Author: Courtesy

Coast to coast and border to border, horse trailers burn up the road year-round, hauling horses of all disciplines to competitions throughout the country. While the changes in scenery can be refreshing for our horse’s human companion, the changes in climate, water and location can be stressful for the animals. And although little can be done to change climate and location stresses, water should never be a cause for concern.

 

Dehydration doesn’t just hinder a horse’s performance, as one of the leading causes of colic, it can be fatal. And when a horse is being hauled from location to location, even trace amounts of chlorine in a water supply can present enough of an odor and taste difference to cause horses, especially young, inexperienced horses, to reduce their water consumption.

 

For Jim and Stacey Warner, owners of 3/W Performance Horses, Greenwood, South Carolina, keeping  horses hydrated while they are on the road is paramount to the success of their business of starting barrel racing horses on the futurity circuit.

 

“It’s a constant battle for anyone that travels with livestock,” Stacey says of dehydration and the struggle to keep her barrel racing futurity horses hydrated. “We haul six colts everywhere we go—they drink a lot of water, but it is the single most important thing we can do to help our horses’ performance and their health.”

Last fall, Stacey came across ShowFresH₂0™ on Amazon, and she shares that the product has been life changing for both her and her horses.

 

“We used to haul a lot of water with us wherever we would go because the horses just wouldn’t drink. We train futurity horses and open horses so we are always campaigning new horses every year—hauling  is stressful for young, inexperienced horses. It’s hard on them mentally and physically; we could never keep them drinking on the road. But since we discovered ShowFresH₂0, instead of hauling water with us, we can drop ShowFresH₂0 right into the five-gallon water buckets,” she says, “We don’t haul water anymore.”

 

Available in easy-to-use, pourable containers, ShowFresH₂0 treats a five gallon bucket of water as easily as it treats a 150 gallon tank. And because the product eliminates chlorine from the water, rather than just masking it, it works every time to keep all classes of livestock hydrated.

 

Today, the Warners find themselves using the product at-home, as well as on the road, sharing that for the price of treatment and the improvements they have seen in their horses’ water consumption, they can’t afford not to.

 

“It is really affordable. We started using it at home as much as we are using it on the road,” Stacey says, “I can drop ShowFresH₂0 into our Rubbermaid® water tanks and never have to worry about our horses going off water because of the taste or smell of the water.”

Coleman, Oklahoma (May 26, 2020) — Tyler Pearson, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 2017 world champion steer wrestler, added a new title to his resume over the Memorial Day weekend at the Nothin’ But Try (NBT) Jackpot.

 

Pearson was one of 77 entries in the steer wrestling held after a break-away roping that attracted nearly 40. That event’s winner was a high school freshman, Avery Landry from Arnaudville, Louisiana. While these two were the champions of their respective events, the real winner was the Nothin’ But Try Scholarships that the event raises money for. This year over $6,000 was donated to the scholarship fund.

 

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo steer wrestling qualifier Sean Mulligan started the jackpot in 2014 in his hometown of Coleman, Oklahoma. It was organized to raise money for the scholarship given in fellow competitor, Levi Wisness’s honor.

 

A scholarship in his name had been started in 2009. Wisness was the 2003 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) steer wrestling champion. He was also a student director for the Central Rocky Mountain Region and got his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming, Mulligan’s alma mater. Wisness had a brain tumor that was successfully treated. He was making his competition comeback when he passed unexpectedly in 2008.

 

Two more scholarships were added in 2009, one honoring Lee Akin who suffered a traumatic brain injury and is now living his best life in Idaho, and another one in honor of Betty Gayle Cooper Ratliff. This year, the jackpot started off with the Betty Gayle Open Roping giving breakaway ropers an opportunity to participate.

 

Cooper Ratliff was the coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State University when cancer took her life in 1999. Her involvement with college rodeo started as a competitor at Eastern New Mexico University where she won two national titles. After college she joined the ranks of other professional cowgirls and earned nine world titles.

 

In 1976, she moved to Durant, Oklahoma, completed her master’s degree and started coaching. During her tenure, nine National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association team titles and 16 individual championships were won. Her record as a winning college rodeo coach is unsurpassed.

Christi Braudrick attended college in Durant to be coached by Cooper Ratiliff and is Southeastern’s current coach. She organized the breakaway roping.

