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  • MCKINLEE PASCHAL HOLDING TOP SPOT OF IFYR ALL-AROUND STANDINGS

    MCKINLEE PASCHAL HOLDING TOP SPOT OF IFYR ALL-AROUND STANDINGS

    SHAWNEE, Okla. – As the action got underway at the 30th annual International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) in Shawnee, Oklahoma at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, heated races for the $250,000 payout began to unfold.

    ckinlee Paschal (Nome, Texas) currently leads the Cowgirl All-Around standing with $2,080 in earnings, while Kiley Slavin (Goodwell, Oklahoma) sits a near No. 2 with $1,227 in earnings.

    In barrel racing, Mckinlee Paschal (Nome, Texas) set the bar high at an impressive 16.364 seconds, where she edged out the competition, out running Biloxi Shultz’s (Abilene, Texas) 16.413-second time. With a 4.1-second time, Jasper, Texas’ Cole Pugh notched the number one spot in steer wrestling, topping Ryden Martin’s (Sulphur, TX) and Reece Jordan’s (Tupelo, Oklahoma) 4.2-second time.

    Bryce Henderson (Del Rio, TX) beat out the competition by almost a full second in the tie-down roping. Henderson raised his hands at the 8.4-second mark while Cort Gambino (Lindale, Texas) had the second place time with a 9.0-second run.

    A battle for the breakaway roping title began as Summer Williams (Perkinston, Mississippi) surged to the top of the leaderboard with a 2.0-second time, good for the best time of the week. Williams is beating out the remaining of the competition by a tenth of a second.

     Hannah Bass (Brenham, Texas) has earned the top time in the pole bending, posting a lightning fast 20.435-second run, besting Harley Potter’s (Waxahachie, Texas) 20.488-second time.

    Goat Tying became fiercely contested, where Gracie Roseberry (Weatherford, Texas) and Annamarie Pierce (Cloutuerville, Louisiana) found themselves both knotted up with a 7.3 second time. Besting Gentry Merkel’s (Yorkville, Illinois) 7.9-second run.

    In the team roping, Jim Watkins (Bristow, Oklahoma) and Bode Gatlin (Meeker, Oklahoma) notched a 6.0-second run, outdoing Jace Thorstenson (Morristown, Arizona) and Denton Dunning’s (Surprise, Arizona) 6.2-second run. Cooper Lane (Keller, Texas) and Wyatt Lavergne (Sulphur, Louisiana) are the only saddle bronc riders to cover. Lane earned the highest mark ride with a 77.0 performance while Lavergne had a 62.0 score in the first go.

    After the first-go, John Crimber (Decatur, Texas) holds onto the best score with an 83.0, while Tate Pollmeier (Fort Scott, Kansas) and Carter High (Weatherford, Texas) have tied for the number two position with a 71.0 score.

    As one of three bull riders to deliver a qualified ride, Quintonn Lunsford (Mccune, Kansas) found himself in the top position with a 75.0 score, edging out Clayton Hibler’s (Wheeler, Texas) 74.5 score.

    The IFYR will feature 11 total performances, beginning Sunday, July 10 at 8 p.m. with the final performance and championship round taking place Friday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. with three arenas running simultaneously during each performance. The event will consist of two long-go’s and a short-go, made up of the top 15 contestants in each event.

     

    INTERNATIONAL FINALS YOUTH RODEO 29
    GO AROUND #1
    Barrel Racing: McKinlee Paschal, Nome TX 16.364 $1,854.13; Biloxi Shultz, Abilene TX 16.413 $1,612.29; Kacey Bass, Brenham TX 16.429 $1,370.44; Kiley Slavin, Goodwell OK 16.486 $1,128.60; Kenley Beck, Broken Bow OK 16.532 $886.76; Kagan Davis, Purcell OK 16.550 $644.91; Alissa Flores, Laredo TX 16.553 $403.07; Shaeley Jenkins, Palatka FL 16.580 $161.23

    Pole Bending: Hannah Bass, Brenham TX 20.435 $1,310.39; Harley Potter, Waxahachie TX 20.488 $1,084.46; Kenna McLemore, Gracemont OK 20.541 $858.53; Kaden Burger, Pauls Valley OK 20.707 $632.60; Chainey Weitz, London TX 20.731 $406.67; McKinlee Paschal, Nome TX 20.768 $225.93

    Breakaway Roping: Summer Williamd, Perkinston MS 2.0 $2,169.89; Maci Harvey, Mead OK, Kaydence Tindall, Felda FL, Bleu Hall, Okmulgee OK, Avery Landry, Arnaudville LA split 2.1 $1,462.31 ea; Zaili Saculla, Bryan TX, McKinley Croffut, Boynton OK, Macy Hancock, San Angelo TX split 2.2 $471.71 ea

    Goat Tying: Gracie Roseberry, Weatherford TX, Annamarie Pierce, Cloutierville LA split 7.3 $1,044.86 ea; Gentry Merkel, Yorkville IL 7.9 $749.14; Kayleah Hurst, Slick OK, Sealey Bottom, Cheyenne OK split 8.1 $453.43 ea; Morgan Young, Vero Beach FL, Kiley Slavin, Goodwell OK split 8.2 $98.57 ea

    Calf Roping: Bryce Henderson, Del Rio TX 8.4 $1,467.07; Cort Gambino, Lindale TX 9.0 $1,275.71; Raesh Casebolt, Ryan OK 9.1 $1,084.36; Wyatt Kent, Brewton AL 9.6 $893.00; Coy Evans, Fort Supply OK 9.9 $701.64; Blake Carter, Seminole OK 10.1 $510.29; Garrett Leatherman, Bloomingdale IN, Cooper Fowler, Damascus AR split 10.2 $223.25 ea

    Steer Wrestling: Cole Pugh, Jasper TX 4.1 $989.31; Ryden Martin, Sulphur LA, Reece Jordan, Tupelo OK split 4.2 $733.46 ea; Kreece Dearing, Chico TX 4.3 $477.60; Clay Tom Hurt, Dilley TX 4.4 $307.03; Jake Shelton, Krum TX, Wyatt Newman, Wilsonville AL split 4.7 $85.29 ea

    Saddle Bronc: Cooper Lane, Keller TX 77.0 $1,010.57 ea; Wyatt Lavergne, Sulphur LA 62.0 $673.72 ea

    Bareback Bronc: Quintonn Lunsford, McCune KS 75.0 $877.72; Clayton Hibler, Wheeler TX 74.5 $585.14

    Bull Riding: John Crimber, Decatur TX 83.0 $691.43; Tate Pollmeier, Fort Scott KS, Carter High, Weatherford TX split 71.0 $432.14 ea; Blake Blanchard, Pearland TX 67.0 $172.86

    Team Roping: Jim Watkins, Bristow OK – Bode Gatlin, Meeker OK 6.0 $1,507.81; Jace Thorstenson, Morristown AZ – Denton Dunning, Surprise AZ 6.2 $1,311.14; Mason Stueve, New Ton KS – Trey Adams, Junction City KS, Jake Murray, Como TX – Brayden Morris, Poetry TX split 6.8 $1,016.14 ea; Bray Aymond, Pine Prairie LA – Hudson Gros, Sulphur LA 7.0 $721.13; Kase Busby, Leesville LA – Will Thibodeaux, Elmer LA, Cole Smith, Amazonia MO – Catcher Gasperson, Decatur TX split 7.2 $426.12 ea; Case Phillips, Wewoka OK – Jagger Baxstrom, Drumright OK, Braxton Hughes, Canyon TX – John Hisel, Clovis NM, Nick Achille, Alvin TX – Colin Fox, Manvel TX split 7.3 $43.70 ea

    ABOUT THE IFYR

    The IFYR has 11 total performances, starting with the kick-off, Sunday, July 10 at 8 p.m. Monday, July 10 through Friday, July 15 there are two performances daily, 9 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The finals performance is Friday, July 15 at 7:30 p.m. Events include cowgirls barrel racing, cowgirls pole bending, cowgirl’s breakaway roping, cowgirl’s goat tying, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding. Events run simultaneously in three arenas during each performance.  The IFYR consists of two long-go’s and a short-go, made up of the top 15 contestants in each event.

