Monthly Archives: June 2014

LOVINGTON, N.M. – From old southern rock to the very best in contemporary country, the Lea County Fair and Rodeo has an incredible concert lineup for this year’s exposition. “It’s harder and harder every year to get better,” said Corey Helton, the fair board chairman. “We have MercyMe and the Eli Young Band back, and they were here just a few years ago. We work very hard to have a great lineup, and we put a lot of trust in Linda Brown, our promoter. I think it’s going to be a big show. The last time they were here, the numbers were outstanding. A Christian rock group, MercyMe was part of the 2012 Lea County Fair and Rodeo, while the Eli Young Band performed in Lovington the summer before. “The word I’m getting back about our concert lineup from the community is incredible, especially with Eli Young Band and MercyMe,” Helton said. “That’s great.” Though those two groups are great, they are just a small taste of the big platter of true artists that will be featured at this year’s expo. Saturday, Aug. 2: Night Ranger and 38 Special Tuesday, Aug. 5: Casey Donahew Band Wednesday, Aug. 6: MercyMe Thursday, Aug. 7: Joe Nichols Friday, Aug. 8: Dwight Yoakam Saturday, Aug. 9: Eli Young Band The opening concert is a true reflection of the 1980s. Night Ranger had several hits, including “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” “Sister Christian” and “When You Close Your Eyes.” The band just released its new studio album, “High Road.” “We’re so proud of this new record and excited to get back on the road and bring the new music to our fans,” drummer/singer Kelly Keagy said in the band’s biography. With hits like “Hold On Loosley,” “Fantasy Girl,” “Caught Up in You” and many others, 38 Special has been “Rockin’ Into the Night” for nearly 40 years. “While it’s open to the public, that first night is specifically for the sponsors of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo to give them a special night of recognition for all the support they give us,” Helton said. “That’s music from my era, and I’m hoping to draw that demographic to come in and enjoy the night. “I think it’s a great way to kick off a great variety of concerts.” There are several genres of music covered during this year’s fair and rodeo, and the admission price is well worth it: $8 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12; kids 5 and younger can enter the fairgrounds for free. The style of music includes Texas music with the Casey Donahew Band, which will perform after the Lea County Xtreme Bulls event on Tuesday night. The band has been atop the Texas music charts and has released albums that have received critical acclaim. Joe Nichols brings more of a modern country feel to the stage Thursday night; he is the owner of four No. 1 country songs, “Brokenheartsville,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” “Gimmie That Girl” and “Sunny and 75.” For those who like a little more of an old-school country, Dwight Yoakam will perform Friday night. Yoakam presents a unique and rugged shade to music, but it’s been quite successful. He owns 12 gold albums and nine platinum or multi-platinum albums. He has had successful singles, including “Honky Tonk Man,” “I Sang Dixie,” “Fast as You” and several others. The fair will close with the Eli Young Band, which has had three No. 1 hits: “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” “Drunk Last Night” and “Crazy Girl,” which Billboard Year-End recognized as the top country song of 2011. “There’s a general theme between small-town American, where every down is different but in some ways, they are all the same,” guitarist James Young said in the band’s biography. Said lead vocalist Mike Eli, “We’ve traveled all over the country and to other countries, but at the end of the day, we all party the same way no matter what the culture or the town.” Now all seven acts will bring their party to Lovington for this year’s Lea County Fair and Rodeo.

DUNCAN, Okla. – One season ago, Sage Kimzey was making quite a statement in his tryout season in professional rodeo. Kimzey, a 19-year-old bull rider from Strong City, Okla., set a standard for permit-holders’ earnings in a single season with $47,726. Now a rookie in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, he’s setting the rodeo world on fire. Through late June, he has earned more than $86,000. Of that, $15,109 has come in the Prairie Circuit, the ProRodeo region made up of contestants and events in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. That means he holds an overwhelming lead in the circuit standings and is on pace to repeat another feat he earned a season ago: Finishing the year as the Prairie Circuit Champion. He’ll get his chance to do that and much more at the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo, set for Oct. 16-18, at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center in Duncan. “One of my goals this year was to try to win the circuit again this year,” said Kimzey, whose next closest competitor in the region is Brennon Eldred of Purcell, Okla., who is more than $10,600 behind. “The city of Duncan and the Chisholm Trail committee do an outstanding job hosting the circuit finals. The expo center is a great place to ride.” The Prairie Circuit Finals also serves as a qualifier for the National Circuit Finals; the year-end and circuit finals average winners in each event advance to the national championship next spring, which will take place in Kissimmee, Fla. Each championship is just another goal for Kimzey, who already this season has earned a share of the bull riding title at nine events, four of which came in the Prairie Circuit. He shared the title in Guymon, Okla., with a 92-point ride; the same weekend, he scored 91 points at the regular-season PRCA rodeo in Duncan. He also won titles in Tulsa, Okla., and Lincoln, Neb. “Momentum is the most important thing in bull riding ad rodeo in general,” said Kimzey, who earlier this month finished second at the College National Finals Rodeo. “It’s such a mind game. You can fail 50 percent of the time, and you’re still a good bull rider in today’s world.” He certainly is one of the best in the game this season, but he’s not alone. Three-event cowboy Trell Etbauer of Goodwell, Okla., leads the Prairie Circuit’s all-around standings, holding a $1,200 lead over the No. 2 man, 2005 all-around world champion Ryan Jarrett of Comanche, Okla. Etbauer won the steer wrestling title in North Platte, Neb., which concluded June 21. Other standings leaders are bareback rider Caine Riddle of Vernon, Texas; steer wrestler Cole Edge of Durant, Okla.; team roping brothers Andrew and Reagan Ward of Edmond, Okla.; saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell of Coleman, Okla.; tie-down roper Bryson Sechrist of Apache, Okla.; barrel racer June Holeman of Arcadia, Neb.; and steer roper Chet Herren of Pawhuska, Okla. They are well on their way to that coveted year-end championship, but they know it all rests on qualifying for the Chisholm Trail Ram Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo first. “The circuit finals is the goal of almost everyone in our circuit,” Kimzey said. So are championships.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – The Navajo Nation Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo is a big piece of giant celebration, and that’s just the way organizers want it. The rodeo is a featured event associated with the Navajo Nation’s 28th annual celebration around the holiday. The fair will feature a Women’s Professional Rodeo Association-sanctioned junior barrel race, 10K run, wild horse race and an open Indian junior rodeo. “I want to instill pride, honor and dignity for our young people, and rodeo is one way of helping build that foundation,” said Genevieve Tshoularkis, the fair manager. “We hope you will enjoy your summer holiday here with us.” The rodeo is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 3-Saturday, July 5, at Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena (because Window Rock is on the Navajo Nation, the kickoff each night will be during Mountain Standard Time; it is not the same as Arizona, which does not recognize Daylight Savings time). It is home to rodeo’s greatest stars, from world champion cowboys and cowgirls to the top stock in the country from Pete Carr Pro Rodeo. “That rodeo has a very rich history, and I’m glad our crew can be part of it,” said Pete Carr, owner of the livestock firm. “I know there are some great rodeo fans there, and I hope we can put on the kind of show that they want to see over and over again.” It seems to be working. “The Navajo Nation as a whole … they love rodeo,” said T.J. Holgate, a former professional rodeo cowboy who volunteers for the annual event. “It’s probably the No. 1 sport out here. It’s a big thing. Most of the natives are agricultural, raising livestock. They’re farmers, outdoors people. They love good animals. They love to watch good competition. It’s just a component for what rodeo means to them.” The passion is evident to everyone involved. There’s a certain electricity that builds across the Navajo Nation and into the arena. “We just want the public to know that they can enjoy their Fourth of July holiday here on the Navajo Nation,” said Martin L. Begaye, the Navajo Nation department manager. “It is an honor to have so many outstanding champions from throughout the country to showcase their skills on the Navajo Nation.” The rodeo will feature more than 400 entries, and all are battling for their share of the purse of about $200,000. The Navajo Nation is the only tribe in the country that hosts a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event. Many of those contestants are Navajo. “It is especially exciting to see one of our own competing with the cream of the crop,” Begaye said. “The PRCA ProRodeo and the other events that we have planned are only a few activities that we hope entire families will enjoy.”

