Cracked Pepper Brisket Roast recipe courtesy of Jennifer Ericsson
Ingredients:
3 to 4 pounds beef brisket
1½ tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
3 tsp cracked peppercorns
3 Tbsp dry mustard
1 Tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup catsup
1½ tsp garlic powder
2½ tsp celery salt
3 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1½ Tbsp soy sauce
6 drops hot sauce
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place brisket in 13”x9”x2” baking dish. Combine garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, salt. Worcestershire sauce and peppercorns. Mix and spread over brisket. Cover and place in oven. Immediately reduce temperature to 325 degrees and bake one hour. Mix remaining ingredients. Pour over brisket, cover and continue cooking 3 hours or until tender.
Spinach Salad recipe courtesy of Donna Roddy, Ridin’, Ropin’ & Recipes
ingredients:
1 pound fresh spinach
3 hard boiled eggs
8 slices crisp bacon,
crumbled
2 cups fresh bean
sprouts
1 8 oz can water
chestnuts, thin sliced
dressing:
(stir together)
1 cup oil
Salt to taste
1/4 cup vinegar
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1 medium onion, greated
1/3 cup catsup
Directions:
Trim and discard tough spinach stems, rinse leaves well, dry and break into bite size pieces in a salad bowl. Add remaining salad ingredients. Toss salad with dressing, serve right away.
For the first time, the Greeley Stampede, Rooftop Rodeo Estes, and Larimer County Fair & PRCA Rodeo partnered to recognize one contestant from the combined rodeo series that earned the most points in 2017 for the Rodeo 34 Award.
The new alliance, named after the highway that connects the three rodeos, was created to help promote the sport of rodeo. Members from the three rodeo committees will meet throughout the year to share information, cross promote and build new partnership.
Points were given to the top ten contestants of each rodeo event at all three rodeos. The points were determined on placing with first place earning ten points through tenth place earning one point. To be qualified for the award, contestants were required to compete in all three rodeos.
The recipient of the inaugural Rodeo 34 Award, will receive a $3,000 gas & grocery gift card and a championship pure beaver custom cowboy hat courtesy of Greeley Hat Works valued at $1,650.
This year, the winner of the Rodeo 34 Award is barrel racer Sydni Blanchard of New Mexico. Sydni will be recognized on Saturday, October 28 during the Mountain States Circuit Finals in Loveland.
The top nine contestants from the series include:
Sydni Blanchard Barrel Racing 23.5 points
Brody Cress Saddle Bronc 20.5 points
Billy Bugenig Steer Wrestling 20 points
Seth Hardwick Bareback Riding 16 points
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi Barrel Racing 15 points
Baylor Roche Steer Wrestling 13.5 points
Leon Foundation Saddle Bronc 13.5 points
Jake Pratt Tie Down Roping 12 points
Josh Frost Bull Riding 11 points
courtesy of Kevin McFarling, Marketing Coordinator
THE TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL SHERIDAN, WYOMING, ELK’S YOUTH RODEO was held on August 26 and 27, 2017. The rodeo’s 26 events attracts contestants from Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Three arenas, running at the same time, were used to accommodate the 744 entrees each day. Some of the events included 131 goat tiers, 128 barrel racers and 94 break away ropers each day. This was a hard two days with very skilled competitors. We were impressed with the contestants’ attitudes and their commitment.
Cash and awards of $71,590.00 were presented to contestants ages 17 and under. These consisted of cash and scholarships of $12,252.00 and awards valued at $59,338.00.
Ellie Bard, 16, from Sheridan, Wyoming, won the Senior All Around, a one-year lease of a new Ford truck, provided by Fremont Motors, Sheridan, WY. Ellie has been a contestant in this rodeo since she was a Pee Wee. She has always been willing to help other contestants or our rodeo crew. The Elks are very proud of her and wish her the best in the future.
Joe Goe, Ellie Bard, Matt Harvey who is General Manager of Freemont Motors, the sponsor of the truck.
Ellie Bard
Jewel Randall is the Pee-Wee all-around champion. Winner of the saddle provided by BNSF Railway. She is 6 years old from Wheatland, WY
Joe Goe, Cooper Deveraux, Jim Volk. Cooper Deveraux is the Youth all-around Champion. Winner of the trailer from Prime Rate Motors. He is 16 years old from Newcastle WY
Cooper Deveraux, 16, From Newcastle, Wyoming, won the All Around Youth award, a Jackson three horse slant load trailer, provided by Prime Rate Motors, Sheridan, WY.
Hadley Thompson, 9, from Yoder, Wyoming received a $2,000.00 scholarship as the All Around Youth Reserve Champion.
Krissy VanderVoort, 17, From Billings, Montana received the All Around Youth Reserve Runner-up $1,000.00 scholarship and Tanner McInerney, 17, From Alzada, Montana received the Senior Reserve Champion $2,000.00 scholarship
The Senior Reserve Runner-up receiving a saddle was Bella Fossum 16, From Billings, Montana. The saddle for the Intermediate All Around went to Haiden Thompson, 13, from Yoder, Wyoming. The saddle for the Junior All Around went to Hadley Thompson, 9, From Yoder, Wyoming, and the saddle for the pee wee all around went to Jewel Randall, 6, From Wheatland, Wyoming. The other winners are as shown on the attached list.
