Monthly Archives: April 2013

Bareback riding: Semifinals: 1. Bobby Mote, Culver, Ore., 83 points on Mo Betta’s Wind Walker, $5,484; 2. (tie) Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., and Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan., 81, $3,428 each; 4. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 80, $1,371. Steer wrestling: 1. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 3.5 seconds, $5,484; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 3.8, $4,113; 3. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 4.2, $2,742; 4. Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 4.3, $1,371.

OKLAHOMA CITY – All Brittany Pozzi wanted was a chance to repeat as the national champion barrel racer. Through four performances of the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, the 2012 champion is one of the lead contenders in the race for the coveted title. On Saturday afternoon at State Fair Arena, she and her great horse, Duke, rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 15.42 seconds for the fastest run of the day so far. She finished the second round in second place, and her two-run cumulative time of 31.03 seconds has her runner-up in the average. So far the two-time world champion from Victoria, Texas, has earned $7,816 and trails just leader Carlee Pierce, who won both rounds and the average. They’ll lead the parade of eight cowgirls who qualify for the semifinals, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. “I did not know how awesome the Ram finals were until I made them last year,” said Pozzi, a nine-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “Now every year from now on I’ll make sure I make my (Texas) Circuit Finals. It’s really awesome to be here.” The top six contestants in both go-rounds and the average earned checks over the last three days of competition. Only the top eight in each event qualify for Saturday night, which offers a sudden death format – the previous scores will be thrown out, and only the top four times or scores will advance into the finals directly following the semifinals. For Pozzi, it helps greatly that her partner is in top form. Duke has been one of the top barrel horses in rodeo for several years. “He felt outstanding,” she said of Duke. “It’s been a really hard winter. He’s been off and on, hurt and not hurt. I’ve actually been on him for a couple of runs, and he’s coming back really strong.” Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo April 4-6, Oklahoma City Second round results Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, on Korkow Rodeo’s Arabella, and Tim O’Connell, Swigle, Iowa, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cool Change, 85 points, $3,976 each; 3. Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 83, $2,468; 4. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 82, $1,645; 5. Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan.; Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., Caine Riddle, Vernon, Texas, and Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 81, $411 each. Average and semifinals qualifiers: Tim O’Connell, $4,525; 2. Caleb Bennett, $3,428; 3. Jared Keylon, $2,468; 4. Joe Gunderson, $1,645; 5. Clint Cannon and Jessy Davis, $823; 7. Wes Stevenson; 8. Bobby Mote. Steer wrestling: 1. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 3.2 seconds, $4,525;2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.5, $3,428;3. (tie) Jon Ragatz, Beetown, Wis., and Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.8, $2,057; 5. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 5.1, $960; 6. (tie) Nik Hamm, Rapid City, S.D., and Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.3, $343 each. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 9.1 seconds on two head, $4,525; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 9.2, $3,428; 3. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 9.5, $2,468; 4. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 9.7, $1,645; 5. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 10.5, $960; 6. Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 10.6, $686; 7. Nik Hamm, Rapid City, S.D., 12.8; 8. Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 13.2. Tie-down roping: 1. tie) Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., 8.8 seconds, and Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.8 seconds, $3,976; 3. (tie) Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 9.0, $2,057 each; 5. Tim Pharr, Resaca, Ga., 9.3, $960; 6. Bryant Mikkelson, Buffalo, Mont., 9.4, $686. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 17.7 seconds on two head, $4,525;2. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 18.4, $3,428; 3. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 19.7, $1,303;6. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 20.4, $686; 7. (tie) Jody Green, Shakopee, Minn., and J.R. Myers, Felton, Pa., 20.8. Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., on Painted Pony Champ. Rodeo’s Shasta, and Curtis Garton, New Zealand, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Empty Pockets,82 points, $3,976; 3. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore., 81, $2,468; 4. (tie) Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, and Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D., 80, $1,303 each; 6. (tie) Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., Joaquin Real, Woody, Calif., and Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 78, $229 each. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 167 points on two head, $4,525; 2. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 162, $3,428; 3. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 158, $2,468;4. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore., 157, $1,645; 5. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 156, $960; 6. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, and Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 155, $343 each; 8. Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., 154. Team roping: 1. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 4.8 seconds, $4,525;2. Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 5.2, $3,428; 3. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Nick Sarchett, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.3, $2,468; 4. Arky Rogers, Lipan, Texas/Joel Bach, Rhome, Texas, 5.4, $1,645; 5. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 5.8, $960; 6. Nelson Linares, Plant City, Fla./Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 6.0, $686. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Nick Sarchett, Phoenix, Ariz., 11.4 seconds on two head, $4,525; 2. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 11.6, $3,428; 3. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 11.7, $2,468; 4. Nelson Linares, Plant City, Fla./Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 12.1, $1,645; 5. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 12.2, $960; 6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 13.3, $686; 7. Marcus Battaglia, Ramona, Calif./Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., 15.8; 8. Arky Rogers, Lipan, Texas/Joel Bach, Rhome, Texas, 16.0. Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.25 seconds, $4,525; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.42, $3,428; 3. Barbara Merrill, Axtell, Utah, 15.50, $2,468; 4. Sherry Cannon, Saint Augustine, Fla., 15.56, $1,645; 5. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.59, $960; 6.Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 15.68, $686. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 30.67 seconds on two runs, $4,525; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 31.03, $3,428; 3. (tie) Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 31.30, and Cindy Smith, Hobbs, N.M., 31.30, $2,057 each; 5.  Continue Reading »

