour paid off with a 90-point ride to win Tuesday’s Lea County Xtreme Bulls title and big stack of money. “That bull threw me off in the short go in San Angelo (Texas), and it was really fast,” said Stratford, 22, a 2022 National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Byers, Kansas. “I was embarrassed and wanted a rematch. I don’t think I’ve slept much since the draw came in (and showed) that I had him.” The adrenaline rush exploded. Stratford was the second-to-last competitor, and Australian rookie Qynn Andersen had already posted an 88. Stratford counted every move the 5-year-old black bull threw at him. When the dust settled, Stratford earned $13,113. It was a nice payday for the Kansas cowboy’s first time in the storied Jake McClure Arena. “I’d either been hurt or just didn’t enter, so this year it was cool to make it out here,” he said. “These stand-alone bull ridings are huge, and the Xtreme Bulls finale is huge. I wasn’t sitting very good in the standings, so this win will bump me right back up there. Hopefully I can finish the year strong.” The dollars made a significant difference. He moved from 17th to ninth in the Xtreme Bulls standings; he also jumped four spots to seventh on the bull riding money list. He sat out with injury in 2023 and finished last year’s campaign 19th, so any momentum this time of year is good. “It’s a big one-header Xtreme Bulls event,” Stratford said. “You don’t see that very often. To win a check like this most of the time, you’ve got to get on four or five bulls.” With less than two months remaining on ProRodeo’s regular season, he made a necessary step toward making a return to Las Vegas. “After you know you’ve got a good bull drawn, you’ve just got to get out of your own way,” he said. “Let your body do what you’ve trained it to, then trust in yourself and the Lord.” Lea County Xtreme BullsLovington, N.M.Aug. 5, 20251. J.R. Stratford, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cowtown, $13,113; 2. Qynn Andersen, 88, $10,053; 3. Boudreaux Campbell, 86.5, $7,431; 4. Robbie Taylor, 85.5, $4,808; 5. Tyce Willis, 85, $3,060; 6. Grayson Cole, 84.5, $2,186; 7. Ramon De Souza, 83, $1,748; 8. Bryce Jensen, 73, $1,311.

DODGE CITY, Kan. – A fast-moving, high-wind storm passed over Dodge City less than an hour before the scheduled start of the championship round of Roundup Rodeo. It dumped rain, but more than anything, created havoc on the biggest annual event in southwest Kansas. Roundup organizers worked closely with PRCA officials and the rodeo’s stock contractor, Frontier Rodeo Co., to decide the best plan of action for all involved. “The decision to cancel the event was the hardest decision I have ever had to make,” said Steve Deges, president of Dodge City Roundup Inc., the volunteer-based committee that produces the rodeo. “It did not come lightly and was discussed with many, PRCA office, the judges, contractors, contestants, ground crews and many more.” The pomp and circumstance that comes with the short round and the crowning of champions was replaced by disappointed cowboys, cowgirls, fans, the committee and others who are on hand for the event. The results were reworked so the entire payout was distributed, but because of the way the PRCA’s system worked, it took some time. Roundup typically features one go-round for the three roughstock events, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding, with the top 12 scores advancing to Championship Sunday. In the short round, they will battle for another round payout, and the top two-ride cumulative score will win the Roundup buckle and the lion’s share of the money. In the timed events, all contestants had the opportunity to compete in two rounds, with each having a payout for the top placers. At that point, the fastest 12 two-run aggregate times qualify for the short round. The top times in the third round will be paid out, and the contestant with the best three-run cumulative time will be crowned champion. Without the final performance, the roughstock events paid the purse on one ride. After the first round ended Saturday, bronc busters Ryder Sanford, Shorty Garrett and Tom Webster shared the top score of 85.5 points. They were scheduled to each make $2,652. Because of the payout adjustment, each man collected $6,470. The biggest winners out of Dodge City were tie-down roper Kyan Wilhite, who placed in both rounds and won the aggregate title, collecting $9,675, and steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack, a five-time world champion who also placed in both rounds to win the average championship and $9,112. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.July 30-Aug. 3All-around cowboy: Seth Hall, $2,218 in tie-down roping and team roping. Bareback riding: 1. Jayco Roper, 88.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Ranch & Co Time, $7,544; 2. (tie) Bradlee Miller and Garrett Shadbolt, 88, $5,029 each; 4. (tie) Roedy Farrell and Sam Petersen, 85.5, $2,263 each; 6. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Jess Pope, 85, $1,132 each; 8. Tanner Aus, 84.5, $754. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Talon Roseland, 3.5 seconds, $3,709; 2. (tie) Kyler Dick, Will Lummus, Garrett Oates and Tyler Waguespack, 3.7, $2,500 each; 6. Emmett Edler, 3.8, $1,290; 7. Seth Peterson, 4.0, $806; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Grady Payne, 4.1, $161 each. Second round: 1. Tristan Martin, 3.2 seconds, $3,709; 2. Levi Rudd, 3.3, $3,226; 3. Cody Devers, 3.5, $2,742; 4. Darcy Kersh, 3.8, $2,258; 5. Riley Westhaver, 3.9, $1,774; 6. (tie) Ty Allred and Tyler Waguespack, 4.0, $1,048 each; 8. Jay Williamson, 4.1, $323. Average: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 7.7 seconds on two head, $5,564; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Kyler Dick, 7.9, $4,475 each; 4. Levi Rudd, 8.2, $3,387; 5. Emmett Edler, 8.4, $2,661; 6. (tie) Talon Roseland and Seth Peterson, 8.6, $1,572 each; 8. (tie) Grady Payne and Trisyn Kalawaia, 8.7, $242 each. Team roping: First round: 1. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 4.7 seconds, $3,745 each; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9, $3,256; 3. (tie) Luke Brown/Trey Yates, Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 5.2, $2,279 each; 6. (tie) Blake Barnes/Latham Dickson, Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, Walker Smith/Will Smith, Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson and Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 5.3, $407 each. Second round: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 4.1 seconds, $3,745 each; 2. Ryon Joe Boatright/Jett Hillman, 4.8, $3,256; 3. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0, $2,768; 4. Jr. Dees/Seth Hall, 5.2, $2,279; 5. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Klay Yaussi/Kash Yaussi, 5.3, $1,547 each; 7. (tie) Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.4, $570 each. Average: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 10.7 seconds on two head, $5,617 each; 2. Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin, 10.8, $4,885; 3. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 10.9, $3,786 each; 5. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 11.1, $2,687; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.3, $1,954; 7. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 11.5, $1,221; 8. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 11.6, $488. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Shorty Garrett, on Frontier Rodeo’s Maple Top, Ryder Sanford, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Kool-aid, and Tom Webster, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sweet Sue, 85.5 points, $6,470 each; 4. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Lefty Holman, 85, $2,496 each; 6. Brody Cress, 84.5, $1,387; 7. Roper Kiesner, 81, $1,109; 8. (tie) Shea Fournier, Brady Hill and Cauy Masters, 80.5, $277 each. Breakaway roping: First round: 1. Erin Johnson, 2.4 seconds, $3,158; 2. Alli Masters, 2.5, $2,707; 3. Timber Allenbrand, 2.6, $2,256; 4. (tie) Aspen Miller and Beau Peterson, 2.8, $1,729 each; 6. Taylor Munsell, 2.9, $1,203; 7. Whitney Profili, 3.0, $902; 8. (tie) Mataya Eklund, Samantha Haardt, Alex Loiselle and Winter Williams, 3.1, $338 each. Second round: 1. Chenoa Vandestouwe, 1.9 seconds, $3,158; 2. Chloe Lambert, 2.6, $2,707; 3. Shalee King, 2.7, $2,256; 4. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.8, $1,955; 5. (tie) Jordan Jo Hollabaugh and Cheyanne McCartney, 2.9, $1,353 each; 7. Braylee Shepherd, 3.0, $902; 8. Kinlie Brennise, 3.1, $601; 9. (tie) Jackie White and Bandee Winn, 3.2, $376 each. Average: 1. Beau Peterson, 6.1 seconds on two head, $4,737; 2. Braylee Shepherd, 6.4, $4,060; 3. (tie) Taylor Munsell and Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 6.5, $3,158 each; 5. Cheyanne McCartney, 6.6, $2,256; 6. Jackie White, 6.7, $1,804; 7. Timber Allenbrand, 7.2, $1,353; 8. (tie) Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, Winter Williams and Kinlie Brennise, 7.3, $677 each. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Andrew Burks, 8.5 seconds, $3,870; 2. Hunter Herrin, 8.9, $3,365; 3. (tie) Brodey Clemons and Brushton Minton, 9.6, $2,608 each; 5. (tie) Marcos Costa  Continue Reading »