The Sheridan Elk’s Lodge #520 wishes to thank all of the contestants and sponsors for their help in making this possible and is looking forward to holding this event again next year.
Salmon Patties in memory of Mrs. Paul (Velda Barnhart) Morehouse from The Pioneer Journey Cookbook
Ingredients:
1 can (15 ½ oz.) salmon
1 cup fine dry bread crumbs
½ cup chopped onion
¼ cup chopped parsley
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
¼ tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp oil
Lemon wedges
Directions:
Drain salmon, reserving 1/3 cup liquid; flake. Combine salmon with bread crumbs, onion and parsley. Add reserved salmon liquid, eggs, lemon juice and pepper and mix well. Shape into patties. Fry salmon parties in oil over medium heat until lightly browned on both sides. Serve hot; garnish with lemon wedges. Makes 6 servings.
Apple Snack Cake recipe courtesy of Nicki Ulberry
Ingredients:
1 ¾ cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 cup oil
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ cup milk
1 cup chopped nuts
3 cups apples
Directions:
Mix eggs, oil, cinnamon, salt, soda, flour, sugar and milk; mix well. Add in nuts and apples. Stir until well blended. Bake are 375 degrees for 45 minutes in an ungreased 9×13 inch pan. Can use 2 round cake pans. Can frost or eat as is, warm.
Stars converged at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame Saturday as a new class was enshrined into the prestigious Hall.
Randy Corley, a 12-time PRCA Announcer of the Year, joined five world champions to headline the 12-member 2017 induction class.
12-time PRCA Announcer of the Year Randy Corley with Stace Smith
Corley, along with gold buckle winners including the late Buck Rutherford (all-around, 1954), Enoch Walker (saddle bronc riding, 1960), Tommy Puryear (steer wrestling, 1974), Mike Beers (team roping, 1984) and Cody Custer (bull riding, 1992), were enshrined with rodeo notable Bob Ragsdale, a 22-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier in three events.
Also inducted into the Hall were four-time bareback horse of the year, Christensen Bros.’ Smith & Velvet, and the committee for the Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days.
For the first time in the history of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, barrel racers from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) were amongst the class of inductees. Their inaugural class was comprised of Wanda Harper Bush, Charmayne James and a joint PRCA/WPRA equine inductee – Star Plaudit “Red.”
Corley’s résumé is ProRodeo Hall of Fame worthy. He has been selected PRCA Announcer of the Year 12 times (1984, 1990-96, 1998, 2003, 2011 and 2015). He also has been an announcer at the National Finals Rodeo 16 times (1985-86, 1992, 1994-96, 2007-2016).
“It was the worst night of sleep I had (Friday night) in 45 years,” Corley said. “I just think it was nerves. There are 259 people in the Hall and that’s not a huge number for a Hall that opened in 1979. I’m in a pretty select group and I’m so honored. My whole thing is cowboys are the stars. When they are nodding their head, you’ve already told everyone who they are.
“That’s what I strive for, and have forever, and to be a good person to everybody, inside the arena and outside the arena. Those are the deals that I think make you a better announcer because then you’re true, and true is the best way to announce.”
Puryear qualified for the NFR nine times, eight of which were consecutive, from 1971-78, and then again in 1983. The Texas bulldogger also won the gold buckle in 1974 and the NFR average title in 1976.
“This day is something that you never plan for when you’re out rodeoing. I’ve been ready for this to happen so I can stop thinking about it – it’s something you think about every day since the call that you’re in the Hall of Fame,” Puryear said. “One of the main reasons I’m here today is because of the people I had around me who supported and helped me. So many friends and family contributed to this. I never owned my own horse – I always traveled with horsemen and stayed in a positive rig. We’d go to 120 rodeos a year, and we loved every second of it.”
Charmayne James
Puryear first joined the PRCA in 1970, and now, 47 years later, he’s recognized as one of the best steer wrestlers in PRCA history.
“Leon (Bauerle) and I rode up to Colorado Springs together – we didn’t fly, we drove up in the truck from Texas together just like we used to,” Puryear said. “It was one for the road and to relive the old times, and we still get along really well. Leon was always easy to travel with, as long as you agreed with him. But a great deal of the credit for me being here is due to Leon and his horses.”
Rutherford was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame more than half a century after he was topping the world standings across four events – bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and bull riding.
The Oklahoma cowboy was in the Top 5 of the world standings 11 times between 1949-57, and was the 1954 all-around world champion and the first cowboy to ever win more than $40,000 in a single year (approximately $362,235 in 2017 dollars, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
“It’s quite an honor, and he’s a part of history,” said Claudine Rutherford, Buck’s sister-in-law. “He could do anything.”
