Category: ProFiles

Chuck Kinney appreciates the Rodeo Clown Reunions, and plans on seeing his old friends at the 2021 event, to be held at Colorado Springs August 5-8, and the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colorado as well as the ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Kinney is one of those “old-timers” whose body might show its age, but whose mind is bright, alive and fresh.
The retired rodeo clown grew up the son of Cotton Kinney, who owned Kinney Bros. Rodeo Co., alongside Cotton’s brother, Edward Lee Kinney. He traveled with his family across the nation as the family produced rodeos from coast to coast.
In 1969, when Kinney was twelve, Cotton and Edward Lee sold the business, ending their pro rodeo days but keeping enough stock to provide for youth events.
And Chuck resolved to take the Kinney name back to the National Finals Rodeo, in one way or another.
“I set my goals to go to the NFR in something,” he said. “I didn’t know what, and I didn’t care what, but I was going to get there one way or another.”
He competed in all the events but was better at the bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. After high school graduation in 1975, he didn’t want to go to college so went to work. After a year of punching a time clock, he changed his mind. “I thought, no I need to go to college. This ain’t no fun.”
Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, offered him a full ride, so he took it, graduating in 1982 with a bachelors in animal science.
By this point, he was fighting bulls and rodeo clowning, with one of his early gigs working with Mack Altizer of Bad Company Rodeo. He saw the Wrangler Bullfights and the freestyle bullfighting, and petitioned a friend, Miles Hare, to help him get on the Wrangler Tour. In 1988, his first year on the tour, he finished in the top six in the world, qualifying for the National Finals. “Whether I was first or last,” he said, “it didn’t matter. I had the Kinney name back at the Finals.”
The next year, he began working for other contractors, building his business.
Then the unspeakable happened. It was 1989, and he had worked the Salt Lake City rodeo, when Clint Branger, Cody Lambert, Tuff Hedeman, Jim Sharp and Lane Frost asked to shower in his hotel room after the rodeo. By 2 am, they were headed to Cheyenne and the fateful day when Lane would leave this earth.
Chuck saw Lane’s accident happen, and it changed him. His daughter, Devin, was born the year before, and it got him thinking. “I thought, I’ve accomplished everything I need to do. Lightning is striking pretty close to home. I might need to rethink this.”
So he retired in 1990. The only way he could retire was by not buying his PRCA card, so he could tell committees “no.”
Chuck went back to college and ended up as an agriculture teacher. He was teaching what he knew as a bullfighter: animal psychology. “You have to know how an animal thinks before you can control him,” he said. He added more to his curriculum: butchering, welding, woodworking and other facets of ag.
He taught for nearly 29 years in three parishes: Singer High School, rebuilding their ag program; Sulphur High School, starting their ag program, and Hackberry High School in Cameron Parish.
“I told people I teach life,” he said, “how to make a living, how to use your hands, and how to use your head.”
Newly retired the end of February, he’s found plenty to keep him busy. He and wife Tina’s place was hit by two major hurricanes last year, and there is still tree damage to clean up and buildings to repair. He also fishes nearly every day with his twelve-year-old grandson, Gavin. Grandpa Chuck enters him in junior bass master tournaments and youth fishing league tournaments, and “he wins,” Chuck said. “We’ve been fishing since he was three years old. He fishes. I don’t have to fish. I just have to drive the boat. That’s the way I like it.”
He attended the Rodeo Clown Reunion when it was in Stephenville, Texas, and looks forward to this year’s reunion. He hears stories about Kinney Bros. Rodeo, told from the men who worked with his dad and uncle. He loves seeing his peers, too.
He soaks up the newsletter written by Gail Woerner, on retired rodeo clowns, bullfighters, and acts. “I read it every time, from top to bottom.”
The best part of rodeo for him is the friendships and the camaraderie. He talks to Miles Hare nearly every day, and Mike Horton and Rob Smets regularly. He tries to stay in touch with his friends.
The rodeo life is like the old song, “the road goes on forever and the party never ends,” he thinks. “Ain’t nobody lived a better life than mine,” he said. “I just retired last week and from what I’ve heard, it’s fixin’ to get even better.”
In addition to Gavin, Chuck and Tina have a granddaughter, Kynsie, who is nine, and a step-grandson, Brye Burnett. Devin’s husband is Brandon Burnett.

