Monthly Archives: July 2022

Wyoming tie-down roper takes 2nd-round lead while competing for John Jaros ESTES PARK, Colo. – To be an elite athlete, it takes an attention to detail and an intense focus. Forgive tie-down roper Hunter Reaume for having his mind wonder a bit during Saturday night’s fourth performance of Rooftop Rodeo. He tried to focus on his run and on his calf, but there were other things going on in his heart. “Up here in Estes, I’m roping for John Jaros,” said Reaume, 28, of Meeteetse, Wyoming. “He was on the committee here, and he passed away a few weeks ago. I’m really thankful that I had a good calf and that I could make a good run for him.” Jaros was an important part of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. He was also a volunteer fireman. He died June 18, and the committee has continued to produce this year’s event while also recognizing the efforts Jaros has provided the group over the years.   “John bought my truck from me last fall,” Reaume said. “He’s got a construction company here in town, and I met him in Vail because I was staying in the mountains. We met over the truck and just hit it off. I found out he was from here and on the rodeo committee and a big rodeo fan. He actually came to my circuit finals last fall.” It was a bittersweet moment. Reaume stopped the clock in 8.2 seconds to take the second-round lead and sits third in the two-run aggregate. Both give him a solid chance to cash in, beyond the $100 he earned for having the fastest run of the night. After each event, the contestants with the best times or best scores take a victory lap, then stop in front of the grandstands, where they are handed a $100 bill. “I know his family was here the other night,” he said. “This money is going to go to his family. I’m going to put it in the fund jar they have for it.” Like Reaume, Rooftop Rodeo is part of the Mountain States Circuit, the region made up of contestants and events primarily in Colorado and Wyoming. The money he earns in the arena will help him toward another qualification to the circuit finals. “I grew up on a horse in Wyoming, but I started taking calf roping serious in college,” Reaume said. “I couldn’t do it without this horse here. There’s definitely a bond you have with them. I’ve always been an athlete growing up, so calf roping is one of the most demanding events as far as horsemanship, roping ability and athleticism. I also like that it’s just me and my horse.” That horse is Tango, a gelding he’s had for a couple months. Their Saturday night run was the best they’ve produced together. It just happened at a special time during a special moment. “I come here every year,” he said. “This is one of my favorite rodeos. I love it up here. The committee’s awesome.” Rooftop RodeoJuly 6-11Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 87 points on Cervi Brothers’ Jelly Bean; 2. Chad Rutherford, 84; 3. (tie) Tyler Griffin and Waylon Bourgeois, 83.5; 5. Colton Crawford, 83; 6. (tie) Luke Thrash and Kory Hart, 80; 8. Will Lowe, 79. Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Sam Goings, 3.8 seconds, $1,807; 2. Stockton Graves, 4.1, $1,495; 3. Travis Munro, 4.2, $1,184; 4. Cody Devers, 4.3, $872; 5. (tie) Ty Allred, Grady Payne and Landris White, 4.6, $291 each. Second round: Clayton Hass, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Kyler Dick and Shane Frey, 3.6; 4. Landris White, 3.9; 5. Rowdy Parrott, 4.0; 6. (tie) Cody Devers, Riley Duvall, Colt Honey, Tait Kvistad and Cash Robb, 4.2. Average: (tie) Cody Devers, Sam Goings, Kyler Dick and Landris White, 8.5 seconds on two runs; 5. Rowdy Parrott, 8.9; 6. Grady Payne, 9.5.    Team roping: First round: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.3 seconds, $1,869; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.6, $1,547; 3. (tie) Chad Masters/Paul Eaves and Kolton Schmidt/Cole Davison, 4.7, $1,064 each; 5. (tie) Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer, Luke Brown/Hunter Koch and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp 4.8, $301 each. Second round: Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 3.9 seconds; 2. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.0; 3. Coy Rahlman/Douglas Rich, 4.1; 4. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.5; 5. Austin Crist/Josh Fillmore, 5.2; 4. Todd Drommond/Jason DeVore, 5.5. Average: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 8.8 seconds; 2. Chad Masters/Paul Eaves, 10.3; 3. Kolton Schmidt/Cole Davison, 10.9; 4. Austin Crist/Josh Fillmore, 15.5; 5. Britt Smith/Jake Smith, 15.6; 6. Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer, 17.1.   Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on Cervi’s Two Cookies; 2. Statler Wright, 84.5; 3. Houston Brown, 83; 4. Jake Watson, 82.5; 5. Spencer Wright, 82; 6. (tie) Brody Cress and Will Pollock, 81; 8. Ben Anderson, 80.5. Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Riley Pruitt, 7.4 seconds, $1,890; 2. Lane Livingston, 7.9, $1,644; 3. Cody Craig, 9.1, $1,397; 4. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.4, $1,151; 5. Blane Cox, 9.8, $904; 6. Jeremiah Peek, 10.2, $657; 7. (tie) Macon Murphy, Brody Stallard and Buck Tate, 10.4, $192 each. Second round: 1. Hunter Reaume, 8.2 seconds; 2. Garrett Jacobs, 8.6; 3. Blake Chauvin, 8.8; 4. (tie) Brody Stallard and West Smith, 9.1; 6. (tie) Sy Felton, Tom Joe Crouse and Marcos Costa, 9.3. Average: 1. Brody Stallard, 19.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Marcos Costa, 19.8; 3. Hunter Reaume, 20.4; 4. Blane Cox, 20.6; 5. Jase Staudt, 20.9; 6. Jeremiah Peek, 21.1; 7. Cason Kingsbury, 21.3; 8. Colby Anders, 22.0.   Barrel racing: 1. Nicole Driggers, 16.39 seconds; 2. Josey Owens, 16.49; 3. Carly Cervi, 16.57; 4. Kathryn Varian, 16.62; 5. Keyla Costa, 16.66; 6. Elizabeth Ellis, 16.67; 7. (tie) Kaycee Willbanks Colletti and Reagan Laney, 16.70; 9. Wendy Hoefer, 16.74; 10. Brittyn Rocha, 16.77; 11. Leslie Smalygo, 16.85; 12. Peyton Stepanoff, 16.86. Bull riding: 1. Jesse Flores, 87 points on Cervi’s Skim Walker; 2. Brody Yeary, 85.5; 3.  Continue Reading »

DODGE CITY, Kan. – The trophies are unique in sports, even in rodeo. They are the Dodge City Roundup buckles awarded champions in each event each year. They are some of the most respected and prestigious awards in professional rodeo. Cowboys have placed winning in this western Kansas community atop their priority lists. Hundreds of them will return for this year’s Roundup Rodeo, set for 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3-Sunday, Aug. 7, at Roundup Arena; Dodge City Xtreme Bulls is set for 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2. Even if they’ve won the title before, cowboys and cowgirls can’t have enough of those glistening and distinguishable buckles, courtesy of Western Beverage. “My traveling partner won this title in 2018, and he wears his buckle all the time,” 2021 saddle bronc riding champion Lefty Holman said. “It’s got the Budweiser logo on it, which sets it apart. It’s a cool buckle. I’ll definitely be wearing it.” Holman, of Visalia, California, qualified for the 2020 National Finals Rodeo. Injuries slowed him a bit last season, yet he still finished the year 18th, just three spots from the magical top 15 that earn their qualifications to ProRodeo’s grand championship. Travis Rogers grew up just a few hours from Dodge City in Tuttle, Oklahoma. He won the Prairie Circuit’s tie-down roping title last year, thanks in large part to the money he earned in western Kansas. “Dodge City has always been my favorite rodeo, so to win it is pretty sweet,” he said. After his winning ride in the championship round last year, bull rider Dustin Boquet of Bourg, Louisiana, just took a long look at the silver buckle with the star and beer logo and knew exactly what he was going to do. “My dad always wanted a belt buckle from here because he’s a Budweiser man,” he said. “I’d made up my mind that I was going to give it to him. “I’m pretty fired up to win that for him.” Sometimes the best trophies are ones that can be admired from anywhere, but the highlights of last year are ones that can be memorialized by the folks who won the titles. Take barrel racer Jordon Briggs of Tolar, Texas, for example. She utilized the momentum she gained at Roundup to carry her to her second NFR; more importantly, she built upon it and won her first world title. Bareback rider Cole Franks of Clarendon, Texas, won both the first round and the final round with 90-point-plus rides, setting a Roundup Arena record with a 93-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire in the championship round. Team ropers Clay Smith and Jade Corkill added another Roundup buckle to their trophy cases with their win. Steer wrestler Tucker Allen pointed to his win in Ford County as a major milestone in his season, while team roping-heeler Paden Bray of Stephenville, Texas, took advantage of the busy week to add some dollars in tie-down roping to win the all-around title. They all left Dodge City with some big-time money and some special hardware.