     

     

  • Cowboy ropes one for his friend

    Cowboy ropes one for his friend

    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 Rodeo
    July 6-11
    Bareback 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. 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.

     

  • 103rd Annual Cody Stampede crowns new champions

    103rd Annual Cody Stampede crowns new champions

    CODY, Wyo. July 4, 2022 — Nobody could have been any happier about winning the Cody Stampede than bareback rider Cole Reiner.

    He grew up just across the Big Horn Mountains in Buffalo, Wyoming, and has dreamed of winning the Cody Stampede since he became a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2019. In those three years, he has chalked up a lot of different rodeo wins, qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) twice and now can add the Cody Stampede to his rodeo resume.

    Reiner planned his Fourth of July rodeo run around a trip to Cody and competed here on the final day of what is known on the rodeo circuit as Cowboy Christmas. It paid off in a big way when he scored 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Southern Star. That was the highest bareback ride of the four-day rodeo and netted him $8,460. Before the Cody Stampede started, he was fourth in the world standings. The money he won here will keep him close to the top and help him secure a trip to Las Vegas in December to compete at rodeo’s championships for a third time.

    Steer wrestler Kyle Irwin, left, Cody Stampede photo by Jason Koperski,  from Robertsdale, Alabama also competed here on the Fourth and got a portion of the win. His good friend Tyler Pearson was at the Cody Stampede earlier in the week and stopped the clock in 3.4 seconds giving the rest of the field a time to shoot for. Irwin nailed it on the final day of the rodeo and tied with Pearson. They each won $6,376, which Irwin is badly in need of to get him among the top 15 in the world standings. He was outside of that at 23rd place.

    He’s been in this position before and rallied to qualify for the NFR. He also won the big check here in 2017. That gave him a boost and helped his qualify for his third NFR. This year he is hoping to keep going and make it to the championships for a sixth time.

    The big winner here was barrel racer Leslie Smalygo from Skiatook, Oklahoma. The barrel racer had a blazing-fast run at the first performance of the rodeo and her time held through over 100 additional barrel racers. Smalygo stopped the clock in 17.04 seconds to win $10,148.

    Smalygo started her Cowboy Christmas run in 35th place. With the money she won here and added at other rodeos, she will be inching towards the top 15 and could be headed to her first NFR. Her success came aboard her gelding “Gus” Justaheartbeattafame.

    Team ropers Coleman Proctor from Pryor, Oklahoma and Logan Medlin from Tatum, N.M., got the win with a 4.3 second run. It netted each of them $5,743. Riley Pruitt had the fastest time in tie-down roping at 7.7 seconds to win $8,178.

    There was a tie for the second consecutive year for the saddle bronc riding title. This year, it was Milford, Utah’s Spencer Wright and Zeke Thurston from Big Valley, Alberta that were at the top. They each scored 87.5 points. Wright rode on the third and Thurston was here on the Fourth of July. They each earned $7,324 for the win.

    Brady Portenier had a night off on the second of July. He used it to relax, enjoy some bull riding camaraderie and get ready to ride the next night. It paid off with a 92.5 point effort to earn $8,432.

    The breakaway roping championship went to Taylor Hanchey who has competed here in the barrel racing in the past. Last year she qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping and became the first woman to compete in that event that had also competed at the NFR in the barrel racing. Her roping skills came into play at Stampede Park where she stopped the clock in 2.3 seconds to earn $4,286.

    The total payoff at the 103rd Cody Stampede was over $350,000. Competition continues July 5th with steer roping and at 8 p.m. the Cody Nite Rodeo will start back again.

     

    103rd Cody Stampede Champions

    Bareback Riding, Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo., 88.5 points, $8,460

    Steer Wrestling, (tie) Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., &

    Tyler Pearson, Atoka, Okla., 3.4 seconds, $6,376 each.

    Team Roping, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M., 4.3 seconds, $5,743

    Saddle Bronc Riding, (tie) Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah &

    Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 87.5 points, $7,324 each.

    Breakaway Roping, Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 2.3 seconds, $4,286

    Tie-Down Roping, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 7.7 seconds, $8,178

    Barrel Racing, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.04 $10,148

    Bull Riding, Brady Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho, 92.5, $8,432

     

    The following are results from the 103rd Cody Stampede, Monday, July 4, 2022

    Fourth Performance —

    Bareback riding: (three rides) 1, Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo., 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Southern Star. 2, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 88. 3, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 85.5.

     

    Steer wrestling: 1, Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 3.4 seconds. 2, Paul Melvin, Paradise, Texas, 4.7. 3, Ryan Nettle, Goldthwaite, Texas, 5.0. 4, Grady Payne, Stephenville, Texas, 5.3.

     

    Team roping: 1, Clint Summers, Lake city, Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 5.3 seconds. 2, Curry Kirchner, Ames, Okla., and Reagan Ward, Edmond, Okla., 5.4. 3, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev., 9.6. 4, Jay Tittel, Pueblo, Colo., and Cole Cooper, Montrose, Colo., 15.1.

     

    Saddle bronc riding: 1, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Cowboy Town. 2, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowood, Alberta, 85. 3, Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta, 83.5. 4, Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D., 81.

     

    Breakaway roping: 1, Josie Conner, Iowa, La., 2.5. seconds. 2, Aspen Miller, Santa Fe, Texas, 2.7. 3, Coralee Spratt, Shoshoni, Wyo., 2.8. 4, Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 3.0.

     

    Tie-down roping: (three times) 1, Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alberta, 7.9 seconds. 2, Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 9.8. 3, Slade Wood, New Ulm, Texas, 19.4.

     

    Barrel Racing: 1, Hallie Fulton, Miller, S.D., 17.46 seconds. 2, Ilyssa Riley, Hico, Texas, 17.49. Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.54. 4, Steely Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, 17.69.

     

    Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Tyler Ray Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 87.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Gladiator’s Hammer. 2, Brody Yeary, Morgan Mill, Texas, 78.

     

    Money earners —

     

    Bareback riding: 1, Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo., 88.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Southern Star, $8,460. 2, Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 88, $6,466. 3, (tie) Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas, Confused and Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa,  86.5  and $3,948 each. 5, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 85.5, $1,974. 6, , Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 84, $1,410. 7, Keenan Reed Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 82.5, $1,128. 8, Guage McBride, Kearney, Neb., 82, $846.