Becky Raetzsch, Rutherford’s daughter, also was thrilled about the honor bestowed on her father.
“It’s exciting, and it gives us a chance to learn more about the history of him,” she said. “It really is quite an honor. I have his grandchildren here, all of his great-grandchildren are here, so it’s really exciting for all of them.”
Although he never won an individual event championship, he placed second in the bareback riding standings the same year he won the all-around title.
Rutherford twice finished third in the bull riding world standings (1951 and 1954).
His rodeo earnings fell flat after a bad spill slipped a disk in his back in November 1958. He then retired from rodeo and resumed ranching in his hometown until his death at 58 years old on April 28, 1988.
Walker, who won both the 1960 saddle bronc riding world championship and NFR average title, took to the skies in his ascent to ProRodeo fame – qualifying for 10 NFRs during his 20-year tenure with the Rodeo Cowboys Association.
“It’s a pretty cool deal and pretty humbling to be around the guys who are world champs. I knew a lot of them like Cody Custer and Mike Beers, and you look up to a lot of those guys. My father would have been humbled to be with them,” said Jack Walker, one of Enoch’s sons.
In 1960, the 28-year-old Walker had been knocking on the door of a gold buckle for years, placing third in 1957, second in 1958 and third again in 1959.
Walker entered the 1960 season with a plan for earning the gold buckle that literally took flight. He teamed up with Paul Templeton, who flew him from one rodeo to the next when his rodeo road trips got too hectic.
Walker arrived at the NFR in Dallas, Texas, leading the pack with $20,832 earned that season by placing 126 times at 56 rodeos and winning 21 rodeos throughout 1960, including Salinas, Calif., and Fort Worth, Texas.
He rode all 10 horses at the NFR in Dallas, placing on five of them – winning the NFR and the world title.
“I think it would have been great if he could have been here,” Jack Walker said. “It would have meant everything to him because of the caliber of people in the (ProRodeo) Hall of Fame; he would have thought it was really cool. These guys were all top of the world in their day, and I was on the bottom looking up, so it’s humbling for me to be here, but it would have been special for him to have seen it.”
Beers, a heeler, won his world championship while roping with header Dee Pickett, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2003. Beers qualified for the NFR 23 times in team roping (1980-95, 1997-98, 2000-03, 2007). He also qualified for the NFR in tie-down roping in 1981, 1983 and 1985 and for the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping in 1992.
“I’m going into rodeo immortality and 50 years from now, they are still going to remember my name,” Beers said. “That’s something you never think about when you’re a kid growing up rodeoing. You want to win a championship or make the Finals, but it is never a thought of being in the Hall of Fame. There’s three things I guess in my career I really remember. One was winning the world championship with Dee Pickett, the second one was making the Finals with my son, Brandon, in 2007, and now being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. This is the icing on the cake.”
Custer’s eight trips to the NFR and 1992 bull riding world championship win landed him in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
1992 bull riding world champion Cody Custer
“I found out that my permanent position will be next to John Quintana, and that’s a big deal because he was my hero as a kid,” Custer said. “It’s one of those deals where I’ve looked at the stuff here (at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame) and to see it next to a guy like that and then Ronnie Rossen and Charlie Sampson, it’s a cool deal. I took a picture of it, and I’ll send it to his (Quintana’s) son. I never met John as an adult, but I knew him as a kid and he made me feel like I belonged. I remember how he made me feel as a kid, and I try do that for kids now.”
Custer first joined the PRCA in 1985 and went on to qualify for the NFR from 1987-92, and again in 1998-99. He remained an active competitor through 2002.
“The people that have come here to be with me – everyone has a piece of this and it’s not just mine,” Custer said. “Corey Navarre is here too, I rodeoed with him and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have gone to the NFR in 1999 because I had wanted to go home.
“I told everyone here with me that this is theirs too – everyone from my mom and dad to the guys I rodeoed with, it’s an awesome thing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, everything I accomplished in the arena was because of my hard work and some talent. Being inducted is just a gift in my book.”
Ragsdale, for most of his adult life, has served the sport of rodeo as a competitor and as an ambassador. On Saturday, the cowboy they call “Rags” added “Hall of Famer” to his one-of-a-kind résumé.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Ragsdale said. “It’s just been a great experience. Kind of the last of the big events probably, for me. I’m not rodeoing anymore, so I’m reminiscing like we used to in the old days.”
Ragsdale, a 22-time NFR qualifier in steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping, recognized he will forever be cemented into history among the legends of the sport he holds so dear.
“Going through the Hall, that’s what’s amazing,” he said. “I know so many of them, and I can remember stories, and when I see someone, a story will pop up in my head or some event that happened. It’s neat. Even though they’re gone, I relive that in my mind.”
Ragsdale became the first and only left-handed roper to qualify for the NFR for 15 consecutive years from 1961-75. He also served as both the Vice President and President of the Rodeo Cowboys Association in the early ‘70s, and is credited as the one to propose the association include “Professional” to the organization’s formal title.