ESTES PARK, Colo. – There were 13 National Finals Rodeo qualifiers and four world champions who own a combined eight gold buckles that competed in Friday’s third performance of Rooftop Rodeo. That was just in team roping, and the leaderboard changed in a hurry. The fastest run of the first round came with the tandem of header Coleman Proctor and heeler Logan Medlin, who stopped the clock in 4.3 seconds. “I didn’t score great, which put me behind,” said Proctor, a six-time NFR qualifier from Pryor, Oklahoma. “I knew I had to let go of (the rope) pretty quick. Luckily it went on; I don’t know how. Then (the steer) tee’d up at the end of it, and Logan shut him down … our typical run. I just turn them, and he waxes them down, and that lets us be fast.” After Eric Martin and Ryon Tittel set the bar Thursday night with a 5.0-second run, a slate of teams chased it down. By the time Friday’s runs were done, Martin and Tittle were pushed to seventh place. In front of them stood 12 men, and 10 of them have all played the game at ProRodeo’s grand finale. “Coleman does a good job,” said Medlin, a two-time NFR qualifier from Tatum, New Mexico. “I think team roping is 80 percent of the header; I can only do so much. He does a good job of setting (the steers) on the end of (the rope) and pulling them where I think they’re going to go, and I’m just trying to catch them by two feet.” It’s working. Proctor sits seventh among headers in the world standings, and Medlin is the No. 8-ranked heeler. “Any time you’re making good runs consecutively, it feels like it’s easier to stay in the groove,” Proctor said. “It’s a good time of year to have our horses working and firing. We couldn’t do it without them. I’m so fortunate to have Admiral back (from injury), and Jesse James is back in the herd. “We’ve got the horse of the year on the heel side. Having some good equine athletes helps us stay in the groove. Momentum is a sweet thing. If you can keep it going, a lot of magical things can happen, especially in July.” Medlin’s, Drago, was named the 2021 PRCA Heeling Horse of the Year and has been big for the team’s successes. “This is a good time of year to be catching steers,” Medlin said. “They’re giving a lot of money away. We get to go to a bunch of rodeos. Any time you can leave a rodeo with a time, you can build off it, and we’re trying to ride that momentum right now.” Doing so in the Rocky Mountains is also a plus during a long summer run. Both men left their homes a few weeks ago and may not see their families for weeks to come, so finding comfort on the rodeo trail is important. “I love this rodeo,” Proctor said. “It takes awhile to get through that canyon, but it’s always worth getting here and getting to hang out for a day or two.” Of course, finding success helps, too. “It’s one we always like to come to,” Medlin said. “The committee always does a good job of giving us a place to stay. The hospitality is great, and it’s a good place for horses. We always have Estes Park on our to-do list.” Rooftop RodeoJuly 6-11Bareback riding: 1. Bill Tutor, 87 points on Cervi Brothers’ Jelly Bean; 2. Chad Rutherford, 84; 3. (tie) Tyler Griffin and Waylon Bourgeois, 83.5; 5. Luke Thrash, 80; 6. Will Lowe, 79; 7. Casey Colletti, 78; 8. Mark Kreder, 73.5. Steer wrestling: 1. Jace Logan, 4.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Cody Pratt and Walt Arnold, 5.0; 4. Chisum Docheff, 5.2; 5. (tie) Hadley Jackson and Riley Westhaver, 5.7.   Team roping: 1. Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin, 4.3 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.6; 3. Kolton Schmidt/Cole Davison, 4.7; 4. (tie) Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer, Luke Brown/Hunter Koch and Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp 4.8; 7. Eric Martin/Ryon Tittel, 5.0; 8. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson and J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 5.3. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on Cervi’s Two Cookies; 2. Statler Wright, 84.5; 3. Houston Brown, 83; 4. Jake Watson, 82.5; 5. Spencer Wright, 82; 6. (tie) Brody Cress and Will Pollock, 81; 8. Ben Anderson, 80.5. Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.4 seconds; 2. Brody Stallard, 10.4; 3. Seth Hall, 10.9; 4. Kaiai Nobriga, 11.2; 5. Zaine Mikita, 11.3; 6. (tie) Pryce Harris and Colby Anders, 11.4; 8. Gavin Liggett, 11.5. Barrel racing: 1. Josey Owens, 16.49 seconds; 2. Carly Cervi, 16.57; 3. Kathryn Varian, 16.62; 4. Elizabeth Ellis, 16.67; 5. Kaycee Willbanks Colletti, 16.70; 6. Wendy Hoefer, 16.74; 7. Leslie Smalygo, 16.85; 8. Peyton Stepanoff, 16.86; 9. Acey Pinkston, 16.87; 10. (tie) Chris Gibson and Shawnee Williams, 16.93. Bull riding: 1. Jesse Flores, 87 points on Cervi’s Skim Walker; 2. Brody Yeary, 85.5; 3. Robbie James Taylor, 84.5; 4. J.R. Stratford, 84; 5. Koby Radley, 82; 6. Jackson Ward, 79; 7. Jeff Askey, 78.5; 8. Corye Daily, 70.

