Monthly Archives: October 2013

CORD McCOY RETIRES FROM BULL RIDING Before he ever raced around the world or became host a television series, Cord McCoy was a cowboy who made a name for himself as one of the best bull riders in the game. Now he’s retiring from the sport that earned him so much fame and acclaim. “I’d always set my goals for that year, whether it was making the PBR World Finals or accomplishing something else,” said McCoy, who raises bucking bulls and also hosts “The Ride with Cord McCoy,” a TV show that airs at 1 and 11 p.m. Eastern time Mondays on RFD-TV. “This year, my goals didn’t have anything to do with riding bulls. “Even when you’re hungry for it, bull riding is a dangerous sport. People have lost their lives doing this, something they love. You can’t do it halfway if you’re going to ride bulls.” Instead, he walks away while still considered one of the very best in the game. In his career, McCoy has accomplished just about every goal he set for himself. He owns five International Professional Rodeo Association titles, qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and earned six trips to the PBR World Finals. “For the last 25 years, I made a living going up and down the road and in the rodeo arena,” McCoy said as he introduces the Oct. 21 episode of “The Ride.” “It’s time to hang up the bull rope.” The reason is simple: When one competes in such a ferocious sport, it takes the perfect mindset to stay out of harm’s way, much less excel. “I put up 100 percent every time I went to a bull riding,” he said. “I wanted to go out on my terms and while I was still at the top of my game. I feel like it’s time to be able to walk away from the sport. “When you live and you breathe it and you are at the peak of your life, it’s still a dangerous sport. The other day was Lane Frost’s birthday, and he would’ve been 50 years old. He’s one of those guys who died doing what he loved, but it just proves how dangerous this sport is.” He has faced plenty of adversity that came along with competing on the rodeo trail. He suffered broken bones and, in 2004, suffered a serious injury after being kicked on the left side of his head by a horse while competing in saddle bronc riding during the championship go-round at the Oklahoma State Fair Rodeo in Oklahoma City. Seven months later, after rehabilitation to re-learn how to even walk and talk, the Oklahoma cowboy returned to bull riding. “I don’t think there’s anybody that’s overcome as much adversity as he has,” said Jet McCoy, Cord’s older brother by 13 months. “It just seems like looking back at his career, there’s been so many opportunities for him to quit, and every time one of those things happened, the doctors said it was a career-ending injury. Every time that happened, just as soon as he was well enough, he was riding again.” He’s never looked back. “I feel so blessed to say I’ve had a good career,” Cord McCoy said Yes, he has. McCoy was in high school when he began making a living in rodeo. Traveling with Jet, the McCoys became the rising stars in junior rodeo, then matured with each age group. While teenagers, they qualified for the International Finals Rodeo, with Cord McCoy, at age 16, being the youngest cowboy to win the all-around title at the IFR. “I still hold several records in the IPRA and still wear the buckle from the IPRA,” Cord McCoy said on the show that airs Monday. “All the fans, the sponsors and the committees have made my dreams come true.” But McCoy won’t stay away from bull riding; he’ll just switch sides of the chute, helping pull the trigger for many bulls that will perform at some of the biggest events in the country. “I’m going to the PBR World Finals this year not to ride, but I’m taking seven head of bucking bulls and heading out to Vegas,” he said. While he will still be involved, his grace inside the arena is what fans will miss most. Whether he won a round or was bucked off shy of the 8-second mark, McCoy always shared his infectious smile. “Cord exemplifies what makes bull riding popular, and that’s effort,” said Jerome Robinson, a bull riding legend and the arena director for the PBR. “Any fan can know absolutely nothing about bull riding, but they can recognize effort. What Cord put in every time was effort.” Maybe that’s why Cord McCoy was such a fan favorite. He also is one of the bull riders’ favorite peers. “One thing that always sticks out in my mind is true grit, the true cowboy spirit he showed,” bull rider Dusty LaBeth said. “Overcoming that severe of an injury, then going on to become one of the great bull riders of all time … that’s what being a cowboy is all about.” Yes, it is. But being a cowboy is more than riding in the arena. Actually, it’s in the life McCoy lives on the ranch near Tupelo, Okla., with his wife, Sara. “I’m excited about what’s coming up,” Cord McCoy said. “We’ve worked on our program on the ranch. Just in the three years that I’ve been married, you can see the progress we’ve done around here. Whatever we’ve had before is just that much nicer now. I think we’re a pretty good team. Just to quit bull riding, I’m not too worried about it.” But if will forever be part of who Cord McCoy is, and he’s OK with it. “If I had the opportunity to turn around and do it all over again, no matter how bad it hurt and no matter how tired and sore and hungry I was, I’d probably turn around  Continue Reading »

DUNCAN, Okla. – More than half the bronc riders that qualified for this year’s Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo have something in common: They all competed in college rodeo at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. On Thursday night during the first go-round of the regional championship at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center in Duncan, four of the seven Panhandle State cowboys shared the evening’s bronc riding purse. Led by veteran Travis Sheets, who won the round, the top four places went to cowboys attended the small college in the small town of Goodwell, Okla. “That’s a bronc riders school,” said Sheets, who rode Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Dreamer for 79 points to collect the $1,178 first-place check. It has been for a number of years, and now the program is coached by a couple of bronc riding legends in head coach Craig Latham, a nine-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier, and Robert Etbauer, a two-time world champion. “They crave bronc riding up there, and if you want to be a bronc rider, that’s where you go,” Sheets said. “If you’ve got the try, you’ll figure it out up there.” Sheets was joined in Thursday’s winner’s circle by Joe Harper, who was part of the Panhandle State men’s national championship team earlier this year; Weston Ireland, who attended the university about seven years ago; and Trell Etbauer, the 2005 national champion steer wrestler, three time Prairie Circuit all-around champion and four-time Linderman Award winner for excelling in both timed events and roughstock events. Harper finished second with a 78 on Mo Betta Rodeo’s Shasta, while Ireland was 72 and Etbauer was 69. In all, their combined income on opening night was nearly $3,000. “This is good, because I’m way down there in the circuit standings,” Sheets said, noting that year-end and circuit finals average champions in each event qualify for the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which takes place next spring in Oklahoma City. “I have to go for the average to get a chance to go back to Oklahoma City.” Only the top three-round cumulative scores or times earn the average championship, so it will come down to Saturday night’s finale before those titles are decided. For Sheets, it’s just nice to be healthy and back to riding broncs well again. “I got hurt midway through the summer, and I just didn’t get along very well after that,” said Sheets, from Hyannis, Neb. “I finally decided just to go home and heal up. “It’s nice to have a horse like that when you just get back to rodeoing again. I actually had that horse a couple of times, so I knew a lot about that horse. You get your confidence going. Of course, any time you can start your weekend with a good ride, it’s always a plus.” Now Sheets hopes to parlay a strong start into a powerful finish. He’s got the advantage heading into the final two nights of the circuit championship. Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo Oct. 17-19 Duncan, Okla. Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Brian Leddy, on New Frontier Rodeo’s Full House, and Caine Ridde, on New Frontier Rodeo’s Barely Legal, 77 points, $1,014 each; 3. (tie) Brody Cooper and Justin Lindquist, 68, $435 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Chancey Larson, 4.3 seconds, $1,178; 2. Colt Stearns, 4.4, $884; 3. Kyle Irwin, 4.5, $489; 4. Stockton Graves, 4.6, $295. Team roping: 1. Tavis Walters/Tad Sheets, 6.2 seconds, $1,178; 2. Troy Boone, 6.4, $884; 3. Joe Macoubrie/Dawson McMaster, 7.0, $589; 4. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, $295. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Travis Sheets, 79 points on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Dreamer, $1,178; 2. Joe Harper, 78, $884; 3. Weston Ireland, 72, $589; 4. Trell Etbauer, 69, $295. Tie-down roping: 1. Jerome Schneeberger, 8.8 seconds, $1,178; 2. Caddo Lewallen, 9.7, $884; 3. Garrett Nokes, 10.3, $589; 4. Cole Wilson, 11.0, $295. Barrel racing: 1. Emily Miller, 16.28 seconds, $1,178; 2. June Holeman, 16.46, $884; 3. (tie) Gretchen Benbenek and Kyra Stierwalt, 16.50, $442 each. Bull riding: 1. (tie) Brennon Eldred, on New Frontier Rodeo’s Night Rider, and Trevor Kastner, on Beutler and Son Rodeo’s Turbo Ryder, 82 points, $1,031 each; 3. Sage Kimzey, 78, $589; 4. Sam Wyatt, 72, $295.