Bobby Christensen accepting the hall of fame induction award for his late horse, Smith & Velvet
Smith & Velvet was the definition of a late bloomer.
The horse, which was honored as the PRCA’s top bareback horse four times (1977, as Mr. Smith, and then 1979-80 and 1982, as Smith & Velvet), didn’t become an award-winning bucker until he was into his 20s.
This is Bobby Christensen’s third horse to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Christensen also has saddle bronc horses Miss Klamath (1998) and War Paint (2011) in the Hall, but Smith & Velvet is his first bareback horse to be enshrined.
“Early on, I never would’ve believed that he’d be in the Hall of Fame, but after he won horse of the year a few times I was thinking it would happen. It’s been 34 years since the horse died – I think the best way to describe this is late in coming, but well-deserved.
“When Smith & Velvet was in his prime, everybody wanted to see him and everybody wanted him at their rodeo. I could go to a committee and say, ‘Hey, I have the bareback horse of the year if you want to hire me to bring stock to your rodeo.’ That worked a lot of places.
“Smith & Velvet knew what he was doing, and liked what he was doing. He was even-tempered, and I rode him in his early years. But I wouldn’t have wanted to ride him in his later years, that’s for sure.”
Smith & Velvet died in 1983 in a tragic car accident that killed many of Christensen’s prized NFR horses. He says the horse was the pride and joy of his rodeo company.
The Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days celebrated its 83rd year of existence July 20-24.
The event has come a long way since its inception in 1934, when Ogden City Mayor Harman W. Peery organized a Western festival to boost the spirits of the locals and entice tourists to visit the city.
“We just got done with this year’s rodeo, and it really settled in with the community and the rodeo and the committee,” said Dave Halverson, the rodeo’s director. “We have had honors and people have shed tears of joy. People have been outstanding, and we are humbly honored to be recognized.”
The Ogden Pioneer Days is more than just a rodeo, it’s an event. It includes concerts, parades, farmer’s markets, and, of course, the rodeo at historic Ogden Pioneer Stadium.
“When you look at the community of Ogden – this is one of the biggest awards this city will receive, and so on behalf of the committee and the city, we’re honored and delighted to be so recognized,” said Alan Hall, chairman of the Ogden Pioneer Foundation. “We appreciate the (ProRodeo) Hall of Fame and the committee for the selection and all those who make this organization world class.”
Bush was multi-talented, becoming the most decorated cowgirl in the history of the WPRA (formerly the Girls Rodeo Association).
When the GRA first formed in 1948, Bush was one of the first to sign-up. All totaled, she won 32 world titles – nine all-around (1952, 1957-58, 1962-65, 1968-69), two barrel racing (1952-53), two cutting (1966, 1969), one flag race (1969), 11 calf roping (1951-56, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966-67) and seven ribbon roping titles (1951, 1953-54, 1956-59). She finished as reserve world champion in barrel racing three separate times.
While Bush’s barrel racing world titles came before the NFR began, she qualified seven times (1959-60, 1962-65, and 1974) for the NFR during her career.
“I’m honored to accept this honor for my mom, a famous legend, an icon, and my very best friend,” said Shanna Bush, Wanda’s daughter, who qualified for the NFR in 1984. “For my dear uncle, A.C. Harper, who said my mom was a world champion sister. How deserving to be the first woman inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. History is made today, and she did it by being just Wanda.”
Bush was inducted posthumously, having passed away Dec. 29, 2015.
Bob Ragsdale
“She was one to shy away from publicity, interviews and pictures,” Shanna said. “Material things just didn’t mean much to mom. She taught many movie stars, singers, governors, vice presidents and their kids to ride, or they bought horses from us. But no one ever knew when they came or went from our ranch, that’s just how our family was. She was a really appreciative person always content with just what she had.”
James may have had to wait 22 years to join her legendary horse, Scamper, in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, but was ecstatic to be a part of this historic class.
“I finally get to join him (Scamper), and that’s emotional,” said James, who now makes her home in Boerne, Texas. “Today is really a big deal, not only for me, my family, but I think for all the barrel racers of the WPRA. I couldn’t be more proud and humbled to be one of the first inductees as one of the barrel racers.”
James, who grew up in Clayton, N.M., the home of the very first barrel racing National Finals Rodeo in 1959, won the first of 10 consecutive world titles at the youthful age of 14 in 1984.
James was the first WPRA member to wear the coveted No. 1 back number in 1987, and became the first barrel racer to cross the $1 million mark in career earnings. In addition to the 10 consecutive world titles (1984-1993), James and Scamper won the NFR average title six times (1984, 1986-87, 1989-90 and 1993). In 1996, Scamper became the first and only barrel horse (until 2017) to be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
James would add a cherry on top of her illustrious career, returning to the top of the sport aboard Cruiser (Cruisin on Six) in 2002, winning her 11th world title and seventh NFR average title.