GUNNISON, Colo. – Over the last few years, the popularity of the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo among contestants has blossomed so much that there is now an influx of cowboys and cowgirls converging on Gunnison. About 400 contestants have put their hats into the ring to compete at this year’s rodeo, set for Thursday, July 14-Saturday, July 16, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. With that many contestants ready for the action, there are more than can fit in the three performances, and many will still compete but in an extra session. For many years, that session – known as “slack” in rodeo terms – took place after the opening performance of the rodeo on Thursday nights. That changes this year. “We decided to move our slack from Thursday night to Thursday morning,” said Kevin Colbentz, a past president of Cattlemen’s Days and a longtime member of the volunteer committee. “It’s a combination of things that led us to that decision, but first and foremost was being accommodating to the contestants who are trying to go to other rodeos. “It also allows our committee to catch its breath. The last two years, we have had so many contestants that we were finishing up in the early morning hours that Friday.” By moving the slack time to 9 a.m. Thursday, July 14, committee members hope to relieve the pressure that came with those late nights. It also opened the door for more contestants to take part in the rodeo in Gunnison and still make it to other rodeos that are taking place at the same time. “There are a bunch of rodeos going on the same week as Cattlemen’s Days,” said Brad Tutor, first vice president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “Since 2020, we’ve seen our entries skyrocket, and we want to be able to put on the competition these contestants deserve. By moving the timing of our slack, we’re able to help them compete here and the other places they can get to.” In the timed events, the rodeo will feature 10 contestants (and tandems in team roping) during each performance. That means in team roping, 30 teams will compete in the performances, but there is an excess of 27 other teams. The same goes for tie-down roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Thursday morning’s slack also will feature 31 bulldoggers, 32 tie-down ropers and 55 barrel racers – 145 runs, which will take just a few hours. “This is going to be our first year to have our slack in the morning,” Coblentz said. “We’re going to see how the contestants like it, make sure it still makes sense for everyone. If the contestants come back to us and say they’d rather do it after Thursday’s performance, then we’ll probably move back. “We just want to make it as good for the cowboys and cowgirls as we possibly can. If we do that, then we’ll make our rodeo better for everyone.” About 400 contestants have put their hats into the ring to compete at this year’s rodeo, set for Thursday, July 14-Saturday, July 16, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. With that many contestants ready for the action, there are more than can fit in the three performances, and many will still compete but in an extra session. For many years, that session – known as “slack” in rodeo terms – took place after the opening performance of the rodeo on Thursday nights. That changes this year. “We decided to move our slack from Thursday night to Thursday morning,” said Kevin Colbentz, a past president of Cattlemen’s Days and a longtime member of the volunteer committee. “It’s a combination of things that led us to that decision, but first and foremost was being accommodating to the contestants who are trying to go to other rodeos. “It also allows our committee to catch its breath. The last two years, we have had so many contestants that we were finishing up in the early morning hours that Friday.” By moving the slack time to 9 a.m. Thursday, July 14, committee members hope to relieve the pressure that came with those late nights. It also opened the door for more contestants to take part in the rodeo in Gunnison and still make it to other rodeos that are taking place at the same time. “There are a bunch of rodeos going on the same week as Cattlemen’s Days,” said Brad Tutor, first vice president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “Since 2020, we’ve seen our entries skyrocket, and we want to be able to put on the competition these contestants deserve. By moving the timing of our slack, we’re able to help them compete here and the other places they can get to.” In the timed events, the rodeo will feature 10 contestants (and tandems in team roping) during each performance. That means in team roping, 30 teams will compete in the performances, but there is an excess of 27 other teams. The same goes for tie-down roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Thursday morning’s slack also will feature 31 bulldoggers, 32 tie-down ropers and 55 barrel racers – 145 runs, which will take just a few hours. “This is going to be our first year to have our slack in the morning,” Coblentz said. “We’re going to see how the contestants like it, make sure it still makes sense for everyone. If the contestants come back to us and say they’d rather do it after Thursday’s performance, then we’ll probably move back. “We just want to make it as good for the cowboys and cowgirls as we possibly can. If we do that, then we’ll make our rodeo better for everyone.”

ESTES PARK, Colo. – For many ProRodeo cowboys, a trip to this scenic community is a break from the monotony of the road and the heat of the summer. That’s really not the case for Jace Logan. He lives in the Rocky Mountain town of Yampa, Colorado, only 130 miles west of Estes Park. Through the winding roads in between, it takes better than three hours to make his way to Rooftop Rodeo, where he competed during Thursday’s second performance. He took the steer wrestling lead after a 4.9-second run. He will return to town Sunday night to make his second-round run and hope that he fits in the money somewhere along the way. “We knew coming in it was a fresh set of steers,” said Logan, a 21-year-old cowboy in his fourth year competing in the PRCA. “Just watching the other guys, you see (the steers) were hesitating a little bit, so first things first, you’ve got to score sharp, then it was a matter of setting up your run.” He did that and did it well, with the assistance of his two partners: Hazer Jesse Jolly and Logan’s horse, Sparky. “I take a lot of