Monthly Archives: May 2012

GUYMON, Okla. – The opening night of the 80th annual Pioneer Days Rodeo was a showcase of the sport’s best. Six world champions took the lead in their respective events on Friday night at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena, led by a couple from 2011: Bareback rider Kaycee Feild and heeler Jhett Johnson. Feild matched moves with Carr ProRodeo’s Cool Change for 86 points to carry the lead heading into the three weekend performances set for 2-7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Johnson teamed with seven-time world champion header Jake Barnes of Scottsdale, Ariz., to lead the aggregate with a three-run total of 21.8 seconds. While they posted an 8.7-second run on Friday night, they’ve already earned $2,274 by placing in the first two go-rounds. “This is our first rodeo together,” said Johnson, who won his first Montana Silversmiths gold buckle last season while roping with Turtle Powell. “I guess, with a little luck, hopefully we’ll win it.” It’s worked pretty well so far. Of course, Johnson understands what it takes to win here. He graduated from Oklahoma Panhandle State University in nearby Goodwell, and he understands how important it is to do well on familiar turf. “It’s always fun to come to Guymon, going to school here, being one of the alumni and all that,” he said. “I know the area real well. I know the people and the people putting on the rodeo. Then to come here and do well is always a good deal.” Besides Barnes, Feild and Johnson, other world champions who took the lead on Friday night were barrel racer Sherry Cervi of Marana, Ariz.; saddle bronc rider Jesse Kruse of Great Falls, Mont.; and bull rider Dustin Elliott of North Platte, Neb. Cervi, a three-time world champion who placed second in the opening go-round on Friday morning, rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 17.25 seconds in the evening performance to take the lead. Kruse, who won the gold buckle in 2009, rode Carr’s Corner Guard for 85 points. Elliott, the 2004 champion, matched moves with Carr’s Charlie’s Bandito for 82 points. “You couldn’t ask for one any better than that bull,” Elliott said. “He’s just a good bull. He’s just what you enter for. There was only one bull out that a guy really didn’t want to get on.” Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo First performance Friday, May 4, 2012 Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kaycee Feild, 86 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cool Change; 2. Richie Champion and Ryan Gray, 81.0; 4. Jessy Davis, 80. 5. Matt Bright, 75; 6. Joe Gunderson, 71. Team roping: Third-round leaders: 1. Erich Rogers/Kory Koontz, 7.2 seconds; 2. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 7.6; 3. Brock Hanson/Ryan Motes, 8.3; 4. Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson and David Key/Travis Woodard, 8.7; 6. Cody Lee/Cole Keith Jackson, 8.8; 7. Matt Sherwood/Cory Petska, 12.3. Average leaders: 1. Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson, 21.8 on three runs; 2. David Key/Travis Woodard and Cody Lee/Cole Keith Jackson, 25.1; 4. Brock Hanson/Ryan Motes, 13.3 on two; 5. Erich Rogers/Kory Koontz, 13.9; 6. Jess Tierney/Jace Crabb, 14.0; 7. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 14.2; 8. Nick Sartain/Kollin VonAhn, 14.5. Steer roping: Fifth-round leaders: 1. Cody Lee, 12.4 seconds; 2. Chet Herren, 13.5; 3. Justin Bay, 15.4; 4. Jeff Wheelis, 21.4. Average leaders: 1. Shay Good, 77.2 seconds on four runs; 2. Cody Lee, 40.9 on three; 3. Chet Herren, 47.3; 4. Shorty Garten, 48.7; 5. Brad Mohon, 53.5; 6. C.A. Lauer, 54.6; 7. Justin Bay, 54.9; 8. Jarrett Blessing, 56.5. Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Jesse Kruse, 85 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Corner Guard; 2. Jesse Bail, 83; 3. Cody Martin, 81; 4. Jeremy Ray Melancon, 79; 5. Joaquin Real and Justin Browning, 78; 7. Jacobs Crawley, 75; 8. Bradley Harter and Ty Atchison, 74. Steer wrestling: Third-round leaders: 1. Casey Martin and Shayde Etherton, 4.3 seconds; 3. Hunter Cure, 4.7; 4. Matt Reeves, 5.1; 5. Tooter Silver, 7.3; 6. Reed Petersek, 8.0; 7. Joe Buffington, 8.2; 8. Tyler Pearson, 14.3. Average leaders: 1. Shayde Etherton, 22.8 on three; 2. Casey Martin, 23.0; 3. Hunter Cure, 23.1; 4. Matt Reeves, 23.7; 5. Tyler Pearson, 24.7; 6. Joe Buffington, 25.0; 7. Reed Petersek, 25.7; 8. Tooter Silver, 26.2. Tie-down roping: Third-round leaders: 1.Cody McCartney, 7.9 seconds; 2. Ace Slone, 8.1; 3. Blair Burk, 8.5; 4. Cody Prescott, 9.0; 5. Colby Lovell and Jeremiah Peek, 10.1; 7. Taylor Smith, 10.4; 8. Clint Cooper, 11.1. Average leaders: 1. Blair Burk, 24.2 seconds on three; 2. Cody McCartney, 24.4; 3. Jeremiah Peek, 27.4; 4. Cody Prescott, 28.3; 5. Clint cooper, 29.7; 6. Ace Slone, 31.9; 7. Colby Lovell, 35.3; 8. Taylor Smith, 37.3. Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Stevi Hillman and Sabrina Ketcham, 17.19 seconds; 3. Sherry Cervi, 17.25; 4. Fallon Taylor, 17.36; 5. Meagan Reichert, 17.46; 6. Rainy Graham, 17.56; 7. Kara Large, 17.55; 8. Jesse Fish, 17.61; 9. Lacinda Bengston, 17.64; 10. Blazi Weippert, 17.66.  Average leaders: 1. Sherry Cervi, 34.55 seconds on two; 2. Meagan Reichert, 34.99; 3. Stevi Hillman, 35.22; 4. Rainy Graham, 35.44; 5. Kortney Fisher, 35.60; 6. Paige Conrado, 35.62; 7. Kandace Blanchard, Sharin Hall and Ceri McCaffery, 35.74; 10. Kim Schulze, 35.75. Bull riding leaders: 1. Dustin Elliott, 82 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Charlie’s Bandito; 2. Jimmy Anderson, 77; 3. Clayton Savage, 74; 4. Brett Stall, 66.

The Classic Events Championship, a unique event that takes place during Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo, featured some of the top saddle bronc riders who also keep up with their roping skills. They ride two broncs and rope and tie down two steers. Congratulations to Panhandle State University rodeo team alumnus Travis Sheets, who won the event.

Barrel racing First round: 1. Kendra Dickson, 17.27 seconds, $2,025; 2. Sherry Cervi, 17.30, $1,736; 3. Tana Poppino, 17.36, $1,446; 4. Britany Fleck, 17.39, $1,254; 5. Emily Efurd, 17.40, $964; 6. Kassidy Dennison, Kelly Yates and Brittany grant, 17.45, $579 each; 9. Mary Walker and Kim Schulze, 17.47, $241. The first performance of the Guymon (Okla.) Pioneer Days Rodeo begins at 7:30 tonight. Be on the lookout for another story from Guymon tonight.