Saddle bronc riding: 1. (tie) Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., on Painted Pony Champ. Rodeo’s Shasta, and Curtis Garton, New Zealand, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Empty Pockets,82 points, $3,976; 3. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore., 81, $2,468; 4. (tie) Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, and Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D., 80, $1,303 each; 6. (tie) Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., Joaquin Real, Woody, Calif., and Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 78, $229 each. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 167 points on two head, $4,525; 2. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 162, $3,428; 3. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 158, $2,468;4. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore., 157, $1,645; 5. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 156, $960; 6. (tie) Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, and Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 155, $343 each; 8. Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., 154. Team roping: 1. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 4.8 seconds, $4,525;2. Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo./Shay Carroll, La Junta, Colo., 5.2, $3,428; 3. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Nick Sarchett, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.3, $2,468; 4. Arky Rogers, Lipan, Texas/Joel Bach, Rhome, Texas, 5.4, $1,645; 5. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 5.8, $960; 6. Nelson Linares, Plant City, Fla./Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 6.0, $686. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Nick Sarchett, Phoenix, Ariz., 11.4 seconds on two head, $4,525; 2. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 11.6, $3,428; 3. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 11.7, $2,468; 4. Nelson Linares, Plant City, Fla./Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 12.1, $1,645; 5. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 12.2, $960; 6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 13.3, $686; 7. Marcus Battaglia, Ramona, Calif./Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., 15.8; 8. Arky Rogers, Lipan, Texas/Joel Bach, Rhome, Texas, 16.0. Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.25 seconds, $4,525; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.42, $3,428’ 3. Barbara Merrill, Axtell, Utah, 15.50, $2,468; 4. Sherry Cannon, Saint Augustine, Fla., 15.56, $1,645; 5. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 15.59, $960; 6.Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 15.68, $686. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 30.67 seconds on two runs, $4,525; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 31.03, $3,428; 3. (tie) Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 31.30, and Cindy Smith, Hobbs, N.M., 31.30, $2,057 each; 5. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 31.31, $960; 6. Barbara Merrill, Axtell, Utah, 31.35, $686; 7. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 31.49; 8. Pamela Capper, Cheney, Wash., 31.53.

Tie-down roping: 1. tie) Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., 8.8 seconds, and Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.8 seconds, $3,976; 3. (tie) Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 9.0, $2,057 each; 5. Tim Pharr, Resaca, Ga., 9.3, $960; 6. Bryant Mikkelson, Buffalo, Mont., 9.4, $686. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 17.7 seconds on two head, $4,525;2. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 18.4, $3,428; 3. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 19.7, $1,303;6. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 20.4, $686; 7. (tie) Jody Green, Shakopee, Minn., and J.R. Myers, Felton, Pa., 20.8.

Steer wrestling: 1. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 3.2 seconds, $4,525;2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.5, $3,428;3. (tie) Jon Ragatz, Beetown, Wis., and Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.8, $2,057; 5. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 5.1, $960; 6. (tie) Nik Hamm, Rapid City, S.D., and Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.3, $343. Average and semifinals qualifiers: 1. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 9.1 seconds on two head, $4,525; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 9.2, $3,428; 3. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 9.5, $2,468; 4. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 9.7, $1,645; 5. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 10.5, $960; 6. Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 10.6, $686; 7. Nik Hamm, Rapid City, S.D., 12.8; 8. Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 13.2.

