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  • Featured Athlete: Terry And Julia Moore

    Featured Athlete: Terry And Julia Moore

    Terry and Julia Moore, and their daughter Rachel Lowrey, are bringing the best products possible to horsemen and women.
    Through their company, 5 Star Equine Products & Supplies, Inc., they provide high quality saddle pads, cinches, and equestrian sport and bell boots.
    It all started in 2012, when they purchased the business from Mike and Laurel Easton.
    Laurel and her first husband, Vernon Wells, had moved from Canada to Texas then later to Mena, Arkansas, to open their business in the States in 1998.
    But before they could get started, Vernon suffered a heart attack and passed away.
    Laurel, a master sewer who had been sewing since she was a child, vowed to carry on the business. When she met and married Mike, the two continued with the 5 Star Equine Products Company.
    But in 2012, they were ready to sell.
    Terry, a third generation logger living in Dierks, Arkansas, had owned a small wood shaving business, buying material from saw mills, bagging it, and selling it.
    Mike and Laurel were in the process of selling 5 Star Equine Products to a different person, but when the bank work didn’t go through, Terry was interested.
    Terry’s daughter, Amanda, was an accountant and tax lawyer, and she and her dad visited the business, looking it over. He was impressed with the product and how Laurel and Mike had run the company, and he thought it would be a great place for him to work alongside his daughters, so he bought it.
    5 Star Equine manufactures saddle pads and cinches and sells equestrian boots. The saddle pads and cinches are manufactured on site, with the best possible materials used for them. They use 100% wool, the same product Vernon and Laura used when they started the business years ago.
    The saddle pads are very durable. Terry sometimes gets pictures from customers of their saddle pads, more than 20 years old and still in use.
    The cinches are made of 100% mohair; the only item they sell that isn’t made in-house are the equestrian boots, which 5 Star Equine puts their brand on.
    “We have not changed what Vernon, Laurel and Mike started,” Terry said.
    What has changed with 5 Star Equine over the years are the possible customizations. “We added styles and colors, different looks of leather, but the basic pad is still the basic. It’s what we build everything around,” he said.
    Customers are able to customize their saddle pads and purchase online. “We built our online stores so people can go there,” Terry said. “We have so many options in styles, thicknesses, sizes and colors. We have about 50 wear leathers they can decorate with, hand tooled, with corner plates and embroidery.” When customers have chosen their options online, they can see the saddle pad built on the screen, with their customizations.
    They’ve grown the business, selling close to five times more saddle pads than in 2012. Business is booming, Terry said. Last year, sales were up 35%; this year, to date, they’re up 20% over last year.
    5 Star Equine has dealers across the world, from Germany to Switzerland and even Australia. When he advertises, he doesn’t like to preach at people to buy 5 Star products, but educates them “on what this pad will do for them, helping them help their horse feel better and perform better. We’re all about their horses, helping these performance horses perform better for their owners.”
    The Moores married in 1979 and later made the decision to have a family hobby they and their children could enjoy. Both had ridden horses in their youth, so they chose horses.
    “We got into the horse deal in 1980, and we’ve never been without horses since,” he said.
    His daughters, Amanda, who passed away in 2014 in a motorcycle accident, and Rachel, competed in Arkansas youth horse shows and American Quarter Horse shows. Both girls were state barrel racing champions, and Rachel won The All American Congress twice in youth barrels. His wife, Julia, is a retired elementary school teacher.
    Terry has grown the business from three employees to 23 and has nearly tripled factory space. He’s proud that he can offer good jobs in Mena, Arkansas. “I like that we’re able to provide jobs for families, and they’re dependable and steady jobs.” He’s grateful for his workers. “We have a core of employees that are good. We’ve built good relationships with them. We’ve been tremendously blessed.”
    But it all goes back to the superior products his people create.
    “When we put it on paper, it will do exactly what we say it will do. It performs in the field. That’s the main reason it’s grown. Our customers are our best marketing agent. That’s how it’s grown.”

  • Complimentary Shuttle Bus Service Available for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

    Complimentary Shuttle Bus Service Available for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

    Teton Ridge NFR Express to include Las Vegas Convention Center and

    24 hotel properties

    LAS VEGAS – November 19, 2021 – Rodeo fans looking for transportation to and from the Wrangler National Finals Rodeoâ will have the option to utilize the complimentary shuttle bus service – the Teton Ridge NFR Express – with routes from the Las Vegas Convention Center and NFR official host hotels on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown to the Thomas & Mack Center.

    From Thursday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 11, shuttle buses will pick up at The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas located at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This one-way route will run from the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall directly to the Thomas & Mack Center.

    Also beginning on Dec. 2, the Teton Ridge NFR Express will begin complimentary routes to and from the NFR sponsor hotels. There are now fourteen routes, covering 24 hotel properties.

    “The Teton Ridge NFR Express continues to be the most efficient means to get to the Thomas & Mack Center,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. “In addition to the routes that service our hotel partners, there is a one-way shuttle that allows fans to move from The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas to the arena. Due to increased traffic and parking congestion in around the Thomas & Mack Center, and the early start time, we encourage fans to consider this complimentary mode of transportation.”

    In 2021, all Wrangler NFR performances begin at 5:45 p.m. (PT). NFR Express will begin pick-ups at 4 p.m. (PT) and include return service until 9:45 p.m. (PT).  There is no shuttle bus service during the actual rodeo performance from 6 p.m. through 8:15 pm.

    Rodeo fans are urged to utilize the Teton Ridge NFR Express for round-trip transportation. In addition, fans are asked to allow approximately 15 minutes for traffic conditions from each hotel pick-up point. The Teton Ridge NFR Express routes and pick-up points are as follows:

    Route 1 – One-Way Express Shuttle

    • Cowboy Christmas – Las Vegas Convention Center, South Halls (East Entrance)

    Route 2

    • MGM Grand – West wing entrance

    Route 3

    • Sam’s Town – Rear entrance (behind the food court)

    Route 4

    • Mandalay Bay – Shark Reef entrance
    • Tropicana – North entrance

     Route 5

    • Resorts World – Rideshare Lot at south entrance
    • Westgate – North Tower entrance

    Route 6

    • New York-New York – Main entrance
    • The Orleans – Valet entrance

    Route 7

    • Gold Coast – Valet entrance
    • Rio – Rotunda entrance

     Route 8

    • The D – Main entrance
    • Golden Nugget – Carson Tower entrance

    Route 9

    • Downtown Grand – Entrance at 3rd St. and Ogden Ave.
    • The Plaza – The Plaza Welcome Sign – Main St. and Carson Ave.