UPDATED UPDATED UPDATED Steer wrestling First round: 1. (tie) Tooter Silver and Jacob Shofner, 4.1 seconds, $1,784 each; 3. K.C. Jones, 4.2, $1,410; 4. (tie) Kyle Callaway, Dean Gorsuch, Ben Goodman, Ryan Mims and Clayton Moore, 4.3, $664 each. Second round: 1. John Franzen, 3.8 seconds, $1,908; 2. Todd Suhn, 4.1, $1,659; 3. (tie) Tommy Cook, Dane Hanna and Tyler Pearson, 4.2, $1,162 each; 6. (tie) Garrett Nokes and Jule Hazen, 4.3, $539 each; 8. (tie) Kyle Irwin, Seth Brockman, J.B. Fudicakar, Dean Gorsuch and Gabe Burrows, 4.5, $33 each. Average leaders: 1. Dean Gorsuch, 8.8 seconds on two head; 2. Todd Suhn, 8.9; 3. Seth Brockman, 9.1; 4. Dane Hanna, 9.3; 5. (tie) Mitchell Gardner and K.C. Jones, 9.4 each; 7. Jule Hazen, 9.6; 8. J.B. Fudickar, 9.7. Team roping First round: 1. Brock Hanson/Ryan Motes, 5.0 seconds, $1,974 each; 2. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 6.0, $1,716; 3. Chase Boekhaus/Dawson McMaster, 6.6, $1,459; 4. (tie) Cody Lee/Cole Jackson and Erich Rogers/Kory Koontz, 6.7, $1,073 each; 6. (tie) Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson and Garrett Tonozzi/Kinney Harrell, 6.8, $558 each; 8. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, Jule Hazen/Tyler Garten and Jess Tierney/Jace Crabb, 6.9, $57 each. Second round: 1. Brady Tryan/York Gill, 6.1 seconds, $1,974 each; 2. Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson, 6.3, $1,716; 3. Ty Blasingame/Rich Skelton, 6.6, $1,459; 4. (tie) Matt Sherwood/Cory Petska and Nick Sartain/Kollin VonAhn, 6.9, $1,073 each; 6. Jess Tierney/Jace Crabb, 7.1, $687; 7. Charles Pogue/Jett Hillman, 7.4, $429; 8. Gavin Foster/Jeremy Stewart, 7.5, $172. Average leaders: 1. Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson, 13.1 seconds on two head; 2. Jess Tierney/Jace Crabb, 14.0; 3. Nick Sartain/Kollin VonAhn, 14.5; 4. Adam Rose/Gabe Gwaltney, 14.7; 5. Luke Brown/Martin Lucero, 15.4; 6. Chase Williams/Chad Williams, 15.5; 7. Brian Dunning/Jesse Jolly, 15.6; 8. Jule Hazen/Tyler Garten, 16.1. Tie-down roping First round: Hunter Herrin, 7.4 seconds, $2,025; 2. (tie) Fred Whitfield, Cody McCartney and Trent Creager, 7.8, $1,497 each; 5. Blair Burk, 8.0, $968; 6. (tie) Jeremiah Peek and Shane Hanchey, 8.2, $572 each; 8. Stran Smith, 8.4, $176. Second round: 1. E.J. Roberts, 7.3 seconds, $2,025; 2. Trevor Brazile and Justin Maass, 7.6, $1,629; 4. Blair Burk, 7.7, $1,232; 5. Hunter Herrin, 7.8, $968; 6. Chase Williams and Bryson Sechrist, 7.9, $572; 8. Adam Gray, 8.0. Two-run aggregate: Hunter Herrin, 15.2 seconds; 2. Blair Burk, 15.7; 3. Cody McCartney, 16.5; 4. Trent Creager, 16.6; 5. Jeremiah Peek, 17.3; 6. Jake Cooper, 17.8; 7. L.D. Meier, 17.9; 8. E.J. Roberts, 18.0.

GUYMON, Okla. – The last time Tanner Aus tested his talent against one of Pete Carr’s bucking horses, the Minnesota bareback rider didn’t finish quite as well as he would’ve liked. Aus matched moves with the great horse Dirty Jacket for just 81 points in the final round of the Ram National Circuit Finals a month ago in Oklahoma City. It’s the kind of match-up that is typically worth 87 points, which would’ve helped Aus to the national championship. Instead, he finished fourth, with an 86 taking the top prize. Sunday might be vendetta day for Aus, who is matched with Dirty Jacket during the final day of the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 4; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6. “Tanner had that horse in Oklahoma City, and that was probably his first big pressure cooker he’s really been in,” said Pete Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo, the primary stock contractor in Guymon. “He was in the final four for that championship, and he was the top guy coming back. “He’s maturing and getting some experience. This weekend, he’ll definitely know how to handle the situation this time and take advantage of his draw. “ Aus is one of the rising stars in bareback riding. A year ago he finished 31st in the world standings, edging ever closer to the top 15, those who qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Dirty Jacket is an 8-year-old bay gelding who has been to the NFR each of the last three years. Oh, and cowboys have won Pioneer Days Rodeo on his back each of the last four years. But that’s just one of the tremendous