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  • Back When They Bucked with Logan Adams

    Back When They Bucked with Logan Adams

    story by Merrill A. Ellis

    Logan Adams was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2011. He is pictured with his family l to r: Jimmy Adams, Merrill Ellis, Logan, Mabel Adams, and John Adams.
    – Courtesy of the family

    Logan Adams grew up in a rural Texas community. Actually, he was born on his grandparent’s Carpenter Ranch which is nestled outside of the Texas Hill Country town of Medina. His other grandparent’s ranch on the Adams side of the family was just down the road. The Texas raised cowboy had a passion for riding, roping, and the western way of life. He attributes this to his numerous uncles who taught him these skills while tending to the ranches. Even though he learned these abilities at a very young age, he never participated in a rodeo during his youth.
    He was always a competitive athlete. While in high school he enjoyed participating in every sport offered. He even was a Texas state qualifier in discus, an all district football player and captain of his football team.
    “The entire community followed us to our football games. The joke was the last one out of Medina should turn out the lights,” Logan stated with a smile.
    Football was his passion. After being recruited by the Sul Ross State University Lobo Football team he continued to excel in sports. One of his friends at SRSU was the famed, Dan Blocker, who enjoyed an illustrious career on the TV show, Bonanza.
    After a year of football at Sul Ross, the football coach decided to take a job at Southwest Texas College in San Marcos. He asked Logan to be a part of that football team and he did. While at Southwest Texas College, he began to dabble in the sport of rodeo.
    “The coach told me I had to quit football or quit rodeo due to eligibility reasons. So, I decided to pursue rodeo,” stated Logan.
    In a matter of fact, while on his first date with his late wife, Mabel, he won the steer wrestling at a rodeo in San Marcos. He had met her through his first cousin, Betty Ann Carpenter. She and Mabel were suite mates at Baylor University.
    “Yep, Betty Ann grabbed my winnings and took it upon herself to make sure we all had a good time that night,” Logan stated with a smirk.
    The rodeo world has a unique way of luring young men and women into its sport. And it did just that to Logan.
    Being raised in Bandera County he had numerous Rodeo Cowboy Association (RCA) World Champions to idolize and ask questions about their roping expertise.
    The late Ray Wharton, 1956 RCA World Champion Calf Roper, was Logan’s selected mentor.
    “He got me started by encouraging me to rope and really practice with determination. He thought I had some potential and he pushed me to go ahead,” stated Logan.

    Logan Adams is roping at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. He took the lead in the calf roping go round the night this photo was taken. – Allen Photo

    He continued, “He allowed me to practice on his horses which was a great benefit for a young roper.”
    In 1956, Adams was issued a permit by the RCA. He decided that he was ready to compete against the “big boys” of the organization and he entered his first pro rodeo in Kerrville, Texas.
    He stated, “One of the biggest moments of my roping career was winning the first RCA rodeo I went to in Kerrville. It was just down the road from my hometown and I had a lot of family and friends there to watch.”
    It was not until 1960 after a successful ranching career that he decided to pursue his dream of rodeo.
    “I quickly filled my permit at Independence, Missouri. I choose rodeos where I could participate and manage my ranching operation.”
    Logan won or placed at almost every major RCA rodeo in the United States roping calves.
    In the 60’s, he and his wife, Mabel were featured in the Fort Worth Star Telegram as a unique rodeo couple. Mabel, a city raised girl, was participating in the ranch rodeo barrel race and Logan was roping calves. The two were also showcased in the Houston Post during the Houston Fat Stock Show and Rodeo. This was Mabel’s hometown.
    Logan was a skilled match roper. He won 10 out of 12 matches. In 1966, he was recruited by Elizabeth Hopson, to ride her stallion, Montes Joker in the Appaloosa Sweepstakes 10 head calf roping. He won the competition two years in a row.
    In 1970, he purchased John Clay Cattle Company, a major livestock marketing firm in the United States.  He has made a life long commitment to the cattle industry.  Weekly he gave the market report to Perry Kallison’s farm and ranch radio show in San Antonio. Kallison was one of the founders of the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo. Logan also maintained his childhood roots in Medina, Texas where he engaged in an active ranching lifestyle.
    He has been involved with the Rodeo World in various capacities most of life.  He has judged Miss Rodeo Texas, served on the Bell County PRCA Rodeo Committee, produced the Texas Circuit PRCA Steer Roping Finals and produced the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Southern Region Finals.
    There have been many good calf roping horses purchased throughout the years from Logan that have helped other ropers excel. He always had a knack for taking a horse to the next level in the competitive calf roping arena.
    “I quit roping off of a horse at the age of 80. I just decided it was time,” he stated. “This was very difficult time for me because it is something that I have enjoyed doing most of my life.”
    Logan and his wife, Mabel were married 60 years before she passed away in June of 2016. As a former deacon of a First Baptist Church, he now spends his Sundays worshiping at 3C Cowboy Fellowship in Salado, Texas.
    “I have always been a prayerful man. I know that with God we will get through the storms and he will give us strength,” explained Adams.
    One of his greatest passions during his career has been teaching numerous cowboys and cowgirls to rope.  This also carried through to his own three children, Merrill A. Ellis, John Logan and Jimmy, who each had roping careers of their own.
    Some of those cowboys he helped included the following: Richard Thompson (deceased)-Texas High School Rodeo Association Champion and National High School Rodeo Champion, Johnny Kirk Edmondson-American Junior Rodeo Association Champion, College National Finals Champion. two times PRCA Texas Circuit Champion, Billy Albin, College National Finals Rodeo Champion, and Roy Angermiller-NIRA Southwest Region Steer Wrestling Champion, PRCA Texas Circuit Steer Roping Champion and Calf Roping Qualifier, and eight times NFR Steer Roping Qualifier.
    Logan Adams is pleased to be a Gold Card holder in the PRCA. In 2011, he was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame. During his induction speech he stated, “All I ever wanted to be was a cowboy and I am proud to say I am.”

    Logan, his wife Mabel and daughter, Merrill in the late 50’s. – Courtesy of Houston Post

    Merrill A. Ellis is the daughter of Logan Adams. She is a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University where she earned a master’s degree in communications and education.She currently serves on the board of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni.

  • Third round of CNFR competition underway

    Third round of CNFR competition underway

     

    CASPER, Wyo. (June 13, 2017) – The first performance of the 69th annual College National Finals kicked off at the Casper Events Center on Tuesday night in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

    While this was the first full rodeo performance, competition is now more than two-thirds complete. The second full round was completed Tuesday afternoon during slack. Then the third round started at the evening performance.

    The fastest time of barrel racing was recorded during the rodeo when Loni Lester of the Sam Houston State University Bearkats stopped the clock in 13.98 seconds.

    Lester, a junior majoring in animal science qualified in barrel racing and breakaway roping. In the first two rounds, five-seconds was added to her time for knocked down barrels. She was determined to have a clean run in the third round and that determination paid off.

    She has been extremely consistent in her second event stopping the clock in the first two rounds in identical times of 2.7 seconds. Lester, who will rope in the third round later this week is in contention for the women’s all-around title here.

    Denver Berry, son of four-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association steer wrestling world champion Ote Berry was expected to do well in that event here. Berry, who attends Southeastern Oklahoma State University had his third-round competition Tuesday evening stopping the clock in 4.6 seconds.

