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  • Roper Review: Troy McDonald

    Roper Review: Troy McDonald

    Troy McDonald grew up in the small town of Pierson, Florida, into a rodeo family that competed at and produced ropings. He entered his first jackpot at five years old and won his first buckle at a roping school when he was seven.
    Troy was successfully active in junior rodeo and high school rodeo. As a freshman, Troy won fourth at the high school nationals. In his sophomore year he was reserve state champion heeler, earning a trip to nationals in Springfield, IL, where he finished tenth in the nation. McDonald also qualified for nationals as a heeler in his senior year.
    “My partner’s dad took us to Texas and Oklahoma for some big ropings during Christmas break that year,” says Troy. “At the Booger Barter roping in Glen Rose, TX, I tied for high point and ended up in a rope off for the truck. Thankfully I prevailed and got to drive a new 2003 Chevy Duramax home.”
    After high school Troy wanted to be the first in his family to earn a college degree. McDonald sent a package of videos and his resume to seven or eight schools before deciding on Clarendon College in the Texas panhandle.
    “Both of my Ag teachers knew Jerry Hawkins, who was on the Board of Regents at Clarendon. They had just built a new indoor facility for their rodeo team. Clarendon offered the most lucrative scholarship, so that’s where I went.”
    Troy’s first rodeo coach was steer wrestler Matt Reeves, now a 6-time NFR qualifier. He credits his sophomore coach, Chad Smith, for helping take his roping to another level.
    “Chad was a #8 heeler and we broke in a lot of steers. There were many days we would rope 60 to 80 steers. That year, in 2006, I won a truck at the OTRA (Original Team Roping Association) finals and got moved to a #9.”
    After visiting home in Florida, Troy returned to west Texas and spent the summer with his friend, Jared Stoker. He soon realized he and his horses could withstand dry 100-degree weather much easier than the dense humidity of Florida.
    “I couldn’t get over the difference in the humidity and how much more you could rope. That’s when I decided I was going to stay in west Texas.”
    It was during his second year at Clarendon that Troy met his wife, Kelly. In July 2006 McDonald moved to Canyon, TX, after transferring to West Texas A&M. He also qualified for the college national finals that year. In 2008 Troy graduated from WTAM with a degree in Agri Business.
    Troy and Kelly have both worked at Coolhorse in Amarillo, Texas for six years where Kelly oversees online shipping and Troy is the store manager. The couple has one son, Slade, who is two and a half.
    “We still live in Canyon and I really enjoy living in a small town like I grew up in. When we’re not working I sometimes rope at World Series events. We also have a contract for the goat tying in the high school and junior rodeos in Region 1 and the Junior Cowboy Rodeo Association,” explains McDonald. “Slade is able to compete there in the 3 & Under. The little ones do everything on foot and he just won his first buckle.
    “I love kids, and Kelly and I are enjoying Slade and being parents.”

    COWBOY Q&A
    How much do you practice?
    Now days if I get to practice twice a week that’s a lot.
    Do you make your own horses?
    I used to when I was in high school and college. I’ve bought the last few.
    Who were your roping heroes?
    Speed Williams, my parents and my step-dad Jody Ruth.
    Who do you respect most in the world?
    My wife. She puts up with me and sees to it Slade and I have what we want and need.
    Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
    Through high school, my mom put her barrel racing second so I could jackpot. I’ll never forget when I graduated she said, “Now it’s my turn to go again.” I would not have wanted to match her when I was growing up.
    If you had a day off what would you like to do?
    I would like to go to Florida and get on a bass boat and fish all day.
    Favorite movie?
    Tombstone.
    How would you describe yourself in three words?
    Competitive, good hearted, love kids.
    What makes you happy?
    My family.
    What makes you angry?
    Missing the horns.
    If you were given 1 million dollars, how would you spend it?
    I would love to build an indoor arena and buy my wife a boat.
    What is your best quality – your worst?
    My best quality is being kind hearted and that I love teaching kids. My worst quality is, as a header, I push the envelope too much instead of focusing on catching.

  • Cole Edge

    Cole Edge

    Cole Edge of Durant, Oklahoma, is sitting second in the PRCA standings in steer wrestling, an event he originally took up in high school for the all-around points. The 33-year-old cowboy comes from a family of ropers and focused primarily on team roping and tie-down roping through high school, but he found his niche in steer wrestling. “I’m just steer wrestling now. I can rope when I retire,” he jokes. “I went down to Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant for school where Sarah Burkes was the coach. Her husband, Jake, talked me into keeping up steer wrestling and it just took off from there. I like the physicality of it, and you have your hazer, but it’s more of an individual sport—everything depends on you. I like the competition and making good runs, and when you get to the big rodeos, I like the pressure in those situations.”
    Cole finished third in the CNFR world steer wrestling standings in 2007, and the pressure at Rodeo Austin in March this year spurred him on to a first-place win. He was also invited to the Calgary Stampede for the first time this summer. Cole is traveling with Cameron Morman, Chason Floyd, and Tanner Brunner this season, and the four steer wrestlers are competing on the same three horses this season, all by Pride Farms’ stallion Lions Share of Fame. “We’re all in the top 20 right now, and I think that says a lot for those horses,” says Cole. “We ride all the same saddles and just adjust the stirrups. I’m primarily riding a horse of Sean Mulligan’s, Miss Kitty, and another mare named Holly, and our gelding Slick is our haze horse. Miss Kitty was pretty young when I qualified for The American on her in 2014, but this year and last year I’ve been riding her every day.
    “The great thing about steer wrestling is that it’s kind of a big family. Everybody helps each other out,” Cole adds. “Sean Mulligan has helped me my whole career, and Jacob Burkes made sure I kept going with it. I’m pretty fortunate to be around people like that all the time.” Sean also hazes for Cole throughout the season. “You’re pretty much putting your life in your hazer’s hands. It’s a very crucial job. I started rodeoing with Sean and he’s one of the best in the business. Cameron hazes outstanding, and Chason hazed for me at the short round in Reno, and I haze for everybody else. We can’t win what we do without a good hazer.”
    Another crucial component in Cole’s steer wrestling career is his tack, including the 5 Star saddle pads and cinches that he uses. He’s been using their products the last 10 years and joined the 5 Star Champion team in 2014, the first year he qualified for the WNFR. “I like things basic, and their pads are 100 percent natural. The wool absorbs the impact just as well, and I like the 100 percent wool cinches they have. They work for me, and they are a great company with great people.” Cole also appreciates the variety of sizes 5 Star pads are offered in, and has a tack room full of them to prove it. “I can have one saddle and switch it to different horses and make it fit that much better. My wife is a barrel racer, and she has a whole bunch of their pads too.”
    Cole and his wife, Torrie, met at Southeastern Oklahoma State University where they were both on the rodeo team, and they were married in 2012. Torrie runs barrels on the WPRA Prairie Circuit, though she’s taking the season off since she and Cole are expecting the birth of their twins in November. The husband and wife also enjoy raising and training horses together, and taking them to barrel futurities. “If not barrels, then we try to rope on them and just turn them into good horses,” says Cole, who also likes welding.
    “Winning Austin was probably my biggest highlight, and my horses are working good. I get my confidence from what I’m riding—if they keep working good, I’m pretty proud of them. My goal is pretty much to win as much as I can and save up for those babies. I want to keep placing at the rodeos and everything will take care of itself after that.”

  • ProFile: WyoTech

    ProFile: WyoTech

    Jim Mathis of Wheatland, Wyoming traveled many miles chasing the USTRC jackpot circuit for nearly 17 years. Jim had worked the rope in ranch work for many years, but after watching his younger brother, Scott competing as a team roper, he took some instruction from him and started entering himself. He was at a point in his career with WyoTech that he had the income to support his newfound hobby and spent much of his free time between 1985 and 2002 entering jackpots up and down the roads. In 2002, Jim fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a rancher, so his travels slowed down due to focusing his time on his new venture. He still has a rope horse and enjoys occasionally roping with his brother. “Scott has had a big impact on my life, he’s a pastor in North Platte, we’re both Christians and so we compare notes all the time.” Jim and his wife Mary, now own two Wyoming ranches where they operate a cow/calf operation. They live on the lower elevation Wheatland ranch where they keep cattle through the winter after trailing them down on a 3-day cattle drive each fall from their historic Kite Ranch near Rock River, Wyoming. In April they truck the cattle back up to the over-7000’ elevation ranch to calve and enjoy the milder summer and fall. Jim and Mary enjoy spending time with their children; daughter Jodi Hill, and sons JD and Justin Mathis, as well as their 9 grandchildren.

    Jim Mathis – Courtesy of the family

    Jim’s love for agriculture, and being a cowboy started early, and he stepped into the lifestyle as quickly as possible when his father, Pastor Don Mathis relocated his family to take on a new church in La Grange, Wyoming. Jim still appreciates the support and encouragement of his father, who at 91 is still preaching at convalescent homes. When Jim was just 14, he moved in with Gene and Dot Smith, living and working on their farm and ranch for 3 years, and all the while he was learning many farming and ranching skills. “Even today, I think of things Gene taught me, from setting flood irrigation dams to packing wheel bearings, he made such a huge impact on my life.” At 17, Jim was driving combines and semi-trucks, harvesting wheat fields, following the crops from Texas to the north as they were ready for harvest. His life story has been filled with WyoTech from the age of 18, when he first attended the school. Thinking he wanted to own his own fleet of semi-trucks to haul grain and cattle one day, he graduated from a 6-month program at WyoTech so that he could manage and mechanic on his own trucks in his future; however, an inspiring WyoTech instructor, Marlowe Jones, opened a new vision for his life. “Marlowe was so inspirational and funny, and I wanted to be just like him, so at 19, I begged my way into a teaching position at WyoTech.” This move led to not only working with Marlowe for over 25 years, but also to many opportunities for Jim during the 26 years he spent there. WyoTech was founded in 1966, with the goal of providing a concentrated training program to prepare their students to fill the need for technicians in the automotive and diesel industry; however, after several ownership changes over the years, the once thriving school was recently on the verge of being closed. Jim Mathis was the man that many looked to as the answer while employees of the school fought to find a solution to keep the doors open. Jim had the experience and knowledge to take control of the school from the many positions he had held in nearly every capacity and management level that there was before leaving the school in 2002. His newest position, as owner of WyoTech, began on July 2, 2018. This was all made possible because of the support of the community and Wyoming Legislature making a $5-million loan available to Jim and his small investor group, to help complete the purchase.

    Jim Mathis has a passion for WyoTech and the education it has provided to over 50,000 graduates in the industry over the years. Because of his background in rural farming communities, he wants to share the news about WyoTech with other farming and ranching families. “As I take over at WyoTech, we will start focusing our marketing to reach rural communities rather than large metropolitan areas. WyoTech has changed the lives of many of our former students and we can offer a career path to many young ranch kids in rural America.” WyoTech offers fully accredited programs, that prepare the students for successful careers. “Part of our claim to fame is that we offer a short program, so for those serious about wanting to get into a career quickly, can be in and out in 9 months because they will be immersed in their education, attending classes for 8-hours-and-20-minutes each day. That’s more training, and clock and credit hours than most junior colleges offer.” WyoTech offers diplomas in diesel, automotive, or collision repair technology and associate degrees in business management. WyoTech is approved to offer federal financial aid to those that qualify. The school also has housing for approximately 650 students on campus. Employers appreciate that the students leaving WyoTech are prepared for the real work world, and the graduates are often sought after by companies such as Caterpillar, GM, Ford, and Cummins dealerships. Half of WyoTech’s instructors are alumni and have believed in the program so much that they returned to teach after enjoying successful careers in the industry. For many involved in rodeo, trucks and hauling rigs are a part of everyday life, and even if not looking for a career change, there are many skills to be obtained and much knowledge to be gained from courses at WyoTech. “Part of the reason I love WyoTech is that we truly have a great opportunity to give the students confidence and professionalism, teaching them timeliness, and about having positive attitudes that can help relay into a great professional career. We have really changed lives over the years.” Life often comes full circle, and for Jim Mathis, stepping in to ensure the future success of WyoTech, it certainly has.

