Our team has over 200 combined years of experience building LQ horse trailers
SMC’s have an extremely tough structure
We do bleed through welding of the rail to the frame, this is a lot of extra work for our team, but a LOT of extra strength for the trailer.
SMC uses heavy duty Adarail L-shaped railing along the bottom providing more rigidity and stability for the trailer and horses when going down the road.
SMC builds the LQ at the same time we build the trailer structure (or “shell”). There are many advantages to this:
The location for LQ components are design before the shell is even built, this avoids awkward modifications to the trailer’s structure by an LQ outfitter after the frame is already built.
While the engineering process is more complex, the manufacturing process is MUCH simpler and makes the trailer significantly less expensive. This allows us to build a much stronger/better trailer that we can sell for similar cost to our competition.
This will be the High-tech horse trailer on the market
GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado (May 22, 2018) – The 1st Annual Hunter Norman Memorial Bulls & Ranch Broncs debuts on Saturday, June 23rd, 2018 at 7pm at the Mesa County Fairgrounds in Grand Junction, Colorado. The event pays tribute and honors respected Western Slope ranch bronc rider, Hunter Scott Norman who passed away unexpectedly earlier this month. With an added guarantee of $3000+ for ranch broncs and $2500+ for bull riding, the event is anticipated to draw competitors from near and far.
Organizers of the memorial include family and long-time friends of the Fruita Monument High School Class of 2016 graduate Hunter Norman. This annual memorial helps the community celebrate the young cowboy’s life through his love and passion for ranch bronc riding and by putting on the best bronc and bull riding event that has come to the area. Event organizer and two-time Colorado Bullfighter of the Year (2007, 2013), Tyler Williams and his wife, Crystal have been engrained in the Western Slope community their whole lives and promise to put on an unforgettable annual event this year and for many years to come.
For those interested in competing in the 1st Annual Hunter Norman Memorial Bulls & Ranch Broncs, details are as follows:
$3000+ added guarantee for Ranch Broncs (limited to 30 riders)
$2500+ added guarantee for Bull Riding (limited to 20 riders)
Top 10 to Short-Go
Payouts for 1st, 2nd & 3rd places (plus other awards)
Buckles, spurs, jackets & a bronc halter awarded to high point rider in Ranch Broncs
½ of entry fee must be paid before June 8th, 2018 (cashier’s check, money order or cash)
Entry fees are non-refundable
Special thanks to buckle sponsors Diamond Peak Cattle Company and Twin Butte Ranch. Special thanks to stock contractors Ty Farris, Lonny Lancaster, Bryan Flynn and Wes Clegg of 7C Buckers. And special thanks to event sponsor Growing Spaces Greenhouses based in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults (5 years old and over); $25 for family of four; $5 for Seniors (65 years and older) and all children under 5 years old are free. The Mesa County Fairgrounds is located at 2785 US-50, Grand Junction, CO 81503. For more details on Mesa County Fairgrounds, visit their website at www.mesacounty.us/fairgrounds/events/ or call 970-255-7107.
For entry fee registrations and other details, please contact Tyler and Crystal Williams at 970-589-2369. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Scott Norman at 970-471-5900. To donate to the event, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/hunter-norman-memorial-rodeo2018.
The 2018 Fulton Family Performance Horse & Production Sale is Friday, August 17, 2018 at the Cherry County Fairgrounds in Valentine, Nebraska! Fulton Ranch has made their mark on the performance horse industry with this annual sale and their ranch stallions, A Streak Of Fling, CS Flashlight, and A Dash Ta Streak. The sale will feature 20 riding two-year olds, 8 weanlings, and 5 broodmares from the Fulton program, as well as several others from their guest consignors.
This year’s offering will feature some extremely special prospects that represent the best bloodlines in the industry, including these two-year-olds.