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo is an important event for all 192 contestants in the field. It might mean a little more to steer wrestler Ethen Touvenell of Wittmann, Ariz. “I was pretty broke coming in here, and I needed to win something so I could keep going to these rodeos,” said Thouvenell, a two-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “Anything helps. It doesn’t matter how much as long as I can keep winning. It’ll be a big difference.” There is no guaranteed pay in the sport, and contestants must cover their own expenses to travel down the rodeo trail. Quality timed-event horses can cost tens of thousands of dollars, even hundreds of thousands of dollars. The specialized rigs that offer a house on wheels for both equine and human athletes are just as, if not more, costly. Meanwhile, the only way a contestant is paid is if he or she performs better than most others that particular night. “I’ve been to this rodeo four times, and the most I’ve ever won out of it is $1,000,” Thouvenell said. “It’d be a big boost for everything if I could do well here.” Thouvenell grappled his steer to the dirt in 3.2 seconds and leads the second go-round heading into Saturday’s four performance, scheduled for 1 p.m. at State Fair Arena. Combined with his 6.0-second run in the opening round, Thouvenell sits fourth in the two-run aggregate. Jason Miller, the 2007 world champion from Lance Creek, Wyo., leads the average with a cumulative time of 9.1 seconds. Barrel racer Carlee Pierce, who lived much of her life in the Freedom-Woodward area in northwest Oklahoma, has a commanding lead in the two-run aggregate. She won the opening round with a 15.42-second run on her great horse, Dillion. On Friday night, she blistered the cloverleaf pattern again, stopping the clock in 15.25 seconds. “Everything just felt really smooth,” said Pierce, a two-time NFR qualifier from Stephenville, Texas. “(Dillion) just went out there and ran. He likes this arena.” A year ago, Pierce finished as the runner-up at the RNCFR. What would it mean to win this coveted title in such a historic arena? “I would love to win in any arena, but (with) this arena being in my home states (and that) I’ve got a lot of family and friends that are watching, so to do it right here at home would be fun,” she said. Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo April 4-6, Oklahoma City Second round leaders Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, on Korkow Rodeo’s Arabella, and Tim O’Connell, Swigle, Iowa, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cool Change, 85 points; 3. (tie) Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan., and Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 81; 5. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 80; 6. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 79. Average leaders: 1. Tim O’Connell, 167 points on two; 2. Jared Keylon, 164; 3. Jessy Davis, 161; 4. Wes Stevenson, 160; 5. Bobby Mote, 158; 6. Matthew Smith, 152; 7. Jet Price, 147; 8. Kaycee Feild, 85 on one. Steer wrestling: 1. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 3.2 seconds; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.5; 3. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.8; 4. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 5.1; 5. Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.3; 6. Kamry Dymmek, Kissimmee, Fla., 8.2. Average leaders: 1. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 9.1 seconds on two head; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 9.2; 3. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 9.5; 4. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 9.7; 5. Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 13.2; 6. Mike Gollaher, Cascade, Mont., 19.2; 7. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 20.5;8. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 3.7 on one. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., and Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.8 seconds; 3. (tie) Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 9.0; 5. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 10.2; 6. Justin Scofield, Volga, S.D., 11.4. Average leaders: 1. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 17.7 seconds on two head; 2. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 18.4; 3. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 18.6; 4. (tie) Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 19.7; 6. Chase Johnston, Kersey, Colo., 21.5; 7. Cody McCartney, Ottawa Lake, Mich., 22.2; 8. Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga., 30.3. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 82 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Empty Pockets; 2. Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D., 80; 3. (tie) Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., Joaquin Real, Woody, Calif., and Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 78; 6. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 77. Average leaders: 1. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 162 points on two head; 2. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 156; 3. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 155; 4. Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., 154; 5. Joaquin Real, Woody, Calif., 152; 6. Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., 142; 7. Ben Londo, Pendleton, Ore., 141; 8. Jesse Kirby, Dodge City, Kan., 134. Team roping: 1. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 4.8 seconds; 2. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Nick Sarchett, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.3; 3. Nelson Linares, Plant City, Fla./Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 6.0; 4. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 6.6; 5. Luke Brown, Stephenville, Texas/Martin Lucero, Stephenville, Texas, 9.9; 6. Adam Rose, Willard, Mo./Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 10.1. Average leaders: 1. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz./Nick Sarchett, Phoenix, Ariz., 11.4 seconds on two head; 2. Nelson Linares, Plant City, Fla./Shawn Harris, Searcy, Ark., 12.1; 3. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 12.2; 4. Hunter Munsell, Arnett, Okla./Derrick Jantzen, Ames, Okla., 20.4; 5. Adam Rose, Willard, Mo./Gabe Gwaltney, Carthage, Mo., 25.1; 6. Preston Billadeau, Parshall, N.D./Jared Bilby, Bridgeport, Neb., 4.8 on one; 7. Troy Kitchener, Liberty, Mo./Chad Mathes, Lawson, Mo., 5.3; 8. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.5. Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.25 seconds; 2. Barbara Merrill, Axtell, Utah, 15.50; 3. Sherry Cannon, St. Augustine, Fla., 15.56; 4. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. 15.59; 5. Cindy Smith, Hobbs, N.M., 15.74; 6. Chloe Hoovestal, Helena, Mont, 15.59. Average leaders: 1. Carlee Pierce, 30.67 seconds on two runs; 2. Cindy Smith, 31.30; 3. Lisa  Continue Reading »