ORGANIZERS REDUCING NUMBERS OF ANIMALS IN SALE TO FOCUS ON TOP QUALITY LAS VEGAS – Benny Binion’s World Famous Bucking Horse & Bull Sale is a 29-year tradition in Las Vegas with a grand history. Organized by stock contractors from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the sale is recognized as one of the very best in the United States every year. Now organizers are making moves to improve upon an already powerful product. “To be realistic, we were a good bucking horse and bull sale, but we weren’t where we wanted to be,” said Hal Burns, a PRCA director and member of the association’s stock contractor executive council. “We wanted to turn it into an elite sale. We wanted to see if we could sell the top stock in the country.” Primarily, the sale has been divided over two days – Thursday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at the South Point Hotel, Casino and Spa – and will include more categories. That includes a special sale set for 9 a.m. Thursday that will feature 2- and 3-year-old colts and yearling and 2-year-old bulls. “Everybody wants to play the futurity game,” David Moorehead said, referring to competitions involving younger bucking animals; the youngest animals will be bucked with a mechanical dummy attached to their backs instead of riders. Moorehead, an Iowa-based livestock contractor, is involved in the organizing side of the sale. He understands the value of the bucking horses and bulls as much as any other in the rodeo game. In addition to the colts/calves sale, Thursday will include the 2014 PRCA Permit Holders of the Year Challenge, which will feature the top five permit-holders from the 2014 season in all six events. For the roughstock cowboys, there will be 10 broncs, 10 bareback horses and 10 bulls, all of which will be sold after the Permit Challenge concludes. Friday will feature Stace Smith’s World Futurity Bronc Riding, and some of the top 4- and 5-year-old broncs in the country will be part of the finale. They will be sold during Saturday’s sale, as will a few select animals from Texas-based Herrington Cattle Co. “For the first time in sale history, Robby and Chad Herrington will be selling five NFR-caliber bulls and five younger bulls that will be bucked with the dummy,” said Nate Morrison, owner of The Breeders Connection and the sale’s producer. The final piece of the sale will be 30 broncs, 30 bulls and 10 bareback horses that are of the highest quality; the sale also will include 16 pickup horses. “Saturday is going to be the elite broncs, bulls and bareback horses in rodeo, the stuff you’ll hopefully see at the (Wrangler) National Finals Rodeo the next year,” Morrison said. “We’re going to have more added money for the cowboys on Saturday that will count toward their winter qualifications and their 2015 standings. “We’re hoping that’s going to kick up the quality of contestants to make that a great roughstock performance.” That seems to be a common theme for the 2014 Benny Binion’s World Famous Bucking Horse & Bull Sale. “That first morning we’re going to use young horses and young bulls to increase the excitement,” said John Barnes, also a PRCA director and a member of the executive council. “With the permit challenge, we’re going to use the proven, seasoned horses and bulls, then sell them.” That means there will be tremendous variety for potential buyers and those who want to view the events. “Another thing we’re doing is that we will have the same ticket price all day long,” Barnes said. “People can come and spend all day, or they can leave and come back. We want to make it fan-friendly also, so we’re changing that, not just the livestock quality.” Animals will be screened and selected to be part of the sale. It will make for an action-packed event at the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center. “We have to best utilize the availability of the facility,” Moorehead said. “We only have so much time, so we needed to come up with the best way to do it. “This is good for the contractors; it’s good for the business. It helps the public gain awareness as to where these animals come from and to see they’re bred and nurtured specifically for rodeos.” The focus, then, is quality over quantity, which will be of great service to everyone involved. Contractors wishing to have their animals in the sale need to submit two videos of each animal to Morrison. “We will have our superstars on Saturday, so we will see a gradual step up,” Barnes said. “We can’t worry about the market of the animals, but we worry about the quality of it. That’s why we’re giving the buyers more options.” The Permit Challenge is a way to provide an outlet for a select few of the up-and-coming cowboys in the game who will have proven themselves in the PRCA tryout phase of their permit season – rodeo contestants must win enough money while competing on their permit in order to compete as official PRCA membersx. The top five in each event earn the right to compete in Las Vegas on Dec. 4. “In today’s world, it’s essential to get out and try to entice these young kids to compete in rodeo,” Burns said. “Without them, we can’t continue to function. “We wanted to have someplace for these kids to showcase their talent. I believe we’ve got to establish our farm-club system in our sport, and that’s what our permit system is.” The Permit Challenge invitees will have a chance to compete for their share of the $21,000 purse. “We are pleased to host an event for our up-and-coming rodeo stars,” PRCA commissioner Karl Stressman told ProRodeo Sports News in its May 9, 2014, edition. “This is an opportunity for them to showcase their talents and give them a taste of what it’s like to compete on the big stage in Las Vegas.”  Continue Reading »

CASPER, Wyo. – Stephen Culling and Micah Samples finished the 2014 College National Finals Rodeo on the highest of notes. The two Northwestern Oklahoma State University rodeo team members earned at least a share of the championship go-round titles in their respective events. Culling, a junior from Fort St. John, British Columbia, posted a 4.5-second run to win the round in steer wrestling; Samples, a senior from Abilene, Kan., scored a 2.6-second run to finish in a three-way tie in breakaway roping. They were two of four Rangers who qualified for the final round last week at the CNFR, the year-end championship in college rodeo. They were joined by tie-down roper Trey Young of Dupree, S.D., and goat-tier Lauren Barnes of Buckeye, Ariz. “I was very proud of everybody who went to the finals,” said Stockton Graves, Northwestern’s rodeo coach. “We had four Northwestern vests in the short round, and three of them placed in the top five in the round. That is, by far, the best we’ve done since I’ve been coach; I’m pretty proud of that.” For Samples, she produced the winning time on the final run of her college career, which made it even more special. “I wanted to be quick and put the pressure on the other girls,” said Samples, who finished the rodeo fifth in the four-run aggregate with a total time of 12.3 seconds. “I think I performed well, and I was really happy with my horse. “It felt good to go out and make my last college rodeo run like that.” Culling finished strong after starting the week with a question mark. His good steer wrestling horse died from a bout with colic on June 13, just before he was to leave for Casper. He enlisted the assistance of assistant coach Kody Woodward, who provided Culling with a horse on which to compete. “That was a pretty rough, but that horse Kody brought me was a great horse that’s been there a bunch of times,” said Culling, who finished third in the average race with a four-run cumulative time of 21.8 seconds. “It worked out as good as it could have for how it started.” He placed fourth in the opening round with a 5.2-second run, then posted a 4.9 in the second round to finish in a tie for seventh. His third-round time of 7.2 was the only hiccup of his week. “I didn’t do a very good job on my third one, and it cost me,” he said, noting that it may have been the run that cost him a shot at the coveted national championship. “I was happy winning the round to end it off, but I did not go there to finish third; I went there to win it.” Barnes, a junior, posted a 6.5-second goat-tying run to finish in a tie for third place in the short go-round. That was a solid way to finish her first qualification to the finale. “I thought it went really well, especially for being my first time,” she said. “I would’ve liked to have been faster in two rounds, but I was happy with my performance.” That final run was especially nice. “It sounds kind of goofy, but it almost doesn’t seem real yet,” Barnes said. “I’ve worked so hard and barely missed qualifying, so to do that well is a dream come true for me.” Young didn’t have the same fortune in his final college run. The South Dakotan qualified for the final round tied for second; he roped his fourth calf, but it did not remain tied for the required six seconds, so he was saddled with a no-time. “To win the national championship in any of those events, there’s not a whole lot of room for mistakes,” Graves said. “We didn’t make too many. We just had a few things not go our way, but I was real proud of the kids for staying hooked and continuing to fight through it.”

