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LAS VEGAS – South Point Arena & Equestrian Center is excited to announce the expansion of their current partnership with John Deere to include the John Deere Equine Discount Program. John Deere has been a partner of South Point for five years and currently has numerous assets promoting the iconic brand throughout South Point Arena & Equestrian Center. The new expanded partnership will focus on promoting the John Deere Equine Discount Program which includes steep discounts for current members of numerous equestrian associations throughout multiple disciplines.

“We are excited to be diving deeper into our partnership with John Deere,” remarked Steve Stallworth, General Manager of the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center, “Adding another layer to this partnership and using John Deere’s equipment will help make participants aware of the incredible John Deere Equine Discount Program. This will enhance the experience for all of South Point’s guests, human and equine.”

The John Deere Equine Discount Program began in 2001 as an official equipment supplier of the equine industry and focuses on quality, value and innovation through the John Deere Equine Discount Program. The three-year expanded partnership will give South Point’s guests discounts on leasing or purchasing John Deere equipment.

“John Deere is thrilled to continue our relationship with South Point and be the official equipment manufacturer of the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center,” stated Auston Till, Strategic Accounts Business Manager, John Deere. “South Point is an outstanding facility which hosts many quality events for equine enthusiasts and their families. We are proud to offer equipment and discounts to all qualifying equine customers.”

“We are delighted to partner with South Point Arena and Equestrian Center. With this partnership, we can position the John Deere Equine Discounts program to all attendees in the equestrian sports world.  The Discount Program provides significant savings to all members of an equine organization when purchasing John Deere equipment,” said Fritz Widaman, Vice President NTRA Advantage and John Deere Equine Discounts.

 

For more information, please visit www.southpointarena.com.

 

About John Deere Equine Program

Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products, technology and services for customers whose work is revolutionizing agriculture and construction — those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world’s increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure.

 

For more information about John Deere Equine Discounts visit JohnDeere.com/equine or call (866) 678-4289.

 

About South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

Featuring more than 2,100 guestrooms, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa overlooks the famous Las Vegas Strip and the serenity of the surrounding mountainscape. Each oversized guest room features state-of-the-art LED televisions as well as WiFi with high-speed internet connections. Guests visiting South Point Hotel will experience affordable luxury through a casino offering top-of-the-line gaming technology, more than 60 table games and a separate race and sports book area, 11 restaurants, including the award-winning Michael’s Gourmet Room, world-class Costa Del Sur Spa and Salon, a 400-seat showroom featuring headliner entertainment, a 700-seat Bingo room, a 16-screen Cinemark movie complex, a state-of-the-art 64-lane bowling center, a 52,000-square foot Conference Center and an 80,000-square foot Exhibit Hall. South Point Hotel is also home to the Tournament Bowling Plaza, a multi-million-dollar professional bowling tournament facility. In addition, South Point Hotel has the finest equestrian event facility in the country. The 240,000 square feet of event space features three climate-controlled arenas, vet clinic, feed store, more than 1,200 climate-controlled stalls and plays host to some of the country’s most unique events. South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa is at 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89183.

“Official Hotel and Casino of Las Vegas Motor Speedway” and sponsor of the September 2020 Las Vegas NASCAR Monster Energy cup race, South Point 400. In addition, South Point’s Sports Book is home of Vegas Stats & Information Network” (VSiN), where you can listen to the broadcast on SiriusXM 204 and watch the video livestream on VSiN.com.

For more information or for room reservations, call (702) 796-7111 or visit the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa website. Connect with South Point on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

WACO, TEXAS – World Titles were handed out over the weekend at the WPRA World Finals in Waco, Texas, in the roping division, futurity and derby division and junior division.

Taking home her fourth consecutive team roping heeling world title was Whitney DeSalvo. DeSalvo of Springfield, Arkansas, has become a force to be reckoned with on all levels in the team roping. She won the title with partner Hope Thompson, who collected her second team roping title to go with her previous breakaway title (2013) bringing her total to three WPRA World Titles. DeSalvo’s first world title came in 2017 with Thompson, then the past two years in 2018 when Lari Dee Guy won the heading title and in 2019 Beverly Robbins claimed the heading title.

DeSalvo finished the year with $35,172 in earnings to reserve world champion Annette Stahl’s $22,728. Thompson captured the title with $33,307 in earnings compared to reserve world champion Lari Dee Guy with $29,132.

Kelsie Chace and Jackie Crawford took home the WPRA World Finals Average Title stopping the clock in 22.7 seconds on three head.