match-ups set for the four performances inside Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena over three days of competition. Another rising star in bareback riding, J.R. Vezain, has drawn Carr’s MGM Deuces Night, regularly considered one of the top horses in the game. Veteran NFR qualifier Ryan Gray will test another great finals horse, Big Lights, while rookie standings leader Richie Champion will match moves with NFR horse YoYo. Joe Frost, a freshman at nearby Oklahoma Panhandle State University, will test his young talent against Full Baggage, the reigning PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year. There are numerous rising stars who will be matched up against one another in bull riding, from world standings leader Cody Teel and Carr’s Poker Face to rookie sensation Trey Benton III and Carr’s Private Eyes – Benton won the rodeo in Mercedes, Texas, in March on another Carr Bull. There are several great young bulls that Pete Carr is excited to see against the best cowboys in the world who will be part of the festivities in Guymon. “We’ve worked really hard to pull the best bulls around the country to Guymon,” Carr said. “We put a lot of effort to reaching out to finding the highest quality bulls to bring to the Richest Rodeo in Oklahoma to match up with the best talent that comes to town to create the best possible show for the spectators. “We try hard every time we go to a rodeo, but the fans here are experienced, so we’re trying extra hard to bring the highest quality stock here. They’re rodeo aficionados, and we want them to enjoy the rodeo.” A big part of the intrigue has to be the set of bulls Carr recently acquired. Poker Face and Private Eyes are just two of the animals that will show off their tremendous athleticism in Guymon for the first time. “Ardie Meier has The Mexican; he’s going to ride that bull and be a bunch of points,” Carr said. “The Sunday bull riding in Guymon is going to look like the 10th round at the NFR.” Australian Sam Spreadborough just won the saddle bronc riding title at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City. A two-time NFR qualifier, Spreadborough will try his hand with Carr’s Cowboy Cowtown. “Sam’s been riding well, and he’s trying to make it to the finals for the third time in a row,” Carr said. “Cowboy Cowtown came out of Cowboy, the most recognized horse in Canada. Cowboy Cowtown is a stud, and he’s been really good. World champion Cody Wright had him at the largest rodeo in the country a couple months ago and was a bunch of points on him. Panhandle State will be well represented during the bronc riding, and Carr likes the match-ups he sees between those cowboys and the animals they have drawn. “Travis Sheets has Let ’Er Rip, and they won this rodeo on that horse last year,” Carr said. “Your reigning world champion, Taos Muncy, has Cool Runnings, which has been one of the highest marked horses this year and should be, hands down, and NFR horse.” Cool Runnings bucked off Panahandle State cowboy Josh Reynolds during the RNCFR a month ago and has been on the radar for bronc riding’s best. But there are a bunch of horses like that in Guymon. “We’re definitely in bronc riding country,” Carr said. “We’ve hand picked the best broncs from Wyoming to South Dakota to Oklahoma to Texas to be here for the top cowboys in the PRCA. Everybody has a chance to win a check.”

Steer wrestling First round: 1. (tie) Tooter Silver and Jacob Shofner, 4.1 seconds, $1,784 each; 3. K.C. Jones, 4.2, $1,410; 4. (tie) Kyle Callaway, Dean Gorsuch, Ben Goodman, Ryan Mims and Clayton Moore, 4.3, $664 each. Team roping First round: 1. Brock Hanson/Ryan Motes, 5.0 seconds, $1,974 each; 2. Clay Tryan/Travis Graves, 6.0, $1,716; 3. Chase Boekhaus/Dawson McMaster, 6.6, $1,459; 4. (tie) Cody Lee/Cole Jackson and Erich Rogers/Kory Koontz, 6.7, $1,073 each; 6. (tie) Jake Barnes/Jhett Johnson and Garrett Tonozzi/Kinney Harrell, 6.8, $558 each; 8. (tie) Keven Daniel/Chase Tryan, Jule Hazen/Tyler Garten and Jess Tierney/Jace Crabb, 6.9, $57 each. Tie-down roping First round: 1. Hunter Herrin, 7.4 seconds, $2,025; 2. (tie) Fred Whitfield, Cody McCartney and Trent Creager, 7.8, $1,497 each; 5. Blair Burk, 8.0, $968; 6. (tie) Jeremiah Peek and Shane Hanchey, 8.2, $572 each; 8. Stran Smith, 8.4, $176.