     Route 10

    • Caesars Palace – Tour bus area (Under Planet Hollywood sign)
    • The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Main entrance (north wall)

    Route 11

    • The Mirage – North valet entrance
    • Treasure Island (TI) – Bus loading zone, near the South Side Valet

    Route 12

    • Flamingo – Tour bus area
    • Harrah’s – Bus tour lobby

    Route 13

    • Planet Hollywood – Tour bus depot
    • Virgin Las Vegas – Main entrance

     Route 14

    • Silverton – Main entrance
    • South Point – Main entrance

    For more information on the Wrangler NFR and The Cowboy Channel Cowboy Christmas, please visit www.NFRexperience.com or through social media at /LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest Pro Rodeo news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media at @PRCA_ProRodeo.

    # # #

    About the Wrangler NFR

    The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), considered the world’s premier rodeo, features 10 straight days of the best in PRCA PRORODEO competition, with a total of 120 contestants competing every night in seven events. Each December, the top 15 contestants, based on the PRCA | RAM World Standings, in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding qualify to compete at the Wrangler NFR.

    www.prorodeo.com

     

  • Dona Kay Rule and High Valor Turn In Fastest Time at WPRA World Finals

    Dona Kay Rule and High Valor Turn In Fastest Time at WPRA World Finals

    WACO, TEXAS – If Sunday morning at the 2021 WPRA World Finals presented by Nutrena in Waco, Texas, was any indication of how ready Dona Kay Rule and High Valor are for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo next month, they passed the test with flying colors.

    During the final round of the WPRA Card Holder Race at EXTRACO Event Center, Valor laid down the fastest time of the entire weekend stopping the clock in 15.457 seconds to capture the round and average title. Rule added another $1,770 for the round win and $3,584 for the average to her 2022 WPRA ProRodeo World Standings. Valor raced against many of the same horses that will be running down the alleyway at the Thomas and Mack in just a few short weeks including Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Ima Famous Babe, who finished second in the final round in a time of 15.626; Emma Charleston and Makana, a horse Stevi Hillman plans to have in her arsenal in Las Vegas, were sixth in a time of 15.873 and Jordon Briggs and Famous Lil Jet, finished eighth in the round at 15.901.

    Rule of Minco, Oklahoma, entered the final round third in the average behind Jimmie Smith and Jordon Briggs but after saving their best run for the final day, Rule and High Valor took home the average title with a total time of 47.043 on three runs.

    Laura Mote, daughter of four-time PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider Bobby Mote, turned 18 in July and bought her WPRA permit the end of August. Competing this weekend in the WPRA permit only race, Mote blasted through the cloverleaf pattern aboard Reb Hot Redbull winning two rounds en route to the average title. She topped the leaderboard in the second round in a time of 15.811 seconds and returned for the final round also turning in the top time with a 15.913. She easily won the average with a three run total of 47.955 seconds. Mote will now turn her attention to her next goal of winning the 2022 WPRA Rookie of the Year title.

    Complete coverage of the 2021 WPRA World Finals will be in the January WPRA News issue.

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    WPRA Card Holder Race

    First round: 1. Kylee Scribner (Firewater Cartel), 15.640 seconds, $2,390; 2. Jodee Miller (Mr Repete Pete), 15.744, $2,048; 3. Jackie Ganter (Smokn Lane), 15.799, $1,707; 4. Jimmie Smith (A Valiant Nicky), 15.816, $1,479; 5. Dona Kay Rule (High Valor), 15.824, $1,138; 6. Alex Lang (Angels On The Moon), 15.861, $1910; 7. Randee Prindle (Red Man Jones), 15.869, $683; 8. Carrie Potashnick (Perks In The House), 15.877, $455; 9. Haley Wolfe (Iron Eyes Rio Bravo), 15890, $341; 10. Cassidy Kruse Deen (Outta Clear Blue), 15.892, $228. Second round: 1. Jordon Briggs (Famous Lil Jet), 15.605 seconds, $2,390; 2. Jimmie Smith (A Valiant Nicky), 15.707, $2,048; 3. Emma Charleston (Makana), 15.725, $1,707; 4. Tillar Murray (Dashing Canelo), 15.753, $1,479; 5. (tie) Cheyenne Wimberley (Royal Blue Fame) and Dona Kay Rule (High Valor), 15.762, $1,024 each; 7. Tandy Meyers (Streakin Dusty Light), 15.769, $683; 8. Tera Moody (Pennys Final Fling), 15.789, $455; 9. Rylee Shields (Fury’s Princess), 15.809, $341; 10. Liz Pinkston (Cash Flow Depot), 15.812, $228. Final round: 1. Dona Kay Rule (High Valor), 15.457 seconds, $1,770; 2. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi (Ima Famous Babe), 15.626, $1,328; 3. Wendy Cline (Streakin And Shaken), 15.836, $885; 4. Steeley Steiner (XS Dirty Lil Secret), 15.867, $443. Average: 1. Dona Kay Rule, 47.043 seconds on three runs, $3,584; 2. Jordon Briggs, 47.462, $3,072; 3. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 47.611, $2,560; 4. Tandy Meyers, 47.664, $2,219; 5. Jimmie Smith, 47.763, $1,707; 6. Emma Charleston, 47.770, $1,365; 7. Stephanie Fryar, 47.790, $1,024; 8. Michelle Darling, 47.934, $683; 9. Wendy Cline, 47.957, $512; 10. Cayla Small, 47.971, $341.