There is a flurry of activity going on around here this week. In addition to handling as many assignments as possible for the American Royal in Kansas City, I am in the process of promoting the Midwest Classic, a Professional Roughstock Series event in Salina, Kan. It just so happens that it’s also Justin McBride’s return to the competitive arena, so it’s a big deal. I leave tomorrow for Duncan, Okla., and the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo. It’s going to be a fantastic championship, with several events coming down to the wire on Saturday night before the year-end champions are known. I’m also working on some other assignments for clients while also trying to get a handle on things for my work at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Oh, and I’ve got a few more details to finish for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, which takes place Nov. 8-9 at the Lazy E Arena. It’s this time of year when I realize my blessings so much. There are times my wife is a single mom, handling all the household duties while I hit the trail. It’s that kind of support that makes me realize that I did quite well, that God found me a wonderful woman to be my partner. I’ve got a pretty incredible family, and it pushes me to work harder for them.

Sallisaw, Okla. Even though he’s quite comfortable in eastern Oklahoma, J.P. Wickett could easily find his way to the southeastern New Mexico community of Lovington. Each of the past two seasons, Wickett has earned the steer roping title at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo. That’s been a key reason behind his qualifications to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping the past two seasons, but it’s not the only reason. One does not qualify for a National Finals event 14 times without great success in the arena. And get this: Wickett is your reigning national champion, having staked that claim this past spring during the Chute Help National Circuit Finals Steer Roping in Torrington, Wyo. It’s just one of the many accolades the Oklahoma cowboy has earned in his career, which began two decades ago. Wickett first qualified for the NFSR in 1996, then didn’t return for five seasons. He hasn’t missed one since 2001. Last November, he placed in five rounds and finished fourth in the average. He’s hoping to repeat that feat, if not build upon it, this weekend.

HENDERSON, Texas – Most sporting events are a wonderful combination of competition and entertainment. That’s exactly what members of the Rusk County PRCA Rodeo committee have in store for fans of this year’s event, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Rusk County Expo Center in Henderson. That’s just one of the many reasons they have enlisted the services of Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo and Carr Pro Rodeo, which will produce the annual event. “That committee works hard on their rodeo,” said Pete Carr, owner of the two livestock firms. “By the time we arrive this week, we’ll definitely be able to see that.” Now the work falls on the production team for the Carr firms. They’ll tackle the tasks it takes to produce three high-energy performances that will leave fans inside the Expo Center on the edges of their seats. “I like a good rodeo with good production, because it gets your motor going and you seem to ride better,” said Bradley Harter, a seven-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Weatherford, Texas. “It helps when you have a good rodeo with good sound, and you know you’re going to get that at all of Pete Carr’s rodeos.” Although their focus is on the competition, cowboys like Harter have taken notice. That means fans will definitely understand the power of high quality production. “I think the best thing about Pete is his production,” said Ace Berry, chairman of the volunteer committee that produces the annual rodeo in Big Spring, Texas. “He does have a really good bucking stock string, really nice broncs and bulls. “I think his production is the main thing. He just puts on a really good rodeo.” Carr is set to produce 33 rodeos in 17 states during the 2014 ProRodeo season. It takes a lot of great things to make something that special happen from one event to another. “This is not your 1960s stock contractor,” said Loydd Williams, chairman of the Bridgeport, Texas, rodeo. “This is a great production that fans will love from start to finish. Pete Carr and his crew have made our rodeo better.” While every rodeo performance features a livestock-based competition and has its own challenges, all the behind-the-scenes work is done to make the action in the arena seem flawless. “We try to have the theatrical portion of our show not interfere with the competition side,” said John Gwatney, a production supervisor for the Carr firms. “We try to run a good, fast, clean performance without interfering with the competition. “That’s where we’re different from other rodeo companies. If we’re not ready, the cowboy has to wait. When it comes time for that cowboy to compete, we’ve done everything we can to make that animal ready for that cowboy, so all he has to do is nod his head.” It shows in the final product, and it’s why events like the Rusk County PRCA Rodeo continue to draw great fans into the Expo Center.

Cisco, Texas Joe Wells is competing in the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping for the first time. That’s quite an accomplishment. What’s more impressive is that Wells is just 23 years old, a year removed from being named the Resistol PRCA Steer Roping Rookie of the Year. In just his sophomore season, Wells has been strong, earning $34,960 and finishing the regular season 11th in the world standings. That’s the reason he’s riding before you this weekend. He earned good paychecks all along the way and found success in some large events. In fact, he placed in one go-round and finished third in the average at the Daddy of ’em All, Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, where he pocketed about $8,500. It was those kinds of paydays that can help a cowboy throughout a season, but having the opportunity to play on steer roping’s grandest stage is something that can set quite a tone for one’s career. Joe Wells has kick-started his career in a great way. It should be quite fun watching him for years to come.

HENDERSON, Texas – On the opening weekend of the 2014 Pro Rodeo season, two of Pete Carr’s most decorated bucking horses proved their greatness again. It was in Hempstead, Texas, just a stone’s throw from Houston, where a couple of elite bareback riders shared the event championship with matching 89-point rides. Winn Ratliff, a 2012 qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo from Leesville, La., matched moves with Carr Pro Rodeo’s River Boat Annie, while Steven Dent, a six-time NFR qualifier from Mullen, Neb., spurred Carr’s Real Deal. It was as if history were shining brightly on present-day rodeo. You see, Real Deal is the 2005 Bareback of the Year, and River Boat Annie is the 2007 Reserve World Champion Bareback Horse. Both will buck at the 2013 NFR for the ninth straight time this coming December. “Those are two great horses that love what they do,” said Carr, owner of Carr Pro Rodeo and Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo, which will produce this year’s Rusk County PRCA Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Rusk County Expo Center in Henderson. It’s that kind of horse power and bull power that will be on display inside the 5,000-seat Expo Center this weekend. Combined, the Carr firms make up the largest livestock producer in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, with more than 300 animals that have performed at the NFR over the course of the companies’ existence. “I love Pete Carr rodeos, and that’s one of the reasons his name came up first on my list,” said bareback rider Clint Cannon, a four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Waller, Texas. “He always brings good horses to rodeos. He runs a good show.” Having great animals is important, and Carr has several truck loads. In addition to Real Deal, Carr has seen two other great horses that have earned the coveted Bareback of the Year crown: Big Tex in 2010 and MGM Deuces Night in 2012. Big Tex joins River Boat Annie and Wise Guy as Reserve Champions and joins Grass Dancer as two of the horses that are part of the mix in the world record-tying 94-point rides. “It’s nice to go to a rodeo and have really good horses out for everybody,” said Jake Wright, a two-time NFR qualifier from Milford, Utah. “The stock contractor here has that kind of caliber that it’s really a riding contest and not a drawing contest.” Those are important ingredients to the men who make their livings on the backs of bucking horses and bulls. But the type of rodeo that Carr produces is also a drawing card for timed-event contestants who make their living racing, roping and wrestling. “To me, Pete Carr is one of the new wave of stock contractors as much about one end of the arena as he does the other,” said Trevor Brazile, a 17-time world champion. “There have been stock contractors that don’t really have a complete rodeo. In my opinion, Pete puts on a complete rodeo.” “Pete has such an array of horse now that no matter where he goes, he will have it to where everybody has a chance to win money,” said saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss, a four-time NFR qualifier from Heflin, La. For the fans and contestants, that’s what will make for a great event in Henderson.