    In his first qualification, Berry leads both the third round and overall standings. He has a total time of 15.9 seconds on three runs and is in good position to be among the top 12 who qualify for Saturday night’s championship finals.

    Third-round competition continues at the second performance on Wednesday night, June 14, beginning at 7 p.m.

     

     

    CASPER, Wyo.—The following are current leaders from the 69th annual College National Finals Rodeo, June 13, 2017, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

     

    Bareback Riding: (third-round leaders) 1, Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western,74.5. 2, Cache Hill, University of Great Falls, 69.5. 3, (tie) Wyatt Bettony, Dine College, and Zach Hibler, Western Texas College, 67.5 each. (total on three) 1, Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western, 222.5. 2, Cache Hill, University of Great Falls, 216. 3, Braxten Nielson, Weber State University, 208. 4, Zach Hibler, Western Texas College, 198.5.

     

    Breakaway Roping: (third-round leaders) 1, Valerie James, Treasure Valley Community College, 2.6 seconds. 2, (tie) Brandi Epps, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Dalli Bean, Treasure Valley Community College, and Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 2.9. (total on three) 1, Teague Crane, Colorado Northwestern Community College, 9.6. 2, Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, 18.0. 3, Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 18.6. (on two) 4, Brandi Epps, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 5.0.

     

    Steer Wrestling: (third-round leaders) 1, Denver Berry, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 4.8 seconds. 2, Wyatt Lindsay, New Mexico State State University, 5.6. 3, Gage Greer, Laramie County Community College, 5.7. 4, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 9.3. (total on three) 1, Denver Berry, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 15.9. 2, Wyatt Lindsay, New Mexico State University, 19.9. 3, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 20.2. 4, Cole Lickley, University of Idaho, 30.5.

     

    Team Roping: (third-round leaders) 1, Chase Onaka, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo and Brushton Minton, West Hills College, 5.9 seconds. 2, Bubba Boots and Matthew Williams, Northwest College, 6.7. 3, Landon Heryford and Tim Messner, Oregon State University, 16.8. 4, Lindy Lehman and Garrett Springer, Treasure Valley Community College, 17.9. (total on three) 1, Chase Onaka, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 23.6. 2, Bubba Boots and Matthew Williams, Northwest College, 24.1. 3, Landon Heryford and Tim Messner, Oregon State University, 45.2. (on two) 4, (tie) Mason Boettcher, and Ty Arnold, Sam Houston State University; and Cooper White and Riley Wakefield, Gillette College, 12.7 each.

     

    Saddle Bronc Riding: (third-round leaders) 1, Jake Finlay, Panhandle State University, 79.5 points. 2, Logan cook, Panola Junior College, 76.0. 3, Mason Mardesich, Otero Junior College, 75.5. 4, Josh Davison, New Mexico State University, 68. (total on three) 1, Logan Cook, Panola Junior College, 210.5. (on two) 2, Jake Finley, Panhandle State University, 153.5. 3, Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College, 145. 4, (tie) Will Centoni, Cuesta College and Tanner Butner, University of Montana Western, 140.5.

     

    Goat Tying: (third-round leaders) 1, Rickie Engesser, Gillette College, 6.3 seconds. 2, Tess Turk, University of Montana – Western, 6.4. 3, Kylee Bennett, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 6.6 4, Raegan Bloom, Montana State University, 6.7. (total on three) 1, Rickie Engesser, Gillette College, 19.4. 2, Kylee Bennett, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 20.2. 3, (tie) Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, and Quincy Segelke, Gillette College, 20.7 each.

     

    Tie Down Roping: (third-round leaders) 1, Reid Zapalac, Tarleton State University, 8.0 seconds. 2, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University, 9.0. 3, Bryce Bott, Casper College, 9.2. 4, Dillon Sherrick, Oklahoma State University, 9.8. (total on three) 1, Reid Zapalac, Tarleton State University, 27.9. 2, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 29.8. 3, Bryce Bott, Casper College, 37.4. 4, Preston Pederson, Blue Mountain Community College, 39.5.

     

    Barrel Racing: (third-round leaders) 1, Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University, 13.98 seconds. 2, Kailee Webb, University of Wyoming, 14.36. 3, Kelsi Haller, Lake Land College, 14.47. 4, Danyelle Williams, Blue Mountain Community College, 14.50. (total on three) 1, Kailee Webb, University of Wyoming, 43.50. 2, Danyelle Williams, Blue Mountain Community College, 43.81. 3, Kelsi Haller, Lake Land College, 44.05. 4, Abby Phillips, Panola Junior college, 44.19.

     

    Bull Riding: (third round no rides) (total on two) 1, Ruger Piva, University of Montana Western, 157. 2, Cody Ballard, Panhandle State University, 154. (on one) 3, Blue Wilcox, Mesalands Community College, 75.5. 4, Jake Davis, Northwest College, 73.

     

    Men’s All-Around: 1, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 190 points. 2, Marcus Theriot, East Mississippi Community College, 165. 3, Wyatt Miller, Fort Scott Community College, 70. 4, BoDell Jessen, Odessa College, 65.

     

    Women’s All-Around: 1, KL Spratt, Sam Houston State University, 140 points. 2, Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, 125. 3, Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University, 95. 4, Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 70.

     

    Men’s Team: 1, Panhandle State University, 460 points. 2, University of Montana – Western, 325. 3, Northwest College, 280. 4, Sam Houston State University, 275.

     

    Women’s Team: 1, Sam Houston State University, 295 points. 2, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 280. 3, Treasure Valley Community College, 195. 4, (tie) University of Tennessee – Martin, and University of Wyoming, 175.

  • Thorpe and Wheeler hope for repeat at College National Finals Rodeo

    Thorpe and Wheeler hope for repeat at College National Finals Rodeo

    CASPER, Wyo. (June 12, 2017) — One year ago, Wesley Thorpe and Cole Wheeler left Casper, Wyoming as the newly crowned team roping champions in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

    They qualified again this year and are on a mission for a repeat. The duo, who come from Texas Tech University at Lubbock made their first appearance at the 69th annual College National Finals Rodeo on Monday during slack. They stopped the clock in 6.1 seconds to finish second in the first round.

    The first-round winners came from California’s Cuesta College. Tristan Ruffoni and Dalton Pearce were the only team ropers to be under six seconds at 5.2. These teams will have their second round of competition during Tuesday’s slack.

    Second generation rodeo competitor Jake Fulton from local Casper College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Cody Devers split the win in the steer wrestling with 3.7-second runs. Wyoming was also well represented in the barrel racing with Kailee Webb. The University of Wyoming student took first in the round with a 14.53.

    Last year’s all-around champion Marcus Theriot from East Mississippi College had some success in the tie-down roping with an 8.8-second run, which finished in second place. Theriot is also competing in the team roping and steer wrestling here and will need to earn points in those events to have an opportunity for a second title.

    The second round of competition will be completed during slack on June 13 beginning at 7 a.m. The third round will start at the evening performance.

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    CASPER, Wyo.—The following are results from the 69th annual College National Finals Rodeo, June 12, 2017, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

    Bareback Riding:(second round leaders) 1, Austin Williams, Odessa college, 75.5 points. 2, (tie) Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western, and Rio Lee, Cochise College, 70.5. each. 5, Hunter Carlson, Sheridan College, 70. 6, (tie) Paden Hurst, Wharton College and Cory Brown, Fort Scott Community College, 67.5. 8, Colton Delgado, Fort Scott Community College, 66.5.