 

“This really means a lot to me,” Braudrick said. “I’ve seen how these scholarships have impacted people and to be able to have a roping that honors Betty Gayle and raises money for the scholarships is a win-win situation.”

 

As the breakaway champion, Landry got the first ever Betty Gayle Open Roping champion buckle. Braudrick  invited Cooper Ratliff, her college coach’s son, to present the awards. Landry had a total time of 8.2 on three runs, won the second round with a blazing 1.8-second time and earned $1,755 for her efforts. She also got a hand-painted feather for having the fastest time of the day.

Pearson has competed at the Jackpot several times, but this is his first time to collect the championship buckle that carries Levi Wisness’s brand. His total time of 13.2 seconds earned him $3,030. Second place went to Jacob Edler with a 13.5. Also in the mix were the 2001 steer wrestling world champion Rope Myers and 2018 NFR qualifier Blake Mindemann. Each go-round winner received a trophy knife and the fastest time received a hand-painted feather.

 

The second annual cornhole tournament gave local residents a chance to participate in the event and while the action got very competitive, it was a chance for everyone to have some fun.

 

“I can’t thank everyone enough for participating,” Mulligan said. “The U-Cross arena has been so generous for us and we’ve gotten a lot of support since we started this six years ago. Levi would have been the first guy here and the last to leave, so to have an event that people come have fun at and honors his spirit is awesome.”

COVID-19 has dramatically altered the landscape of professional sports, including pro rodeo (PRCA). It is frustrating to sit on the sidelines waiting for the virus to take its course. However, I want to assure all rodeo fans that Las Vegas is diligently planning for its reopening. While we are not in control of when we can resume fully attended events, we are developing guidelines that ensure not only your safety while you are in Las Vegas but that our city does not become another hub of the virus.

 

Six weeks ago, we created a committee made up of representatives from Las Vegas venues and events. The Vegas Event COVID-19 Committee (VECC) has 45 active members and meets weekly to discuss creating guidelines that we can work with local and state officials to ensure events in Las Vegas are safe.

 

The VECC’s plan, which is being crafted based on research and input from leading industry professionals, local and state government and medical experts, will focus on guidelines that safeguard staff, guests, officials and participants.

 

There are two reasons I am optimistic about hosting the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo for the 36th time in Las Vegas. The first is our event is in December. MLB, the NFL, NHL and NBA will all be challenged with addressing guidelines for hosting sold-out events considering the challenges of properly protecting fans. We will have the benefit of their events opening before December.

 

The second reason is you, the fan. We conducted a survey to identify the rodeo fans’ affinity to return to attending rodeo events and specifically the National Finals Rodeo. I would like to share those results with you. Las Vegas Events is constantly asking our fans for feedback. Many of you have participated in our post-NFR rodeo surveys. Those surveys average between 5,000-6,000 respondents. When we asked you about this year’s NFR, close to 17,000 responded. What we heard loud and clear is that you are ready to come to Vegas.

 

The rodeo industry and Las Vegas has been hit equally hard by COVID-19. We want to let you know that we are working diligently to create a plan that assures our fans and local and state officials that we are ready for the NFR and all the experiences that surround it.

 

Until then, stay safe and isolated as possible to ensure this virus takes its course and allows us to get on with our lives.

 

Sincerely,

Pat Christenson

President

Las Vegas Events

Daylon Swearingon has spent his time in quarantine working on his new place in Texas. He has built his herd of beef cattle since the quarantine started and still has his bucking stock herd in New York that he is preparing fence for. His bucking stock will arrive tomorrow and that will give him a chance to practice and go through his younger bucking stock. He is putting in an arena as a well as more fencing to accommodate the new arrivals. His next PBR event is June 18th at the South Point Arena and Hotel. He might enter some pro rodeos before that, but for now he’s happy doing what he’s doing.

World Championship Will Pay Equal Money in Each Discipline.

 

AUSTIN, Texas and PUEBLO, Colo.- WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance) and PBR (Professional Bull Riders) announced additional details today regarding the Women’s Rodeo World Championship (WRWC), taking place at South Point Arena in Las Vegas on November 3-7.

 

The world championship event is open to any female athlete competing in breakaway roping, barrel racing, team roping and will award a $750,000 guaranteed payout with equal money in all four disciplines. The event will also award a Women’s Rodeo All-Around Champion.