“My mom traveled a million miles with me and my whole family sacrificed, so this induction is not just about me, but also your family and friends,” James said. “The horses along the way, I couldn’t have been here without the great horses. Obviously, Scamper was a godsend. This is just like icing on the cake getting up here today and accepting this honor.”
Star Plaudit “Red” holds a very unique record in the world of professional rodeo, one that is not likely to ever be duplicated. The bay gelding won two world championships in the sport in a single year and contributed to a third, at the age of 12.
In 1962, Red, as he was affectionately known, carried his owner Sherry (Combs) Johnson to the GRA world title in the barrel racing. The horse also helped close family friend Tom Nesmith to the RCA world title in the steer wrestling, as well as the RCA all-around championship.
Johnson credits the steer wrestling with teaching Red how to run hard through the pattern.
“He (Red) was such a special, special horse,” Johnson said. “He was a really good bulldogging horse. We went to Denver, his first rodeo, and we won the go and I found out that day what run meant. He always ran his hardest. He was the best horse. I never had a horse like him, and he had heart. I believe that a barrel racer better know her barrel horse better than her husband, and I think we do.”
Red passed away at the age of 22.
With the 2017 class, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame now has enshrined 259 people, 33 animals and 28 rodeo committees.
Jordan with all of her 2016 champion saddles and trophies – Amy Niehues, Captured Moments
Jordan Driver is the product of seven generations of cattle ranching and rodeo heritage. Jordan is involved in basketball, track, cross country, hunting, fishing, competitive light rifle shooting, and 4-H. However, the majority of her time is split between ranching, rodeo, and school.
Another day’s work on The Driver Ranch – Courtesy of the family
“It gets hectic sometimes but it is really how we live. There are busy times like branding season that we don’t get to practice as much and I have to do my school work late at night,” Jordan said. “Sometimes we have to drive all night to get to a rodeo and drive all night to get back to school. It all kinda equals out, we do what needs to be done.”
Her parents, Dane and Jennifer Driver, both come from ranching backgrounds and continue the family traditions. “The Driver Ranch was homesteaded in 1878 in West Texas, so Jordan’s dad is a sixth generation rancher on his families working cattle ranch,” Jennifer said. “My family’s cattle ranch in located in Central Texas, where I am the fourth generation. So to say that the western way of life is what we know would be a very true statement.”
“This ranch has been in the family for close to 140 years,” Dane said. The Driver Ranch runs around 1000 head of cattle, depending on the yearly rainfall. Jennifer and Dane pass down their family history and tradition to Jordan, in the hopes that she will continue the western lifestyle.
“Hard work, dedication, and responsibility is something that is learned and cherished in living the western lifestyle,” Jennifer said, “Having Jordan learn and appreciate her family’s history and hoping she will continue to carry on the traditions is something that her father and I truly hope she will want to do.”
This deep appreciation also comes with a set of responsibilities, which Jordan does with pride. “Some of my responsibilities on the ranch or at the barn include getting home from school every day and riding all of my competition horses,” Jordan said. “I make sure everything has blankets, feed, and that [they are] sound before I head to the house.”
Jordan, who started rodeoing at just five years old, is a member of the American Junior Rodeo Association, and the Texas Junior High Rodeo Association Region 2.
Jordan and her horse Ever Sozippy (aka. Sergio) just won the AQHYA WORLD in the Barrel Racing – courtesy of the family
This year she won the All-Around Cowgirl title in both associations as well as then taking home that coveted title at the Texas Junior High Rodeo Association State Finals where she qualified in six events; barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, ribbon roping, goat tying and team roping. Jordan took home the World Champion Barrel racing title at the 2016 American Quarter Horse Youth World Show on Honors Past Due, then came back in 2017 and defended that title on her horse Ever SoZippy (aka. Sergio). She also qualified two horses last year for the 2017 American Semifinals and has already qualified one so far for the 2018 American Semifinals. Competing in The American as an eighth grader can be a daunting task, “It was overwhelming,” Jordan said of last year’s semi finals. “It wasn’t the best runs I’ve made but I was proud of my horses and myself at the end.”
Jordan barrel racing at the 2016 AJRA Finals – JenningsRodeoPhotography.com
She qualified with her best friend, Karsyn Daniels, last year and this year as well. Jordan and Karsyn met through barrel racing, and became friends while competing. “Since we live a long ways apart we don’t get to see each other unless we are at a rodeo,” Jordan said. “But sometimes Karsyn gets to come out to our ranch, and we hang out and go hunting.”
Jordan attributes a lot of her success to her biggest supporters, her parents.
“My parents have listened to me and know what I like to ride, and they found me some of the toughest rodeo horses,” Jordan said. “I appreciate them taking me to all of my rodeos and helping me succeed more and more as I grow as a competitor.”
Jordan and her family train some of their own horses, although they find most of their horses through other rodeo contestants.These tough horses include; Ever So Zippy “Sergio”, TK Judges Easy Money aka “Price”, VF The Final Design “Final”, and May B Noble “Missy”.