    Breakaway Roping: (second round leaders) 1, Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, 2.2 seconds. 2, Tierra Gray, Eastern New Mexico University, 2.3. 3, Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University, 2.7. 4, Bailey Smith, Idaho State University, 3.1. 5, Ryanne Tracy, Montana State University, Montana State University, 3.7. 6, Jamie Giefer, Fresno College, 4.0. 7, Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 12.4. 8, Breanna Ellis, Missouri Valley College, 15.0.

    Steer Wrestling: (first round winners) 1, (tie) Cody Devers, Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Jake Fulton, Casper College, 3.7 seconds each. 3, Fenton Nelsen, Missouri Valley College, 4.0. 4, Brady Thurston, Central Wyoming College, 4.6. 5, Cole Frey, McNeese State University, 4.8. 6, Cade Goodman, Texas A&M University, 4.9. 7, Kris Rasmussen, Midplains Community College, 5.0. 8, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 5.2.

    Team Roping: (first round winners) 1, Tristan Ru ffoni and Dalton Pearce, Cuesta College, 5.2 seconds. 2, Cole Wheeler and Wesley Thorp, Texas Tech University, 6.1. 3, Dylan Schulenberg, Northwest Oklahoma State University and Wyatt Miller, Fort Scott Community College, 6.2. 4, Braden Pirrung, Eastern Wyoming College and J.D. Kirwan, Gillette College, 6.5. 5, Ross Mitchell, University of Tennessee – Martin and Ethan Wheeler, East Mississippi Community College; and Cooper White and Riley Wakefield, Gillette College, 6.6 seconds per team. 7, Mason Boettcher and Ty Arnold, Sam Houston State University, 6.7. 8, Chase Onaka, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo and Brushton Minton, West Hills College, 6.8.

    Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round winners) 1, Preston Burr, New Mexico Junior College, 78.5 points. 2, Brody Cress, Tarleton State University, 76.5. 3, Blaise Freeman, Western Texas College, 75. 4, Logan cook, Panola Junior College, 74. 5, Will Centoni, Cuesta College, 73.5. 6, Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College, 72.5. 7, Johnny Espeland, Blue Mountain Community College, 72. 8, Parker Kempfer, Sam Houston State University, 70.5. (second round leaders) 1, Luke Logan-Marvel, College of Southern Idaho, 74.5. 2, (tie) Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College and Treyson Antonick, Sam Houston State University, 72.5 each. 4, Briar Dittmer, Missouri Valley College, 71.5. 5, Wyatt Hageman, University of Wyoming, 71. 6, Mitch Pollock, College of Southern Idaho, 69. 7, Keenan Reinhardt, Montana State University, 64.5. 8, Jake Burwash, Cochise College, 59.5.

    Goat Tying: (first round winners) 1, Jacey Hupp, South Dakota State University, 6.1 seconds. 2, Janey Reeves, University of Idaho, 6.2. 3, (tie) 3, Rickie Engesser, Gillette College; LeighAnn Scribner, University of New Mexico; and Celie Vick, Eastern New Mexico University and Lauren Bane, Tarleton State University; 6.3 each. 7, (tie) Carlee Johnston, Black Hills State University and Amelia Anderson, University of Wyoming, 6.4.

    Tie Down Roping: (first round winners) 1, Cooper Mathews, Hill College, 8.5 seconds. 2, Marcus Theriot, East Mississippi Community College, 8.8. 3, Andrew Burks, Pearl River Community College, 9.0. 4, Wyatt Willaims, Boise State University, 9.6. 5, Chace Valdez, New Mexico State University, 9.9. 6, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 10.1. 7, (tie) Reid Zapalac, Tarleton State University, and Kolbey Hughes, Idaho State University, 10.2 each.

     

    Barrel Racing: (first round winners) 1, Kailee Webb, University of Wyoming, 14.53 seconds. 2, Abby Knight, University of Great Falls, 14.58. 3, Kynzie Rae McNeil, Texas Tech University, 14.66. 4, Sierra Spratt, Sam Houston State University, 14.70. 5, Danyelle Williams, Blue Mountain Community College, 14.71. 6, Nealey Dalton, University of Tennessee – Martin, 14.73. 7, Rainy Robinson, South Plains College, 14.74. 8, Leia Pluemer, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, 14.78.

    Bull Riding: (second round leaders – three rides) 1, Dakota Rice, Chadron State College, 75.5. 2, BoDell Jessen, Odessa College, 72.5. 3, Josh Frost, Panhandle State University, 66.5.

     

     

  • 69th College National Finals Rodeo underway in Wyoming

    69th College National Finals Rodeo underway in Wyoming

    CASPER, Wyo. (June 11, 2017) — The 69th annual College National Finals Rodeo kick off on Sunday with the Bulls Broncs & Breakaway performance.

    Nearly 400 contestants have made their way to Wyoming after having qualified by competing at rodeos in 11 different geographic regions. Each of them will have three opportunities in their events and hope to be among the top 12 that advance to the Championship Finals on Saturday, June 17th where national champions will be crowned.

    The first round of bareback riding, bull riding and breakaway roping were completed Sunday. There is one rider in the saddle bronc riding who has a chance to change the leaderboard on Monday. Times were fast in the breakaway roping with two women finishing at the top. Brandi Epps from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Kenzley Wilson from the University of Tennessee – Martin each roped a calf in 2.3 seconds. That got their teams off to a good start with 75 points each.

    In the bareback riding it was Lane McGehee from Sam Houston State University that won the first round with 80.5 points. Will Martin from Panhandle State University was second with 78.5. After Martin rode, he got to watch his team mate Cody Ballard win the bull riding with 81.5 points.

    The men’s team at Panhandle State University located at Goodwell, Oklahoma, earned 150 points with these two rides and will be hoping to add to it and get another national championship for the Aggies.

    Preston Burr from New Mexico Junior College located at Hobbs leads the saddle bronc riding. Burr’s coach, Marty Eakin won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association saddle bronc riding championship in 2004 Burr scored 78.5 points. Cody Crim from Missouri Valley College is the lone saddle bronc rider yet to compete in the first round. Rodeo officials gave him the option of a re-ride which he will take on Monday.

    The first round of saddle bronc riding as well as steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and goat tying will be completed Monday during slack. The second round will start for bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders as well as breakaway ropers. It begins at 7 a.m.

     

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    CASPER, Wyo.—The following are results from Bulls Broncs and Breakaway at the College National Finals Rodeo, June 11, 2017, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

     

    Breakaway Roping: (first round winners) 1, (tie) Brandi Epps, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Kenzley Wilson, University of Tennessee – Martin, 2.3 seconds each. 3, Ryanne Tracy, Montana State University, 2.4. 4, (tie) Blair Bullock, University of West Alabama and Mia Manzanares, McNeese State University, 2.5. 6, Cassie Bahe, College of Southern Idaho, 2.6. 7, (tie) Hannah Springer, Southern Arkansas University; Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University and Shaylee Thacker, Utah Valley University, 2.7.

     

    Bareback Riding: (first round winners) 1, Lane McGehee, Sam Houston State University, 80.5 points. 2, Will Martin, Panhandle State University, 78.5. 3, Cache Hill, University of Great Falls, 78. 4, Kody Lamb, Tarleton State University, 77.5. 5, Chance Ames, Sheridan College, 77. 6, (tie) Rowdy Moon, Mid-Plains Community College; Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western; and Rio Lee, Cochise College; 74.5 points each.