     

    WPRA Permit Only Race

    First round: 1. Mindy Holloway (Heavens Got Credit), 15.998 seconds, $981; 2. Suade Furr (Stackin Bills), 16.103, $841; 3. Kaycee Killingsworth (Firewater Ta Party), $701; 4. Laura Mote (Reb Hot Redbull), 16.231, $607; 5. Jordyn Williams (Kool Speed Ta Kash), 16.270, $467; 6. Rylee Leach (NMD Chesterslilbunny) 16.277, $374; 7. Traci Nelson (The Cat Dun It), 16.320, $280; 8. Masyn Powers (BW Lilsisterdontcha) 16.341, $187; 9. Jesse Harris (BR Galsfrench Hayday), 16.373, $140; 10. Anna Johnson (Famous Resurection) 16.375, $93. Second round: 1. Laura Mote (Reb Hot Redbull), 15.811, $1,238; Suade Furr (Stackin Bills), 16.004, $1,098; 3. DeeDee Jordan (Firen For Jack), 16.218, $958; 4. Taci Nelson (The Cat Dun It), 16.252, $864. Final round: 1. Laura Mote (Reb Hot Redbull), 15.913 seconds, $890; 2. Traci Nelson (The Cat Dun It), 16.029, $668; 3. Robin Kuhnhein (MR JB Chasin Roses), 16.384, $223; 4. (tie) Lauren Merica (Gogo Romeo), 16.399, $111 each.  Average: 1. Laura Mote, 47.955 seconds on three runs, $1,402; 2. Traci Nelson, 48.601, $1,202; 3. Jennifer Dunn, 49.453, $1,001; 4. Lauren Merica, 49.524, $868; 5. Ella Gohlke, 49.569, $668; 6. Robin Kuhnhein, 49.764, $534; 7. Brooke Andrews, 49.882, $401; 8. Dee Dee Jordan, 49.898, $257; 9. Lindsey Stevens, 49.926, $200; 10. Margo Thomas, 49.983, $134.

     

     

  • Cole Patterson takes the title as steer roping world champion

    Cole Patterson takes the title as steer roping world champion

    Cole Patterson  joins his father as a steer roping world champion. Rocky won championships in 2009-10, 2012 and 2016. The Pattersons are the third father and son to win steer roping world titles. They join John McEntire (1934) and Clark McEntire (1956-57, 1961) and Charles Good (1975) and Gary Good (1979).

    Cole won over $83,000 in the ten rounds. Jess Tierney won $41,000

     

    Steer roping: First round: 1. Thomas Smith, 10.0 seconds, $9,155; 2. Cole Patterson, 10.3, $7,577; 3. Landon McClaugherty, 11.0, $5,998; 4. Chet Herren, 11.1, $4,420; 5. Slade Wood, 11.3, $2,841; 6. J. Tom Fisher, 12.4, $1,579. Second round: 1. Slade Wood, 11.7 seconds, $9,155; 2. Cash Myers, 11.8, $7,577; 3. Scott Snedecor, 12.0, $5,998; 4. Cole Patterson, 12.2, $4,420; 5. Thomas Smith, 13.3, $2,841; 6. Chet Herren, 13.5, $1,579. Third round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.5 seconds, $9,155; 2. J. Tom Fisher, 10.8, $7,577; 3. Slade Wood, 11.6, $5,998; 4. Taylor Santos, 12.1, $4,420; 5. Jess Tierney, 12.7, $2,841; 6. Rocky Patterson, 13.2, $1,579. Fourth round: 1. Thomas Smith, 9.0 seconds, $9,155; 2. Cole Patterson, 11.2, $7,577; 3. (tie) J. Tom Fisher and Jess Tierney, 11.9, $5,209 each; 5. Rocky Patterson, 12.3, $2,841; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 13.7, $1,579. Fifth round: 1. Landon McClaugherty, 9.7 seconds, $9,155; 2. Cole Patterson, 9.9, $7,577; 3. Mike Chase, 10.8, $5,998; 4. (tie) Jess Tierney and J. Tom Fisher, 10.9, $3,631 each; 6. Slade Wood, 11.1, $1,579. Sixth round: 1. Thomas Smith, 10.3 seconds, $9,155; 2. Chet Herren, 10.4, $7,577; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., 11.1, $5,998; 4. Jess Tierney, 11.2, $4,420; 5. Rocky Patterson, 11.4, $2,841; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 11.7, $1,579. Seventh round: 1. Cash Myers, 10.1 seconds, $9,155; 2. Scott Snedecor, 10.3, $7,577; 3. Garrett Hale, 11.2, $5,998; 4. Cole Patterson, 11.6, $4,420; 5. Jess Tierney, 11.8, $2,841; 6. (tie) Landon McClaugherty and J. Tom Fisher, 12.9, $789 each. Eight round: 1. Cole Patterson, 9.9 seconds, $9,155; 2. Cody Lee, 13.5, $7,577; 3. Chet Herren, 14.6, $5,998; 4. J. Tom Fisher, 14.9, $4,420; 5. Taylor Santos, 15.0, $2,841; 6. Jess Tierney, 16.2, $1,579. Ninth round: 1. Scott Snedecor, 10.3 seconds, $9,155; 2. Cody Lee, 10.6, $7,577; 3. Cole Patterson, 11.2, $5,998; 4. Rocky Patterson, 11.3, $4,420; 5. Jess Tierney, 12.0, $2,841; 6. Mike Chase, 12.3, $1,579. Tenth round: 1. Taylor Santos, 9.8 seconds, $9,155; 2. Scott Snedecor, 10.3, $7,577; 3. Slade Wood, 11.6, $5,998; 4. Landon McClaugherty, 11.8, $4,420; 5. Cash Myers, 12.0, $2,841; 6. J. Tom Fisher, 12.8, $1,579. Average: 1. Cole Patterson, 97.7 seconds on nine head, $27,347; 2. Chet Herren, 133.7, $22,632; 3. Jess Tierney, 139.4, $17,917; 4. J. Tom Fisher, 101.2 on eight head, $13,202; 5. Scott Snedecor, 101.8, $8,487; 6. Rocky Patterson, 111.0, $4,71

  • 2021 WPRA Rookie of the Year Takes Round 1 of Card Holder Race at WPRA World Finals

    2021 WPRA Rookie of the Year Takes Round 1 of Card Holder Race at WPRA World Finals

    WACO, TEXAS – Barrel racing action took center stage on Friday morning, Nov. 12 at the WPRA World Finals in Waco, Texas, and a familiar name tops the leaderboard after the first round of the WPRA Card Holder Race.