Maternal Siblings:
A Whiskey Fling (A Streak of Fling x Easy April Whiskey, Paddys Irish Whiskey)
’16 Red Roan Mare
Flashs April Whiskey (CS Flashlight x Easy April Whiskey, Paddys Irish Whiskey) ’16 Gray Mare
This mare line is one of Fulton Ranch’s most treasured. Easy April Whiskey was a top calf roping performer for Jake Fulton and has since been a huge part of Fulton’s broodmare program. Easy April Whiskey’s dam, Easy April Lena (Doc O Dynamite), has produced Streakin Easy April (LTE $250,000+ and NFR Qualifier) and Lenas Last Streaker (LTE $20,000+). There are several broodmares in the Fulton program out of Easy April Lena, as well as a 2002 Palomino Stallion, Frenchmans Easy Doc, who is owned by 88 Ranch Performance Horses.
“She truly loves her job and you can see it with her grit and heart.” Kellie Collier, rider of Streakin Easy April (owned by Kathleen Collier), commented in Barrel Racing Report in October of 2017.
“She runs fast, turns her barrels very square and is very easy to ride. She is kind, humble and always willing to give 110%.” says Sam Flannery, trainer of Lenas Last Streaker (owned by Deloris & Sydney Adamson).
Flingin Flash (CS Flashlight x KR Flingin Bugs, A Streak of Fling) ’16 Brown Gelding
This gelding is an outstanding cross of Fulton Ranch’s most proven lines. CS Flashlight (SI 106) is a proven performance horse sire and his get excel in the rodeo arena and on the track. His dam, KR Flingin Bugs, is a full sister to KR Last Fling (LTE $125,000+) and was raised by the Krebs Ranch in Gordon, NE. They not only raise superior Angus cattle but also superior Quarter Horses. Chris & Cathy Hughes of Sulphur, OK bought this mare on the 2008 Fulton sale as a yearling and gave this embryo to Brian Fulton before he passed in 2015.
“KR Last Fling is the kind of horse that changes your life. I will compare every other horse to her for the rest of my life. With her discipline, focus, and ability, she could have easily been a stand out in any event!” comments Ashley Schafer, trainer and jockey (owned by Joe and Carla Spitz).
Up-to-date sale information can be found at FultonRanch.com.
Rodeo fans have even more to love about RFD-TV’s THE AMERICAN as executives from RFD-TV, the PRCA and the Dallas Cowboys gathered together today in AT&T Stadium to reveal several changes to the event.
The American will become a two-day event in 2019, making it the richest weekend in western sports at AT&T Stadium. The event will be held on March 2-3, 2019 with final qualification rounds on Saturday March 2, 2019 and the finals round on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Also new for 2019 is the addition of two rode events — Break-Away Roping and #9 Team Roping. For the first time, the rodeo will be sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and will 2019 will see an additional $355,000 in prize money.
AT&T Stadium and RFD-TV have also agreed to a five-year deal to host RFD-TV’s The American Rodeo. “We are proud to continue and extend our partnership with Patrick Gottsch and RFD-TV as the hosts of RFD-TV’s the American Rodeo. There is no better venue to experience this ground-breaking event than AT&T Stadium”, said Stephen Jones, Chief Operating Officer of the Dallas Cowboys.
RFD-TVs The American will be sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 2019. The PRCA is recognized as the unsurpassed leader in sanctioning the sport of professional rodeo and hosts the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) – the ultimate championship for the cowboy. Points earned at The American will count towards NFR qualification.
“The PRCA is the premier rodeo organization in the world, and in a continued effort to bring our fans the biggest and best events, we are proud to be sanctioning The American and partnering with RFD-TV,” PRCA CEO George Taylor said. “This is an exciting time for the PRCA as we open new avenues to improve the sport for our members and fans, and the inclusion of The American is a giant step in that process.”
“RFD-TV is so proud of what’s been accomplished over the past five years with The American”, stated Patrick Gottsch, Founder of Rural Media Group, Inc. “I have so much respect for the PRCA and look forward to working together to take The American to even another level. I thank the Dallas Cowboys for their continued support and really appreciate the opportunity for a full weekend to now take The American to its full potential with this new 5-year agreement”.