  • Back When They Bucked with Madonna Eskew Pumphrey

    Back When They Bucked with Madonna Eskew Pumphrey

    If anybody was born with the Wild West in their blood, it was Madonna Eskew Pumphrey. The Ardmore, Okla. cowgirl was the third generation of her family to entertain in the western style.
    She was born August 24, 1941, the granddaughter of Colonel Jim Eskew, a famous Wild West show producer. Col. Jim took his show, the JE Ranch Rodeo, all over the eastern seaboard with his headquarters in Waverly, New York, where four railroads came together, for easy transportation of his animals. He made a home there and set up a small town for his workers: cabins, bunkhouses, a cookhouse, an Indian village, tack shop, barns, showgrounds and grandstands. As a young man, the Colonel had worked on Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows and incorporated many of Bill’s ideas into his shows.
    Col. Jim and his wife Dolly, Madonna’s grandmother, had two sons: Jim, Jr. and Tom Mix Eskew. Jim, Jr. was Madonna’s father.
    Junior, as he was known, married Mary Louise Randolph, the step-daughter of internationally-known trick rider Florence Hughes Randolph and her husband Floyd, also a rodeo producer, from Ardmore.

    Florence Randolph had as an impressive background as the Eskews. She was a world champion cowgirl, trick rider, trick roper and bronc rider and friend of fellow world champ Tad Lucas, another woman bronc rider. She competed in about 500 rodeos, supporting her mother and two sisters for a time. She had her own short-lived wild west show, “Princess Mohawk’s Wild West Hippodrome, with about sixty performers and workers. And she was an accomplished Roman standing racer: straddling two running horses while racing, and winning the event at the 1919 Calgary Stampede, the first woman to do so.
    Jim performed in the Colonel’s wild west shows, beginning at age five. It was said he could tie eighty different knots and name them all. He challenged Chester Byers, another roping great, in a contest for a world title, but Byers forfeited. And when nine famous ropers from the U.S., Mexico and Australia came to challenge Junior, at the end of three days, Junior was determined the world champ. One of the contestants ruefully said, “Jim started where the rest of us left off.”

    Into this rich history, Madonna, an only child, was born. By the time she was two, she was on horseback. She was five years old when grandmother Florence taught her to trick ride on an old paint horse named Boy. By this point, her granddad the Colonel had switched to producing rodeos, and she performed in his rodeos, spending her summers in New York at the show’s home base.
    Each Fourth of July, the Colonel would put on a wild west show for the residents of Waverly. He had made a deal with the city of Waverly: in exchange for 300 acres four miles outside of town, he would put on an annual wild west show. Madonna was part of the show, dressed as a pioneer with her grandmother, in a covered wagon driven into the arena. Its cheesecloth covering was doused with kerosene, so when the Indian actors set it on fire as part of the act, Madonna would grab her dog and hide under the wagon.
    Native Americans, Sioux from North Dakota, were part of the show, and Madonna remembers playing cowboy and Indian with them between shows. At play, she was the Indian and they were the cowboys. And she remembers being her grandad’s “little secretary, with a pencil behind my ear,” as he paid his workers in cash. “He kept the cash in a trunk under the seat of a wagon,” she said. “He’d have all this money in little piles on his bed, and he’d call people in to get their pay.”
    When she was nine, her dad taught her to trick rope, and she added that to her part in her granddad’s rodeo. She was often part of his act, and the two were very close. “He was a good dad,” she remembers. “He wasn’t pushy, but he was there if you needed him. We were very close, like best friends.”
    Col. Eskew’s wild west shows, and later rodeos, entertained every week at big and small cities all over the east. They performed everywhere, from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., from Vermont to Georgia, and as far west as St. Louis. It was a wonderfully free life for a child, traveling with her family.
    When school time rolled around, she was sent back to Ardmore, Okla., to her mother’s parents, Floyd and Florence Randolph. She missed being on the road, but in November, after her parents were done working the Madison Square Gardens and the Boston Gardens shows, each a month long, they would join her in Ardmore and the family was together till school was out and they’d all go back on the road.
    The JE Ranch Rodeo operated until 1959, when the Colonel retired to Ardmore, where he died six years later. Madonna quit trick riding. Her horse was old, and she was traveling with her dad and his trick roping specialty act.
    Junior trick roped but was also an accomplished bulldogger, and sometimes his daughter was his hazer. His two biggest pieces of advice for her were “when the gate opens, whip and ride,” and “never pull up.” Those words came in handy when, at a rodeo in Estes Park, Colo., her dad volunteered her to haze for Buddy Heaton, a rodeo clown and steer wrestler. As Buddy slid down on the steer, the steer stumbled, throwing him and the steer directly under Madonna’s horse. She remembered her dad’s advice: she didn’t pull up but ran over the steer and Buddy. He wasn’t mad, she remembered. “Wrecks are part of it.”
    Madonna graduated from Ardmore High School in 1959 and spent a year in college. But her dad needed her in his act; she was part of the contract, so she came home and went back on the road.

    She traveled with him, trick roping across the nation for producers like Beutler Bros., Harry Knight, Mike Cervi and Harry Vold. She also worked as a timer, and in those days, the timers often carried flags in the grand entry. Harry and Emily Knight considered her as a family member. “I was kind of like their kid. They were family.” She often spent time at Knights’ ranch in Colorado between rodeos. For several years, she timed the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City.
    For a while, her dad Junior ran the Medora, N.D. Ranchorama, a show similar to a wild west show, and between rodeos, she would help her dad there. She also worked for the American Tobacco Co. for six months in 1968 promoting the Bull Durham cigarettes for ready roll instead of rolling your own. She trick roped for them, traveling across the nation. “That was a fun tour,” she remembers.
    Her dad quit performing in 1973. He had contracted lupus while serving in the Pacific in World War II. “He fought with that for many years,” Madonna remembered. When he retired, she quit as well. He passed away in 1977.
    When her rodeo career ended, she worked as a veterinarian’s assistant in the Ardmore area and as a dental assistant. Animals and kids are two things she loves.
    Her dad had told her she could not date cowboys till she had gone to college for a year. He didn’t think the rodeo scene was a proper place to date, as the only places for a couple to go were the dance hall or bar. She married in 1961, then divorced seven years later. Madonna married Jim Pumphrey in 1974, and they continued to live in Ardmore, until his passing in June of 2018. They celebrated 44 years of marriage together.
    Together, she and Jim raised quarter horses, boarded horses and taught a concealed carry school for fifteen years, instructing 15,000 students. She spent fifteen years volunteering with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), speaking up for children’s best interests in court and mentoring them.
    She’s had the chance to be a buddy to lots of children, especially her granddaughter, Riley O’Linn. Jim had a daughter, Kaylynn, when they married, and Kaylynn came to live with Madonna and J.M. in her teenage years. Kaylynn is married to Tim O’Linn and they live in Georgia. Madonna doesn’t get to see her granddaughter as much as she would like, but they are close.
    She loved her days in rodeo and the friends she’s made, and loves to see them at reunions. They were good days. “I’ve had a pretty exciting life, I truly have. If I go tomorrow, I can’t say I haven’t tried a lot of stuff.”
    Madonna was awarded the Tad Lucas Award in 2003. Her grandfather the Colonel, her grandmother Florence Randolph, and her dad are members of the National Cowboy Museum’s Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

  • On The Trail with Cort Scheer

    On The Trail with Cort Scheer

    Cort Scheer is building his retirement one bronc at a time. The Elsmere, Nebraska, cowboy will top $1 million by the end of this season and he has managed his earnings well, investing in cattle for his family’s ranch in Nebraska and a piece of property in Stephenville, Texas. “I bought a place to fix up since I’m there for the winter and go to rodeos,” said the 32-year-old, who has been running down the rodeo road with the PRCA for eight years. “I’ve built the house and barn and this winter I’ll build the arena. Then I’ll sell it and get a bigger place.” At the end of his rodeo career, Cort plans to return to the family ranch, expand it, and run cattle with his brother, Clete. Right now, Cort doesn’t get home too often – maybe one month total each year. “It’s awesome,” he says of his home in Nebraska. “Cell phone don’t work, no town within 50 miles – it’s perfect –it’s just the ranch.”

     

    Cort grew up there, traveling 40 miles one way to school. “We got on a bus 20 miles from home.” There was no activity bus and since Cort was big into football and wrestling, he and his older brother and sister (Kema) drove themselves. “My brother and sister packed me around until I was old enough to drive.” In Nebraska, that age is 14. He spent the rest of his time working on the ranch. He learned how to ride broncs from his dad, Kevin, who rodeoed until he got married and his uncle.

     

     

    He started by riding sheep and then started riding in eighth grade, the earliest his dad would let him. He competed in the Nebraska high school rodeo, making Nationals every year. He won the Nebraska High School All around, competing in steer wrestling, calf roping, and saddle bronc riding. He played running back and corner back in football. “I liked it – I wanted to play football more than rodeo but I was too short and slow.

     

    “He’s always been a blessing – I like to say he’s as good a person as he is a bronc rider,” said his mom, Pam, fondly referred to as Grammy Pam. “I’m glad he stands up for what he believes in.” She also adds. “God really blessed him with this talent and I’m thankful that he’s walking with the Lord. He brings a lot of joy and happiness to this family.” Pam also loves ranch life in Nebraska. “I open my window up every morning to the Sandhills,” said the 22-year-veteran teacher that will be going on her second mission trip to Guatemala. She drives 28 miles each way to work each day to teach third grade.

     

    Cort went to college in Garden City and ended up at Panhandle State. “It’s always been the powerhouse in the bronc riding,” said his dad. “He was in the bronc riding region and was there for three years and I think that has a lot to do with his ability. I raised horses for a few years and he got on those colts, but he did most of his practicing down south.” Kevin is proud of all his kids. “I tried to raise my kids so they would go after what they wanted, and Cort has.

     

    When Cort does something, he goes all in – he’s pretty committed to anything he sets his mind to doing.” Kevin quit riding to pursue his first love, the ranch and his family. “I rodeoed at one a year on Labor Day to celebrate the end of haying, so they saw me ride once a year. I like ranching, it’s something I’ve done all my life.”

     

    Cort travels with two other bronc riders, and the three some make the best of the many hours on the road. “It’s been Tyler, Chet, and I for years.” He does a bit of hauling on his own, and spends the windshield time listening to music. “I’m a rocker, a big AC/DC fan and anything old country.” The day to day life on the road is pretty much the same. “We roll in an hour before, ease on up to the bucking chutes, and ride, go back to the van, and hang out. Lots of times we stay at a buddy’s house along the way, that’s a good thing about being older, you know everybody. It’s a big family, the door is always open, the light is always on.”