Garcilazos will showcase Mexican tradition and talent in Gooding GOODING, Idaho – One of the most unique audiences in professional rodeo is known for its raucous reactions to the athletic exploits and heart-stopping wrecks that happen during the Gooding Pro Rodeo presented by Idaho Ford Dealers. The throngs of folks have energized Andy James Arena after witnessing 90-point rides or arena-record barrel racing runs. They’ve gasped when a steer wrestler has taken a tumble during a bulldogging run. It’s more than the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, though. The cheers for Tomas Garcilazo echoed off the grain elevators when the Mexican-born charro performed in Gooding last August, and they increased when his 11-year-old son, Louis, and wife, Justine, joined him on the arena floor. “For us, it’s an honor to be part of this year’s centennial,” Garcilazo said. “To be part of the celebration as an ambassador of my legacy and my Hispanic heritage is an honor to be part of the great production. It’s another big thing on my resume.” The ovations rang across the town of about 3,500 people, which is why the Garcilazos return for this year’s event, set for Thursday, Aug. 14-Saturday, Aug. 16, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 13. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at the Gooding County Fairgrounds. “Tomas and his family were a huge hit last year, which made the decision to sign them to a two-year contract even better,” said Don Gill, the manager of the fair and rodeo. “I was pretty sure it was going to be good, but the reaction we got from our amazing crowd was bigger than I anticipated. What Tomas does stands on its own, but when he adds the family into the show, it’s pretty hard to top.” That’s true. Garcilazo has been selected to perform the opening act at the NFR more than a dozen times and has been named the PRCA’s Dress Act of the Year four times. He is a third-generation of his family to be a Mexican horseman and man of other talents that have been passed down from one family member to another via La Cherreria, a skill performed only by the Mexican charro. “I can watch Tomas all day long and not get tired of it,” said Garrett Yerigan, who will join Steve Kenyon as the two announce this year’s celebration. “He’s such a craftsman. His talent is unlike any other, and we get to watch Louis in his career blossoming and flourishing. It’s amazing to see how it’s been passed down to Louis.” Garcilazo is continuing the tradition by sharing his expertise with his sons; in addition to Louis, Tomas and Justine also have two younger boys, Gaspar, 4, and Ulyesse, 2. Whether all will join the family business remains to be seen, but Louis has taken to it well and has developed his own flair. His addition creates a spice of life to the Garcilazo acts. Justine then adds to the pageantry of the shows. All dressed in true Mexican regalia, they provide a bit of a lesson on the charro’s place in history and the beauty of a horse. The Garcilazos take great pride in their equine counterparts, which have their own talents and levels of showmanship. “Tomas is a tremendous horseman, and the things he can do with his horses prove that,” Gill said. “The thing I have noticed is that Justine and Louis work with the horses really well, too. It’s not just something that Tomas does by himself; the entire family is very talented.” The horses are not just mounts; they’re partners. They shine, which is a testament to their training and the care they receive. The passion Tomas Garcilazo and his clan have for their part of rodeo is presented to entertain many people. Their eager to make their return to southern Idaho and experience all Gooding has to offer. “It’s amazing the way the crowd accepts us and embraces us,” Garcilazo said. “To have that reception is incredible. That’s what encourages us to do better, and we’re looking forward to being one of the stars on that stage.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Much has changed in Jayco Roper’s life over the last year and a half. Just four months after his first qualification to the National Finals Rodeo in December 2023, Roper suffered an injury that put his 2024 campaign on hold. He returned to the game and won a few here and there, but there was more going on outside the sport. He got married about a year ago, and he and Breana welcomed twin girls, Avery Jeanette and Josie Ann, in December. They were tiny and born a little early, but the circumstances around Jayco Roper’s life had changed in a big way. “They’re definitely motivating to me,” said Roper, a 24-year-old bareback rider from Oktaha, Oklahoma. “They really push me to ride better, and I just know they’re at home watching old dad, so I’ve got to give them a show.” He put on a powerful performance for them and the rest of a sold-out crowd during Saturday’s fourth performance of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. Roper rode Championship Pro Rodeo’s Ranch & Co. Time for 88.5 points to win the first round and secure the top spot heading into Sunday’s final go-round. “I didn’t know too much about the horse,” he said, noting that the animal’s owner gave some necessary details before he made the ride. “I’ve never been on it, but Will O’Connell said he was really good. It turned out to be true. “My elbow has been hurting really bad, and when he’s one floating underneath you like that, it really don’t put much pressure on your elbow. I was really glad he had that trip.” It was an electric night of rodeo at Roundup Arena. Not only was the audience into the action, but so were the cowboys. Roper led the way, but two other NFR qualifiers, Bradlee Miller and Garrett Shadbolt, were just a half point off the lead. Of the 12 contestants who have qualified for Sunday’s finale, five rode Saturday. Other than his injury-riddled season last year, Roper has been in the upper echelon of bareback riders for several years. He finished 19th in 2022, which was painstakingly close to advancing to Las Vegas. The NFR features only the top 15 on the money list when the regular season ends. He was 36th a year ago, but he’s rebounded in fine fashion. Heading into this week of rodeos, he was 10th in the world standings with nearly $110,000 in earnings. By winning the opening round, Roper snagged $3,022 and will join the other short-round qualifiers in trying to test their talent vs. some of the rankest bucking horses in rodeo. It will make for a wild final night of rodeo in Dodge City. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.July 30-Aug. 3Bareback riding leaders: 1. Jayco Roper, 88.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Ranch & Co. Time, $3,021; 2. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt and Bradlee Miller, 88, $2,015 each; 4. (tie) Roedy Farrel and Sam Petersen, 85.5, $907 each; 6. (tie) Waylon Bourgeois and Jess Pope, 85, $453 each; 8. Tanner Aus, 84.5, $302; 9. Cole Franks, 84; 10. Gavin French, 83.5; 11. Andy Gingerich, 82; 12. Wacey Schalla, 80.5. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Talon Roseland, 3.5 seconds, $3,427; 2. (tie) Kyler Dick, Will Lummus, Garrett Oates and Tyler Waguespack, 3.7, $2,309 each; 6. Emmett Edler, 3.8, $1,192; 7. Seth Peterson, 4.0, $745; 8. (tie) Stetson Jorgensen and Grady Payne, 4.1, $149 each. Second round leaders: 1. Tristan Martin, 3.2 seconds, $3,427; 2. Levi Rudd, 3.3, $2,980; 3. Cody Devers, 3.5, $2,533; 4. Darcy Kersh, 3.8, $2,086; 5. Riley Westhaver, 3.9, $1,639; 6. (tie) Ty Allred and Tyler Waguespack, 4.0, $968 each; 8. Jay Williamson, 4.1, $298. Average leaders: 1. Tyler Waguespack, 7.7 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Kyler Dick, 7.9; 4. Levi Rudd, 8.2; 5. Emmett Edler, 8.4; 6. (tie) Seth Peterson and Talon Roseland, 8.6; 8. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia and Grady Payne, 8.7; 10. Darcy Kersh, 9.;0; 11. Brandon Harrison, 9.1; 12. (tie) Shayde Etherton and Garrett Oates, 9.2. Oates advances to championship round based on tie-breaker. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 4.7 seconds; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9; 3. (tie) Luke Brown/Trey Yates, Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 5.2 each; 6. (tie) Blake Barnes/Latham Dickson, Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon, Walker Smith/Will Smith, Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson and Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 5.3 each. Second round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 4.1 seconds, $3,474; 2. Ryon Joe Boatright/Jett Hillman, 4.8, $3,021; 3. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0, $2,568; 4. Jr. Dees/Seth Hall, 5.2, $2,114; 5. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Klay Yaussi/Kash Yaussi, 5.3, $1,435 each; 7. (tie) Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell and Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.4, $529 each. Average leaders: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 10.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 10.8; 3. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 10.9; 5. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 11.1; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.3; 7. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 1.5; 8. Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 11.6; 9. Jhett Trenary/Gralyn Elkins, 11.7; 10. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 11.9; 11. Marcus Marriott/Jarrett Peek, 17.2; 12. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 17.3. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Ryder Sanford, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Kool-Aid, Shorty Garrett, on Frontier Rodeo’s 015, and Tom Webster, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sweet Sue, 85.5 points, $2,652 each; 4. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Lefty Holman, 85, $1,023 each; 6. Brody Cress, 84.5, $568; 7. Roper Kiesner, 81, $454; 8. (tie) Shea Fournier, Cauy Masters and Brady Hill, 80.5, $114 each; 11. (tie) Waitley Sharon, Talon Elshere and Trent Burd, 80. Only 10 bronc riders will make it to the championship round because of the three-way tie for 11th.   Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Erin Johnson, 2.4 seconds, $2,707; 2. Alli Masters, 2.5, $2,301; 3. Timber Allenbrand, 2.6, $1,895; 4. (tie) Aspen Miller and Beau Peterson, 2.8, $1,489 each; 6. Taylor Munsell, 2.9, $947; 7. Whitney Profili, 3.0, $677; 8. (tie) Mataya Eklund, Samantha Haardt,  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – One of the fascinating aspects of rodeo is the variety it brings to sports. Not only are their different events – both timed events where the fastest runs win and roughstock events that are based on judges scores – but there are different levels. Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls are on the road all summer long chasing their chance at world championships, and the only way to grab rodeo’s gold is playing in the sport’s grand finale, the National Finals Rodeo. Alas, only the top 15 on the money list at the end of the regular season get that chance. Oklahoma team ropers Mason Appleton and Rance Doyal are in that hunt. Appleton is the 26th-ranked header, while Doyal is No. 29 in heeling. They need some big-time money over the final two months of the 2025 campaign to secure their first bids to Las Vegas in December. They’re trying to make that move by virtually locking themselves into Championship Sunday at Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. “To win this would be really cool,” said Doyal, 21, of Kenefic, Oklahoma. “I had a chance a couple years ago and slipped a leg in the short round, so to come back and have a chance to redeem myself is something I’m looking forward to.” This is an important rodeo for the tandem. Not only does it have NFR implications, but both cowboys are in the Prairie Circuit, which is made up of contestants and events primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. They need to earn enough money at those regional rodeos to secure their bid at the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, which will take place in November at Mulvane, Kansas. “Until today, the Kansas run (this week) and the circuit rodeos haven’t been good to us,” said Appleton, 21, of Chelsea, Oklahoma. “We need to do good this week. We’re at Phillipsburg (Saturday) night, then back over here Sunday.” In rodeo, dollars equal points, and this week is a great opportunity to collect on both fronts. Every penny earned can help the pair collect the points necessary to compete in Mulvane and Las Vegas. The key is to limit mistakes, take advantage of drawing good steers and making the best of the cows that aren’t as desirable. After having a good draw in the opening round – “We probably had the best steer,” Doyal said of their morning run – they just made sure to catch their second steer during Friday’s performance. “He wasn’t my favorite run,” Appleton said. “We made a good run this morning, so we were just trying to catch, get by this one and hope they draw us another good one for the short round.”  