I only have the round leaders in bareback riding. I’ll try to find the average leaders soon. Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, on Korkow Rodeo’s Arabella, and Tim O’Connell, Swigle, Iowa,  on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Cool Change, 85 points; 3. (tie) Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan., and Tyson Thompson, Bradley, Calif., 81; 5. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont., 80; 6. Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 79. Tie-down roping: 1. (tie) Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., and Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.8 seconds; 3. (tie) Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 9.0; 5. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 10.2; 6. Justin Scofield, Volga, S.D., 11.4. Average leaders: 1. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 17.7 seconds on two head; 2. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 18.4; 3. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 18.6; 4. (tie) Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., and Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M., 19.7; 6. Chase Johnston, Kersey, Colo., 21.5; 7. Cody McCartney, Ottawa Lake, Mich., 22.2; 8. Justin Thigpen, Waycross, Ga., 30.3. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 82 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Empty Pockets; 2. Troy Crowser, Whitewood, S.D., 80; 3. (tie) Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., Joaquin Real, Woody, Calif., and Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 78; 6. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 77. Average leaders: 1. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 162 points on two head; 2. Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., 156; 3. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 155; 4. Andy Clarys, Riverton, Wyo., 154; 5. Joaquin Real, Woody, Calif., 152; 6. Jake Costello, Newell, S.D., 142; 7. Ben Londo, Pendleton, Ore., 141; 8. Jesse Kirby, Dodge City, Kan., 134.

Steer wrestling: 1. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 3.2 seconds; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.5; 3. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.8; 4. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 5.1; 5. Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 5.3; 6. Kamry Dymmek, Kissimmee, Fla., 8.2. Average leaders: 1. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 9.1 seconds on two head; 2. Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 9.2; 3. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 9.5; 4. Ethen Thouvenell, Wittmann, Ariz., 9.7; 5. Trevor Duhon, Phoenix, Ariz., 13.2; 6. Mike Gollaher, Cascade, Mont., 19.2; 7. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 20.5;8. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 3.7 on one.