     

    He doesn’t check the standings very often. “I let the numbers take care of themselves and worry about my riding. If I’m riding good, the numbers will work.” He has stuck to bronc riding since high school. “I blew my knee out one year and riding broncs was paying me pretty good so I didn’t want to jeopardize my knee.” As a veteran on the road, he thinks it’s easier than it was at the beginning of his career. “When I was younger I didn’t pay attention to my eating and being healthy like I do now,” he said. “I try to stay away from fried foods – now I eat more Cliff bars – low in sugar and high in protein. Even though I don’t work out, wherever I’m at I try to work at something. I figure if you’re working, you’re working out.” Entering is easier too. “After so many years, you hit the same trail – just different days up.” The quality of stock has improved as well. “It’s light years from where I started, with the futurity broncs, they are big and strong. They are so athletic, 1,400 pounds jumping 6 feet in the air.” His advice to stay on is simple. “Lift on your rein and a good spur out and hustle; you’re coming down if you don’t.”

     

    “I like riding broncs, but I’d like to be home. My body is doing good, saddle doing good – I’ll keep doing it until they quit paying me. Then I’ll go home.” Until then, he is enjoying his rodeo days. “You dang sure have some stories when you sit in your rocking chairs.”

     

    Cort Scheer summary of accomplishments include:

    4x National High School Finals Qualifier
    2002 National High School Rookie Bronc Rider
    2004 Nebraska High School Steer Wrestling Champion
    2005 Nebraska High School Champion Saddle Bronc, Calf Roping, Steer Wrestler, & All Around
    4x College National
    Finals Qualifier
    2006 Central Plains Region Saddle Bronc Champion
    2008 Big Sky Region Champion Bronc Rider, Steer Wrestler, & All Around
    2011 Rodeo Houston
    Champion Bronc Rider & Shootout Champ
    2013 Calgary Saddle Bronc Champ
    5x Wrangler National
    Finals Rodeo Qualifier
    2016 Champion ERA Bronc Rider
    4x Canadian Finals Qualifier
    2018 The American
    Champion Bronc Rider
    Pendleton & Denver Champ

  • Leaderboard changes at 122nd annual “Daddy of ‘em All”

    Leaderboard changes at 122nd annual “Daddy of ‘em All”

               CHEYENNE, Wyo. — July 28, 2018 — Once again, the best was saved for last in the barrel racing at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

    Sunshine did more than brighten up the skies at Frontier Park; it also dried the ground While arena conditions weren’t ideal, they had improved from Friday and it showed in Saturday’s barrel racing times.

    The Women’s Professional Rodeo Association field included many that had been the most successful in the first round, including reigning world champion Nellie Miller from Cottonwood, California. Riding her great horse, Rafter W Minnie Reba, that she calls “Sister,” Miller stopped the clock in 17.76 seconds. She was the final barrel racer in the regular competition before Championship Sunday.

    Combined with her first-round time of 17.54, she leads the overall standings with a total of 35.30 seconds. Miller had a big smile on her face and was giving Sister some love as she rode out of the arena.

    They won the first round and tied for fifth in the second round. She has already won nearly $10,000 here and stands to add to it significantly on Sunday. Miller is currently second in the world standings. A big win here could help her narrow the gap.

    Bill Tutor made a big move in Saturday’s bareback riding. Wyoming’s own Seth Hardwick was at the top of the leaderboard at 166.5 points on two rides. Tutor changed that with an 85-point effort on J Bar J Rodeo’s Smack Daddy Saturday. That gave him a total of 167.5 to move him into first place.

    Steer wrestler Levi Rudd, from Chelsea, Oklahoma is the big money winner of more than 1,200 contestants that have competed at the 122nd edition of the rodeo. Rudd placed second in the first round after stopping the clock in 6.1 seconds on Friday. He came back on Saturday with another second-place finish at 8.0. Those two checks added up to $11,006 in earnings and he has an opportunity to add a lot more to that on Championship Sunday.

    Rudd now has command of the overall lead and is on pace to have the biggest win of his career. He has a total time of 14.1 seconds and is over two seconds faster than the man in second place, Curtis Cassidy from Donalda, Alberta.

    Friday and Saturday also saw the most successful group of bull riders. Trevor Kastner, from Roff, Oklahoma; Gray Essary III, of Sommerville, Tennessee; Edgar, Montana’s Parker Breding; and Ruger Piva, from Challis, Idaho all rode two bulls. That increased the total to seven riders that had a score on both of their bulls. The remainder of the 16-man field is made up of the highest scoring riders on one ride.

    All the other events will feature the top 12 riders with the highest total score or fastest total time from two competitions. Action for Championship Sunday gets underway at 12:45 p.m. Along with the prestigious buckle, champions will also receive trophy saddles and other awards.

    CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 28, 2018 — The following are first-round winners in bareback and saddle bronc riding; second-round winners and Championship Sunday qualifiers in all events from the 122th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.

     

    Bareback Riding: (first round) 1, Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 86.5 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Pretty Woman, $5,743. 2, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 85.5, $4,403. 3, (tie) Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, and Jamie Howlett, Weatherford, Texas, 85, $2,680 each. 5, (tie) Jamie Howlett, Weatherford, Texas, and Kyle Charley, Lukachukai, Ariz., 84, $1,149 each. 7, Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas, $766. 8, (tie) Wyatt Denny, Minden, Nev., and Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn., 82, $287 each. (second round) 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Ca., 87.5 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Wilson Sanchez, $5,743. 2, (tie) Lane McGeHee, Victoria, Texas; Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah, and Tutor, 85, $3,254 each. 5, Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D., 84.5, $1,340. 6, Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 84, $957. 7, (tie) Aus and Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D., $670. (finals qualifiers) 1, Tutor, 167.5. 2, Seth Hardwick, 166.5 points. 3, (tie) McGeHee and Feild, 166. 5, (tie) Bennett and Lowe, 165.5.  7, Tanner Aus, 165. 8, (tie) Ty Breuer and Shane O’Connell, 163.5. 10, Biglow, 163. 11, Tate Schwagler, Mandan, N.D., 161.5. 12, Trenton Montero, Winnemucca, Nev., 160.5.

     

    Steer Wrestling: (second round) 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 7.5, $6,329. 2, Levi Rudd, Chelsea, Okla., 8.0, $5,503. 3, Kody Woodward, Dupree, S.D., 8.2, $4,678. 4, Nick Guy, Sparta, Mich., 8.3, $3,852. 5, (tie) Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La., and Blake Mindemann, Blanchard, Okla., 8.7, $2,614 each.  7, Cody Harmon, Dublin, Texas, 8.9. 8, Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, $5506, (tie) Scott Guenthner, Provost, Alberta, and Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho, 9.1. 8, Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho, 9.2. (finals qualifiers) 1, Rudd, 14.1. 2, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 16.7. 3, Guy, 16.8. 4, Straws Milan, Cochrane, Alberta, 17.5. 5, Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala., 17.8. 6, Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 18.2. 7, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 18.3. 8, Miguel Garcia, Kaycee, Wyo., 18.6. 9, Kelby Bond, Avondale, Co., 18.7. 10, Jacob Edler, Dacoma, Okla., 18.8. 11, (tie) Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho and Blake Mindemann, Blanchard, Okla., 19.1.

     

    Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 88 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Utopia, $4,889. 2, Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 84.5, $3,748. 3, Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 83.5, $2,771. 4, Wyatt Casper, Pampa, Texas, 83.0, $1,793. 5, (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas; Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Australia; Audy Reed, Spearman, Texas, and Joey Sonnier III, New Iberia, La., 82, $774 each. (second round) 1, Rusty Wright, Milford, Utah, 86 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Trophy Wife, $4,889. 2, Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 85, $3,748. 3, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 84.5, $2,770. 4, (tie) Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., and Mason Laviolette, Rayne, La., 84, $1,467 each. 6, Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 83.5, $815. 7, Samuel Kelts, Millarville, Alberta, 81.5, $652. 7, Diaz, 80.5, $489. (finals qualifiers) 1, Cress, 166.5 points. 2, Diaz, 165. 3, Casper, 163. 4, Rusty Wright, 161. 5, Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb., 160. 6, (tie) Thurston and Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 159.5. 8, (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas; Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, and Dawson Jandreau, Kennebec, S.D. 158. 11, Sterling Crawley and Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alberta, 157.5.

     

    Team Roping: (second round) 1, Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Co., and Joe Mattern, Plantersville, Texas, 7.5 seconds, $5,959 each. 2, Kellan Johnson and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 7.6, $5,182 each. 3, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 7.7, $4,405. 4, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., $3,628 each. 5, (tie) Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala., and Trace Porter, Leesville, La.; and Derrick Begay, Seba Delkai, Ariz., and Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 8.5, $2,462. 7, (tie) Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil; Clint Gorrell, B, N.D., and Drew Gartner, Killdeer, N.D.; and Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Co., and T.J. Watts, Eads, Co., 8.6, $605 each.

    (finals qualifiers) 1, Chris Francis and Cade Passig, Las Vegas, N.M., 17.5. 2, Ty Bach, Mt. Vernon, Texas, and Trey Johnson, Weatherford, Texas, 18.3. 3, Scott White, Oelrichs, S.D., and Rusty Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 18.5. 4, Driggers and Nogueria, 18.6. 5, Begay and Petska, 18.7. 6, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Joseph Harrison, Overbrook, Okla. 7, Tyler Harris, Killdeer, N.D., and Ross Carson, Grassy Butte, N.D., 19.1. 8, Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Cody Cowden, Atwater, Ca., 19.3. 9. Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Fla., and Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas, 19.3. 10, Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho, and Jake Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 19.6. 11, (tie) Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla.; and Shay Carroll, Hico, Texas, and Jason Duby, Klamath Falls, Ore., 20.2.

     

    Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding: (second round) 1, Creighton Curley, Window Rock, Ariz., 75 points on Brookman Rodeo’s #401. 2, Rowdy Chesser, Kansas, Okla., and Rhett Fanning, Martin, S.D., 74, $802 each. 4, Wyatt Hageman, Jay Em, Wyo., $447. 5, (tie) LeFebre, Lane Schuelke, Newell, S.D., and Connor Murnion, Jordan, Mont., 71, $149. (overall winners) 1, Schuelke, 148, $1,230. 2, Fanning, 146, $932. 3, (tie) LeFebre and Murnion, 142, $559 each. 5, (tie) Logan Cook, Alto, Texas and Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 140. $223 each.

     

    Tie-down Roping: (second round) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 10.3, $6.557. 2, Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 10.4, $5,701. 3, Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas, 10.7, $4,846. 4, Austin Barstow, Springview, Neb., 10.8, $3,991. 5, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 10.9, $3,136. 6, Billy Hamilton, Stigler, Okla., 11.6, $2,281. 7, John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, 11.8, $1,425. 8, Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 11.9, $570. (finals qualifiers) 1, Pruitt, 21.8 seconds. 2, Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, 22.8. 3, Gray, 22.9. 4, Harris, 23.2. 5, Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 23.3. 6, Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas, 23.6. 7, Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., 23.8. 8, Kormos, 24.5. 9, (tie) Tim Pharr, Resaca, Ga., and Ryan Watkins, Morgan Mill, Texas, 25.1. 11, Caleb Bullock, Boise City, Okla., 25.4. 12, Douch, 25.5.

     

    Barrel Racing: (second round leaders) 1, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas, 17.61 seconds, $6,669. 2, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo., 17.65, $5,716. 3, Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 17.66, $4,763. 4, Billie Ann Harmon, Dublin, Texas, 17.68, $4,128. 5, (tie) Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., and Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Ca., 17.76, $2,758. 7, Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz., 17.77, $1,905. 8, Shali Lord, Lamar, Co., 17.82, $1,270. 9, Jessie Telford, 17.86, $953. 10, Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D., 17.87, $635. (finals qualifiers) 1, Miller, 35.30. 2, Pozzi Tonozzi, 35.44. 3, Lockhart, 35.58. 4, Hillman, 35.60. 5, Ganter, 35.67. 6, Rose, 35 .77. 7, Cervi, 35.84. 8, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 35.94. 9, (tie) Darling, Lord and Katelyn Scott, Odessa, Texas, 35.96. 12, Laura Lambert, Wiggins, Colo., 36.00.