“Finding the right horse is hard. Trying horses is exciting and makes me nervous. My parents know a lot of people because they rodeoed as well, [so] we look for horses all over,” Jordan said. “My mom found Sergio and got to know Billie Ann Harmon, she was showing him for a friend of hers. Angela and Jackie Ganter have helped us find some of our horses and Price was the latest they help us find.”
It takes a team to keep Jordan’s horses ready for competition, but she’s got plenty of help. “I am lucky to get to spend some time with some barrel racing greats Talmadge Green and Dena Kirkpatrick,” Jordan said. Talmadge also helped the Drivers find Final, who is one of Jordan’s barrel horses.
Jennifer and Dane both come from rodeo backgrounds, and rodeoed for Tarleton State University. “Dane qualified for the College National Finals Rodeo five times and was the Student Director for the Southwest Region; he roped calves, team roped, and bulldogged,” Jennifer said. “I went to the College National Finals Rodeo all four years and was the 1999 CNFR Champion Barrel Racer and the 1999 CNFR All-Around Cowgirl.”
Jordan hungting at age 7 – Courtesy of the family
Jennifer was also inducted into the Tarleton State University Hall of Fame in 2015, and continues to show horses. However, she also enjoys helping Jordan prepare for her competitions, and cheering her on.
“We have a daily schedule for all the horses, as far as what they need, how they need to be worked and when they need to be practiced on. But in addition to the horses, her dad and I split duties in helping Jordan practice,” Jennifer said. “I try to be her number one supporter on and off the road. Keeping everything on track and on schedule helps keep Jordan focused on her event and allows her to be a kid.”
“It has been a true blessing to watch her grow and become the competitor and horseman she is,” Jennifer said. “With her dad and I both being from ranching and rodeo backgrounds, having her to continue the family heritage is a dream come true.”
Jordan and her horses have big goals for the coming years, and she has faith that they will accomplish great things together. “I completed one of my goals this year – competing at the national level in my last year of junior high.” She not only competed, she and her ribbon roping partner, Jacob Walters, won the National title. “Texas is expected to do good – and the second round was a muddy mess – it was a mental game.” They duct taped their boots on so they wouldn’t come off.
Later in her career, she wants to rodeo in college and hopefully pursue her goal of winning the rookie of the year in the WPRA, and then also making a trip to compete in Las Vegas at the WNFR.
Jordan with her horse, Honors Past Due, or “Robin,” they won the AQHYA World Champion Barrel Racing – Amy Niehues, Captured Moments
Along with all of her rodeo dreams, Jordan also plans to stay involved with the family cattle ranch. “I love it! Being a seventh generation Driver is definitely in my blood,” Jordan said.
50 years ago, Casey Tibbs made documentary to drive more than 300 bucking horses 120 miles from the Lower Brule Native American Reservation to Fort Pierre. Tibbs wrote, produced, directed and starred in the movie which included some of the wildest riding ever filmed back then. Tibbs utilized his horsemanship skills to provide a true, natural roundup with cowboys and horses, illuminating the possibility for using fake backdrops and faux set-ups. The script was narrated by Henry Fonda and Rex Allen.
While crossing the Missouri River, Tibbs came close to drowning. This is an ironic face given this 9-time World Champion risked life and limb for years, breaking 46 bones during his rodeo career.
Jim Lawhon crossing the Missouri River during the filming of “Born To Buck.” Lawhon still resides in Fort Pierre.
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the film, the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Center will be having a reunion on Saturday, August 19th from 2-4 in the afternoon at the Rodeo Center. This is open to the public with a free-will offering. Anyone who had a major or minor part is encouraged to attend and talk about their involvement. The 90-minute film will be shown in its entirety. The Center’s bestseller film, still available on DVD and VHS, is available for sale in the gift shop.
Ranching and Rodeoing in the Real World, Living the Cowboy Way
In INSP’s new original series, The Cowboy Way, premiering, August 10th at 8p.m. ET, viewers across the country get an insider’s look at family ranching in today’s world. Each episode of this fun-loving and adventure-filled series, follows cowboys, Bubba Thompson, Cody Harris, and Booger Brown, three best buddies and south Alabama ranchers who, like the cowboys of old, raise cattle and horses, and live according to the cowboy code—dedication to faith, family, hard work, and American values.
Deep Rodeo Roots
From week to week, viewers share in Bubba’s, Cody’s and Booger’s stories—the work, family and life challenges, the highs and lows of ranch and rodeo life, the laughs and fun as they give their all to build their business, Faith Cattle Company. While all three men have a connection to rodeo, Cody’s roots run deepest, as a pro-rodeo tie-down calf-roping champ.
Coming from a family of steer wrestlers, Cody followed in his father’s, uncle’s and cousins’ footsteps for many years until an accident as a teenager side-lined him. When he was able to return to the saddle, he traded bulldogging for calf roping.
Among Cody’s many titles, he was the Professional Cowboy Association Calf Roping Rookie of the Year in 2007, Calf Roping Year End Award Winner in 2009, and became well-known for turning out winning roping horses, most notably a chestnut named Ricky Jack.