     

    Steer wrestling: 1, (tie) Tyler Pearson, Atoka, Okla., and Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 3.4 seconds and $6,376 each.  3, Jason Thomas, Bentonville, Ark., 3.6, $5,465. 4, (tie) Dakota Eldridge, Elko, Nev., and Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 3.7, $4,327. 6, (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho and Jacob Edler, Alva, Okla., 3.8, $3,416.  8, (tie) Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla., and Tyke Kipp, Lordsburg, N.M., 4.0, $2,505. 10, Remey Parrott, Mamou, La., 4.1, $1,822. 11, (tie) Jace Melvin, Paradise, Texas; Joe Wilson, Martin, S.D.; Dylan Schroeder, Waller, Texas; and Trell Etbauter, Goodwell, okla.; 4.3, $1,139. 15, (tie) Riley Riess, Manning, N.D., and Conner McKell, Springville, Utah, 4.4, $228.

     

    Team Roping: 1, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M., 4.3 seconds, $5,749 per man. 2, (tie) Tanner Tomlinson, Angleton, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas; and Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil; 4.4, $5,081. 4, Pedro Egurrola, Florence, Ariz., and J.C. Flake, Laramie, Wyo., 4.5, $4,418. 5, Kreece Thompson, Munday, Texas, and Chad Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 4.6, $3,976. 6, (tie) Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D.; and Kolton Schmidt, Barrwood, Alberta and Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas; 4.7, $3,314. 8, (tie) Tanner James, Porterville, Calif., and Max Kurrler, American Falls, Idaho; and Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas, 4.8, $2,540. 10, (tie) Coy Rahlmann, Elsinore, Mo., and Douglas Rich, Herrick, Ill.; and Kellan and Carson Johnson, Casper, Wyo.; 5.0, $1,988. 12, Jesse Staudt, Nathrop, Colo., and Riley Pedro, Honolulu, Hawaii, 5.1, $1,546. 13, (tie) Hayes Smith, Central Point, Ore., and Cullen Teller, Ault, colo.; Clint Summres, Lake City, Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas; Cutter Machado, Santa Maria, Calif., and Dalton Pearce, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; 5.3, $884 each.

     

    Saddle bronc riding: 1, (tie) Spencer Wright, Milford, Mont., on Frontier Rodeo’s Yellowstone and Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, on Frontier Rodeo’s Cowboy Town, 87.5 points and $7,324 each.  23 Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 86, $4,698. 4, (tie) Ross Griffin, Tularosa, N.M., and Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, 85, $2,487. 6, Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyoming, 84.5, $1,382. 7, (tie) Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, and Riggin Smith, Winterset, Iowa, 84 and $967.

     

    Breakaway roping:  1, Taylor Hanchey, Carmine, Texas, 2.3 seconds, $4,286. 2, Charity Hoar, Pine Bluff, Wyo., 2.4, $3,429. 3, (tie) Sarah Verhelst, Pryor, Mont., Josie Conner, Iowa, La., and Cheyenne Guillory, Gainesville, Texas, 2.5 seconds and  $2,215 each. 6, (tie) Zoie Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, and Sawyer, Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., 2.6, $1,179. 8, (tie) Aspen Miller, Santa Fe, Texas; Tiffany Schieck, Floresville, Texas; and Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, N.M.; 2.7 and $857. 11, (tie) Coralee Spratt, Shoshoni, Wyo.; Amanda Mader, Buffalo, Wyo.; and Sammy Taylor, Neola, Utah; 2.8, $536. 14, (tie) Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., and Carly Christian, Choteau, Mont., 2.9, $267.

     

    Tie-down roping: 1, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 7.7 seconds, $8,178. 2, Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alblerta, 7.9, $7,088. 3, Zack Jongbloed, Iowa, La., 8.6, $6,542. 4, Tuf Case Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.8, $5,452. 5, Hunter Herrin, Apache, Okla., 9.0, $4,907. 5, Wyatt Muggli, Wayne, Okla., 9.1, $4,362. 7, J.D. McCuistion, Collinsville, Texas, Okla., 9.2Tee, , $3,816. 8, Michael Otero, Millsap, Texas, 9.3, $3,271. 9, (tie) Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont.; J. Cody Jones, Ukiah, Calif.; and Beau Cooper, Stettler, Alberta, 9.6, $2,272. 12, Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 9.8, $1,636. 13, (tie) Dakota Felton, Mountain Home, Texas, and Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho, 10.0, $954. 15, Hunter Reaume, Meeteetse, Wyo., 10.1, $545.

     

    Barrel Racing: 1, Leslie Smalygo, Skiatook, Okla., 17.04, $10,148. 2, Kylee Scribner, Azle, Texas, 17.08, $8,119. 3, Jordon Briggs, Tolar, Texas, 17.09, $6,596. 4, Londyn Ross, Bluff Dale, Texas, 17.14, $5,074. 5, Bryanna Haluptzok, Tennstrike, Minn., 17.20, $4,059. 6. ivy Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 17.24, $3,044. 7, (tie) Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas, and Cheyenne Wimberley, Stephenville, Texas, 17.25, and $2,410. 9, Taylor Arakelian, Clovis, Calif., 17.27, $2,030. 10, (tie) Nicole Driggers, Stephenville, Texas, and Sadie Wolaver, Weatherford, Okla., 17.28, $1,649. 12, Katie Halbert, Port Lavaca, Texas, 17.30, $1,269. 13, Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 17.31, $1,015. 14, Loni Lester, Gonzales, Texas, 17.35, $761. 15, Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla., 17.36, $507.

     

    Bull Riding: 1, Brady Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho, 92.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Glory Days, $8,432. 2, Tyler Ray Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 87.5, $6,464. 3, Creek Young, Rogersville, Mo., 87, $4,778. 4, (tie) Trevor Reiste, Linden, Iowa, and Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas, 86 and $2,530 each. 6, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, 84, $1,405. 7, Maverick Potter, Waxahachie, Texas, 81.5, $1,124. 8, Jace Tosclair, Chauvin, La., 79, $843.

     

     

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  • 2022 NJHFR WORLD CHAMPIONS

    2022 NJHFR WORLD CHAMPIONS

    2022 NJHFR WORLD CHAMPIONS

    Boys breakaway roping – Wyatt Howell (TX) Barrels – Skyler Nicholas (TX) Girls breakaway – Colee Cox(TX) Bare back steer – Taos Weborg (SD) Tie down roping – Reno Scribner (NM) Girls goats – Wacey Trujillo (NM) Boys goats – Cash Colcasure (AR) Team roping – Steele Smith and Logan Vander Hamm (KS) Ribbon roping – Craig and Bella Sciba (TX) Saddle bronc steer – Hardy Osborne (NM) Pole bending – Chaynee Slavin (OK) Chute dogging – Craig Sciba (TX) Bull riding – West Schroeder (MT) Rookie boy all around – Stetson Corman (IL) Rookie girl all around – Lana Houck (MN) All around cowgirl – Ella Kay (LA) All around cowboy Craig Sciba (TX)

    Ella Kay from Iowa, Louisiana, had her mind set on winning a championship in either goat tying or breakaway roping at the National Junior High Finals in Perry, Georgia. The 13-year-old competed in those events as well as ribbon roping this past week and ended the week as the Girls All-Around Champion for the 2022 National Junior High Finals Rodeo. “It caught me by surprise; the hard work is finally showing.” She took reserve champion in the goat tying, fourth in breakaway and second in the second round of ribbon roping. Her hard work includes a routine of roping off both horses every afternoon, tying goats, and twice a week intense training at the gym. “I push sleds, tires, and run with resistance bands,” she said. “That’s helping my feet go faster and helping me be more mentally tough.”