     

    Bull Riding: (second round) 1, Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., 90 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s American Blood, $5,920. 2, Dalan Duncan, Ballard, Utah, 88, $4,539. 3, Silvano Alves, Decatur, Texas, 86, $3.355. 4, (tie) Koby Radley, Montpelier, La.; Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., and Nic Lica, Garden City, Mich., 85.5, $1,513 each. 7, (tie) Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas; Garrett Tribble, Bristow, Okla., and Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas, 85, $460 each. (finals qualifiers) 1, Radley, 173.5. 2, (tie) J.W. Harris, Goldthwaite, Texas, and Askey, 166 points. 4, Ruger Piva, Challis, Idaho, 166.5. 5, Breding, 166. 6, Gray Essary III, Sommerville, Tenn., 165.5. 7, Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla., 157.5. (on one) 8, Eldred, 90. 9, (tie) Brady Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho, and Duncan, 88. 11, Eli Vastbinder, Athens, Texas, and Steve Woolsey, Payson, Utah, 87.5. 13, Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D., 86.5. 14, Alves and Jordan Spears, Redding, Ca., 86. 16, Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Co., and Nic Lica, Garden City, Mich., 85.5.

     

    Steer Roping: (finals qualifiers) 1, Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 29.7 seconds. 2, Kenyon Burns, Lovington, N.M., 31.4. 3, Bryce Davis, Ovalo, Texas, 32.0. 4, Quay Howard, Canyon, Texas, 32.3. 5, Brady Popino, Big Cabin, Okla., 32.5. 6, (tie) Jim Locke, Miami, Texas, and Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas, 33.1. 8, Matt Hebbert, Hyannis, Neb., 36.9. 9, C.A. Lauer, Buffalo, Okla., 36.0. 10, Cody Scheck, Kiowa, Kan., 37.3. 11, Wade Shoemaker, DVM, Gill, Co., 38.0. 12, Bobby Joe Hill, Mexia, Texas, 40.3.

     

    Wild Horse Race: 1, Jason Smith Team, $610. 2, Team Agin, $457. 3, Team Allen, $305.

     

     

     

  • Local contestants excel at Cheyenne Frontier Days and current leaders

    Local contestants excel at Cheyenne Frontier Days and current leaders

                CHEYENNE, Wyo. — July 25, 2018 — It’s only fitting that two local participants in the rodeo had success on Cheyenne/Laramie County Day on Wednesday at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

    A very enthusiastic crowd cheered for one of the favorites, Brody Cress, in the saddle bronc riding. The Hillsdale resident won the competition here last year. He graduated from Cheyenne Central High School where he was a wrestling stand out.

    Cress got on a horse owned by Stace Smith Pro Rodeo named Utopia and when the judges added up their scores, he had an 88 by his name. That is the highest score at the 122nd edition of the rodeo so far. He then packed up his gear and was making a mad dash out of Frontier Park. He was headed to Eagle, Colorado to ride Wednesday night, then back to Cheyenne for his second round of competition on Thursday.

    In the steer wrestling, it was Aaron Vosler, that had the stars align in his favor. Vosler stopped the clock in 5.7 seconds which is the fastest run of the rodeo so far. The steer wrestling is one of the most exciting events at Cheyenne. Steers get a 30-foot head start and when cowboys get to them, they are all running full on.

    Anything can happen and often does. Getting that steer slowed down, and then laying it on the ground takes skill, strength and patience. A 5.7-second run wouldn’t place at most rodeos, but it is just six-tenths off of the arena record in Frontier Park.

    Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi is hoping for her second buckle from Cheyenne. She won the rodeo here in 2007 aboard her great gelding Stitch, then went on to win her first of two world titles. This year Pozzi-Tonozzi is riding an American Quarter Horse mare, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that she calls Mona.

    They had a nearly flawless run in the big arena here stopping the clock in 17.61 seconds. She won almost $2,000 here in the first round with a time of 17.83. She now has command of the overall standings here with a total time of 35.44 seconds. Lacinda Rose from Willard, Missouri, is in second at 36.77.

    All of the competition at the sixth performance of the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo will be in the second round. Competition gets underway at 12:45 p.m. There will be a lot of pink seen around the arena as well as inside of it as “Give Cancer the Boot” is the day’s theme.

     

    CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 25, 2018 — The following are current leaders from the 122th annual Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo after the fifth performance.

     

    Bareback Riding: (first round) 1, Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, 86.5 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Pretty Woman. 2, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 85.5 3, (tie) Jake Vold, Ponoka, Alberta, and Jamie Howlett, Weatherford, Texas, 85 points. 5, Kyle Charley, Lukachukai, Ariz., 84. 6, Wyatt Denny, Minden, Nev., 82. (second round) 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Ca., 87.5 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Wilson Sanchez. 2, Lane McGeHee, Victoria, Texas, 85. 3, Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 84. 4, Logan Patterson, Kim, Co., 5, Hardwick, 81. 6, Jake Brown, Cleveland, Texas, 80.5. (overall leaders) 1, Hardwick, 166.5 points. 2, McGeHee, 166. 3, (tie) Bennett and Lowe, 165.5. 5, Biglow, 163. 6, Schwagler, 161.5. 7, Kyle Charley, Lukachukai, Ariz., 160. 8, Orin Larsen, Inglis, Manitoba, 159.

     

    Steer Wrestling: (first round) 1, Aaron Vosler, Cheyenne, Wyo., 5.7 seconds. 2, Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta, 6.4. 3, Jacob Edler, Dacoma, Okla., 6.5. 4, (tie) Sam Olson, Buffalo, S.D., and Justin Kimsey, Kennewick, Wash., 6.9. 6, Chase Black, Coalville, Utah, 7.3. (second round) 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 7.5. 2, Kody Woodward, Dupree, S.D., 8.2. 3, Nick Guy, Sparta, Mich., 8.3. 4, Cody Harmon, Dublin, Texas, 8.9. 5, (tie) Scott Guenthner, Provost, Alberta, and Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho, 9.1. (overall leaders) 1, Cassidy, 16.7. 2, Guy, 16.8. 3, Milan, 17.5. 4, Dru Melvin, Hebron, Neb., 18.2. 5, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 18.3. 6, Garcia, 18.6. 7, Kelby Bond, Avondale, Co., 18.7. 8, Edler, 18.8.

     

    Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 88 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Utopia. 2, Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas, 84.5. 3, Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah, 83.5. 4, Wyatt Casper, Pampa, Texas, 83.0. 5, (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, and Jake Finlay, Goondiwindi, Australia, 82. (second round) 1, Jake Wright, Milford, Utah, 85 points on Hi Lo ProRodeo’s Peanut Butter Oreo. 2, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 84.5. 3, Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont., 84. 4, Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas. 5, (tie) Joe Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev., and Tyrell J. Smith, Sand Coulee, Mont., 80. (overall leaders) 1, Thurston, 159.5. 2, Jacobs Crawley, 158. 3, Sterling Crawley, 157.5. 4, Alex Wright, Milford, Utah, 156.5. 5, Fountain, 156. 6, Harper, 154. 7, Schuelke, 152. 8, Clay Elliott, Nanton, Alberta, 150.5.

     

    Team Roping (first round) 1, Ty Bach, Mt. Vernon, Texas, and Trey Johnson, Weatherford, Texas, 7.0 seconds. 2, (tie) Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Tanner Braden, Dewey, Okla.; and Cody Callaway, Gillette, Wyo., and Clay Johnson, Rozet, Wyo., 8.0. 4, Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho, and Jake Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 8.3. 5, Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta, and Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alberta, 8.4. 6, Chris Francis and Cade Passig, Las Vegas, N.M., 8.6. (second round) 1, Garrett Tonozzi, Fruita, Co., and Joe Mattern, Plantersville, Texas, 7.5 seconds. 2, Kellan Johnson and Jhett Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 7.6. 3, Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas, and Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas, 7.7. 4, Derrick Begay, Seba Delkai, Ariz., and Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz., 8.5. 5, (tie) Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil; Clint Gorrell, B, N.D., and Drew Gartner, Killdeer, N.D.; and Cole Dorenkamp, Lamar, Co., and T.J. Watts, Eads, Co., 8.6. 8, Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Cody Cowden, Atwater, Ca., 19.3

    (overall leaders) 1, Francis and Passig, 17.5. 2, Bach and Johnson, 18.3. 3, White and Wakefield, 18.5. 4, Driggers and Nogueria, 18.6. 5, Begay and Petska, 18.7. 6, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Joseph Harrison, Overbrook, Okla. 7, Tyler Harris, Killdeer, N.D., and Ross Carson, Grassy Butte, N.D., 19.1. 8, Jr. Dees and Cody Cowden, 19.3.

     

    Rookie Saddle Bronc Riding (first round) 1, Lane Schuelke, Newell, S.D., 77 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Watch This. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 74.5. 3, (tie) Rhett Fanning, Martin, S.D., and Chance Masters, Leon, Iowa, 72. 5, (tie) Corey LeFebre, Bloomfield, N.M.; Will Pollock, Utopia, Texas; and Logan Cook, Alto, Texas; 71. (second round) 1, Rowdy Chesser, 74 points on Use Primary’s Stan Headings. 2, (tie) LeFebre, and Schuelke, 71. 4. Cree Minkoff, Billings, Mont., 70. 5, Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, 69. 6, (tie) Jake Foster, Meadow, S.D., and Jarrod Hammons, Stephenville, Texas, 66. (overall leaders) 1, Schuelke, 148. 2, LeFebre, 142. 3, Cook, 140. 4, Wright, 136.5. 5, Parker Kempfer, Melbourne, Fla., 134. 6, Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D., 131.

     

    Tie-down Roping (first round) 1, Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, 9.4 seconds. 2, Treg Schaack, Canyon, Texas, 10.1. 3, Cole Bailey, Okmulgee, Okla., 10.3. 4, Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 10.6. 5, Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas, 10.7. 6, Tyson Durfey, Weatherford, Texas, 10.8. (second round) 1, Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 10.3. 2, Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas, 10.4. 3, Austin Barstow, Springview, Neb., 10.8. 4, Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb., 10.9. 5, Billy Hamilton, Stigler, Okla., 11.6. 6, John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, 11.8 (overall leaders) 1, Pruitt, 21.8 seconds. 2, Smith, 22.8. 3, Gray, 22.9. 4, Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas, 23.2. 5, Cooper, 23.3. 6, Boardman, 23.6. 7, Kormos, 24.5. 8, (tie) Tim Pharr, Resaca, Ga., and Ryan Watkins, Morgan Mill, Texas, 25.1.

     

    Barrel Racing: (second round leaders) 1, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texas, 17.61 seconds. 2, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo., 17.65. 3, Billie Ann Harmon, Dublin, Texas, 17.68. 4, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.76. 5, Jessie Telford, Caldwell, Idaho, 6, Becki Mask, Amarillo, Texas, 17.88. (overall leaders) 1, Pozzi Tonozzi, 35.44. 2, Rose, 35 .77. 3, Kelly Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 35.94. 4, Darling, 35.96. 5, Laura Lambert, Wiggins, Colo., 36.00. 6, Wanda Brown, Edgemont, S.D., 36.04. 7, (tie) Telford, and Jolee Lautaret- Jordan, Kingman, Ariz., 36.12.