Brenda Youtsey Reay was the first girl to win the National High School Finals rodeo in the team roping in 1986. “I’m happy for all the kids that win the high school finals – -it pays for college educations as well as is a great honor for all kids.” Brenda’s story was quite similar to Quincy’s. “I started the year roping with Skeeter Duby and we were having a phenomenal year – everything seemed to be clicking for us and we were having an amazing year. Unfortunately, Skeeter got hurt – he injured his knee on the chute practicing and that accident ended Skeeter’s run at Nationals and forced me to find another partner. I was lucky enough to find a partner and ended the year roping with Brett Kamm. We ended up winning third in the state and qualified for Nationals. At state finals, my number one head horse also suffered an injury so I had one month to practice and decide what horse I wanted to ride at nationals. At that time I had a nice heel horse that was also my barrel horse that I thought scored very well and so I decided to ride him.” In 1986, the high school finals were held in Rapid City , South Dakota. “While traveling to Nationals, Brett’s horse got over the divider in the trailer so he had to ride one of his friend’s horses.” She attributes that win to setting specific goals, creating an action plan and a large amount of resilience. “My health teacher was teaching goal setting so I actually called the National office my freshman year to see if there had ever been a girl who had won the nation. After finding out there had not been, I set the goal to be the first girl to win the Nation. I actually still have my goal sheet and I wrote that long-term goal down and stuck to my short term goals to meet the end result.”
Brenda grew up in Applegate, a small farming community outside Grants Pass, Oregon. Her dad (Jay Youtsey) was a calf roper, team roper and built Westline Horse Trailers, a custom horse trailer business which were some of the first living quarters in the 1970s. “We ran cattle, raised some horses, built horse trailers and did a lot of bass fishing. My mom, Beverley was a ranch wife and helped with the horse trailers.” Brenda competed in volleyball, basketball, track along with rodeoing in high school. When she graduated, she went to Blue Mountain Community College where she played volleyball, basketball and rodeoed. She also attended Eastern Oregon University and then obtained a degree in health and physical education from Southern Oregon State College. She has been a Health and Physical Education teacher for 29 years, 27 of them at Homedale Middle school. During her time in education she has been a volleyball, basketball and track coach. In 2017 Brenda was Idaho’s Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

Brenda amateur rodeoed and attended local ropings with her family until her two boys, Bryan and Tyler became old enough to be involved in rodeo and sports. Along with her husband of 30 years, Mike they both focused on their kid’s development in school, sports and all of their other activities. “I became a mom and focused on my family and my career. At some point you realize your children are your biggest asset and your energy is focused on them. Watching both my boys compete and be successful was one of the biggest gifts I have ever been given.” She spent her time keeping their horses in shape, running the chute, untying calves and making sure they were focused on their education. “It was their turn to shine.” Mike was also an athlete and played college basketball, but always enjoyed the rodeo community and lifestyle and now he’s turned into a roper. “We have an arena at our house in Adrian as well as a family place in Morristown, Arizona and we all continue to rope together. We always say—the Family that ropes together-Stays Together!
Only a few years from retirement, Brenda has spent many of her adult years giving service to others in the rodeo world. That included serving as the secretary for the Idaho Junior High Division for ten years. She also serves as the vice president of the Idaho Girls Rodeo Association, which she has been part of off and on since moving to Eastern Oregon. The Idaho Girls Rodeo Association has been around for 65 years, offering a place for competitors to compete side by side with their grandmothers, mothers, daughters, and nieces. She won the all around last year, competing in pole bending, barrel racing, team roping, steer stopping, and steer daubing and goat tying. Although it wasn’t her intention to start pole bending or doing the other events she entered so her and her eight year old niece, Jayne could rodeo together. This year Jayne started roping and won a new event to the association which was the dummy sled breakaway roping. ‘I am very excited to see Jayne get her first buckle and even more excited that she won it on Tyler’s old calf horse.’
Brenda had a minor set this spring after recently getting bucked off “I got bucked off super hard – I fractured my back and ended up with contusions on my liver and lungs. Unfortunately, that put me out for a few weeks. At 18 that isn’t a big deal but at 51 that’s not fun and probably the most disappointing part of being bucked off not once but twice within 8 weeks. However, one thing that a lot of people don’t know about me is that I have lived with epilepsy since I was 16 years old. I figure if I can handle that set back I can handle getting bucked off a couple of times. But in all seriousness, I am grateful I wasn’t hurt worse and extremely grateful my son, Bryan loaned me his good horse so I could rope in the Idaho Girl’s Rodeo Finals last weekend.
Brenda is still coaching and teaching and most importantly loves sharing her passion for competing, sports and lifetime wellness with her students.
“I love everything about the rural lifestyle- we are blessed to live in an amazing rodeo heavy neighborhood – My bucket is full of gratitude and continued opportunity to grow as a person. I feel we can all choose our attitude in life and are in complete control of making that happen on a daily basis. From my family, career, to amazing life-long friends as well as ability to follow my dreams I have been a very lucky girl” she concludes. “I’ve very goal driven and that will always be how I am hard wired. I honestly never thought I couldn’t achieve something. At the end of the day, winning the nation never defined who I was but it did pave the road for me to realize how much is within our reach if we simply have the dedication, attitude, and desire to put in the work it takes to reach our goals.’