    Kylee Scribner and Firewater Cartel seem to have found a profitable home at the EXTRACO Event Center. During the 2020 WPRA World Finals, Scribner kicked off her rookie season in the WPRA by turning in the fastest time of the weekend winning the second round after stopping the clock in 15.345. She and BB returned in 2021 to kickoff her second year in the WPRA with the Rookie of the Year title in tow and they laid down the fastest time of the first round with a 15.640. They set the bar high and early as she was the seventh runner in the opening round.

    Jodee Miller and Mr Repete Pete would come the closest to Scribner at run No. 31 with a 15.744 followed by former NFR qualifier and 2015 WPRA Rookie of the Year Jackie Ganter aboard Smokn Lane with a 15.799 at run No. 41.

    Scribner added a cool $2,390 to her 2022 WPRA World Standings and is looking to add more before the weekend is over. The second round is scheduled for Saturday, November 13 at 9:30 a.m.

    While Scribner was making headlines in the card holder race, Mindy Holloway was making her own noise in the Permit Only race. Holloway and Heavens Got Credit turned in the fast time in the first round stopping the clock in 15.998 seconds. They knocked Suade Furr and Stackin Bills out of the top spot. Furr was contestant No. 80 and stopped the clock in 16.103 and Holloway was No. 86 so it was short lived for Furr. However, both made a huge step in filling their permit collecting $981 and $841, respectively. Rounding out the top 3 was Kaycee Killingsworth and Firewarter Ta Party with a 16.199. Killingsworth was No. 58 and held the lead until Furr ran at No. 80. Second round action of the Permit Only race will run at 8 a.m. CT on Saturday.

    All barrel racing action can be viewed live at www.goldbucklemedia.net.

    Tonight the third round of roping will be contested and will be streamed live on Wrangler Network.

     

    WPRA Card Holder Race

    First round: 1. Kylee Scribner (Firewater Cartel), 15.640 seconds, $2,390; 2. Jodee Miller (Mr Repete Pete), 15.744, $2,048; 3. Jackie Ganter (Smokn Lane), 15.799, $1,707; 4. Jimmie Smith (A Valiant Nicky), 15.816, $1,479; 5. Dona Kay Rule (High Valor), 15.824, $1,138; 6. Alex Lang (Angels On The Moon), 15.861, $1910; 7. Randee Prindle (Red Man Jones), 15.869, $683; 8. Carrie Potashnick (Perks In The House), 15.877, $455; 9. Haley Wolfe (Iron Eyes Rio Bravo), 15890, $341; 10. Cassidy Kruse Deen (Outta Clear Blue), 15.892, $228.

     

    WPRA Permit Only Race

    First round: 1. Mindy Holloway (Heavens Got Credit), 15.998 seconds, $981; 2. Suade Furr (Stackin Bills), 16.103, $841; 3. Kaycee Killingsworth (Firewater Ta Party), $701; 4. Laura Mote (Reb Hot Redbull), 16.231, $607; 5. Jordyn Williams (Kool Speed Ta Kash), 16.270, $467; 6. Rylee Leach (NMD Chesterslilbunny) 16.277, $374; 7. Traci Nelson (The Cat Dun It), 16.320, $280; 8. Masyn Powers (BW Lilsisterdontcha) 16.341, $187; 9. Jesse Harris (BR Galsfrench Hayday), 16.373, $140; 10. Anna Johnson (Famous Resurection) 16.375, $93.

     

     

  • Art of Rodeo with Sharon Widmer

    Art of Rodeo with Sharon Widmer

    The memories of people’s favorite horses live on through Sharon Widmer’s work.

    The Deep River, Iowa cowgirl makes horsehair pottery from the manes and tails people send her of their beloved horses who have passed.

    In her studio at her and husband Neil’s house outside Deep River, she uses the Navajo technique of putting horsehair on pottery the instant it comes out of the kiln. It sears into the pottery, leaving a smoky pattern, carbon trailings and a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of artwork commemorating the animal.

    Sharon herself is a horse lover.

    Growing up in east central Iowa, she rode horses but didn’t attend her first rodeo till she was in her twenties. She saw the horses, and was in awe. “Those horses were so broke and fit and beautiful and athletic,” she remembered. “It was what I wanted to do.”

    So she bought an 18-year-old horse that showed her the ropes of barrel racing. Sharon knew how to ride, but the horse helped her. “He let me know what it felt like to ride a horse that knew what he was doing.”

    She competed at regional rodeos, with the horse carrying her to some placings. Sharon was delighted. “I am all in. I love this,” she said, of the experience.

    She bought a few horses, trained some, and continued to run barrels in the regional associations and in pro rodeos as a WPRA member, qualifying for the Great Lakes Circuit Finals several times.

    An artist by trade, she graduated from college with an art degree and had a pottery studio at her house, making functional pottery for purchase.

    In 1987, after a divorce, she sold her equipment, quit throwing pottery, and never looked back. “I walked away,” she said. “It felt like it was time for another season in my life.”

    She had made pottery that was still in use in her kitchen, and four years ago, her kids asked when they were going to get a piece of Mom’s pottery.

    So she borrowed the use of a friend’s studio and threw some pots.

    The light switch was flipped. “It had been 30 years since I’d touched clay, and I didn’t miss it, long for it, and didn’t really have any intention of getting back into it. But the first time I put my hands on the clay, my thoughts were, oh, my goodness, I forgot how much I love this,” she said.

    A friend asked if she knew how to do horsehair pottery.

    Sharon didn’t know, but after searching online and watching videos, she taught herself.

    When the pottery comes out of the fire, which is over 1,000 degrees, horsehair is laid onto it and it burns in, disintegrating and leaving a pattern and a carbon trail. Feathers can also be used.
    The process must be done quickly, before the pottery cools off and the hair won’t burn.

    Sharon estimates there’s about a five minute window to place the horsehair or feathers. She has an assistant who helps with the process.
    She might put on a strand at a time, or she might put a handful on. “It’s very organic.”