ALVA, Okla. – Much has happened in Dustin Searcy’s freshman year at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. From move-in day to his first lecture to his first National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association event in Colby, Kan., Searcy’s life has been dramatically different than a year ago when he was a senior at Mooreland (Okla.) High School. But one thing has remained constant: He’s still one heck of a roper. Searcy proved it over the course of the 10-event Central Plains Region season, dominating the competition to win the circuit’s championship. “Winning the region means a lot to me,” said Searcy, whose 755 points was 350 points better than the runner-up Rhyder Nelson of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. “I never really thought about coming in as a freshman and winning the region. My goal was to qualify for the college finals, but to win the region is kind of a dream come true.” Searcy is also one of six Rangers to earn trips to the College National Finals Rodeo, set for June in Casper, Wyo. He will be joined by Kyle Irwin of Robertsdale, Ala., who won the region’s steer wrestling crown; heeler Tanner Braden of Dewey, Okla.; header Collin Domer of Topeka, Kan.; tie-down roper Will Howell of Stillwater, Okla.; and saddle bronc rider Cody Burkholder of Clarksville, Iowa. “I’m tickled that we got six kids to the college finals,” said Stockton Graves, in his first semester as coach of his alma mater. “We saw a lot of the kids really grow up over the course of this spring. It’s been fun to watch.” So was the final round of the season during the championship round of the Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo presented by Oklahoma Panhandle State University. With a strong first-round run at Hitch Arena in Guymon, Okla., Irwin put himself into a tie for the regional lead with Levi Rudd of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. “Kyle won the long round and Levi was third, so that tied them heading to the short round,” Graves said. “That meant whoever had the fastest run on the last steer was going to win the title. “Kyle made a good run, and Levi made a good run, too, but Kyle was just a little bit faster. That was a good, little old race.” And it helped Irwin accomplish one of the goals the senior had set out for himself in his final year of eligibility for the Northwestern men’s rodeo team. “It’s a great accomplishment, especially for my senior year,” Irwin said. “I won the region my sophomore year, then I finished third last year. My goal was to finish my senior year strong and win the region again. I’m very pleased with myself.” Now there’s just one more goal he has in place, and that means winning next month in Wyoming. “Last year I ended up second at the college finals by a 10th of a second,” he said. “The kid that beat me last year is a good friend of mine. But this year I’d like to win it by more than a 10th of a second. This year I’d like to make a statement and dominate the bulldogging at the college finals.” Searcy would like to make that kind of statement, too. “I think the key to winning the region was just consistency and trying to rope the steer for what he is every time,” said Searcy, sounding much wiser than his age might seem to allow. “You just don’t beat yourself.” Both the Northwestern men and women finished fourth in their respective team races. Throw in the potential of the younger cowboys and cowgirls who make up the strong roster, and there’s plenty of reason behind the excitement for the Rangers. “I’m a senior and I’ve experienced a lot, but I look at what we’ve got coming up, and I think this could be a good team for a long time,” Irwin said. “We finished fourth in the region, and they all saw what it takes to win. It’s just getting over that little bit of an edge. “Stockton ahs some young talent that I feel will make a difference in the way this team does. It was really neat to work with them this year and see then grow.” Graves said he enjoyed watching the young women’s team progress through the season but would’ve liked to have seen one of the girls qualify for the college finals. “I thought our girls matured a lot, and the freshmen did really well,” Graves said. “Karly Kile won second in goat tying in Guymon, and Karly Benzie came on strong at the end. We finished well, and I really would’ve liked to have seen Lauren Barnes make it to the college finals. “I think doing as well as she did will make her gung-ho for next year.” Searcy is one of several Rangers who has his mind set on the future, but he’s done quite well handling each task as it presents itself. Does he feel any pressure to continue the winning trend? “I don’t really look at it as pressure but more as an opportunity to win the region four times in a row,” Searcy said. “I feel like you set your goals high, you can always achieve them. There’s no turning back now. You might as well go out and win everything from now on.”