The young roping phenom Gracie Gambino won back-to-back world titles in the tie-down roping. The 18-year old from Lindale, Texas, finished the year with $7,403 in earnings to reserve world champion Tanegai Zilverberg’s $7,393. Gambino won the second round in a time of 15.1 seconds, was third in the third round in a time of 26.7 and was fourth in the average with a time of 141.8 seconds on three head. Zilverberg easily won the average title in a time of 55.3 seconds after placing in all three rounds.

With the evolution of the women’s breakaway roping within the WPRA at ProRodeos and the fact that in 2020 breakaway earnings were calculate for ProRodeos only as well as co-approved events only the landscape of the world title also changed. Money won at the WPRA World Finals this year were added to the co-approved event standings like in years past but the member with the most money in those standings this year was honored with the National Champion title versus the normal World Champion status.

JJ Hampton, a 17-time WPRA World Champion, took home the title with $87,973 in earnings to reigning world champion’s Kelsie Chace’s $81,812. Hampton, who has qualified for the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping (NFBR), now has the opportunity to not only win a national championship in 2020 in breakaway but also a world title. What an historic year it would be if Hampton is able to accomplish this feat.

The WPRA Breakaway Roping World Champion starting in 2020 will be based on the ProRodeo only standings and will be crowned following the Wrangler National Finals Breakaway Roping similar to how the WPRA World Champion Barrel Racer is determined following the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Rookie Rylie Smith of Whitsett, Texas, took home the breakaway average title at the WPRA World Finals with a three head time of 8.2 seconds.

While Chace will be unable to add another breakaway world title to her resume in 2020, as she didn’t qualify for the NFBR, she did win her third all-around WPRA World Title outdistancing Gambino. Chace, who previously won the title in 2012 and 2017, finished the year with $7,870 in all-around earnings compared to Gambino’s $7,699.

 

Futurity and Derby World Champions Named

The first WPRA World Title awarded over the weekend was in the Futurity Division.

Molly Otto and Teasin Dat Guy captured the WPRA Futurity 1D title after collecting a total of 412.5 points on the year. Otto of Grand Forks, N.D., outdistanced Margaret Jones and Smooth Operraider who finished with 367.5 points.

Bailey Webb-Olson and VR Jojo Wood Pay of Hugo, Minnesota, won the 2D World Championship title finishing the year with 145 points to Ashley Day and Driftin Little Lena’s total of 95 points. Webb-Olson was in the driver’s seat going into to the WPRA World Finals and added to her final point total with a fourth place finish in the second round in a time of 17.564 seconds.

Although Margaret Jones missed out on the Futurity World Title she didn’t go home empty handed as she and Shes Packin Dynamite took home the WPRA World Title in the Derby Division. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi and Ima Famous Babe, a horse she plans to run next month at the Wrangler NFR in Arlington, took home the Derby World Finals Average Title in a time of 31.278 seconds on two runs. Kassie Mowry and Famous Ladies Man was a close second in a total time of 31.400.

 

Junior World Champion Named

London Gorham of Cotulla, Texas, captured her first WPRA Junior World Title with $31,365 in earnings for 2020. Casey Mathis of Washoe Valley, Nevada, finished as the reserve world champion with $16,874. Mathis aboard SH Stylish and Sly won the first round of the Junior race at the WPRA World Finals in a time of 15.981 seconds and would finish second in the second round in a time of 16.064 seconds.

 

WPRA Card Holder and Permit Only Race

Top WPRA horse trainer Kassie Mowry aboard Famous Ladies Man won the WPRA Card Holder race with a total time of 47.136 seconds. 2020 WPRA Rookie of the Year Paige Jones was hot on her heels in a time of 47.199 seconds. As a result, both ladies have earned a spot in RodeoHouston in March, as long as the event happens.

Kylee Scribner turned in the fastest time of the weekend during the second round of the card holder race stopping the clock in a time of 15.345. Scribner would end up third in the average in a total time of 47.276 seconds. All money won during this race was applied to their 2021 ProRodeo standings.

Taking home the title in the WPRA Permit-Only race was Jordan Driver in a time of 48.428 seconds. Driver aboard French Rivierra won the second round in a time of 15.970 seconds and collected a total of $3,036 in Waco to easily fill her permit and can now compete on as a WPRA Rookie in 2021.

Complete results can be found at http://www.elitebarrelracing.com/htdocs/results.html and full recaps on all races will appear in the January 2021 edition of the WPRA News.

courtesy Ann Bleiker

WEST VALLEY CITY (November 16, 2020) – Need a little Holiday Cheer after what has been a challenging year on so many fronts? We have just the event for you AND it’s socially distant!

Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo and Maverik Center have teamed up for a new-to-the-area Drive-In Holiday Laser Spectacular presented by Zions Bank and Maverik this December. The event will take place December 10 – January 2* with two shows (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.) a night every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday during this timeframe (*no shows on December 24^th). Each show will be a 30-minute Holiday themed laser show with Holiday music available via your car radio. The event will take place in Lot A of Maverik Center where the laser graphics will be projected and viewable from your vehicle!

“Christmas time is a time of celebration with our families and a time to cherish all that God has blessed us with in our lives,” said Tommy Joe Lucia, General Manager Day of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo. “While this year will be unlike any we have experienced, it is our hope this Drive-In Holiday Laser Show Spectacular will shine a positive light on the Holiday Season and families in the Great Salt Lake Valley will make memories to cherish for a lifetime.”

The cost will be $25 per car and tickets must be purchased online before entering the lot. Tickets can be purchased at www.maverikcenter.com or at www.axs.com.

Below is a full list of dates and show times:

Thursday, December 10  – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Friday, December 11 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 12 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

 

Thursday, December 17  – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Friday, December 18 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 19 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

 

Friday, December 25 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Saturday, December 26 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

 

Thursday, December 31  – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Friday, January 1 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Saturday, January 2 – 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

*Note: Gates will open 1-hour before show time (5 p.m. & 7 p.m.). Public restrooms will be available if needed near the Maverik Center Offices.

Courtesy Kyle Jones

 

ARLINGTON, Texas – In front of electrifying crowds inside AT&T Stadium, five women became the first in history to claim the coveted title of Women’s Rodeo World Champion and took home a minimum of $60,000 each. The seven-day $750,000 equal money championship event dished out equal money to the 254 entered athletes, paying an average of $2400 per check.

As the first discipline of the championship round, team roping had fans inside the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys on the edge of their seat Friday night throughout the action-packed performance where challengers prevailed. After no qualified times in the first four runs of the performance, the team roping duo Rylie Smith (Whitsett, Texas) and Hope Thompson (Abilene, Texas) backed into the box calm and collected and logged the only qualified run of the night with a 13.66-second effort. With only one qualified run in the team roping, all athletes who did not record a qualified time were paid a $5,000 appearance fee, adding an additional $30,000 EACH in ground money to Smith and Thompson’s payday. The Texas natives took home $90,000 individually, a Jesse Jaymes Silversmith’s buckle and a Women’s Rodeo World Champion Title.

As the championship round continued on Saturday evening, a hotly contested battle in the barrel racing began to unfurl. Fifteen-year-old Jada Trosper (Ponder, Texas) led the pack with a 15.582-second run edging out Ivy Saebens (Nowata, Oklahoma) and Randee Prindle (Gilman City, Montana). Four-time WCRA Major qualifier and No. 1 athlete on the WCRA W20 Leaderboard Hallie Hanssen (Hermosa, South Dakota) and mare Vida expertly navigated the course as her 14.735-second run was the quickest, distancing runner-up Jessie Telford (Caldwell, ID) who recorded a 15.339-second run. Hanssen earned a total of $60,000 in only three runs as she was seeded directly in the main event.

In Breakaway roping Sunday Night, 18-year-old Madison Outhier (Utopia, Texas) was the undeniable star of the discipline, delivering what would be the most groundbreaking performance of the event. As the quickest athlete to earn a qualified time, her 2.05-second effort elevated her to a $60,000 payday. For Outhier, the event marked her career first WCRA Championship, advancing to the main event through the Leaderboard Pool. Not only did Outhier emerge victorious, but did so by defeating WCRA Royal City Roundup Champion, Kelsie Chace (Dublin, Texas) who logged a 3.43 second time. Outhier also defeated Kanas State High School Breakaway Roping Champion Beau Peterson’s (Council Grove, Kansas) 2.14-second time.

Legendary cowgirl Jackie Crawford (Stephenville, Texas) earned the first-ever Women’s Rodeo World Champion All-Around Cowgirl title. She won a $20,000 bonus and a custom saddle donated by Coats Saddlery, after earning 1,520 points during the seven-day event along with nearly $15,000 in additional prize money. The 38-year-old cowgirl, who has over $135,000 in career-earnings with the WCRA, made history in Chicago during the WCRA Windy City Roundup becoming the first women breakaway roper to win $50,000 in prize money.