Special thanks to Susan Kanode for providing the information. Bareback – Orin Larsen, Panhandle State University, 316 points Tie-Down Roping – Taylor Santos-Karney, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 37.0 seconds Breakaway Roping – Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College, 10.6 seconds Saddle Bronc Riding – CoBurn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 311 points Steer Wrestling – Cade Goodman, Wharton County Junior College, 21.3 seconds Goat Tying – Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University, 25.7 seconds Team Roping – Billy Bob Brown (header) Tarleton State University & Logan Medlin, (heeler) Eastern New Mexico University, 26.0 seconds Barrel Racing –Taylor Engesser, Gillette College, 55.78 seconds Bull Riding – Joe Frost, Panhandle State University, 308.5 points Men’s All-Around – Taygen Schuelke, Gillette College, 415 points Women’s All-Around – Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College, 555 points Men’s Team – University of Tennessee – Martin, 755 points Women’s Team – Central Arizona College, 635 points

PECOS, Texas – The West of the Pecos Rodeo is the most historic showcase in the game, dating more than 130 years. The Pecos championship buckle is one of the most cherished prizes in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and hundreds of the sport’s top players make their way to West Texas for a shot at the wearable trophy and their share of the large purse. Adding to the prestige and excitement is the top-level event from the staff at Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, which returns to produce the annual rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 25-Saturday, June 28, at Buck Jackson Arena. “We’re very blessed to be part of the tradition of the West of the Pecos Rodeo,” said Pete Carr, owner of the Dallas-based livestock firm. “This is truly one of the great rodeos.” The proof is in the list of reigning champions who are expected to defend their titles during the four days of competition. That group includes 19-time world champion Trevor Brazile, who earned three Pecos buckles last year by winning team roping (with Patrick Smith), tie-down roping and the all-around championships. In all, Brazile pocketed more than $11,000. Smith, a two-time world champion who is roping this year with header Kaleb Driggers, realized the West Texas victory was great timing. It enabled Smith a chance to compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the 10th time. “I’ve been a winner and I’ve been a loser, and I sure like winning better,” Smith said. Six others left Pecos last June with titles: bareback rider Taylor Price, steer roper Troy Tillard, saddle bronc rider Cody Wright, steer wrestler Ben Schofner, barrel racer Stacey Grimes and bull rider Elliot Jacoby. Wright, a two-time world champion, matched moves with Carr’s Deuces Wild for 88 points to win the title. It was the second of three times Wright and Deuces Wild had been matched together, and the champ owns two event titles on the horse, winning in Bay City, Texas, earlier this spring. “I had that horse in Lovington (N.M); I thought he was just so-so, but I might not have rode him good,” Wright said. “I tried to ride him as good as I could, and he wound up being awesome.” Yes, it did. In fact, it was one of several awesome performances inside Buck Jackson Arena. In the opening performance, young-gun Taylor Price posted an 88-point ride on Carr’s Dirty Jacket, a 10-year-old bay gelding that finished as the 2013 Reserve World Champion Bareback Horse. The ride held up for a big win for the young Texan. “That was the best bucking horse I’ve ever been on in my life,” Price said. “That’s the horse you don’t want to screw up on because so many people won on him. You don’t want to be the guy that messed up that horse.” Jacoby posted the highest of a high-scoring rodeo, posting 91 points on Carr’s Hustler to win the title and nearly $4,600. Jacoby used it to qualify for the NFR for the first time. Big scores and fast times are what fans have come to expect in Pecos.