pride in him,” he said. “We raised him from a colt. I’ve done all the training on him. It’s a process.” It’s one that seems to be working for the Colorado cowboy. He’ll continue to keep himself busy competing at rodeos in the Mountain States Circuit, a region made up of contestants and rodeos primarily in Colorado and Wyoming. “I’ll mainly be circuit rodeoing,” Logan said. “I want to do well in the circuit and hopefully crack the top 50 and go from there.” The top 50 is magical in rodeo, because it allows contestants to advance to the big building rodeos that begin in January. Those typically offer big purses and can set up a cowboy’s season. “This is one of the top circuit rodeos,” he said. “A lot of the other guys that are rodeoing hard stop through here. Hopefully my time holds up and sets me up for that second run.” Rooftop RodeoJuly 6-11Bareback riding: 1. Tyler Griffin, 83.5 points on Cervi’s Silence of the Lambs; 2. Luke Thrash, 80; 3. Will Lowe, 79; 4. Casey Colletti, 78; 5. Mark Kreder, 73.5; 6. Grant Worthington, 67; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Jace Logan, 4.9 seconds; 2. Cody Pratt, 5.0; 3. Chisum Docheff, 5.2; 4. Hadley Jackson, 5.7; 5. Marc Joiner, 6.0; 6. Cole Trainor, 6.9; 7. Matt Jodie, 7.0; 8. Talon Roseland, 8.5.   Team roping: 1. Eric Martin/Ryon Tittel, 5.9 seconds; 2. Jake Deveraux/Quincy Reynolds, 6.2; 3. Paul Beckett/Jesse Jolly, 6.3; 4. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Carson Johnson and J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 9.3; 6. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 10.2; 7. Brooks Dahozy/Seth Hall, 14.6; 8. Jaden Coseo/Ty Eeverson, 19.7. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on Cervi’s Two Cookies; 2. Houston Brown, 83; 3. Jake Watson, 82.5; 4. (tie) Brody Cress and Will Pollock, 81; 6. Lefty Holman, 80; 7. Alan Gobert, 79.5; 8. Chris Williams, 78.5. Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.4 seconds; 2. Seth Hall, 10.9; 3. 3. Kaiai Nobriga, 11.2; 4. Zaine Mikita, 11.3; 5. Pryce Harris, 11.4; 6. Gavin Liggett, 11.5; 7. Cash Enderli, 11.7; 8. Chance Derner, 11.9. Barrel racing: 1. Carly Cervi, 16.67 seconds; 2. Kathryn Varian, 16.62; 3. Elizabeth Ellis, 16.67; 4. Kaycee Willbanks Colletti, 16.70; 5. Wendy Hoefer, 16.74; 6. Leslie Smalygo, 16.85; 7. Chris Gibson, 16.93; 8. Latricia Mundorf, 16.98; 9. Kelly Kennedy-Joseph, 17.02; 10. Carlee Otero, 17.13. Bull riding: 1. Jesse Flores, 87 points on Cervi’s Skim Walker; 2. Koby Radley, 82; 3. Jeff Askey, 78.5; 4. Corye Daily, 70; no other qualified rides.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – In this part of the world, the Mexican culture is alive and well, and the people of Lea County, New Mexico, celebrate it. It’s a salute to many ancestors who once roamed this part of land when it was the Mexican territory. From hard-working individuals who toil in the heat throughout most of the summer to those who offer their service to the community, Hispanic men, women and children have proven vital to southeastern New Mexico. The Latino culture is celebrated every year during the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, but fair board members are expanding that to the festival by showcasing Tomas Garcilazo during the four nights of this year’s rodeo, set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3-Saturday, Aug. 6, at Jake McClure Arena. “Tomas has been around for many years and is one of the most celebrated specialty acts in rodeo,” said Trey Kerby, vice chairman of the Lea County Fair Board and chairman of the board’s rodeo committee. “I think he will be a great fit for our rodeo, our fans who come every night and to the people in the Hispanic community that want to celebrate their culture at the rodeo.” Garcilazo not only lives in his Mexican culture, he thrives in it and showcases it and performs before tens of thousands of fans a year with his wife, Justine, and his oldest son, Louis. When he’s old enough, the youngest Garcilazo, Gaspar, will likely join the troupe. Tomas Garcilazo is a charro and carries with him a family tradition of La Cherreria, a skill performed through the generations only by the Mexican charro. As did his elders, Garcilazo takes pride in his horsemanship and roping skills, which will be on display during each of the three Stampede performances. “When you bring someone to provide a treat, it’s nice because you contribute something to the community,” said Garcilazo, who has been selected to perform the opening act at the NFR more than a dozen times and has been named the PRCA’s Dress Act of the Year four times. “It’s going to bring more people together.” Lovington’s rodeo is more than a competition. The stampede will feature the very best in the sport, but it’s also an action-packed couple of hours of entertainment. To help make a rodeo even more entertaining, specialty acts provide theatrics, and Garcilazo is the best at what he does. “It’s an honor because specialty acts are so competitive,” he said. “I’m very flattered that what I do as a charro and representing my culture and my tradition with my horses and myself has been recognized with those contractors, committees and contestants that are part of the PRCA. “I emphasize the tradition a lot. The heritage is very strong. For me, it is big that those are being carried on in modern day and that it is a privilege for me to keep up with this way of life. Cattle, horses and roping were all involved in my childhood.” Those lessons learned decades ago are still vibrant in his mind. That’s why he continues to entertain and show the world his talents. “On my mother’s side, they are all churros,” Garcilazo said. “I grew up competing all my life. I picked my skill with a rope and had a vision to develop this with the horses. “It’s a way of developing my dream. My rope, as a child, was a toy. Now, I develop the artistry with a rope in such an extensive way. It takes time, effort, patience and the (willingness to) develop all the desires to succeed in horse and roping skills.” It is Garcilazo’s passion to share his talent and heritage with the world. “Being in the entertainment business, you get to see the different traditions and different people from different personalities,” he said. “When you develop something with passion with your heart and express this on stage, it shows. When I see a performer, when they do these with their heart, it shows right away. I have a lot of passion for what I do, and I hope everyone sees that.”