Cassidy Brown from Montgomery, Alabama, made NBHA history. For the first time, a run off happened to crown the 1D Champion at the 2020 NBHA Youth World Champion Teen Division. Cassidy and Caleb Cline stopped the clock at 14.686 in the short round. They came back and Cassidy won it with a 14.682. “I’m over the moon – I did not go into this past week thinking this would happen; I really didn’t,” said the 19 year old.
Cassidey began her clover leaf career at a very young age, learning the art of three barrels from her mom Tracey. She attended a Martha Josey Clinic when she was nine. “Chuck and Linda Gail Steward helped me a lot as well,” she said. “The morning of the finals, we received the news that Mrs. Linda Gail lost her battle to cancer that night. I told myself the day of the finals that I’d be running for her and Mr. Chuck. One other thing that really helped my nerves is I knew she’d be riding with me the whole time and I know I had made her smile from heaven.”
She also handles her nerves by having a huge support system around her. “They stayed in the back talking to me; people come and pray with me – it was sweet of everyone to be there with me – it helped my nerves. I love having people there with me – if I was there by myself, I’d overthink everything and get too nervous.”
Cassidy gives all the credit to Tito, a nine-year-old gelding that she’s been riding for five years. “His name is Chasin’ Memories, and he’s pretty cool,” she said. “It takes a whole lot of heart to run a 14.68 twice and he did it.” Tito was clocking like he should for a four year old, but it wasn’t consistent. “Buying him as a four year old – there’s a lot of unknowns. Now he’s consistent and I think taking him to Craig Brooks – who we bought him from – helped us a lot.”
Cassidy is a sophomore studying finance at the University of Alabama. “I enjoy the business aspect of things and I’m good with numbers and finance.” Since her classes will be online only, she is looking forward to being on the road more. Her next big race is the Good Times Barrel race over Labor Day weekend, where she will race to qualify for the Junior American. “I’m excited to take a shot at it.” Throughout the week she keeps Tito in shape by working circles keeping him bending and loose and good in the face and mouth. “Whenever I get to the event, I’ll do the same thing. I might put him on the barrels for muscle memory, mostly for me. He’s got a good mind and heart so when it’s on barrels it’s me.”
Cassidy is well on her way to her degree having completed several of her undergraduate classes in high school. After that, she plans on hitting the barrel racing road. “The futurity side of things seems like a really good place to be – maybe someday I can do that.” For now, ”I hope to do good and see others do good. I hope I can do my horse justice – he’s awesome.”

story by Kendra Elder

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:13
Thirteen-year-old Kamry Davis, from Buffalo, Wyoming, is a junior high rodeo competitor who portrays courage and service to her community. Kamry is the daughter of Kim and Zach Davis. “My parents rodeoed and now run our family ranch.” Kamry explained. She said she is thankful for her parents support and love. “They support me and are with me every step of the way, as well as my three siblings: Kaden (18), Karly (12), and Karson (8).”
Growing up around horses on her family ranch helped Kamry find an understanding for rodeo. Kamry watched her 18-year-old sister (Kaden) rodeo for many years. “I look up to my sister because she always pushes me to be my best.” After years of watching Kaden compete in events, Kamry assured herself she would rodeo one day. “I joined the National Little Britches Rodeo Association when I was eight,” Kamry said, and she loved her experience with the association and hasn’t stopped rodeoing since.
Kamry will be in eighth grade this coming school year at Buffalo Middle School. She is a member of the Wyoming Junior High and High School Rodeo Association. She competes in barrel racing, breakaway, pole bending, goat tying, and ribbon roping. “My favorite event is barrel racing,” Kamry said. “I grew up competing in this event and I enjoy it the most.” Two of Kamry’s role models barrel race. “I look up to Hailey Kinsel Lockwood and Lisa Lockhart,” Kamry said. She enjoys watching them barrel race because they stay dedicated and motivated.
Kamry enjoys rodeoing for the Wyoming Junior High and High School Rodeo Association because everyone is connected. “We help each other out,” Kamry said. “I started rodeoing with them in the 6th grade and I love the people.”
Kamry was awarded the Encouraged, Character, and Community award from the National High School Rodeo Association this spring. Kamry said she was surprised to receive this award. “I did not even know this award existed. I read more about the meaning of the award and then understood why I was a strong candidate,” she added. The award is given to an individual who portrays a helping hand to the rodeo community. Kamry defines showing character, courage, and community service as stepping out of her comfort zone to help whenever she can. “I enjoy helping out when I can and lending a helping hand,” Kamry said. “I was honored.”
Kamry was disappointed when learning that rodeos were canceled due to Covid-19. She would have qualified for three events in the National Junior High and High School Rodeo Finals. “I used this time to get better in my events and grow as an athlete.” she said. Kamry explained that not being on the rodeo trail has helped open her eyes to appreciate the good and bad times. She is focusing on her future goals, which include winning a saddle at nationals.
When Kamry is not rodeoing, she is playing basketball, volleyball, and running track. “I am the setter in volleyball and point guard in basketball,” Kamry said. “I did not get to run track this year because of Covid-19.” She looks forward to competing in these sports again next year. You can also find Kamry helping out on the family ranch.
Kamry exemplifies heart, courage, and dedication. When she is on her horse, on the court, or with her family; she will always be looking for a way to help her ‘team’ out.
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” -John Wayne