    “It takes a big crew to get this done,” said her dad, Brian, who used to compete in tie down roping. “All the grandparents at home are taking care of chores; her older sister, Addison, is helping in the barn, and her mom DeAnne is keeping track of forms, fees, clothes, and cooking.” They were joined by Ella’s coach, Kamryn Duncan, who flew in from Casper, Wyo., where she had just tied for the 2022 College National Finals Goat Tying championship. Ella took two horses to the Finals, a ten-hour trip from Iowa, and will turn around and head to the National Little Britches Finals in Guthrie, Oklahoma at the Lazy E Arena, the end of the week.

    The seventh grader is quick to give all the credit to God. “You have to believe and trust God – he has a plan and you have to follow it. My parents remind me that I’m here to follow His plan and whenever He’s ready I’m ready. It’s a habit now – I say my prayers and I listen to the rosary with my parents every morning.”

    Craig Sciba from Victoria, Texas, won the Boys All Around Champion, the World Champion Ribbon Team – roping for his sister, Bella, and the World Champion Chute Dogger and reserve champion goat tyer. His horse, Tag, took the title of AQHA Horse of the year. Tag is his roping horse, tie down horse as well as a goat tying horse. “It was a long shot to get All Around,” said the 14-year-old. “I was only there in three events and there were guys there in five and six events.” His game plan was doing the best he could. Going into the short go, he knew he needed to do his job in order to get the All Around title.  “I go at it the same way as I do any other round – make the run. In Ribbons we had to be 12 and we were a 6.3. I didn’t safety up at all. If I start thinking about all that then things go wrong.” His dad, Craig, is his main coach in the practice pen. Craig is moving into the high school competition next year and his goals for the future are simple. “Take one step at a time; high school next and probably college rodeo.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • June & July Are The Months of the College National Finals Rodeo

    June and July are the months of the College National Finals Rodeo, The National High School Finals rodeo, the Best of the Best, the National Little Britches Finals, and the International Finals Youth rodeo. For many of the young contestants that are coming up through the rodeo ranks, these are the biggest youth rodeos they will have ever competed in for national championships. Today I had a parent ask me what my best advice to get a student ready to compete at one of these events was. How would I prepare a student to go to one or more of these events?
    Every year since 2007 I have helped college students prepare to compete at the college finals in every event. In every case, there is a difference in the competitor, but I do believe there are a few things that students can do to better prepare themselves to compete at a high level.
    The first thing I see is that students who continue to compete are usually better prepared. Practice is great and you need to continue to practice, but there is no substitution for competition. Find rodeos to compete at, find jackpots to compete at, but make sure you are competing. You should be willing to step out of your comfort zone and compete against a higher level of competition than you usually compete against. Enter an open roping, enter a pro rodeo, the top contestants you will be competing against at any of those events listed above are competing at these events.
    The other main thing I see is that most contestants spend the majority of their practice time and efforts practicing on the physical side of their event. The majority of contestants I know put in plenty of time in the practice arena working on the physical elements of their game. Where most of the money and championships are won are with the mental side. I will say it again most of the championships are won by those contestants who are strong competitors mentally.
    Focus should go into practice to prepare yourself both physically and mentally if you want to compete at a high level of any sport. Most people like to practice with ideal circumstances and their choice of livestock; that’s great in a perfect world. Most rodeos are won by contestants and competitors who can win on what they draw and do not need the proverbial luck of the draw to win. Mentally strong people seem to always find ways to win consistently. Work on your mental game.
    And the final advise I give to all of my student competing—You can’t win it on your first one, but you can lose it. Very seldom does anyone remember who won the first round of the CNFR or the High School Finals, but they all remember the champion. Most of the rodeos I mentioned are three or four head averages. You have to do well on three or four head to win. Have a game plan and be able to execute your game plan on each individual animal you have drawn. Good things happen when you can execute a game plan.
    Good Luck!

  • Farriers

    They don’t get enough credit. I saw a post the other day on Facebook, someone was looking for a ‘good, cheap farrier’. You can imagine the comments that came after, most were attacking the person that wrote it, some were tagging their farriers, and others like myself kept to themselves and kept scrolling. If you’ve owned horses for any amount of time, you have had your share of this topic being discussed. For me, I believe if you have a farrier that keeps your horse sound it shouldn’t matter what they charge.
    The other day a lady that I know had her gelding trimmed by her farrier and he went lame on all four in a matter of minutes. The farrier tried to blame it on everything under the sun but when it all came to the surface, they admitted they cut him too short. He’s now on bute, padded soles, and won’t be able to be ridden for weeks. What a shame. And when I asked her if she’d continue using this farrier her response was, ‘yes, it’s only $45 for a trim’. Owning a horse is expensive but there are certain things you don’t go cheap on, and their feet are one of them.
    I know when I clean my horse’s hooves out my back hurts, so there is no way I could stand under a horse everyday even if it was a balmy 75 degrees with a light breeze. Even if it was the best of circumstances that is a labor of love that I’ll let my farrier take care of. I believe it comes down to being as educated as you can but also realizing your farrier has probably been under more horses than you’ve ever ridden or will ride in your entire life. With that being said, never take your farrier for granted, offer them water, bake them cookies, say thank you, and when they are there on time make sure your horse is caught, cleaned, and ready. Farriers get a bad name for being late but most of the time it’s because someone before you didn’t have their horses caught, or traffic was a nightmare driving across the county to get to you.
    Thanks for coming to my ‘Ted Talk’.