They’ve proven to be prolific when they’ve been matched with a good cow. Appleton and Doyal set a world record in late June with a 3.2-second run in Idaho. They’ve been the talk of team roping ever since. “It all depends on the steer we get,” Doyal said, noting that the team will be more aggressive on good steers. “Whenever you have one you know you can’t win first on, then you’ve just got to back off and make the best of the steer.” Good runs and good steers help ignite rodeo dreams. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.July 30-Aug. 3Bareback riding leaders: 1. Roedy Farrel, 85.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Sum Buck; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 85; 3. Tanner Aus, 84.5; 4. Cole Franks, 84; 5. Andy Gingerich, 82; 6. Wacey Schalla, 80.5; 7. (tie) Nick Pelke and Tucker Carricato, 79; 9. Clay Jorgenson, 76; 10. Quintonn Lunsford, 75; 11. Gauge McBride, 62. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Will Lummus and Garrett Oates, 3.7 seconds; 3. Seth Peterson, 4.0; 4. (tie) Shane Frey and Trell Etbauer, 4.2; 6. (tie) Mike McGinn, Gavin Soileau, Riley Duvall and Chase Crane, 4.4. Second round leaders: 1. Darcy Kersch, 3.8 seconds; 2. Riley Westhaver, 3.9; 3. Ty Allred, 4.0; 4. (tie) Gus Franzen, Shayde Etherton and Jake Holmes, 4.2; 7. Rhett Witt, 4.3; 8. Sawyer Strand, 4.4. Average leaders: 1. Seth Peterson, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Darcy Kersh, 9.;0; 3. (tie) Shayde Etherton and Garrett Oates, 9.2; 5. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Mike McGinn, 9.3; 7. Gus Franzen, 9.8; 8. Tucker Allen, 10.4; 9. Sawyer Strand, 10.5; 10. Nick Guy, 11.1; 11. Riley Westhaver, 11.3; 12. Ryan Shuckburgh, 11.6. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 4.7; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9; 3. (tie) Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin and Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 5.2; 5. (tie) Blake Barnes/Lathan Dickson, Andrew Ward/Jake Long, Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson and Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 5.3. Second round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 4.1 seconds; 2. Ryon Boatright/Jett Hillman, 4.8; 3. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0; 4. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch Klay Yaussi/Kash Yaussi, 5.3; 6. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Lane Mitchell, 5.4; 8. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 5.6. Average leaders: 1. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 10.7 seconds on two runs; 2. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 10.8; 3. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch and Mason Appleton/Rance Doyal, 10.9; 5. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.3; 6. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 1.5; 7. Jhett Trenary/Gralyn Elkins, 11.7; 8. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 11.9; 9. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 17.3; 10. Jesse Stipes/Cordell Collins, 21.4; 11. Jesse Boos/Reed Boos, 27.1; 12. Ryon Boatright/Jett Hillman, 4.8 seconds on one run. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Ryder Sanford, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Kool-Aid, Shorty Garrett, on Frontier Rodeo’s 015, and Tom Webster, on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Sweet Sue, 85.5 points; 4. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Lefty Holman, 85; 6. Brody Cress, 84.5; 7. (tie) Shea Fournier and Brady Hill, 80.5; 9. (tie) Waitley Sharon and Trent Burd, 80; 11. Gus Gaillard, 79; 12. Tejay Angland, 78. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Erin Johnson, 2.4 seconds; 2. Alli Masters, 2.5; 3. Aspen Miller, 2.8; 4. Taylor Munsell, 2.9; 5. Whitney Profili, 3.0; 6. (tie) Samantha Haardt, Winter Williams, Mataya Eklund and Alex Loiselle, 3.1. Second round leaders: 1. Chenoa VandeStouwe, 1.9 seconds; 2.  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Shorty Garrett arrived in Dodge City with high expectations with his expected dance partner, a high-scoring Frontier Rodeo horse named Frontier Medicine. There was a mix-up with the computerized portion of the draw. Instead of being matched with a horse he scored 86 points on three months ago in Guymon, Oklahoma, Garrett learned that his mount was a colt. “They had the name wrong on the horse, and I have no clue what 015 is other than it’s a bareback,” said Garrett, who made the most of his situation with an 85.5-point ride on the young horse to move into a share of the saddle bronc riding lead at Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. “That’s the first time it’s ever been in the broncs. “All that was just sprung on me. Had I known that was what I had, I wouldn’t have come get on him, so it’s kind of a good accident to happen.” He’s a virtual lock to return to Ford County for Sunday’s championship round, which features the top 12 contestants in each event from the four preliminary performances. Here’s the thing about his experience, though: Garrett might not be in Dodge City if it weren’t for his friend, Issac Diaz, a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier who won Roundup 10 seasons ago with a record 93-point bronc ride. “My traveling partner won this rodeo, and he insists that we need to be here every year, so I tag along,” Garrett said with a laugh. “It ain’t very often that mistakes like that go the way you need them to, but this time it did. I’m pretty happy it did.” He’s battling hard with just two months remaining on ProRodeo’s regular season. He’s been one of the sport’s elite bronc busters for the past seven years. Though he’s been to the NFR just one time in 2020, Garrett has finished among the top 20 in the world standings every years since 2019; that was the first of three times he finished 18th on the money list, finishing in that spot in 2022 and last year. While that’s great for the resume, only the top 15 advance to the NFR, and he’s eager to return. His only visit came during the COVID season, when the championship took place in Arlington, Texas. He has yet to play for the biggest pay in the sport at its Las Vegas home. He has accumulated about $60,000 so far this season and sits 22nd in the world standings. “It’s a good time of the year to be hot,” said Garrett, 32, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota. “There’ are a lot of rodeos out there with a lot of money added, and a guy can make a big move right now. Anybody in the top 30 right now can make an outstanding move these next couple of months. “Rodeos are getting bigger. Every one of them is just stepping up the game and wants to be a better rodeo, and they’re bringing up the pot, too.” Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.July 30-Aug. 3Bareback riding leaders: 1. Roedy Farrel, 85.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Sum Buck; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 85; 3. Tanner Aus, 84.5; 4. Cole Franks, 84; 5. Andy Gingerich, 82; 6. Wacey Schalla, 80.5; 7. (tie) Nick Pelke and Tucker Carricato, 79; 9. Clay Jorgenson, 76; 10. Gauge McBride, 62. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Will Lummus, 3.7 seconds; 2. Seth Peterson, 4.0; 3. Shane Frey, 4.2; 4. (tie) Mike McGinn, Gavin Soileau and Riley Duvall, 4.4; 7. Eli Lord, 4.6; 8. Justin Shaffer, 4.7. Second round leaders: 1. Darcy Kersch, 3.8 seconds; 2. Riley Westhaver, 3.9; 3. Ty Allred, 4.0; 4. (tie) Gus Franzen and Jake Holmes, 4.2; 6. Tanner Brunner, 4.5; 7. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Seth Peterson, 4.6. Average leaders: 1. Seth Peterson, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Darcy Kersh, 9.;0; 3. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Mike McGinn, 9.3; 5. Gus Franzen, 9.8; 6. Tucker Allen, 10.4; 7. Nick Guy, 11.1; 8. Riley Westhaver, 11.3; 9. Ryan Shuckburgh, 11.6; 10. Jake Holmes, 12.2; 11. Winsten McGraw, 12.6; 12. Royce Johnson, 13.1. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin and Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 5.2; 4. (tie) Blake Barnes/Lathan Dickson, Andrew Ward/Jake Long and Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 5.3; 7. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 5.6; 8. Jesse Stipes/Cordell Collins, 5.7. Second round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 4.1 seconds; 2. Ryon Boatright/Jett Hillman, 4.8; 3. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0; 4. (tie) Cody Snow/Hunter Koch Klay Yaussi/Kash Yaussi, 5.3; 6. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.4; 7. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 5.6; 8. Wheston Jones/Lane Reeves, 5.7. Average leaders: 1. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 10.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 10.9; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.3; 4. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 1.5; 5. Jhett Trenary/Gralyn Elkins, 11.7; 6. Peyton Walters/Tyson Thompson, 11.9; 7. Luke Brown/Trey Yates, 17.3; 8. Jesse Stipes/Cordell Collins, 21.4; 9. Jesse Boos/Reed Boos, 27.1; 10. Ryon Boatright/Jett Hillman, 4.8 seconds on one run; 11. Wyatt Nelson/Jonathan Torres, 4.9; 12. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. (tie) Ryder Sanford, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Kool-Aid, and Shorty Garrett, on Frontier Rodeo’s 015, 85.5 points; 3. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Lefty Holman, 85; 5. Brody Cress, 84.5; 6. (tie) Shea Fournier and Brady Hill, 80.5; 8. (tie) Waitley Sharon and Trent Burd, 80; 10. Gus Gaillard, 79. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Erin Johnson, 2.4 seconds; 2. Alli Masters, 2.5; 3. Aspen Miller, 2.8; 4. (tie) Samantha Haardt and Winter Williams, 3.1; 6. Jackie White, 3.5; 7. Summer Williams, 3.6; 8. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, TiAda Gray, Shelbie Rose, Kashley Van Petten and Mable McAbee, 3.7. Second round leaders: 1. Shalee King, 2.7 seconds; 2. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.8; 3. (tie) Bandee Winn and Jackie White, 3.2; 5. Tomi Womack, 3.4; 6. Kelsey Hallin, 3.5; 7. Brett Woolsey, 3.6; 8. Morgan Kessler, 3.7. Average leaders: 1. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 6.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Jackie  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Seth Peterson began his ProRodeo career in 2021 as a permit-holder, a designation for young contestants trying to prove themselves. He became a card-carrying member of the PRCA two years later, and he competed primarily in the Mountain States Circuits, a region made up of rodeos and contestants from Colorado and Wyoming. It was the perfect fit for the recent University of Wyoming graduate who has dabbled in coaching. But 2025 is truly his rookie year on tour. “I’ve just circuit rodeoed up until this point in my career,” said Peterson, 27, originally from Minot, North Dakota, but now living in northern Colorado. “This year I finally decided to start going all over the place and rodeo full time.” He’s starting to feel comfortable in this position. He competed during Wednesday’s opener of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo and began the day with a 4.0-second to sit in second place in the first round. He then stopped the clock in 4.6 seconds, and his two-run cumulative time of 8.6 seconds helped him to the top spot. “My horse has been amazing,” Petersson said of Coors, a 12-year-old gray gelding he’s dubbed as “The Silver Bullet.” “He’s 12 this year, and I’ve had him three or four years and was finally able to buy him last spring. To have him as a great partner makes my job a lot easier.” That’s a big reason Peterson has made the transition to rodeoing full time. It’s not easy, but he’s climbing the charts. He is 40th in the world standings and is hoping to climb the ladder this year. The ultimate goal for every contestant is to finish the regular season among the top 15 on the money list in order to advance to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand championship. “Making the NFR has been my dream since I was little, and I just never really had the opportunity or the finances to be able to do that,” said Peterson, the 2024 Mountain States Circuit bulldogging champion who was the runner-up in 2023. “My wife and I have been very blessed to be on our own place now. The stars have kind of aligned to where I could be gone full time and not have to worry about leaving her to do everything. “She still has to take care of a lot, but the timing was just right that I was able to do it.”   There is an adjustment, though. He’s not just heading off to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, or Rock Springs, Wyoming. “It’s a different level of bulldogging out here,” he said. “There are great circuit guys in the Mountain States, but out here, they’re full-grown men. They take advantage of every good steer they draw, so when you draw a good one, you have to bulldog correctly and make great runs. Your horse has to be on point every time. You’ve got to have a good hazer on the other side that helps you. “You can definitely tell it’s a professional sport when you’re out here. It’s full contact every day, and there are no days off.” Peterson proved Wednesday he’s ready for the battle and the opportunities that sit in front of him. He will return to town for Championship Sunday and test his talent against other top cowboys in a quest for Dodge City magic. Dodge City Roundup RodeoDodge City, Kan.July 30-Aug. 3Bareback riding leaders: 1. Roedy Farrel, 85.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Sum Buck; 2. Waylon Bourgeois, 85; 3. Tanner Aus, 84.5; 4. Cole Franks, 84; 5. Andy Gingerich, 82; 6. (tie) Nick Pelke and Tucker Carricato, 79; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Will Lummus, 3.7 seconds; 2. Seth Peterson, 4.0; 3. Mike McGinn, 4.4; 4. Eli Lord, 4.6; 5. Justin Shaffer, 4.7; 6. Dalton Massey, 4.9; 7. Nick Guy, 5.0; 8. Darcy Kersch, 5.2. Second round leaders: 1. Darcy Kersch, 3.8 seconds; 2. Jake Holmes, 4.2; 3. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Seth Peterson, 4.6; 5. Winsten McGraw, 4.8; 6. Mike McGinn, 4.9; 7. Ryan Shuckburgh, 5.5; 8. Nick Guy, 6.1. Average leaders: 1. Seth Peterson, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Darcy Kersh, 9.;0; 3. (tie) Justin Shaffer and Mike McGinn, 9.3; 5. Nick Guy, 11.1; 6. Ryan Shuckburgh, 11.6; 7. Jake Holmes, 12.2; 8. Winsten McGraw, 12.6; 9. Will Lummus, 14.7; 10. Eli Lord, 18.6. Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9 seconds; 2. Cory Kidd V/Will Woodfin, 5.2; 3. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 5.6; 4. Jesse Stipes/Cordell Collins, 5.7; 5. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira and Jhett Trenary/Gralyn Elkins, 5.9; 7. Coy Rahlmann/Cole Curry, 6.0; 8. J.C Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 7.4. Second round leaders: 1. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 4.1 seconds; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0; 3. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 5.3; 4. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 5.4; 5. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 5.6; 6. Wheston Jones/Lane Reeves, 5.7; 7. Jhett Trenary/Gralyn Elkins, 5.8; 8. Jesse Boos/Reed Boos, 10.7. Average leaders: 1. Cory Kidd/Will Woodfin, 10.8 seconds on two runs; 2. Cody Snow/Hunter Koch, 10.9; 3. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 11.3; 4. J.C. Yeahquo/Ross Ashford, 1.5; 5. Jhett Trenary/Gralyn Elkins, 11.7; 6. Jesse Stipes/Cordell Collins, 21.4; 7. Jesse Boos/Reed Boos, 27.1; 8. Wyatt Nelson/Jonathan Torres, 4.9 seconds on one run; 9. Tanner Tomlinson/Travis Graves, 5.0; 10. Wheston Jones/Lane Reeves, 5.7. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Ryder Sanford, 85.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Colorado Kool-Aid; 2. Shea Fournier, 90.5; 3. (tie) Waitley Sharon and Trent Burd, 80; 5. Gus Gaillard, 79; 6. Cooper Thatcher, 76; 7. Cooper Lane, 71; 8. (tie) Jackson Ford and Korben Baker, 69. Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Alli Masters, 2.5 seconds; 2. Aspen Miller, 2.8; 3. Samantha Haardt, 3.1; 4. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, TiAda Gray and Mable McAbee, 3.7; 7. Whitney Jennings, 4.2; 8. Macayla Womaack, 5.9. Second round leaders: 1. Shalee King, 2.7 seconds; 2. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 2.8; 3. Kelsey Hallin, 3.5; 4. Brett Woolsey, 3.6; 5. Libby Winchell, 4.5; 6. Mable McAbee, 4.6; 7. Whitney Jennings, 4.8; 8.  Continue Reading »

Yerigan, Kenyon will join forces to announce the action in Gooding GOODING, Idaho – The eloquence of Steve Kenyon’s voice has reigned over the Gooding Pro Rodeo for more than two decades. His calls as the event’s emcee are as iconic as the rodeo itself. He’s been “Beer Worthy” since the vibrant signs were first introduced. Kenyon has watched this small-town affair become a major player in ProRodeo, which is why he’s supporting an enhanced sound starting this year. Organizers are increasing the melody to the action with the addition of Garrett Yerigan, an Oklahoma-born play-caller and two-time PRCA Announcer of the Year who will be on hand for this year’s Gooding Pro Rodeo presented by Idaho Ford Dealers, set for Thursday, Aug. 14-Saturday, Aug. 16, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 13. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. “I’ve heard lots of great things about Gooding from my friends,” he said. “They have raved about that rodeo. The Cowboy Channel’s Katy Lucus fell in love with the place. “It’s got its own celebrity status of being the ‘Beer Worthy’ rodeo. It’s unique, and just listening to my friends talk about a small-town community that comes together for four big nights of rodeo makes it special. It embodies the American spirit and the Western culture, and it sounds like the perfect mixture.” It is, and it’s an experience unlike any other. Just ask Kenyon. “Garrett has announced some big rodeos,” he said, referring to Yerigan’s work in Fort Worth, Texas; Cheyenne, Wyoming, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; The American in Arlington, Texas; and a host of others. “But the crowd in Gooding is its own special animal. You’ve got a little town that puts more people in the stands over four days than actually live in the county. “That crowd takes on a light and an energy of its own. Gooding is famous for that. Gooding is famous for not just having the crazy people that put up the ‘Beer Worthy’ signs but for a crowd that just takes off on its own. Could you imagine how loud that place would be if it had twice the seating it’s got?” Kenyon is right. The aura that surrounds the Gooding County Fairgrounds has a dose of electricity, which stirs the energy. It’s exuded into the playing field, and the results are most often fast times and high scores. “The cool thing about the Gooding Pro Rodeo is you’ve got this very intimate setting, where the crowd is right on top of the rodeo,” Kenyon said. “At no point, if you’re in the audience, are you more than 50 feet away from the arena. At no point around that arena are you detached from the action. You’re right on top of it wherever you are. “It’s one of the most enthusiastic, lively, just unbelievable audiences that we have to work with in front of anywhere in the sport of rodeo. As many big crowds and as much noise as Garrett has heard in his career, he’s going to notice right away the energy, the exuberance, the knowledge that crowd brings to the rodeo.” It’s a sight that needs to be seen and an atmosphere that must be felt to completely understand. “I think Garrett will be blown away the first night and enjoy the hell out o fit after that,” said Don Gill, the fair and rodeo’s manager. Every word spoken invigorates Yerigan. By joining forces with Kenyon, he will match talents and expertise in presenting the action to the thousands in the stands at Gooding and the hundreds of thousands who will watch live on The Cowboy Channel. The two have worked in tandem before; in fact, they’ll work together in Hermiston, Oregon, the week prior to arriving in southern Idaho. “We will just convoy from Hermiston to Gooding, so we’ll be in sync, in tune and ready to rock ’n’ roll when we get there,” Yerigan said. “I’m happy to join the band. and hopefully I can lend some help where needed. “I’ve just got to keep up with that crowd. I’m excited to go to a place where the fans lead me to it. I love having fun. I love being entertained, and if you can sit there and laugh along with the people and genuinely be entertained by them, I think it’s something that is very unique. What excites me most about coming to Gooding is experiencing the fans.”