Fourth round: 1. Jay Sellers, 10.4 seconds, $1,885; 2. Rocky Patterson, 11.2, $1,639; 3. Cody Lee, 11.6, $1,393; 4. Cash  Myers, 12.1, $1,147; 5. Will Gasperson, 12.6, $901; 6. Brent Lewis, 12.7, $656; 7. Shorty Garten, 12.8, $410; 8. Shandon Stalls, 12.9, $164. Aggregate leaders through four rounds: 1. Shay Good, 77.2 seconds on four runs; 2. Shorty Garten, 48.7 on three; 3. Brad Mohon, 53.5; 4. C.A. Lauer, 54.6; 5. Jarrett Blessing, 56.5; 6. Will Gasperson, 56.8; 7. Cody Scheck, 58.4; 8. Mark Milner and Ralph Williams, 61.6.

Third round: 1. Dan Fisher, 11.4 seconds, $1,885; 2. JoJo LeMond, 12.6, $1,639; 3. Quinten Taylor, 12.8, $1,393; 4. Travis Mills, 13.6, $1,147; 5. Shay Good, 13.8, $901; 6. Justin McKee, 14.0, $656; 7. Chris Glover, 14.2, $410; 8. Jim Folk, 14,3, $164.

By Chaney Latham Oklahoma Panhandle State University GUYMON, Okla. – The 2011-2012 collegiate rodeo season has come to an end with a spectacular finish for the Oklahoma Panhandle State University rodeo team. It has been a hard fought battle all year long for the men’s team to secure one of the top two positions in the region in order to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo this June. Requiring a show down at the hometown Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo on Saturday afternoon, the Panhandle State posse was able pull it off by capturing the men’s team title, beating the nearest competition for runner-up by more than 400 points. Five of the 10 saddle bronc riders to qualify the short go-round were from Panhandle State. Junior Allen Boore got on McCloy Rodeo’s Air Pockets, earning an 83 the highest marked ride of the rodeo. Combined with his first-place 77 in the first round, which he split with teammate Whit Peterson, Boore claimed the title. Teammates Joe Harper, Peterson, Josh Griggs and Jake Watson took second, third, fourth, and sixth places, respectively. Freshman Joe Frost was the lone Aggies bull rider to compete in the final round and was one of just three cowboys who secured a qualifying eight-second ride. In addition, he posted an 87 in the opening round, the highest marked ride. Even though he failed to score on his second bull, Frost finished second overall. More importantly, he won the year-end all-around and bull riding championships in the Central Plains Region, bettering his bull riding competition by nearly 100 points. “I decided I was going to do whatever it would take to win every time,” Frost said. “Whether I did or not, I would expect nothing but first every time I nod my head.” The winning attitude combined with a strong work ethic has been a key to his success, but Frost has found plenty of other assistance along the way. “I am very lucky to have both of my coaches be such great role models,” he said. “They have become two of my heroes in life and in rodeo, and as far as the team goes, I am extremely excited about the future.” Steer wrestlers Weston Taylor and Dusty Moore earned a trip to the short round; Moore was solid with a 6.0-second run in the first round and a 6.2 in the second, good enough for second place overall. Taylor also earned some points by getting both of his steers thrown as well. Senior all-around cowgirl Kaylee Moyer won title in goat tying, posting an 8.8-second run to finish second in the long round and an 8.9 in the final round to win the two-run aggregate. Moyer also qualified for the finals in breakaway roping, earning a trip with teammate Kashley Schweer. Both ladies suffered some tough luck in the final performance, but Moyer gathered a few points even with a broken barrier. Another all-around cowgirl, Chaney Latham, qualified for the short round in both goat tying and barrel racing. She made solid runs in both events but placed fifth in barrel racing. With the Doc Gardner Memorial Rodeo championship, the Panhandle State men moved into second place in the region behind Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College and earned a trip to the college finals. In addition to Frost’s championship, Moyer finished the region second in goat tying and third in breakaway roping. Saddle bronc rider Justin Hegwer finished third in the region, two spots behind graduate assistant coach Tyrel Larsen, who won the region competing for rival Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “I’m just proud of the kids,” assistant coach Robert Etbauer said. “I think we have a good crew, and a good bunch of kids.” Etbauer’s all-around horse, Rambo, was named regional horse of the year. Coach Craig Latham was named regional coach of the year and accepted the award with tears in his eyes before a standing ovation from the crowd at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena. Latham, who has been battling cancer much of this season, was honored for his high spirits during his fight against the disease.

