The other day while at a Junior Rodeo, I was asked my thoughts about roping dummies like the Quick Fire, Super Goat, Hot Heels, and goats. Some parents think this creates bad habits and won’t let their kids rope them. When I was growing up there were a few heelers who didn’t rope goats or toy dummies and were successful. Now days I haven’t talked to many young successful ropers who have not.
As for myself, when I was young, I roped anything that moved. Including my dad’s cow dogs until it got me in trouble. One day he had a bull in the woods and when he picked up his rope to rope the bull, his dogs scattered like quail. He came home and lined all the kids up and we received a serious scolding about roping his cow dogs. He bought me some goats and turned them loose. When I got home from school, that’s what we roped. There was no more roping the dogs.
Yes, bad habits can be created roping the Quick Fire, Hot Heels, Super Goat, Fast Lane, or even goats. But many good habits can also be created using these tools. Your kids can rope so much more without wearing a horse out. It will improve their rope handling ability while they learn correct angles they will need to rope steers.
These are great tools that provide opportunities for kids to simulate situations they will face in the arena. When you’re roping goats or dummies with them – instead of making runs just for fun, make it worth something to them. If they catch so many in a row, or catch in under so many seconds, then let them win something of their choosing. Maybe going to a movie, what to eat for dinner, etc. Set a goal they can achieve by accomplishing a feat with their roping.
We have been booking a lot of schools for kids at the indoor arena in Santo. We cut 25’ off the back of the arena and built a small arena for my son to rope goats. When I was young I roped goats anytime I wasn’t doing something else. Gabe has put in many of hours roping goats. It’s helped him with his rope handling ability and he is learning where to place his rope.
They can also learn a lot about competition. It provides a lot of necessary repetition. That’s the name of the game, making repetition runs. Your horses can only handle so much. This provides a place they are able to move their feet, swing their rope, and create the angles they need to rope. Currently, it’s 9 p.m. and after we’ve had a school all day, I’m working the chute right now for Gabe to rope goats. He loves it and we have a USTRC roping coming up.
No matter what you rope, the hours spent learning to handle a rope and being able to control it are valuable. So much of roping is math and learning to create the angles. That’s why I’m a huge fan of kids getting a lot of opportunities to rope anything.
We just had a ten-day road trip to South Dakota and Nebraska teaching schools and private lessons. I was very impressed with how much my kids improved in their own roping by doing all of the drills. My daughter sat and listened to me teaching schools and telling stories about my father and when I was young. I think she enjoyed that more than anything.
I’m thankful they can both help out at schools heading and heeling. I will be uploading some videos soon at speedroping.com of Gabe preparing for USTRC and Hali getting ready for Junior High Texas State finals.
Blog
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Should Your Kids be Roping Toy Dummies and Goats?
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Timber Moore
“My drive is to prove to myself that I still rope good enough to make the NFR and compete with the best in my event,” says Timber Moore. “It is more of a job, but I think there’s probably a lot worse jobs in life than traveling around with family and friends!” Timber, 32, comes from Aubrey, Texas, and the 6-time WNFR qualifier is no stranger to the arena of the Thomas & Mack Center. He’s competed at the finals consecutively the last five years and finished tenth in the world standings last season.
Born into a rich heritage that included rodeo athletes and outdoorsmen, Timber’s parents, Gordie and Dianne Moore, roped and ran barrels, and Timber’s grandfather William Holloway was a stock contractor. Many of Timber’s family roots on his dad’s side lead back to Canada, where Gordie worked as a bush pilot and hunting guide, but rodeo was the tradition that Timber chose to continue. He grew up with a rope in hand and started out team roping, later adding tie-down in high school. He competed in both events through his college rodeo career with Tarleton State University in Weatherford, Texas, and when he turned pro in 2007, Timber decided to pool his resources and enter solely in the tie-down roping. “I love everything about it. It’s one of those sports that takes an athlete. There’s lot of hand-eye coordination, timing, and horsemanship. Without a good horse, you don’t have much of a shot of winning at all. The horse has to do so much on their own, and there’s a lot going on in making a good run.”
Timber found his horses felt their best using 5 Star Equine’s saddle pads, which he learned about four years ago from a 5 Star Equine Products representative that lived nearby. “Their pads are unbelievable. I’m pretty sure I’m riding the same pad on my horse since I started with them four years ago,” says Timber. “They’re super durable and made with the best quality of wool—they’re just outstanding.” The past few years, Timber has signed autographs at 5 Star’s booth during Cowboy Christmas and the WNFR, while his social media posts are sure to have a shout-out to his favorite saddle pad company.