     

    Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round leaders) 1, Preston Burr, New Mexico Junior College, 78.5 points. 2, Brody Cress, Tarleton State University, 76.5. 3, Blaise Freeman, Western Texas College, 75. 4, Logan cook, Panola Junior College, 74. 5, Will Centoni, Cuesta College, 73.5. 6, Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College, 72.5. 7, Johnny Espeland, Blue Mountain Community College, 72. 8, Parker Kempfer, Sam Houston State University, 70.5.

     

    Bull Riding: (first round winners) 1, Cody Ballard, Panhandle State University, 81.5 points. 2, Ruger Piva, University of Montana – Western, 80. 3, Chase Dougherty, Montana State University, 77.5. Kolton White, South Eastern Oklahoma State University and Coloe Melancon, Hill College, 76.5. 6, Aaron Williams, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 74. 7, Cody Hudson, Walla Walla Community College, 73.5. 4, Jake Davis, Northwest College, 73.

     

  • ProFile: Jeff Todd

    ProFile: Jeff Todd

    Jeff and family – courtesy of the family

    In 1990 Jeff Todd graduated from high school in northwest Kansas. “I was second in my class, but that didn’t make the top ten percent since there were only 10 of us that graduated.”He went to Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma on an academic and rodeo scholarship, roping calves and team roping. He fell in with a group of rodeo kids from Wyoming, including Jhett and Justin Johnson. “All I wanted to do was rope – that was my goal. My plan as a college kid was to get a teaching degree so I could have my summers off and rodeo. My fall back plan was to go home and ranch on the family ranch.” He met Nancy Hainzinger on the rodeo team and they got married in 1992, Jeff was just 20, right after his sophomore year. The next summer his dad offered to let them run the ranch in eastern Colorado. It was a great opportunity for the young couple as they got to work together with few distractions those 90 days for there were no neighbors in sight. “We checked cattle or farmed every day, but also made it to 30 rodeos. One weekend they went to 5 rodeos in 3 days stretching from Nebraska to Texas. “We started out in Benkleman, Nebraska and roped in the Friday night slack. We left at midnight and had to be in Dalhart, Texas for the 7:30am slack. We barely made it and both made the short round at the XIT rodeo (amateur at the time). We were up at Elkhart, Kansas that night and Springfield, Colorado the next day before driving back to Dalhart.” It was great fun and for me, that was my opportunity to really rodeo.” Jeff was a history major, and was heading towards being a teacher, but decided after that summer that he wanted more. Spending hours on the tractor, Jeff made plans for the future. It didn’t involve the Colorado farm and ranch but did include kids, horses and rodeo. “I knew I was smart enough, and I started preparing myself to go to law school.” He set his goals so that he could make a living for his family, Nancy could stay home and work with horses and they could take their kids to rodeos. “I still wanted the lifestyle, but didn’t think running down the road was for me.”
    After a couple more years of college rodeo, Jeff and Nancy graduated from Northwestern in 1994, and got ready for Jeff to start law school that fall. “We lived with Nancy’s mom and dad in Ponca City, Oklahoma and I shod horses. They were saving money for the transition and entry fees were not in the budget. But, Jeff’s mom loaned him $250 to enter the local open rodeos. “Actually, that was the best summer I ever had. I was just so happy to be able to enter and knew things were getting ready to change soon with law school that I didn’t worry about anything. I rodeoed on that $250 all summer and had money left over in August when I pulled up and sold my good calf horse. “The pull of the rodeo deal was tough to turn from; it was a whole different life where they were headed.”
    They moved into an apartment in Norman, across from OU law school. Nancy taught school while Jeff went to law school. “I treated law school like a job, when she went to work, I would start studying. If they’d have told me how much I had to read, I would have never done it.” After that first tough year of law school they eased back into horses. “We would go home on the weekends and ride. Riding today is still how I get rid of stress.” He graduated 9th in his class out of 220 in 1997 and got a job at McAfee & Taft a large law firm in downtown Oklahoma City. “I’ve been here for 20 years.”
    Right after he took the bar exam, they signed a contract on 15 acres and a contract to build a house. “We didn’t even know if I’d passed the bar,” he recalls. “The place was perfect – 26 miles from downtown, the best of both worlds for us.” They moved in with their two-year-old son, Haines, and started building their place. “I worked all day at the office and rushed home so Nancy and I could build fence and Haines helped.”
    McAfee & Taft is now the largest law firm in the state, and a perfect fit for Todd. One of his first cases involved a patent owned by horse trailer manufacturer. “My main job was to be the interpreter between the owners and the complicated legal process. Early on I figured out that ag clients liked working with me because I could talk their language. McAfee was a full service business firm so I figured why not develop a full service agriculture practice. I got hired by Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association and pretty soon other ag-based clients started calling.” Today, he spends most days working on agriculture and equine cases and even rodeo matters. He represents many businesses and people that he rodeoed with. “I went to Little Britches rodeos with KC Jones, and now I represent ProFantasy Rodeo and Rodeo Vegas. Another college buddy owns a feed mill and trucking company.”
    He still had to put in his 10,000 hours, and let rodeo go for awhile. “I didn’t have time and family came first. We messed with a couple colts, and my son went with me once a week to a little calf roping jackpot. One summer that was the only place I entered, but that was just fine. Our goal was to get our kids around it and our dream was to take our kids to junior rodeos and we did that.” They have three children, and they all grew up in the arena. That is until six years ago. “On April 16, 2011 we found out my wife had a golfball size tumor on her brain. Life stopped for us. By that time, I was a shareholder in the firm and we were doing junior rodeos.” Nancy had major surgery May 9 and by the grace of God, she was back riding horses for her kids less than a month later. Everyone in the family had a life change from that experience. Haines quit rodeo all together, deciding to focus on his schooling, and the 21-year-old junior at Oklahoma State University is majoring in Electrical Engineering, carrying a 3.98 GPA.
    Kathryn (17) coped by practicing more and that dedication paid off. She went to the NJHSFR in Gallup, N.M. a couple summers later and came back to Oklahoma as the 2013 National Champion pole bender as well as the National Champion All Around Cowgirl. Gretchen, who was five at the time, is now 11 and rodeos right along with her sister. Jeff credits Nancy for his kids’ rodeo success. “My girls are blessed that their mom is pretty handy with horses and takes the time to make, finish and fine tune their rodeo horses.”

    Jeff and Gretchen Todd – courtesy of the family

    Coming full circle, Jeff has been able to keep his identity as a cowboy and farm kid. “I told my wife I never wanted to have soft hands. I still shoe horses and I have cattle with my brother in law.” They ride and practice a lot on that same 15 acre place they built. Most evenings someone is coming over to rope. He is the president of the Oklahoma High School Rodeo Associationj. “I’m a product of Kansas High School rodeo, and everything I do relates back to that. For me, we made the decision to try something different – but we still wanted our kids to have what we had.”
    After Nancy’s life-threatening operation, he decided to slow down a bit and pick the rope up more often. “Life is unexpected and it refocused things. I was 40 and figured I’d use these young horses. We rope a lot at home, but I didn’t go much.” Practice paid off, and in 2014 he left Vegas and the World Series Finale splitting $180,000 with his partner, David Mize. “That was unexpected but a lot of fun. Nancy told me I should quit while I was ahead but I told her I would probably just keep roping till it was all gone.”
    A teacher at heart, Jeff likes to mentor along his rodeo kids. He tells them “Whatever you do, make sure you’re passionate about it and be the very best you can be at it. When you’re 20, and you think all you want to do is rodeo, it’s ok to take a break and come back to it later – It doesn’t matter what you do, what the world lacks are people putting in the hard work to be the best they can be at it.”
    “We go pretty hard and get spread a little thin sometimes, but life is too fun to let it slide by. We are blessed and been put in the right situation when we didn’t know what the heck we were doing. God’s guided all this, we don’t take credit for any of it.”