HENDERSON, Texas – When Pete Carr acquired a longstanding stock contracting company earlier this year, he made a statement in professional rodeo. The sound has resonated throughout the sport, and those who are closely involved have felt the shockwave. Combined, Carr Pro Rodeo and Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo make up the largest stock contracting firm in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, producing 33 rodeos in 17 states. “He’s got the best bull pen going,” reigning world champion bull rider Cody Teel said of Carr, who has been nominated for the PRCA’s Stock Contractor of the Year. “He’s got my vote for stock contractor of the year. He really tries to put together a good set of bulls, and it shows. There wasn’t one bull you didn’t want to get on. He gives a guy every opportunity to win. “I was more anxious for his rodeos this year because of his bulls. You know you’re going to draw pretty good. It showed this year. All his rodeos had a lot of big scores, which shows how good the bulls really are. He definitely has the deepest set of bulls in rodeo.” Carr and his firms will have that kind of power when they arrive this week for the Rusk County PRCA Rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Rusk County Expo Center in Henderson. “I’m combining two of the best crews in rodeo to form one of the greatest rodeo companies,” Carr said. “I’m excited about the new opportunities that are ahead for the company. I want committees to know we have a lot to offer them. We’re going to have unprecedented resources for all the rodeos, which will benefit everyone involved: committees, sponsors, contestants and spectators.” How good is the product? In addition to Carr being nominated for one of the 2013 year-end awards, so are three of the rodeos the Carr teams produce: Crosby, Texas, for small rodeo of the year; Crossett, Ark., for medium size rodeo of the year; and Lovington, N.M., for large outdoor rodeo of the year. What’s more impressive is that both Crossett and Lovington took place the first full week of August. “I think it says a lot about Pete that those two rodeos are up for awards this year when they took place at exactly the same time,” said Scott Grover, a ProRodeo announcer who calls the action in Crossett every year. “I think a lot of it falls on those two committees, of course, but it says so much about the kind of production Pete puts on at every one of his rodeos.” He’s not the only one who feels that way. “To have two rodeos the same week in two different states, and they’re both nominated … that’s incredible,” said Andy Stewart, a ProRodeo announcer who calls the action in Lovington; he also has been nominated for 2013 Announcer of the Year. “It shows me that he’s got some of the best stock in rodeo, and he definitely has the best crew going down the road.” That’s the kind of production Carr will bring to the expo center’s arena. Having the Carr brand in Henderson is one of the reasons some of the top cowboys in the game will find their way to Henderson this week.

SALINA, Kan. – The true beauty of cowboys riding bucking beasts is in the unbelievable athleticism that is displayed. It’s melodic, yet powerful. It’s romantic, yet frightening. It’s part of the fascination that comes with the Professional Roughstock Series’ Midwest Classic, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. It will feature dozens of the greatest cowboys in the world matching their skills against some of the most athletic bucking horses and bulls Western sports. “I think the PRS is a good deal,” said bareback rider Steven Peebles, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from Redmond, Ore. “It’s a cool show and a great change to rodeo. It’s like the PBR and how big and popular it got.” Peebles spoke of the Professional Bull Riders tour, which was developed more than two decades ago and blossomed into one of the most popular Western sports; its premier tour, the Built Ford Tough Series, features the PBR’s elite against the toughest bulls. “I think that by having two more roughstock events, it’s going to be an even better show for the fans,” Peebles said. “They’re just awesome shows. The PRS has it set up where the show will blow the fans away. Fans really get into it.” That’s one attractive asset sports enthusiasts in north-central Kansas. These are 160-pound men who utilize their own athleticism to maintain as much control as possible while riding animals typically weighing between 1,100 and 1,800 pounds. Scores are based on a 100-point scale, with riders and their mounts being judged from 1-50. That’s why the cowboys hunger to ride the best, which is what they’ll find inside the Bicentennial Center. “This is going to be the future of roughstock and rodeo,” said saddle bronc rider Cody DeMoss, a 10-time NFR qualifier from Heflin, La. “This series is going to be the next best thing, and I sure want to be with them.” He’s not alone. The Midwest Classic field will include numerous NFR qualifiers in each event, including at least eight cowboys in bareback riding, five in bronc riding and four in bull riding; in addition, the bull riding field features six who have ridden at the PBR World Finals. It’s similar to a late-season all-star game in Major League Baseball, where every ride and every failed score is important. “I rodeo for a living, so if I have any chance to make some more money, I’m going to take advantage of it,” said all-around cowboy Steven Dent, a six-time NFR qualifier in bareback riding from Mullen, Neb. That’s one of the things that’s drawn Justin McBride out of retirement. McBride, a two-time world champion bull rider who earned more than $5 million in the PBR, has returned to his roots in bareback riding and will try to beat a talented field in Salina. Of course, this is just the first step for McBride, who is hoping to utilize his run in the PRS into a qualification to the richest one-day rodeo in the world, The American, set for March 2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Salina event will serve as a qualifier for bareback riders and bronc riders, with the top five in each event advancing to the semifinals in Mesquite, Texas. From there, four will then qualify for The American, where a qualifier can earn a $1 million payday by winning his/her respective event. “Not only are events like these going to help the sport out, but I just like the fact it’s going to give these guys a chance to make some money,” McBride said. While most professional athletes receive a guaranteed wage, rodeo cowboys only get paid if they ride well enough to beat most of the field. In addition, they must cover their own travel expenses and pay a fee in order to compete. For instance, Dent earned nearly $75,000 in ProRodeo during the 2013 regular season, but he spent close to that much to travel all across the country in an effort to compete. “It’s a great move for the PRS to have jumped on board for The American,” Dent said. “I feel like, in rodeo, that the roughstock events sell tickets, so why not have events like this that focus on roughstock?” The Midwest Classic is a showcase of men who ride bucking beasts. It’s a showcase of oversized athleticism and a true demonstration of old fashioned cowboy attitude. No wonder fans love it.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you the same thing: The Hempstead rodeo was the best event in the early part of the 2014 ProRodeo campaign. “We’re very proud of how well things went for our rodeo this year,” said Clint Sciba, president of the Waller County Fair Board and chairman of the rodeo committee. “We had the top cowboys and cowgirls in the sport in all three performances, and they were treated like royalty. The fans loved it.” How good was the event? Of the 10 contestants who earned the Montana Silversmiths buckles for their Hempstead championships, nine have qualified for ProRodeo’s grand finale, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. It was an elite group that bettered a field of the sport’s very best, and it was an amazing symbol for the work of the local organizers did in the months leading up to the fair and rodeo. The Waller County Fair and Rodeo featured the richest bareback riding competition the opening week of the 2014 campaign. In addition, there was plenty of money available in other events to serve as a grand enticement for the best in the business to make their way to southeast Texas. “Cowboys make their living in rodeo, so if we wanted the best to be here, then we knew we had to get the money in the purse for them,” said Dustin Standley, chairman of the sponsorship committee. “But we worked hard on a lot of other things, too. The cowboys and cowgirls, and their families, were catered to in our Snake River Whiskey VIP Tent, and they got a great, home-cooked meal and all the free cold beverages before and after the rodeo. “We also brought in the Methodist Sports Medicine team to care for the cowboys and cowgirls.” Whatever aches and pains came about were quickly washed away through the high level of competition. In fact, four of the top five rides so far this season, as well as four of the five fastest timed event scores of the opening weekend, occurred in Hempstead. Bareback riding, 89 points: Steven Dent, a six-time qualifier from Mullen, Neb., rode Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal, the 2005 Bareback Horse of the Year; Winn Ratliff, a 2012 qualifier from Leesville, La., rode Carr’s River Boat Annie, the 2007 Reserve World Champion Bareback Horse. Both horses will appear at the NFR for the ninth straight year. Saddle bronc riding, 88 points: Sam Spreadborough, a two-time qualifier from Snyder, Texas, rode Carr’s Take the Plunge, a horse that has performed in both bareback riding and bronc riding at the NFR. Bull riding, 90 points: Cooper Davis, who will compete at the NFR this year for the first time in his career, is from Jasper, Texas, and he rode Carr’s One Bad Cat. Steer wrestling, 3.6 seconds: Cole Edge of Durant, Okla., won the title with the fastest bulldogging run of any ProRodeo last weekend. Team roping, 3.8 seconds: NFR qualifiers Colby Lovell of Madisonville, Texas, and Martin Lucero of Stephenville, Texas, earned $2,335 each. Steer roping, 34.0 seconds on three runs: Ralph Williams, a two-time National Finals qualifier from Skiatook, Okla., earned nearly $2,700 in Hempstead. Barrel racing, 15.64 seconds: 2013 NFR qualifier Taylor Jacob, the barrel racing rookie of the year, beat a talented field to win $2,037. Tie-down roping, 7.5 seconds: Scott Kormos, an eight-time NFR qualifier from Teague, Texas, posted the second-fastest run of the weekend by just one-tenth of a second. “I truly believe that one of the big reasons we can bring in so many great cowboys to our rodeo is because we have Pete Carr as our stock contractor,” Sciba said, referring to the owner of Carr Pro Rodeo and Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo. “We will settle for nothing less than the Vegas-style production that Pete Carr guarantees. “The cowboys deserve it, and our fans have come to expect that kind of production at our rodeo.” The proof was seen inside the arena. A great rodeo is built on high scores and fast times, and none were better than the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. It was a big hit for the contestants, which included 75 that have qualified for the National Finals. As the competition unfolded, fans got to witness the elite in the game, including those top-tier contestants that represent 29 Montana Silversmiths gold buckles. “I think our fans really enjoyed our rodeo this year, and who wouldn’t?” Sciba said. “It was a great show from start to finish.”