     

    Bull Riding: (first round) 1, Brady Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho, 88 points on Smith, Harper & Morgan’s #419. 2, Koby Radley, Montpelier, La., 88. 3, Eli Vastbinder, Athens, Texas, 87.5. 4, (tie) Jeff Bertus, Avon, S.D., and J.W. Harris, Goldthwaite, Texas, 86.5. 6, Elijah Mora, Wiggins, Co., 85.5. (second round) 1, Brennon Eldred, Sulphur, Okla., 90 points on Rocky Mountain Rodeo’s American Blood. 2, Silvano Alves, Decatur, Texas, 86. 3, Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas, 85. 4, Cain Smith, Pendleton, Ore., 83.5. 5, (tie) Dillon Tyner, Eaton, Co., and Wyatt Rogers, Tahlequah, Okla., 82.5. (overall leaders) 1, (tie) J.W. Harris, Goldthwaite, Texas, and Askey, 166 points. (on one) 3, Eldred, 90. 4, Portenier, 88.5, (tie) Bertus, 86.5. 7, Mora, 85.5. 8, Savage, 85.

     

    Wild Horse Race: No qualifiers

     

  • 2018 National High School Finals Average Results

    2018 National High School Finals Average Results

    ALL AROUND ROOKIE COWBOY

    1. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 960
    2. Carson Wetsel, Richmond, Texas, 500
    3. Gage Gardiner, Ashland, Kan., 420
    4. Regan Wheatley, Calhan, Colo., 265
    5. Trevor Hale, Perryton, Texas, 185
    6. Pierce Wold, Wilton, Calif., 460
    7. Tice Hiner, Walla Walla, Wash., 380

    8-9. Casey Roberts, Munford, Ala., 120

    8-9. Gavin Hershberger, Litchfield Park, Ariz., 120

    1. Ethan Lombardo, Marshville, N.C., 110

    ALL AROUND COWBOY

    1. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 960
    2. Judd Grover, Cresco, Iowa, 580
    3. Briggs Madsen, Honeyville, Utah, 530
    4. Kasen York, Saratoga, Wyo., 515
    5. Carson Wetsel, Richmond, Texas, 500
    6. Gage Gardiner, Ashland, Kan., 420
    7. Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho, 400
    8. Kal Fuller, Bozeman, Mont., 370
    9. Braydin Evans, Erda, Utah, 340
    10. Cole Curry, Liberty, Miss., 280

    ALL AROUND ROOKIE COWGIRL

    1. Tylor Todd, Rexford, Kan., 310
    2. Karrigan Cagley, Kentwood, La., 305
    3. Millie Frey, Eunice, La., 200
    4. Abigail Gay, Stamping Ground, Ky., 170

    5-6. Abby Stevens, Galatia, Ill., 160

    5-6. Hannah Giger, Wilburton, Okla., 160

    7-8. Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo., 140

    7-8. Emma Kate Wilder, Millington, Tenn., 140

    1. Shyanna Reeves, Boone, Colo., 70
    2. Kayla Earnhardt, Mooresville, N.C., 50

    ALL AROUND COWGIRL

    1. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 1060
    2. LaRae Luis, Wynnewood, Okla., 887.5
    3. Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin, N.C., 560
    4. Shay Hough, Gillette, Wyo., 490
    5. Brie Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 375
    6. Cassie Miller, Florence, Ariz., 370
    7. Maddy Deerman, Hope, N.M., 345

    8-9. Kaytlyn Miller, Dammeron Valley, Utah, 310

    8-9. Tylor Todd, Rexford, Kan., 310

    1. Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 300

    AQHA Boys Horse of the Year

    1. SPOON LADUL, Judd Grover, IA, 430
    2. WILSONS LIL HIGHBROW, Stran Thompson, NM, 200
    3. JH MISS RED RANDAL, AC Bass, FL, 200
    4. PATS SMOKE N GUN, Logan Bates, AZ, 90
    5. DUALIN LIGHTS, Cooper Crago, SD, 70

    AQHA Girls Horse of the Year

    1. FAIRLEA STEADY BETTY, Ali Norcutt, NV, 555
    2. CHIC N SMOOTH, Shay Hough, WY, 490
    3. SMART LIL SPITFIRE, Madalyn Richards, TX, 315
    4. RNS RUNNERELLA, Mary Thompson, IL, 200
    5. SCRIPTS BUCKWEAT, Hailey Garrison, MT, 170
    6. TOPLESS BARTENDER, Annabelle Hampton, AZ, 160
    7. HEZ BEN SETUP, Kaylee Cormier, LA, 95
    8. GENUINE DUAL GREY, Jessie Jane Portenie, ID, 90
    9. PEPPERS LOPIN KING, Morgan Chappell, WI, 85

    Girls Team Standings

    1. TEXAS, 3,540.00
    2. UTAH, 3,277.50
    3. OKLAHOMA, 1,582.50
    4. NEVADA, 1,465.00
    5. SOUTH DAKOTA, 1,450.00
    6. KANSAS, 1,340.00
    7. ARIZONA, 1,337.50
    8. NEW MEXICO, 1,315.00
    9. LOUISIANA, 1,300.00
    10. WASHINGTON, 1,225.00
    11. ALBERTA, 935.00
    12. WYOMING, 930.00
    13. IDAHO, 870.00
    14. TENNESSEE, 715.00
    15. MINNESOTA, 670.00
    16. IOWA, 575.00
    17. SOUTH CAROLINA, 570.00
    18. CALIFORNIA, 570.00
    19. MONTANA, 510.00
    20. WISCONSIN, 445.00
    21. NORTH DAKOTA, 440.00
    22. OREGON, 435.00
    23. COLORADO, 430.00
    24. ILLINOIS, 410.00
    25. GEORGIA, 360.00
    26. NEBRASKA, 322.50
    27. MISSISSIPPI, 315.00
    28. ARKANSAS, 300.00
    29. FLORIDA, 265.00
    30. INDIANA, 200.00
    31. OHIO, 175.00
    32. KENTUCKY, 170.00
    33. MISSOURI, 90.00
    34. PENNSYLVANIA, 85.00
    35. NEW YORK, 60.00
    36. NORTH CAROLINA, 50.00
    37. ALABAMA, 35.00
    38. BRITISH COLUMBIA, 20.00

    Boys Team Standings

    1. TEXAS, 4,255.00
    2. UTAH, 3,620.00
    3. OKLAHOMA, 3,064.00
    4. KANSAS, 2,357.00
    5. ALBERTA, 2,045.00
    6. LOUISIANA, 2,040.00
    7. COLORADO, 1,930.00
    8. CALIFORNIA, 1,818.33
    9. WYOMING, 1,698.33
    10. IDAHO, 1,675.00
    11. SOUTH DAKOTA, 1,495.00
    12. WASHINGTON, 1,295.00
    13. IOWA, 1,265.00
    14. NEW MEXICO, 1,150.00
    15. MISSOURI, 895.00
    16. OREGON, 855.00
    17. ARKANSAS, 820.00
    18. NEBRASKA, 770.00
    19. ARIZONA, 698.33
    20. TENNESSEE, 665.00
    21. NORTH DAKOTA, 647.00
    22. MINNESOTA, 620.00
    23. NEW YORK, 605.00
    24. FLORIDA, 550.00
    25. ILLINOIS, 450.00
    26. MISSISSIPPI, 420.00
    27. MONTANA, 357.00
    28. BRITISH COLUMBIA, 335.00
    29. AUSTRALIA, 335.00
    30. GEORGIA, 325.00
    31. MEXICO, 310.00
    32. WISCONSIN, 310.00
    33. SASKATCHEWAN, 300.00
    34. NORTH CAROLINA, 210.00
    35. ALABAMA, 150.00
    36. SOUTH CAROLINA, 110.00
    37. HAWAII, 100.00
    38. NEVADA, 85.00

    Team Standings

    1. TEXAS, 7,795.00
    2. UTAH, 6,897.50
    3. OKLAHOMA, 4,646.50
    4. KANSAS, 3,697.00
    5. LOUISIANA, 3,340.00
    6. ALBERTA, 2,980.00
    7. SOUTH DAKOTA, 2,945.00
    8. WYOMING, 2,628.33
    9. IDAHO, 2,545.00
    10. WASHINGTON, 2,520.00
    11. CALIFORNIA, 2,388.33
    12. COLORADO, 2,360.00
    13. NEW MEXICO, 2,250.00
    14. ARIZONA, 2,035.83
    15. IOWA, 1,840.00
    16. NEVADA, 1,550.00
    17. TENNESSEE, 1,380.00
    18. OREGON, 1,290.00
    19. MINNESOTA, 1,290.00
    20. ARKANSAS, 1,120.00
    21. NEBRASKA, 1,092.50
    22. NORTH DAKOTA, 1,087.00
    23. MISSOURI, 985.00
    24. MONTANA, 867.00
    25. ILLINOIS, 860.00
    26. FLORIDA, 815.00
    27. WISCONSIN, 755.00
    28. MISSISSIPPI, 735.00
    29. GEORGIA, 685.00
    30. SOUTH CAROLINA, 680.00
    31. NEW YORK, 665.00
    32. BRITISH COLUMBIA, 355.00
    33. AUSTRALIA, 335.00
    34. MEXICO, 310.00
    35. SASKATCHEWAN, 300.00
    36. NORTH CAROLINA, 260.00
    37. INDIANA, 200.00
    38. ALABAMA, 185.00
    39. OHIO, 175.00
    40. KENTUCKY, 170.00
    41. HAWAII, 100.00
    42. PENNSYLVANIA, 85.00

     

     

    Barrel Racing Average

    1. Amanda Butler, Payson, Utah, 52.139
    2. Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas, 52.341
    3. Justine Elliott, Lacombe, Alberta, Can., 52.353
    4. Kenna Hayes McNeill, Hobbs, N.M., 52.42
    5. Kamryn Carlsen, Neola, Utah, 52.641
    6. Jayde Wamel, Mesilla, N.M., 52.649
    7. Grace Hill, Peyton, Colo., 52.881
    8. Shai McDonald, Gardiner, Mont., 52.952
    9. Kinlee Kellett, Plain City, Utah, 52.957
    10. Abby Hepper, Keene, N.D., 53.009

     

    Bareback Riding Average

    1. Daylon Swearingen, Piffard, N.Y., 229
    2. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 225
    3. Cooper Bennett, Roosevelt, Utah, 223
    4. Dillon Young, Holden, Mo., 216
    5. Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 209
    6. Kolt Dement, Rusk, Texas, 207
    7. Jake Kesl, Tendoy, Idaho, 205
    8. Donny Proffit, Diamondville, Wyo., 197
    9. Brent Applegarth, Yuba City, Calif., 195
    10. Ethan Mazurenko, Thorhild, Alberta, Can., 194

     

    Boys Cutting Average

    1. Carson Ray, Groveton, Texas, 448
    2. Reuben Mendenhall, Edmond, Okla., 441
    3. Austin Christensen, Laverne, Okla., 436.5
    4. Tate Cranney, Oakley, Idaho, 435
    5. Tice Hiner, Walla Walla, Wash., 434
    6. Judd Grover, Cresco, Iowa, 433.5
    7. Justin Schuette, Lincoln, Calif., 432.5
    8. Carson Wetsel, Richmond, Texas, 428.5
    9. Duncan Mackenzie, Baker City, Ore., 426.5
    10. Kasen York, Saratoga, Wyo., 426

     