  • Teamwork

    College Rodeo is a unique sport because it blends an individual sport into a team sport. There are only a few other sports that have a similar format, golf and track and field being the most comparable. Individuals compete for individual titles, but they are still competing as a team.
    Many students struggle to make the transition from practicing as an individual to becoming part of a team practice. As freshmen this is where I see one of the biggest struggles for students who go to a program that has practices that are run as a team. I have visited with several other coaches and they see the same difficulties in the program each year.
    I have had the opportunity to coach a lot of really good individuals and a few great teams. From experience it is exciting and rewarding to have individual success. However the bond you will share with your teammates and coaches from team success is even more rewarding. With team championships the reward is much stronger because of the commitment and work that it took as a group to get there. Many of the following qualities can build the championship team that we all seek to be part of.
    Your attitude will affect you in your daily routine. Not only will your attitude affect you but it may affect those around you. Your teammates and your coaches. Be coachable, and be the type of teammate you would like to have. IF you have a good attitude others will want to practice with you and help you.
    You are now on a team. As a member of a team practice will not always be centered on you. You will not always get to run as many as you would like. You will not always get on the best practice horse or bull. However you are a member of the team and need to do what you can to make your team better. Run chutes, bring up the practice cattle. Be there to support your teammates as much as possible.
    On every team that I have ever been on, or coached there have been strong personalities. Most good competitors have strong personalities, and strong personalities are not always the easiest to get along with. As a coach I have never expected everyone on the team to be best friends. I do expect everyone on the team respect each other in and out of the arena. You are members representing a school, working towards a goal and you are now going to be treated as an adult. One of the best and most important lessons you can learn on a team is how to be respectful to the different personalities on the team. This is a lesson that will serve you well the rest of your life.
    A college rodeo team has a lot of different groups. I usually break it down into three groups, rough stock riders, men’s timed events and women’s timed events. Then in each group you have your individual events. Practice time and the coach’s time will be split up among the groups and events. Make sure you can learn to work on improving in practice without the coach babysitting you. Don’t expect a compliment or criticism on every run or ride. Coaches see more, observe more and hear more than you give them credit for. Coaches and team mates will recognize and respect great daily effort in the practice pen.
    Be the teammate you would want to practice with every day.

  • Back When They Bucked with Betty Sims Solt

    Back When They Bucked with Betty Sims Solt

    Today’s cowgirls don’t know the debt they owe Betty Sims Solt. The New Mexico cowgirl was on the front lines, working to make opportunities for girls and women in rodeo.

    The 1953 New Mexico State High School Rodeo Champions. Betty (second from left) was the Santa Rosa girls breakaway calf roping champion. – Cathey

    At a college rodeo, Solt won the girls’ all-around title, and received a ten dollar watch for her efforts, while the boys’ all-around won a saddle and a scholarship. “I was disappointed when things like that happened,” she said.
    She spent much of her high school and college days, and the years afterwards, working for equal opportunities for the young women in rodeo.
    Betty was born in 1935, the youngest of six children and the only daughter of George E. and Wahlecia Dell Blackwell Sims. George was a bronc rider who put his kids to work on the ranch south of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and whose kids loved to rodeo.
    Betty was riding by the time she was five, and in high school, competed in the barrel racing, breakaway roping, and the cutting. At the time, breakaway was not a standard high school rodeo event. She competed in amateur rodeos across the state as well, causing the principal to question if she was interested in school. One day, in high school, she was summoned to his office. He had stern words for her: Did she intend to rodeo, or graduate from high school? Her answer: “Sir, I am going to try and do both.” And she did, graduating as class valedictorian. But that wasn’t the end of it. She talked him into buying calves, so during the last class period of the day, which was for athletics, the students could practice roping at the arena on the outskirts of town.
    In college at New Mexico A&M (now New Mexico State), she did the barrel racing, goat tying, and flag race, and again, occasionally, the breakaway; it wasn’t a standard event for women yet.

    Betty running barrels on ‘Sonny’ in 1956 with the NIRA at Hardin Simmons College, Abilene, TX. She was Barrel Racing and All Around Cowgirl

    In high school, she also competed in a girls’ event that no longer exists today: the boot and cigar race. The girls put their boots in a big pile in the arena. They went to the far end then, on a signal, ran to the pile, dug out their boots, put them on, and ran back to their horses, tied up in the arena. After mounting, they rode to the other end, where they were to light a cigar and keep it lit as they rode back to the starting point. In 1951, she won the Santa Rosa boot and cigar race and her first buckle.
    She got help and advice from her brothers and dad for the 1951 race. As he drove her to school each day, she’d practice lighting her dad’s cigar, even though “I hated that cigar,” she said. After struggling to light it during races, her brother Tom had an idea: he taped together four matches, and “when he struck those matches, I got that cigar lit in a hurry.” She also had a strategy for the pile of boots: she stood back and as the girls threw the boots back, she’d see hers coming and grab them as they flew by.
    She and her brothers, all rodeo contestants, were instrumental in starting the first Santa Rosa High School rodeo, with the inaugural event in 1951. One of the prizes for competitors that first year was yearling calves donated by local ranchers.
    Betty set records in high school rodeo, winning the breakaway roping at the 1953 New Mexico High School State Rodeo, and setting a state record in the event the next year, which held for several years.

    Betty breakaway roping on ‘Red Babe’ in Santa Rosa, NM where she broke the existing record at a New Mexico State High School Rodeo, 1952 – Courtesy of the family