HUNTER/JUMPER SHOW WILL FEATURE POWER, GRACE IN COMPETITION KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A true athlete is a showcase of raw power and beautiful grace that is harnessed into one amazing being. Whether it’s Jamaal Charles eluding tacklers or Gabby Douglas contorting her body through the air, the combination of all forces produces a highlight reel of amazing feats. It’s that type of athleticism that has guided Fred Kahn to the show ring, and why he’s so excited to be part of the American Royal’s Hunter/Jumper Horse Show scheduled for next week at the American Royal complex. “We are dealing with another living being, in this case a rather large, energetic, four-legged furry animal, that has a mind and skill set of their own,” Kahn said, referring to how well horse and rider perform inside the show ring. “To be able to communicate with and promote the best out of a horse is a very satisfying goal. “When the horse and rider are working on the same wave length, the end result is rather magical.” Kahn is president and owner of Kahn Steel Co., but he’s been a horseman most of his life. In fact, he’s been part of the American Royal Hunter/Jumper Horse Show for the past half-century, sharing his passion for the sport and for the amazing animals that make it such a showcase. “I was foaled and raised in Kansas City and started riding on my uncle’s farm,” he said. “He used to take us to watch the Royal when I was 8 or 9 years old. Eventually I started riding bareback on a wild pony named Silver, fox hunted and played a little polo. I moved into taking some lessons jumping horses and never looked back.” That’s a good thing for those who share Kahn’s passion. Like many, Kahn realized that the animals, too, have a desire to showcase their athleticism. When it is combined with a rider of great talent, it’s an amazing display. “You feed off that horse’s passion,” he said. “The idea is not to take away from the horse’s natural energy and instincts, but more to channel, control and focus their energy, because that’s how you get the best performance. For those that train systematically and really hone their craft, the athleticism and the artistic side merge.” That beauty and power will be featured during the week-long festivities, which include the Hunter/Jumper A Rated Show from Tuesday-Saturday, Oct. 15-19; the $20,000 Grand Prix at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16; The Hunter Derby Return to Glory Party at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18; the $5,000 Hunter Derby at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18; the Special Children’s Horse Show on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19; and the $25,000 Roy A. Edwards Memorial Grand Prix at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. “Hunter/Jumper people are coming in to Kansas City from coast to coast, as well as Mexico and Canada,” Kahn said. “We get a top-level group of horses and riders. Oftentimes we will have Olympics mounts and have Pan American Games riders and horses and other international competitors. “The American Royal has a great reputation for being a show for the exhibitor as well as the spectator. We have first-class show management, judges, jump crew and office staff, with a willingness to put in the extra effort to make things go smoothly and professionally. Great care is put into the footing in each show ring, and the jumps that are a part of the course. Much of this top-shelf attitude is a result of several generous sponsors that help the show operate on this level.” Those are the things that make Kansas City’s show special, but the athletes provide plenty of incentive for those interested in enjoying the sport. “For the Grand Prix, the fans are going to expect cutting-edge excitement,” Kahn said. “When they view the hunter rounds, they’ll get to experience the grace and the beauty of the top hunters and their way of going. “These riders that come to Kansas City are true ambassadors for the sport. Anyone can feel comfortable asking them for an autograph or ask questions of the top riders. If they want, they can walk through the stalls and see the great horses and, with permission, they probably can even give them a pat.” Those are some of the benefits to the best in the business making the American Royal their home throughout the week. The hunter/jumper show is an opportunity to see the raw power of an animal that weighs at least half a ton while understanding the beauty that comes through each maneuver. “To me, it’s fascinating that this is not a sport of pure strength,” Kahn said. “The average person will weigh somewhere between 100-200 pounds while riding these 1,000-plus-pound animals. Oftentimes the smaller, lighter person comes out with the better prize as size does not matter. It’s not gender specific. Women ride as well as the men; girls ride as well as the boys. “It’s really a sport of rhythm, timing, communication and lots of hard work. Like just about everything else, those that work hardest tend to be the most successful.” And those that work hardest make sure they’re part of the American Royal Hunter/Jumper Horse Show every year, because they know they’re part of a prestigious event. Special gathering: The Hunter Derby Return to Glory Party is a new event designed to help raise awareness and funds for the Hunter/Jumper Horse Show and the American Royal in support of the association’s mission to raise money for education and agrarian values. It will take place at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, in the Governor’s Room at the American Royal complex.