2020 AMERICAN Breakaway Champion

Kaycee Hollingback’s $100,000 win at the American “was God’s timing,” said the 20-year-old sophomore at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. “I’d been to a couple qualifiers and got close, but never made it. Mom and dad encouraged me to try for a spot at the last qualifier and they loaned me the money to enter.” She went to the Last Chance qualifier, the day before the Semi Finals, and made it in two spots. “I made it back on one of them to the top 40, like 17th.” Then she got to run in the perfs and made that cut and the rest is history. She made the two hour drive back and forth from Durant because she was fitting in class and two jobs with the competition. Kaycee is studying Elementary Education and works one day a week at the Durant stockyards and two days a week at J. Price Energy services. She has no intention of changing anything she’s doing after her win. “I told my parents to put the money somewhere I can’t touch it.”
Kaycee came up the rodeo ranks starting at 7 years old. She started roping when she was ten, winning the Oklahoma State Goat Tying in junior high and winning the state in the high school in goats in 2016 and breakaway in 2017. She went on to college rodeo for SEOSU under the leadership of Christi Braudick. “I trailered her back and forth to the Semi Finals,” said Christi, who also qualified for the Semi Finals. “It was a long journey for us. I was so stoked she made it through. She is a hard worker and so deserving of this. When she won, I started crying because of how much she really deserved it.”
The college is now shut for the remainder of the year, and the students continuing with online studies only. “I always take my Spring Break to help my dad (Jerald) work cows,” Kaycee said. “We work cows for the place my dad works for; running cows through the chute and ear notch and work the calves. I try to cheat and be the only one on horseback, but that doesn’t always work.”
Kaycee is riding a horse she got from a girl she college rodeoed with last year. “I was looking for a practice horse and I tried him and liked him. In the practice pen, I could catch almost all of them, but at a rodeo I couldn’t catch anything.” The duo finally clicked in August. “At six, he’s like having a toddler around all the time – he has a lot of personality. He’s not bad, but he doesn’t like being by himself, so you have to have a buddy with him. He was so different at scoring and everything – I wasn’t use to it.”
The pair definitely clicked at The American. “It was awesome – it was perfect for my adrenaline – I like going to bigger places like that – it pumps me up.” Kaycee remembers dreaming of roping for that much money and that big a stage when she was a kid. “My mom (Virginia) is an English teacher and I remember a writing project in school about something you predicted would happen in the future and my paper was about how breakaway roping will be part of the NFR.”
For now, she’s at home practicing with her younger brother, Tanner, and enjoying some family time.