 

All disciplines will feature two main pathways to the WRWC main event. Athletes who earn the top four spots on the WCRA Leaderboard at the end of the nomination period will be directly seeded into the main event while athletes 5-64 on the leaderboard will compete in a qualifying pool. The 60 athletes in the WCRA pool will compete in a three round progressive format with the top six advancing to the WRWC main event.

 

Nominations for the 2020 Women’s Rodeo World Championship Leaderboard will start on May 18 at Noon CT and will close October 11 at 11:59 p.m.

 

Up to 16 athletes per discipline can earn a NWYI (“nominate, win, and you’re in”) seeding qualification in the WCRA pool through select events found here. The four fastest times in the NWYI fast track will earn a spot in the main event.

 

All athletes advancing through the WCRA Leaderboard and NWYI events will not be required to pay an entry fee.

 

Athletes will also have an opportunity to earn a spot in the main event through the “Open to the World Qualifying Pools”, which will be split into pro and challenger divisions. All athletes in the Open to the World Qualifying Pools will compete in two rounds of competition with 18 athletes per pool advancing to the progressive round. Those who do not advance to the progressive round have the option to re-enter in a redemption round. The top 10 fastest times in the one-run progressive round will advance to the main event.

 

A total of 24 total positions in each discipline will be available in the main event with multiple combinations of pay-outs available throughout all stages.

 

The Women’s Rodeo World Championship will be carried on RIDE-TV and RidePass, the PBR’s western sport digital network.

 

Additional details on open entry and package details will be released at a later date.

 

All information regarding the five-day event can be found at HERE.

 

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 the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com.

 

About PBR

PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 700 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash The Beast tour (UTB), which features the top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. PBR’s digital assets include RidePass, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

The competitions will be televised on CBS Sports Network and CBS Television Network

 

LAS VEGAS – South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa has partnered with the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) to host 48 of the world’s top professional bull riders in the South Point Arena split into 12 teams and divisions, facing off until two teams remain to compete for the championship. The competitions each Friday and Saturday will be televised on CBS Sports Network with a “Game of the Week” broadcast on CBS Television Network each Sunday. Every night of competition will feature three “games,” where each game will comprise a head-to-head matchup of three riders from one team against three riders from another on the sport’s toughest bulls.

 

The first four weekends of the PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas on June 5-28 will be closed-to-the-public using the safety protocols PBR debuted during three previous event weekends in April and May, including a scaled-down crew, medical testing, functional separation and social distancing.

 

“We are proud to partner with the PBR in bringing the world’s best bull riders to the South Point Arena.  There is no better place than Vegas Cowboy Central to put the sports and entertainment capital back on television.  Las Vegas will always be here to entertain you, even if you can’t be here.”  said Ryan Growney, General Manager of South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa.

 

The competition will then culminate in a championship weekend that will welcome fans to ticketed events at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota July 10-12.

 

South Point Arena hosts the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals each year.

 

“After successfully holding closed events in Oklahoma that utilized a comprehensive wellness and safety plan now being reviewed by other leagues, we have added protocols to provide fans a secure place to enjoy a new exciting team format,” said PBR Commissioner Sean Gleason. “We want to thank our fans for their patience and cooperation, as well as our venue, city and state partners, including Governor Kristi Noem, for collaborating on these measures for bringing this new team tournament in front of fans in an environment they’ll be comfortable in.”

 

Every team will have played six regular season games after four weeks.  The teams with the top three records in each division will make the playoffs, with the regular season division champion earning a first round bye. Championship weekend – a single elimination bracket – will feature wild card matchups on Friday, the semifinals on Saturday, and Championship Sunday broadcast on CBS Television Network, with the consolation game on CBS Sports Network.

 

PBR’s most recent Unleash The Beast ticketed event for fans was in Little Rock March 6-7, 2020. When restrictions on mass gatherings from COVID-19 (Coronavirus) were put into place, PBR held closed-to-fans events for television in Georgia March 15-16, and at the Lazy E Arena in Oklahoma April 25-26 and May 9-10 with a comprehensive safety plan approved by three layers of government.

 

The PBR will announce in the coming weeks further competition details and rosters for The PBR Monster Energy Team Challenge, which will not offer individual riders’ points toward the 2020 world standings.

