Monthly Archives: February 2011

It’s strange for me to think it’s been five years since Stockton Graves won the steer wrestling title at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo. That’s the reality. He’d already qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo before he qualified for the national circuit championship. But he used his pedigree, a high degree of talent and a gifted horse to capture the coveted title in 2006. That season, he earned victories at eight rodeos en route to his third straight trip to the NFR, ProRodeo’s marquee event. While in Las Vegas, he earned his first Montana Silversmiths go-round buckle by winning on the fourth night of the 10-round competition. This year Graves gets an added bonus in qualifying for the DNCFR. Since the championship moved from Pocatello, Idaho, to Oklahoma City, his travel time is just an hour and a half from his home in Newkirk, Okla. That’s pretty handy. But winning another national championship would be pretty handy for Graves, who clinched the Prairie Circuit year-end championship by winning the regional finale this past October in Park City, Kan. Of course, he’s been down this road before. That’s an advantage, too.

While checking out the Oklahoma City media market this week, I noticed an advertisement for The Split by WinStar World Casino Invitational presented by Express Employment Professionals, which is Friday-Sunday at the Ford Center. I thought it was a great marketing campaign to have Cord McCoy’s photo in the advertising the event, given he’s an Oklahoman by birth and a fan favorite by his personality. He’s also a local rodeo hero, having claimed five International Professional Rodeo Association titles in his career. He’s also qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the PBR World Finals. There are a lot of attributes for the PBR to consider when marketing an event in the state’s capital city. But I find it a little strange that he’s a major player in promoting the event even though he’s only in the field as an alternate. Would that have been the advertising plan had Cord not made the draw? Nonetheless, it proves the power of positive people. That’s great news for the PBR and the people who know Cord McCoy.

It’s been a long few weeks for McKennon Wimberly since the 22-year-old bull rider suffered a serious injury at the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series event in Anaheim, Calif. To see more, go HERE. He had surgery to repair a broken jaw, and he was hospitalized at the University of California-Irvine for several days. Just this week, he was released to a rehab center in Dallas, where his recovery will continue. The type of concussion, the brain injury that was involved will mean a long recovery. In the interim, family, friends and fans are putting together the McKennon Wimberly Reief Benefit & Bull Riding for March 24-25 at the Parker County Sheriff Posse Arena in Weatherford, Texas. There will be a barbecue dinner and Calcutta, the bull riding, futurity bull competition, mutton busting competition and a classic bull riding. Tickets are $16 for box seats ant $10 for general admission. Donations can be made to the McKennon Wimberly Benefit Fund, First Financial Bank, College Park, P.O. Box 1299, Weatherford, TX 76086. Silent auction donations can be sent to 606 Southland Dr., Weatherford, TX 76086. Contact Luann for more information at (817) 565-6708. This is what’s great about rodeo folks: They’re already rallying around an injured cowboy, who is showing great signs of improvement. McKennon’s mother, Paula, has posted such information on her Twitter account. That’s great news. Let’s continue to pray it continues. As a friend said, “We have witnessed a miracle.”

Terry Don West owns two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world titles and had a long, distinguished bull riding career. Now he’s got the important role of cheerleader, rooting on his wife as she takes the next step in her barrel racing career. Michelle West is one of 24 cowgirls who will compete for the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association national championship at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for March 31-April 3 at the Jim Norick Arena at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Back in the day, Michelle West remained on the sidelines while Terry Don lived out his rodeo dreams, but she was always a driving force. She traveled with her well known husband as he competed for gold buckles. “Terry was making more money than I was at the time,” she said. “It was a lot better for me to go with him.” But Michelle West is a cowgirl who has always worked with horses and competed when possible. Her mom, Gail West, has been a big part of any success Terry Don and Michelle have experienced. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without her,” Michelle said of her mom. “She’s my biggest supporter in this deal.” Michelle West’s trip to Oklahoma City is the biggest qualification of her career, but she wants it to be a springboard for greater things to come. But that’s what chasing rodeo dreams is all about.

The Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series returns almost to its roots this weekend when it embarks on a three-day affair in Oklahoma City. Not too many years ago, central Oklahoma hosted the biggest names in the sport in early February during Bullnanza at the Lazy E Arena in rural Guthrie, just a stone’s throw northeast of Oklahoma City. You see, the PBR wasn’t the first big bull riding. That distinction goes to the George Paul Memorial Bull Riding in Del Rio, Texas; close behind that was Bullnanza, a showcase that introduced the top bull riders in rodeo in a format that was a nice fit for television. In 1988, officials at the Lazy E teamed with some of the biggest stars in the game to come up with the series, then known as Bullmania. The first show took place in February 1989, and 1987 world champion bull rider Lane Frost was the contestant director whose job it was to pit together the best cowboys against the baddest bulls. Frost was killed later that year while competing at the Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo. Each of the 30 contestants put up a $1,000 entry fee, and the Lazy E obtained a sponsorship purse of $10,000 to give the cowboys the opportunity to ride for an unprecedented $40,000. From those fantastic beginnings, the PBR was born. Today it thrives as the world’s premier stand-alone bull-riding organization. At one time, Bullnanza was the epitome of great PBR competition. It was such a big prize that the Lazy E produced several others across the country, from Reno, Nev., to Nashville. It was a major player in the scheme and growth of the PBR. When the competition takes place this weekend, there will be great familiarity and fantastic nostalgia. I’ll miss seeing Jim Sharp spin his way to his first Bullnanza title, then rave as much as Jim could rave about how cool it was to finally win that championship buckle. I’ll miss seeing a relative unknown named Cory Rasch act like a schoolkid when he won his title. There will be big money available in Oklahoma City this weekend. But it’s not Bullnanza, and I’ll miss it.

I had a nice e-mail exchange with Steven Knowles, who told me about the newly formed Fort Hays State University Rodeo Club Alumni. As a proud alumnus of the university, I want to reach out to those who have been part of the rodeo program. The organization wants to re-establish old relationships with friends and make new ones that have a common purpose, support the current club and team and teams and to financially support promote and contribute to the team and to the clubs scholarships and fund raising efforts. The big push will be to raise enough to endow the newly created Doc Brower scholarship and to raise money for future endowed scholarships so we can make FHSU a major contributor to professional rodeo and a strong alumni association for rodeo and Fort Hays State in general. How cool is that? I applaud Steven and those who are part of the FHSU Rodeo Club Alumni organization, those who want to reach out and make things better, to build a future by reaching into the past. So if you know of anyone who has been associated with the Fort Hays State rodeo club, let them know about this.

Thanks to the fine folks at Cowgirl Imaging for getting the results sent out tonight. Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo Champions Bareback Riding, Steven Peebles, Redmond, Ore., 333 points on four, $9,030 Steer Wrestling, Casey Martin, Sulphur, La., 12.7 seconds on three, $16,085 Team Roping, Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, Calif., 16.7 seconds on two, $8,132 per man Saddle Bronc Riding, Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 253 points on three, $12,548 Tie-Down Roping, Matt Shiozawa, Chubbock, Idaho, 24.8 seconds on three, $14,103 Women’s Barrel Race, Kay Blandford, Sutherland Springs, 33.99 seconds on two, $17,797 Bull Riding, Clayton Savage, Casper, Wyo., 244 points on three, $11,690

The matinee performance of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is complete, so the field is set for tonight’s championship round, set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Will Rogers Coliseum. I haven’t seen results from this afternoon’s performance to know who has certainly qualified for the championship round. Based on results I received from Susan Kanode’s Cowgirl Imaging, I can tell you there will be plenty of ProRodeo stars fighting for that Fort Worth title. Tonight also marks the final performance of the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo in Rapid City, S.D. While it doesn’t have a short go-round, the 2011 champions will be revealed after the 7:30 show concludes. I’ll be waiting.

Announcer Justin McKee is going to be working with the Professional Bull Riders again, adding his experience and expertise in a little different capacity. In a release issued Friday, the PBR announced that McKee and PBR Now on RFD-TV will both return to the airwaves next Thursday for a special edition. McKee and PBR have also finalized an agreement to include McKee as a media and live event personality in future projects. It doesn’t mention if McKee will be part of the regular TV production of the PBR’s Built Ford Tough Series on the VERSUS network. Based on the tone of the news release, I assume that McKee will not be on the regular “game” broadcasts of the events. The administrator of the Save Justin McKee page on Facebook wrote: “I’m happier than a pig in fresh mud … WE WON!!!!!! Justin McKee is coming back to the PBR!!!! Congratulations McKee and his loyal fans, the PBR finally listened.”

Of the 24 cowgirls from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association who have qualified for the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo, six were part of the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. A few other ladies have played on ProRodeo’s biggest stage before, so there looks to be plenty of stars competing March 31-April 3 in Oklahoma City. Leading the way is Sherry Cervi, the three-time and reigning world champion from Marana, Ariz. But the DNCFR field is going to be jam-packed with great competition, from the cowgirls to the outstanding animal athletes that have carried them there.