“That was the best horse I ever trained. It wasn’t that he was that great; that dude was just a winner. He was just a gritty winner…and he drew good!” He laughs.
Cody sold the dark chestnut to PRCA roping champ and NFR qualifier, Randall Carlisle. Sadly, Ricky Jack was put down in 2015.
It was a made horse Cody called Booger (because of an extra flap in his nose that made him sound as if he were snorting) that was special to Cody.
“He was my favorite horse ever. He put me at a totally different level of competition,” Cody says, “Before him, I won a few saddles and buckles, but I won three saddles and about 60, 70 buckles off that one horse.”
Cody is retired from competition, but he keeps his hand in the game as the producer of “Bulls on the Beach” in Orange Beach, Alabama.
“I’ve won a bunch of saddles and buckles…a bunch! But the greatest accomplishment I have is my salvation and family,” Cody says.
INGREDIENTS:
Cookies
1½ cups sugar
1 cup room temp butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2¾ cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
Filling
8 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
DIRECTIONS:
Make the cream cheese filling by mixing the cream cheese, ¼ cup sugar and 2 tsp vanilla. I used my hand mixer for this. Cover the cream cheese mixture and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°.
Cream butter and 1½ cup sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and 1 tsp vanilla. Mix until combined. On low speed mix in your flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set dough to the side. In a small bowl combine remaining ¼ cup sugar and 2 tsp cinnamon, set that aside as well. Remove the cream cheese mixture from the refrigerator. For each cookie you will need 2 flattened balls of dough, 1 Tbsp each. (The flattened disk will be approx 2” in diameter) Place 1 tsp of the cream cheese mixture on top of one of the flattened dough disks. Then place the other flattened dough on top of the cream cheese. Pinch the edges together to seal. Carefully form into a ball and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture. Place on a plate as you finish making each and refrigerate. Before baking the cookies they should chill for 15 minutes. When the dough is chilled bake on a parchment lined baking sheet 2” apart for 8 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool. NOTE: Store in an airtight container, refrigerate if keeping for more than 1 day
Peanut Butter No-bake Cookies
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup corn syrup
6 cups corn flakes
DIRECTIONS:
Heat the corn syrup and sugar until melted, add the peanut butter until it’s melted into the sugar. Add corn flakes and scoop onto parchment paper.
Belly Button Stew
recipe courtesy of Ken Stafford, Droffats Catering and Concessions,
Shawnee, Oklahoma
ingredients:
Ground beef
Polish sausage
Hot links
Onions
Bell peppers
Diced tomatoes
Pinto beans
Salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Serve on a bed of cornbread and cover with grated cheese.
We make about 40 pounds of this every year for the IFYR. It was named “Belly button” because a little girl thought the sausages looked like belly buttons. Enjoy!
Texas Trash
recipe courtesy of Kambria McDougal
Kambria competes in barrels poles and breakaway and this recipe was made up to accommodate her gluten free diet.
ingredients:
Gluten free pretzel sticks
Cheese balls
Rice Chex – both plain and honey nut
Cheerios – both plain and honey nut
Salted peanuts
Honey roasted peanuts
DIRECTIONS:
Line up 15 tubs and add all ingredients to each tub, equal parts in all tubs, shake and go.
“As much as I would love to, I cannot take full credit for the gumbo recipe I use. Our very good friend, Rusty Wilson, from Lafayette, Louisiana is a true bred and born Cajun. I asked him for his roux recipe (which is the base of the gumbo) to make my duck gumbo (He usually uses chicken and sausage). So here it is, with a few tweeks.”
ingredients:
2 yellow onions
1 bell pepper
Fresh garlic
1 avocado
3/4 cup avocado oil
1/4 cup of coconut flour
Kitchen Bouquet sauce
10 small duck breasts
Down home green onion sausage
2 tbsp. chicken bouillon
Tapioca starch
Tony’s, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, Tabasco, or hot sauce
DIRECTIONS:
1. Add 2 yellow onions, 1 bell pepper, and a little garlic chopped w/ a little avocado oil in the bottom of pan and cook until translucent.
2. In a separate glass bowl: mix 3/4 cup avocado oil & 1/4 cup of coconut flour in a pyrex until smooth until there are no lumps. Heat it in microwave for 1.5 minute, 1 minute, 1 minute …should be pretty hot. This is the ROUX
3. Add some kitchen bouquet (coloring for gravy, etc.) to get the color a little brownish & some of your cooked onions to stop roux from continuing to cook.
4. Add roux to onions at bottom of pot and stir it around before browning meat… Add duck (I usually put in about 10 small duck breast) & cook until a little brown on the outside.
5. Add amount of water you want depending on size of gumbo pot (you want it to look soupy). Cook for 2 hours on simmer & then add a pound of down home green onion sausage, cook for another 30 mins.
6. Add 2 tbsp. chicken bouillon (flavor) & 1 tsp at a time of tapioca starch to thicken to liking, cook for another 30 mins.