 

PBR will handle all production for these events, which are subject to change depending on developments with Covid-19.

 

 

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About PBR (Professional Bull Riders)

PBR is the world’s premier bull riding organization. More than 700 bull riders compete in more than 200 events annually across the televised PBR Unleash the Beast Tour (UTB), which features the top 35 bull riders in the world; the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT); the PBR Touring Pro Division (TPD); and the PBR’s international circuits in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. PBR’s digital assets include RidePass, which is home to Western sports. PBR is a subsidiary of IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. For more information, visit PBR.com, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/PBR, Twitter at Twitter.com/PBR, and YouTube at YouTube.com/PBR.

 

About Monster Energy

Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it is the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at www.monsterenergy.com.

 

 

About South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

Featuring more than 2,100 guestrooms, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa overlooks the famous Las Vegas Strip and the serenity of the surrounding mountainscape. Each oversized guest room features state-of-the-art LED televisions as well as WiFi with high-speed internet connections. Guests visiting South Point Hotel will experience affordable luxury through a casino offering top-of-the-line gaming technology, more than 60 table games and a separate race and sports book area, 11 restaurants, including the award-winning Michael’s Gourmet Room, world-class Costa Del Sur Spa and Salon, a 400-seat showroom featuring headliner entertainment, a 700-seat Bingo room, a 16-screen Cinemark movie complex, a state-of-the-art 64-lane bowling center, a 52,000-square foot Conference Center and an 80,000-square foot Exhibit Hall. South Point Hotel is also home to the Tournament Bowling Plaza, a multi-million-dollar professional bowling tournament facility. In addition, South Point Hotel has the finest equestrian event facility in the country. The 240,000 square feet of event space features three climate-controlled arenas, vet clinic, feed store, more than 1,200 climate-controlled stalls and plays host to some of the country’s most unique events. South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa is at 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89183.

 

“Official Hotel and Casino of Las Vegas Motor Speedway” and sponsor of the September 2020 Las Vegas NASCAR Monster Energy cup race, South Point 400. In addition, South Point’s Sports Book is home of Vegas Stats & Information Network” (VSiN), where you can listen to the broadcast on SiriusXM 204 and watch the video livestream on VSiN.com.

 

For more information or for room reservations, call (702) 796-7111 or visit the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa website. Connect with South Point on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Mason Taylor Wins Round 1 of PBR’s Historic Third Closed Unleash the Beast Event in Oklahoma

Three-time World Champion Silvano Alves further solidifies record, Derek Kolbaba snaps buckoff streak, and world No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme falters

GUTHRIE, Okla. – At the historic third closed-to-fans PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Unleash The Beast event inside Lazy E Arena in Logan County, Oklahoma, the world’s Top 35 bull riders continued to pioneer the return of professional sports in an empty arena on a night where the bovine athletes reigned supreme.

With bull power in full force, only six cowboys recorded qualified rides on the opening night of the two-day PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol.

Compliments of his 88.75-point score aboard Hell on the Red (Bill Henson/Gene Owen), young gun Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas) won Round 1.

For photos from Round 1, click here. All images are courtesy Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media.

The ride marked Taylor’s second round win of the 2020 season and also snapped a three-out buckoff streak for the 20-year-old. He earned $3,750 and 20 world points.

After beginning the event No. 17 in the world, the Texan climbed one position to No. 16.

In Round 2, Taylor will face a familiar opponent, set to attempt God’s Country (Owens/Wyatt/Smith) for the second time in his career.

When the duo first met last weekend at the Lazy E, God’s Country bested Taylor in a swift 4.71 seconds.

Three-time PBR World Champion Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil) further etched his name in the PBR record books tonight, courtesy of his 82.5-point, fifth-place ride aboard Sidewinder (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.) in Round 1.

The 8-second effort marked the Brazilian veteran’s 414th career ride on the elite Unleash The Beast.

After surpassing two-time PBR World Champion Chris Shivers (Jonesville, Louisiana) for fifth-most rides all-time last weekend, Alves is now within 15 rides of tying Valdiron de Oliveira (Balcimo, Brazil) for fourth in the league history books. Shivers logged 412 rides in his career, while Oliveira reached the 8-second whistle 429 times.