OKLAHOMA CITY – On Tuesday, Bradley Harter was sitting at his home in Loranger, La., with no big plans for his weekend. That’s when he got a phone call from an official at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association asking if he would be interested in being a saddle bronc riding replacement at the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo for the injured Sterling Crawley. “They called me two days ago to replace him,” said Harter, a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “Thank God I was sitting at home and had nothing to do, so I hoped in the car and came up here.” That was an 11-hour drive from southern Louisiana to Oklahoma City, but this is ProRodeo’s National Championship. Harter made the trip pay off, riding Powder River Rodeo’s Lipstick N Whisky for 86 points to win the first round at State Fair Arena. “I had a many-time NFR horse that they win rounds on,” Harter said of the athletic bay. “I was really excited to see that was the horse I had.” He earned $4,525 and holds the momentum heading into the final two days of competition. The second round is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday – because of the sheer number of contestants, it takes two performances to get all 192 contestants a shot at the go-round money. The contestants with the top eight cumulative times or scores after two go-rounds qualify for the semifinals, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. “The setup here at Oklahoma City is great for everybody,” Harter said. “The payoff is excellent. We get to come get on great bucking horses, ride for good money and you can win a voucher for a pickup. Other than being a world champion and going to the NFR, this is the next biggest step in rodeo.” Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo April 4-6, Oklahoma City First round results Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 84 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Beatrice, $4,525; 2. Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan., 83, $3,428; 3. (tie) Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 82, $1,691; 6. (tie) George Gillespie IV, Placerville, Calif., Zach Curran, Pavillion, Wyo., Davis, Power, Mont., and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 81, $171. Steer wrestling: 1. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 3.7 seconds, $4,525; 2. Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 3.9, $3,428; 3. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.3, $2,468; 4. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 4.4, $1,645; 5. (tie) Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., and Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.7, $823. Tie-down roping: 1. Jared Ferguson, Cottonwood, Calif., 8.2 seconds, $4,525; 2. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 8.4, $3,428; 3. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.9, $2,468; 4. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 9.3, $1,645; 5. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 9.4, $960; 6. Chase Johnston, Kersey, Colo., 9.6, $686. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 86 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Lipstick n Whiskey, $4,525; 2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 85, $3,428; 3. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 83, $2,468; 4. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 80, $1,645; 5. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 79, $960. 6 (tie) Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., and Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 78, $229. Team roping: 1. tie) Troy Kitchener, Liberty, Mo./Chad Mathes, Lawson, Mo., and Hunter Munsell, Arnett, Okla./Derrick Jantzen, Ames, Okla., 5.3 seconds, $3,976; 3. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.5, $2,468; 4. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 5.6, $1,645; 5. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 5.9, $960; 6. Marcus Battaglia, Ramona, Calif./Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., 6.0, $686. Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.42 seconds, $4,525; 2. Cindy Smith, Hobbs, N.M., 15.56, $3,428; 3. (tie) Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., and Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla., 15.59, $2,057; 5. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.61, $960; 6. Pamela Capper, Cheney, Wash., 15.67, $686. Bull riding: 1. Dylan Werner, Perry, Fla., 89 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Jaw Bender, $4,525; 2. John Young, Orient, Iowa, 84, $3,428; 3. Bryce Brown, Greenview, Calif., 78, $2,468; no other qualified rides.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Bradley Harter, Weatherford, Texas, 86 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Lipstick n Whiskey, $4,525; 2. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 85, $3,428; 3. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 83, $2,468; 4. Curtis Garton, New Zealand, 80, $1,645; 5. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 79, $960. 6 (tie) Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, Cody Taton, Corona, N.M., and Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 78, $229. Team roping: 1. tie) Troy Kitchener, Liberty, Mo./Chad Mathes, Lawson, Mo., and Hunter Munsell, Arnett, Okla./Derrick Jantzen, Ames, Okla., 5.3 seconds, $3,976; 3. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.5, $2,468; 4. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore./Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 5.6, $1,645; 5. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 5.9, $960; 6. Marcus Battaglia, Ramona, Calif./Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., 6.0, $686. Barrel racing: 1. Carlee Pierce, Stephenville, Texas, 15.42 seconds, $4,525; 2. Cindy Smith, Hobbs, N.M., 15.56, $3,428; 3. (tie) Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., and Tana Renick, Kingston, Okla., 15.59, $2,057; 5. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.61, $960; 6. Pamela Capper, Cheney, Wash., 15.67, $686.

Tie-down roping: 1. Jared Ferguson, Cottonwood, Calif., 8.2 seconds, $4,525; 2. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 8.4, $3,428; 3. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho, 8.9, $2,468; 4. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 9.3, $1,645; 5. Shane Erickson, Terrebonne, Ore., 9.4, $960; 6. Chase Johnston, Kersey, Colo., 9.6, $686.

Steer wrestling: 1. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 3.7 seconds, $4,525; 2. Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 3.9, $3,428; 3. Jason Miller, Lance Creek, Wyo., 4.3, $2,468; 4. Sean Santucci, Prineville, Ore., 4.4, $1,645; 5. (tie) Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., and Dean Gorsuch, Gering, Neb., 4.7, $823.

Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 84 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Beatrice, $4,525; 2. Jared Keylon, Uniontown, Kan., 83, $3,428; 3. (tie) Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 82, $1,691; 6. (tie) George Gillespie IV, Placerville, Calif., Zach Curran, Pavillion, Wyo., Davis, Power, Mont., and Wes Stevenson, Lubbock, Texas, 81, $171.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the last six years, Taos Muncy is one of the more accomplished saddle bronc riders going. He owns two Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world championships and a National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association title. He’s qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo five times, missing the sport’s grand finale just one time because of an injury. He has yet to win ProRodeo’s National Championship, but Muncy hopes to change that this weekend. On Thursday afternoon, he matched moves with Carr Pro Rodeo’s Mike & Ike for 85 points to take the first-round lead at the 2013 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo at historic State Fair Arena. “You want to get off to a good start and build your confidence,” said Muncy, a five-time RNCFR qualifier from Corona, N.M. “I had a week off, so I was a little nervous getting on today. I’m glad to get the first one out of the way and hopefully everything keeps going good the rest of the week.” The RNCFR features 24 contestants/teams in each event, cowboys and cowgirls who earned the right to compete by doing well in their home circuit – there are 12 geographic regions in ProRodeo’s circuit system. Each contestant will compete in two go-rounds; half the field competed Thursday afternoon, and the other half is scheduled to compete Thursday night to complete the opening round. They will follow a similar schedule at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday to conduct the second go-round. The top eight in the two-round aggregate qualify for the final performance, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday. That’s why it’s so important for the contenders get on a roll quickly. “It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders,” said bareback rider Caleb Bennett of Morgan, Utah, who rode Bar T Rodeo’s Beatrice for 84 points to lead the round. “Get a good start here takes a little pressure off me and allows me to focus a little bit more the next couple rounds to take care of business and ride bucking horses.” This is Bennett’s first RNCFR qualification, just three months removed from his first trip to the NFR. It’s further proof of the elite contestants who are part of Oklahoma City’s championship event. “I had a really good year,” Bennett said. “I set some goals last year to make it to both of those, and I ended up completing both of those goals; now I’m trying to win a pickup.” The total purse is nearly $480,000, so there’s a lot of money up for grabs, but the top prize in each event is a $20,000 voucher for a new Ram truck. That’s something each of the contestants hopes to win. “I’ve been second here two or three times and third once, so this is one that’s on the list,” Muncy said. “It would mean a lot to win it.” Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo April 4-6, Oklahoma City First round leaders Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 84 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Beatrice; 2. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 82; 3. (tie) George Gillespie IV, Placerville, Calif., and Zach Curran, Pavillion, Wyo., 81; 5. Jared Green, Socoro, N.M., 80; 6. (tie) Chase Erickson, Helena, Mont., and Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 78. Steer wrestling: 1. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 3.7 seconds; 2. Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 3.9; 3. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.7; 4. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 5.1; 5. Nik Hamm, Rapid City, S.D., 7.5; 6. Nolan Conway, Browning, Mont., 8.3. Tie-down roping: 1. Jared Ferguson, Cottonwood, Calif., 8.2 seconds; 2. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 9.3; 3. Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah, 10.2; 4. Jody Green, Shakopee, Minn., 10.3; 5. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 10.7; 6. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 10.9. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 85 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Gold Coast; 2. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 83; 3. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 79; 4. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 78; 5. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore., 77; 6. (tie) Lyle Welling, Crawford, Neb., and Cole Bilbro Pelahatchie, Miss., 72. Team roping: 1. Troy Kitchener, Liberty, Mo./Chad Mathes, Lawson, Mo., 5.3 seconds; 2. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.5; 3. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 5.9; 4. Marcus Battaglia, Ramona, Calif./Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., 6.0; 5. Robby Farias, Kilauea, Hawaii/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 6.2; 6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 6.8. Barrel racing: 1. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 15.59 seconds; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.61; 3. Pamela Capper, Cheney, Wash., 15.67; 4. Natalie Foutch, Eldora, Iowa, 15.77; 5. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 15.81; 6. (tie) Joyce Stoltzfus, Peach Bottom, Pa., and Sally Young, Micanopy, Fla., 16.16. Bull riding: 1. John Young, Orient, Iowa, 83 points on Burns Rodeo’s Smoke Signal; 2. Bryce Brown, Greenview, Calif., 78; no other qualified rides.

Barrel racing: 1. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 15.59 seconds; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.61; 3. Pamela Capper, Cheney, Wash., 15.67; 4. Natalie Foutch, Eldora, Iowa, 15.77; 5. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 15.81; 6. (tie) Joyce Stoltzfus, Peach Bottom, Pa., and Sally Young, Micanopy, Fla., 16.16. Bull riding: 1. John Young, Orient, Iowa, 83 points on Burns Rodeo’s Smoke Signal; 2. Bryce Brown, Greenview, Calif., 78; no other qualified rides.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M., 85 points on Pete Carr’s Classic ProRodeo’s Gold Coast; 2. Jacobs Crawley, College Station, Texas, 83; 3. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 80; 4. Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 78; 5. Mert Bradshaw, Eagle Point, Ore., 77; 6. (tie) Lyle Welling, Crawford, Neb., and Cole Bilbro Pelahatchie, Miss., 72. Team roping: 1. Troy Kitchener, Liberty, Mo./Chad Mathes, Lawson, Mo., 5.3 seconds; 2. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz./Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz., 5.5; 3. Miles Kobold, Billings, Mont./Matt Robertson, Augusta, , 5.9; 4. Marcus Battaglia, Ramona, Calif./Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif., 6.0; 5. Robby Farias, Kilauea, Hawaii/Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah, 6.2; 6. Spencer Mitchell, Colusa, Calif./Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 6.8. Barrel racing: 1. Theresa Walter, Billings, Mont., 15.59 seconds; 2. Brittany Pozzi, Victoria, Texas, 15.61; 3. Pamela Capper, Cheney, Wash., 15.67; 4. Natalie Foutch, Eldora, Iowa, 15.77; 5. Nancy Hunter, Neola, Utah, 15.81; 6. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 16.00.