7. Spice w/ Tony’s, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, Tabasco, or hot sauce of choice.
8. Once its almost done cut green onions & put in. Have file’ on table!
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – WPRA barrel racer and two-time world champion Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi is back in familiar territory – on top of the leaderboard for the Fourth of July run, known in the rodeo world as Cowboy Christmas. Pozzi Tonozzi was needing a big week and it all fell together nicely for the 33-year old new mom.
“My expectations are always high to do well but it doesn’t always work out that way,” said Pozzi Tonozzi, who won $20,654. “The last couple of years, I have been seasoning new colts and it has been a struggle but I definitely wanted to win enough to get me closer to the top 15 this week. I kept telling Garrett (her husband) that I needed a big lick somewhere, I needed to just win first somewhere to get me back in contention. I did a pretty good job of it this week.”
Pozzi Tonozzi competed in nine rodeos from June 26-July 4, winning money at seven of them on three different horses. Her biggest paychecks came at the Greeley (Colo.) Independence Stampede where she finished second in the average winning a total of $9,457, and at the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Ariz., where she captured the title and a check worth $5,462. At both of those rodeos she called upon the services of her main mount Steele Magnolias “Steeley.” She also jockeyed the 10-year old mare around the cloverleaf pattern in Oakley City, Utah, placing 14th and adding another $360.
She jumped on KissKiss BangBang “Mona,” her 7-year old mare in Livingston, Mont., Window Rock, Ariz., and at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo qualifier in Colorado Springs, Colo., where she added $2,828, $1,452, and $485, respectively. The third horse that carried her to the pay window in West Jordan, Utah, was one she has only had for a couple of months that she calls Rusty. The duo picked up $610 after finishing in a tie for sixth.
Pozzi Tonozzi was hoping for a big week to not only move up in the world standings but also secure a spot in the upcoming $1 million Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo in Salt Lake City. The top 10 in the world standings was one way to qualify and when the dust settled and new standings were released on July 5, Pozzi Tonozzi was 10th with $46,975, punching her ticket to Salt Lake City.
“This was a good week to start winning as I think this will move me into the top 10, which was perfect timing for Salt Lake,” said Pozzi Tonozzi of qualifying for Salt Lake City. “I can’t get too excited yet, as I need to keep my head down and keep it rolling. My horses are sound and running good, so I am excited to see what the rest of the month has in store.”
The last time Pozzi Tonozzi topped the leaderboard during Cowboy Christmas was in 2012 when she won the most of any WPRA or PRCA member with $27,789. Her largest amount won during this time was in 2009, the last time she won a world title, with $29,372.
Rounding out the top three in Cowboy Christmas standings were Carman Pozzobon with $16,540 after a big win in Ponoka, Alberta, as Canada celebrated their 150th Birthday on July 1. Tammy Fischer was third with $13,681 after winning big at the Cody (Wyo.) Stampede. Fischer also collected checks at Greeley, Colo., Red Lodge, Mont., Belle Fourche, S.D., Mobridge, S.D. and Colorado Springs, Colo., qualifier.
World standings leader Tiany Schuster added another $13,446 running her 2017 earnings to $163,457.
A full recap of the Fourth of July rodeos will be available in the August issue of the WPRA News.
Top 10 WPRA Money earners over the Fourth of July
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi – $20,654
Carman Pozzobon – $16,540
Tammy Fischer – $13,681
Tiany Schuster – $13,446
Nellie Miller – $13,218
Stevi Hillman – $13,164
Syndi Blanchard – $11,535
Ericka Nelson – $11,090
Hailey Kinsel – $10,387
Taci Bettis – $10,258
Top 20 as of July 5, 2017
Tiany Schuster Krum, Texas $163,457
Kathy Grimes Medical Lake, Wash. $91,503
Stevi Hillman Weatherford, Texas $90,523
Kassie Mowry Dublin, Texas $89,918
Amberleigh Moore Salem, Ore. $86,983
Nellie Miller Cottonwood, Calif. $73,320
Tillar Murray Fort Worth, Texas $59,462
Kellie Collier Hereford, Texas $52,688
Sydni Blanchard Albuquerque, N.M. $47,664
Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi Victoria, Texas $46,975
Tammy Fischer Ledbetter, Texas $45,640
Ari-Anna Flynn Charleston, Ark. $45,599
Taylor Langdon Aubrey, Texas $43,075
Ivy Conrado Hudson, Colo. $42,796
Carley Richardson Pampa, Texas $40,364
Taci Bettis (R) Round Top, Texas $38,830
Emily Miller Weatherford, Okla. $38,605
Cayla Small Bokchito, Okla. $37,761
Kimmie Wall Roosevelt, Utah $35,430
Carmel Wright Roy, Mont. $34,942
Editor’s Note: The information enclosed in this release is courtesy of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) for media use. However, if you reprint any of the following information verbatim in your publication, or if you read it verbatim on a radio broadcast, please mention that the information is courtesy of the WPRA.