From Susan Kanode at the College National Finals Rodeo, below are the standings through Thursday night’s performance in Casper, Wyo. Bareback Riding:  Third round: 1, Chase Bowen, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 81.5 points. 2, Bill Tutor, Sam Houston State University, 79. 3, Richmond Champion, Tarleton State University, 78. 4, Wyatt Bloom, Montana State University, 77.5. 5, Mason Clements, College of Southern Idaho, 76.5. 6, Tyler Waltz, University of Tennessee – Martin, 76. 7, Colt Kitaif, University of Tennessee – Martin, 75.5. 8, (tie) Linden Woods, New Mexico Junior College, and Cavan Wrzesinski, Montana State University, 75.  Average leaders: 1, Tyler Waltz, University of Tennessee – Martin, 236 on three rides. 2, Richmond Champion, Tarleton State University, 231.5. 3, Wyatt Bloom, Montana State University, 230. 4, Bill Tutor, Sam Houston State University, 226. 5, (tie) Grant Denny, Feather River College, and Linden Woods, New Mexico Junior College, 225.5. 7, Chase Bowen, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 222. 8, Hunter Brasfield, New Mexico Highlands University, 212. Steer wrestling: Third round: 1, J.D. Struxness, Missouri Valley College, 4.3 seconds. 2, Brandon Mackenzie, Feather River College, 4.5. 3, Will Lummus, University of Tennessee – Martin, 4.8. 4, Bryce Dibbern, University of Nebraska, 4.9. 5, Cade Goodman, Wharton County Junior College, 5.0. 6, Lane Wilson, Central Arizona College, 5.1. 7, Tyke Kipp, New Mexico State University, 5.6. 8, Hank Filippini, Odessa College, 5.7. Average leaders: 1, Cade Goodman, Wharton County Junior College, 16.4 on three runs. 2, Tyke Kipp, New Mexico State University, 16.7. 3, Stephen Culling, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 17.3. 4, Will Lummus, University of Tennessee – Martin, 18.0. 5, Kody Lahaye, University of Montana Western, 18.9. 6, Jarret New, Texas A&M University, 19.0. 7, Cameron Morman, Dickinson State University, 19.6. 8, Riley Krassin, Casper College, 22.3. Breakaway Roping: Third round: 1, (tie) Kirsten Smith, McNeese State University, and Shay Spitz, South Plains College, 2.4 seconds each. 3, (tie) Chelsea Carroll, McNeese State University, and Lacey Camp, Casper College, 2.5. 5, (tie) Lindsay Adamson, University of Nebraska, and Hannah Springer, Southern Arkansas University, 2.6. 7, Kelsey Kennemer, Troy University, 2.7. 8, (tie) Justinn Marshall, University of Montana – Western and Hope Petry, South Dakota State University, 3.0. Average leaders: 1, (tie) Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, and Kimberlyn Fitch, Idaho State University, 8.7 on three runs. 3, Lindsay Adamson, University of Nebraska, 9.1. 4, Kirsten Smith, McNeese State University, 9.3. 5, Hannah Springer, Southern Arkansas University, 9.6. 6, Micah Samples, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 9.7. 7, Kara Kohutek, Feather River College, 10.9. 8, Shaylee Thacker, Utah Valley University, 11.0. Saddle Bronc Riding:  Third round: 1, Coburn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 78 points. 2, Sam Harper, Feather River College, 77.5. 3, Zeke Thurston, Sheridan College, 77. 4, (tie) Brady Dinwoodie, New Mexico Highlands University, and Dalton Kingery, Missouri Valley College, 75.5 each. 6, (tie) Shade Etbauer, Panhandle State University, Treyson Antonick, Texas Tech University and Garet Aldridge, Sam Houston State University, 70. Average leaders: 1, Coburn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 230.5 points on three rides. 2, Zeke Thurston, Sheridan College, 229.5. 3, Dalton Kingery, Missouri Valley College, 222.5. 4, Cole Hatcher, College of Southern Idaho, 214. 5, (tie) Charlie Kogianes, Cochise College, and Joe Harper, Panhandle State University, 211.5. 7, Travis Nelson, Tarleton State University, 210. 8, Nat Stratton, Panhandle State University, 208. Tie-Down Roping: Third round: 1, Kyle Hay, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 8.2 seconds. 2, Michael Perry, Howard County Community College, 8.5. 3, Jared Parke, Blue Mountain Community College, 8.6. 4, Marty Yates, Hill College, 9.1. 5, Austin Barstow, Montana State University, 9.2. 6, Brody Adams, Colorado Northwest Community College, 9.4. 7, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 9.6. 8,  Garrett Hale, Texas Tech University, 10.0. Average leaders: 1, Marty Yates, Hill College, 27.2 on three runs. 2, Clark Adcock, University of Tennessee – Martin, 28.7. 3, Kyle Dickens, Colorado State University, 29.0. 4, Chant DeForest, Lassen Community College, 29.9. 5, Michael Perry, Howard College, 30.2. 6, Curt Mosley, Southern Arkansas University, 31.1. 7, Blane Cox, Hill College, 31.4. 8, Brody Adams, Colorado Northwest Community College, 32.2. Team Roping: Third round: 1, Donny Scantling, Gillette College, and Trey Yates, Eastern Wyoming College, 5.0 seconds. 2, Hunter Munsell and Braden Harmon, Western Oklahoma State College, 5.2. 3, Clayton Van Aken, University of Wyoming and Kyon Kreutzer, Northeastern Junior College, 5.9. 4, Clayton Hansen and Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 6.5. 5, Cody Mirabal and Reno Eddy, New Mexico State University, 6.5. 6 (tie), Clay Crozier and Brody Adams, Colorado Northwest Community College, and Michael Chaput, South Dakota State University and Matt Cover, University of Nebraska, 6.7. 8 (tie), Brody Braden and Tanner Caudle, University of Arkansas – Cassatot,  and Rusty VanSoelen, New Mexico State University, and Daniel Baeza, Mesalands Community College, 7.4. Average leaders: 1, Clay Crozier and Brody Adams, Colorado Northwest Community College, 19.6 on three runs. 2, Cash Hendrick and Corey Hendrick, Sam Houston State University, 22.6. 3, Clayton Hansen and Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 24.0. 4, Brody Braden and Tanner Caudel, University of Arkansas – Cossat, 24.3. 5, Alton Fisher and Justin Pruitt, East Mississippi Community College, 26.6. 6, Brit Ellerman, University of Wyoming, and Seth Andersen, Gillette College, 27.2. 7 (tie), Rusty VanSoelen, New Mexico State University and Daniel Baeza, Mesalands Community College, and Seth Driggers, Southern Arkansas University, and Kelsey Kennemer, Troy University, 28.7. Goat Tying: Third round: 1, Arianna Assini, Cochise College, 6.4 seconds, 2, (tie) Shelby Winchell, Chadron State College, and Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University, 6.5. 4, (tie) Keely Weger, Eastern New Mexico University; Kaylee Moyer, Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Kindee Wilson, New Mexico Highlands University; Kaylee Burnett, Central Wyoming College; and Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University; 6.6 each. Average leaders: 1,  Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University, 19.3 on three runs. 2, Shelby Winchell, Chadron State College, 19.4. 3, Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, 19.8. 4, Kaylee Burnett, Central Wyoming College, 20.0. 5, Lauren Barnes, Northwestern Oklahoma State  Continue Reading »