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair and Rodeo is an investment into the community and into future generations. As always, finding ways to benefit area youth is foremost in the minds of the members of the Waller County Fair Association, which organizes the annual exposition, but there’s so much more that goes into producing an event of this caliber. The fair board continues to make that investment, and county residents reap the rewards. “I actually went to the board this year request an increase to our budget to help us get top-of-the-line acts for our concerts,” said Michelle Gaston, chairwoman of the fair’s entertainment committee. “We wanted to up our game a little bit on the entertainment. It takes a little more for that first weekend to have two headliners, and the board supported us.” The proof is in the overall lineup for the nine-day expo, which kicks off with a double play of Texas Country/Red Dirt music Saturday, Sept. 27. The evening begins with singer/songwriter Chaser Crouch of Corsicana, Texas, performing at 6 p.m. in the Wagon Wheel. As for the headliners, William Clark Green will open the evening at 9 p.m., sharing his Lubbock, Texas-flavored artistry before yielding to Southall at 11 p.m. “We have long awaited the opportunity to have William Clark Green take the stage at the Waller County Fair,” Gaston said. “To have Southall with us is just icing on the cake.” To bake something that special, it takes a little more dough, which is why Gaston and the fair board agreed to increase the stakes. “We’ve always been able to raise the money with our cornhole tournaments and different sponsors, but to get acts like this, it took just a little bit extra,” Gaston said. “We’re always trying to find the up-and-coming artists. Last year we had Hudson Westbrook, and look at him now: He’s breaking into the charts. It’s fun when we can find some of those up-and-coming artists and bring them in.” Things become a little more traditional when the PRCA rodeo hits town, with the Thursday, Oct. 2, opening performance being led off by Cole Annoot at the Wagon Wheel and Neal McCoy closing the night on the big stage. With Matt Mercado opening, Gen Xers will live their youth with McCoy’s distinguished voice and tunes like “No Doubt About It” and “Wink.” “Matt is a local kid who grew up and still lives in Waller, and he’s being sponsored by Buckshot’s Roadhouse and Cattleman’s,” Gaston said. “We have another Waller County kid starting the night out at the Wagon Wheel, so why not bring back one of the most popular acts we’ve had at the fair with Neal McCoy?” Another local, Sloan Gatlin, will open the Wagon Wheel on Friday, Oct. 3, while Texas Country entertainer Trent Cowie will begin the stage show, opening the door for Josh Weathers. “You’d better be prepared to dance that Friday night away,” Gaston said. “You don’t want to miss this show. We’re expecting to do well with Josh Weathers, and we’re excited to bring in Kate Watson as our Saturday night opening act. She’s about ready to break into Nashville.” She will be part of a triple threat on the final night of the fair and rodeo. Waller area band Bout to Git Western will play for the fifth straight year at the Wagon Wheel, then Watson will hit the stage after the final bull bucks at in the rodeo arena. She’ll dress the stage for Easton Corbin, the crescendo to this year’s entertainment. Corbin has had two chart-topping hits, “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It.” “Easton Corbin broke attendance records in 2010, and we expect a similar crowd this year,” Gaston said. “We’ve got some big names with hopes of drawing some big crowds. We’re pretty excited about our entertainment all the way around. We’ve worked hard and secured some good lineups, but I think this is one of the best lineups we’ve had in the five years I’ve been doing this.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Quade Benton is just 4 years old, but he’s willing to battle for what he wants. “I’m going to fight my daddy for those spurs,” he said. Daddy is Trey Benton, who has found some magic in western Kansas. For the second time in six years, he collected the spurs awarded to the champion of the Dodge City Xtreme Bulls; it’s also the third time in his career that he’s claimed the crown inside Roundup Arena, earning the bull riding title during the 2012 Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. This one, though, is very special because he can share it with his wife, Reba, and their three sons: Quade, Quincy, 2, and Quest, 1. Now 33 years old, Trey Benton knows he’s on the downside of his established career, but he’s chasing his gold buckle dreams with his family in tow. “You’ve just got to keep living it and loving it,” said Benton, a seven-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Richards, Texas. “Don’t let the little things bother you. My wife’s been really good about doing that for me. I kind of get overwhelmed a lot, and she keeps me grounded. “I love my boys, and this is what every man dreams of.” His first set of spurs came in 2019, but he matched it again Tuesday night. Riding Frontier Rodeo’s Fair Trade, the two teamed for 88.5 points. Benton collected $5,443 for his night’s work. “I feel like I’m just as good as I ever have been,” he said. “We’ve got some goals we’re set on, and the road to the NFR will get us there.” The road to the NFR winding and long, but with Reba and the three tykes along for the ride, Benton is keeping the gas pedal to the floor. Making it happen with three boys under the age of 5 means it’s a wild ride. “It’s been a learning process, no doubt,” he said. “An hour before I ride, I go up in the stands, and my wife has three rowdy boys for two hours. I always tell everybody that she works way harder than I do.” The work is just beginning. With two months remaining in ProRodeo’s regular season, it’s time for the Texan to make a move. His takeaway from Dodge City will come in handy. It will move him into the top 20 in the world standings, but he needs to keep climbing; only the top 15 on the money list on Sept. 30 will earn the right to compete for the biggest money in the game at the NFR in Las Vegas. “I won this rodeo my rookie year, about 13 years ago,” he said. “I’ve had lots of good luck here and am grateful to be here.” Dodge City Roundup Xtreme BullsDodge City, Kan.July 29, 20251. Trey Benton, 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Fair Trade, $5,443; 2. Ernie Courson, 88, $4,173; 3. Hudson Bolton, 86.5, $3,084; 4. Colten Fritzlan, 85.5, $1,997; 5. Colton Byram, 84, $1,270; 6. Luke Mackey, 83.5, $907; 7. Ky Hamilton, 83, $726; 8. (tie) Cutter Kaylor and Qynn Andersen, 81, $272 each.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The last words Clay Tom Cooper heard from his older brother involved a statement he already knew, but they brought to life the relationship the two have shared for a lifetime. “He told me, ‘I love you, and I respect you for always being honest with me,’ ” Clay Tom Cooper said. “So, I laughed. Even when we was fighting, he knew I was honest. “That was our last conversation. He loved me for being honest and told me he loved me. That’s as good a closure as a guy could have.” Roy Cooper died April 29, 2025, in a house fire at his home near Decatur, Texas. He leaves behind his brother; and three sons, Clint, Clif and Tuf, all of whom roped calves at the National Finals Rodeo; other family members; and a host of friends and fans that simply referred to him as the “Super Looper.” Born at Hobbs, New Mexico, in 1955, Roy Cooper was raised on rodeo and roping, just as his siblings were. His roots run deep in southeast New Mexico, which is why the Lea County Fair and Rodeo will honor him during a special memorial on the final night of the exposition, Saturday, Aug. 9. “After his passing, we had a little meeting about it and said we wanted to have something for him,” said Kyle Johnston, a member of the Lea County Fair Board and the chairman of the rodeo committee. “It will be Saturday night before the tie-down roping.” It’s a fitting time in a fitting place for a rodeo legend who began roping as a toddler and stayed with it his entire life. He was the oldest son of Dale “Tuffy” and Betty Rose Cooper, who met at a college rodeo more than a half century ago. They raised three children near Monument, New Mexico. Jake McClure Arena on the Lea County Fairgrounds was like a second home. “We grew up in that arena,” Clay Tom Cooper said. Roy Cooper was an intercollegiate champion while attending Southeastern Oklahoma State College, then showed his talents on the sport’s biggest stages in the PRCA. He was an eight-time world titlist with six gold buckles in tie-down roping and one each in steer roping and the all-around. He’s been inducted into the ProRodeo, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum’s Rodeo Historical Society and several other halls of fame. “Roy brought a flavor with him in everything he did,” his brother said. “I remember the three of us would get off the school bus, go through the house, change clothes and hit the arena because the horses were saddled and the calves were loaded. We’d rope until it was time for supper. What made Roy so tough was that he’d go down at night after we’d eat supper and practice tying by himself until somebody would come down and tell him to go to bed. “You put in your time, God’s going to reward you.” The Cooper family legacy in Lea County is strong. This is home to rodeo greatness, and the region will celebrate it and the life of Roy Cooper on a special August night.