    In addition to commemorating an animal with hair, she sculpts pots with a variety of figures: horse’s heads, dogs, barrel racers or ropers’ figures. She’s put horse’s names on pots and uses other keepsakes to personalize a piece.

    When her dad, an avid fisherman, passed away, she used a reel on the lid of the pot, and sculpted a walleye into its side with her dad’s lure in its mouth.

    She uses horsehair as braids or a tassel on pieces, too. “I keep working on it till I sense it’s done. It can be a long process or a quick process.

    “No two pieces are ever alike. Not only are they hand-thrown, which makes them unique, but the hair and the whole process is unique.” Most of the pieces she makes are custom, but she also has pottery for sale that isn’t custom-designed.

    They are works of art, she said. “Each one is intended specifically for someone and something.

    “People cry all the time when they see their horsehair pieces. People fall in love with their animals, and this is a way to remember them.”

    Throughout her working life, she has been involved in various aspects of rodeo and other business ventures.

    She worked for Steve Gander and the World’s Toughest Rodeo securing sponsorships, from 1990 to 1998. She worked for the WPRA in marketing and sponsorships, producing the WPRA World Finals in 2007-2008. She sold advertising for the RFD television show Women’s Pro Rodeo Today, for a while. She produced the Iowa River Catfish and Cowboy Show for the Iowa County (Iowa) Fair Board, and worked with Tommy Joe Lucia on sponsorships for some of his events. She and her husband, Neil, a team roper, produced family rodeos at their place for eight years, along with lessons and clinics in goat tying, pole bending, barrels and breakaway.

    For a while, she owned a candy store, making the “world’s best mints” and selling them across the country.

    She brought Louisiana to the Midwest, producing a Cajun and Zydeco Festival, complete with crawfish, boudin, accordion and fiddle, to Amana, Iowa; Lincoln, Neb.; Dayton Ohio, and Sault Sainte Marie, Wisconsin.

    “I like putting things together,” she said. “I like creating the company and getting it rolling.”

    Nine years ago, Sharon had a horse accident that changed her attitude about life.

    She was training a skittish barrel horse. She was on the ground, and got trapped between him, a gate and a fence. He got scared and wanted through the gate, which, Sharon believes, he got a stirrup caught on, which pulled it shut tighter the more he struggled. “It was the gate, him and me, and the space got smaller,” she said. “I was crushed.” She suffered compound fracturing, degloving of her left arm, a torn ACL and punctured lung, and broken vertebrae. She didn’t ride for nine months. It was hard getting on a horse again, but she did, and continues to barrel race today.

    “I was tickled to be riding again,” she said. She had a different perspective on life. “Whatever I wanted to get done, I figured I’d better get on it.”

    Her pottery includes more than horses. She’s done pieces with dog hair and cows (someone once sent a switch from a 4-H heifer), and sculptures with wild turkeys and bears on them. She works in her husband’s shop. “It’s a messy process,” she said. “There’s clay on the walls and the floor, and when you glaze, there’s glaze all over.” Burning the horsehair and feathers smells terrible and causes smoke, so in the summer, she opens the overhead door to let the smoke and odor out.

    Creating things and being an artist is her love.

    “Horses are a gift from God, and (her artistry) is a gift from God, too.

    “It’s my season to be an artist and I’m so thankful to have found this particular media that speaks to me. To me, it’s very spiritual, to have someone’s horsehair, and create something for that person. It helps them to feel like they have that animal.”

    Sharon’s work can be found online on her website at: SharonWidmerClayArtist.com

    She and Neil have five children: Kelly Hall, Luke Winegarden, Tyler Winegarden, Anne Audo, and Camarie Widmer. They have four grandchildren.

  • Madi Outhier wins second consecutive world title

    Madi Outhier wins second consecutive world title

    Madi Outhier has won more than half a million dollars in breakaway roping and she’s just getting started. The Fulshear, Texas, cowgirl was crowned the 2021 Breakaway Roping Rookie of the Year at the end of the regular season.

    Not a bad way to celebrate her 19th birthday.

    More recently, the Texas A&M freshman earned $60,000 and became the first to win back-to-back WCRA Women’s Rodeo World Championships in breakaway roping at South Point in Las Vegas on Oct. 29. Madi’s 1.91-second run to win the title also made her the only athlete to win the WCRA’s world championship and the WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo in Corpus Christ, Texas, in the same year.

    Madi ended her high school rodeo career with an exclamation point, winning the 2021 Texas High School Breakaway Roping title. Madi didn’t consider her summer run to be particularly successful, so winning the WCRA title came just when she needed it most.

    “It was awesome to get my confidence back,” Madi said. “The production the WCRA put on there was amazing. It was first class and they put us contestants first. The final round aired on CBS and they say it had 2.3 million viewers, which was a record for number of viewers for a rodeo.”

    Madi narrowly missed qualifying for the 2021 National Finals Rodeo since she cut her season short to begin her fall semester in College Station, Texas.

    Madi is majoring in business and thanks to her rodeo winnings, she’s already started her own business making and selling jewelry. Although rodeo’s been profitable, the entrepreneur is in playing the long game and is prioritizing her education. “I went home to go to college while they continued to rodeo hard, so I missed some of the big ones at the end of the season.”

    Rodeo isn’t entirely on the backburner as she competes on the Texas A&M rodeo team in breakaway roping and barrel racing. Madi considers the competition to be just as tough at the collegiate level as it is at the pros. “All these girls are at the top of their game and it’s just as difficult to win at the college rodeos since they all rope so good.”

    Although she won’t be competing at the Thomas & Mack, she could still strike it rich in Las Vegas during the NFR as she’s set to compete at five nearby ropings. Fans can watch her in action at:

    • Vegas Tuffest Jr. World Championship at The Expo At World Market Center, Dec. 1-6
    • Junior World Finals in the Wrangler Rodeo Arena at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Dec. 9-11
    • The Masters Elite at the Henderson Saddle Association Arena, Dec. 2
    • Resorts World Breakaway Championship at Resorts World Las Vegas, Dec. 8-10
    • Rope For The Crown Breakaway Championship at The Plaza Hotel & Casino, Dec. 3-4

    “It’s incredible how much money is at the youth events,” Madi said. “The Resorts World roping is new this year and it will have a pot of $80,000.”.