BRIDGEPORT, Texas – World champions know the key to their gold buckle successes is having a great partnership, and oftentimes that means having a world-class athlete underneath them. Reigning world champion bareback rider Kaycee Feild has had the opportunity to get on some of the greatest bucking horses in the business, and one of his favorites is Carr Pro Rodeo’s MGM Deuces Night. Of course, the 7-year-old mare is just one of the great horses owned by Pete Carr, the stock contractor who will be providing animals for the Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo, set for 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, May 11-12, at Bridgeport Riding Club Arena. “That’s just a unique horse, and she gets real high in the air,” said Feild, a four-time NFR qualifier from Payson, Utah, whose father, Lewis, is a five-time world champion. “That horse tries really hard to buck really good. She gets high in the air and gives you a lot of time to set your feet and crank your toes out. You’ve got to have quick feet and set them high in the neck. With that horse, it seems easy to set them high in the neck. “She’s that way every time I’ve been on her. She’s a pretty cool horse.” MGM Deuces Night has been one of the best bucking horses in the business since she started bucking in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association events. The cowboys who see her and have a chance to match moves with her know it better than anyone, and that’s why they have selected her to be part of the most elite pen of bucking horses at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – the showiest horses in the game are part of the TV pen, a term that dates back to the days when only the final round of the NFR was showcased on television. Those animals buck during the fifth and 10th rounds of ProRodeo’s championship event, and over the past two seasons, MGM Deuces Night has guided cowboys to the round wins three of the four times she’s bucked – the last time she was out at the NFR, she led Feild to the 10th-round win in his record-setting championship. Not bad for a horse that was raised by bareback rider Wes Stevenson. “I knew she’d have a really good shot to come to the finals,” said Stevenson. “I knew she was that good, so part of the reason I sold her to Pete is that I knew she’d have a good shot to go to the finals. I bought her from Jim Zinser as a brood mare, but she bucked so good, I didn’t want to waste her sitting at my house. I wanted her to have a chance. “She has a lot of heart. I was the first one to get on her with a rigging, and from the first time we ever bucked her, I knew that little filly has a lot of heart. She’s a very electric horse.” Those that have been on the phenomenal mare know that better than most. In a year’s span, Feild won a lot of money on the back of MGM Deuces Night. Last spring, he shared the final-round victory at the RNCFR with a 90-point ride; in December, it was the final round of the NFR; in March, he set a RodeoHouston arena record with a 93-point ride in the $50,000 round. Combined, Feild won $72,685 on the mare in less than a year’s time. On April 1, four-time NFR qualifier Cody DeMers of Kimberly, Idaho, matched moves with the young bucking beauty for 85 points to finish as the runner up to the national champion at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo. “I’m embarrassed I didn’t win first on that horse like everybody else in the world does,” he said. That seems to be a common theme for cowboys who test their skills on MGM Deuces Night. “I could’ve rode that horse better,” DeMers said of his ride in Oklahoma City. “Pete’s awful high on that horse, and he has every reason to be. I’d pack that horse with me in the minivan to every rodeo I go to if I could.” He’s not the only cowboy; a lot of the other top names in the game would do the same thing. Even though he’s never strapped his rigging to her back, Heath Ford has seen her in action plenty of times. The bareback riding representative, he handles the political side of the game and works with all the bareback riders in selecting the best horses. He’s also a three-time NFR qualifier, so he knows that side of the business, too. “She’s a horse that really gets in the air and gives you a lot of time to show off,” Ford said. “It’s kind of like a quarterback and a receiver; you need a quarterback who can put the pass where the receiver can run after the catch and really show his stuff. “She can do everything to set you up to be successful and show off your talents. She gives you the opportunity to do what you do at a higher level.” It’s those kinds of horses that cowboys hope will burst out of the chutes when they nod their heads at the Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo. That’s what bareback riders dream about, and MGM Deuces Night is a big reason why.