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – In the classical ballet that is professional rodeo, having the right dance partner can make all the difference. It’s a big reasons hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls make their way to southeastern New Mexico for the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6-Saturday, Aug. 9; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 5. A key component in that is the Lea County Fair Board’s relationship with its livestock producer, Dallas-based Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. The rapport began nearly two decades ago, and it’s been growing ever since. The culmination of that bond will be highlighted during five days of action in early August. “The quality of livestock Pete Carr provides is the best,” said Kris Allen, the fair board’s chairman. “You’re going to get high scores and see good cowboys and cowgirls. With the mixture of his livestock, you’re going to see good quality entertainment.” It’s a drawing card to the rodeo for sure. Over Carr’s years in Lovington, world champions have performed at a high level, including bareback horses Real Deal, Big Tex, Deuces Night and Dirty Jacket, the latter of which was named PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Bayou Bengal was named the PRCA Bull of the Year in 2023. How good are Carr’s bucking animals? Eight-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Brody Cress won the saddle bronc riding championship in Lea County a year ago on Dirty Jacket, now 21 years old. “That’s the first time that I’ve got to get on him,” said Cress, 29, of Hillsdale, Wyoming. “I’ve got to see him a lot. I grew up getting to watch that horse in the bareback riding at the NFR, and he’s just so memorable for that giant jump he used to have right out of the chute. It’s definitely one to be able to check off my bucket list, one that I’ve wanted to be able to get on for a long time, so I’m glad I was able to finally.” While Cress won on a celebrated bronc with a grand legacy, two other cowboys took advantage of younger bucking animals to stake their claims. Then-rookie Wacey Schalla won the Lea County Xtreme Bulls title thanks in large part to an 89.5-point ride on Carr’s Richard Slam, a black bull with a white face that was just 4 years old when he bucked at the NFR this past December. “That little Richard Slam is just a calf of Pete Carr’s, and that bull has a little something to him,” said Schalla, the top-ranked bull rider so far in 2025 with nearly $300,000 in earnings. “He don’t get rode very often. I got bucked off him (in San Angelo, Texas, in 2024), so it was dang sure good to get him rode.” Another 2024 newcomer, Resistol Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year Weston Timberman, also claimed the Lea County title in his discipline after also marking 89.5 points on a young bucker. Timberman’s was on Carr’s Secret’s Out, and the explosive bay mare was just 6 in Las Vegas, where she helped cowboys win two go-rounds – Bradlee Miller was 88.5 points to win Round 4, and Jess Pope scored 89.5 points to win the ninth night. “I knew what the caliber of horses were going to be, and everybody knows this is a big stop for a lot of guys,” said Timberman, who utilized the $8,425 payday to secure his first NFR bid. “To come out on top with these great horses and great cowboys is a great feeling.” It’s the perfect mix to bring out the best competition around. Athletes like to perform, whether they’re men and women or bucking horses and bucking bulls. But rodeo is a well-rounded affair, and part of what makes the sport special is the package presented to the fans. Ticket-buyers want to see amazing athletes while also being entertained, and that’s where the fair board’s trust in the Carr crew comes in to play. Producing an incredible event takes a team of professionals who understand the aspects that come to a rodeo of this caliber. The audiences that absorb the action in Jake McClure Arena every August have come to expect greatness. “Pete Carr and his stock are very good, and everybody around here talks about it,” said Kyle Johnston, a fair board member and chairman of the rodeo committee. “His guys are very good to work with, and they put on a very entertaining show.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The volunteers who help organize Lovington’s annual rodeo do everything they can to make it as special as possible for everyone involved. That sometimes calls for adjustments to be made, and it’s the case for this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6-Saturday, Aug. 9; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 5. “We changed the women’s breakaway roping to a two-header,” said Kyle Johnston, a Lea County Fair Board member and chairman of the rodeo committee. “We’re also changed our Xtreme Bulls to a one-header.” Breakaway roping’s popularity has exploded in recent years. It first appeared in Lovington’s rodeo in 2021 and has grown since then. Over the last few years, cowgirls have made just one run. This year’s schedule will allow them to rope twice; once will be done in slack each morning, and the ladies with the fastest times will return for that evening’s performance to make their second run. The other competitors will make Run 2 later in the morning. Since it was added to the fair and rodeo in 2012, the Xtreme Bulls has been a two-ride affair. The top scores from the “long round” advanced to the championship round, and the cowboy with the best two-ride cumulative score was crowned champion. This year’s night of bull riding only will crown the champion who posted the best score out of 40 rides. “Some of the girls over the last several years have been talking about making it a two-header,” Johnston said. “We thought, ‘We’ll try it, because it’s not going to take up that much more time as far as our slack goes, so let’s give it a try.’ “As for the Xtreme Bulls, a lot of those guys are pretty beat up by that time of year, so it’s tough to consider coming to get on two rank bulls in one night when you’re already beat up. We thought by making it a one-header, we might get a few more entries from the top guys.” In both cases, the rodeo committee was looking out for the best interest of the contestants. Why? Lovington’s rodeo has always been a cowboys’ (and cowgirls’) rodeo. The region is rich with men and women who raise livestock or work in the elements. Fairgoers and rodeo fans know they have a good thing when it comes to their hometown rodeo. This is the second straight year the rodeo will feature $25,000 of “added money” in each event. Those dollars will be mingled with contestants’ entry fees to make up the overall purse. That’s attractive to the cowboys and cowgirls that make their living on the road, fighting for every penny available. Xtreme Bulls also features a large payout. There will be $37,500 in local dollars added into the mix. In all, Lea County is contributing $287,500 into this year’s payout. “With every move we make, we’re trying to get more of the top guys, pull them down here from the North,” Johnston said. “We want them to enter the rodeo, and we want them to come to Lovington, so we want to try to make everything better for them.”