    Beyond that, Madi has her eyes on The American and qualifying for the 2022 NFR. “I was just short of making the Finals, so that’s a huge goal of mine, then The American is going to pay $2 million and they include breakaway in the pot.”

    Madi continues to compete on Rooster, the grandson of Colonel Freckles, a futurity champion and one of the top cutting horses of his era.

    “Rooster is still my main man; I rode him at the majority of the pro rodeos,” Madi said.

    Just like her horse, Madi comes from a family that excels in equine athletics. Madi’s dad, Mike, competed in several events on both ends of the arena but is best known for saddle bronc riding, having qualified for the NFR four times (2001-04). He also won the All Around title at the International Finals Rodeo in 1995-97 and was a two-time winner of the PRCA’s Linderman Award (2004 and 2007). Madi’s mom, Kristy, was a professional polo player for 25 years.

    “It was cool getting to go to the big rodeos he competed in and I’d watched him compete at while growing up,” Madi said. “It was a new and awesome experience being on the road all summer.”

    Madi’s had a lot of firsts in her career. As a sophomore in high school, she became the first-ever breakaway roping champion at The American.

    “It was a pivotal moment in my career. I was juggling a lot of things between rodeo, school and polo and I was loving everything. I was captain of the varsity basketball team and didn’t know which area I would focus on, but after winning The American it pushed me to focus on rodeo and work on my roping. I wouldn’t be where I am now without that win. I got so many messages from younger girls or their parents saying I’m an inspiration, which I don’t view myself as, but it makes me want to be better and do better at everything.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • NFR’s New Manager Is Ready To Go

    NFR’s New Manager Is Ready To Go

    Allen Rheinheimer’s first job at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was raking around the barrels after the event ended.

    Now he’s running the show.

    The Zionsville, Indiana, man was hired earlier this year as general manager of the Wrangler NFR. The president and owner of Showtime Jump Company, LLC, he has served in the capacities of production and management of many equestrian events, including as technical coordinator for the FEI World Cup Jumping Finals two years (2000, 2003), for the FEI World Cup Jumping and Dressage Finals four years (2005, ’07, ’09, ’15)  and as show manager for the 2020 FEI World Cup Finals.

    Allen grew up in Indiana on a farm that produced top show horses and beef cattle, with a father who was a horse trainer and blacksmith. As a kid, his family traveled with their dad to horse shows.

    It was at a World Cup Finals in Las Vegas where he got introduced to Shawn Davis, former manager of the Wrangler NFR. They were using bulls in the opening, and Allen volunteered to help Shawn, who was production manager for the event.

    Shawn told Allen, “if you can do that, you can get a job at the National Finals.”

    So Allen took him up on it.

    It was 2000, and that year, Allen’s job was to rake around the barrels after the barrel racing finished.

    “My job was 15 seconds a day,” he said. “I got to know everybody there well because I had a lot of time on my hands.”

    Since 2000, he’s done a little bit of everything at the National Finals: from construction maintenance manager to opening director and more, “basically about everything except judge, announce, and be chute boss,” he said. “So there’s not much that I haven’t touched in that rodeo and been a part of, over the 21 years that I’ve been there.”

    Allen notes there’s plenty of crossover between the equestrian events he’s worked and the National Finals.

    Both types of events have “contestants at a high level and spectators at a very educated level,” he said.

    But there are obvious differences. One is the variety of livestock needed for the rodeo. “One big difference in managing the rodeo versus managing horse shows is dealing with the livestock. We have 310 bulls and bucking horses, 120 steers and 70 calves. Caring for all of that is a big difference.”

    The ground conditions are another difference between horse shows and the Wrangler NFR.

    “On the equestrian side of it, it’s more of a synthetic sand surface or sometimes grass. And the rodeo is a sand/clay based arena, so it’s a big difference, in how you maintain those surfaces.”

    Communication is key to the role he plays, he believes. With over 250 contract employees hired by the Wrangler NFR, he’s emailing and talking, a lot.

    “I had to get an extra battery for my phone, because my phone didn’t stop ringing.”

    Meetings are part of the communication, too. He holds two weekly meetings and a monthly meeting with the PRCA. Zoom meetings help, though. “Zoom has made our lives so much easier this year, not having to travel,” Allen said. “We get a lot more done, and a lot more done ahead of time.”

    This year’s National Finals will have bigger openings and more entertainment. The stage used for the openings will be larger, and Congressional Medal of Honor winners have been invited to the rodeo and will be honored throughout the rodeo’s 10-day span.

    It is a privilege for him to be part of pro rodeo’s largest event.

    “It’s an honor to be in the position that I’m in and having the confidence of the people who work here, that I’ve worked with, side by side. It’s an honor to have the respect of those people.”

    And he says Las Vegas is ready for its rodeo fans to return.

    “Vegas is rolling out the red carpet for us, to make us feel comfortable, to welcome us back.

    “There’s no town in the world that can host this rodeo like Vegas can. It becomes a cowboy town, no doubt, when the Wrangler NFR is in town. I’m excited to be back, I’m excited for the fans to be back. We’re just happy we’re able to do it.”

     

     

     

     

  • NFR Access ONLY Ticket Platform Provides an All New Way to Experience the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

    NFR Access ONLY Ticket Platform Provides an All New Way to Experience the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

    LAS VEGAS (November 5, 2021) – The Wrangler National Finals Rodeoâ and Las Vegas Events announced today that they will be replacing the Mad Dash 30 with a new ticket opportunity for rodeo fans. The NFR Access ONLY ticket will provide access to the Thomas & Mack Center, but not a seat. It provides access to all the experiences at the NFR – Cowboy Corral, Aces High Saloon & Exhibit, Bull & Barrel Saloon and ProRodeo Zone – and then allows you to watch the rodeo in the designated areas. The Wrangler NFR runs from Dec. 2-11.