RFD-TV has announced the addition of Break-Away Roping to the rodeo’s list of events for 2019. The addition of Break-Away Roping provides another way to impact the growth of Western Sports by adding another thousand qualifiers with the chance to compete at AT&T Stadium.
The World Series of Team Roping will bring a # 9 handicapped Championship Team Roping event to the American with a minimum guaranteed $100,000 in prize money. The # 9 Team roping will be the culmination of several qualifier events with the finals being held at AT&T Stadium on March 2, 2019.
RFD-TV continues to strengthen its commitment to western sports and rodeo competitors with a substantial increase in prize money for the winners of the American for 2019. The American will now pay prize money for all four places. The long round conducted on Saturday, March 3, 2019 will pay $50,000. Listed below are the new payouts for each event in the American Finals.
First Place $100,000
Second Place $25,000
Third Place $10,000
Fourth Place $5,000
RFD-TV’s The American will continue to work with Better Barrel Races and Ultimate Calf Roping for The American.
Since its debut in 2014, THE AMERICAN has paid out to rodeo contestants more than $15,000,000 at the qualifiers, Semi-Finals and Finals. Each year the top rodeo athletes in the world in each of the seven rodeo events are invited to compete at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. With this unique “open” format, anyone can qualify for this prestigious event through a series of qualifiers which are currently underway around the U.S. Event dates and results and can be found at AmericanRodeo.com.
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
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Jerry Nelson’s love for rodeo began in 1991 when a friend invited Jerry and his family to their ranch in south Texas. As the son of a professional baseball player and raised in the city, he didn’t know a thing about rodeo.
“The first rodeo I went to, shoot, I didn’t know how you dressed. I was an oilfield guy,” Jerry said. “I wore a short sleeve shirt, a baseball cap and a pair of tennis shoes.”
Fast forward 27 years later Jerry went from leasing 1,900 acres to owning 8,000 acres and leasing some. Today, his ranch covers a vast 9,000 acres across the prairies near Freedom, Oklahoma, with 400 head of bucking horses, 70 rodeo bulls and about 350 commercial cows.
During the first few years after being introduced to the rodeo scene, Jerry helped produce amateur rodeos. Jerry said he worked his way from the ground up, doing everything from untying calves to working the back pens. The entrepreneur and rodeo stock contractor credits his success to his work ethic and long hours worked.
“I’m still having fun,” Jerry said.
In 1993, Jerry built an indoor arena and bought his first set of bulls. He began taking bulls to local amateur rodeos until 1997 when he bought his first pro rodeo card. That same year, he went to one of Harry Vold’s sales in Colorado to buy cows in order to begin his own breeding program.
Instead of buying the cows he originally planned to buy, Jerry said he left the sale with 10 mares. These mares began his new venture into the bucking horse business, “and the rest is history.”
Frontier Rodeo team – courtesy of Frontier Rodeo CO.
Rusty Wright at the 2016 WNFR on Medicine Woman – Hubbell
eath Stewart at Ranch in Freedom, OK – Carissa Stewart
Maple Syrup and Big Medicine are two of the most significant horses born out of the mares Jerry bought from Harry Vold. Maple Syrup is one of the first bucking horses he raised. She was talented enough to make multiple trips to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and now serves as a broodmare. Big Medicine is Jerry’s stud horse who has sired some of rodeo’s biggest names such as Medicine Woman and Maple Leaf.
Jerry began Frontier Rodeo Co. at his home in Beaumont, Texas. In 1998, his friend Dan Mundorf bought 100 acres and moved from south Texas to Freedom, Oklahoma. Not long after Dan moved, he leased 1,900 acres in Freedom and began moving his growing operation, leaving Dan in charge.
Soon after moving to Oklahoma, Dan decided to get out of the horse business. Dan introduced Jerry to Heath Stewart who was hired on not long after. Growing up in a rodeo family, Heath is no stranger to the rodeo world and happily took the job.
With the same goals, work ethic and love for the industry in mind, Heath gained Jerry’s trust and respect. In 2005, Heath began running the ranch and is now rodeo manager. Jerry said Heath has made Frontier Rodeo what it is today.