Ultimately, rodeo contestants dream of wearing world championship Montana Silversmiths gold buckles. But those rewards earned at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo are pretty special. In fact, I visited with some of the top cowboys in the game this week about their upcoming appearance at the DNCFR in Oklahoma City, and they were all excited — that event is set for March 31-April 3. In fact, most contestants consider the DNCFR just below the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in prestige, and that national championship is something they all want to have on their resumes.

It’s cold. Yes, I realize it’s February, and it’s supposed to be cold, but this is a little extreme. Let me explain: In Los Fresnos, Texas, where the ProRodeo is scheduled to begin Friday, it’s 36 degrees, but it feels more like 26. If you look on your map, you’ll find Los Fresnos just north of Brownville, Texas, which borders Mexico near the Gulf of Mexico. Folks, that’s as close to the equator as you can get and still be in the continental United States. Lake Charles, La., home of the SW District Fat Stock Show & Rodeo, is a blustery 32 degrees, yet the wind chill is 25. San Antonio, which begins its long run with Thursday’s Xtreme Bulls Tour event, is 26 degrees, although it feels like 17. There are a bunch of people hunting down parkas as I write this. In retrospect, I don’t feel so bad about the -8 that registers on the thermometer, because I live in a climate that calls for such. Everybody that entered to compete in Rapid City, S.D., for the Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo knew it might be 3 degrees or even colder. But the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is supposed to be a lot warmer conditions than Rapid City. That kind of chill could affect a lot of things, from attendance to performance. But that’s rodeo, and that’s why it’ll persevere.

If the Gower family hadn’t already had tough times with the loss of a son to cancer, they took another blow this past weekend when their century-old ranch home was destroyed by fire. The story in The Kansas City Star, written by Donald Bradley and found HERE, eloquently tells of another huge loss for Randy and Toni Gower, who watched 23-year-old Cody Stephens die of cancer just 12 months earlier. I can’t imagine losing my child like Toni Gower did last January. And I struggle with this added hardship to the family. But those who know her say Toni is one of the most remarkable people you might ever meet. I hope I get to find out for myself someday soon. For the time being, work is going on trying to help the family cope with another loss and repair the things that can be fixed. The outpouring is awesome, something I come to expect in the world of rodeo. I hope to share more wonderful stories with you about some of the giving that’s taking place, but I want to make sure all those folks get their due. And I’d like to give you the opportunity to help the Gowers; a fund has been established at People’s State Bank, P.O. Box 406, Cherryvale, KS 67335 in care of Randy and Toni Gower.

Rodeo is about to return to television on a regular basis. At 8:30 p.m. Central nearly every Sunday starting Feb. 13, the Great American Country network will begin showing Xtreme Bulls and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association championship events. You can see the schedule HERE. So for 12 of 13 weeks, you’ll be able to find a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo Sunday nights on GAC, and that doesn’t include the repeats – the lone Sunday night that won’t have rodeo will be April 3, when GAC hosts the 46th Academy of Country Music Awards. I’m excited to see it, but I’ve got GAC. I realize many rodeo fans don’t, and I hope that changes soon. It’ll be nice for us all to enjoy rodeo on TV that’s not preempted by other sports or other happenings producers consider more important at the time.

Will Lowe is just 28 years old and already owns three bareback riding world championships in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. He’s already on his way to a fourth if he can keep up with his hot start to the 2011 season. He’s won a share of three rodeo titles: the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo.; the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas; and the National Western Stock Show in Denver. In all, he’s earned $21,028 to lead the early world standings, more than $8,000 ahead of the No. 2 bareback rider, Bo Casper of Fort Scott, Kan., with whom Lowe shared the Denver title. He’s also second in the average at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Texas, an event that will conclude this coming weekend. Yes, it’s way too early to crown world champions, but I think anytime is a great time to recognize excellence. Lowe, of Canyon, Texas, is second only to 14-time world champion Trevor Brazile in season earnings. Brazile, of Decatur, Texas, has earned $28,671 in three events: He’s atop the standings in steer roping with $9,096, third in team roping-heading with $9,892 and fourth in tie down roping with $9,683. By shear quantity, it’s hard to beat Brazile, but Lowe has made a strong mark early this season. After nine straight trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, I suspect Will knows what it takes to be at the top of his game.