    An NFR Access ONLY ticket will be sold for $65 (plus order fees). When rodeo fans purchase an NFR Access ONLY ticket, they will have multiple entertainment options to enjoy. Not only will attendees be able to experience the electric atmosphere that the Thomas & Mack Center has to offer, but they will also be automatically entered into an opportunity to win a pair of Premium Seats in the plaza level.

    For more information on NFR Access ONLY and to purchase tickets, click here.

    “The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has been sold out for more than 330 consecutive performances, so we wanted to provide another opportunity for rodeo fans to experience the spectacle and excitement of the event at the Thomas & Mack Center,” said Pat Christenson, president of Las Vegas Events. “There are so many ways to enjoy the NFR Experience on-site, and we invite fans to explore this new ticket opportunity.”

    The opportunities to enjoy the Wrangler NFR experience are abundant at the Thomas & Mack Center. Rodeo fans with an NFR Access ONLY ticket will be greeted by ProRodeo Zone and the Fan Zone which include sponsor tents, live music, the official ProRodeo and Wrangler NFR merchandise trailer, food and beverage options, video screens and tables for attendees to congregate.

     When rodeo fans enter the building, they will have access to all of the arena activation, including both the Aces High – Saloon & Exhibit and Cowboy Corral. Rebranded and re-energized for 2021, Aces High – Saloon & Exhibit will feature a saloon and a 2,500-square-foot, glass-enclosed balcony with Strip views. The Cowboy Channel will host their Pre-Show starting at 5 p.m. and the Post-Show immediately following the end of the performance each night. An additional highlight will be an all-encompassing exhibit detailing the 35-year history of the NFR in Las Vegas. The saloon would be a great place to take in the live broadcast of the rodeo each night as it will include a large-screen projection.

    Meanwhile, on the arena’s southeast side opposite Aces High, fans can enjoy all the activities and amenities of the returning Cowboy Corral, which takes over the adjacent Cox Pavilion with live music, a huge bar and plenty of space to sit and relax or kick up your heels. The live entertainment will include The Britt Stokes Band and additional talent from Cowboy Revival each night starting at 4:30 p.m. Following the NFR, the Cowboy Corral will stay jumping with The Britt Stokes Band returning to the stage. Sitting right outside of Cowboy Corral is the Bull & Barrel Saloon, featuring its own bar and food service and the Hall of Champions with tributes to former NFR champions.

    Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding to compete for a share of the $10.257 million purse and the coveted PRCA Gold Buckle. In 2019, the event had a total attendance of 168,289 over the 10 days of competition at the Thomas & Mack Center and has sold out more than 330 consecutive performances in Las Vegas.

    For more information on the Wrangler NFR, please visit NFRexperience.com or through social media at /LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR. For the latest PRORODEO news and Wrangler NFR coverage, please visit prorodeo.com or through social media @PRCA_ProRodeo.

     

  • Truly Living

    Truly Living

    Our cattle working pens are built for big ole’ full grown mama cows. Any of our handsome herd below 700 lbs. can get hurt and the cowboys can get frustrated if we run them through. As it turns out, we let a few calves get pretty big before we finally got to tag, brand, spray, give shots and make the bulls into steers.

    As you might guess…we had to ‘drag’ to the branding. Now, on another day we might have snugged them up in the chutes, but on this day, we had a couple of cowboys and a herd of enthusiastic visitors. It was bound to get Western.

    The cowboy on horseback roped the hind legs and the rest of us bum-rushed the now feisty bovines. My job was to get the head and hold on. Keep in mind I weigh a “buck ’90” and a few months past 65 yrs old. Clearly this is not the ideal situation for this non-cowboy mountain climber. But no way was I going to miss this action! No giving shots or standing clear with the fly spray. Nope. Live large and get in the fight. Perfect. Rolled my sleeves up and spit on my hands. Let’s get this rodeo going!

    Cracked ribs are not something I like having. Breathing is a bit of a problem, and the soreness keeps me awake if I try to sleep on that side.

    Anyway, we got it done. Understand now, that I’m on my fourth lifetime at this point and I fully intend on squeezing in a few more. So this cracked rib situation prompted a few thoughts:

    1. Each life has looked different than the one before. Each has taught the next a few bits of wisdom and left a few scars.
    2. Each step has mistakes, grace, shame, beauty, fear and courage. Yep.
    3. Each iteration has redemption, joy, growth and humbling. Done them all.
    4. Each day has opportunities to make a situation better or worse. I have chosen both.
    5. Each window of time has a ripple effect in others’ lives. Most I am proud of and some I am not.

    It has been said that we only live once. A truer saying is that we only die once…we live every day. So many my age, and decades younger even, are busy dying every day instead of living. They, unconsciously or otherwise, have taken their foot off the gas and are beginning to pay homage to the seduction of ease and comfort. I do not want to be among them. See if my thoughts below resonate with you:

    1. I do not fear death. What I fear is not living.
    2. I want to go as hard as I can healthily sustain, for as long as I can, do as much good as I can, for as many as I can.
    3. I want to learn how to gracefully go into the next stage with as much dignity as I can muster.
    4. I want to be authentically peaceful, with no subterranean traces of youthful rage, competition and ego posturing.
    5. I want to be awake and not sleepwalk through my days.
    6. I hope to live fully connected with each of my children with nothing left to say and nothing left undone.
    7. I hope to keep the adventures going and if I crack a few ribs along the way so be it. The photos will not have me in a “lazy boy” until the very end or sickness takes me there.
    8. I hope my fights will be more for the hearts of my loved ones and less for the shallow satiation of my small pride.
    9. I want to talk less and say more.
    10. I want Susie to feel loved way beyond what her adolescent dreams imagined.
    11. I want to not play-it-safe with her or with life. But rather to risk and be all in.

    There will be ‘cracked ribs’ along the way. They will speak not about the scars of false glory. But hopefully about the bonding with friends, the solid conversations about real things, the chance to encourage others, the opportunity to love wildly and to walk with God in a deep abiding faith.

    So, I make this pledge to my good readers: I will do my rib-cracking best to live up to the words above.

    “Every man dies, not every man truly lives.” William Wallace from the movie “Braveheart.”

    “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Hellen Keller

    “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if you were working for the Lord…” Paul’s letter to the Colossians.