PBR’s 2008 World Champion Guilherme Marchi (Tres Lagoas, Brazil) leads the league with 635, followed by two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney (Statesville, North Carolina) with 528, and 2004 World Champion Mike Lee (Decatur, Texas) with 525.

Alves’ latest ride netted him seven world points, propelling him from No. 49 to No. 42 in the world.

In Round 2 of the PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, Alves will attempt Bullseye (Owens/Wyatt/Smith/Mears). After propelling Alves’s countryman Fabiano Vieira (Perola, Brazil) to the event victory at the first premier series event held inside Lazy E Arena in late April, Bullseye got the best of Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil) last weekend.

The opening night of PBR’s final event at the Lazy E to finish a three-weekend stand also featured a breakthrough performance from phenom Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington).

Kolbaba snapped a five-out buckoff streak in riding Caddy Black (Owens/Wyatt/Smith) for 81.75 points to finish sixth in the opening round.

Kolbaba earned six world points, maintaining his No. 19 ranking.

World No. 1 Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil) was not among the contingent celebrating the evening’s six qualified rides.

Leme was bucked off by rank, high-kicking M.A.G.A. (TNT Bucking Bulls/Hart Cattle Co.), in an uncharacteristic 1.84 seconds.

As he looks to redeem himself on Championship Sunday, the former semi-professional soccer player will attempt a bovine athlete in a high-profile rubber match.

Leme will face Blue Crush (Cord McCoy/Chad Reese) for the third time in his career. With both their outs on record taking place at the annual January Unleash The Beast event in Chicago, Leme first rode Blue Crush for 87.25 points in 2019, before being bucked off in 5.61 seconds this season.

Rookie of the Year contender Amadeu Campos Silva (Atair, Brazil) was second in Round 1, earning $2,500 and 10 world points, after completing an 87.5-point trip aboard Real Gun (Cord McCoy/Graber/Gallagher).

Climbing one position in the world standings, now No. 30, Silva will attempt Honey Man (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) in Round 2 as he seeks his first premier series event win.

Third was Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil).

As the first rider to log a qualified ride, Cerqueira covered Spit Out The Bone (Cord McCoy/Double R) for 84.75 points to net $2,000 and nine world points.

The 8-second effort marks the second time Cerqueira has been able to cover the bovine athlete. The duo first squared off this January when Cerqueira reached the whistle for 85.5 points at the Touring Pro Division’s Cowtown PBR in Fort Worth, Texas.

Cerqueira’s performance allowed him to gain ground in the world title race. Ahead of his Round 2 matchup against Danny Boy (D&H Cattle Co./Gordon/OK Corralis), the 27-year-old rose from No. 48 to No. 41 in the world.

Rounding out the Top 5 in fourth was Divino, riding Eye of the Storm (McCoy Ranches) for 84.25 points.

Nabbing a paycheck for $1,250, along with eight world points, Divino maintained his world No. 12 rank.

The PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, will conclude with Round 2 and the championship round on Sunday, May 17. CBS Sports Network and RidePass’ LIVE coverage of Round 2 will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Starting at 2:00 p.m. ET, CBS Sports will televise the championship round LIVE, as PBR’s historic trio of events concludes inside Lazy E Arena, utilizing a health and safety plan that has been reviewed by more than a dozen other sports leagues and organizing bodies.

Fans can relive all the action from Round 1 of the PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol, starting at 8:00 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 17, on RidePass at RidePass.com or via the mobile app.

 

PBR Unleash The Beast

PBR Lucas Oil Invitational, presented by U.S. Border Patrol

Lazy E Arena – Guthrie, Oklahoma

Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)

1. Mason Taylor, 88.75-0-0-88.75-20 Points.
2. Amadeu Campos Silva, 87.5-0-0-87.50-10 Points.
3. Alex Cerqueira, 84.75-0-0-84.75-9 Points.
4. Lucas Divino, 84.25-0-0-84.25-8 Points.
5. Silvano Alves, 82.75-0-0-82.75-7 Points.
6. Derek Kolbaba, 81.75-0-0-81.75-6 Points.