Tie-down roping: 1. Jared Ferguson, Cottonwood, Calif., 8.2 seconds; 2. Dane Kissack, Spearfish, S.D., 9.3; 3. Jake Hannum, Plain City, Utah, 10.2; 4. Jody Green, Shakopee, Minn., 10.3; 5. Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 10.7; 6. Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 10.9.

Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, Morgan, Utah, 84 points on Bar T Rodeo’s Beatrice; 2. Joe Gunderson, Agar, S.D., 82; 3. (tie) George Gillespie IV, Placerville, Calif., and Zach Curran, Pavillion, Wyo., 81; 5. Jared Green, Socoro, N.M., 80; 6. (tie) Chase Erickson, Helena, Mont., and Clint Cannon, Waller, Texas, 78. Steer wrestling: 1. Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 3.7 seconds; 2. Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 3.9; 3. Seth Brockman, Wheatland, Wyo., 4.7; 4. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., 5.1; 5. Nik Hamm, Rapid City, S.D., 7.5; 6. Nolan Conway, Browning, Mont., 8.3.

Contestants with ties to the state excited to compete for coveted RNCFR titles   OKLAHOMA CITY – The Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo is an important championship for each of the 195 contestants who are scheduled to compete this week. It’s an even bigger deal for 11 cowboys and cowgirls with ties to Oklahoma. From those like steer wrestler Stockton Graves who were born in the Sooner State to transplants like barrel racer P.J. Burger, Oklahoma’s rich rodeo and Western heritage shines brightly. There’s no better way to put it on display than hosting ProRodeo’s National Championship, set for 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at State Fair Arena in Oklahoma City. The three days family entertainment, from funnyman Justin Rumford of Ponca City, Okla., to Whiplash the Cowboy Monkey to concerts from top country acts Thompson Square and Chris Cagle. “I love the fact that the (Ram) Finals is in Oklahoma City,” said Graves, a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Newkirk, Okla. “It’s a great event, and I’m glad to see they moved that finals to Oklahoma City from Pocatello (Idaho).” The RNCFR was established in the 1970s and was held on the campus of Idaho State University for decades. It moved to Oklahoma City three years ago and found a fantastic home: State Fair Arena is the former home of NFR and has been the site of numerous championship events over the last half century. “I don’t think it’s a home-field advantage in any way for me,” said Burger, who qualified for the NFR in 2009. “It’s still a good paying rodeo, and it doesn’t matter if it’s close to home or across the country. It’ll be nice to sleep in my own bed and be able to take the horses home each night, but that’s about it.” Burger moved to Oklahoma 13 years ago after spending her formative years in Minnesota. She married Joey Burger, whose mother, Mary, is the 2006 barrel racing world champion. “It’s an honor to represent your circuit at that big of a rodeo,” said P.J. Burger, a two-time RNCFR qualifier who earned the right to compete in Oklahoma City by winning the Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo average championship last October in Duncan, Okla. “You rodeo all year for a chance to compete at a deal like that, so it means a lot.” The home-state contingent includes team ropers Destry Graham of Sallisaw, Jimmy Thomas of Hodgen, Hunter Munsell of Arnett and Derrick Jantzen of Ames; bull rider Guthrie Murray of Miami; barrel racers Tana Renick of Kingston and Carlee Pierce, who spent most of her life near Freedom and Woodward; and tie-down ropers Hunter Herrin and Bryson Sechrist, both of Apache. In addition to Graves and Burger, Herrin and Pierce are NFR veterans – Herrin is a six-time qualifier, while Pierce has earned trips to Las Vegas each of the past two years. Now living in Stephenville, Texas, Pierce finished the 2012 campaign No. 2 in the world standings, earning $79,802 at the NFR and finishing the season with $204,322. “It’s always fun to go back to Oklahoma and compete, especially at that rodeo,” said Pierce, who finished second at the RNCFR last April. “It’s always nice to be able to go back to a place that was home for so long. That’s a place that always feels more comfortable. “When you go back to Oklahoma and you’re from Oklahoma, everybody gets excited about it, including me.” Born in Alberta, Pierce moved to Freedom at age 10. She married Steve Pierce years later; the couple began their family in Woodward and didn’t leave the Sooner State until the fall of 2011. “All three of our kids were born in Oklahoma, and I lived there most of my life,” Carlee Pierce said. “I love competing at State Fair Arena. I’ve always done well there and on multiple horses. It’s a good setup, and the ground is always really good. “I wish they had more ProRodeo stuff in that arena.” Oklahoma has a powerful rodeo heritage that goes beyond hosting some of the sport’s greatest events. In addition to the RNCFR and NFR, Oklahoma has been host to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping and some of the greatest names in the sport: Shoulders, Brown, Duvall, Etbauer and Ferguson, to name a few. “I think it’s important to have an event like the (Ram) Finals in Oklahoma,” Graves said. “When you look back at the history of rodeo, there’s a lot of it right here in Oklahoma. This is the perfect place for a championship like this.”