  • Back When They Bucked With Butch Tirelli

    Back When They Bucked With Butch Tirelli

    Roland ‘Butch’ Tirelli was born January 14, 1941 in the Knickerbocker Hospital in New York City to Rachel Lopez and Frank Tirelli. Butch grew up in Brooklyn. Although his father was not in his daily life, he did have an ‘off and on’ relationship with him. Butch’s mother married a man named Cohen when Butch was just a toddler. Cohen was a good father, but money was scarce. Butch’s mom saved her pennies to be able to give Butch dance lessons.
    At age 12, Butch and his mother were leaving the CBS Studio 54 Dance Studio in New York City; they were headed home by way of the subway, when Butch saw a marquee advertising the Madison Square Garden Rodeo. ROY ROGERS — RODEO – 200 COWBOYS!! Butch excitedly said to his mom, “Mom, mom! We gotta go see that!” She told him she didn’t have money for a ticket. They passed by the Belvedere Hotel, across the street from Madison Square Garden. Butch saw dozens of cowboys going across the street from the Belvedere and entering the Garden. One cowboy, in particular, stood out – he wore a purple shirt and had initials, C. T. on his denim jacket.
    Being from Brooklyn, Butch walked up to the cowboy and said, “Hey, I’ve never been to a rodeo. Can you get me a ticket?”
    The cowboy grinned, reached in his back pocket and handed him two tickets and said, “Here kid, have a good time!”
    Butch was thrilled!
    Although the seats were up in the top of the Garden a man sitting next to his mother offered Butch his binoculars so he could see the cowboys ‘up close and personal’. Butch never went to another dance lesson. He was hooked! He was going to be a cowboy – NO MATTER WHAT IT TOOK!
    Young Butch went to all the Saturday afternoon cowboy movies. He watched how they walked, how they sat on their horse, and how they held their reins. He secretly practiced ‘holding reins’ with his belt.
    In 1954, he saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a horse for sale. Butch asked his mom if he could buy it – the price of the horse was $125.
    “Go ask your dad, Butch,” she said.
    Although he seldom saw his dad, he was hesitant — but this was important. Surprisingly his dad handed over $125. Butch worked very hard to get the money to be able to feed and take care of his horse, Melody. He got up at 4AM to assist an Italian man groom his horse before he went to deliver ice. He also worked at the hack stables. Eventually he moved Melody to Bergen Stables.
    One of the boys he met at Bergen Stables was Joe McBride who also had plans of being a cowboy. Joe introduced Butch to the Black Diamond Wild West Show that put on performances in the area. Joe worked for them doing odd jobs. Butch hoped that he might get a job with them, and be able to ride some of the stock. The day finally came when Butch got a chance to ride a bull in a performance and he was ready — he thought.
    When the time came, he asked, “Hey Joey, how do I get off?”
    Joe told him, “Just let go.”
    Butch admits it was a little wilder than he anticipated. He landed on his head.
    Sixteen year old Butch and his friends spent hours at Bergen Beach Stables in Brooklyn. In fact, they called a building on the grounds their ‘clubhouse’. It even had a television set. One day the kids were all watching the Cowtown New Jersey Rodeo. Atomic Power, one of their best bulls just bucked a rider off when his friend said, “Butch, I’ll bet you could ride Atomic Power.”
    His friends had never been able to throw Butch off the barrel they had tied between the trees to practice their ‘bull riding’.
    His friend’s statement made him think about it. He called Cowtown New Jersey and when the secretary answered the phone Butch said, “I want to ride Atomic Power.”
    The secretary’s answer was, “You have to draw him.”
    Innocently young Butch didn’t realize what she meant by ‘draw him’. He thought she meant he had to take a pencil and draw a picture of Atomic Power.
    He responded, “I don’t want to draw him, I want to ride him!”
    The secretary finally realized he was a kid and encouraged him to come to Cowtown and enter the bareback event instead. And that is what he did. According to Butch he did OK.
    There were several western-style towns around New York for entertainment. In 1958 he went to ‘Dodge City’, on Long Island where he met Colonel Jim Eskew for the first time. Another show in New Jersey called ‘Cowboy City’ he often enjoyed. He met real practicing cowboys and asked lots of questions about riding broncs and bulls.
    By 1959 the Black Diamond Wild West Show was back in Staten Island. Jack Jackson, head cowboy, was a steer wrestler and bronc rider that had previously worked for Colonel Eskew. He hired Butch and told him to get on as much stock as he could. But when Jackson was handing out paychecks, at the end of show at Staten Island, when he got to Butch, he closed the cash box.
    Butch asked him why he didn’t get paid, Jackson said, “I’ll kill you off in two weeks.” Butch knew he wasn’t very big, he only weighed 110 pounds, but he knew he could do whatever he was asked to do. He was so mad and said to Jackson, “Hey old man, I’ll piss on your grave!”
    Instead of being offended Jackson just grinned and handed him $10 and directions to get to Syracuse, New York, in time for their next ‘gig’.
    When Butch realized he was being hired he asked how was he suppose to get there, Jackson answered, “See, you’re doing it all ready!”
    Butch found that they were loading the bucking chutes on wheels and going to haul them behind a vehicle to Syracuse. He hopped in and headed north.
    Butch’s friend, Joe McBride, gave him wise advice when he started working with the wild west shows: “You have to buy a loaf of Wonder Bread and some peanut butter and jelly and some ‘rodeo chickens’ (bologna) and carry it in your duffle bag – you never know if you’re going to get paid or not in these wild west shows.”
    Cowboys from the east often travel back and forth from New York to Florida to rodeo, depending on the time of year. Butch was no different, and went to John Evans’ ranch in Florida. He met Red Wilmer there, and Red offered to let Butch use his Severe-made bronc saddle, to ride at the Webster (Florida) rodeo. Butch won the bronc riding on that saddle. Butch won the bareback riding and bull riding at that rodeo as well as fought bulls.
    When Butch went to California he worked on Andy Jauregui’s ranch. He rode some bulls Andy had chosen to go to the National Finals. Years later Butch, who had worked as a stunt man, met Bobby Jauregui, Andy’s great-nephew who was also a stunt man, and relayed this story. Jauregui said, “I grew up hearing about this little New York guy that rode those bulls – so you’re the one!”
    Butch also travelled the rodeo circuit with Buddy Heaton, the bullfighter and funnyman, from one side of the country to the next. Buddy was known for his antics and creativity in and outside the arena. Butch admitted he learned a lot of do’s and don’ts from this experience.
    Although Butch was doing OK as a roughstock rider, he found he enjoyed the producing end of rodeo and wild west shows, too. Because he was of Puerto Rican descent Gerry Partlow, a producer of wild west shows, sent Butch to Puerto Rico to ‘make a deal’ to produce a rodeo there. Butch, who didn’t hesitate, did make a deal. The Diamond P Wild West Show, produced by Gerry Partlow, with lots of help from Butch, held the “Gran Rodeo Americano” in Puerto Rico in 1964, and again in 1965. The first year they didn’t make much money, but everyone got paid and sent home. The following year the event was highly successful.
    By 1978 Butch was the producer of another successful wild west show in Caracas, Venezuela which included well-known cowboys, such as; Hub Hubbell, announcing; John McBeth, Saddle Bronc Champion; performers – Tommy Lucia, J. W. Stoker, Gene McLaughlin. He leased King Brothers bucking stock, pickup men, flags, etc. The show was successful and as Butch proudly said, “Everyone was paid, and everything came back to the States, down to the final paper clip!”
    Butch Tirelli is a multi-talented cowboy. Being small in stature never stopped him from thinking he could be a giant. He also made his mark in the fashion industry which began when as a kid he bought six antique trunks from a junk dealer for $10 each. He did not know what was inside the trunks. They happened to be full of beautiful ladies silk chiffon blouses and gowns.
    “I took them to Manhattan’s most expensive boutiques and sold them all. I made $1,500.” That experience started him buying vintage clothing at a low price and selling it much higher. He took other Wild West Shows out of the country, which were held successfully and every performer got paid and returned home.
    Today Butch is involved in manufacturing saddle pads for barrel horses called EQUFLX, purchased through Master Saddles, used by world champion barrel racers. The blankets he designed and manufactured are used with the Master light weight barrel saddles. His talents and abilities have truly made a big wandering trail through the cowboy world. His versatility might have kept him from doing more as a competing cowboy, but the youngster from Brooklyn truly did fulfill his dream – to be a cowboy — NO MATTER WHAT!