Jose Vitor Leme, 0-0-0-0.00

Daylon Swearingen, 0-0-0-0.00

Colten Jesse, 0-0-0-0.00

Cole Melancon, 0-0-0-0.00

Fabiano Vieira, 0-0-0-0.00

Matt Triplett, 0-0-0-0.00

Mauricio Gula Moreira, 0-0-0-0.00

Tye Chandler, 0-0-0-0.00

Cody Teel, 0-0-0-0.00

Joao Henrique Lucas, 0-0-0-0.00

Stetson Lawrence, 0-0-0-0.00

Taylor Toves, 0-0-0-0.00

Andrew Alvidrez, 0-0-0-0.00

Brennon Eldred, 0-0-0-0.00

Marcus Mast, 0-0-0-0.00

Jake Lockwood, 0-0-0-0.00

Cody Casper, 0-0-0-0.00

Rafael dos Santos, 0-0-0-0.00

Dalton Kasel, 0-0-0-0.00

Keyshawn Whitehorse, 0-0-0-0.00

Brady Sims, 0-0-0-0.00

Dakota Louis, 0-0-0-0.00

Keith Hall, 0-0-0-0.00

Devon Weaver, 0-0-0-0.00

Joseph McConnel, 0-0-0-0.00

Grayson Cole, 0-0-0-0.00

Wallace Vieira de Oliveira, 0-0-0-0.00

Cannon Cravens, 0-0-0-0.00

Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0-0.00

The Douglas County Fair Board and County Staff are working diligently with health and government officials in efforts to produce another great Fair & Rodeo (Castle Rock). This year marks the 102nd celebration and even with challenges presented by COVID-19, it will be a celebration nonetheless, honoring the heritage and community tradition of Douglas County.  As we move ahead with preparations for the 2020 Douglas County Fair & Rodeo (Castle Rock); the health and safety of our entire community is our highest priority and the Colorado  Public Health Orders will continue to guide our direction in the coming months.  Please check our website for updates DouglasCountyFairAndRodeo.com

May is a special month with an entire day dedicated to the hard-working, resilient women in our lives we call mothers. My name is Chaney Larsen, and I am blessed to have the title of momma to two amazing little boys. Charlie Russell is my ornery, but sweet four year old, and Waylon Weldon is just three months old.

I think God gave me boys because he knew I couldn’t handle being a girl mom. I’m not so good at fixing hair or the many things a girl mom can do. I also grew up with four cowboys that helped prepare me for the many adventures of being a boy mom. Their names might be familiar to some of you, my dad, Craig Latham, and the Etbauer brothers, Robert, Danny, and Billy.

I was fortunate to get to travel with them on several occasions during my youth. The most memorable trip was probably the plane ride to Greeley, CO when I was about eight years old. We had lots of snacks on board and let’s just say pop tarts and plane rides don’t mix. Billy held the throw up bag while I got sicker than a dog.

Some of the greatest times of my childhood was on the rodeo trail with this crew, and I hope to raise my boys in the same fashion as they rode broncs – to give it my all, be genuine, and ultimately help them be the best they can be.

The rodeo cowboy has multiple layers and many of them go unseen during the span of a rodeo athletes career. They carry the weight on their shoulders to make the next dime and keep up their craft, but it’s their other half, their wives, that are the backbone of the family – working hard at the home place, taking care of the children, and ultimately doing all of the things a single parent would do while their husbands are on the road the majority of the year chasing that gold buckle dream. Hang in there mommas, you’re doing an outstanding job and it’s all worth it. (Thanks mom for everything you did for my sister and I.)

My husband, Tyrel Larsen, has been working on his dream for a while now in the saddle bronc riding. He’s found success on all levels with winning the collegiate title in 2012 and making it to his first NFR in 2015. Due to injuries, it’s been put on hold the last few years, and this year has definitely been a strange one with the given circumstances of the global pandemic. However, there is always good with the bad, and it has allowed rodeo athletes to be home and spend quality time with their families.

“A person’s own family is, without a doubt, the greatest wealth that we will ever possess. Treasure every moment and take the time to ensure that the story you create is one that you will be proud of and look back on with a huge smile.” I know from a wife and mother’s perspective, this time together is everything and means so much, especially with a newborn.

Our son, Waylon, was born on February 28th this year, right before things took a turn with the virus. His journey into this world was extraordinary, and bless his heart, he has been a little warrior from the start. At my 18 week ultrasound, on my husband and I’s 4th anniversary, we received the news that our unborn son has a condition called spina bifida, a term we had never heard before.