WCRA and PBR have announced the 2021 Women’s Rodeo World Championship will take place in Las Vegas at South Point Arena alongside the PBR World Finals. Nominations for the November 2021 event (leaderboard W21) are underway.

 

Championship Round Results below

TEAM ROPING- Friday. Nov. 13

HEADER                HEELER TIME      PAYOUT

RYLIE SMITH       HOPE THOMPSON           13.66     $90,000.00

BEV ROBBINS     JESSY REMSBURG            NT          $5,000.00

RUBY MAGNUS JACKIE CRAWFORD         NT          $5,000.00

TAYLOR SCHMIDT            JENNA DALLYN  NT          $5,000.00

RYLEA FABRIZIO                DEBBIE FABRIZIO              NT          $5,000.00

JAYME MARCRUM          MARTHA ANGELONE      NT          $5,000.00

 

BARREL RACING- Saturday, Nov. 14

ATHLETE               HOMETOWN      TIME      PAYOFF

HALLIE HANSSEN              HERMOSA, SD   14.707   $60,000.00

JESSIE TELFORD CALDWELL, ID    14.73     $20,000.00

STEPHANIE FRYAR           WACO, TX           14.731   $12,500.00

JADA TROSPER  PONDER, TX       14.678   $10,000.00

RANDEE PRINDLE             GILMAN CITY, MO           14.606   $7,500.00

IVY SAEBENS      NOWATA, OK    14.581   $5,000.00

 

BREAKAWAY ROPING- Sunday, Nov. 15

ATHLETE               HOMETOWN      TIME      PAYOUT

MADISON OUTHIER        UTOPIA, TX         2.05        $60,000.00

BEAU PETERSON              COUNCIL GROVE, KS      2.14        $20,000.00

SAWYER GILBERT             BUFFALO, SD     2.54        $12,500.00

LONI LESTER       GONZALES, TX   2.56        $10,000.00

KELSIE CHACE    DUBLIN, TX         3.43        $7,500.00

PAISLEY PIERCE SWEENEY, TX     100         $5,000.00

 

With the Conclusion of the Women’s Rodeo World Championship, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $8,500,000 in new money to rodeo athletes since May of 2018.

Fans can relive all the action from the Women’s Rodeo World Championship on RidePass, at RidePass.com or via the RidePass app available on iOS, Android and Roku.

 

-WCRA-

About WCRA

WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com.

Five New Inductees Represent Some of the Best in Their Field.

WORTH, TEXAS (November 17, 2020) – The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame will welcome five 2021 Inductees at the 45th Annual Induction Luncheon and Ceremony. The luncheon will be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at the Dickies Arena.

These incoming Hall of Fame members represent a wide range of cowgirls – from a country music superstar, to a world champion breakaway roper, a renowned artist, cowboy hat designer and an Olympic medalist. The induction class includes Pop Chalee, Lari Dee Guy, Kathryn Kusner, Lavonna “Shorty” Koger and Miranda Lambert.

“We are honored to welcome this outstanding class of inductees and add their remarkable stories and accomplishments to the amazing group of honorees they are joining in the Museum’s Hall of Fame,” said the Museum’s executive director Patricia Riley. “Congratulations to all.”

The late artist Pop Chalee (1906-1993) was known for her influential flat, two-dimensional “traditional” style of Native American painting with stylized depictions of forest scenes and wildlife. She painted murals for the Albuquerque Airport in 1945.

Her work has been featured at museums such as the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. and the Gallery of Living Artists in New York City. Her paintings can be found in many permanent collections, including at the Gilcrease Museum, the Heard Museum and the Millicent Rogers Museum.

Eight-time Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) Lari Dee Guy is the winningest female roper in the world with over 33 championship titles and more than $1.5 million in career earnings. This all started from her early beginnings of winning 11-consecutive AJRA world roping titles at age nine.

In 2013, Guy launched the “Rope Like A Girl” campaign to help motivate young girls and women in roping and has traveled the globe teaching. She is also an expert horse trainer and renowned clinician.

Kathryn Kusner is an American equestrian and Olympic medalist in show jumping. She was one of the first women who rode for the United States Equestrian Team (USET) and the first American woman to win an Olympic medal in equestrian competition.

Concurrent to her show jumping career, Kusner became the first licensed female jockey in the United States in 1968. She was also the first woman to ride in the Maryland Hunt Cup, the toughest timber race in the world, despite its board trying to keep her from riding in the race.