Colonel, Timber’s rope horse, has been one of the top three finalists of the AQHA/PRCA Tie-Down Roping Horse of the Year the past three years. Timber bought the 13-year-old sorrel gelding in 2012, the same year Timber was recovering from knee surgery. “I’ve pretty much ridden him ever since. I don’t have any others that I would actually take and feel confident about riding. Buying horses that I can take and have a chance to win money on is the best way for me to do it.”
Colonel travels in the bumper-pull trailer Timber tows behind his bus, which makes it easy for his wife, Valerie, and their 6-year-old daughter, Vaughn, to join him on the road. Tie-down roper Tyler Milligan is also traveling with Timber this season. “We’ve been to Disneyland and Disney World, and we stop and do some things to break it up so we’re not always driving. Vaughn is more into soccer and gymnastics and things like that.” Timber and Valerie met through their siblings, who went to high school together, and they were married in 2007. When they’re home in Aubrey, the husband and wife often work with Valerie’s parents, who run several businesses, including baling hay and selling flatbed and horse trailers.
Timber and his family and friends have also put on the Gordie Moore Bubblegum Roping the past ten years to honor his dad, who passed away when Timber was 19. In the past, it’s taken place in early May, but since the location it’s normally held at is closing down, Timber hopes to hold the memorial roping this fall instead. Gordie was one of Timber’s greatest supporters in his rodeo career, and he also looks up to Raymond Hollabaugh, a 7-time WNFR qualifier and a Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame inductee. “I stayed with him a lot when I was in high school, and he taught me a lot about roping and rodeo,” says Timber. “We stay in touch and talk all the time.”
While Timber has competed extensively in Canada in the past, he rodeos primarily in the U.S. now, though the Calgary Stampede is a much-anticipated rodeo in the Moore household. “The Fourth of July is over and you’ve been driving a couple weeks on end, but in Calgary you get to sit still and be there for a week. It’s super neat to go up there and see all your friends,” explains Timber, whose main goal is a seventh qualification to the WNFR this December. “I like the summer in general because you get to rope and run a calf just about every day. You can get on a roll and have some good timing, and have things start going your way.” -
WCRA Announces Inclusion of Breakaway Roping to its $6 Million Major Event Series
AUSTIN, TX (May 21, 2018) The World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) continues to revolutionize the sport of rodeo by announcing that the discipline of Breakaway Roping will be added to the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier system and will be included in the 2019 WCRA $6 million event series.
Until now, Women’s Barrel Racing has been the predominate professional women’s rodeo event, despite the popularity of Breakaway Roping. This unprecedented move will give women athletes more opportunities, including the ability to compete for big-money payouts and the potential that a woman could hold a professional All-Around title for the first time.
“Part of our mission is to ‘advance the sport of rodeo’ and we truly mean it. Our Alliance Partners support our decision to provide female athletes more opportunities and we all feel like it’s been a long time coming,” said Bobby Mote, President WCRA.
“On a personal note, I have a daughter who loves to rope and I am excited for the opportunities this will open up for her and girls just like her,” Mote said. “We are confident that fans will love getting to know the leaders in this discipline, like Jackie Crawford, Lari Dee Guy and Hope Thompson who are talented and tough competitors in this discipline.”
“This is the opening in the door that we have been looking for,” said 17-time WPRA World Champion and NIRA Champion Breakaway Roper, Jackie Crawford. “Our event has some of the largest overall numbers throughout junior, high school and college rodeo, but has desperately needed a larger outlet after that point to continue to grow.
The implications of this will be far reaching — giving women a reason to stay engaged with the sport will help the industry all the way around.
I can’t wait for fans to be introduced to this fast-paced discipline and to meet the amazing women athletes involved.”
Starting Wednesday, May 23rd breakaway ropers can register and begin using the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) to start qualifying for the WCRA $500,000 semi-final event scheduled in November at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, OK, followed by the first WCRA $1 million rodeo in Sacramento, CA in January 2019. Additional 2019 WCRA large-payout events will be announced at a later date.