    In college, she went on to excel, winning two world barrel racing championships in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (1957 and 1958) and fourteen barrel racing titles. She served on the board of directors for girls events in the NIRA, served as a delegate to the NIRA convention in Colorado Springs, and was tapped to serve as vice-president of the American Junior Rodeo Association (1953-1955), which was put together by Al Davis. She also competed in the Southwest Rodeo Association, which included competitions in New Mexico, Colorado and Texas, winning a barrel racing title in 1958.
    Through her high school and college years, she was one of the people who fought to make breakaway roping a standard event, and to even out prize money. It didn’t bother her to voice her opinion. “When I saw what was happening, I knew I was going to work (to make it right.) Some of the others kept quiet and went along, but I didn’t want to do that.” She acknowledges that she wasn’t the only person working to make girls’ rodeo better. “I wasn’t the only one, but I was the most outspoken one,” she chuckled. In 1953, the National High School Rodeo Association crowned its first champion; the NIRA had their first champion sixteen years later.
    After graduating in 1958 with a degree in animal husbandry, she hoped to go back to the Sims ranch. But drought had forced her parents to sell it. She was offered a job in agriculture research back East, but she didn’t want to leave the West. So she returned to college to become a school teacher.
    One of her best and most favorite horses was a sorrel stallion named Sonny. He belonged to a friend of her father’s, and was used by the friend’s son for the barrel racing. When the son advanced past barrel racing, the father told Betty she could borrow the horse, on one condition: “if you can win, you can take this horse. If you can’t win, you can’t have him.” She won on him, never knocking down a barrel at college rodeos. He was also a dream horse for the flag race, too. If she missed a flag, he would circle again so she could get it. Another exceptional horse she rode was Spooks, her sister-in-law’s horse. Spooks was an all-around horse and she won on him in many events, including barrels, goats, and the cutting.
    Betty taught for 33 years, most of them in Roswell, and many of them as a reading teacher. She always tried to work rodeo and the western way of life into her subject matter. “I included ranch life and the history of rodeo in school,” she said. For speeches and demonstrations, she would have students show how to saddle a horse or milk a cow, and sometimes they came to school dressed up like cowboys or cowgirls. She enjoyed her students. “We had a lot of fun.”
    Betty continued to rodeo till 1960. Her last rodeo was in the barrel racing at the Smoky Bear Stampede in Capitan, N.M., which she won.
    In her adult life, she got involved in cowboy poetry, publishing two poetry books with her brother, and starting the movement in Roswell, chairing the Roswell event for several years. She recited her poetry at gatherings across the nation.
    She volunteered as a 4-H leader, was a member of the International Reading Association, and is a charter member of the Berrendo Cattlewomen of Roswell. She was inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1990.

    Betty Sims Solt – Courtesy of National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration

    She, along with Evelyn Bruce Kingsbery and Sylvia Mahoney, founded the NIRA Alumni in 1992, to help rodeo alumni reconnect and not lose touch with each other.
    Betty has retired from teaching and many of her volunteer roles. Her daughter Georgia Solt Perry, lives with her, and Betty enjoys her grandchildren: Georgia’s son Ethan and daughter Genna.
    She looks back fondly on her rodeo life. Some of the best parts of her life were being with family, on the ranch and in rodeo, meeting new people and competing. “I just loved the excitement of rodeo.”

  • Streakin Disco

    Streakin Disco

    Justin Briggs and Streakin Disco were champion headers in the #15 at the World Series of Team Roping at the Circle T Arena in Hamilton, Texas, in March. He is headed to the Finale in Las Vegas in December thanks to the mare from Fulton Family Performance Horses. “Streakin Disco has been my main horse since January – she’s all I’ve got – and it’s been good. She’s got a lot of speed and it makes things easy for me,” said the farrier and horse trainer from Chilton, Texas, 20 minutes south of Waco.
    Justin grew up in Florida, roping his way through the junior rodeo rank. He continued roping in Texas and went to college at Clarendon for two years, and Tarleton for 2 years. He met and married his wife thanks to college rodeo. Jordan Peterson, daughter of 4x WNFR barrel racer, Kristie Peterson, married Justin in 2010 and the couple spends every day, all day together.
    Streakin Disco started out as a barrel racing futurity mare, and came to the Briggs place and switched jobs. “I ranched on her for a while and then started heeling on her and then went to heading on her, and started hauling her and I’ve won some great money on her. She has a full sister that the McClouds are running – there are only two of them.”
    Jordan and Justin spend their days riding any one of their 15 horses. Justin switched from shoeing horses for the public to shoeing their horses and training. “We raise about three colts a year, and have three or four of every age up to five years old. Everything is ours.”
    Streakin Disco is seven, and the oldest one on the place. The couple’s routine is simple – they get up, feed, ride, and ride some more. “We switch off jobs for the horses – they all need something else to do, so I rope on the barrel horses and she barrel races on the rope horses.”
    “We sell the futurity horses; the four and five year olds. After they are five, we market them and most of the people that buy them are for junior girls. They like our horses because we do more than one thing on them.”Jordan was a 2009 WNFR qualifier and that experience helped shape the program they have today. “I was the support for her run for Vegas; I hung out and supported what she was doing. I traveled with her that year. It was the last year I was in college and when we left the college finals, we left for the summer rodeos and never went home. I went with her and helped her. I’d never gone to a lot of those places in the northwest and that was my first time in Vegas,” said Justin of the year. “I am looking forward to going back this year and roping on Streakin Disco.”

  • On The Trail with Shelby and Libby Winchell

    On The Trail with Shelby and Libby Winchell

    “To rodeo is not just one or two people committing – it’s the whole family,” says Mike Winchell. He and his wife, Shawna, committed wholeheartedly the day their daughters, Shelby and Libby, now ages 25 and 18, stepped onto the rodeo trail. Since then, the sisters have won several state and national titles apiece. Shelby is the assistant rodeo coach at Sheridan College in Wyoming and Libby, who won the 2016 Champions Challenge in Omaha, Nebraska, will be a freshman this fall at Eastern Wyoming College. Yet all the roots lead back to home in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and the foundation of hard work that Shelby and Libby built their careers on.

    The rodeo tradition comes from both sides of the family, and Shawna’s dad, a steer wrestler named Dick Phillips, helped start the Chadron State College rodeo team in the 1960. Shawna also rodeoed on the college team after competing in Little Britches and high school rodeo, while Mike’s background is in ranching. They wanted their daughters to experience several different sports, including basketball and volleyball, but the rodeo spark is what took off.

     

    Libby Winchell goat tying at the 2015 National High School Finals Rodeo – JenningsRodeoPhotography.com

    Shelby started rodeoing when she was nine, and Libby occupied herself with stick horse barrel racing and pole bending, and helping carry goats to the arena for goat tying, until she was old enough to compete. Both she and Shelby showed in 4-H, where Shawna was a leader, and FFA. They also competed in the WJRA, NLBRA, and Nebraska junior high and high school. They entered the barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and breakaway roping, but they’ve especially excelled in goat tying. Their mom, Shawna, was also a goat tyer. “It’s an event that’s not all about the horse – you get out of it what you put into it,” she explains. “It also requires athletic ability for getting off a horse that’s going thirty miles an hour. We call competitiveness the family sickness, but we’re fortunate the girls are willing to work hard at being their best. Mike and I have always been involved, going to clinics and learning new techniques right alongside them so when we’re in the practice arena, we know how to help them.”

    Through one such clinic, Shelby met goat tyer and Cochise College rodeo coach, Lynn Smith. “In high school, I had the opportunity to travel with Lynn Smith and help with goat tying clinics. It instilled that desire to teach – I’ve always wanted to be a rodeo coach so I could share that knowledge. Not many people can say they are twenty-five years old and living their dream job!”

    Before Shelby started rodeoing, she’d already overcome incredible odds, having been born 16 weeks early and going through extensive physical therapy as she grew up, making her drive to rodeo and compete twice as strong. She qualified for the NJHFR in 2006 and the NHSFR from 2008 – 2010, and after graduating from Scottsbluff High School, she attended Eastern Wyoming College. Shelby later transferred to Chadron State College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. She qualified for the CNFR in goat tying in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016, also competing in breakaway in 2013 after winning reserve all-around in the Central Rocky Mountain Region. She won the region in goat tying last year before clinching the national title at the CNFR. That same day, Libby won the goat tying at the Nebraska state finals, and she and Shawna watched the live feed of Shelby competing in the CNFR on their way home.