From Susan Kanode at the College National Finals Rodeo, below are the standings through Wednesday night’s performance in Casper, Wyo. Bareback Riding: Third round: 1, Chase Bowen, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 81.5 points. 2, Bill Tutor, Sam Houston State University, 79. 3, Richmond Champion, Tarleton State University, 78. 4, Mason Clements, College of Southern Idaho, 76.5. 5, Tyler Waltz, University of Tennessee – Martin, 76. 6, (tie) Dylon Baker, College of Southern Idaho, and Hunter Brasfield, New Mexico Highlands University, 72.5. Average leaders: 1, Tyler Waltz, University of Tennessee – Martin, 236. 2, Richmond Champion, Tarleton State University, 231.5. 3, Bill Tutor, Sam Houston State University, 226. 4, Grant Denny, Feather River College, 225.5. 5, Chase Bowen, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 222. 6, Hunter Brasfield, New Mexico Highlands University, 212. Steer wrestling: Third round: 1, J.D. Struxness, Missouri Valley College, 4.3 seconds. 2, Brandon Mackenzie, Feather River College, 4.5. 3, Bryce Dibbern, University of Nebraska, 4.9. 4, Lane Wilson, Central Arizona College, 5.1. 5, Sam Olson, Black Hills State University, 6.3. 6, Jarret New, Texas A & M University, 6.8. Average leaders: 1, Stephen Culling, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 17.3. 2, Jarret New, Texas A&M University, 19.0. 3, Riley Krassin, Casper College, 22.3. 4, J.D. Struxness, Missouri Valley College, 25.3. 5, Cody McCleary, Walla Walla Community College, 25.8. 6, Austin Woods, Central Arizona College, 29.9. Breakaway Roping: Third round: 1, Kirsten Smith, McNeese State University, 2.4. 2, (tie) Chelsea Carroll, McNeese State University, and Lacey Camp, Casper College, 2.5 each. 4, (tie) Lindsay Adamson, University of Nebraska, and Hannah Springer, Southern Arkansas University, 2.6. 6, Kelsey Kennemer, Troy University, 2.7. Average leaders: 1, Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, 8.7. 2, Lindsay Adamson, University of Nebraska, 9.1. 3, Kirsten Smith, McNeese State University, 9.3. 4, Hannah Springer, Southern Arkansas University, 9.6. 5, Micah Samples, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 9.7. 6, Shalee Thacker, Utah Valley University, 11.0. Saddle Bronc Riding: Third round: 1, Coburn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 78 points. 2, Sam Harper, Feather River College, 77.5. 3, Zeke Thurston, Sheridan College, 77. 4, Brady Dinwoodie, New Mexico Highlands University, 75.5. 5, (tie) Shade Etbauer, Panhandle State University, and Garet Aldridge, Sam Houston State University, 70. Average leaders: 1, Coburn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 230.5. 2, Zeke Thurston, Sheridan College, 229.5. 3, Cole Hatcher, College of Southern Idaho, 214. 4, Charlie Kogianes, Cochise College, 211.5. 5, Nat Stratton, Panhandle State University, 208. 6, Brady Dinwoodie, New Mexico Highlands University, 207.5. Tie-Down Roping: Third round: 1, Michael Perry, Howard County Community College, 8.5 seconds. 2, Jared Parke, Blue Mountain Community College, 8.6. 3, Austin Barstow, Montana State University, 9.2. 4, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 9.6. 5,  Garrett Hale, Texas Tech University, 10.0. 6, (tie) Kyle Dickens, Colorado State University; Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College; and Chant DeForest, Lassen Community College; 10.1. Average leaders: 1, Kyle Dickens, Colorado State University, 29.0. 2, Chant DeForest, Lassen Community College, 29.9. 3, Michael Perry, Howard College, 30.2. 4, Curt Mosley, Southern Arkansas University, 31.1. 5, Blane Cox, Hill College, 31.4. 6, Cameron Morman, Dickinson State University, 32.4. Team Roping: Third round: 1, Donny Scantling, Gillette College, and Trey Yates, Eastern Wyoming College, 5.0 seconds. 2, Hunter Munsell and Braden Harmon, Western Oklahoma State College, 5.2. 3, Clayton Hansen and Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 6.5. 4, Cody Mirabal and Reno Eddy, New Mexico State University, 6.5. 5, Clay Crozier and Brody Adams, Colorado Northwest Community College, 6.7. 6, Brody Braden and Tanner Caudle, University of Arkansas – Cassatot, 7.4. Average leaders: 1, Clay Crozier and Brody Adams, Colorado Northwest Community College, 19.6. 2, Cash Hendrick and Corey Hendrick, Sam Houston State University, 22.6. 3, Clayton Hansen and Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 24.0. 4, Brody Braden and Tanner Caudel, University of Arkansas – Cossat, 24.3. 5, Alton Fisher and Justin Pruitt, East Mississippi Community College, 26.6. 6, Brit Ellerman, University of Wyoming, and Seth Andersen, Gillette College, 27.2. Goat Tying: Third round: 1, Arianna Assini, Cochise College, 6.4 seconds, 2, (tie) Shelby Winchell, Chadron State College, and Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University, 6.5. 4, (tie) Keely Weger, Eastern New Mexico University; Kaylee Moyer, Southwestern Oklahoma State University; Kindee Wilson, New Mexico Highlands University; and Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University; 6.6 each. Average leaders: 1,  Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University, 19.3. 2, Shelby Winchell, Chadron State College, 19.4. 3, Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, 19.8. 4, Lauren Barnes, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 20.1. 5,  Kindee Wilson, New Mexico Highlands University, 20.2. 6, (tie) Keely Weger, Eastern New Mexico University, and Chelsea Carroll, McNeese State University, 20.7. Barrel Racing: Third round: 1, Bailee Snow, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M University, 13.93 seconds. 2, Callahan Crossley, Blue Mountain Community College, 13.96. 3, Morgann McDonald, Southwest Texas Junior College, 14.04. 4, Mallory Driscoll, Idaho State University, 14.07. 5, Danielle McCants, West Hills College, 14.11. 6, Meghan Johnson, New Mexico State University, 14.15. Average leaders: 1, Callahan Crossley, Blue Mountain Community College, 42.21. 2, Amy Dichert, Chadron State College, 42.55. 3, Lauren Reiser, Montana State University, 42.6. 4, Jaime Barrow, Tarleton State University, 42.69. 5, (tie) Morgann McDonald, Southwest Texas Junior College, and Kaela Murphy, Montana State University, 42.74. Bull Riding: Third round: 1, Ty Wallace, Odessa College, 89 points. 2, Cody Heffernan, Odessa College, 84. 3, Sage Kimzey, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 82.5. 4, Nevada Newman, Montana State University, 80. 5, Mickey Andrews, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 77.5; no other qualified rides. Average leaders: 1, Ty Wallace Odessa College, 175. 2, Cody Heffernan, Odessa College, 165. 3, Sage Kimzey, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 162. 4, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College, 159.5. 5, Nevada Newman, Montana State University, 154.5. 6, Joe Frost, Panhandle State University, 140. Men’s All-Around: 1, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College, 210 points. 2, Clayton Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 145. 3, Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 140. 4, Clark Adcock, University of Tennessee – Martin, 135. Women’s All-Around: 1, Jacalyn Walker, Utah  Continue Reading »

From Susan Kanode at the College National Finals Rodeo: Bareback Riding:  (second round winners) 1, Grant Denny, Feather River College, 82 points. 2, Orin Larsen, Panhandle State University, 79. 3, (tie) Tyler Waltz, University of Tennessee – Martin, and Wyatt Bloom, Montana State University, 78. 5, Tanner Phipps, University of Tennessee – Martin, 77. 6, Bill Tutor, Sam Houston State University, 76.5. 7, Chad Rutherford, McNeese State University, 76. 8, Zachariah Phillips, Casper College, 75.5. Steer wrestling: (second round winners) 1, Jace Melvin, Tarleton State University, 4.1 seconds. 2, Kody LeHaye, University of Montana Western, 4.5. 3, (tie) Tylor Bond, Northeastern Junior College; Brandon Mackenzie, Feather River College; and Tanner Brunner,  Kansas State University; 4.7 each. 6, Calder Johnston, South Dakota State University, 4.8. 7, (tie) Jarret New, Texas A & M University and Stephen Culling, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 4.9 each. Breakaway Roping: (second round winners) 1, Shaina Johnson, Eastern Washington State University, 2.1 seconds. 2, Taylor Smith, Eastern New Mexico University, 2.6. 3, (tie) Kimberlyn Fitch, Idaho State University and Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, 2.7. 5, (tie) Kelsey Kennemer, Troy University; and Keeley Eger, Eastern New Mexico University; Micah Samples, Northwestern Oklahoma State University; Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College; and Brooke Hirschy, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo; 2.8 each. Saddle Bronc Riding:  (second round winners) 1. Dalton Rixen, Dickinson State University, 79.5 points. 2, Ricky Warren, Northwest College, 78.5. 3, Dylan Henson, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 76. 4, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College, 75.5. 5, (tie) Dalton Kingery, Missouri Valley College; Dalton Davis, Southwestern Oklahoma State University; and Telden McLain, Feather River College; 75. 8, (tie) Charlie Kogianes, Cochise College and Coburn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 74.5. Tie-Down Roping: (second round winners) 1,  (tie) Kit Pettigrew, Mesalands Community College, and Marty Yates, Hill College, 8.0 seconds each. 3, Caleb Bullock, Panhandle State University 8.5. 4, Chant DeForest, Lasssen Community College, 8.6. 5, (tie) Austin Barstow, Montana State University and Russell Ilse, Tarleton State University, 8.7 each.  7, (tie) Clayton Collmorgen, Angelina College and ClarkAdcock, University of Tennessee – Martin, 8.8. Team Roping: (second round winners) 1,  Alton Fisher and Justin Pruitt, East Mississippi Community College, 5.1 seconds. 2, Case Hirdes and Tyler McCaurley, Lassen Community College, 5.2. 3, Brody Braden and Tanner Caudle, University of Arkansas  – Cossotat, 5.6. 4, Brit Ellerman, University of Wyoming and Seth Andersen, Gillette College, 6.2. 5, John Alley and Clark Adcock, University of Tennessee – Martin, 6.3. 6, (tie) Clay Crozier and Brody Adams, Colorado Northwestern Community College; Shawn Bird and Zach Schweigert, Northwest College; and McKennan Buckner, Oregon State University and Jared Parke, Blue Mountain Community College; 6.4 each. Barrel Racing: (second round winners) 1, Taylor Engesser, Gillette College, 13.83 seconds. 2, Amy Deichert, Chadron State College, 13.89. 3, Shay Spitz, South Plains Collee, 13.97. 4, Kaela Murphy, Montana State University, 14.07. 5, Callahan Crossley, Blue Mountain Community College, 14.09. 6, Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College, 14.10. 7, (tie) Kristi Steffes, Gillette College and Georgia Diez, Cochise College, 14.16 each. Goat Tying: (second round winners) 1, Kindee Wilson, New Mexico Highlands University, 6.1 seconds. 2, (tie) Makayla Boots, Cochise College and Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College, 6.2 each. 4, (tie) Shelby Winchell, Chadron State College and Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University, 6.3. 6, (tie) Emily Miller, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Georgia Diez, Cochise College, 6.5.  8, (tie) Bailey Bidwell, Feather River College; Amy Tierney, Chadron State College; and Arianna Assini, Cochise College, 6.6. Bull Riding: (second round winners) 1, Ty Wallace, Odessa College, 86 points. 2,Cody Heffernan, Odessa College, 81. 3, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College. 80.5. 4, Trasen Jones, College of Southern Idaho, 78. 5, John Pitts, Troy University, 76. 6, (tie) Austin Patterson, Hill College, and Jeff Bertus, Panhandle State Univerisy, 71.5. 8, Ethan Hecht, Iowa Central Community College, 70.5.