The VRQ is available for every rodeo athlete to access a mobile nomination system to qualify for the $6 million in payouts. This new free mobile web App for rodeo athletes was unveiled on May 4th and puts the administration of the sport in the hand of athletes, stock contractors, and committee members. For more information visit www.WCRARodeo.com and https://youtu.be/lVEMfk4dJiI
The WCRA VRQ nomination and qualification process is open to men and women in all disciplines of rodeo regardless of gender or age. One exception to this position is; if a WCRA host event, not produced by WCRA, has established ground rules that prevent participation based on gender or age. In this case, the qualifying athletes for that particular host event would automatically qualify for the next available semi-finals event.
In an additional age related exception; WCRA does not allow any athlete under the age of 18 to compete in any of the rough stock disciplines or participate in the qualification processes for WCRA semi-finals and major events.
In compliance with existing laws governing online business, WCRA requires athletes be a minimum of 13 years of age or older to participate in the qualification process for any of the timed event disciplines. Any athlete under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian contact WCRA to set-up the user account on the Virtual Qualifier App. Parents or Guardians may begin this process be emailing WCRA at info@wcrarodeo.com
At this time and for the sake of clarity, WCRA will not utilize any youth, high school or intercollegiate competition results in its qualification system and/or for points accreditation.
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 PBR, WCRA produces a $6 million major event series that provides rodeo athletes with additional opportunities to compete for large payouts. WCRA recently released the Virtual Rodeo Qualifier, a new technology and world ranking system for athletes to qualify for the major event series by Making Every Ride Count. To learn more visit WCRArodeo.com.
For more information, contact:
For WCRA – Holly Delaune, holly@firebrand-marketing.com, 210-632-3208
Link to VRQ video: https://youtu.be/tyYWPLbfXGY
Link to VRQ registration page: app.WCRArodeo.com
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The New Stanley Cyclone Center Offers Adventure for Everyone
A whirlwind of fun awaits at the Stanley Cyclone Center, Santa Fe County’s exciting new equine, livestock and event center. Located just 45 minutes from Santa Fe and one hour from Albuquerque, this state-of-the-art venue occupies an impressive 51,250 square feet. It’s the perfect world-class facility for an array of adventurous activities, from bull riding and barrel racing to equestrian training clinics, open riding, team roping and more. There’s plenty of room for carriage driving and vaulting, too. You won’t find a better atmosphere for rodeos in these parts. The center also provides the ultimate site for horse and livestock shows as well as 4H/FFA activities.
Additionally, the Stanley Cyclone Center provides an ideal space for meetings, conferences and customized events, including weddings. For those planning a unique event not listed here, the Cyclone Center staff members are happy to help.
Situated on 11 acres surrounded by wide open vistas, this newly built venue offers a spacious arena— 170 feet x 240 feet—that can seat 388 people, as well as a commercial kitchen and two classrooms that can seat up to 30 people each. Showers and restrooms are available, too. The giant parking lot can easily accommodate large crowds, with spaces for both small and large vehicles.
With all that it offers, the Stanley Cyclone Center provides a thrilling experience for any event-goer, with the thundering sound of horses’ hooves and the thrill of watching the drama between a bull and its rider. New Mexico’s newest all-around equine, livestock and event center is located at 22 W. Kinsell Ave. in Stanley, New Mexico. Call (505) 992-9838 to book your event.
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Long Live Rodeo, Long Loves Rodeo
North Platte man competed in rodeo, now serves as athletic trainer
North Platte, Neb. – May 21, 2018 – Doug Long has a long affiliation with the Buffalo Bill Rodeo.
He grew up in a rodeo family, the grandson of George Long and the son of Larry Long, both recipients of the rodeo’s Trail Boss Award. He and his mom, Mary Ann, accompanied his dad as he competed at local rodeos in the steer wrestling, tie-down and team roping. Larry competed at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte many times, with his wife and son in the stands.
In high school, Doug followed in his dad’s footsteps, participating as a heeler in the team roping. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1980 and went on to Kearney State College, now the University of Nebraska at Kearney, competing occasionally but realizing competition wasn’t financially feasible. “When I went to college, I did the math on what it would take to keep a horse in Kearney and feed it. I quickly figured out my ROI wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be.”
After getting his bachelor’s degree in Kearney, then his master’s degree from Ft. Hays (Kan.) State University, he got his doctorate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2008.
Long moved back to his hometown and began work with Great Plains Health in North Platte. He is the lead athletic trainer, and, along with the other trainers from Great Plains Health, provides care at sports activities for high schools, Mid-Plains Community College, and other sporting events.
Great Plains Health has a mobile sports medicine trailer and for the past two years, has provided sports medicine during the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. Long has been one of the trainers staffing the trailer, even though he doesn’t spend as much time at the rodeo as he he’d like. “Invariably, I have a softball tournament the same weekend,” he said. He tries to make it to at least one night of rodeo.