Tory Johnson knows how good it feels to achieve goals. And the Oklahoma man did just that, when he won the Permit Challenge in December, held at the South Point Casino Arena in Las Vegas.
The steer wrestler didn’t begin his rodeo career in that event. He high school rodeoed as a tie-down roper. In college, first at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla., then at Langston (Okla.) University, he rode bulls and added steer wrestling, in part because of the adrenaline rush. “I was more of an adrenaline junkie,” he said, “and steer wrestling and riding bulls have more adrenaline activity for me than just roping calves.”
Actually, his bulldogging career began in unlikely fashion. He was in college as a roper, watching the bulldoggers practice, when he talked smack to them. “I got to talking noise with them,” Tory said, when eight or nine of them decided to put $25 each in a hat, and if Tory would run and throw a steer, they’d pay him. “Me, being the daredevil I am, I did it.” That was in 2004, and he came home from college that summer and worked hard, learning all he could from world champions and other steer wrestlers like Clarence LeBlanc, Jesse Guillory, Romon Jones, and others. “I took to it like a natural.”
After graduating from Langston in 2009 with a degree in business agriculture, he came home to Oklahoma City, working as a cement truck delivery man, and rodeoed.
For the past ten years, he’s competed in the Bill Pickett Rodeo organization, the United Pro Rodeo Association, the Cowboy Pro Rodeo Association, based in Texas, and the Texas Cowboy Rodeo Association. Between the four organizations, Tory has won ten steer wrestling titles, three reserve titles, two tie-down titles, one bull riding title, and five all-arounds.
In 2019, he decided to do things differently. He had purchased his PRCA permit ten years ago, filling it several times over but never getting his rookie card.
Last January, the time was right. “I’ve been wanting to (be a PRCA member) for the longest time,” he said. “I got out of my comfort zone and said, hey, I have the horsepower, I have the talent, I’m ready, I’m going to do it.”
The thirty-four-year-old wrote his goals down, three big ones: fill his permit again, qualify for the permit challenge, and qualify for the Prairie Circuit Finals. He did all three, finishing the rodeo season twelfth in the Prairie Circuit and finishing as the number one permit holder.
At the permit challenge, he was the only man to throw both steers, thus winning the average and the title of champion.
The permit challenge wasn’t his first monumental win, though. At the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA), he won the average at Guthrie, Okla., and second in Green Bay, pocketing $25,000. And in the Prairie Circuit, he won or placed at rodeos in Ponca City, Henrietta, and Elk City, Okla.; Texarkana and Hot Springs, Ark., and others.
Competing in Las Vegas at the permit challenge while the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was taking place was a thrill, Tory said. “It was pretty awesome to feel like you were one step out of being in the ‘big house.’ It was fun to be able to run a steer in Vegas, at the same time the Finals were going on.”
He had a large cheering section, too. More than 25 people: cousins, aunts, friends, his dad, even sponsors, were on hand to cheer him on.
For much of the year, he rode Queenie, an eleven-year-old mare owned by Denise Mooney and Marvel Rogers. “Me and her have been clicking everywhere we’ve been,” he said. She’s a typical mare, though. “She’s fun to be around. She can act like a mare every now and then, she gets moody, but she’s a winner and that’s all that matters.”
When he’s not rodeoing, Tory works installing window blinds in new homes across Oklahoma.
He’s set his 2020 rodeo plans, written in the same calendar book where he keeps pro rodeo entry information. His new objectives: win rookie of the year, and make a run at the NFR. “I’d like to go to the Thomas and Mack and run ten (steers).”

Shad Mayfield, from Clovis, New Mexico is the 2019 National High School Champion Tie Down Roper and has now qualified for his first WNFR. He grew up rodeoing. “My dad, Sylvester, did it, when we were little we went with them.” Sylvester made it to the NFR Finals twice (1985, 1987). “Since I turned 7, my parents took me to the junior rodeo associations.” He competed in New Mexico Junior Rodeo Association, making nationals all three years. He won the national title his sixth grade year in the ribbon roping, with his sister, Shelby. The next year he won the calf roping. Shad went on to high school rodeo, the first two years for New Mexico and then switched to Texas.

This is his first year rodeoing in the PRCA and he had his sights set on making the NFR his rookie year. He got a big boost in that direction after making enough money at Cheyenne to boost him into the #14 spot. He traveled with his dad. “He’s taught me everything about roping and everything around that. Since he made the NFR, he knows all about how to make a living at it and the mental game.” Shad listens to Tyson Durfey about having a strong mind. “That’s how you think … it’s a big part of it. Just blocking everything out – the interviews – the other runs, the bad draws and all of it.”

He also attributes his success to riding a lot of different horses over the years and having a rope in his hand constantly. “I rope a lot at home,” said the 18 year old. “I’ve roped on a lot of different horses so I know how to ride a horse. I rope the dummy a lot.” His main competition horse is a 16-year-old gelding named Jango. “He is probably the most honest horse out there. He’s the same horse when you back in the box and never going to cost you anything.”

He also likes the road. “There’s nothing but a Walmart in Clovis. I like to drive and see different places.”  He also likes traveling with his dad. “Most people don’t rodeo like I do and that’s why he’s with me. He may think I don’t listen, but I do.”

Mom, JoEllen, stays home.  “I’m the hired hand at home,” she jokes. “I worked as a mortgage loan process up until I had Shad. Once he was born I chose to stay home and be with them. I was able to do that – I’m a substitute teacher now.” Sylvester can work on the road – he buys and sells cattle.

She is very proud of both her kids. “I have two great kids – my daughter is at Texas Tech and has a lot of ambition. She is focused on school and her career. God blessed Shad with a talent – and he’s worked extremely hard. He sacrificed basketball and other things to make rodeo first. He amazes me – I have all the confidence in the world in him.”