    Breakaway Roping Average

    1. Cassie Miller, Florence, Ariz., 8.1
    2. Katelyn Brown, Sabin, Minn., 8.11
    3. Aubryn Bedke, Oakley, Idaho, 8.5
    4. Cassie Kayser, Centerville, Wash., 8.51
    5. Kaycee Hollingback, Wilburton, Okla., 9.01
    6. Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 9.31
    7. Brie Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 9.86
    8. Alaina Griffel, Columbus, Mont., 10.2
    9. Emma Hodson, Hooper, Utah, 10.61
    10. Lynnsey Toole, Rydal, Ga., 16.02

     

    Bull Riding Average

    1. Cole Skender, Crossett, Ark., 157
    2. Austin Herrera, Soap Lake, Wash., 149
    3. Patterson Starcher, Mc Louth, Kan., 146
    4. TJ Schmidt, Belle Fourche, S.D., 140
    5. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 139
    6. Koltin Hevalow, Smithville, Mo., 136
    7. Morgan Rising, Wibaux, Mont., 120
    8. Juro Hirata, Ensenada, Baja California, Mex., 115
    9. Chris Wilson, Parkville, New South Wales, Aus., 83
    10. Colten Fritzlan, Rifle, Colo., 81

     

    Tie-Down Roping Average

    1. Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho, 28.78
    2. Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo., 29.04
    3. Cole Walker, Sparta, Tenn., 30.71
    4. Logan Bates, Florence, Ariz., 30.77
    5. Keaton Rustad, Kindred, N.D., 33.66
    6. Stran Thompson, Estancia, N.M., 34.01
    7. Rush Hodges, Coweta, Okla., 34.16
    8. Dylan Cook, Cassatt, S.C., 37.79
    9. Hayden Powell, Rogers, N.M., 37.85
    10. Duncan Mackenzie, Baker City, Ore., 38.42

     

    Girls Cutting Average

    1. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 446
    2. Sheridan Clark, Weatherford, Texas, 446
    3. LaRae Luis, Wynnewood, Okla., 436
    4. Hannah King, Baird, Texas, 434.5
    5. Josie Penrod, Santaquin, Utah, 434
    6. Karrigan Cagley, Kentwood, La., 434
    7. Tylor Todd, Rexford, Kan., 433
    8. Kensley Barnett, Oakley, Kan., 432.5
    9. Regan Fowler, Santa Maria, Calif., 431
    10. Tatum Schafer, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 430

     

    Goat Tying Average

    1. Erryn Hodson, Hooper, Utah, 22.39
    2. Madalyn Richards, Hereford, Texas, 22.52
    3. Wacey Day, Fleming, Colo., 22.83
    4. Beau Peterson, Council Grove, Kan., 23.41
    5. Jillian Kostrzewski, Zimmerman, Minn., 23.62
    6. Peyton McKinley, Las Cruces, N.M., 24.02
    7. Catherine Clayton, Dublin, Texas, 25.14
    8. Lyndsey Orris, Bosque, N.M., 25.6
    9. Lena Johnson, Choudrant, La., 25.98
    10. Meghan McGinley, Bozeman, Mont., 25.99

     

    Pole Bending Average

    1. Brooklyn Gunter, Sulpur, La., 60.102
    2. Maci Zimmerman, New Ross, Ind., 60.54
    3. Morgan Rud, Mondovi, Wis., 60.666
    4. Carly Staggs, Teague, Texas, 61.025
    5. Mary Thompson, Amboy, Ill., 61.146
    6. Lauren Craig, Rougon, La., 61.307
    7. Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin, N.C., 61.523
    8. McKenna Rud, Mondovi, Wis., 61.571
    9. Lauren DeVaney, Coolidge, Ariz., 61.682
    10. Haley Heaton, Cullman, Ala., 61.736

     

    Saddle Bronc Average

    1. Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D., 217
    2. Clayson Hutchings, Springville, Utah, 210
    3. Coy Hebert, DeRidder, La., 201
    4. Taylor Russell, Lipscomb, Texas, 200
    5. Quinten Taylor, Parkland, Alberta, Can., 195
    6. Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan., 184
    7. Jake Vance, Joshua, Texas, 182
    8. Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah, 160
    9. Parker Fleet, Axtell, Texas, 152
    10. Will Pollock, Utopia, Texas, 148

     

    Steer Wrestling Average

    1. Jesse Keysaer, Culleoka, Tenn., 14.17
    2. Gavin Soileau, Bunkie, La., 15
    3. Dylan Peper, Centuria, Wis., 15.67
    4. Jacob Daniell, Monroe, Ga., 17.2
    5. Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D., 17.85
    6. Ryan-Spur Reid, Savona, British Columbia, Can., 18.01
    7. Grant Soileau, Bunkie, La., 18.09
    8. Tyler Scheevel, Lester Prairie, Minn., 18.25
    9. Kater Tate, McLean, Texas, 18.6
    10. Dawson Loewen, Battleford, Saskatchewan, Can., 18.8

     

    Team Roping Average

    1. Breck Ward, Jerome, Idaho, Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho, 19.65
    2. Maddy Deerman, Hope, N.M., Kayden Little, Tatum, N.M., 21.1
    3. Kash Cattoor, Hurricane, Utah, Hayden Cloward, Castle Dale, Utah, 23.75
    4. Clay McDaniel, Deville, La., Britt Buller, Kinder, La., 23.97
    5. Cobie Dodds, Sanger, Calif., Cole Dodds, Sanger, Calif., 26.67
    6. Bryan Lemmon, Torrington, Wyo., Jared Lemmon, Torrington, Wyo., 29.04
    7. Grady Adams, Yakima, Wash., Lane Siebert, Goldendale, Wash., 29.77
    8. Jhet Murphy, Helena, Mont., Luke Murphy, Helena, Mont., 31.63
    9. Jacob Hickman, Wilson, Okla., Blayne Horne, McAlester, Okla., 33.43
    10. Brodee Snow, Bentonville, Ark., Jordan Lovins, Canadian, Texas, 35.44

    Reined Cow Horse Average

    1. Josh Briggs, Pilot Point, Texas, 877
    2. Natalie Leisinger, Highmore, S.D., 874.5
    3. Texie Buttars, Snowville, Utah, 869.5
    4. LaRae Luis, Wynnewood, Okla., 868
    5. Ali Norcutt, Fallon, Nev., 867
    6. Pierce Wold, Wilton, Calif., 866.5
    7. Amanda Kanapilly, Tucumcari, N.M., 866
    8. Brie Wells, LeMars, Iowa, 866
    9. Elizabeth Clymer, Village Mills, Texas, 865
    10. Dally Goemmer, Battle Mountain, Nev., 864.5
    11. Cashen Turner, Edmond, Okla., 864.5

     

  • National High School Finals Rodeo Round 1 results

    National High School Finals Rodeo Round 1 results

    ALL AROUND ROOKIE COWBOY

    1. Regan Wheatley, Calhan, Colo., 500
    2. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 350
    3. Tice Hiner, Walla Walla, Wash., 180
    4. Gage Gardiner, Ashland, Kan., 140

    5-6. Pierce Wold, Wilton, Calif., 120

    5-6. Gavin Hershberger, Litchfield Park, Ariz., 120

    1. Ethan Lombardo, Marshville, N.C., 110
    2. Carson Wetsel, Richmond, Texas, 90
    3. Taine Nash, Cassilis, New South Wales, 15
    4. Chris Wilson, Parkville, New South Wales, 190

    ALL AROUND COWBOY

    1. Regan Wheatley, Calhan, Colo., 500
    2. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 350
    3. Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho, 280
    4. Chase Quam, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 250
    5. Ty Bass, Brewster, Neb., 190
    6. Sam Morgan, Southwest Ranches, Fla., 180
    7. Cadon Remington, Hiawatha, Kan., 360
    8. Dario Ceresola, Fernley, Nev., 260
    9. Daylon Swearingen, Piffard, N.Y., 190

    10-11. Kal Fuller, Bozeman, Mont., 180

    10-11. Tice Hiner, Walla Walla, Wash., 180

    ALL AROUND ROOKIE COWGIRL

    1. Millie Frey, Eunice, La., 200
    2. Abby Stevens, Galatia, Ill., 160
    3. Abigail Gay, Stamping Ground, Ky., 130
    4. Karrigan Cagley, Kentwood, La., 95
    5. Shyanna Reeves, Boone, Colo., 70

    6-7. Anna Marie Schreck, Murphy, Texas, 170

    6-7. McKenna Rud, Mondovi, Wis., 170

    1. Madalyn Richards, Hereford, Texas, 165
    2. Merrill Mundy, Lakeland, Fla., 160
    3. Hannah King, Baird, Texas, 150

    ALL AROUND COWGIRL

    1. LaRae Luis, Wynnewood, Okla., 695
    2. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 520
    3. Jill Donnelly, Elk Point, S.D., 335
    4. Kaytlyn Miller, Dammeron Valley, Utah, 310
    5. Cassie Miller, Florence, Ariz., 300
    6. Riley Donnelly, Elk Point, S.D., 290

    7-8. Jessie Jane Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho, 280

    7-8. Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin, N.C., 280

    1. Maddy Deerman, Hope, N.M., 240
    2. Natalie Leisinger, Highmore, S.D., 500

    Girls Team Standings

    1. SOUTH DAKOTA, 1,475.00
    2. UTAH, 1,292.50
    3. TEXAS, 1,210.00
    4. ARIZONA, 1,120.00
    5. OKLAHOMA, 902.50
    6. LOUISIANA, 725.00
    7. MINNESOTA, 635.00
    8. WYOMING, 560.00
    9. WASHINGTON, 560.00
    10. NEW MEXICO, 515.00
    11. MONTANA, 510.00
    12. IDAHO, 500.00
    13. ALBERTA, 450.00
    14. CALIFORNIA, 425.00
    15. NEVADA, 415.00

     

    Boys Team Standings

    1. TEXAS, 1,720.00
    2. ALBERTA, 1,240.00
    3. OKLAHOMA, 1,220.00
    4. COLORADO, 1,215.00
    5. UTAH, 1,190.00
    6. KANSAS, 1,140.00
    7. LOUISIANA, 970.00
    8. WYOMING, 943.33
    9. IDAHO, 635.00
    10. NEW MEXICO, 555.00
    11. CALIFORNIA, 478.33
    12. NEBRASKA, 435.00
    13. NORTH DAKOTA, 420.00
    14. TENNESSEE, 395.00
    15. MISSOURI, 370.00

    Team Standings

    1. TEXAS, 2,930.00
    2. UTAH, 2,482.50
    3. OKLAHOMA, 2,122.50
    4. SOUTH DAKOTA, 1,765.00
    5. LOUISIANA, 1,695.00
    6. ALBERTA, 1,690.00
    7. WYOMING, 1,503.33
    8. ARIZONA, 1,413.33
    9. COLORADO, 1,395.00
    10. KANSAS, 1,345.00
    11. IDAHO, 1,135.00
    12. NEW MEXICO, 960.00
    13. CALIFORNIA, 903.33
    14. WASHINGTON, 875.00
    15. MINNESOTA, 860.00

     

     