Lavonna “Shorty” Koger is an Oklahoma native with over 40 years of experience in restoration, fitting, sewing and design of cowboy hats. She started Shorty’s Caboy Hattery in 1990 in the historic Stockyards City, OK, one of the few entirely woman-owned and operated custom hatteries in the United States and is one of today’s leading industry hatters.

Shorty’s hats remain world-famous and are sought-after for their attention to detail, intricate sewing process and signature beaver fur and beaver fur blends. She also helped found Rein in Cancer, a nonprofit that raises money to fund cancer treatments and care for patients.

Miranda Lambert is a renowned country music superstar and songwriter who started her career in local Texas bars and released her self-titled debut album independently in 2001. Later she was signed by Sony Music and has since released seven albums as well as three albums with her trio, Pistol Annies.

She has won many awards, amongst them 35 ACM awards, which makes her the most decorated artist in ACM history, nine of which were consecutive ACM Female Artist of the year awards. In addition, she received two Grammy Awards and 14 CMA Awards.

Lambert and her mother, Bev Lambert founded the MuttNation Foundation in 2009 to shine a spotlight on rescue animals and shelters, raising in excess of $4.5 million since its inception.

Induction Luncheon and Ceremony sponsorship opportunities are available at http://www.cowgirl.net/hall-of-fame/.

About the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and celebrates women, past and present, whose lives exemplify the courage, resilience and independence that helped shape the West, and fosters an appreciation of the ideals and spirit of self-reliance they inspire. Established in 1975, the Museum is considered an invaluable national educational resource for its exhibits, research library, rare photograph collection and award-winning distance-learning programs for grades K-12 and adults. In 2019, the Museum opened the Kit Moncrief Galleries and It’s Never Just a HorseTM exhibition. Located at 1720 Gendy Street Fort Worth, Texas 76107. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults (ages 13+); $7 for seniors (60+), military, first responders and children (ages 3 to 12) and children 3 and under get in free with paid adult. For more news and information visit www.cowgirl.net or call 817-336-4475 and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

Courtesy Eric Katzman

At just 22 years old, Bridger Anderson is turning heads in the notoriously dangerous world of professional rodeo, becoming the youngest to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) this December. Known as the “Super Bowl of rodeo,” the NFR is a grueling ten-day event where it’s unheard of for anyone younger than 26 to compete.

During the NFR, Bridger will be proudly sponsored by DEFY, the world’s first mainstream hemp extract performance beverage built for athletes. DEFY made history in 2019 when it debuted the first THC-free performance hemp beverage, formulated to deliver rapid recovery, improve endurance, and decrease muscle fatigue for even the toughest athletic feats.

“As much as I love this sport, steer wrestling is dangerous, injury-inducing, and relentlessly taxing,” Bridger said. “After I started using DEFY, I noticed immediately how much my sleep and focus improved. It has become an essential part of my training regimen, and I’m thrilled to be representing DEFY at the NFR.”

“Bridger is a remarkable competitor who quite literally has changed the game,” remarked Terrell Davis (a.k.a. “TD”), co-founder of DEFY, two-time Super Bowl MVP, and NFL Hall of Famer. “He continues to thrive in a sport mostly dominated by much older competitors. He’s the embodiment of everything that we value: defying limitations, defying self-doubt, and defying perceptions of who you are and what you’re capable of achieving.”

Both Bridger and TD are available for interviews to discuss Bridger’s storied journey to the NFR, his grueling physical and mental preparation for competitions, and how DEFY fuels his recovery process.

Circuit finals rodeo determines Badlands rodeo champs in Minot

MINOT, N.D. (October 11, 2020) – The best pro rodeo cowboys and cowgirls in the Dakotas gathered in Minot this weekend for the PRCA’s RAM Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, held at the North Dakota State Fair Center.

Over 100 contestants, the top twelve in each of eight events, competed for two titles: the year-end championship (the most money won over the season), and the average, or finals championship, the most money won in Minot.

In the bareback riding, a North Dakota man made a clean sweep at this year’s circuit finals.

Jordan Pelton had never won a check in the last four times he’s qualified for the finals, but this year he won first place for each performance, and the average, with 258 points on three head.

In fact, he’s enjoying rodeo more than ever, after a mental “switch.” “My focus has changed to just riding,” the thirty-year-old said. “Rather than focusing on winning, which takes away from your job. It’s been a fun year, dang sure a lot of fun.”

The thirty-year-old also realizes bareback riding careers don’t last forever. “I know the clock is ticking,” he said. “I can’t do this forever.”