CLAREMORE, Okla. – Members of the Will Rogers Roundup Club know an important piece of rodeos future is to embrace its past. That is the key reason behind the Rodeo Legends Banquet, which took place March 30, at the clubhouse. Six people were inducted into the Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo Hall of Fame that evening, including an eight-time world champion, three other qualifiers to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and local legends Henry and Phillipa Orr. It’s the perfect precursor to the annual rodeo, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 24-Sunday, May 26. Don Gay owns the most bull riding world championships in the history of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, including four straight from 1974-77. He added three more from 1979-81 and his final gold buckle in 1984. He headlines a list that includes steer wrestler Jim Smith, a four-time NFR qualifier; roughstock cowboy Sammie Groves, an NFR qualifier in saddle bronc riding; and barrel racer Tana Poppino, a three-time NFR qualifier from nearby Big Cabin, Okla. “I’m in a number of halls of fame, but this is very nice,” Gay said. “To be recognized with an individual rodeo that has a longstanding history like Claremore does, you realize that your deeds have not gone unrewarded.” Gay competed primarily through the 1970s and 1980s. Today, he continues to be a major player in the game, the son of legendary stock contractor Neal Gay, general manager of Frontier Rodeo Co., and as a color analyst for the NFR telecasts. “I finally and officially retired for the fourth time in 1989,” said Gay, who won bull riding titles in 1974 and 1978. Groves won the saddle bronc riding title at the Will Rogers Stampede five straight times from 1972-76. In fact, he dominated the Oklahoma Circuit in 1974 by also winning in Tulsa, Woodward, Guthrie and Ponca City. He competed at the NFR six times, the first in 1970 as an alternate. His final trip to Oklahoma City for ProRodeo’s finale was in 1978. Smith and his horse, Old Colt, were an important team in steer wrestling. Smith qualified for the NFR four times and won three championships in Claremore. In addition to his own pedigree, the world championship lineage didn’t stop with Smith. His daughter, Jaimey, is married to four-time world champion steer wrestler Ote Berry, while son Justin is married to Garret, who comes from the famed McEntire family; she is the granddaughter of three-time world champion steer roper Clark McEntire and great-granddaughter of world champion steer roper John McEntire. Poppino has yet to win the title in Claremore, but she is the only 2013 inductee still competing. “Oklahoma is rich in Western history, and we are honored in this area that we have an American icon in Will Rogers that was raised in northeast Oklahoma,” Poppino said. “We have a weekend every year that we are celebrating his life and the Western heritage at the Will Rogers Stampede. “For my name to be linked with Will Rogers or Donnie Gay is beyond my belief. I am truly honored.” Poppino continues to focus much of her time competing in ProRodeo. She last qualified for the NFR in 2010 and just missed the championship in 2011. “The reason I’m able to continue going is that I’ve had some great help getting down the road,” she said. “Without Equipride and Total Health Enhancement, it never would have been possible to make the finals three times. I’ve had Cowboy Riggs, Pam Peterson Insurance, Celtic Complexion and ProRodeo Team Oklahoma who have been standing behind me through thick and thin, which is really helpful when you rodeo for a living.” Of course, she’s also done more than just run barrels. “Tana has been a tremendous asset to the sport and to the community, and she’s always been a strong advocate for the Will Rogers Stampede,” said David Petty, chairman of the rodeo committee. That describes Henry and Phillipa Orr, who were among the founding members of the Will Rogers Roundup Club. “My parents were very active in the 1950s,” said their son, Curtis. Henry Orr died in 1957, but Curtis Orr remembers well the family’s involvement. He even helped raise money by selling raffle tickets for a Shetland pony, riding the pony at appearances across the region. He will join siblings and other family members in celebrating his parents’ induction. “I think it’s great that they’re being inducted, but there are a lot of families that have been involved over the years,” Curtis Orr said. “I don’t think either of my parents would’ve said much about it because they were so shy and conservative. They really liked seeing other people get that recognition, but I think in their minds they would be pretty excited.” That’s a big part of any hall of fame induction, but each honor is rightfully deserved. “We have the Rodeo Legends Banquet to honor those who have helped us through the 67 years the Will Rogers Stampede has been held,” Petty said. “We’ve got a lot of positive things to look forward to at this year’s rodeo, but we can’t move forward without looking at where we’ve come from.”