Gooding Pro Rodeo teams with JAE Foundation on mental health GOODING, Idaho – The Gooding Pro Rodeo has always been about giving back. Whether it was to the community as part of the county’s annual celebration – this year marks the 100th Gooding County Fair and Rodeo – or to the contestants who battle throughout the year for rodeo’s gold, beneficiaries are always on the mind. It’s why the event is considered one of the top ProRodeos in the country. That mentality is amped up a bit for this year’s Gooding Pro Rodeo presented by Idaho Ford Dealers, set for Thursday, Aug. 14-Saturday, Aug. 16, with a special “Beauty and the Beast” performance set for Wednesday, Aug. 13. All performances take place at 8 p.m. at Andy James Arena. Volunteers will be “passing the boot” in the stands during the Thursday performance to help raise funds and awareness for Twin Falls, Idaho-based JAE Foundation. “The more we learned about the foundation, the more it felt like a great fit for our rodeo,” said Jamie Lancaster, one of the organizers of the fair and rodeo. “The JAE Foundation is 100 percent committed to mental-health awareness and suicide prevention through their outreach program.” While the boot-passing will happen Thursday, there will be ways to contribute during the other nights of the rodeo and beyond. The foundation has a retail store in Twin Falls and has donation opportunities on its website. While monetary contributions are great, just spreading the word is a valuable resource, too. “I think our first connection to the Gooding Pro Rodeo was with one of our top initiatives at the foundation, which is our high school senior initiative,” said Malan Erke, the organization’s community outreach director who is originally from Gooding. “We brought through about 4,000 high school seniors and shared our experience with them, and the Gooding community really took it seriously. “They built their own ambassador program, and it really just started to ripple.” The JAE Foundation is riding that wave and hoping to increase ways it reaches others. “In general, the conversation needs to be started, and a big part of the mental-health struggle that people have is heavily related to that cowboy mentality,” Erke said. “Clearly the rodeo community doesn’t hat the cowboy mentality, and neither does the foundation. There’s that one piece where we encourage people to be really tough, which gets masked with the idea that you can’t talk about the hard stuff. “That’s not what it’s about. You can be super tough and still talk about your feelings and your struggles that you’re going through. The reality is the way the world is right now, we need people talking. We need to start talking about this hard stuff and working on that. If any rodeo is going to pave the way and open the door for mental health, it’s going to be the Gooding Pro Rodeo for sure.” The community’s marquee event – which will feature hundreds of contestants battling over four days in the Magic Valley – has been on the leading edge of vibrant experiences. From having multiple livestock producers to having two of the top bullfighters in the game to introducing a second emcee with Garrett Yerigan joining Steve Kenyon in the announcers’ stand, the Gooding Pro Rodeo has created an atmosphere that everybody talks about. With nightly audiences that are as entertaining as the action, it’s the perfect setting for a festival of this nature, which is why teaming with the foundation is important. “Mental health and suicide are serious issues in rural Idaho and in the rodeo world,” Lancaster said. “Our staff was given a chance to go through the Boot Check experience at Jae’s Place and learn about Jae Bob Bing’s story. When we left, we all agreed that this was a cause that we needed to support any way we could.” Bing was born in South Korea in 1988 and adopted by a family that lives in Pinedale, Wyoming. His parents owned a Western store there, and their son spent his young life fishing, camping, riding horses, competing in sports and sharing his time with friends. He went virtually everywhere in cowboy boots. When he died by suicide in 2016, many of his friends and family attended the funeral also wearing boots. One of those was Jason Vickrey, who now lives in Twin Falls and is the founder of the JAE Foundation. With each pair of boots given through Jae’s Place, Vickrey and his wife, Paige, have strengthened their promise to others who may need a supportive ear. “We’ve got to open the door around mental health for everybody,” Erke said. “At the foundation, we’re going to go about as fast and as hard as we can to open that door, but we can’t get to every single person if that door doesn’t get opened by their people. If somebody comes through the foundation, the challenge is when they leave that we encourage them to go open the door for people in their lives. “We have some strategies for success, and they fit a rodeo theme, too. We tell people to rope people in. You’ve got to tell your friends and family about the foundation, the conversations you’ve had and maybe the impact it’s had in your journey. Then you’ve got to get in the saddle, spend some time talking about mental health; you’ve got to take the reins. Every step we take is a step in the right direction for a conversation around mental health if we open that door.” The communication doesn’t have to be Earth-shattering. Speaking about mental health can be as easily done as over a cup of coffee at the breakfast joint or just being a good friend to someone who needs to talk about their feelings, their emotions. “If we just love our people a little bit harder and open that door on mental health,” Erke said, “there’s some big stuff on the other side of that.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Fairgoers in southeastern New Mexico have grown accustomed to a homegrown festivity. The Lea County Fair and Rodeo features nine days of entertainment, from Friday, Aug. 1-Saturday. Aug. 9. It’s an opportunity for local residents to enjoy all the activities, including the concerts, carnival, rodeo, livestock shows, other exhibits and plenty of vendors. A key feature in that is making it a celebration, one that has drawn acclaim throughout the region. Folks from across west Texas and New Mexico flock to this community of about 12,000 souls to be part of the bash, and they’re looking to be entertained. The Lea County Fair Board has taken the steps to ensure that happens, with daily performances from Timberwork’s Lumberjack Shows. “The county has hired them as one of our small stage acts during the nine days of the fair,” said Wyatt Duncan, the fairgrounds’ director. “They will be set up in our old concert area for spectators to watch.” Timberwork’s boasts of extensive work over the years in lumberjack entertainment, which it describes as fast growing in popularity. The company, which features four touring groups performing at more than 50 venues annually, has been on scene at other fairs, sports shows, corporate gatherings and special events. “Our lumberjacks have been (featured) on national television,” the company’s website states, pointing out that the loggers have been shown on ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games, STIHL’s Timbersport Series and ABC’s Wild World of Sports. With the popularity of axe-throwing businesses worldwide, the call to athleticism involved in lumberjacking skills has grown. Members of the team will be involved in that aspect of the games, but they will also be log-chopping, chainsaw-carving and log-rolling. Each of those disciplines has been shown on television. The shows will allow audiences to have an up-close view of what people have been doing for centuries. The term, lumberjack, came about nearly 200 years ago and identified individuals who helped clear the land from timber. In doing so, lumberjacks also created other opportunities with the wood, from helping form buildings to developing paper products. While there are lumberjack competitions that feature the athletes’ talents, the showcase during this year’s exposition is a show with full entertainment value. It coincides with many of the other acts that have been part of the activities in Lovington over the years, like the annual Fiddler’s Contest, which is celebrating its 64th consecutive year at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9.  “The thing I like about our specialty shows and the Fiddler’s Contest is the chance for some people who are just enjoying a day at the fair to take in something unique to us,” said Kris Allen, chairman of the Lea County Fair Board. “We don’t have a lot of trees in this part of the country, so to see the lumberjacks doing their thing is pretty entertaining. Of course, we’re just a year away from celebrating the 65th year of the Fiddler’s Contest, and I know a lot of people love coming to that every year.”

DODGE CITY, Kan. – A couple of decades ago, Justin Rumford was engrossed in the tourism that is part of this western Kansas community. Tens of thousands of visitors arrive in Dodge City to relive history, the television series “Gunsmoke” and take a peek at what life was like for the early settlers and cowboys who tamed the Old West. That’s why Boot Hill Museum is around and why its spot next to downtown is the perfect setting. “I was ‘Dirty Bill’ on the stage coach at the Boot Hill Museum,” Rumford said of his character, the man who drove the vehicle for tourists. “We’d go three or four blocks around there, then I’d park the stage. They’d all go over and eat at Applebee’s, then go to the night show with Miss Kitty. “I had a good time at the Boot Hill Museum.” He will recognize a bit of his own past as the featured entertainer at the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 30-Sunday, Aug. 3, at Roundup Arena; Dodge City Xtreme Bulls is set for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 29. A 10-time PRCA Clown of the Year, Rumford provides a brilliant rodeo history with his showmanship, and he is eager to return to Ford County. “I’ve been there twice, once in 2014, and then I came back in 2020,” he said, noting that the latter took place during the COVID pandemic. “That was a little rough, because there weren’t a lot of people there. I’m pretty excited about coming back with a full crowd.” He should be. Roundup Rodeo is home to excited crowds filled with energized spectators eager to see the athletic action in the arena and to giggle at Rumford’s antics. He’s a natural fit to the biggest event annual in the state. Raised in Abbyville in central Kansas in the Rumford Rodeo family, he’s been around the game all his life. The family also owned the team of horses used during the summertime rides at the museum, which is how he had the opportunity to be the tourists’ guide. “I’m going to take my kids back to the museum and tell them how cool I used to be,” Rumford said with a laugh. He’s a comedian and has been one for most of the last four decades. Even when he was riding broncs or driving trucks or wrestling steers or flanking bucking animals or rescuing cowboys as a pickup man, Rumford was sharing his insights and personality with others. It was an easy transition 15 years ago when he opted to become a rodeo clown. Whether he’s at a rodeo in west Texas or eastern Oregon, though, he’s proud of his roots. Now living in Ponca City, Oklahoma, with wife Ashley and their triplets, Bandy, Livi and Lola, he makes sure everyone knows where he came from. He’ll likely be wearing a Jayhawks T-shirt or a Chiefs jersey while bragging about his home state. That makes his return to Roundup even more exciting. “When you look at rodeo history in Kansas and how big it is, it’s in Dodge City,” said Rumford, a standout athlete at Fairfield High School. “Even though the days of the Wild West are over, they’re not over in Dodge City. It is the Wild West. When you tell somebody from back East about Dodge City, they think of cowboys, horses and rodeos. “That’s our heritage, and it’s something to market: ‘Come to Dodge City and see the cowboys.’ ” And the rodeo clowns.