Long enjoys working with the cowboy and cowgirl athletes. “They’re some of the toughest athletes going down the road,” he said. “Football players are 6’6” and weigh 300 pounds, and they’re colliding at the line. That’s a whole lot different than what it is with a 1,500 lb. bull and a 140 lb. cowboy. The impact forces are so much higher and they last longer.”
Long’s understanding of the sport and the fact that he used to compete comes in handy as a sports trainer. Athletic trainers who understand rodeo are important to rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. “These guys are making a living, going down the road hard and fast and they don’t want somebody to say, ‘you sprained your finger, you need to be out for six weeks.’ They need somebody to say, ‘here’s how you treat that so you can continue.’”
There’s continuity between what the sports trainers at Great Plains Health do and other sports trainers, especially Justin Sports Medicine, at other rodeos. “We’re hooked into the Justin (Sports Medicine) program and we pass on information so whoever saw those guys last can put it in a database so we can see it. There’s a lot of communication that way.”
Long loves the sport and its players. “Rodeo’s kind of in my blood. I like all aspects of it. I appreciate the physical aspects of it. They’re tough people, they’re in shape.”
He’s also made lots of friends on the rodeo trail.
“You develop a relationship with those guys.”
Athletic trainer Tyler Oberlander and Dr. Nathan Jacobson, sports orthopedic doctor, started the rodeo program.
The Buffalo Bill Rodeo takes place June 13-16 in North Platte at the Wild West Arena. Performances start each night at 8 pm, and tickets range in price from $7 to $20. They can be purchased online at www.NebraskaLandDays.com, at the gate, or at the office at 2801 Charlie Evans Drive (at the Wild West Arena in North Platte.) For more information, visit the website or call 308.532.7939.
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Frenchmen At The Rodeo
French firefighting students attend Shrine Rodeo, intern with fire departments.OVERLAND PARK, KAN. (May 21, 2018) – When the Shrine Rodeo kicks off on Thursday, May 24, in Tonganoxie, there will be special guests in the crowd.
The first night of the rodeo honors first responders (firefighters, police, and emergency medical service people) and military (active, veterans and reserved.) Admission for those people and for their immediate families is free on that night of rodeo.
It’s a way to honor and show appreciation for those who put their lives on the line for the public, said Bennie Smith, 2018 Abdallah Shrine Potentate. “They do so much that goes unnoticed,” he said. “We want to give them some recognition” on that night of rodeo.
Among the first responders in the crowd at the rodeo are some extra-special guests.
Several French firefighters will be in attendance.
They are interns at fire stations in the area, part of programs at fire departments in Overland Park, Shawnee, Leawood and Olathe.
For the past 25 years, students from the IUT Bordeaux University in France have come to the United States, spending ten weeks in internships at various fire departments. Of the last 25 years, the Overland Park Fire Department has hosted interns 23 years, said Keith Murry, captain of the Overland Park F.D. Station No. 2 and coordinator for the interns.
The French students learn about the U.S. fire service as they learn English, going on calls with firefighters.
While they’re in the U.S., they take in the culture of the area. Murry tells the students to research the area and decide what they’d like to see and do. “The students that come to us say we want to see a rodeo,” he said. Murry, members of the Overland Park Fire Dept. and the students visit the Shrine Rodeo.
They love it, he said. Last year, the French students took selfies with the rodeo queen. “They thought they were royalty,” Murry said.
Murry appreciates the free admittance and recognition given to the first responders and military. “Sometimes this job can be depressing, with the calls we make. It’s comforting to find out that people really do care. It’s cool to see the outpouring of generosity people extend to us.”
The Shrine Rodeo and Demo Derby is held in Tonganoxie at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds on May 24-26, with rodeo action on May 24-25 and the demo derby on May 26.
Tickets are $15 for adults for both events. Children’s tickets are good for the nights of rodeo only and are $5. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ShrineRodeo.com, at Brothers Market in Tonganoxie, and at the gate. For more information, visit the website or call 913.352.6300.
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Figuring It Out
Nebraska cowboy manages diabetes, takes it in stride.
Atkinson, Neb. (May 21, 2018) – At a young age, Jade Buss has learned how to manage his health.
It’s something the seventeen-year-old has been forced to learn, because he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four years ago.