“Most of the reason we’re successful is because of Heath.”
Heath and Jerry have created a world-class operation with some of the best and most recognizable bucking horse bloodlines in the country.
“Heath and Jerry have built together an awesome operation,” said Butch Stewart, Heath’s father and coworker. “We’re so proud of them.”
The first time Frontier Rodeo Co.’s bucking stock made an appearance at the WNFR was in 2005 when they took one horse and three bulls, Heath said. Last year, Heath took 18 horses and 2 bulls to Las Vegas, Nevada, for the 2017 WNFR.
Frontier starts the rodeo circuit year the second week of January each year. Heath and his staff travel across the U.S. to work up to 25 rodeos a year. For each rodeo, six to eight employees and at least five truckloads of livestock make the trip, Heath explained.
“The success for Frontier Rodeo Co. is all the people who work for it,” Heath said. “It’s not just me. It’s the people who stay here at the ranch and feed, the pickup men, the guys loading the stock, driving the trucks, announcers and secretaries.”
The work ethic and professionalism of Heath and his employees quickly gained the respect of many different rodeo organizations throughout the country, said Steven Money, rodeo director for Spanish Fork, Utah’s PRCA Rodeo. Steven commended Heath for the quality of work and livestock he brings each year to Spanish Fork.
“It’s real exciting to see Frontier come in each year,” Steven said. “We both have the same goals to have the best stock for the contestants.”
Steven said because Frontier Rodeo helps put on such a great rodeo each year, both Steven and Frontier Rodeo Co. were recognized at the 2017 WNFR. Steven received 2017 Committee Man of the Year and Frontier Rodeo Co. received the 2017 Stock Contractor of the Year award for the third consecutive year.
Part of Frontier’s success is due to the strategic breeding program set in place to keep new livestock coming each year, said Butch. Selective breeding and training have allowed Frontier to own some of rodeo’s most well known bucking horses such as: Medicine Woman, Full Baggage, Maple Leaf, Show Stomper, Delta Ship and Bad Medicine. Medicine Woman is a 4X PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year. She is second in the PRCA record books for the most wins (2011-2014-2015-2016). Full Baggage is a 2X PRCA Bareback Horse of the Year (2011 & 2013), and Maple Leaf was the 2013 PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year. Frontier Rodeo Company has also been awarded the Remuda Award by the PRCA in 2012 & 2016. This award is given to a PRCA Stock Contractor for providing a high caliber herd of bucking horses.
Garrett Tribble at the 2016 WNFR on After All – Hubbell
Jerry Nelson, Owner and Heath Stewart, Rodeo Manager & Donnie Gay, General Manager – courtesy of Frontier Rodeo CO.
Frontier Colts – Carissa Stewar
Every May, Heath and his employees load 70 to 80 young horses and take them to Guymon, Oklahoma, to buck at Robert Etbauer’s arena for their first trip. During the three-hour drive home, Jerry said his wife, Beverly Nelson, names most of the horses. Both Heath and Beverly come up with unique names for all of the horses they keep each year.
Butch described the yearly cycle that expands up until a horse turns six. Butch said each year their foals are born, yearlings are weaned, 2 year olds are moved and 3 year olds are bucked. The 3 year olds that make the cut are turned out until they turn 4 then bucked at a few local college rodeos, Heath said. Then they are turned out until they turn 6. At age 6, they are developed enough physically to begin their debut on the rodeo circuit.
“A lot of people don’t understand that it takes that long to bring a horse along to where you can use them in the rodeo field,” Butch said. “That’s why we have a cycle.”
Jerry, Heath, and everyone employed at Frontier have all participated in creating one of rodeo’s largest and most successful stock contracting companies in the country.
“My reason for success in the rodeo company is good family and good employees,” Jerry said. “That’s what makes it work.”
Donnie Gay, eight-time PRCA World champion bull-rider, and Jerry’s pilot and general manager, also contributes to making Frontier Rodeo what it is today. Donnie has worked for Frontier Rodeo for the past 12 years and is in charge of public relations, sponsorship meetings and commentating events for the company.