Shad intends to continue his education, hoping to start college within a year. “I want to have an education and start doing something else to fall back on.” For now, it’s rodeo that he’s concentrating on. He’s especially grateful to his sponsors, which include CSI, American Hat Company,  Hooey, Outlaw Equine, Tres Rios, Rock and Roll Denim, and Rattler Ropes.

story by Stacie Jones, for Whitman Magazine

Those who know Dr. Doug Corey ’72 describe him as a humble, honest man — a straight shooter. He’s the type of guy who prefers to kick around the horse barn in dusty boots and a Western hat, but who will put on a sharp tux for a black-tie event and impress everyone with his cowboyish charm. He’s also the type of guy who makes change happen.
The Whitman graduate has committed 40 years to protecting the well-being of rodeo livestock. Recognized as a national authority on animal welfare, the veterinarian has garnered many honors for his contributions to the sport, including a prestigious spot in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
“When I was in vet school, they didn’t teach the terms ‘animal welfare’ and ‘animal rights,’” Corey said. “The first time I heard those words was from a young bull rider. He said, ‘We really need to work on these animal welfare issues now, because they are going to become even bigger issues.’ I didn’t know what he was talking about at the time, but he was right.”
In 1981, Corey joined the newly formed Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Animal Welfare Committee, taking a lead role in crafting the national guidelines and regulations for the care and welfare of rodeo livestock. He authored “A Guide to Veterinary Service at PRCA Rodeos” and traveled the country lobbying for rule changes and educating the rodeo and public.
The PRCA now has more than 60 animal welfare rules, including the requirement for an on-site veterinarian and a livestock ambulance at every professional rodeo.
“It used to be there were always ambulances and medical staff for the people, but never for the animal-athletes,” he said. “It was a big deal to make that happen.”
Corey has remained an active volunteer in the PRCA over four decades. Each December, he spends two weeks at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas as the media spokesperson on animal welfare issues.
In 2007, he was recognized for his leadership in animal welfare with the highest honor in the rodeo industry: He was the first – and remains the only – veterinarian inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.
“It was the ultimate honor,” he said. “There were so many people throughout the country who played a part in developing all of these guidelines. I share the honor with them.”
In 2011, the American Association of Equine Practitioners honored Corey with the Distinguished Life Member Award. He was also named Oregon Veterinarian of the Year in 1997.
“I really enjoy the Western lifestyle and want to keep those Western traditions alive,” Corey said. “I truly believe the welfare of these animals is one of the biggest challenges to continuing that heritage.”
Growing up on a large cattle and sheep ranch, Corey formed an affinity for working with large animals at an early age. While at Whitman, the biology major considered medical school, but his heart steered him in another direction.
“Whitman gave me a very good background for moving on to that next degree,” he said.
He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University in 1976, then returned to Eastern Oregon to join the Associated Veterinary Medical Center in Walla Walla. Now semi-retired, Corey still tends to his beloved equine patients.
“Horses are extremely incredible animals, and to be part of their lives and take care of them on a daily basis has been something truly special,” Corey said. “There hasn’t been a day it felt like work.”
While Corey is well-known on the national rodeo circuit, he’s also a celebrity around his hometown rodeo: the Pendleton Round-Up. Thousands of competitors and fans flock each year to the annual weeklong event in September.
“In Pendleton, there are two times of year: before the Round-Up and after the Round-Up,” Corey said.
Corey, a Pendleton native, has been a part of the Round-Up since he was a child. He is a past president and member of the Round-Up board of directors, and he volunteers as the rodeo’s on-site veterinarian.
His wife Heather, who died in 2012, also had a long history with the event: She was the first woman named to the Round-Up’s board. Their daughter, Cydney, and son, Bobby, now hold Round-Up leadership roles.
“It’s always been an important tradition for our family, and it’s important to the economy of our city,” Corey said.
Corey and friend Andy McAnally started another annual event that has become a boon to the Pendleton economy: the Pendleton Whisky Music Fest. Now in its fourth year, the event has featured sold-out shows with headliners Zac Brown Band, Maroon 5, Blake Shelton, Pitbull and Post Malone.
“We wanted to bring the best entertainment to Pendleton so people could see great entertainers without having to go to a big city,” he said. “It was a crazy idea, but so far it seems to be working.”
Longtime friend Eric Johnson ’72 said Corey’s community involvement reflects a deep affection for his hometown.
“He’s Mr. Pendleton,” Johnson said. “Community runs in his blood.”
Corey credited his education at Whitman for providing not only the foundational skills to put his passions into action, but also the perspective to spur change on both local and national levels.
“Whitman gave me a well-rounded education that shaped my mind and opened my eyes to a lot of different viewpoints and opinions,” he said. “It genuinely made me a better person.”