ALVA, Okla. – A couple of Northwestern Oklahoma State University ropers members returned to their home state of Kansas last weekend and captured titles for the Rangers. Chase Boekhaus, a senior heeler from Rolla, Kan., won the team roping championship at the Pratt (Kan.) Community College rodeo while competing with Ethan Fox of Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The tandem roped two steers in a cumulative time of 14.8 seconds to claim the title. More importantly, he moved to No. 2 in the Central Plains Region heeling standings with 210 points, just 20 behind the leader, Lane Reeves of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College. Meanwhile, breakaway roper Micah Samples of Abilene, Kan., posted a two-run cumulative time of 8.2 seconds to win that title in Pratt. She, too, is the second-ranked roper with 160 points, just 15 points out of first. “I’ve already got more points this year than the first three years I college rodeoed,” said Boekhaus, who began roping with Fox at the beginning of the season. In fact, the two cowboys had never met until they prepared to compete at the first rodeo of the season in Colby, Kan. Fox had texted another Northwestern cowboy about partnering, and it eventually led to Boekhaus. Now they’ve placed at the first two events of the 10-rodeo season. “Hopefully we can keep it going and make the college finals,” Boekhaus said. “We just need to make sure we catch. He’s pretty smart about his roping. He’s got a good horse, so he rides up there to rope right and sets me up.” It’s one thing to have a good partner. It’s another to be roping well. The tandem is. Fox and Boekhaus posted a 7.7 on their first run to finish fourth in the long round. They returned with a 7.1 to win the championship round and the average championship. “I feel pretty good about my roping,” Boekhaus said. “At these rodeos, you just try to be clean and not mess up.” The Northwestern men are fourth in the Central Plains team standings, while the women are second. Other Rangers who made Pratt’s short round were barrel racer Kylee Cahoy; goat-tiers Kodi Hansen, Lauren Barnes and Casey Campbell; heeler Tad Sheets; headers Dalton Richards and Layton Legasse; steer wrestlers Stephen Culling and Ryan Domer; and tie-down ropers Trey Young, Hayden Pearce and Tee Hale. The Rangers will have a couple weeks to prepare for their home rodeo, which will take place Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Alva. “I think we can do some good things,” Boekhaus said of the team. “I think we’ve got some good guys that can help.” It will take that type of talent and commitment for the teams to finish the season strong and earn a spot in the field for the College National Finals Rodeo.

DUNCAN, Okla. – For Scott Grover, it all comes down to the competition. Grover is the arena announcer for the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, and he’s excited for the start of the three-day championship, set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center in Duncan. “I’ve always said the Prairie Circuit Finals performances are as good as any major rodeo in the country,” said Grover, who will call the action at the circuit finale for the sixth time in his career. “We’ve got NFR qualifiers, world champions, but then we’ve also got those guys that are strictly circuit cowboys. They have jobs, and they spend their weekends on the road. “I think they’re just as good and just as capable of winning any time; they just choose to work and stay closer to home instead of traveling hard and fighting for the National Finals.” In fact, that’s why the circuit system was developed nearly four decades ago, to provide a regional championship for those who are considered “weekend warriors.” Cowboys and cowgirls battle all season long, competing at rodeos all across the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region with Destination Duncan on their minds – only the top 12 on the money list in each event at the conclusion of the circuit’s regular season earn the right to compete inside the expo center. “I keep record of all the circuit rodeos from the first one of the year, which is Tulsa in October, to the very end the next September,” said Grover, who grew up in northern Kansas and attended Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Neb., and Kansas State University. “I know who placed at those rodeos and the stock they placed on. For the committees that are there, their rodeo is going to get talked about at the circuit finals.” That’s important, but there are many aspects of Grover’s job during the performances that are vital in relaying information to the fans. He also will be part of the mix in making the production of each performance as best it can, working closely with rodeo clown Keith Isley throughout the two-hour show to help fans enjoy every moment. “Keith is one of the greatest entertainers of all time, and it’s great to work with someone like that; it’s one of the highlights of my career,” Grover said. “I think a good production is the most important thing we can do. There’s so much more than having a rodeo; it’s got to be so much more nowadays, because we want fans to get every bit of entertainment for their dollar.” Knowing the entertainment value of rodeo, particularly a championship like the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals, is just one reason Grover is excited to be part of the festivities. “Being selected to announce the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo is one of the goals I made when I started,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in our circuit. It’s the circuit I grew up in, and I work a lot of circuit rodeos. I get to see these guys compete, and I enjoy being able to tell their stories at a championship event.” Circuit titles are goals of every contestant in the field. Not only is the circuit finals’ crown on the line – the contestant in each event with the fastest cumulative time on three runs or the best cumulative score on three rides will earn the average title – but also cowboys and cowgirls will battle for the year-end championships. “Those are the parts of the championship that make the competition so great,” Grover said. “The contestants are going to put it all on the line for those three days. It’s definitely exciting.” Prairie Circuit Finals announcer provides grand experience to his role in Duncan

Wharton, Texas Tony Reina is a roping instructor who conducts classes at his home. He must be a pretty good student, too. Reina has earned his first qualification to the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping this season, but he’s been around the sport much of his adult life. The Texan first made a name for himself two decades ago, when he won the Southeastern Region tie-down roping title while competing in college rodeo. For years, he laid claim to being one of the top tie-down ropers in the country, finishing among the top 50 in the world standings several times. When he turned his attention to steer roping, he quickly vaulted toward the top. This might be his first trip to the NFSR, but he’s been among the leaders for several seasons. Save an injury he suffered in 2011, when finished 70th on the money list, Reina has been around the top 50 since 2010. Last year, he moved up to 28th in the final standings. This year, he’s guaranteed a stronger finish. We’ll have to wait until the dust settles this weekend to see just where.

Bruce Ford is a five-time world champion bareback rider. He’s faced numerous challenges and come away from them with gold. Together, he and wife Sherry are battling something else: Recovery from the summertime flooding that drowned so much of their home state of Colorado. Just like traveling partners offering insight and a helping hand, the Fords are getting a helping hand in the form of a benefit auction that will take place at 9 p.m. Pacific Time on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Sonoma Room of the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. More information can be found HERE, where web designer Corey Brown has built an information site with enough bells and whistles to help potential donors along the way. Some who are instrumental in the development of the benefit are NFR bareback riders Bob Logue and Kelly Wardell and Katie Ford, their daughter-in-law. It’s a great cause, and it will follow the NFR’s welcome reception at the South Point. I hope hundreds show up and get into the bidding wars that are needed to help the family out.

Ovalo, Texas Bryce Davis was just 5 years old the first time his father, Jim, won the Steer Roping World Championship. That was in 1985. Now Bryce is back in the field at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping at the Lazy E Arena. Like his daddy, Bryce Davis has done pretty well inside this facility. He won the average championship in his first qualification in 2009. After missing the championship a year ago, Davis returns with his mind set on making a statement. He’s earned $32,560 this season, and he’s done so in a round-about way; he collected checks by placing at events all across the country. He earned victories in Ellensburg, Wash., and Sterling, Colo. In addition to his powerful pedigree, Davis packs a bucket load of talent. A man can’t qualify for this championship four times without it. Now he’s ready to showcase that talent; he’s in the right place to do it.

I’m watching the seventh round of the 2012 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. I’ve had it recorded for 10 months, so I figured it was about time I hit the play button. It’s just feeding the passion that burns deep inside me. It makes me excited for what we’re about to experience over the next couple of months. My first championship begins next Thursday, Oct. 17, with the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo in Duncan, Okla. It will be a wonderful event that features the top contestants from the Oklahoma-Kansas-Nebraska region. On Nov. 8-9, I’ll venture back to the Sooner State for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping; it’s where we’ll crown our first world champion of the 2013 season. Three weeks after that, I venture to the Nevada desert for a two-week stay for the NFR. There are a lot of great storylines I’ll get to share with you through the rest of the year. Now you can see why I’m so pumped up.

Hermosa, S.D. When Jess Tierney earned his first qualification to this magnificent championship, he was just continuing a family legacy handed down to him by his hall-of-fame father, Paul. Now that he’s at the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping for a second time, he’s making quite a name for himself. The first time around, he took advantage of earning a big paycheck for winning the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo. This year’s qualification is even more impressive. Tierney has been toward the top of the money list all season, and he’s stayed among the top 15 without the assistance of giant paydays like the one he earned in south Texas a year and a half ago. He’s consistent and driven, and now Tierney is proving to the rodeo world why he’s ready to claim a gold buckle, just like his father. Having the legacy and the bloodlines are part of the equation, but consistency is the mark of a champion.