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Ross Griffin and Tyler Griffin share a last name and a passion for competing in rodeo. That’s about all they have in common, other than taking the lead Wednesday during the opening night of the 2022 Rooftop Rodeo. Tyler Griffin is 19 and rode Cervi Rodeo’s Silence of the Lambs for 83.5 points to take the bareback riding lead; Ross Griffin is 25 and rode Cervi’s Two Cookies for 85 points to ride to the top in saddle bronc riding. “I just drew a really good horse, and it was a nice night,” said Ross Griffin of Tularosa, New Mexico. “She was really good today and gave me every opportunity to make a good ride.” Two Cookies has been selected to the National Finals Rodeo four times, and cowboys have won go-rounds on the horse. “I knew that horse had been to the NFR, and I’d seen them win a lot on it,” he said. “I didn’t really look into it, but it’s a great horse.” Tyler Griffin is pretty new to ProRodeo. He just finished his first year at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and he’s competing this year on his PRCA permit. If he wins at least $1,000 this season, he will be eligible to obtain his card and be an official member of the association. He rode like a veteran Wednesday. “I didn’t know that horse,” he said of Silence of the Lambs. “I really didn’t know how good she was going to be, and little did I know that she was the best out of the pen tonight.” With each ride, with each step in the process of competing in rodeo, the young bareback rider is learning more about the business. He’s also learning about himself in the process. Three weeks ago, he was competing at the College National Finals Rodeo; now he’s competing against the best cowboys in the game. “Over this Fourth (of July run), we’ve been getting on a lot of horses, and the more I get on, the more comfortable I’m getting,” Tyler Griffin said. “Right now, I’m just feeling good and ready to spur one every day.” It’s also nice to be able to compete in the picturesque Rocky Mountains and the setting Rooftop Rodeo creates for every cowboy and cowgirl that arrives. “The arena’s in a beautiful spot,” Ross Griffin said. “There are mountains all over. The town shows up, and they love to watch the rodeo. They also give you a bonus if you win the performance.” This year marked the first time Tyler Griffin made his way to the resort community, and he’s found it to his liking. “I’ll be back next year, without a doubt,” he said. “This place is electric. I would love to be here on a Saturday night; it would be crazy.” Rooftop RodeoJuly 6-11Bareback riding: 1. Tyler Griffin, 83.5 points on Cervi’s Silence of the Lambs; 2. Luke Thrash, 80; Grant Worthington, 67; no other qualified rides. Steer wrestling: 1. Marc Joiner, 6.0 seconds; 2. Matt Jodie, 7.0; 3. Talon Roseland, 8.5; 4. Tanner Jackson, 9.6; 5. Rudy Buum, 11.1; 6. Kyle Irwin, 13.5; 7. Cody Mumma,14.6; 8. Cole McNamee, 18.9.  Team roping: 1. Jake Deveraux/Quincy Reynolds, 6.2 seconds; 2. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 10.2; 3. Brooks Dahozy/Seth Hall, 14.6; no other qualified times. Saddle bronc riding: 1. Ross Griffin, 85 points on Cervi’s Two Cookies; 2. (tie) Brody Cress and Will Pollock, 81; 4. Lefty Holman, 80; no other qualified rides. Tie-down roping: 1. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.4 seconds; 2. Seth Hall, 10.9; 3. Gavin Liggett, 11.5; 4. James Kolacek, 12.6; 5. Wyatt Uptain, 13.9; 6. Chris McCuiston, 17.5; 7. Luke Meier, 27.0; 8. J.D. McCuiston, 31.0. Barrel racing: 1. Leslie Smalygo, 16.85 seconds; 2. Donna Tippen, 17.17; 3. Wendy McKee, 17.42; 4. Mila Hancock, 18.34; 5. Tanna Hansen, 18.48; 6. Jolie Hannah, 19.59; 7. Mackenzie Scott, 22.17; 8. Heidi Tillard, 22.23; 9. Natalie Bland, 23.15; no other qualified times. Bull riding: 1. Jesse Flores, 87 points on Cervi’s Skim Walker; 2. Corye Daily, 70; no other qualified rides.

GUNNISON, Colo. – When Jackson Irby reflects on his youth, he points to the lessons he gained while showing exhibits at the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration. He learned through leathering projects and cake decorating before he started showing pigs, steers and other livestock. He got involved with the Catch A Calf program at the National Western, which opened the door for him to make a trip to Wyoming with Dr. Tim Holt to check on some calves a ranch owner was donating to Gunnison. “We drew blood from them that day to make sure they were gong to be good for the altitude they were going to,” said Irby, the fifth generation of his family to be involved in showing. “That was really good for a 4H kid to get to know all that.” The sixth generation of his family has taken over the showing reins with daughters Teara-Rose, 16, and Jayden, 15. They will be involved in this year’s Cattlemen’s Days, set for Friday, July 8-Saturday, July 16, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. “This year, Teara has a market steer, two market goats and a breeding goat,” Irby said. “Jayden will show a market steer, two market pigs and a breeding heifer. This is her second year with the heifer, so she’s got a calf this year. She’s planning to turn the calf into her market project next year. “She’s going to have that calf from the day it’s born until the day she loads it on the truck. In a normal year, kids don’t get their steers until October, so she’s going to have a real bond with that calf by the time she shows it next year.” It’s all part of the process for many youngsters in Gunnison County. They work all year to prepare their exhibits for Cattlemen’s Days. Like he experienced a couple of decades ago, Irby’s daughters are learning life’s lessons on a daily basis. “They get to see the process of life,” he said. “They understand where that animal came from. They understand the work they have to put in to make that animal your friend, to be able to work with that animal and allow that animal to show better when it comes time to show it.” It’s something they’ve been doing for years, so it’s a natural experience for the Irby girls and many others who are involved in 4H and showing their exhibits. Every step of the way is an educational experience, whether it’s feeding the animals before they eat or just getting the right diet for the animals. They have an advantage with their father, who shares his own experiences with his daughters. Because he was in their shoes years earlier, Irby has been able to teach them from a young age. Now, his children are passing that on to others, even as teenagers. “The girls do a lot more off-the-site activities to show some of the other kids that don’t know more of an idea of how to do it and how to help them,” Irby said. “It also helps them get out in the community a little bit more, and it shows anyone that food doesn’t just come from the grocery store.”