    Barrel Racing Go-1

    1. Millie Frey, Eunice, La., 17.311
    2. Sage Kohr, Gillette, Wyo., 17.423
    3. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 17.441
    4. Justine Elliott, Lacombe, Alb., 17.46
    5. Merrill Mundy, Lakeland, Fla., 17.485
    6. Raven Clagg, Fredericktown, Ohio, 17.509
    7. Kenna Hayes McNeill, Hobbs, N.M., 17.52
    8. Abigail Gay, Stamping Ground, Ky., 17.537
    9. Shai McDonald, Gardiner, Mont., 17.54
    10. Abby Hepper, Keene, N.D., 17.542
    11. Sheyenne Lincoln, Pearce, Ariz., 17.572
    12. Shayla Howell, Belle Fourche, S.D., 17.587
    13. Amanda Butler, Payson, Utah, 17.662
    14. Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla., 17.667
    15. Morgan Feltham, Waleska, Ga., 17.687

    Bareback Riding Go-1

    1. Cooper Bennett, Roosevelt, Utah, 76
    2. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 76
    3. Daylon Swearingen, Piffard, N.Y., 76
    4. Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah, 75
    5. Dillon Young, Holden, Mo., 75
    6. Payton Lackey, Blanco, Texas, 74
    7. Ethan Mazurenko, Thorhild, Alb., 70
    8. RyLee Heath, Okanogan, Wash., 70
    9. Kolt Dement, Rusk, Texas, 69
    10. Stetson Bierman, Hidalgo, Ill., 69
    11. Ben Kramer, Towner, N.D., 68
    12. Beau Southern, Malta, Idaho, 68
    13. Jake Kesl, Tendoy, Idaho, 67
    14. Riggen Myers, Baggs, Wyo., 67
    15. Brent Applegarth, Yuba City, Calif., 66

    Boys Cutting Go-1

    1. Carson Ray, Groveton, Texas, 150
    2. Regan Wheatley, Calhan, Colo., 148
    3. Tice Hiner, Walla Walla, Wash., 147
    4. Reuben Mendenhall, Edmond, Okla., 146
    5. Austin Christensen, Laverne, Okla., 146
    6. Jaden Tree, Mt. Pleasant, Utah, 145.5
    7. Gage Gardiner, Ashland, Kan., 145.5
    8. Cooper Mendenhall, Edmond, Okla., 145.5
    9. Gavin Hershberger, Litchfield Park, Ariz., 145
    10. Tate Cranney, Oakley, Idaho, 144.5
    11. Kasen York, Saratoga, Wyo., 144.5
    12. Judd Grover, Cresco, Iowa, 144.5
    13. Ty Bass, Brewster, Neb., 144
    14. Wyatt Wollert, Wiley, Colo., 144
    15. Duncan Mackenzie, Baker City, Ore., 143.5
    16. Jack Christensen, American Fork, Utah, 143.5
    17. Ben Mitchell, Twin Butte, Alb., 143.5

    Breakaway Roping Go-1

    1. Cassie Miller, Florence, Ariz., 2.24
    2. Morgan Foss, Harwood, N.D., 2.34
    3. Riley Donnelly, Elk Point, S.D., 2.46
    4. Lynnsey Toole, Rydal, Ga., 2.51
    5. Abby Stevens, Galatia, Ill., 2.59
    6. Abigail James, Rosepine, La., 2.6
    7. Bailey Rose Fullmer, Logandale, Nev., 2.69
    8. Maddy Deerman, Hope, N.M., 2.7
    9. Kaytlyn Miller, Dammeron Valley, Utah, 2.72
    10. Cassie Kayser, Centerville, Wash., 2.76
    11. Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin, N.C., 2.8
    12. Katelyn Brown, Sabin, Minn., 2.85
    13. Morgan Chappell, Boscobel, Wis., 2.85
    14. Aubrey Lee, Benton, Ark., 2.89
    15. Kenlie Raby, Mt. Vernon, Ark., 2.96

    Bull Riding Go-1

    1. Cole Skender, Crossett, Ark., 86
    2. Chris Wilson, Parkville, New South Wales, 83
    3. Colten Fritzlan, Rifle, Colo., 81
    4. TJ Gray, Dairy, Ore., 80
    5. Denton Spiers, Quesnel, British Columbia, 80
    6. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo., 80
    7. Patterson Starcher, Mc Louth, Kan., 79
    8. Coy Pollmeier, Fort Scott, Kan., 79
    9. Mason Ward, North Platte, Neb., 77
    10. TJ Schmidt, Belle Fourche, S.D., 77
    11. Bubba Greig, Estherville, Iowa, 76
    12. Jayde Murphy, Cut Bank, Mont., 75
    13. Cash Bronson, Chelsea, Okla., 75
    14. Cody Keathley, Sweetwater, Okla., 75
    15. Andre Rodriguez, Matehuala, , 74

    Tie-Down Roping Go-1

    1. Stran Thompson, Estancia, N.M., 7.9
    2. Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas, 8.81
    3. Jason Smith, Wimborne, Alb., 8.9
    4. Dean Holyan, Coyote Canyon, N.M., 9.07
    5. Cole Lane, Torrington, Wyo., 9.26
    6. Coy Arnold, Hutchinson, Kan., 9.41
    7. Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo., 9.65
    8. Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho, 9.75
    9. Hayden Powell, Rogers, N.M., 9.9
    10. Chase Quam, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 10.24
    11. Colton Willson, Jonesville, La., 10.39
    12. Sam Morgan, Southwest Ranches, Fla., 10.41
    13. Teigen Marchant, Newcastle, Wyo., 10.42
    14. Bryce Derrer, Portales, N.M., 10.47
    15. Cole Walker, Sparta, Tenn., 10.71

    Girls Cutting Go-1

    1. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 150
    2. LaRae Luis, Wynnewood, Okla., 147.5
    3. Allison Spiers, Tomball, Texas, 147
    4. Anna Marie Schreck, Murphy, Texas, 147
    5. Sheridan Clark, Weatherford, Texas, 147
    6. Hannah King, Baird, Texas, 146.5
    7. Caslyn Weidenbener, Queen Creek, Ariz., 146
    8. Josey Howard, McKenna, Wash., 146
    9. Allison Melsheimer, Dry Creek, La., 145.5
    10. Karrigan Cagley, Kentwood, La., 145
    11. Tatum Schafer, San Tan Valley, Ariz., 145
    12. Kensley Barnett, Oakley, Kan., 145
    13. Kaitlyn Ramer, Sulphur, Okla., 145
    14. Taylor Porter, Morgan, Utah, 144.5
    15. Taylor Hansen, Tenino, Wash., 144.5
    16. Madison Deardorf, Oakdale, Calif., 144

    Goat Tying Go-1

    1. Aimee Davis, Central Point, Ore., 6.67
    2. Kaytlyn Miller, Dammeron Valley, Utah, 7.26
    3. Elsie Campbell, Riverton, Wyo., 7.51
    4. Jill Donnelly, Elk Point, S.D., 7.57
    5. Madalyn Richards, Hereford, Texas, 7.57
    6. Meghan McGinley, Bozeman, Mont., 7.73
    7. Emilee Pauley, Wall, S.D., 7.74
    8. Kelby Keeley, Claresholm, Alb., 7.76
    9. Erryn Hodson, Hooper, Utah, 7.79
    10. Kodey Hoss, La Junta, Colo., 7.86
    11. Britney Brosius, Ashby, Neb., 7.89
    12. Taylor Mason, Marshall, Mo., 7.91
    13. Lyndsey Orris, Bosque, N.M., 7.92
    14. Jillian Kostrzewski, Zimmerman, Minn., 7.94
    15. Catherine Clayton, Dublin, Texas, 7.96

     

    Pole Bending Go-1

    1. Brooklyn Gunter, Sulpur, La., 20.142
    2. Destiny Shafer, Waddell, Ariz., 20.238
    3. Shay Hough, Gillette, Wyo., 20.407
    4. McKenna Rud, Mondovi, Wis., 20.412
    5. Annabelle Hampton, Casa Grande, Ariz., 20.418
    6. Ashley Nelson, High River, Alb., 20.429
    7. McKenna Coronado, Kanarraville, Utah, 20.463
    8. Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin, N.C., 20.477
    9. Sid Ferguson, Dupree, S.D., 20.503
    10. Riley Donnelly, Elk Point, S.D., 20.549
    11. Cassie Miller, Florence, Ariz., 20.561
    12. Tristan Parrish, Yakima, Wash., 20.57
    13. Brynn Lehman, Carson City, Nev., 20.577
    14. Shyanna Reeves, Boone, Colo., 20.585
    15. Jade Rindlisbacher, Lakeshore, Utah, 20.612

     

    Saddle Bronc Go-1

    1. Parker Fleet, Axtell, Texas, 78
    2. Ben Andersen, Eckville, Alb., 78
    3. Will Pollock, Utopia, Texas, 75
    4. Ira Dickinson, Rock Springs, Wyo., 75
    5. Hayden Cole, Condor, Alb., 73
    6. Coy Hebert, DeRidder, La., 73
    7. Taylor Russell, Lipscomb, Texas, 72
    8. Daylon Eng, Hermiston, Ore., 70
    9. Clayson Hutchings, Springville, Utah, 69
    10. Ethan Lombardo, Marshville, N.C., 69
    11. Cauy Pennington, Kiowa, Colo., 69
    12. Dylan Schofield, Philip, S.D., 67
    13. Quinten Taylor, Parkland, Alb., 67
    14. Jake Vance, Joshua, Texas, 66
    15. Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D., 65

     

    Steer Wrestling Go-1

    1. Cannon Smith, Monroe, Tenn., 4.25
    2. Gavin Soileau, Bunkie, La., 4.33
    3. Tanner Meier, Garden City, Kan., 4.45
    4. Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D., 4.56
    5. Jacob Daniell, Monroe, Ga., 4.7
    6. Kater Tate, McLean, Texas, 4.82
    7. Jesse Keysaer, Culleoka, Tenn., 4.91
    8. Dylan Peper, Centuria, Wis., 4.91
    9. Cameron Gotreaux, Lacassine, La., 4.93
    10. Joe York, Huntsville, Texas, 4.97
    11. Cash Robb, Altamont, Utah, 4.99
    12. Sam Morgan, Southwest Ranches, Fla., 5.02
    13. Clay Guthrie, Ponoka, Alb., 5.15
    14. Garrett Stevens, Hammond, Wis., 5.16
    15. Keenan Pierce, Dickinson, N.D., 5.19

    Team Roping Go-1

    1. Grady Quam, Crossfield, Alb., Dillon Graham, Wainwright, Alb., 4.83
    2. Clay McDaniel, Deville, La., Britt Buller, Kinder, La., 5.43
    3. Kal Fuller, Bozeman, Mont., Carson Johnson, Casper, Wyo., 5.5
    4. Karter Kagel, Wildwood, Fla., Brady Barrentine, Enigma, Ga., 5.66
    5. Tyler McGuffee, Bossier City, La., Mason Pitts, Haughton, La., 5.81
    6. Breck Ward, Jerome, Idaho, Trae Smith, Georgetown, Idaho, 6.22
    7. Chase Quam, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Kobe Kmita, Weyburn, Saskatchewan, 6.52
    8. Cobie Dodds, Sanger, Calif., Cole Dodds, Sanger, Calif., 6.62
    9. Preston Day, Kentwood, La., Cole Curry, Liberty, Miss., 6.67
    10. Maddy Deerman, Hope, N.M., Kayden Little, Tatum, N.M., 6.79
    11. Chase Skocdopole, Big Valley, Alb., Colten Fletcher, Wainwright, Alb., 6.83
    12. Wyatt VanKoll, Brush Prairie, Wash., Jake Raley, Brush Prairie, Wash., 6.88
    13. Nevada Berquist, Watford City, N.D., Jesse Chase, Mandaree, N.D., 6.9
    14. Levi Easley, Lowell, Ark., Seth Lee, Greenbrier, Ark., 6.94
    15. Wylee Squair, Clyde, Alb., Kyle Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alb., 7.46