When he was thirteen, the Atkinson youth, a high school rodeo athlete, lost half of his bodyweight and spent two weeks at the hospital in Omaha, as doctors figured out what was wrong.
But the cowboy has taken it in stride. He doesn’t wear an insulin pump, as it would get in the way as he competes in high school wrestling. He gives himself insulin shots every time he eats and at bedtime, and monitors his glucose levels himself as he competes in rodeo and wrestling.
Buss, who just finished his junior year at West Holt High School, is a team roper and tie-down roper in rodeo and wrestles in the heavyweight class. His parents, Jim and Sharlene, both competed in rodeo but Jade loves wrestling more than rodeo. He placed sixth at state in Class D in 2016 and fifth last year. The individuality of the sport appeals to him. “It’s all on yourself,” he said. “It’s how much work you put into it. With rodeo, it’s what steer you draw, and your horse, but with wrestling, it’s how well you prepare for it.”
Buss, who is naturally quiet and reticent, handles diabetes with aplomb. “It was tough to learn but after a while it’s no different than anything else,” he said. “There’s no way around it, really. You learn how to live with it.”
His mom has learned to pack food for him, for wherever he goes. When the family is moving cattle on their ranch, she’ll see Jade start to sweat, a possible sign of low blood sugar. “I’ll say, ‘need a sandwich?’ and he’ll say, ‘if you have one.’ He’s pretty well accepted the whole deal.”
One learning curve they faced was when he began to wrestle. To make weight, wrestlers don’t eat much before competing and Sharlene never thought that Jade wouldn’t have breakfast before a meet. “We learned to pack our own meals,” she said.
He loves to hunt and fish, and would love to wrestle collegiately if given the chance. He’d like to come back to Nebraska to ranch someday, he thinks. “I doubt I change my mind, but I could be wrong.”
Jade’s responsibility for his blood glucose levels and insulin shots have made him mature beyond his years, Sharlene said. “At this age, he’s out and about and I don’t get to be with him for every meal” to monitor his health. “With this disease, you learn to grow up real quick.”
Jade has three younger brothers: Cale, twelve, Cort, ten, and Reid, seven, and a younger sister, Brett, who is Reid’s twin.
He has competed at the high school state finals the last two years. He competes in 4-H rodeo and team ropes with his dad at regional rodeos. Jade is a member of the National Honor Society and president of his local 4-H chapter.
The Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo will be held in Hastings at the Adams Co. Fairgrounds June 14-16. Tickets are $7 for everyone ages five and up and are available through the office and at the gate. For more information, visit AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com or hsrodeo-nebraska.com, or call 402.462.3247.
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PBR to Produce CBR 2018 World Championship and New PBR Event at Cheyenne Frontier Days, July 23-24
Successful CBR Bull Team Challenge to Integrate with PBR Events
Pueblo, Colo (May 2, 2018) – As part of a multi-year agreement with Championship Bull Riding (CBR), Professional Bull Riders (PBR) will produce and stream on RidePass the final CBR Championship event on July 24.
Moving forward, at select PBR events, PBR will exclusively host the CBR Bull Team Challenge, a successful bull team competition among stock contractors in which teams of three bulls compete against other teams. PBR is also actively exploring the sanctioning of historical CBR events as PBR sanctioned events.
Additionally, PBR is entering a deal with Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) to produce the iconic event in 2018. In future years, the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration, featuring a purse of more than $1 million in cash and prizes, is intended to become a PBR sanctioned event.
In addition to the CBR Championship event on one of the CFD performance days, PBR will produce a new Touring Pro Division event at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 23. This will mark the first and only time in history that top CBR and PBR riders will compete head-to-head. Both events will be brought to fans live on RidePass, the new western sports digital network.
Thirty of the top PBR riders will compete in the July 23 long round and 15 in the championship round for PBR world points. Thirty of the top CBR riders will also compete on July 24, in the same long round/short round format as Monday night. The event aggregate will be paid based on the final scores among all 60 riders over both days of competition.
PBR, which had produced Cheyenne Frontier Days from 2001-2010, will bring its award-winning production and the world’s top bull riders and bulls to the iconic rodeo. Flint Rasmussen, official entertainer of the PBR, will serve as on-the-dirt master of ceremonies. In addition to the RidePass stream, PBR will help market and promote the event through its online, social and marketing channels.
“Championship Bull Riding is excited about our partnership with PBR and Cheyenne Frontier Days. This event will bring together the very best bull riders in the world and the top 30 CBR Bull Teams for two fantastic nights at ‘The Daddy of ‘em All’,” said Wes Bruce, Chairman and CEO of Championship Bull Riding.