     

    Shelby Winchell goat tying at the 2016 CNFR – Hubbell

    “It’s interesting, because I’m known more for my goat tying success, but I also trained barrel and breakaway horses and seasoned them at college rodeos and sold them,” says Shelby, who is also finishing her master’s degree in K-12 school counseling through CSC. She enters jackpots, and will compete in the NRCA this summer. She plans to start seasoning a four-year-old in the breakaway roping and goat tying this summer, while she’s also riding Ace, whom she purchased from CSC rodeo coach Dustin Luper. “I’m able to keep my horses at the school and work them every day, which is a special thing for me, because I can observe the students and their different methods of training. I’ve also taken in several outside horses.”

    Many of Shelby’s winning goat runs have been off Hadley, a 20-year-old gelding she’s shared with Libby. He returned to Scottsbluff last fall in time for fall high school rodeos. “Hadley used to be a steer wrestling horse, and he has a good personality,” says Libby. “Blaze is my barrel horse, but he got turned into a goat horse two weeks before Nationals my sophomore year when Hadley got hurt.” Blaze, whom they purchased from Wanda Brown, was trained by professional barrel racer RaNelle O’Keeffe from North Dakota, and Libby’s rope horse, Chase, came from PRCA tie-down roper Chase Williams. “Our good friends Troy and Riley Pruitt helped us find Chase. We rope at the Pruitt’s house, and they’ve been great. I can’t thank the people who have helped me and my family out enough: our vet and chiropractor, the Pruitts, and Lari Dee Guy and Hope Thompson. And without my mom and dad, I wouldn’t be here for sure.”

    Libby has qualified for the NHSFR the past three years, winning Reserve National Goat Tying Champion in 2015 and 2016, along with the state reserve all-around title last year. She competed in the NJHFR twice, and is a two-time Nebraska state goat tying champion. For her senior year, she decided to rodeo with the WHSRA, and she’s currently leading the goat tying, seventh in the breakaway roping, 17th in barrels and third in All Around. “I like all my events equally,” Libby says. “Shelby has had a lot of success in the goat tying, and we’ve had lots of people help with that. We work hard at it – we’re in the arena every night like everyone else, roping after school and riding horses.”

    Libby frequently sports a 100X Helmet when she steps into the saddle, a decision she made after taking a tumble at a rodeo her seventh grade year, causing her optic nerve to swell. “If I take another fall, I could permanently lose my vision, so I’m going to wear a helmet so I can do what I love.” In sixth grade, Libby spent two weeks in a children’s hospital with a perforated ulcer and optic neuritis. She’d had pain in her left side for three months before it was diagnosed, and her vision, which was 20/400 near and far at that time, has since improved. “I wear glasses to read and drive, and I still have headaches, but I’m learning to manage them,” says Libby.

    “When Libby was at a Mayo clinic, her doctor was helping her with exercises for her headaches, and he suggested those same things for athletes in breathing and visualization,” says Mike, who played high school sports. Shawna adds, “Mike’s dad was an excellent basketball coach, and looking into rodeo from the outside perspective, Mike has instilled in the girls the usefulness of reading books and that mental game.” Mind Gym by Gary Mack was a favorite of Shelby’s, while Libby has found inspiration in books by golfers discussing the mental aspects of the game. “I have a saying that a champion is a champion that acts like one,” says Mike. “The girls do the work and have the work ethic, but it’s not a one-time deal. They’ve both barely missed national championships, and that just makes them want to come back. I think a lot of their success has come from learning about where we’re going before we get there. They’ll YouTube the arenas or use Google Earth so there are no big surprises. When they don’t have to worry about the little things, the bigger things come faster. Part of the reason Libby wanted to stay in the Central Rocky Mountain Region is because she’s competed in a lot of those same college arenas in the WHSRA, and that will help her collegiate career as a freshman.”

    Along with helping their own two athletes, Shawna and Mike are passionate about bringing the best goats possible to junior high, high school, and college rodeos. They also contract goats for jackpots, and state and county fairs. “Our girls were running through so many goats at practice that we’ve always had an influx of practice stock,” says Mike. “There’s nothing I hate more than an animal making the winning decision in a rodeo and not the athlete. We work hard at providing the best stock possible.” Last year, the Winchells had more than 90 goats, and they do much of the hauling themselves for high school and college rodeos.

    Shelby comes home periodically to trade out goats for her rodeo team, and she loves the camaraderie of her team. “At roughstock practice, we have the timed event athletes sorting stock and opening chutes, and the same with the roughies at timed event practice,” she says. “We have a fairly young team this year, but we had some phenomenal girls return to rodeo with us. It’s spectacular to see that improvement of self, and to see the student athletes improve not only in the rodeo arena, but in life.

    “I’d love to continue being a rodeo coach, and continue training horses as long as I’m able. I have the lifelong goal to make it to the WNFR, and I’d like to start roping in the WPRA and train a horse that’s up to par for that avenue.”
    Following graduation from Scottsbluff High School, Libby’s goal is to win state in goat tying and also go to Nationals in breakaway roping. “I’d love to win Nationals – I know what it’s like to get there, but I just need that extra step. I plan on getting a degree in sports medicine and college rodeoing all four years, and hopefully get my master’s and rodeoing a fifth year before going pro.”

     

    Libby, Mike, Shelby and Shawna – Courtesy of the family

    “There’s not a sibling rivalry, but Shelby and Libby each want to walk their own road,” Shawna and Mike conclude. “We’ve met a lot of good people all over the United States. Kids that Libby and Shelby high school and Little Britches rodeoed with are competing together on the collegiate level, and so many people have helped us and we’ve enjoyed helping others. We don’t think there’s another sport in the world that has that.”

  • Commissioner Stressman announces retirement

    Commissioner Stressman announces retirement

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After nearly nine years at the helm of the PRCA, Commissioner Karl Stressman has announced that he will be retiring, effective Dec. 31, 2017.

    Commissioner Stressman has stewarded meteoric growth of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 2008. Under his leadership, the organization signed a record $175 million contract that keeps the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas through the year 2024.

    Stressman also played a major role in negotiating a television broadcast agreement with CBS Sports Network through 2019; successfully protecting the organization’s rights to provide equal opportunity to all association members, and not just a select few athletes; and accepting fiduciary responsibility for generating substantial cash reserves for the organization, while returning nearly 90 percent of all income generated to benefit members and membership services.

    “I sat down in the Commissioner’s chair for the first time in September 2008, and I made a promise to myself that I would give my very best efforts each and every day to improve the sport of Professional Rodeo,” Stressman said. “I made myself another promise that I would stay at the PRCA as long as I enjoyed the job. Well, it’s time to say goodbye! I will be retiring at the end of 2017, after completing my 10th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as Commissioner of the PRCA.”

    Even as he plans his departure, Stressman has put into place a future path that will allow for the PRCA’s top rodeos to gain even more prominence, and for the PRCA membership to profit as the organization enters into new digital content opportunities. Commissioner Stressman’s iconic leadership tenure stands as a landmark for professional rodeo and the entire western industry.

    “It has been an amazing run, but certainly not without a few battle scars,” he said. “It has been my privilege to have had the opportunity to serve the members, our committees, our great sponsors and the best fans in the sporting world. I thank you all for the opportunity! Long Live Cowboys!”