ROSENBERG, Texas – At just 21 years of age, Cody Teel already is one of the most accomplished bull riders in rodeo. He’s the reigning world champion, returning to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the second straight season to compete for another coveted gold buckle. On Sunday, Oct. 6, he added another star on a very impressive resume by riding the unridden, Hokie Pokie of Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo. “That’s a bull that’s in contention for bull of the year,” said Teel, who posted a 90-point ride on Hokie Pokie to win bull riding title at the Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo in Rosenberg. “I saw him at the Lovington (N.M.) Xtreme Bulls, and he really bucked there. When I got the call-backs telling me I’d drawn him at Rosenberg, I was really excited about him. “I knew he’d never been ridden until then. When you draw a bull like that, you don’t have to worry about what’s winning or placing, because if you stay on, you’re going to win the rodeo.” Teel stays on a lot, and that’s one of the reasons he won the 2012 world title and why he will return to Las Vegas as the No. 5 cowboy in the 2013 world standings. Riding the unridden bull might just be the biggest thrill he’s received since being crowned last December. “I was either going to be a hero or zero,” he said. “When you buck off a bull like that, it’s just one of those deals. But when you ride a bull like that, then you can build on it. “He’s a real consistent bull, too. I was pumped up when I got off. I rode toward the end of it, and so all that anticipation was built up. I knew I he was going to be good, because his name’s been tossed around for bull of the year, and he’s definitely going to go to the finals. Now I’m going to the finals, so there’s a chance I could draw him out there.” That would be perfect for Teel. “I hadn’t had a big ride like that in a while,” he said, noting that the 2013 regular season concluded Sept. 30, so the rodeo in Rosenberg was actually one of the first stops on the 2014 campaign. “I was happy to start this new season off good.” The first step was drawing an elite animal out of Pete Carr’s herd. Hokie Pokie is one of many great bulls that are part of the bull pen for Carr Pro Rodeo and Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo. “He’s got the best bull pen going,” Teel said of Carr, who has been nominated for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s Stock Contractor of the Year. “He’s got my vote for stock contractor of the year. He really tries to put together a good set of bulls, and it shows. There wasn’t one bull you didn’t want to get on. He gives a guy every opportunity to win. “I was more anxious for his rodeos this year because of his bulls. You know you’re going to draw pretty good. It showed this year. All his rodeos had a lot of big scores, which shows how good the bulls really are. He definitely has the deepest set of bulls in rodeo. In fact, the Carr firms produced two rodeos the opening weekend of October; Cooper Davis of Jasper, Texas, won the title in Hempstead, Texas, with a 90-point ride on Carr Pro Rodeo’s One Bad Cat. “He’s got so many great bulls that he can put on two different rodeos at the same time, and it didn’t matter because there were great bulls at both,” Teel said. “That’s something that’s tough to beat by any stock contractor.” Fort Bend County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 4-6 Rosenberg, Texas All-around cowboy: Caleb Smidt, $2,443, team roping and tie-down roping. Bareback riding: 1. (tie) Luke Creasy, on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Wilma, and Austin Foss, on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Bi Polar, 83 points, $1,249 each; 3. Buck Lunak, 82, $775; 4. Clint Cannon, 81, $517; 5. (tie) Scotty NeSmith and Winn Ratliff, 77, $258 each. Steer wrestling: 1. Clayton Hass, 3.8 seconds, $1,895; 2. Ben Shofner, 4.0, $1,568; 3. (tie) Cole Edge and Brandon Chase Harrison, 4.1, $1,078 each; 5. Jacob Shofner, 4.3, $588; 6. Blaine Jones, 4.4, $327. Team roping: 1. Caleb Smidt/B.J. Dugger, 4.0 seconds, $2,443 each; 2. Bradley Massey/Shane Hester, 4.5, $2,124; 3. (tie) Justin Lovell/Tyler McKnight, Jesse Harville/Dustin Davis and Quisto Lopez/Keagan Duncan, 4.6, $1,487 each; 6. Chase Wiley/Ace Pearce, 4.7, $850; 7. Justin Copp/Tommy Zuniga, 4.9, $531; 8. Chace Thompson/Twister Cain, 5.0, $212. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 83 points on Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo’s Miss Rodeo, $1,495; 2. Sterling Crawley, 82, $1,133; 3. Kobyn Williams, 78, $816; 4. (tie) Nick Laduke and Doug Aldridge, 77, $430 each; 6. Sam Spreadborough, 74, $227. Tie-down roping: 1. Houston Hutto, 7.7 seconds, $1,713; 2. Cory Solomon, 7.8, $1,490; 3. Cade Swor, 8.0, $1,266; 4. Morgan Grant 8.2, $1,043; 5. (tie) Josh Eirikson, Justin Maass and Ike Fontenot, 8.6, $596 each; 8. John Wall, 8.8, $149. Barrel racing: 1. Michele McLeod, 17.40 seconds, $2,038; 2.Jill Tanner, 17.52, $1,747; 3. Mallory Wheeler, 17.53, $1,456; 4. Andrea Cline, 17.55, $1,262; 5. Samantha Lyne, 17.59, $970; 6. Amanda Davenport, 17.60, $776; 7. Shelby Frasier, 17.62, $582; 8. (tie) Natalie Foutch and Victoria Williams, 17.66, $339 each; 10. Jenna Beaver, 17.71, $194. Steer roping: First round: 1. Scott Snedecor, 12.0 seconds, $1,230; 2. Joe Wells, 12.5, $1,018; 3. (tie) Leo Campbell and Jason Evans, 13.1, $700 each; 5. Brady Garten, 13.6, $382; 6. Walter Priestly, 13.8, $212. Second round: 1. Brady Garten, 13.1 seconds, $1,230; 2. Tony Reina, 13.5, $1,018; 3. Trevor Brazile, 13.7, $806; 4. Shay Good, 14.7, $594; 5. Mike Chase, 14.8, $382; 6. Brian Garr, 15.1, $212. Third round: 1. Ty Herd, 11.3 seconds, $1,230; 2. Neal Wood, 12.2, $1,018; 3. Chet Herren, 12.3,  Continue Reading »