Pelton, who farms and ranches with his dad, has more to focus on than just rodeo. He and his wife Tessa are expecting their first child later this month.

Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D., competed on Sunday after pulling a hamstring during Saturday night’s ride. He finished as year-end champ, for the second consecutive year.

In the steer wrestling, Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D., entered the finals in first place and finished in the same spot, even though he didn’t win any money.

“I had a lot of luck this summer,” he said, but his luck ran out at the fairgrounds. “I’ve struggled in this building. I don’t know what it is.” Last year, in his first qualification for the circuit finals, he didn’t win any money, either.

“This year, I couldn’t capitalize. Next year I’ll be prepared for it.”

Reiss is in his sophomore year at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo.

His dad, Jason, also competed at the circuit finals, winning checks in two rounds.

The year-end winner was Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. Lord’s dad, J.B., like Reiss’, was also a qualifier for the circuit finals, in the team roping.

The winning team ropers came north to Minot in first place and never looked back.

Brothers Tucker and Cooper White, Hershey, Neb., had an excellent season, and a finals as well, winning one first place check and two second place checks to also win the average (16.4 seconds on three head).

They ran the numbers before the Sunday performance. “We had it figured before today,” Cooper said. “We did some math last night on what teams would have to do to beat us, even if we missed. We knew exactly what we had to do, and it worked out.”

After their wins, the pressure was off for Cooper. “I’m glad it’s over with. We finally have the first one under our belts,” he said. “We’ve been working for this for a long time. It’s pretty cool to do it with your brother, that’s for sure.”

Their mother was on hand for the win, and their dad, at home in Nebraska, was waiting to hear from his boys. “He’s been heckling us to send a video,” Cooper said. Cooper, the header, is 23 years old; Tucker is 27.

In the saddle bronc riding, a veteran cowboy won the finals. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D., tied for first in the first round (83 points) and first place in the second round (81), with an average of 242 points on three head. Schmidt has been to the circuit finals a dozen times.

Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D., was the year-end winner.

For the barrel racers, it came down to a bit more than a half-second in the average between the top three cowgirls: Amanda Welsh, with 40.83 seconds on three runs, Heidi Gunderson, 41.29, and Molly Otto, 41.37.

Welsh, Gillette, Wyo., won the average on her ten-year-old sorrel, Firefly. The horse, trained by her dad, excels in small indoor pens like the fairgrounds. “He seems to love it up here in Minot,” she said.

The gelding, whose registered name is Frenchmans Firefly, is a special horse, she said. “He’s usually all business. He can be a little fret-y sometimes, so he’s always got to have a buddy. He’s a lot of fun.”

Welsh finished the 2020 pro rodeo season in 36th place in the world standings.

The year-end title went to Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D. She rode the 2020 Women’s Pro Rodeo Association Badlands Horse of the Year, Fiery Miss West, “Missy,” who is owned by Westergren Quarter Horses. This is the fourth consecutive year for Missy to win the award.

Both tie-down roping titles went to Trey Young, Dupree, S.D.; in the women’s breakaway, Cora Borman, Backus, Minn., won the average title (29.4 seconds on three head) and Katie Mundorf, Mullen, Neb., won the year-end title.

Out of a field of twelve bull riders, only four men rode two of three bulls, and no one rode all three.

Thunder Boomer, TJ Schmidt, Ardie Maier, and Chance Schott made qualified rides on two bulls, but it was Schott who wrapped up both titles.

Schott qualified for the circuit finals in first place, and also won the finals with 173 points on two head, seven and a half points ahead of the number two man, Maier, of Timber Lake, S.D. This is his second trip to the Badlands Circuit Finals; last year, he was the average champion.

The all-around winner, the cowboy competing in more than one event, was Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. The rookie of the year went to Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D.

Badlands champs will go on to compete at the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, to be held in Kissimmee, Florida next spring. Points from the Badlands Circuit Finals count towards the 2021 National Finals Rodeo.

 

For full results from this night’s rodeo, visit ProRodeo.com.

 

Ram Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, Minot, ND

3rd  performance October 11, 2020

Year end and average winners for the Badlands Circuit

 

All-around Champion: Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

All-around champion for the Finals: Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

 

Bareback riding

Bareback Riding Year End Champion: Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D.

Bareback Riding Average Champion: Jordan Pelton, Halliday, N.D.

 

4th go round results:

1. Jordan Pelton, Halliday, N.D. 85 points on Mosbrucker Rodeo’s War Chick; 2. Nate McFadden, Elsmere, Neb. 84; 3. Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D. 81; 4. Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D. 80.5.