Mayce Marek is looking forward to starting a new chapter in her life – she will be going to Warton Junior College on a rodeo scholarship, majoring in business with a minor in physical therapy. “I want to look into business and running an equine facility that has a deal for troubled or disabled kids,” said the 18 year old from Taylor, Texas. “I want to be around equine all the time and I like helping the youth. I’ve seen a lot of different cases where equine has a positive effect on youth. I want to give back in some way what horses have done for me. My life revolves around them – they’ve given me a future and helped me find friends that have become family.”
Her summer rodeo run proved to be quite profitable as she won $12,000 at the Best of the Best; winning both the goat tying and the breakaway roping – and the All Around. “Winning Gallup was the biggest win I have had. As far as a youth rodeo, there aren’t many rodeos that pay like that. Along with the money, I won two pairs of Corral boots, and two American hats, an Ipad and leather cover.” She took the money and put it away for college.
Mayce started rodeo at the age of five. “My mom and dad had both rodeoed and I’d always been around horses. I started out barrel racing and got into the breakaway roping and goat tying. It’s a lot more you in the roping events – barrel racing was about horse power.”
Mayce is an only child. “It comes in handy when it comes to rodeo, because it’s not cheap to compete. But sometimes I’d like to have siblings.”
Her mom (Misty) and dad (Rob) divorced when she was four. “My faith got me to where I am – and I learned that from life – by being allowed to never have to put down a rope – even when times got tough. God always seemed to help me get to the next one and I’ve been thankful for that.”
Mayce tries to tie goats at least three times a week. “I rope everyday either the rope sled or live cattle.” All the practice worked. “At the Best of the Best – it comes from all the practice you do in the practice pen. I would think about my run, seeing it in my head. So when it came time, it was muscle memory – at that point it just happens and you use everything you have prepared to do.”
Mayce is grateful for her life thus far. “Struggling and prospering from it is good. Anything is possible with faith – you set your mind to something, it’s only if you want it bad enough you can do it. If you have faith, there’s nothing you can’t achieve.”

Chris Woodruff is the man behind Stetson Country Christmas, Roper Cowboy Marketplace, and his latest venture, ALL IN Barrel Race and ALL IN Breakaway – both held at the Orleans Arena during the WNFR and guaranteeing more than $800,000 payout. Chris rode bareback horses in high school and college. “I was in the era of Bruce Ford and I wasn’t that level,” he admits. He got his start with a family owned advertising company in the oil field industry. “I learned how to talk to people and get my foot in the door –Las Vegas can be so intimidating in 2019. But when I started in 1994 that wasn’t the case.” He got into real estate for awhile and then in 1994, he saw the need for additional shopping during the NFR and the “rest is history.”
“When I first started my goal was 100 booths – with hard work, effort and a great team, we’ve grown it into a must shop must see shopping experience during the NFR.” The first year he managed to get 500 booths into the Sands Expo and it grew from there. Fast forward to 2019 and between the two trade shows (Roper Cowboy Marketplace at Mandalay Bay and Stetson Country Christmas) it grew to more than 2,000 10×10 booths.
With an unexpected move from the Sands Expo in 2016, Chris was given an opportunity to expand into producing an event. “I find the good in everything,” he said. “That move downtown got us into the ALL IN Barrel Race which we held downtown at the World Market Center, in conjunction to the Stetson Country Christmas. 2016 was the first year for the ALL IN.”
Stetson Country Christmas has found a new permanent home at the Rio Hotel and Casino, with 14 acres of free parking on Twain Street (west side of the Rio). “Once people get there, they will be amazed at the accessibility of the shopping. We are already sold out of exhibit space.”
Being in Las Vegas at the level of what he produced for 25 years with the two trade shows, Chris saw a need to cater to barrel racers. “The barrel racing interest comes from my daughter, Autumn, who started racing when she was 12.” Autumn was actually allergic to horses and was willing to take shots or whatever it took to be around them. She has outgrown it and keeps her allergies under control with over the counter medications. Chris has been a hands-on dad, attending the barrel racings that Autumn ran at and seeing firsthand what each event was like from the competitor side. “I saw the need for the barrel race event after watching the success with the team ropers and the World Series. Why not let the barrel racers have their presence,” he said. “I’m an entrepreneur; we produced the trade shows for 25 years so we have knowledge of how Las Vegas works internally. Group W Productions was an operational partner for the Rose Palace in San Antonio – so we put on several events there over the years. We just moved to bigger and better and set our sights on Las Vegas. We’ve participated first hand as a competitor so we’ve seen all the misses that a producer misses at an event. I take that into consideration and that’s part of our plan – to be everything we can be at the ALL IN.”
“The concept is “ALL IN.” We want it to be a seamless experience for the barrel racers. There’s only 15 going to the NFR and this offers others a part of the pageantry and the lights plus pocket some pretty nice prize money.” Each entry includes a hotel room and stall, contestant’s jacket, trailer parking and more goodies as time goes. Sponsors are stepping up to add perks all the time. “We’ve got everyone entering from Sydni Blanchard to the weekend warriors and grandmas. Sydni is now one of the sponsors – she is giving one of her saddles to the fastest time to the event.”
Whatever race entered, starting on Thursday, December 5th, each contestant gets two go rounds, and a short round. The top 30 of every D to the short go. “It’s a clean slate race in the short go, so who knows who will get it.”
The entries are limited by the number of stalls available on each race – and now they added breakaway with a guaranteed $100,000 – so Chris encourages anyone interested to get their entries in early. “We want to make this ALL IN Barrel Race as big as we can make it. I had no idea we’d be paying over $700,000 by the fourth year of the event, and that’s just the barrels. The breakaway is $100,000. I haven’t seen anything where the breakaway is paid out that much. I feel like we’re stepping out there pretty good.”