Twenty years ago, Jerry pulled up to Rodeo Houston, his first PRCA rodeo as a stock contractor. A lot has changed in the industry since then, including the quality of rodeos and livestock, said Jerry. One thing that has not changed, however, is Frontier Rodeo.
“We’ve been doing the same thing and don’t plan on changing,” Jerry said.
Since their very first rodeo, the Frontier Rodeo Co. team has worked to put on a show and leave a good impression each time they pull into an arena.
“We try to be as professional as we can, and we try to put on the best rodeo there is,” Heath said. “We try to make it as even for every contestant who enters the rodeo. That’s our goal. When we leave a city after doing the rodeo that year, we want the people in that town to leave talking about it until they’re so excited to come back and buy a ticket for next year,” he said.
[ The offering at the 2018 Fulton Family Performance Horse & Production Sale will feature some extremely special prospects that represent the best bloodlines in the industry ]
Preparations for the 2018 Fulton Family Performance Horse & Production Sale are underway for Friday, August 17, 2018 at the Cherry County Fairgrounds in Valentine, Nebraska! This year’s offering will feature some extremely special prospects that represent the best bloodlines in the industry, including these two-year old features that are sired by the +$3.5 million dollar sire, A Streak of Fling crossed on mares out of the #1 maternal sire, Dash Ta Fame. Progeny from the A Steak of Fling x Dash Ta Fame cross have earned almost $1 million in progeny earnings and are considered a “Magic Cross” according to Equi-Stat.
Fling A Penny (A Streak of Fling x Short Penny, Dash Ta Fame) — A 2016 sorrel mare that is a full sibling to the infamous, Fame Fling N Bling aka ‘Bling,’ ridden by Sarah Rose McDonald to over +$765,000 in life-time earnings!
Said McDonald in an article in WPRN (Jan. ’17), “It was so thrilling to be on her back! She got down low, kept a low head set, and left the barrel hard. When she went in the arena, she wanted to win and she hustled hard.”
Out of the dam, Short Penny (DTF), Fame Fling N Bling was sold on the Fulton sale by Western 37 Barrel Horses as a yearling and the rest is history! Fling A Penny will be the last full sibling to ‘Bling’ offered at the Fulton sale.
Ryann Pedone – Springer
Fame Fling N Bling – Springer
Streakin Kingfatima (A Streak of Fling x Queen Fa Tima, Dash Ta Fame) — This 2016 bay roan stallion is a full brother to proven performers, Streakin Queenie (LTE +$65,000 – owned by Shoppa Ranch) and Streakin Ta Corona (LTE $40,000 – owned by Corny & Maria Wiebe). This has been a top selling bloodline at the Fulton sale, and a full brother, Streakin Fame Boy, garnered $46,000 at the 2016 Triangle Horse Sale.
Ryann Pedone, trainer and rider of Streakin Queenie, says, “I love how she is her own little being at all times. She maybe weighs maybe 1000 lbs soaking wet and gives me 110% every time we head down the alley. She is one of my favorite equine athletes that I have rode to date!”
Corny and Maria Wiebe own Streakin Ta Corona and Queen Flingtima (a full sibling sold on the 2017 Fulton sale). “We like the way they are built and how athletic they are. Streakin Ta Corona is really great minded and really hugs the barrel in her turns. This cross is perfect for an amazing barrel horse.”
Streakin Silk Panties (A Streak of Fling x Famous Silk Panties, Dash Ta Fame) — A 2016 bay roan mare that is out of Famous Silk Panties, the winningest futurity mare of all time (LTE +$237,000). Famous Silk Panties is the dam of several stallions at stud, including The Kandyman (owned by Lee & Hallie Hanssen) and This Fame Is On Fire (owned by Heath Boucher).
Lisa Fulton commented, “We are extremely excited for this mare and this cross. In the right hands, she will make an excellent barrel prospect and broodmare down the road.”
These proven performance crosses and more will be an asset to anyone’s program. Visit fultonranch.com for the most up-to-date information on the upcoming sale!