  • 6 Over 60: Brenda Allen

    6 Over 60: Brenda Allen

    Brenda Allen was the first woman chosen as the official photographer of the NFR in 1981. She went on to photograph the Finals four more times, both in Oklahoma City and Las Vegas when it moved to Nevada in 1985. Among numerous other accomplishments, she went on to become the official photographer of the USTRC for more than twenty years, and only just retired from professional photography in 2016 at the age of 74.
    As a wife, mother to two, and a schoolteacher, Brenda didn’t set out to make history in the arena. But her camera savvy, attention to detail, and love of the excitement of sports made her the woman for the job. Brenda’s husband, Carl Allen, built a dark room in their home and enjoyed photography himself, but passed the camera along to Brenda so he could coach Little League football. She photographed the games and took team photos, and her familiarity with photography landed her a job with a photographer in New Jersey, where she and Carl lived at the time. She worked as a darkroom technician until Carl, who worked for Trans World Airlines, was transferred to California. “That’s where Carl met up with Jack Roddy and a few others he knew from way back in high school, and he started roping again,” says Brenda. “I was in my forties. I was teaching school, and I went along and sat on the fence and watched him rope. I started taking pictures, and I’d go home and develop them. The next week I’d take them back to the guys and started selling them. But then I was falling asleep in the classroom. I decided to take a sabbatical and the school said to come back when it [photography] didn’t work out, but it did. I got my PRCA card in 1978.”
    Although it had taken her 4 colleges and 16 years to finish her teaching degree due to moving for work, Brenda only taught for 5 years before discovering her passion for action photography. She traveled with Carl to his rodeos and honed her photography skills through trial and error, one of few women working a rodeo from behind a camera. She had been photographing rodeos for about a year when she received her PRCA card in 1978 at the recommendation of Jack Roddy, Dale Smith, and Dick Yates. Just two years later in 1980, she was the first woman to win ProRodeo Sports News’ Best Action Photos award and a silver buckle sponsored by Frontier Airlines. She shot the NFR from the sidelines, and in 1981, she was chosen as the official NFR photographer. “I just treated it like another rodeo. It was exciting to be a part of it—really exciting,” Brenda recalls. “My husband went with me and sold pictures at the NFR.” Like any other rodeo, Brenda asked for a hotel room with no windows in the bathroom so she could set up her darkroom there. Otherwise, she came prepared with tin foil to cover the windows. She kept meticulous records of all her NFR photos. “I had a piece of paper and a pen in my pocket, and I’d pull it out and make a note every time I shot.” This, added to the tasks of changing and rewinding her film every 36 shots—sometimes while climbing a fence to get out of the way of a human or animal athlete barreling towards her—made for plenty excitement of her own to manage. If it was an indoor rodeo, Brenda also had heavy batteries strapped to her belt to run her flash.
    While Brenda was run over by a barrel racer, her person and equipment mostly unharmed, she jokes that most of her close calls came from the fence rather than an animal. “In Sonora, California, I climbed a fence that made an alleyway where the bulls came through, and they were knocking the fence. It knocked me headfirst into the alley and I was hanging from the fence by my knees. Every time I tried to get up, the bulls would hit the fence and I couldn’t get up. John Growney the stock contractor was just laughing. It was totally quiet in the stands and everybody was watching. John Growney wanted to know if I’d do that act the next day.”
    Someone else’s mishap, that of world champion bull rider Charlie Sampson, landed one of Brenda’s photos in a national magazine. Brenda was photographing the 1983 Presidential Command Performance Rodeo in Landover, Maryland, with President Ronald Reagan in attendance, when Charlie Sampson suffered a severe head injury from his bull. Brenda happened to capture the historic accident on film. And while the photographers were instructed not to photograph the president directly, Brenda managed to position herself so that he was in the background of some of her photos.
    Along with rodeo, Brenda photographed other professional sports events including football, baseball, hockey, and the Indie 500, as well as photographing the start of the of CART Long Beach California Grand Prix from the pace car in 1989. She loved being a part of and capturing the excitement that came with each sport, but especially loved the thrills of rodeo and the lasting opportunities it brought. In 1988, she was hired as the official photographer of the USTRC, which she worked until 2016 when she couldn’t climb the fence anymore. Her sports photography has also been used by television networks ABC, CBS, and NBC, and even BBC, ESPN, and CBC.
    “I had a great career and really enjoyed it,” says Brenda. She particularly loves that rodeo introduced her daughter, Veronica, to her husband, world champion bareback rider Lewis Feild, because Veronica helped her mother sell rodeo photographs. “My grandson is Kaycee Feild, and I tell him that the only reason he’s here is because his mom worked for me selling pictures,” Brenda says with a laugh. She occasionally gets calls from people who have found proofs of their photos that they want developed—one as far back as 1993—which Brenda can still develop with the right information. She and Carl have made their home near Denton, Texas, since 1984, and when she’s not hunting for a long-lost photo, she can be found working in her large garden.

  • On the Trail With Tristan Martin

    On the Trail With Tristan Martin

    “This year has been absolutely the best season I’ve had so far,” says professional steer wrestler Tristan Martin. “I’m third in the world with $56,000 won, and coming off a great first WNFR gave me a lot of confidence. We just had our first baby, and knowing I have him to support I guess made me step it up.”

    The 26-year-old from Sulphur, Louisiana, has always been spurred on by family to do his best, from the youngest to the oldest. And as the oldest of 54 grandchildren in the Martin family, Tristan has the best chute help, practice buddies, and cheering section just a few miles away from his front door. His uncle, Casey Martin, steer wrestled professionally and made the WNFR five times, quickly making the event stand out to Tristan, who attended each Finals with his family.

    Tristan’s dream of walking into the box of the Thomas and Mack Center himself became reality in 2021, an accomplishment that was all the more meaningful for the hard work and sacrifice it took to get there. When Tristan reached September of 2021 and the last few pivotal weeks of the season, his grandmother, Betty Martin, passed away. Tristan had the difficult choice of flying home to attend her funeral and turning out of three rodeos, or staying out to finish the season. “I was 17th or 18th in the world and making the short round at Ellensburg, and I had Sulphur Springs and Walla Walla. I talked to Grandpa and my wife, and we decided Mawmaw’s biggest dream was for me to make the WNFR. I won White Sulphur Springs, Montana, and set an arena record with a 3.2, and I placed at Ellensburg the day of her funeral,” says Tristan, who also won second at Walla Walla, Washington. “Without that, I wouldn’t have made the WNFR.” Tristan flew to Albuquerque for the New Mexico State Fair and Rodeo, then hustled back to Oregon for the Pendleton Round-Up. On an impulse, he called his wife, Josee, and asked if she could get off work early the following day and fly to Pendleton to watch him compete. “She was pregnant, but she flew to Pendleton, and I won the short round and secured my spot for the WNFR. It was all part of the plan—God has a bigger design.”

    Tristan and Josee’s first WNFR was no less remarkable, with Josee nine months pregnant and due any day of the rodeo. “First things first, I was more worried about her than anything. We went twice to the doctor while we were there to check and make sure everything was okay,” says Tristan. “But it was maybe a blessing in disguise that we weren’t busy keeping up with everyone. My sponsors were awesome, knowing I couldn’t leave Josee some days but I could do autographs other days. I think that helped me a lot staying focused, not only to do good, but knowing that I had a baby to pay for in a couple of days, so I’d better make some money.” Tristan and Josee also had the support of their family, nearly all of whom made it to Las Vegas for the WNFR by the final days of the rodeo. It took two 30-passenger buses to transport Tristan’s cheering section to the rodeo. Josee attended every performance, as well as the ceremonies. “It wasn’t easy, but there’s nothing like that back number ceremony and watching him in grand entry,” says Josee. “Whether I was nine months pregnant or I had a baby on the hip, I wouldn’t have missed it.” Tristan placed in three rounds and won Round 3, finishing the WNFR fifth in the world standings with $172,827. He and Josee, along with Tristan’s dad, uncle, and younger brother, started the long drive home the very next morning, December 12. With several drivers, they traded off and drove straight through, stopping in Texas to drop several horses off before hurrying the rest of the way home. They made it home at 4:00 PM on December 13, and Tristan and Josee’s son, Boudreaux, was born at the hospital less than three hours later.