  • Original Wrangler Bullfights Hall of Fame

    Original Wrangler Bullfights Hall of Fame

    The second annual Original Wrangler Bullfights Hall of Fame was held at Lil Red’s Longhorn Saloon in the Stockyards of Fort Worth, Saturday evening, October 16th. The Induction includes bullfighters from the second season, of the 1981 to 2000 Wrangler Bullfight Tour. A few more awards and honors were bestowed on people who were instrumental in getting this historic first time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event up and running..
    The Wrangler Bullfight Tour was started forty years ago in 1981, after several bullfighters from that era, Jim Sutton, a 2nd generation rodeo producer and stock contractor, and David Allen, the rodeo representative of Wrangler, at that time, got together and convinced the PRCA, it was sorely needed. The professional bullfighters and barrelmen had not had their own professional event to show their exceptional ability in fighting bulls prior to this Tour event. The Tour was held at various PRCA rodeos throughout the year. The bullfighters that were competing that year would compete at a set number of events and their scores were kept until the end of the season. The top six would then compete at the National Finals, which was being held in Oklahoma City, at first. Each of the six would fight one bull each night for four nights. The bullfighter with the top score would become the World Champion Bullfighter.
    Jim Sutton, from Onida, South Dakota, for two years added to some of his rodeos an extra added attraction of four bullfighters that would fight Mexican Fighting Bulls. He would include this in his advertising prior to the event. In time, it was evident the bullfighting brought more spectators to his rodeos, just to watch this event. The results of his ‘experiment’ were the catalyst to cause PRCA to include the Wrangler Bullfight Tour.

    The Original Wrangler Bullfights Hall of Fame was the idea of James Pierce, a 1991 bullfighter with the Wrangler Bullfight Tour. He fought bulls from 1990 to 2005, and calls Thibodeaux, Louisiana, home. He has taken the reins of this Hall of Fame, with other former participating bullfighters from the Wrangler Bullfights Tour – plus Craig & Jane Copeland who own Lil Red’s Longhorn Saloon the home of this annual affair. The plaques of all inductees are on display in Lil Red’s Longhorn Saloon.
    Those honored this year were: Leon Coffee; George Doak (deceased) with son George Jr. accepting for his dad; Eric Viers; Darl Allred; Steve Mowry and Kirby Birney whose acceptance was told by his daughter, Cody, Miles Hare and Michael ‘Smurf’ Horton. Stock Contractor of the year was Mr. Harry Vold (deceased) who was represented by his daughter, Kirsten who also accepted the Bull of the year, Crooked Nose, owned by Harry Vold.. Barrel Men honored were Tom Feller and John Taylor. The Resistol Supporting Legend Award was given to Jim Sutton and David Allen.
    Those doing introductions and more during the program were: Robert Blue Jeanes, former bullfighter and PRCA Bullfighter Director; five time World Champion Bullfighter Rob Smets; and Shelley Burmeister Mowery, former Miss Coors and very involved in the early day development of the Wrangler Bullfight Tour. All three did an outstanding job by not only giving the credentials for those receiving honors and awards, but also relayed personal stories of these special folks.
    It was a packed house and the main comment made was those in attendance were so grateful to see so many rodeo people – the rough and tough bullfighters, rodeo friends, they hadn’t seen in years, and all were smiling! Just to name a few of the former bullfighters in the audience were Rick Young, Ronny & Donny Sparks, Todd Propson, David Burnham, John Novotny, Steve Tomac, Jim Bob Feller, Miles Hare, Rob Smets, Doug Forzani, Eddie Hatfield, Barry Hankins and many more.
    Additionally a 3rd annual Knox Concrete Fund/Fun Raising Charity Golf Tournament was held by the Original Wrangler Bullfights Hall of Fame in collaboration with Cowboys Helping Cowboys Charity Events, which is ramrodded by Dave Samsel, former NFR bull rider, to benefit injured rodeo athletes in need.
    Also, at the Saturday night event a live auction was held, with a variety of rodeo and bullfighting related items to be bid on, including branding irons, donated by Kirsten Vold, that in the past were used to brand Crooked Nose, Bull of the Year, also a painting of George Doak fighting a bull by Buster Kenton, plus many other items. The recipients of this year’s Golf Tournament and auction by Cowboys Helping Cowboys were Kirby Birney, Inductee Bullfighter; Jeff Collins, World Champion Bareback Rider; and Cody Ohl, World Champion All-Around and Tie Down Roper.

  • Josh Frost wins 2021 Linderman Award

    Josh Frost wins 2021 Linderman Award

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The PRCA Linderman Award is one of the most prestigious awards in ProRodeo. It recognizes a cowboy who won at least $1,000 in three events, and those events must include at least one roughstock and one timed event.

    The 2021 Linderman Award winner is Randlett, Utah, cowboy Josh Frost. This past season Frost earned $130,192 in bull riding, $4,110 in tie-down roping, and another $1,070 in the steer wrestling. He said it’s an award he holds near and dear to his heart.

    “It means a lot to me, I think it’s the most cowboy award we have in the sport of ProRodeo,” said Frost, a two-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “You have to compete on both ends of the arena in roughstock and timed events, so it’s an award that is hard to qualify for and especially hard to win.”

    Frost now has won back-to-back Linderman awards. His first came in 2019, then the honor was not awarded in 2020. He said it’s an award he shoots for every season, but it was more difficult than ever in 2021.

    “Every year I set out with the goal of being in the running for the Linderman Award,” Frost said. “This year was a little different, I had a big goal of trying to be the PRCA World Champion Bull Rider this year. I went to as many rodeos as anybody, so I was on the road a lot and didn’t get to do as much as I wanted to do in the other events.

    “The plan was to get qualified for the Linderman those first two weeks of June. The tie-down roping went well, I won one check in the steer wrestling, but I was $300 short. But in August I entered a couple of the steer wrestling events and I finally ended up pulling my last check and getting qualified.”

    Frost is the second member of his family to capture the distinguished Linderman Award, his older brother,

     

    Joe, 27, captured the award in 2014.

     

    Kyle Whitaker holds the PRCA record for most Linderman Awards won with 10 in his ProRodeo career.