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Rodeo is unique. It’s competition, but it’s also entertainment. The Lea County Fair Board has recognized that, which is why there will be a couple of true entertainers for this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6-Saturday, Aug. 9; that also includes Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which is Tuesday, Aug. 5. Ten-time PRCA Clown of the Year Justin Rumford will provide the comedy, while Brian Patton, “The Misfit Cowboy,” will showcase Western flair during each of the five days of ProRodeo action at Jake McClure Arena inside the Lea County Fairgrounds. “We just like to break (the action) up a little bit and bring in something different,” said Kyle Johnston, a fair board member and chairman of the rodeo committee. “It’s been that way for us for a long time, and I think it’s a good fit for our rodeo.” Other sports have breaks in the action. There are halftime shows, and cheerleaders perform during time-outs. Baseball stadium’s feature hotdog and/or condiment races. Rodeo has funnymen, trick riders, fancy ropers and Patton, who does something altogether different. “My main act is an 1,800-pound American red brahma bull that’s saddle broken,” said Patten, of Epps, Louisiana, in the state’s northeastern corner. “He’s trick-trained, so he kneels, bows, lays down and gets on a pedestal. We have a lot of pyro in my act and lots of tricks. We have big props and fire on top of a red brahma bull.” The description is spot-on, but Patton’s performance is best seen live. It’s where spectacular meets the New Mexico night, and the animal’s stoic nature when working with the props helps make it stand out. There is an energy to Patton’s act that is undeniable and quite fitting to a fair and rodeo of this magnitude. That’s something Patton understands well. He’s been around the sport in some form or fashion all his life. He’s made a progression over the years. “My dad was a rodeo contestant, so I’ve always been around it a little bit,” Patton said. “I bought a Texas longhorn steer and used it for picture-taking. I used to go to rodeos; people would sit on him, and I’d take their picture. One thing led to another, and I ended up buying another Texas longhorn steer that was really impressive to look at. “I started a rodeo act with him, and it’s been all down hill from that point.” Raised on a farm not far from where he lives now, Patton knows the importance of hard work. The best part of his job, though, is being able to travel the country with his family. “Two of my kids are a big part of my dress act,” he said. “That’s one of the things I love about rodeo; I get to travel with my family all over the country. We get to experience a lot of things, and we just come from a little quiet spot in northeast Louisiana.” Their country nature will fit into Lovington’s rodeo, where know what it means to work with animals, and they’ll love the showmanship involved with Patton, two kids and a bull trained to perform. “I’ve watched some of his stuff, so I think it will work for us,” Johnston said. “I think it’s important that we change things up from time to time, and I think it’s going to be good to watch.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – Amber Groves smiles a bit as she reflects on the past two years at the Junior Livestock Sale at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. The emotion comes from watching the children succeed, seeing their parents’ pride and everyone on the fairgrounds knowing that a bunch of hard work has been justly rewarded. She can feel the sense of accomplishment in the youngsters’ hearts as they show their pigs, goats, steers, etc. She’s been there before, but she was never part of something this big. The auction has produced million-dollar sales each of the past two years, and that’s a reflection of the kids, their work and a society celebrating the fruits of that labor. “We have absolutely wonderful support from our community,” said Groves, a Lea County Fair Board member and chairwoman of the livestock show committee. “It seems like everybody wants to come out and make sure these kids are successful in their showing careers, and I just think that’s wonderful.” Can those records be broken at this year’s sale, set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9? “I sure hope so,” she said. “We’re very appreciative of all our buyers that show up, and, hopefully, we’ll get some new buyers that didn’t know about it before and will make it even better.  “That would be awesome.” Yes, it would. While the last two years have seen a financial windfall for the youngsters, the support for the children showing livestock has been prevalent for years. Groves was raised around it, showed herself and was part of the livestock judging program at New Mexico State University. She has felt frustration of getting an animal ready to show. She has sensed the rush of walking into that ring. She has experienced the highs of winning and the lows of losing. Through cleaning out stalls to grooming her animals, she’s grown and learned and understood the importance of work ethic. “Showing livestock is just so rewarding,” said Groves, now in her third year on the fair board. “It is hard work. These kids get up every day and go out and feed their animals and work with them. They spend their entire summers working very, very hard to get that reward at the fair. “Whenever they get rewarded and they go into that sale ring and somebody buys their animals, that just gets them money for next year to keep continuing it. It teaches responsibility, which is why it’s so rewarding.” Groves spent 11 years of her youth showing. Over that stretch, she obtained friendships, and she always loved those August days in the show barn. It’s a sense of family and kinship that is highlighted by passion to care for something other than oneself. She’s been part of the growth in local livestock showing, with more animals coming to the fair this year. She wants to see the sale continue to grow and the children rewarded. “I love the entire fair, but I’m going to be a little biased and say the livestock showing and what we give back to these kids is the best part of the fair,” she said. “I’m excited to see the human beings that they’re able to be and the adults they become and be successful in their lives. That’s hard to beat.”

Munsell found a passion in breakaway roping and is breaking barriers Taylor Munsell may as well have been born carrying a rope. When one is raised in the western Oklahoma hamlet of Arnett and in the Munsell clan, it’s just a way of life. “Team roping is what my family’s known for,” said Munsell, a 28-year-old Cinch endorsee now living in her intercollegiate hometown of Alva, home of Northwestern Oklahoma State University. So, she roped, and she got pretty good at it. It wasn’t just team roping, either. She roped just about everything, but she expanded her punch while in school. Athletes tend to do that, especially at a small school where there are fewer young men and young women to field teams. The Arnett High Wildcats needed someone, anyone like Munsell, but she was having issues that affected her work in roping and basketball. It was her right shoulder, the one she used to shoot balls and catch cows. Her right hand would go numb; doctors diagnosed her with thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition in which the nerves and blood vessels pinch off between the top rib and pectoral muscle. She had MRIs and X-rays, injections and physical therapy. She worked at everything experts offered, but the trouble reared its head during her second year in high school. Surgeons removed the top rib and conducted rotator-cuff surgery More than a decade later, Munsell’s medical issues seem to be resolved. She’s proven it over time, from winning the 2019 intercollegiate breakaway roping title to her four straight qualifications to the National Finals Breakaway Roping. As of mid-July, she was the No. 1 lady in all the land with nearly $120,000 in the bank. “The year’s been pretty good,” Munsell said. “I definitely can’t complain, but I’ve let some slip away. I should have probably executed a little better, but I feel that’s always the case.” It is, because that is sports. Baseball players can win Gold Gloves with errors, and football players are still elite after dropped passes. Even the greatest to have ever played a game have failed to execute from time to time. Munsell has succeeded more times than not, and she has some big wins in 2025 to account for her financial windfall. The first came in March, when she took advantage of the tournament-style format to win the lion’s share of the RodeoHouston money. She finished in Super Series 1 to advance to the semifinals, where she placed in a tie for third to sneak into the 10-woman field for the final day. There, sheposted a time of 3.9 seconds to be one of four ladies chasing the biggest prize with just one run each. Munsell stopped the clock in 2.7 seconds to win the championship and the $65,000 first-place prize, accumulating more than $70,000 over her run inside NRG Stadium. “It took me a while to figure (tournament-style rodeos) out,” she said. “I struggled advancing at first. In the first couple of years I rodeoed, I never made the semifinals at the winter rodeos, so it took me a little bit to figure stuff out. I do like them now. It’s just a little different format, and you just try to advance, then it’s a one-header at the end. “I’ve been working really hard on figuring out how to be smart at those things but still make the best runs I can so that I’m winning enough to advance but also putting myself in a place where I feel like I was competitive enough to win at the end, too.” It’s safe to say she’s got it figured out, but she’s still able to rope in a consistent manner throughout a multiple-head rodeo. Take Reno, Nevada, where she’s won the last two titles and collected a couple sets of spurs in the process. This past June, she placed in the second round, won the championship round and took the aggregate crown with a three-run cumulative time of 8.0 seconds to pocket just shy of $12,000. Yes, that means Houston and Reno have accounted for $82,000 of her 2025 earnings. That’s a nice average. “Winning Houston is very important,” Munsell said. “I think it’s on everybody’s bucket list and one of the biggest rodeos of the year. To start your year out that early and that well, it’s definitely huge.” And Reno? “I will say that averages are the rodeos I tend to do good at,” she said. “Last year, I went the first half of the summer, and the only rodeos I placed at were average rodeos where there are two head are more. Those are definitely more my strong suit.” Consistency plays a role in how she performs. She won the average titles in Reno with the same aggregate time of 8.0 seconds. “I actually didn’t realize that until after I’d roped that it was the exact same time both years,” Munsell said. “I was like, ‘That’s crazy.’ Reno’s been great to me. The BFI in Reno was the first big roping I ever went to, and I won it and made The American the first year they had breakaway roping at The American. “I’ve made the short round every year they’ve had breakaway roping at the ProRodeo at Reno.”  Big rodeos mean the big time, and Munsell has left her mark. While fellow Cinch endorsee Shelby Boisjoli-Meged rightfully owns the crown for being the first $50,000 breakaway roping winner at her hometown Calgary Stampede, Munsell was the first to win the title in Calgary, having done so in 2023, when Canada’s biggest rodeo featured team roping and breakaway roping in a special section separate from the actual performances. This year changed, and Boisjoli-Meged won the showdown round to claim the big bucks. It’s another grand opportunity for the women who rope calves for a living. The Canadian-born cowgirl pocketed $64,500 in Calgary. Munsell, though, settled for $9,625 but didn’t advance out of her pool. The opportunity is something, though, and she’s hoping  Continue Reading »