Thanks to Susan Kanode for sending out the first-round results from the College National Finals Rodeo: Bareback Riding:  (first round winners) 1, Tyler Waltz, University of Tennessee – Martin, 80 points. 2, Richmond Champion, Tarleton State University, 79. 3, Colt Kitaif, University of Tennessee – Martin, 78.5. 4, Deven Reilly, Gillette College, 77.5. 5, Linden Woods, New Mexico Junior College, 77. 6, (tie) Wyatt Bloom, Montana State University, and Orin Larsen, Panhandle State University, 74.5 each. 8, Wyatt Clark, University of Wyoming, and Dustin Jackson, Sam Houston State University, 73.5 each. (second round leaders) 1, Orin Larsen, Pnahandle State University, 79 points. 2, Tanner Phipps, University of Tennessee – Martin, 77. 3, Chad Rutherford, McNeese State University, 76. 4, (tie) Devan Reilly, Gillette College and Richmond Champion, Tarleton State University, 74.5 points each. 6, Linden Woods, New Mexico Junior College, 73.5. 7, Mason Clements, College of Southern Idaho, 73. 8, Chase Bowen, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 72. Steer wrestling: (first round winners) 1, Riley Krassin, Casper College, 4.5 seconds. 2, Colton Mooney, Weber State University, 4.7. 3, Tylor Bond, Northeastern Junior College, 4.8. 4, Stephen Culling, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 5.2. 5,  (tie) Cody McCleary, Walla Walla Community College, and Tyke Kipp, New Mexico State University, 5.3 each. 7, (tie) Cameron Morman, Dickinson State University; Hank Filippini, Odessa College; Tanner Brunner, Kansas State University; 5.4 each. Breakaway Roping: (first round winners) 1, Cheyenne Sherwood, Central Arizona College, 2.0 seconds. 2, (tie) Hannah Springer Southern Arkansas University and Loni Pearce, Southern Arkansas University, 2.3 seconds each. 4, Kimberlyn Fitch, Idaho State University, 2.4. 5, Ava Rankin, Miles City Community College, 2.5. 6, Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, 2.6. 7, Kaylee Moyer, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2.7. 8, (tie) Micah Samples, Northwestern Oklahoma State University; Brooke Hirschy, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo; Macy Fuller, Central Arizona College; and Kacey Struxness, Missouri Valley College, 2.8 each. (second round leaders) 1, Shaina Johnson, Eastern Washington University, 2.1 seconds. 2, Taylor Smith, Eastern New Mexico University, 2.6. 3, Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, 2.7. 4, Micah Samples, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 2.8. 5, Loni Pearce, Southern Arkansas University, 3.2. 6, Ava Rankin, Miles City Community College, 3.3. 7, Chelsea DeMott, New Mexico Highlands, 3.4. 8, Ellen Jarvis, Murray State University, 3.8. Saddle Bronc Riding:  (first round winners) 1, Zeke Thurston, Sheridan College, 81.0. 2, Telden McLain, Feather River College, 79.5. 3, CoBurn Bradshaw, Western Texas College, 78. 4, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College, 77.5. 5, Jade Blackwell, Gillette College, 77.0. 6, (tie) Travis Nelson, Tarleton State University and Cole Hatcher, College of Southern Idaho, 74 each. 8, Joe Harper, Panhandle State University, 73.5. (second round leaders) 1. Dalton Rixen, Dickinson State University, 79.5. 2, Ricky Warren, North West College, 78.5. 3, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College, 75.5. 4, Charlie Kogianes, Cochise College, 74.5. 5, Tyler Baeza, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, 73. 6, Cole Hatcher, College of Southern Idaho, 70.5. 7, Jade Blackwell, Gillette College, 70. 8, Uhuru Adem, Fresno State University, 68. Tie-Down Roping: (first round winners) 1, Clark Adcock, University of Tennessee – Martin, 8.3. 2, Kyle Dickens, Colorado State University, 8.9. 3, (tie) Taylor Santos – Karney, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, and Tyler Forsberg, Fresno State University, 9.1. 5, Billy Bob Brown, Tarleton State University, 9.3. 6, Clayton Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 9.5. 7, Blane Cox, Hill College, 9.7. 8, (tie) Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, and Cole Robinson, Central Arizona College, 9.9 each. Team Roping: (first round winners) 1,  Billy Bob Brown, Tarleton State University, and Logan Medlin, Eastern New Mexico University, 4.8 seconds. 2, Thompson Berryhill, Oklahoma State University and Lane Reeves, Coffeyville Community College, 5.3. 3, (tie) Cody Kohleffel, Wharton County Community College and Jonathan Torres, McNeese State University; and Clayton and Chase Hansen, Blue Mountain Community College, 5.8 each. 5, Case Hirdes, and Tyler McCauley, Lassen Community College, 6.1. 6, Tydaniel Haller, Southern Arkansas University and Ben Runyon, Missouri Valley College, 6.3. 7, Clay Crozier, and Brody Adams, Colorado Northwestern Community College, 6.5. 8, Shawn Bird and Zach Schweigert, Northwest College, 6.6. Barrel Racing: (first round winners) 1, Lauren Reiser, Montana State University, 14.10 seconds. 2, Jaime Barrow, Tarleton State University, 14.13. 3, Callahan Crossley, Blue Mountain Community College, 14.16. 4, Kristi Steffes, Gillette College, 14.21. 5,  (tie) Danielle McCants, West Hills College,  7and Georgia Diez, Cochise College, 14.22 each. 7, Alicia Moe, South Dakota State University, 14.23. 8, Cacee Taulman, Sam Houston State University, 14.28. Goat Tying: (first round winners) 1, (tie) Shelby Freed, Idaho State University, and Lauren Barnes, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, 6.3 seconds each. 3, Shaylee Hance, Chadron State College, 6.4. 4, (tie) Hayden Segelke, Eastern New Mexico University and Jacalyn Walker, Utah Valley University, 6.5 each. 6, (tie) Karley Kile, Northwestern Oklahoma State University; Baili Collins, Tarleton State University; and Shelby Winchell, Chadron State College, 6.6 each. Bull Riding: (first round winners) 1, Jared Parsonage, Weatherford College, 81. 2, Joe Frost, Panhandle State University, 80. 3, Sage Kimzey, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 79.5. 4, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College, 79. 5, (tie) Bryan Carter, Blue Mountain Community College, and Nevada Newman, Montana State University, 74.5 each.  (second round leaders – four qualified rides) 1, Ty Wallace, Odessa College, 86 points. 2,Cody Heffernan, Odessa College, 81. 3, Taygen Schuelke, Sheridan College. 80.5. 4, Trasen Jones, College of Southern Idaho, 78. 5, John Pitts, Troy University, 76. 6, Austin Patterson, Hill College, 71.5. 7, Dalton McMurtrie, Lassen Community College, 61. 8, Joe Frost, Panhandle State University, 60.