SALINA, Kan. – It’s been 15 years since Justin McBride slid his hand into a bareback rigging in competition. McBride, a two-time world champion on the Professional Bull Riders tour, is the all-time highest money earner in Western sports, having pocketed more than $5 million in PBR earnings in his career. With his place firmly set among the legendary bull riders in the game, the Nebraska cowboy retired from bull riding in 2008, shortly after claiming his second gold buckle. Now McBride is ready to test athleticism against some of the greatest horses in the game during the Professional Roughstock Series’ Midwest Classic, set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the Bicentennial Center in Salina. “The last time I rode a bareback horse was in 1998 at an amateur rodeo in Seymour, Texas,” said McBride, who was raised in western Nebraska and attended college on a rodeo scholarship at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where he rode bareback horses and bulls. “I was going to (PBR) Touring Pros then trying to get qualified for the Built Ford Tough Series, but I wasn’t doing that good at them at the time and it cost a buck to enter those. “I didn’t have any money, so I had my mom and dad mail me my bareback rigging, and I started going to these amateur rodeos in Texas to make enough money to ride in the PBR.” So bareback riding funded a bull riding career that established McBride as one of the greatest ever, at least in the early years. Now he’d like his bull riding reputation to pay off in bareback riding. You see, not only is the Midwest Classic a major stop on the Professional Roughstock Series schedule, it also is the first qualifier for bareback riders and saddle bronc riders hoping to get into the field of the upcoming championship event, The American, which will feature 15 contestants in each of the traditional rodeo events. The American will be an invitational for the top 10 contestants in each event based on certain criteria. The remaining contestants will be based on one exemption and five who have earned the right to compete through the qualifiers. McBride will compete in Salina with hopes of advancing to The American semifinals, which will take place Feb. 21-23 in Mesquite, Texas. The top four from the semifinals in each event move on to The American, set for March 2 at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. “We want to grow the overall Western lifestyle and Western sports,” said Randy Bernard, president and CEO of Rural Media Group, which is producing The American, will televise it live on RFD-TV and broadcast it live on its Sirrius station, RURAL RADIO. “We have to build our cowboys and cowgirls, and I think this is one way we can do that. “It’s exciting for us to have someone like Justin in this. He’s introducing millions of fans who have followed the PBR to part of the sport they don’t know. Justin’s a winner. I love the fact that he’s going to take the approach that he’s going to come through the qualifier and try to prove that he should be there.” Bernard has known McBride for years; he was the president and CEO of the PBR while McBride was one of the elite bull riders in the game. But there are plenty of others who know just how qualified McBride as a bareback rider. “I think this is good for the entire sport of rodeo,” said Steven Dent, a five-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in bareback riding from Mullen, Neb. “Look at the publicity that the PRS is already getting out of this. With somebody like Justin trying to go ride bareback horses in the PRS, look at the PBR fans or bull riding fans that could come over just to watch that.” The PBR found success primarily through exposure. It found a home on television and continues to be a major attraction for fans. PRS is televised on RFD-TV, which helps viewers, contestants, contractors and others associated with the sport. In fact, that’s where McBride has kept up with the goings-on with the association. “I know when we get to Salina, it’s going to be the very best guys in bareback riding,” McBride said. “That’s what you want to see. You want to see the good guys coming out.” In bareback riding alone, the field of 12 will include at least eight men who have competed at the NFR, including world champion Justin McDaniel, Dent, Brian Bain, Jared Smith, Winn Ratliff, Josi Young, Matt Bright and Steven Peebles. “I think it’s a good deal with the PRS,” said Peebles, a regular on the tour. “It’s a cool show and a change to rodeo. It’s like the PBR and how big and popular it got. Now we’re having two more roughstock events, so it’s making it even more exciting. “I’ve watched Justin McBride since I was a little kid. As a cowboy, he’s accomplished a lot. I never thought I’d get to ride against Justin McBride in bareback riding. That’s pretty cool He’ll probably hop out there and knock it out of them.” That’s just what McBride is hoping to do, too. Though he’s been away from competition a few years, he’s stayed in good shape and understands the techniques and training it’s going to take for him to be ready to ride wild horses. “When I started doing some things, I fell right back in the same routine,” he said. “It’s been such a long time, but I don’t think it’ll be that big of an adjustment. There are certain horses out there that everybody wants to ride, and you’re dang sure going to have to be ready for that. “I’ve probably never been on a really rank horse, but I think that’s part of the excitement for me is the chance to try to ride one of those, to feel what it’s like.  Continue Reading »

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – One year ago this week, Taylor Jacob wasn’t even a rookie in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. That changed by the second week of October. You see, Jacob placed at the 2012 Waller County Fair and Rodeo and a couple other events while in the try-out phase of ProRodeo – newcomers must earn at least $1,000 on their permit in order to qualify to become card-carrying members of the association. It’s been a whirlwind of a ride ever since. Jacob returned to Hempstead for the final night of the fair’s rodeo, posting a 15.64-second run to win the title and collect the $2,037 first-place check. She is the 2013 Rookie of the Year and is heading to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as the No. 10 cowgirl in the world standings, having earned $81,808. “It’s been absolutely amazing,” said Jacob, 23, of Carmine, Texas. “I started out just going (to rodeo) to see how it went, and it went good, so I decided to try to make the NFR. It kept going good, so I thought, ‘I not only need to make the NFR, but be in the top 10.” Since the 2013 regular season ended Sept. 30, the Waller County Fair and Rodeo kick-starts the 2014 campaign; that means Jacob’s sophomore campaign is off to a fast start. That is a good thing to the somewhat road-weary cowgirl who has enjoyed very little time at home since the summer run began three months ago. “This win is great,” she said. “I’m just 45 minutes from home. I get to go back home tonight. I haven’t been anywhere in a week; my horse had a little bit of a rest, so he was fresh.” That horse has been the big reason behind Jacob’s phenomenal rookie season. Bo is an 8-year-old grulla gelding that has found a home in Carmine. “He has an attitude,” Jacob said. “He’s really fast. When he’s on, it’s easy; it’s easy for him, and it’s easy for me.” For now, she’ll spend the next couple of months keeping her and Bo in shape, preparing for the biggest run of her young life. Winning in Hempstead gives her plenty of confidence as she embarks on her quest to compete at ProRodeo’s grand championship. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-6 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Steven Dent, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal, and Winn Ratliff, on Carr Pro Rodeo’s River Boat Annie, $2,172 each; 3. (tie) Luke Creasy and Austin Foss, 84, $1,148; 5. (tie) Bobby Mote and Kyle Bowers, 83, $492; 7. (tie) Matt Bright and Evan Jayne, 82, $287. Steer wrestling: 1. Cole Edge, 3.6 seconds, $1,779; 2. Tyler Waguespack, 3.9, $1,472; 3. Stan Branco, 4.0, $1,165; 4. Termaine Debose, 4.2, $859; 5. Austin Courmier, 4.3, $552; 6. Jarret New, 4.6, $307. Team roping: 1. Colby Lovell/Martin Lucero, 3.8, $2,335; 2. (tie) Ty Blasingame/Cole Davison and David Key/Jett Hillman, 4.4, $1,787 each; 4. Jesse Harville/Dustin Davis, 4.5, $1,421; 5. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 4.6, $1,117; 6. (tie) Casey Gattis/Scott Wilson and Tyler Waters/Richard Durham, 4.7, $660; 8. Quisto Lopez/Keagan Duncan, 4.8, $203. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sam Spreadborough, 88 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Take the Plunge, $1,303; 2. Nick Laduke, 81, $987; 3. (tie) Kobyn Williams and Ty Kirkland, 80, $592; 5. (tie) Brady Nicholes, Cody Anthony and Bradley Harter, 79, $158. Tie-down roping: 1. Scott Kormos, 7.5 seconds, $1.943; 2. (tie) Ryan Thibodeaux and Caleb Smidt, 7.8, $1,440 each; 4. Cody Sacula, 7.9, $398; 5. Braxton Laughlin, 8.2, $603; 6. Jade Conner, 8.3, $335. Barrel racing: 1. Taylor Jacob, 15.64 seconds, $2,037; 2. Scamper Cole, 15.83, $1,746; 3. Mary Walker, 15.84, $1,455; 4. Shelley Morgan, 15.91, $1,261; 5. Jill Tanner, 16.04, $970; 6. (tie) Kimmie Wall and Ashley Mohon, 16.05, $679; 8. Tammy Fischer, 16.10, $388; 9. Kortney Fisher, 16.12, $291; 10. (tie) Nikki Steffes and Stevi Hillman, 16.15, $97 each. Steer roping: First round: 1. Brady Garten, 10.1 seconds, $1,199; 2. Lawson Plemons, 10.3, $993; 3. Rocky Patterson, 10.4, $786; 4. Neal Wood, 10.5, $579; 5. (tie) Shay Good and Jason Evans, 11.0, $290 each. Second round: 1. Landon McClaugherty, 9.3 seconds, $1,199; 2.Joe Wells, 9.4, $993; 3. Bobby Joe Hill, 9.8, $786; 4. Bryce Davis, 10.1, $579; 5. (tie) Jason Evans, Marty Jones and Ralph Williams, 11.0, $193 each. Third round: 1. Mike Chase, 9.8 seconds, $1,199; 2. J.P. Wickett, 10.5, $993; 3. (tie) Ralph Williams and Walter Priestly, 10.6, $682 each; 5. (tie) Joe Wells, Darn Suit and Shane Suggs, 11.0, $193 each. Average: 1. Ralph Williams, 34.0 seconds on three runs, $1,799; 2. Walter Priestly, 35.6, $1,489; 3. Scott Snedecor, 36.3, $1,179; 4. Brady Garten, 37.4, $869; 5. Shane Suggs, 38.1, $558; 6. Neal Wood, 38.5, $310. Bull riding: 1. Cooper Davis, 90 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s One Bad Cat, $1,377; 2. Stormy Wing, 88, $1,043; 3. (tie) Caleb Sanderson and Pistol Robinson, 87, $626; Corey Granger, 85, $292; 6. Dustin Bowen, 84, $207.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – In a career that began 32 years ago, Mike Johnson has been one of the best tie-down ropers in professional rodeo. The Henryetta, Okla., cowboy is a 23-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. In fact, his first two qualifications came in 1983-84, when ProRodeo’s grand finale was in downtown Oklahoma City, his home-state’s capital. He and his wife, Sherrylynn, an NFR qualifier in barrel racing, are scheduled to compete in tonight’s final performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, which begins at 7:30. They’re two of 15 qualifiers competing tonight. The biggest name in the mix is eight-time world champion Joe Beaver, who will compete in team roping, heading for partner Reno Gonzales. Other qualifiers are bareback riders Kyle Bowers, Heath Ford, Winn Ratliff, Austin Foss and Clint Cannon, competing at his hometown rodeo; steer wrestler Nick Guy; team ropers Boogie Ray, Travis Tryan and Michael Jones; tie-down roper Cory Solomon, also competing at his hometown rodeo; and barrel racers Tammy Fischer and Taylor Jacob. It’s a great night to wrap this year’s great rodeo in Hempstead. It should be a lot of fun.