     

    Reined Cow Horse Go-1

    1. Lance Evans, Evanston, Wyo., 292.5
    2. Amanda Kanapilly, Tucumcari, N.M., 292.5
    3. Texie Buttars, Snowville, Utah, 292
    4. Josh Briggs, Pilot Point, Texas, 291.5
    5. Natalie Leisinger, Highmore, S.D., 290.5
    6. Ali Norcutt, Fallon, Nev., 290
    7. Elizabeth Clymer, Village Mills, Texas, 289.5
    8. LaRae Luis, Wynnewood, Okla., 289.5
    9. Pierce Wold, Wilton, Calif., 289
    10. Cashen Turner, Edmond, Okla., 288
    11. Katie Udell, Independence, Minn., 287.5
    12. Carson Wetsel, Richmond, Texas, 286.5
    13. Jessie Jane Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho, 286
    14. Cadon Remington, Hiawatha, Kan., 285.5
    15. Hayden Erickson, Rigby, Idaho, 285
    16. Cate Hepper, Ft. Klamath, Ore., 285

     

  • Cashen Turner – 2018 IFYR All Around Cowgirl

    Cashen Turner – 2018 IFYR All Around Cowgirl

    Cashen Turner made it back to the short go in three events, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and pole bending and is the 2018 IFYR All Around Champion. She started competing when she was five, added pole bending and picked up roping and it all fell into place. She took reserve All Around for Kansas High School this year, reserve champion in barrel racing and pole bending. When she’s not rodeoing or practicing, Cashen is busy working on her clothing line, CT Designs. “For my fifth birthday, I wanted a sewing machine; in 6th grade I wanted a manikin. I put the clothes I’m going to wear on my manikin every day to see how they look,” said the 16-year-old home schooler. “After I started sewing, then came the colored jeans and the blinged-out shirts – all through junior high – every time I walked out of the trailer, dad just shook his head.” Her family recently moved to Edmond, Oklahoma. “I love Edmond – there’s a Starbucks two miles away and in Plains, Kansas, it was an hour away.” She admits having a tough fall. “I came back in the spring; I got a new barrel horse, that’s changed my confidence. I wasn’t clicking with my horse, so we decided I only have so many more years left. Found him through Oxygen, Shot of Fire Water, he’s ran everywhere. Four years ago today he was in Calgary running at the short go. He’s 15, but he doesn’t act like it. He has the heart and the grit.” She’s hoping to go to OSU and study graphic and fashion design. She didn’t get her fashion drive from anyone in her family. “My mom is so tom boy, and certainly not from dad, who focuses on his trailer business, RangeMaster Trailers. My brother plays golf and just went to college to study sports management.”

  • ProFile: Mia Manzanares

    ProFile: Mia Manzanares

    Mia Manzanares has come a long way since being on the cover of the Rodeo News in August of 2012. Six years later, the 21-year-old cowgirl has achieved her goals she set at that time. She will be a senior at McNeese State University and will graduate with a degree in pre physical therapy. She will continue for an additional three years to become a physical therapist.
    She was in pre law for a year and half way through, she tore her ACL. After surgery with Dr. Tandy Freeman, and extensive physical therapy, she realized that what she wanted to do is help others recover from injury and get back to the sports or activities they love to do. “I made the college finals that year even though I was out for a few rodeos, but I decided not to go because of my ACL.”
    She sat out for four months, the beginning of her sophomore year, and didn’t make the finals. “There’s lots of things I could have done better, but that was a rebuilding year for me. I had to trust myself again. Stacey Martin, my goat tying coach, worked with me more on the mental than physical,” she admits. “I competed for so long with it torn that I was over protective of it.” Dr. Tandy told her it would take a year before she felt 100% and he was right. She worked with some great physical therapists that helped her with workouts and machines to strengthen her leg and get her ready again. ““That’s another reason I want to pursue that.” Time is what she attributes getting past the mental part of goat tying. “I stepped off a lot and stepped off the dummy a lot. Stacey and I watched videos and really time and repetition.”
    She came back her junior year, made her goal sheet, and accomplished all three of her goals, winning the Goat Tying, Breakaway Roping, and All Around titles at the 2018 CNFR. “From the beginning of the rodeo season, it was different – I’m super blessed I was able to achieve all three of those goals.”
    She is spending some time relaxing in New Mexico with her horses. “We are fly fishing and hanging out.” Then she will head back and ride some colts and start all over again. “I want to break arena records – I tied an arena record this year – and hopefully next year I’ll be a 5.6 in the goat tying and break that one again and win everything I won this year. I also want to graduate and pursue my doctorate in physical therapy.”
    Neither of her siblings compete. “After hauling with me when they were little, they had no desire to do it themselves. They love to watch me, but they don’t compete.” Her brother, Micah, just got accepted into a computer college and her little sister, Emma, is going to be a sophomore in high school. “I can’t believe she’ll be driving this year.” Both her parents, Pancho and Kathryn, support her and she is quick to attribute her success to them and her goat tying coach, Stacey.

  • Back When They Bucked with Joleen Hurst Steiner

    Back When They Bucked with Joleen Hurst Steiner

    story by Gail Woerner

    Joleen Hurst Steiner is a petite ‘tells it like she see’s it’ cowgirl who was born in Woodward, Oklahoma in 1952. She grew up in Fort Supply, Oklahoma, which she said was “in the middle of nowhere”. She had two sisters and a brother. Joleen was the third child. Her biggest desire as a youngster was to have a horse. Her sister felt the same way. Joleen remembered getting a pony when she was nine. Then her folks bought her and her sister full-sized horses. The girls both trained their own horses.
    At first Joleen competed in Little Britches rodeos and Junior Rodeos. She entered the pole bending, breakaway calf roping, goat tying, and barrel racing events. She broke a breakaway calf roping record at the age of 13 at the Little Britches Finals Rodeo in Littleton, Colorado.
    Joleen admits her horse was a good horse for barrel racing, but not National Finals quality. When her sister married she gave her horse, Hot Shot, to Joleen. In 1970, she joined the Girl’s Rodeo Association (GRA) and with her mother at her side she made all the Oklahoma rodeos, and ventured even farther to Colorado, Kansas, all the Texas rodeos, New Mexico, Arizona and even the West Coast. She loved the California rodeos because the weather was always so good.
    Joleen admits when asked ‘what was the hardest part of barrel racing’ she thought nothing was hard. She was young, life was good and she had a good horse. She would read the GRA News to decide which rodeos to go to. She picked the rodeos that added the most money and that is the direction she and her mother headed.
    When asked how much she practiced her answer was, “Never!” She laughingly admitted, “I just hung on to Hot Shot, and we were in the money a good deal of the time.” We know she worked harder at it than she admits, but she truly enjoyed every minute of it. She felt the rules in barrel racing were fair for everyone when she was competing.
    As we discussed, the changes that have occurred since her era she immediately mentioned “No one complained about the ground in my era. Whether it was sandy, too hard, or whatever, we just dealt with it.” Joleen also said there are a lot more quality horses bred to barrel race today than she saw in her days in the arena.

    Concerning the barrel racing horses, she feels that often trainers expect the horses they train to turn a barrel a certain way. “I feel they should allow the horses to decide how they choose to make the turn. The horse knows best what fits them.” She also said you can tell which horses love it as much as their rider – it shows.
    In 1970, Joleen was having a good year and her dad told her if she won the barrel racing at the Cow Palace he would buy her a trailer with living quarters. That win qualified her for the National Finals Rodeo, in Oklahoma City, as one of the top fifteen barrel racers in the world. There were nine rounds of barrel racing and she won three second places and two first places. “If I didn’t knock over a barrel I placed,” she admitted and laughed. That first year she finished 7th for the year.
    “When I hit the road in 1971, I was in heaven. My mom cooked wonderful meals, and we stayed on the rodeo grounds in my new gooseneck trailer. It wasn’t as common to stay on the rodeo grounds as it is today, but it was much easier, Hot Shot was with us, and it was fun.”
    The following year, 1971, she qualified for the National Finals Rodeo again, finishing in third place in the world, and third in the Average. There were ten rounds of barrel racing and Joleen had three second places, and three third place wins, but this year something happened that changed her life forever. She met Bobby Steiner, a bull rider.
    Her mother didn’t think much of bull riders. Mrs. Hurst was much more interested in Joleen finding a nice calf roper to marry. “Mom thought bull riders were lazy. All they had to do is bring their bull riding equipment in a bag to a rodeo. Mrs. Hurst felt a roper that had the responsibility of hauling his horse and keeping him sound would make a better husband for her.” Joleen was determined. She saw something in Bobby she hadn’t found before. He was very confident. They had their first date at Belton, Texas on the 4th of July. He picked her up in his big Oldsmobile 98 and she was impressed. She asked him if it was his dad’s car. She thought the car was way to fancy for a bull rider. After all, she was driving a little Ford pickup. Bobby informed her it was his car. Their first date was a drive-in movie in Temple where they saw “Bandolero” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”.
    After that they ran into each other at various rodeos and continued to date. The following year after the Houston rodeo Bobby asked Joleen to marry him. They married in June, 1972. Their family eventually expanded to three with the birth of Shane. Sid was born fourteen months later. Joleen had her hands full with two little boys, and a husband, so the barrel racing stopped.

    The following year Joleen began to help Bobby with his bull riding career. She entered him in all the rodeos and helped him plan to get to all of them. She said, “You might call me Bobby’s navigator. I made sure his entry fees and turn out fines were paid and took care of the business end of the sport.” (This was all before PROCOM).” She traveled with him until the doctor told her, when she was 7 months pregnant, that she needed to stay at home. Bobby won the World Championship in Bull Riding in 1973, and was 2nd in the Average. He retired from bull riding shortly after that.
    Bobby began helping his dad, Tommy, with the Steiner Rodeo Company at that time. The legacy of Steiner Rodeo Company began with Buck Steiner, Tommy’s dad running it with Tommy. Then Tommy and Bobby ran it together. Joleen carried the American flag and helped in many other ways. She helped Mildred Farris, the secretary for Steiner Rodeo Company, keep time. “When we had rodeos overlap, liked Belton and Pecos, I would secretary the smaller one,” explained Joleen. When they sold the rodeo company in 1982, Bobby and Joleen spent their time raising their sons and ranching.
    The Steiner family has always been tremendously benevolent to many groups and totally supportive of rodeo and the rodeo family. Some of the innovative things started in rodeo was done by Steiner Rodeo Company, including the electric eye for timing the barrel races, and instead of having the barrel racing event next to last they had it as their third event in each performance.
    Son Sid became a steer wrestler and went to the National Finals in 2000. In 2001, he was absent from those top fifteen in steer wrestling. But in 2002 he came back with a vengeance and won the Steer Wresting Championship and the Average. He followed in his dad’s footsteps and retired from steer wrestling shortly after winning the World title. This family is totally family-first and admit they don’t like being away from home. Son, Shane, is a musician and although he has played in numerous venues he enjoys his life performing at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse down the road from his home. Now the grandchildren are making their marks in bareback riding, barrel racing and wake-boarding sports.
    When doing this interview with Joleen, Bobby stuck his head in, and made this statement, “I may not have been the best bull rider, but I sure got the best looking barrel racer!”
    By the way, Joleen’s mom became a major fan of Professional Bullriders and knew all the cowboys competing as well as the bulls. I guess she decided bull riders weren’t so bad, after all.