BIG SPRING, Texas – For most of the rodeo world, Quail Dobbs was a bullfighter and rodeo clown that everyone adored. He was a two-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Clown of the Year who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Texas Rodeo Hall of Fame. For folks in Howard County, he was just Quail: a family member, a friend and man of the community. Dobbs died this past January at the age of 72, leaving behind his wife, Judy; daughter, Stephanie Rotan; a son, Coley Dobbs; and four grandchildren. His life will be honored during each of the three performances of the Big Spring Cowboy Reunion and Rodeo, set for 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19-Saturday, June 21, at the Big Spring Rodeo Bowl. “He was the dad, the husband and the grandfather as much as he was the clown,” said Dane Driver, chairman of the committee that organizes the annual rodeo. “For our board, he was our friend and a committeeman who was always a big part of our rodeo.” The ceremony will be just one of several things in store for fans. Driver said organizers plan to keep with the rodeo’s longstanding traditions while also expounding upon the overall entertainment value of the show. “The one thing we have with Pete Carr as our stock contractor is that we have a well-produced rodeo,” he said, referring to Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, which owns more animals than any other stock contractor in North America. “This year, we want to kick it up a notch. We want this to be the kind of rodeo everyone will enjoy, from those who grew up with the sport out here in West Texas to the people who have never been to a rodeo.” The Carr firm is one of the top outfits in the PRCA. In 2013, Carr was nominated for Stock Contractor of the Year; meanwhile, 27 Carr animals were selected to perform at ProRodeo’s grand finale, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Those NFR horses and bulls are just a small taste of the tremendous number of animal athletes that reside on the Carr ranch near Athens, Texas. “We’ve certainly been blessed with some great success in the last few years,” Carr said. “We have a great group of hard-working people who care about the sport and everything that goes into it.” For the 2014 season, the Carr firm will produce more than 30 rodeos and will have livestock at a number of other events across the country. It takes a great team and outstanding animal athletes to make those events successful, and Pete Carr Pro Rodeo has both. “He’s not even going to have a B pen before long,” said saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss, a five-time NFR qualifier from Heflin, La. “He’s going to have an A plus and an A pen. He’s got an eye for horses, and he’s surrounded himself with people who know what they’re talking about. You want to go to Pete’s rodeos, because you’re going to get on something.” In Big Spring, the Carr production will mix quite well with the community’s West Texas nature. It’s the perfect way to honor the life of Quail Dobbs.

If the Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo is any indication, ProRodeo Live and Rural Radio 80 are finding great success in broadcasting America’s oldest extreme sport. “This is a very exciting time for us,” said Steve Kenyon, owner of ProRodeo Live and one of the hosts of Rural Media Group’s Western Sports Roundup, which airs on both RFD-TV and Rural Radio 80 on Sirius-XM. “The fun thing about my partnership with Rural Radio 80 is we’ve been able to go out and get more rodeos.” Kenyon’s ProRodeo Live provided the live broadcast of the final three performances of the Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo on June 5-7 in Silver City, N.M. Rob Matthews, the 2012 winner of the PRCA Media Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism, handled the play-by-play and loved what he saw in the town of about 10,000. “I’d never been there, but it was neat,” Matthews said. “The crowd was great every night; it was full on Friday and Saturday nights, and Thursday was almost full. “It was a good rodeo. I don’t know how many people they have on their committee, but it came across really well. The bucking stock was outstanding, and the timed-event stock was great. I enjoyed being there.” Kenyon’s broadcasting schedule has increased quite a bit this year, and there are indications it won’t slow anytime soon. Up next is the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo, followed by the championship round of the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede. “That just takes us through July,” Kenyon said. “It’s great to me that we’re able to broadcast a lot of events in various sizes according to prize money, from (RFD-TV’s) The American to Silver City. I think that’s good.” It’s great, not only for Rural Radio 80 and ProRodeo Live, but also for the sport.

SILVER CITY, N.M. – An amazing crowd witnessed a young bull rider make a veteran ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Junior Bonner on the final night of the Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo this past Saturday night at Southwest Horseman’s Park. It was just one of many highlights of the four-night exposition, which featured many of the top bull riders in the game, many of whom competed in a special night of bull riding Wednesday, June 4. Turner, of Stephenville, Texas, posted a 90-point ride to win the bull riding and collect more than $3,700. He beat a field that included former world champions and numerous qualifiers to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The Wild, Wild West Pro Rodeo highlighted a mixed bag of 2014 champions, from three-time world champion steer roper Rocky Patterson and two-time world champion saddle bronc rider Taos Muncy to a pair of NFR qualifiers: barrel racer Michele McLeod and bareback rider Jared Smith, who shared the event title with Bill Tutor. Muncy, 26, of Corona, N.M., scored 86 points and $1,644 by matching moves with Carr’s Ginger, a 21-year-old bay mare that has performed at the NFR five times in her career. Smith and Tutor shared the bareback riding crown with 85-point rides; Smith rode Carr’s Sundown, while Tutor was matched with Carr’s Touched By An Angel. Other winners were all-around champion Cutter Parsons, who competed in tie-down roping and steer wrestling; team ropers Arky Rogers and Travis Woodard; steer wrestler Monty Eakin; and tie-down roper Donovan Yazzie.