    Little Boudreaux went to his first rodeo about six weeks later, watching his dad win the 2022 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. “Tristan bought an 18-wheeler semi, and it’s Boudreaux’s truck,” says Josee. “He rides good in that.” She plans to take Boudreaux to Wyoming after the Fourth of July, where her family lives, and meet up with Tristan there to watch him compete. She and Tristan met at the NHSFR in 2014 where she was goat tying and he was steer wrestling, and they reconnected several years later at another rodeo. They got married in November of 2020, and Josee moved from her family’s ranch in Wyoming to put down new roots in Louisiana. “I really fell in love with Tristan’s family, and there’s such a great community here with them. Anywhere, from California to Florida, if you’re with rodeo people, you’re going to feel at home, I think. I miss doing the ranch stuff, but that’s probably the biggest difference—that and we don’t get snowstorms here.”

    Like Josee, Tristan was involved in rodeo from a young age—although her family wasn’t known for showing up with a freezer plugged into the horse trailer, packed with meat to feed a large family through a week of finals. “I roped a lot in junior high and high school, and I played sports up until I was in sixth grade. My dad said I could play sports or do rodeo because of the financial burden. Obviously, I chose rodeo, and I’m so glad that I did,” says Tristan, who is the oldest of his six sisters and one brother. Their parents are Stoney and Mandy Martin. Tristan is the second generation in his family to rodeo, although the family legacy really begins with his great-grandfather, Preston Martin, who owned a feed store and helped supply Tristan’s dad and uncles with horses to train and ride. “If I hadn’t seen the success my uncle Casey had, I probably would’ve stuck with team roping or tie-down roping, but bulldogging is like nothing else. Once I started jumping off a horse and seeing success in it, I didn’t want to touch a rope.”

    Tristan’s accomplishments in high school rodeo frequently put him at the top of the leaderboard—and on top of the world. He won steer wrestling his senior year, 2014, both at state finals and the NHSFR, as well as the IFYR. “I thought it was easy, and that the next year I would made the WNFR. Little did I know, it takes a lot more than thinking you’re going to be there,” Tristan recalls. He joined the McNeese State University rodeo team in 2015, but found he wasn’t meeting his school or rodeo goals. “2017 was when I made up my mind that I was either going to give rodeo 100 percent and be the best I could be, or I was going to take a different path in life. Since 2017, I’ve done nothing but try to make the WNFR every day. In 2018, I won the College Finals and ended up top 30 in the World.” Tristan also completed his college goals, graduating from East Mississippi Community College with degrees in fine arts and applied science of marketing.

    An integral part of Tristan’s newfound purpose was the mentorship of his uncle Casey and another professional steer wrestler, Bray Armes. Tristan moved to Texas in 2015 and lived with Bray for about six months. “Bray helped me grow up and get out of the college partying deal, and he was a great mentor to me. He and my uncle Casey are always God first, and both very spiritual men. They taught me how to be a man and take care of my business.”

    Fitness also became a top priority for Tristan in 2017. Several of his uncles committed to going to the gym with him at 4:30 each morning for six months. “I went from weighing 160 pounds soaking wet to 215 pounds. It was really a game changer for me, not only being bigger and stronger, but the mental aspect of being bigger and stronger too. When I’m in the gym and I feel ready to compete, that eases my mind a little bit. Even if I mess up, I won’t say, ‘If I’d been in shape, I wouldn’t have done that.’”
    Practice is a widespread family affair at the Martin’s arena located on Tristan’s grandparents’ property. “Most of my aunts and uncles live on the same family land, and me and Josee live three miles down the road through the woods on the same land.” Some of Tristan’s younger cousins compete in rodeo and practice in the arena with him. “I’ve never had trouble trying to find someone to help me practice or open the gate, and if I do, I find the first car coming down the driveway. There’s always someone around,” says Tristan. “There are six little cousins in junior high rodeo or younger, and that’s who I practice with, and the boys love it. They’ll have all the steers ready, including mine. They push me as much as I push them, and they make me want to do better. One day, I hope they are that for my son.”

    Tristan is traveling with fellow steer wrestlers Hunter Cure, Tanner Brunner, and Ryan Nettle this summer. Hunter is leading the steer wrestling standings currently. “At the end of the day, we’re not trying to beat each other, we’re trying to beat the steers. Because we’ve traveled together before, we know how to help each other or push each other. I love rodeoing with Hunter.” Also on the road with Tristan are his two horses. FedX, who carried him through the second half of the 2021 season and into the WNFR, belongs to Amy Craig and Kate Stayton. He is also hauling his own horse, Rez, to expose him to more rodeos this summer.

    Before the summer run started, Tristan and his uncle Casey hosted the Martin Family Bulldogging School in May. They had 29 kids attend, 6 of them Tristan’s cousins, who also pitched in with coaching. The family also helped host the Betty Martin Memorial Pro Rodeo in May, an LRCA benefit rodeo in memory of Tristan’s grandmother.

    There aren’t many rodeos on Tristan’s summer run that he hasn’t been to before, and he’s especially looking forward to Deadwood, South Dakota, which is close to Josee’s family, as well as Pendleton and St. Paul, Oregon. “Most importantly, taking care of my family is my main goal,” he finishes. “But as far as rodeo, my main goal is to win the WNFR and the gold buckle.”

  • AQHA Hires Karl Stressman

    AQHA Hires Karl Stressman

    Karl Stressman can’t turn down a challenge. Coming out of retirement, the 71-year-old accepted the position as CEO of the American Quarter Horse Association, the largest equine breed association in the world with more than 230,000 members in more than 130 countries. With a staff of over 200, Karl will take the helm with the same intent as he has tackled any of the projects he has taken on over the years. “I just want to work as hard as I can with the people who work here; Ultimately, I want to continue to enhance the Association for the future.” Underlying the entire plan is a simple concept. “I’m not taking any prisoners – we are going to rock and roll. I’m not doing it if I’m not having fun, and I expect the staff to have an environment they enjoy.”
    The son of a Methodist preacher, Karl was raised in Tucson, Ariz. He competed as a gymnast in high school and started team roping during college. He attended the University of Arizona with a major in art and a minor in education; however, he quickly determined that being an art teacher and coach wasn’t his career path and ended up in the car business for eight years. He eventually had an opportunity to sell for a major western saddle company, and he was hooked on the western lifestyle. He decided to try his hand at western retail and opened two stores in Colorado. Two years later, Wrangler came knocking, and he landed his dream job. “I was hired to be in charge of rodeo event marketing,” he said. “I moved to North Carolina, and thankfully there was a group of ropers there.” Living on the east coast was a far cry from his life in the West. He traveled as many as 240 days in a single year, attending all the major rodeos and having the best life he could have. “I was going to rodeos, playing a little golf and roping with my friends across the country! I had the job down to auto pilot.”
    Then the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) came knocking. “I thought I had the skill set to take on the PRCA,” he said, looking at the career move as another challenge. “You take jobs when they aren’t great, make them great, and walk away.” He still has an emotional attachment to the Wrangler brand, wearing their line proudly. He stayed at the PRCA for 10 years, until announcing his retirement in 2017. He later took a job heading up the United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC), a position he held for two years until announcing his retirement in 2020.
    “I wanted to retire to spend additional time with my family and friends, rope and play golf,” he admitted, but quickly added, “But, I don’t think retirement is in my DNA right now. You can only rope and play golf so much! I do believe that the couple of years I took off will make me a stronger leader for AQHA. I had to get away from the member association business; gather my thoughts and now I feel I am as strong a leader as I’ve ever been – maybe stronger.”
    Karl has the best partner for the job at hand, his wife, Allie. “She’s the rock star – I’m just carrying her bags around. She never disappoints me – my whole life has been a string of luck, and I’m not going to change anything.” The couple are all in with the new challenge. They bought a house in Amarillo, and Allie is ready support this new endeavor. “This is going to take some support from her – this is a big undertaking, similar to the PRCA. We spent a lot of time getting to the nitty gritty of what makes it tic and how we can help improve it.”