 

Average results:

1. Jordan Pelton, Halliday, N.D. 258 points on 3 head; 2. Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D. 249; 3. Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D. 248.5; 4. Ben Kramer, Max, N.D.225.

 

 

Steer Wrestling

Steer Wrestling Year End Champion:  Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D.

Steer Wrestling Average Champion: Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D.

 

4th go round results:

1. Carson Good, Long Valley, S.D. 4.1 seconds; 2. Billy Boldon, Oglala, S.D. 4.3; 3. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 4.4; 4. Jason Reiss, Manning, N.D. 4.5.

 

Average results:

1. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D. 14.1 seconds on 3 head; 2. Joe Nelson, Watford City, N.D. 14.7; 3. Jason Reiss, Manning, N.D. 15.2; 4. Jake Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb. 23.8.

 

Team Roping

Team Roping Year End Champion Header: Cooper White, Hershey, Neb.

Heeler: Tucker White, Hershey, Neb.

Team Roping Average Champion Header: Cooper White, Hershey, Neb.

Heeler: Tucker White, Hershey, Neb.

 

4th go round results:

1. Jared Odens, Pierre, S.D./Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D. 5.0 seconds; 2. Cooper White, Hershey, Neb./Tucker White, Hershey, Neb. 5.6; 3. (tie) Cody Hilzendeger, Bismarck, N.D./Ty Talsma, Avon, S.D., Jade Schmidt, Box Elder, S.D./Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D. and JB Lord, Valentine, Neb./Jesse Dale, Timber Lake, S.D. 5.7 each.

 

Average results:

1. Cooper White, Hershey, Neb./Tucker White, Hershey, Neb. 16.4 seconds on 3 head; 2. Cameron Irwin, Buffalo, Wyo./Rory Brown, Edgemont, S.D. 23.9; 3. Brent McInerney, Alzada, Mont./Tanner McInerney, Alzada, Mont. 26.0; 4. Jared Odens, Pierre, S.D./Matt Zancanella, Aurora, S.D. 11.2 on 2 head.

 

 

Saddle Bronc Riding

Saddle Bronc Year End Champion: Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D.

Saddle Bronc Average Champion: Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D.

 

4th go round results:

1. JJ Elshere, Hereford, S.D. 89 points on Sutton Rodeo’s Prom Night; 2. Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D. 88; 3. Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D. 87; 4. Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D. 83.5.

 

Average results:

1. Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. 242 points on 3 head; 2. Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D. 241.5; 3. (tie) Dusty Hausauer, Dickinson, N.D. and Jade Blackwell, Rapid City, S.D. 239 each.

 

Barrel Racing

Barrel Racing Year End Champion: Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D.

Barrel Racing Average Champion:  Amanda Welsh, Gillette, Wyo.

 

4th go round results:

1. Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D. 13.51 seconds; 2. Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D. 13.58; 3. (tie) Carey Rivinius, Carson, N.D. and Amanda Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. 13.73 each.

 

Average results:

1. Amanda Welsh, Gillette, Wyo. 40.83 seconds on 3 head; 2. Heidi Gunderson, Murdock, Minn. 41.29; 3. Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D. 41.37; 4. Carey Rivinius, Carson, N.D. 41.82.

 

Tie-down Roping

Tie Down Roping Year End Champion: Trey Young, Dupree, S.D.

Tie Down Roping Average Champion: Trey Young, Dupree, S.D.

 

4th go round results:

1. JT Adamson, Cody, Neb. 8.3 seconds; 2. Trey Young, Dupree, S.D. 8.4; 3. Myles Kenzy, Iona, S.D. 8.5; 4. Rex Treeby, Hecla, S.D. 9.3.

 

Average results:

1. Trey Young, Dupree, S.D. 26.3 seconds on 3 head; 2. JT Adamson, Cody, Neb. 27.6; 3. Cody Rood, Bengough, Sask. 29.6; 4. Myles Kenzy, Iona, S.D. 30.9.

 

Women’s Breakaway Roping

Year End Champion: Katie Mundorf, Mullen, Neb.

Average Champion: Cora Borman, Backus, Minn.

 

4th go round results:

1. Tanegai Zilverberg, Holabird, S.D. 1.7 seconds; 2. Cora Borman, Backus, Minn. 12.3; no other qualified runs.

 

Average results:

1. Cora Borman, Backus, Minn. 29.4 seconds on 3 head; 2. Samantha Fulton, Watford City,N.D.5.5 on 2 head; 3. Kirby Eppert, Seneca, Neb. 5.6; 4. Katie Mundorf, Mullen, Neb. 5.9.