The Brothers McCoy have added another honor to their resumes. Jet and Cord McCoy won the voting for Best Dynamic Duo for the CBS Fan Awards from their appearance on Season 24 of “The Amazing Race,” which aired this spring on CBS-TV. It was the third time on the reality-TV series for the McCoys, cowboys who were raised on the family’s ranch near Tupelo, Okla. They were eliminated from the All-Star Edition during the 10th of 12 legs of the race around the world for $1 million.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story appears in the June 2014 issue of Women’s Pro Rodeo News, the official publication of the WPRA. It is republished on this site with the approval of the WPRN. Erin Ricotti is credited on more than a dozen movies, from Grumpier Old Men to Pursuit of Happyness. She’s a stunt woman, and her list of on-film accomplishments goes back two decades. She also is a horsewoman, which comes in quite handy in front of the camera and inside the arena. She’s spending her 2014 campaign seasoning two young horses, and she’s finding a way to the winner’s circle. The first weekend in May, the Escalon, Calif., cowgirl wontheKern County Sheriff Reserve Stampede Days Rodeo, a WPRA Qualifying Tour event in Bakersfield, Calif. She and Royal Star Commander rounded the pattern in 17.27 seconds to take the title. “This is his first year of rodeoing,” Ricotti said of the 7-year-old sorrel gelding out of Go Royal Scarlett by AR Star. “He was bred to run barrels on both sides.” So is Commander’s sister, Jewel, a 5-year-old mare who shares time in the arena with her big brother. Together they make up the power that fuels Ricotti’s run. “It’s such a luxury to be able to pick and choose,” she said. “At Oakdale (Calif.), I had to run Jewel because Commander abscessed. I’m seasoning them both and trying to decide who runs where. I don’t think there will be a bad arena for Commander, because he likes all sizes of pens. “But right now, he’s not that great when there are things waving around him.” She’ll continue to work on that, and having Jewel in the mix makes that type of seasoning a little easier. In addition to winning the title in Bakersfield, Ricotti topped the field in Springville, Calif., bettering the second-place cowgirl by half a second. “We would have won Stoneyford (Calif.), but I hit the second barrel leaving it on the back side,” she said. “Commander’s odds are pretty good when he decides he’s not afraid.” There isn’t much fear coming from Ricotti. She’s been around rodeo all her life and sometimes travels the trail with her children, who also compete. In fact, son Dylan Vick Hice was the seventh-ranked bull rider in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in mid-May. Her grandfather was a member of the Cowboy Turtle Association, and her grandparents performed trick riding acts for the queen of England during the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede. Now Ricotti is chasing rodeo titles all across California, and Bakersfield was an appropriate setting. Just four hours from her home, the arena turned out to be quite comfortable for her and Commander, who ran during slack and watched the time hold up for the victory. The ground just seemed to stay pretty darn even,” she said. “I’ve seen Linda Vick win that rodeo in a perf., and I’ve won in slack, so it’s been that way for a long time. That committee does an amazing job.” So how does she keep her horses ready to go when she’s on the road? “I don’t go that much, but when I do, I’ll drive for eight or nine hours then get them out,” Ricotti said. “I long trot them a lot, but for the most part, I just let them look around and be horses. I just get them out of the trailer. I try to find grass somewhere and take them on walks. “They’re pretty good about going and are good about drinking. Having the two of them the last five years, I think they comfort each other also. I think it’s important that they are together.” While Ricotti has a pair of great partners, Alicia Stockton leans primarily on one, Zivi Shot The Moon, a 12-year-old bay gelding she calls Junior. They were definitely in sync the first weekend in May by winning the Pioneer Days Rodeo title at the tour stop in Guymon, Okla. “My horse really likes that pen,” she said of Junior, out of Ginin Zevi by Lunar Shot. “The first year I ran him there, I placed in the second round. Last year I placed in the first round and the average. He seems do alright there.” Yes, he does. During slack on the morning of May 2, Stockton split the first-round victory with Shelby Herrmann with times of 17.43 seconds. The next day, Stockton and Junior posted a 17.18, which held up to split second in the second round with Toni Hardin. The 34.61-second cumulative time allowed Stockton the average title. “It’s great, especially now that they’ve changed slack to Friday and have the perfs Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” said Stockton, 24, of Stephenville, Texas. “You used to run on Monday, then you were there almost all week to run your second one. This is much better.” Raised in Ballston Spa, N.Y., Stockton’s parents are heavily involved in rodeo. Her dad, Roger, has been a regular at the First Frontier Circuit Finals Rodeo in both tie-down roping and team roping, and her mother won the region’s barrel racing title in 2012. In fact, Jody Stockton rode Junior to the circuit championship, then handed the gelding down to her daughter last spring. Alicia Stockton has followed her family’s lead, just like her three brothers and two sisters. In fact, roping has been a big part of her life, and it’s what she carried with her when she first arrived in Texas to attend Hill College. “My first year in college, I won the all-around in our region and didn’t run barrels at a rodeo all season,” she said. “I just competed in breakaway roping and goat-tying. I knew if I wanted to do anything like rodeo, I knew I needed to run barrels.” It’s a good thing. Stockton will make the summer run with a couple of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifiers: Kaley Bass and Taylor Jacob. When she can, she’ll pack her roping bags and test her skills with others. “I’ll  Continue Reading »

For three seasons, Cord and Jet McCoy have been two of the greatest duos on the CBS-TV reality series “The Amazing Race.” The brothers from Tupelo, Okla., first made their international TV appearance in Season 16 during the spring of 2010. They finished second on the race around the world. They also became fan favorites right away. They followed that appearance a year later in Season 18, dubbed “Unfinished Business,” then were on the show for a third time this past spring during Season 24, the All-Star Edition. Now CBS has selected The Cowboys as one of its top five tandems for “Dynamic Duo” in the voting for the CBS Fan Awards. Anyone can vote as much as they want by clicking HERE. I’d love to see my friends win this fan award, because they truly are dynamic. They also are genuine, and their appearances on “The Amazing Race” are reflections of who they are: Men of God who use a common-sense approach to life on the ranch and while handling the challenges they faced on the race. Take the opportunity to click on the link, then continue to vote for the McCoys. They have earned your votes.

ALVA, Okla. – Micah Samples has one last chance to claim the most coveted prize in college rodeo. As she prepares for the 2014 College National Finals Rodeo, the Northwestern Oklahoma State University senior has hervision pointedly set on returning to the Plains with the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s national title. “It means a lot to make it myself,” said Samples, of Abilene, Kan., who will compete in breakaway roping after finishing the 2013-14 Central Plains Region season No. 2 in the standings. “It’s great to make it as an individual and not have to depend on the team to make it to the finals.” The top three individuals in each event and the top two teams in the region earn the right to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo, set for June 15-21 in Casper, Wyo. Goat-tier Karley Kile of Topeka, Kan., joins Samples as individual qualifiers; Kile finished third in her event. “It’s always great to see the team to be able to be part of that,” Samples said. “It’s great to have more girls go.” The Northwestern women ended the region season second in the standings, so the Rangers will take two additional players to fill the team: Kesley Pontius, a breakaway roper from Watsontown, Pa., and Lauren Barnes, a goat-tier from Buckeye, Ariz., will make up the full roster in Casper. “I feel like it’s very important to take as many kids to the finals as you can,” said Stockton Graves, Northwestern’s rodeo coach. “That’s what our goal was at the beginning of the year. The more girls you can take, the better it increases your chances just to finish with more points.” Points are vital. The team with the most points at the conclusion of the seven-day finale will win the national title. Individuals earn the championship by finishing with the best cumulative time or score. “Just with my past experiences, I think you have a better chance of doing well if you go in there with confidence in my roping and be able to score good,” Samples said, referring to the start of a run. “The key is to not let the pressure build up. The key is to get three caught and get back to the short round.” Contestants compete in three go-rounds, and the top times qualify for the finale. That’s where dreams and hard work are realized. “I’ve been practicing on as many horses as I can rope on,” she said. “I’m trying to just have good, solid practices, working on scoring sharp and roping sharp.” It is important to be at the top of one’s game when it’s time to compete in Casper. The pressure to excel inside the Casper Events Center is great, but so are the qualifiers. For Samples, she will lean on a veteran partner in Lucky, a 16-year-old sorrel gelding. “I’ve had him since he was a yearling,” she said. “We trained him, and I’ve roped on him forever. I took him to high school rodeos and did everything myself. He’s awesome. He gives you the same run every time. “In the past, I’ve always taken two horses out there and switched back and forth. Now I’m going to stay on my most solid horse. I figure by taking one horse, I won’t have to fight my head about how I’m doing.” While the women’s team will be fully loaded in Casper, the Northwestern men will feature four cowboys instead of a full team of six. Still, the four Rangers are pretty salty, led by region champions Trey Young, a tie-down roper from Dupree, S.D., and Chase Boekhaus, a heeler from Rolla, Kan. They’ll be joined by steer wrestler Stephen Culling, the regional runner-up from Fort St. John, British Columbia, and Parker Warner, a header from Jay, Okla. “I thought we would’ve done a little better this season,” Graves said. “We had a lull there right in the middle of the spring. We did good at Manhattan to start the spring, but we got a little distracted. It’s a weekly battle with young men and women to keep their minds on their goals. “The men finished third in the region, and I feel like we could’ve finished second easy.” Warner finished fourth in the region in heading, which allows him the opportunity to rope with heeler Shelbie Weeder of Panhandle State; she is the student representative for the Central Plains and is an automatic qualifier, and that pushed Warner into the mix. With four cowboys and a team full of cowgirls, Graves likes the Rangers’ chances. “I really feel good about everybody we’re sending,” Graves said. “I feel like it’s very possible for us to come away with the titles. We should do good. Everybody has high hopes. Everything starts over at the college finals. “This is our ultimate goal. Now we reset and go win a college national championship. I think they’re all on that same page.”