“PBR is thrilled to be back in business with this truly iconic rodeo as the world’s best bull riders and bulls compete in Cheyenne for a $100,000 purse,” said Sean Gleason, CEO, PBR. “Cheyenne Frontier Days, one of the year’s must-attend events celebrating our western heritage, will also be an important programming component of RidePass, our western sports digital network.”
“We are excited to be associated with the Professional Bull Riders, the leader and innovator in bull riding production and entertainment,” said Tom Hirsig, CEO, CFD.
Since 1897, Cheyenne has celebrated its Old West roots with this eye-popping festival. The centerpiece of this Western celebration is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo, which draws top professionals who compete for more than $1 million in cash and prizes. Complementing the daily rodeo action are behind-the-chutes tours, trick riding and a wild-horse race. A Native American Village, an old frontier town, a saloon, dancing, a chuck wagon cook-off, pancake breakfasts and an art show carry through the frontier theme. Rounding out the program are a carnival midway, an air show, top-name entertainment, professional bull riding shows and several parades that include antique carriages and automobiles. Cheyenne Frontier Days takes place each summer during the last full week in July.
Known for its fast pace and large number of contestants, Cheyenne’s rodeo ensures visitors see more rodeo action than they can see anywhere else. CFD has received the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Large Outdoor Rodeo of The Year award sixteen times.
Night show ticket prices range from $29 to $71, with daily rodeo tickets costing $20 to $35. A $3 discount is offered on rodeo tickets purchased before July 1.
Fans can upgrade to a Frontier Nights® Fast Pass for early admission to the Party Zone, a voucher for best-available same-day rodeo tickets and a souvenir rodeo program. For a full events schedule and profiles of musical acts, go to www.cfdrodeo.com.
All tickets are on sale now at www.cfdrodeo.com or by calling 800 227 6336.
2018 Cheyenne Frontier Days™ Entertainment Schedule
July 20: Florida Georgia Line with Michael Ray
July 21: Cole Swindell with Chase Rice and Morgan Evans
July 22: Charlie Daniels Band with Tracy Lawrence
July 23: PBR Cheyenne Frontier Days
July 24: Championship Bull Riding – World Finals 2018 – The Road to Cheyenne
July 25: Eric Church with Cam
July 26: Nickelback with Pop Evil
July 27: Toby Keith with Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots and Ned LeDoux
July 28: Dierks Bentley with Kip Moore
July 21 – 29: PRCA Rodeo action
About the PBR (Professional Bull Riders)
The world’s premier bull riding organization began as a dream of 20 bull riders 25 years ago and now operates in five countries. On its elite tour, the organization features the top 35 bull riders in the world and the top bulls in the business. The televised 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast, along with the PBR Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour (RVT), the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD) and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico have paid nearly $184 million in earnings to its athletes. Thirty bull riders have earned more than $1 million, including two-time PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney who is the top-earning athlete in Western sports history with more than $7.2 million in career earnings. PBR is part of the Endeavor (formerly WME | IMG) network. For more information on the PBR, go to PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Instagram at Instagram.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.
For more information, contact:
PBR Andrew Giangola, 646-871-2402, andrew.giangola@img.com
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A Calling To The Buffalo Bill Rodeo
Nebraska man to step in as second bullfighter at hometown rodeo
North Platte, Neb. – May 2018 – The Buffalo Bill Rodeo will have a new face in the arena this year.
Zach Call, Thedford, Nebraska, will work as a bullfighter at the rodeo.
It’s the 25 year old’s first time to work the North Platte event.
The Mullen-born and raised cowboy will work the rodeo alongside a family friend. Quirt Hunt, from Gordon, was working high school rodeos as a bullfighter when Call’s older brothers were riding bulls. Call “grew up watching Quirt when I was really young,” he said. The two worked a Professional Bull Riders event in Kearney last winter.
Call started his rodeo career as a bull rider, competing in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association and qualifying for the high school state finals twice. He competed collegiately at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College for two years, then continued at Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla.
His sophomore year of college, he was fighting injuries and things weren’t going smoothly with bull riding. So he tried the bullfighting, and found it to be to his liking. “I enjoyed it a lot more,” he said and slowly, the bullfighting: protecting the bull riders after their ride, overtook the bull riding.