  • KICKING OFF RODEO SEASON

    KICKING OFF RODEO SEASON

    Annual Trail Ride signals the beginning of St. Paul Rodeo festivities

    St. Paul, Ore. (May 25, 2017) – On June 4, several hundred St. Paulians and area residents will saddle up for some fun. They’ll make a seven mile ride to kick off the season for the St. Paul Rodeo.

    Before they do the trail ride, they’ll fuel up with a hearty breakfast: pancakes, locally smoked sausage, and Oregon-grown berries.

    The annual trail ride is June 4, and for nearly all of his five-plus decades, Dave Smith has been part of it.

    Smith, who grew up and lives in St. Paul, was on horseback when he was a kid, riding his blue roan horse named Blue. And when it was trail ride time, he and his buddies joined in on the jaunt.

    When he got into his early twenties, the rodeo committee put him to work, helping prepare the trail for the riders. He took over official Trail Ride duties about twenty-five years ago, making sure any downed trees are out of the way, mowing, and making the decision if the trail should be shortened. If the Willamette River is higher than normal, the trail goes from its usual ten mile length to seven miles. Most horses don’t have a problem crossing the river, Smith said, but if one balks, it backs up traffic. “It’s a narrow road, with timber on both sides, so if one won’t go over the river, it stops the ride.”

    The breakfast runs from 7-10 am on June 4, and not all breakfast-eaters take part in the trail ride. The trail ride starts at 10 am and a free lunch is served to the participants after it. Smith, who loves riding, says his favorite part of the day is breakfast and lunch.

    But the camaraderie among riders is also special, which Smith likes. “You see the same people year after year. It’s a good time.”

    The trail ride got its start when the horses and cattle were brought from a local farmer, Willy Smith, and driven to town by horseback. Willy was Dave Smith’s great-uncle.

    A  youth rodeo is held on June 3-4 from 10 am to 1 pm. The trail ride is free; breakfast is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at www.StPaulRodeo.com or call the office at 800.237.5920.

    The St. Paul Rodeo runs June 30-July 4, with performances nightly at 7:30 pm and a 1:30 pm matinee on July 4. Tickets are on sale for the rodeo through the website.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Nebraska high school rodeo athletes are valedictorians, salutatorians

    Nebraska high school rodeo athletes are valedictorians, salutatorians

    AT THE TOP OF THEIR CLASS

    Hastings, Neb.  (May 22, 2017)  – They’re gifted in the arena, knowing how to rope, wrestle, race, ride cutting horses and pole bend.

    They’re also gifted academically.

    Seven seniors in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association have been designated as valedictorians and salutatorians for their high school classes.

    Jake Judge, West Holt High School, Savannah Jordan, Banner Co. High School, Alison Stracke, Stuart High School, and Peyton Flack, Arthur Co. High School, have all earned the title of valedictorian for their respective classes of 2017.

    Earning salutatorian honors are Georgie Lage and Josh Powers, co-salutatorians at Arthur Co. High School, and Taylor Whetham, Morrill High School.

    Jake Judge, Atkinson, Neb., valedictorian of the West Holt High School Class of 2017, was a four-year letterer in the sports of football, wrestling and track, president of the National Honor Society for two years, president of his class for four years, was involved in the one-act plays, a member of 4-H, and involved in FFA. In FFA, his ag sales entrepreneurship project won state this year.

    He has been elected as the student president of the state FFA program, and this fall, will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in agriculture engineering. His dream is to some day design agriculture equipment like tractors, disks and balers.

    He competed as a team roper in high school rodeo and is the son of Kevin and Tammie Judge.

    Harrisburg, Neb.’s Savannah Jordan graduated from Banner Co. High School. In school, she was involved in basketball, volleyball, FFA, one-act plays, the National Honor Society, and 4-H. In rodeo, she competed in the goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing, reining cow horse, cutting, and breakaway, competing at state finals the last three years.

    This fall, she will attend Concordia University in Seward, Neb., on an academic scholarship, and major in elementary education with a minor in drama. An influential teacher in elementary school, when she hit a rough patch, changed her life for the better and has made her decide to become a teacher.

    She is the daughter of Hope and Gregg Wurdeman and Shannon and Melanie Jordan.

     

    Alison Stracke graduated from Stuart High School as valedictorian of her class, after participating in volleyball, basketball, as co-captain of the dance team, one-act plays, speech, quiz bowl, National Honor Society member, president of her class and FFA, and  co-president of student council.

    In high school rodeo, she competes in the pole bending, breakaway roping and barrel racing and has competed at state finals the last three years, finishing eighth in the state last year in the barrel racing.

    This fall, she will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in hopes of becoming either a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist. She has earned an academic scholarship to UNL.

    She is the daughter of Mike and Jenny Stracke.

    Peyton Flack is the valedictorian for the Arthur Co. High School Class of 2017. The cowgirl competes in the barrel racing, goat tying and pole bending, and in high school, was involved in volleyball, basketball, one-act plays, quiz bowl, speech, the National Honor Society, band, and was president of student council.

    This fall, she will attend Chadron State College, majoring in elementary education; she has earned a Susan Buffett Foundation scholarship for college.

    She has competed at state finals twice, and is the daughter of Audra Peterson and Jon Flack.

    Flack is not the only top rodeo athlete from Arthur Co. High School; two other high school rodeo members finished at the top of the class.

    Georgie Lage and Josh Powers were co-salutatorians, and they, along with Flack, earned 4.0 grade point averages. After figuring averages with a weighted percentage scale, Flack came out ahead of her classmates by only a couple thousandths of a point.

    Lage was involved in basketball, volleyball, quiz bowl, speech, one-act plays, student council, FFA, band, the National Honor Society, and 4-H. She, along with Flack, won state with their Finance Challenge team and finished third at the National Personal Finance Challenge, edging out teams with students in schools of more than 5,000 people.

    This fall, she will attend Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo. and major in ag business, then go on to a four-year school and become an ag education teacher. The 2017 Nebraska Reined Cowhorse champion, she will compete collegiately in the breakaway and team roping. Lage has competed at state finals the past three years.

    She is the daughter of Ron and Kristy Lage.

     

    Powers, a tie-down roper, steer wrestler, cutter and team roper, was vice-president of student council and the National Honor Society, treasurer of his class, and was involved in the one-act play, FFA, and quiz bowl.

    This fall, he will be enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, majoring in biology, and then go on to study veterinary medicine. He has qualified for state finals the past three years.

    He is the son of Dan and Patty Powers.

     

    While at Morrill High School, Taylor Whetham, salutatorian, participated in FFA, FBLA, and FCA, was president of her school’s National Honor Society chapter, played basketball for two years, and was leading actress in the one-act play. In high school rodeo, she competes in the breakaway roping and the team roping, competing at state finals last year in the team roping.

    She has earned an R-HOP scholarship (Rural Health Opportunities Program) which pays for her tuition at Chadron (Neb.) State College and guarantees her a spot in the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She plans on becoming a dental hygienist. She is the daughter of Shon and Cathy Whetham.

     

    These outstanding students, plus more than one hundred more, will compete in Hastings at the Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo June 15-17. Performances are at 10 am and 6 pm on June 15-16, with the finals at 1 pm on June 17. From the state finals, the top four in each event will qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo, held in Gillette, Wyo., July 16-22, 2017.

     

    For more information,  visit hsrodeo-nebraska.com, or call 402.462.3247.