    His plan for his new job is three-fold:

    1) Establish the most important initiatives for the Association.

    2) Accomplish those things at 100%. If you take on too many initiatives, you only get 60% completed. In the overall picture, AQHA is not just in this building, it’s serving the members worldwide and their American Quarter Horses – that’s what we need to focus on.

    3) The stronger the staff gets, the stronger the results will be.

    Karl has been at the job for a month. “I’m a quick study – everyday I’m learning more and more and processing what the priorities are. The people who work here are going to be instrumental in establishing what we need to do – they speak for themselves.
    “I like to get down in the weeds and get after it,” he concluded. “After representing the brands that I loved from Wrangler in the 1990s to the PRCA in 2008 – the largest rodeo association in the world, then USTRC, and now the largest equine breed association in the world – game on – I may be the luckiest guy in the world.”

  • Find Your Joy

    Find Your Joy

    There is so much negativity in this world these days that many people struggle with finding their joy. The news spends countless hours reporting the negative and a few minutes each day on the positive. In the state the world is in right now, with coming back from a very hard, trying few years after so much turmoil, financial strain, and loss, it’s no wonder people are depressed and on edge.
    I recently saw a quote that said, “You promote your children’s well-being when you demonstrate joy that springs from your own being. When they observe you living from pure being, content to exist as you are, they locate the capacity within themselves, and they learn to access their own joy.”
    Joy has to be found internally, because if you try to find it externally through a career, a gold buckle, or a championship saddle, those things will only last so long. Find joy in the here and the now, the moments with your children, the small things that you’ll look back on and you’ll realize they were the most important parts of your life.
    Be grateful for the people you meet along the journey, spending time with your travel partners, and just being fortunate enough to do what you love to do. Whether that’s being a professional rodeo cowboy or cowgirl, running a ranch, or you’re still trying to figure out what you want to do, just find something positive about each day, and your purpose will be revealed when you have the right attitude, mentality, and work ethic.
    Our youngest son, Waylon, may not be able to walk, but he has the best little attitude and is determined to do whatever his older brother, Charlie, does. It fills my heart with joy to see his face light up every day for just the simplest of things. He doesn’t care that he can’t walk. He has wheels so he can go faster. Always try to look at the positive. He’s getting so fast and fearless, I am going to need to get him a helmet soon. I call him our fragile daredevil!
    Another good quote says, “ Train your mind to see the good in everything. Positivity is a choice. The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.”
    With my father’s passing last year, it’s hard to see any positive through the loss of a loved one, but you have to in order to keep moving forward. You have to live for them, and live in a way that would make them proud. A positive of him crossing over is that he no longer has to fight the terrible disease. He is free, and there is some peace with that. I wish he was here so badly, but all of us will have our time sooner or later. That’s why it is so important to not waste one second to try and find your joy, and really work hard to find it. Don’t sit and wait for it to come to you.
    As Waylon gets older, and especially through his school years I know there will be some challenges, but as long as I can teach him to be fundamentally strong; to have a strong mind. I know he’ll be able to conquer anything.
    I’ve started to take Charlie out before bed to lie on the trampoline and just be still. This was our conversation the other night. I said, “Charlie, just be still. Listen to the trees, listen to the birds, listen to the planes.” And he replied, “And listen to God, and be kind, and be brave.” I smiled with joy as he said those words, and said. “Yes, that’s right.” It made me so proud to hear him say that.
    If you have children, they really don’t care what your profession is. What they do care about is the type of parents you are, the example you set, and the joy you bring them by showing them you truly care.
    As you go down the rodeo trail this summer, think about when the dust settles and you’re no longer able to be in the arena. When your career has ended how many people will you have impacted positively and helped out along the way? Find your joy and help others find theirs too!

  • Amish

    Amish

    The Amish rolled in like gangsters. They had a humble swagger and saved the day.
    I did not see that coming.
    Like Moses, when trapped against the Red Sea when, suddenly, it began to part. Did not see that coming. Neither did the 12 when Jesus quieted the storm. Or Daniel when the lion and he had a sleep over. And Joseph when his brothers showed up hungry after many years of incommunicado. Job did not expect God to sit him down and give him a grand inquisition in the way he did.
    The unexpected happens. We don’t expect it. Obviously. It is unexpected. Could not have predicted it. A miracle? Maybe it is. It’s unexpected and has God’s hands all over it.
    Here’s a laymen’s version of what happens in humans. We spend a lifetime building a mental map of how life goes. When we see a car driving erratically our mind taps into the map we have constructed that informs us what we should do. Speed up, slow down, exit or ram. Now unless you think I am being absurd, ramming can be a good option. For most of us though, it is not in our map. Unless the car in front of us stops suddenly and four goons get out and come at us with weapons and ill-intent on a boxed-in on-ramp. If we are quick witted, we realize our map must adjust to avoid a car-jacking or worse. For inner-city folks with narrow tunnels and high walls on their freeway ramps, this is not unexpected. It is already mapped. Ram and get gone.
    This is, in part, how humans survive. The elephant charges: run. Mapped. The slippery glass drops: attempt to soften the blow with a foot catch. Mapped. A toddler cries: go assess the situation. Mapped. The Pastor is boring: pretend to take notes while making a to-do list. Mapped. Someone asks us a question about our behavior: get defensive, attack, deny, deflect or answer the question. Our response will depend on how we have mapped it.
    However, the key to maturation and human growth is the conscious ability to expand, adjust and change our maps. On the west coast of Washington state, the rain means good whitewater, the salmon move upstream, or a powder snow day. In SE Oklahoma rain means grass and fat cattle. It means riding fences and checking water-gaps. I needed to adjust my long-held view of rain.
    Beyond that, our minds are also driven to integrity. Minds want to make sense. To be congruent. To have reality match what we want it to be. This has a good affect often. It makes us fight to sort out the world. But it also makes us lazy when we can’t, or sadder, don’t want to. The ‘don’t want to’ happens way more often than most of us think. We tend to draw conclusions quickly based on our mapping. Sometimes we miss. Sometimes, it is a costly miss.
    On more than several occasions, I have listened to someone say one version or another of, “I did not see that coming.” It could be because they were not expanding their mapping of the universe around them. The things they saw, felt, or wondered about were not given weight because they did not fit the map, or they were retranslated to fit an existing map.

    Some Thoughts:

    1. Be constantly updating our maps. Like the map of Cheyenne, WY is not the same as it was in 1867. Updates need to happen or forever be confused about the new traffic roundabouts and the cannon at noon before Susie sings the opening anthem.

    2. The world is changing fast. People are adapting, adjusting and growing. Are they coming closer or moving away? Study the culture and the people around us. Notice them. Remap.

    3. Stay alert to how we lock our maps down. Pay attention to how often we miss something because we had stopped growing our maps.

    About 10 minutes after the Pie Auction started, I had concluded this group was not going to raise much money. Sad. It was a good cause. Then, the local Amish swaggered in. Breads, fried pies, brownies, peach cobblers and other gastronomical bits of heaven were suddenly on the block. The day was saved. The crowd went crazy bidding wild amounts. My map grew in several ways.
    Susie and I bought 8 fresh baked Fried Pies for $275. Didn’t see that coming.
    Stay open. God often surprises humans.