LOVINGTON, N.M. – His own children are in their 30s, yet Clyde Wilhoit continues to serve the youth of Lea County. Andy Wilhoit started showing animals at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo a quarter century ago. His younger brother, Trace, followed suit, and it seemed like a good time for them to learn the lessons that come with showing exhibits at the local fair. Clyde Wilhoit had shown pigs and horses when he was a kid, raised on a farm near Portales, New Mexico, about 90 miles north of Lovington. He moved to town in 1978 and served as the yard manager at the local livestock auction. Once his boys got involved in showing, he recalled all the important parts of life that he gained while living on a farm in eastern New Mexico. He still shares that with people who ask him, and it’s why he’s the livestock superintendent at the Lea County Fair and Rodeo, which will have its 10-day run from Friday, July 29-Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Lea County Fairgrounds in Lovington. “My first year as the swine superintendent was 1999,” Wilhoit said. “I did that for 21 years, then they asked me to be the livestock superintendent.” He went from assigning pens to swine exhibitors and making sure all things with the pig show went right to overseeing every other animal superintendent before the fair and during their time on the fairgrounds. He handles the entire management for all eight species that are shown and offers himself as a support system or a backup plan if situations arise. “I enjoy doing this,” said Wilhoit, who works for Legacy Reserves when he’s not volunteering. “I have helped with anything they’ve asked me to do in the livestock barn. That’s pretty much what I’ve been doing since we got started.” Andy is now 35 years old, and Trace is 31. Both of the Wilhoit boys are married with three children each. “Both of my sons are involved as the swine superintendents,” Wilhoit said. “They enjoyed their time exhibiting at the fair, and they’re both volunteers now also.” While pigs seem to be the favored choice for the Wilhoits, there have been several species they have shown over their years as youngsters. Clyde Wilhoit actually raises and sells show goats. Everything he does with the fair is because of the children and what they get out of their experiences. “I try not to butt into other people’s business, but if I’m asked to help, I do,” he said. “I think it is good because of what it teaches the exhibitors. It teaches the responsibility of caring for something else and seeing a project through to the end. “The best part of the fair, to me, is the livestock shows because it’s something for the future of Lea County. It’s for these kids who exhibit what they have raised and show what they have done in the summer, take pride in what they’ve done and hopefully make the sale at the end.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – When Stace Smith decided he was going to produce rodeos, he knew he wanted the cowboys in the field to determine the outcome. That’s not always the case. Sometimes it’s the luck of the draw. One steer might stand out in a herd of 20. One bronc may be much better than all the others. That gives the fortunate person – who was matched with than animal by random draw – an advantage over the rest. “We try to make it as even as possible,” said Cody Kidd, general manager of Stace Smith Pro Rodeos. “In our regards, we do it for the contestants. We want to make it as fair as we can across the board. We want a guy who enters to have as good of a chance as anybody else. “We want to make it an equal playing field, then the true talent of the cowboy comes out, too.” For better than 20 years, the 11-time PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year has produced the annual Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, set for Thursday, July 14-Saturday, July 16, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. Smith and his crew will bring the right kind of livestock to make for fantastic competition through the three days of action. That means he’ll have consistency in calves, steers, broncs and bulls, even if that means hiring outside firms to also come to Gunnison and bring their best animals. A year ago, all three roughstock events were won on something other than a Smith-owned animal. Will Lowe won bareback riding on Hurst & TNT’s Casino, while bronc rider Tegan Smith won on Hurst & TNT’s Charlie’s Angels. Ky Hamilton won the bull tiding title on Rafter G’s Johnny Cash. “Stace is very well known to sub-contract and ask the subs to bring their best animals in,” Kidd said. “That’s the whole reason why we keep the animals even.” It’s one of the things that makes Cattlemen’s Days rodeo such a good event, but there are others. Foremost among them, Kidd said, is the legacy that is Gunnison and its rodeo, which will celebrate its 122nd year. “Tradition is a big thing in Gunnison … that and family atmosphere,” he said. “We talk to people every year that go there, whether they’re originally from Gunnison or it’s a destination spot, and they said the reason they come back is they were brought there as a kid. “It’s a small town in Colorado that has a ton of tourists, but it also has a bunch of loyal locals that love that rodeo. You get both aspects: You get the tourist side of things for people who do like us and get out of the heat in Texas, then you get the locals that are die-hard.” It’s there that the Smith brand of competition mixed with entertainment comes into play. Kidd and his crew want to make sure it all happens for fans and contestants when they get to the rodeo. Having such knowledgeable fans makes it easy. “The locals there are really as good to us, and they know rodeo,” Kidd said. “When the judges mess up a score, those people let them know it. If there was a rodeo where the fans could judge it, that would be the one because they know it that good.”