 

Bull Riding

Bull Riding Year End Champion: Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D.

Bull Riding Average Champion: Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D.

 

4th go round results:

1. Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. 86 points on Korkow Rodeo’s Jambalaya; 2. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 85.5; 3. Ethan Lesiak, Clarks, Neb. 84.5; 4. TJ Schmidt, Belle Fourche, S.D. 84.

 

Average results:

1. Chance Schott, McLaughlin, S.D. 173 points on 2 head; 2. Ardie Maier, Timber Lake, S.D. 165.5; 3. TJ Schmidt, Belle Fourche, S.D. 159; 4. Thunder Boomer, Interior, S.D. 152.

 

** All results are unofficial.  For more information, visit www.ProRodeo.com.

Pro rodeo selects horse of the year awards for the Badlands Circuit

MINOT, N.D. (October 19, 2020) – The 2020 Badlands Circuit PRCA and WPRA Horses of the Year have been selected for their exceptional ability in rodeo.

The steer wrestling horse of the year was won by Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D.; the hazing horse of the year also went to Morman. The tie-down horse of the year is a repeat winner, won by Trey Young, Dupree, S.D., and the team roping head horse of the year went to Cooper White, Hershey, Neb. The team roping heel horse of the year was awarded to Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D.

For the women’s events, the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association Badlands barrel horse of the year went to Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., and the WPRA Badlands Rising Star horse of the year went to Molly Otto, Grand Forks, N.D.

It’s the first time for Jade Nelson’s horse Ray to win the heeling award.

The ten-year-old sorrel, with a flaxen mane and tail, has just come into his own, Nelson said.

“He’s a really big motored horse, who is kind of wild. It took him longer to get good. He wasn’t really good till he was eight.”

Ray is great to be around, Nelson said, but has a quirk that is unusual for rodeo animals: he’s scared of livestock, when they’re facing him. When the steer or sheep is looking away from him, he’s fine, Nelson said, “but if they’re looking at him, he’s plumb crazy.” Nelson rides him for cattle drives, but Ray doesn’t work well for sorting cattle.

Ray does an excellent job for Nelson. “He’s a bigger horse, and he can move better than any horse I’ve ever rode before. He can do things that most horses can’t, and that makes my job a little easier.” Nelson purchased him as a four-year-old, and knew he had potential even then. “He’s been phenomenal since he was four.” Nelson roped with Jade Schmidt at this year’s Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo.

A Nebraska horse is another first-time winner.

Cooper White rides Razor, a nine-year-old bay roan, for the heading.

Razor, owned by Andy Miller of Wellfleet, Neb., is a threat in the scoring: how fast the cowboy can be, after he gives the steer a head start. No matter the size of the arena, Razor delivers the goods. “Any set up, scoring isn’t a problem. You can go from a little building like Minot  (N.D., where the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo was held), to the long score in Cheyenne,” for Frontier Days.

 

Razor is also speedy. “His next biggest threat is how fast he is,” White said. “He’s crazy fast. It makes it easier for me to not reach so much. Sometimes I can use my horsepower instead of me trying to do it all with my rope.”

White roped on him nearly all year, and Razor responded well to the travel. “He took a lot of runs,” he said. “He travels good. He’s an easy keeper.” White and his brother, Tucker, make sure Razor gets the care he needs. “We take pretty good care of him,” Cooper said. “Tucker does, too. He knows he’s the way he makes money, too.”

Miller roped on the horse for several years, but as his rodeo career slowed, he offered the horse to White to ride. White never made a practice run on Razor, never even got on him, till a rodeo in Nelson, Neb. “He felt like nothing I’d ever been on before,” he said. “He’s a lot of fun, that’s for sure.”

The brothers finished the 2020 rodeo season as the Badlands Circuit team roping year-end champions.

Morman’s horse Rio won the steer wrestling horse of the year for the fourth consecutive year; the fifteen-year-old buckskin, previously owned by Jake Rinehart, had three riders at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo.

Morman’s horse Bull, the hazing horse of the year, is also a repeat award winner; he tied for the award last year.

Young’s horse Fozzy is also a repeat winner, having won tie-down horse of the year in 2017 and ’18. The horse is owned in partnership by Young and his father Doug.

In the barrel racing, Routier’s horse Missy, a nine-year-old palomino owned by Gary Westergren of Lincoln, Neb., won the barrel horse of the year award for the fourth consecutive time.

The 2020 Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo took place in Minot October 9-11, where champions were crowned. More information can be found at www.prorodeo.com.