He went to a bullfighting school put on by world champion bullfighters Rob Smets and Miles Hare. Hare, who grew up in Gordon, took a liking to the young Nebraskan and gave him pointers and tips.
It was at the school that he began freestyle bullfighting. In freestyle, there is no bull rider to protect: it’s a competition among bullfighters with points awarded for how well they maneuver around the bull, how close the fighter gets to the bull, and how well they stay in control.
Call shows a particular affinity to it and has competed in the Bullfighters Only (BFO) events for two and a half years. He finished the 2016 year in sixth place in the BFO world standings, and the next year in ninth place.
In North Platte, Call will be doing cowboy protection bullfighting only. He likes a mix of both types: “you get to change it up every once in a while.”
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ProRodeo Hall of Fame Welcomes Horses
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – The ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs will be welcoming horses from the Harry Vold Rodeo Company this summer for the Rodeo Livestock Exhibit.
The horses are expected to arrive at the Hall of Fame on May 23. The exhibit will officially open to the public on May 24.
Kirsten Vold, the daughter of the late Harry Vold, a ProRodeo Hall of Fame stock contractor, is bringing Beaver Tail, her foal and Painted Fling.
Beaver Tail gave birth May 15 to a colt. With the baby on the property, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame will be running a “Name the Colt” contest with the museum guests this summer to name the newborn. Details of the contest will be released soon.
Beaver Tail has been bucked as a bareback and saddle bronc horse and bucked off several cowboys at large rodeos including Prescott, Ariz., and Cheyenne, Wyo. Beaver Tail’s first colt 6V Pillow Talk became a three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo participant.
Painted Fling’s sire is Painted Valley, the 2010 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year. Painted Fling will turn 5 years old in August and has never been bucked. His dam is a horse cloned from Spring Fling, owned by Don Hutsell, and 2014 ProRodeo Hall of Fame inducted bucking horse. The cloned Spring Fling mare is owned by Milt Bradford.
“We are excited to have a mare, colt and stallion for this year’s Rodeo Livestock Exhibit,” said Kent Sturman, director of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy. “This is a different angle than the standard retired bucking horses we’ve had in the past, as these animals will allow us the opportunity to showcase the breeding side of the bucking stock industry and exhibit a future bucking horse.”
“Guests will learn about the importance of bloodlines and how breeding certain animals produces the best stock available. As an added educational piece, since Painted Fling is a product of a cloned mare, we can pass along some knowledge about cloning and how it is becoming a popular and important aspect of the bucking horse breeding programs of many stock contractors. We thank Vold Rodeo Company for supporting this exhibit and loaning us these animals for the summer.”
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Kimes Ranch Opens Doors To Up-and-Comers
New Sponsored Athlete Hadley Teut Joins the Kimes Ranch Family
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Kimes Ranch recently announced the winner of their 2018 Sponsorship Contest. 15-year-old Hadley Teut of Malcolm, Nebraska was chosen after receiving the most online votes during the contest. Teut has been competing in rodeo events since she was a toddler. She currently competes in breakaway, team roping, goat tying and barrels with high school rodeo, USTRC and Mid States Rodeo.
“I got started in rodeo because my dad has team roped pretty much all of his life, and my mom showed horses when she was younger,” Teut said. “When I was eight, I started 4-H. I have ridden horses and rodeoed all my life. I like that you have to put forth so much dedication. You’re going to get out of it as much as you put in, and I really like that.”
The Lola style Kimes Ranch Jeans drew Teut to the company.
“I’m into trouser fit jeans and the flare type,” Teut said. “I saw Kimes come out with those and I was so in love.”
After filling out all of the forms and preparing for the contest, Teut had to be patient and wait for the final votes to be cast before finally finding out she was the winner.
“It took a couple of months for everything,” Teut said. “I told family and friends about it and where to vote. My whole class at school actually voted for me. I’ve definitely been blessed with a lot of friends and family that have helped me along the way. I was super excited when they announced on Facebook that I had won.”
Teut joins other contest winners, like Wylene Davis-a three time Mustang Makeover Challenge Champion, as a member of the Kimes Ranch Family. This uncommon sponsorship format was meant to give opportunity to athletes who are up and coming, accomplished and have the drive to succeed, or those established and successful in disciplines that may not have received the recognition they deserve. “This contest makes it possible for them (athletes) to get their foot in the door by opening the contest to all types of athletes at all levels. The finalists are selected to represent a range of different disciplines and levels and the overall winner is selected based on an open voting process,” explains Lindsay Perraton, Director of Marketing at Kimes Ranch.