GUNNISON, Colo. – Over the last two years, an influx of dozens of ProRodeo’s elite athletes have made their way to this mountain community. They’ve not only competed at the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, but many have left with money earned in the Gunnison Valley. That includes 12 former world champions that account for 24 gold buckles. “We’ve always had world champions and (National Finals Rodeo) qualifiers who have been part of our rodeo, but we’ve been really blessed recently,” said Brad Tutor, first vice president of Cattlemen’s Days, which set this year for Thursday, July 14-Saturday, July 16, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison. “We have Stace Smith as our stock contractor, so that helps us get some of the bigger names to Gunnison.” Since 2020, three world champions – bareback rider Will Lowe, header Levi Simpson and saddle bronc rider Ryder Wright – have all left Gunnison with at least a share of the Cattlemen’s Days crown. Better yet, though, is the number of NFR qualifiers who have earned the title. Last year alone, six of the eight winners have all competed at ProRodeo’s grand finale. Being in Gunnison is a big deal to the men and women that make their livings in the sport. “This is a great rodeo,” said Garrett Tonozzi, a two-time qualifier originally from Fruita, Colorado, but now living in Lampasas, Texas, with his wife, Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi, a two-time world champ. “Doing well here means a lot. I always wanted to go to Gunnison when I was a kid. “This is my home. Western Colorado is where I’m from. I love coming back. This is an awesome rodeo.” It’s a sentiment that has been shared over the years by many cowboys and cowgirls. “Gunnison has been really good to me over the years,” said Shali Lord, a two-time NFR qualifier from Lamar, Colorado. “It’s one of our better Colorado rodeos, and we always like to go over there. They have good hospitality for the contestants, and the ground’s aways good. “I’ve done well there with different horses. It seems like all my horses like the same places, which is really cool, and all of my horses have liked Gunnison.” That doesn’t hurt. Lord has padded her annual salary well over the years by competing in Gunnison, so that always helps make the five-hour venture a lot better. “The committee there does so much to help you, either by feeding you or giving you hay,” said Lord, who last won the Cattlemen’s Day crown in 2020. “The grandstands are packed every night. There’s a lot going on, and there is a lot of support from the community, which I think is very important.” It is, and it’s what makes Cattlemen’s Days such a special event every year.

LOVINGTON, N.M. – The highlight of the Summer & Co. Fearless Equine Stunts team isn’t what Summer Boyd can do on horseback. It’s what the rest of her team does. “The best part of my team would be my two little girls,” Boyd said of daughters, Emmie, 7, and Jinsen, 4. “We’ve just been performing together the last few years; it’s the greatest thing for me.” She and her husband, Seth, have lived in Lovington for the past eight years and been trick riding for 11. Originally from Alamogordo, New Mexico, she’s been perfecting her craft over time and now has the opportunity to showcase her love for horses with two of the most important people in her life. They will perform at Jake McClure Arena during the mutton busting slack on Saturday, July 30, then again during the Lea County Xtreme Bulls, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2. “It means a lot to be able to work that,” Boyd said. “People say in our industry that a lot of times you never get hired at your hometown rodeo. To be acknowledged and to be part of the event means so much to us. It’s a rodeo we go and watch when we’re at home, so this means so much.” This is the next step for Boyd, who was raised around horses and has had a longtime passion for doing tricks while riding them. Her love affair with trick riding stems back to before she tried her hand at it and continues with passing along her skills to her daughters. “When I grew up, we raised a lot of horses and broke a lot of horses,” she said. “I don’t remember seeing it anywhere, but trick riding was something I always wanted to do. I guess I was bored just sitting on a horse, so I found someone to teach me and found a saddle. “It’s the only discipline where the horse has to do it because it wants to, because you can’t use your feet or use the reins to help them through things. If they don’t want to do it, it becomes apparent pretty quickly.” Even with horses that seem to care for her daughters as much as she does, Boyd does try to corral her children’s fearless nature. “There are things we may do at home that maybe we don’t perform yet, because it’s important to me that they’re safe,” she said. “It’s the mother in me. It’s amazing to me what they can do anyway, but at the same time, I will do what I need to do to keep them safe.” Traveling and performing with her daughters just enhances the experience. Emmie is the youngest person to have ever done a shoulder stand, Boyd said. “It does add a degree of excitement, traveling with your small children all the time,” Boyd said. “As far as performing, it’s great. My oldest and I alternate laps. She’s like performing with another adult, and she’s performing tricks that some adults can’t do. She’s never nervous. She never requires a pep-talk. “You can’t expect the crowd to have fun unless you’re having fun, and she makes it easy. Jinsen helps us close out the show; she’s the icing on the cake.”