HEMPSTEAD, Texas – The Waller County Fair and Rodeo falls at a strange time of year for contestants in professional rodeo. Because the regular season concluded the end of September, this week’s festivities at the Waller County Fairgrounds Arena are part 2014 season opener, even though the year-end championship, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, is still two months away. For the best in the business who have qualified to compete at the NFR at Las Vegas in December, Hempstead’s rodeo serves a dual purpose – it allows them a head-start to the new season while getting tuned-up for the world championship. Steven Dent, a six-time bareback riding qualifier from Mullen, Neb., got the best of both worlds on one of the best bucking horses in the world. “He’s a little bit strong, but you can win on him,” Dent said of Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal, the 2005 Bareback Horse of the Year that will buck at the NFR for the ninth straight year. “Any horse you can win on is what I like to get on.” Real Deal is considered an eliminator, meaning he’s one of the tougher-to-ride horses in ProRodeo. Dent handled everything the big 13-year-old brown gelding threw at him and took the lead during Friday’s second performance of the rodeo with an 89-point ride. That’s a great score on a horse considered to be that strong. “I either get along with strong horses well, or it goes really bad,” Dent said. “The stronger they are, the more aggressive I try to be, because I know my arm is not near as big as that horse. On a strong horse, you’ve got to do it with your feet. “Sometimes it looks terrible; sometimes it looks alright.” It looked pretty phenomenal, and it’s a great way to look toward the 2014 season while having a firm grasp of his place on the money list. He sits 10th in the world standings with a little more than $75,000 in 2013 earnings. “It’s a little tough to start on something new before you finish what you’ve started,” he said. “It feels good to get a good start. This is a good rodeo. I’ve got three rodeos this weekend that count for next year’s standings. I don’t care if I win a gold buckle this year or next year; I just want one.” In addition to riding one of the rankest bareback horses in the world, Dent also competed in saddle bronc riding. He was an all-around champion at Ranger (Texas) College, and he’d like to take a shot at that title in ProRodeo, too. “I finally got in the top 50 in bronc riding,” he said, noting that finishing a season in the top 50 allows for more opportunities the next season. “My plan is to get in the finals in two events next year and try to win a couple gold buckles.” If he keeps riding like he did Friday night in Hempstead, he has a great chance. Waller County Fair and Rodeo Oct. 3-6 Hempstead, Texas Bareback riding: 1. Steven Dent, 89 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal; 2. Bobby Mote, 83; 3. Matt Bright, 82; 4. Dustin Bowen, 81; 5. Donnie O’Bris, 80; 6. Tilden Hooper, 79; 7. Taylor Broussard, 77; 8. Matt Crumpler, 74. Steer wrestling: 1. Cole Edge, 3.6 seconds; 2. Stan Branco, 4.0; 3. Termaine Debose, 4.2; 4. Austin Courmier, 4.3; 5. Jarret New, 4.6; 6. Glen Clark, 4.8. Team roping: 1. Colby Lovell/Martin Lucero, 3.8; 2. (tie) Ty Blasingame/Cole Davison and David Key/Jett Hillman, 4.4; 4. Jesse Harvill/Dustin Davis, 4.5; 5. Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 4.6; 6. (tie) Casey Gattis/Scott Wilson, 4.7; 8. Quisto Lopez/Keagan Duncan, 4.8. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Sam Spreadborough, 88 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Take The Plunge; 2. Nick Laduke, 81; 3. (tie) Kobyn Williams and Ty Kirckland, 80; 5. (tie) Brady Nicholes and Bradley Harter, 79. Tie-down roping leaders: 1. Scott Kormos, 7.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Ryan Thibodeaux and Caleb Smidt, 7.8; 4. Cody Sacula, 7.9; 5. Braxton Laughlin, 8.2; 6. Jade Conner, 8.3. Barrel racing leaders: 1. Scamper Cole, 15.83; 2. Mary Walker, 15.84; 3. Shelley Morgan, 15.91; 4. Jill Tanner, 16.04; 5. (tie) Kimmie Wall and Ashley Mohon, 16.05; 7. Kortney Fisher, 16.12; 8. (tie) Nikki Steffes and Stevi Hillman, 16.15; 10. Annesa Self, 16.16. Bull riding: 1. Cooper Davis, 90 points on Carr Pro Rodeo’s One Bad Cat; 2. Stormy Wing, 88; 3. Caleb Sanderson, 87; 4. Dustin Bowen, 84; 5. Kyle Jeppesen Loudon, 82.

Friday will be a showcase in Hempstead for the second performance of the Waller County Fair and Rodeo. Tonight’s action is scheduled to feature numerous NFR qualifiers and accounts for 14 world championships. Of course, those double-digit gold buckles are represented by just three cowboys: Bareback rider Bobby Mote, heeler Rich Skelton and steer roper Scott Snedecor, who will compete tonight as a header and return to action Saturday morning for steer roping. I think, too, we should look at some of the other stars who will be in the game, led by a contingent of powerful bareback riders: Mote, Ryan Gray, Steven Dent, Jared Smith and Matt Bright are veterans that have played on the biggest stage in Las Vegas, but Bill Tutor, who won two titles this year on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, and Taylor Price, the Pecos and Cheyenne champ, are rising stars. Other top hands are bulldoggers Clayton Hass and Bill Pace; team ropers Camish Jennings, David Key, Jett Hillman and Landon McClaugherty, who also will compete in tie-down roping and steer roping in Hempstead; bronc riders Bradley Harter, Sam Spreadborough and Brad Rudolph; tie-down ropers Scott Kormos and Fred Whitfield; and barrel racer Annesa Self. The match-up of the night should be Dent on Carr Pro Rodeo’s Real Deal, the 2005 Bareback Horse of the Year that’s heading to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the ninth time in December. You can’t discount the other top hands, like Mote, who will test his talents on Big Lights, a four-time NFR bucking horse that has led cowboys to round wins in Vegas. Tutor, who has two wins on Carr’s Dirty Jacket this season, has another great NFR horse in Black Coffee. Spreadborough, a two-time NFR saddle bronc rider, will try out NFR horse Take the Plunge, while Brad Rudolph will match his spur ride with the bucking motion of veteran horse Coffee Bean. It should be an amazing show. It’s definitely one I want to watch.