The sponsorship contest runs annually on Kimesranch.com. Look for your next chance to enter this October.
About Kimes Ranch Jeans: Founded in 2009, Kimes Ranch (formerly Longhorn Jean Company) was created to fill a void in the marketplace. With a long standing western history, Matt and Amanda Kimes’ desire was to create a company that produced great fitting, quality, long lasting jeans that walked the line between fashion-forward and western friendly.
The brand’s catchy logo and even more attractive company culture and customer service have brought them a cult-like following amongst their western consumers. The classically inspired line of jeans have been featured in magazines including American Cowboy, Horse & Rider, Cowboys and Indians and Chrome Magazine.
Kimes Ranch. Exceptional Fit. Superior Style. Western Uncomplicated.
For more information on Kimes Ranch or to order, visit www.kimesranch.com.
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Rosters set for 2018 BFI Week
Wrangler BFI Week fills new Junior ropings; will award Polaris Rangers to Reno Million champs.
RENO, Nev. (May 22, 2018)– The 41st Annual edition of the world’s richest professional team roping – the Bob Feist Invitational in Reno, Nevada – is just a few weeks away (June 18-21) and the roster is set.
The BFI itself kicks things off on Monday, as always, showcasing the world’s best 100 professional teams competing over six rounds for more than $800,000 in cash and prizes. Standing alone as the richest Open roping in the country, the BFI will be broadcast live on WranglerNetwork.com and is annually held in conjunction with the Reno Rodeo.
This year’s roping will again feature two BFI cowboys who’ve entered all 41 editions of the prestigious BFI – Dennis Watkins and Mike Beers. Watkins will heel this year for Caden Clay, while Beers hopes for a six-figure payday with Jace Johnson. Honorable mentions, of course, go to Walt Woodard heeling for Matt Sherwood at his 40th BFI, and Clay Cooper who will back in for Spencer Mitchell at his 39th.
As always, a handful of young guns will try their luck for the first time in Reno. Those include Kellan Johnson heading for his world-champ dad, Jhett, and Tanner Green joining his uncle Daniel at the BFI as he heads for Forrest Fisher. The roster also boasts some exciting new matchups, including Jake Barnes heading for Rich Skelton (that’s 15 collective gold buckles), Derrick Begay for Jade Corkill, and Aaron Tsinigine for Trey Yates.
On June 19, the world’s best amateur ropers will compete in the #11 Reno Million Invitational, which last year saw Arizona husband-wife duo Peg and Jim Williams come from the seventh call-back position to win $200,000 cash plus a trailer-load of prizes. This year, the champs will need to find space to take home new Polaris Rangers, as well.
Following the sophomore edition of the #12 High Desert Showdown on Wednesday will be the inaugural Hooey BFI Junior Championships. The ropings for the under-17 crowd filled up early, and will pay the champs $15,000, plus the legendary BFI prizeline. Kids from across the country are warming up for the #10, and in the Jr. Open, fans will want a great seat to see the teenagers go at it – including the team of Britt Smith of Oklahoma and Carson Johnson of Wyoming.
Wrangler BFI Week will also again host the world’s richest all-girl team roping the following day (it paid the 2017 winners $41,000) – including a high-stakes breakaway jackpot in its second year, with a bevy of prizes and Charlie 1 Horse sponsorship.
The week’s total event lineup includes the BFI (June 18), the #12 High Desert Showdown and Hooey BFI Junior Championships (June 20), and the Charlie 1 Horse All-Girl Challenge (June 21). Including the Reno Rodeo and payoffs at the week’s additional amateur WSTR competitions off-site, the collective athlete purse during Wrangler BFI Week nears $3.6 million.
For more information, visit www.BFIWeek.com. Hotel reservations with special roper rates starting at $54 are available at the Silver Legacy Resort, the Eldorado, and Circus Circus with rate code BFI18.
About BFI Week:
The Bob Feist Invitational team roping has been owned and produced by Phoenix-based Ullman-Peterson Events since 2012. The same company purchased the Reno Rodeo Invitational team ropings in 2016, rebranding the package as BFI Week in 2017. Founded by notable rodeo announcer and publisher Bob Feist in 1977, the BFI is the richest team roping event for professionals and one of the most prestigious, due to its 100-team limit and 18-foot head-start for steers. Founded by Perry Di Loreto in 1996, the high-stakes #11 and all-female roping events are the most lucrative one-day events of their kind for amateur ropers.