Spina bifida is when the spinal cord develops outside the baby’s body and can cause neurological and physical handicaps, and in Waylon’s case, with the size of the lesion a possibility of not being able to walk. The doctor told us that most parents terminate the pregnancy when they are given this diagnosis, but my husband and I never gave it one thought. If God blessed us with this baby we were going to do everything in our power to give him the best life possible.

Johns Hopkins hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, specializes in fetal surgery to repair the opening while the baby is still in the womb. Truly incredible. Thankfully both Waylon and I passed all of the tests to be able to do surgery giving him a better chance of having a brighter outcome, and the surgery took place on December 10th. He was only 25 weeks old.

Today, Waylon is doing phenomenally well, there is still no movement in his right leg, but we know that he is a warrior with cowboy grit and determination. Through the grace of God our little boy is healthy and here with us, and one day we know he will do great things.

The Mid-Plains Community College rodeo team will have a new assistant coach beginning this summer.

Aukai Kaai, a former bull rider for the team, has been transitioning into the role for the past several months. He will officially take over the assistant title July 1, after the current rodeo season is over, and will work primarily with the team’s roughstock competitors.

“It feels awesome to be able to give back to the program that opened so many doors for me,” Kaai said. “After Mid-Plains, I transferred to a university. Altogether, I did five years of college and got all my school paid for because of rodeo. I’m looking forward to helping others succeed through rodeo as well.”

Up to this point, the team has been led by Garrett Nokes, timed event coach, and Dustin Elliott, roughstock coach. Kaai will take over much of Elliott’s responsibilities as Elliott steps back into more of a volunteer role.

“I’ve come to a point where I have to minimize obligations to free up time for other things,” Elliott said. “My kids are my priority right now, and they just keep getting busier. I’ve also accepted the head wrestling coach position at Hershey Public Schools.”

Although he might not go to every rodeo, Elliott will still be at the MPCC Stampede in the fall and will be available to offer advice and assistance to Kaai if needed.

“I will still go to practices if he wants me to and will help him on the recruiting side,” Elliott said. “The thing I’ve enjoyed the most is also what I’m going to miss the most. That’s building relationships with student athletes – not just the high ability kids, but the ones who want to try, who show up when they’re supposed to and give it their all.”

He thinks Kaai is a good fit for the role of assistant coach.

“Aukai is a little bit closer to the age of the kids that we need to try to get here,” Elliott said. “He’s going to bring some energy to the program and was a good bull rider, himself. He also has an in with securing bulls to practice on and that’s a huge element to the program. I think a young, enthusiastic mentality will be good.”

Nokes is excited about the venture, too.

“I’m sure looking forward to working with Aukai,” Nokes said. “Over the years, he was one of my favorite kids. We kept in contact some after he graduated, and when he moved back to Nebraska, I was hoping he could be involved with the team again. I think this is good timing for everybody and a good opportunity for him. I’m really pumped about Aukai being part of the program.”

 

Kaai’s story

Kaai is originally from Waimānalo, Hawaii. The four-time National High School Finals Rodeo qualifier and three-time state champion was recruited by Elliott in 2014. Kaai competed for MPCC from 2014-16 in both the bull riding and team roping events.

While at Mid-Plains, he finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the Great Plains Region bull riding standings.

“The quality of coaching and the scholarships I was offered to rodeo were the deciding factors in me coming to MPCC as a student,” Kaai said. “Once I got here, I learned a lot about the business side of rodeo and how to be presentable.”

Kaai went on to rodeo for Colorado State University, in Fort Collins, Colo., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business. As of last year, he also had a pro card. He hopes to continue competing professionally, but for now, that has taken a backseat to buying his own bucking bulls.

“I have a couple right now I’ve been letting the MPCC rodeo team use,” Kaai said. “I’ve basically just been helping the guys learn fundamentals up to this point.”

He is, however, already starting to think about recruits. Kaai has his sights set on a few roughstock riders that he either knows from the past or found through social media.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how far the team can go in terms of winning national titles, but I’m especially looking forward to watching MPCC athletes excel as individuals and further the sport of rodeo,” Kaai said. “I hope they give it everything they’ve got and have fun doing it. That’s all I can ask for. I appreciate Dustin and Garrett for allowing me to step up to this role. I have a big set of shoes to fill.”