The International Finals Youth Rodeo, known as the world’s richest youth rodeo, will take place for the 27th year on July 7-12, 2019, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Not many understand the beginnings of the event better than Phil Sumner of Phil Sumner Rodeo Company. “The national high school rodeo finals had been held for three years in Shawnee, and when they moved to Gillette, Wyoming, Ken Etchieson put together a plan for the IFYR. Ken’s whole concept was that he didn’t want just one stock contractor, he wanted to have several stock contractors bringing in the best stock for the kids to compete on. He was very specific that he didn’t want any eliminators in the rough stock. So, the whole deal turned out that I won the bid on the stock contract, and I ended up bringing in some of the best contractors to furnish the stock for the IFYR for 20 years. That first year, I provided all the labor to run three arenas, picked up broncs, had horses and bulls there, and coordinated the rest of the contractors. Over the years I’ve coordinated with many stock contractors such as: Wendel Ratchford, J.C. Ward, Dale Hall, David Bailey, Sammy Andrews, the Rumfords, Bar 44, Chuck Donaldson, Lindell Tunes, Danny Hajek, Charlie John Coffee, Hall Rodeo Company, Vicki Long, and Charlie Thompson.”
An Oklahoma native, Phil grew up between Stillwater and Perkins, Oklahoma, and graduated from Perkins High School before graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1966 with an animal science degree. Rodeo was a part of his upbringing and his senior year of high school he started riding bulls and made a short stint as a bareback rider as well. After leaving OSU, he managed 150 head of Black Angus in Glenwood, Arkansas, so rodeo was put on hold for a few years. Phil’s first wife, with whom he had a son, Rod, and set of boy and girl twins, Walt and Misty, had an aunt and uncle that were involved in a serious accident, so they came back to Stillwater, Oklahoma to help manage their dairy while they recuperated. Once the family was able to take back over at the dairy, Phil went to work for Oklahoma State University as the assistant beef herdsman for several years, before going to work for Farmland Industries in Enid, Oklahoma, where he has worked for 43 years. And between all the full-time jobs, Phil was building his name as a stock contractor throughout the country.
Starting out, Phil had the opportunity to breed to a bull, Andy Capp, owned by Jim Shoulders that was nearing the end of his successful career, having been a favored bull at the NFR for many years with Jim. Phil was glad to end up with several great bulls out of those crossings. “I was doing work with Carl Rice, out of Begas, Oklahoma at that time, picking up broncs and leasing him bulls, and several of those bulls made the IFR at that time in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Things kept progressing along and I went to a Jerald Smith sale in Texarkana and bought some bulls and ended up with some really good bulls. I’d buy bulls that were someone else’s mistake and I’d bring them home and had success in bringing them along.”
Phil had a portable bull riding arena, and he started hauling it to different locations and putting on bull ridings. Hank Moore put in Tumbleweeds, a bar in Stillwater, Oklahoma with an arena behind it, and Phil started bucking bulls there every Saturday night. He’d also buck bulls at Doug Blem’s arena on Sundays, plus buck bulls at his house in Goltry each week. “I had the opportunity to show those bulls three different types of arenas within a week’s time, it was good for them.” In 1991, he bought 3 bulls from Jess Kephart, one was Tumbleweed, and another, Bodacious. “I bought Bodacious in 1991 and in 1992 he went to the IFR, although he didn’t buck there. “Sammy Andrews started hauling them and Bodacious began an extremely successful career. He bucked off Bubba Don, and Terry Don West was the first man to ride him. Terry Don got on him four times, he rode him twice and got hurt twice. I watched Tuff Hedeman ride him in Long Beach and it was the best ride I’d ever seen on him, Tuff matched him move for move, but then got hurt on him. Tuff drew him at the NFR later and stepped off him out of the chute, because he didn’t want to chance getting hurt.” Bodacious had a reputation throughout the bull riding world as “the world’s most dangerous bull.” Bodacious was the bucking bull of they year in the PRCA twice, PBR bull of the year once, and was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 1999 and inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in 2017. On November 5, 2019, Bodacious will be recognized at the 2019 PBR Heroes & Legends Celebration at South Point Casino & Hotel with the PBR Brand of Honor, the sport’s highest recognition for a bovine athlete.
Besides Phil’s success in breeding and choosing bulls, he also had some stand-out horses over the years. “I started putting together a few head of horses, Sammy Andrews would send colts to our friend Danny Hajeck to grow in the summer, and I would haul the colts and started putting on rodeos. A lot of the horses out of that deal went on to be outstanding. Cool Water, Lock and Load, Power Play, Roly Poly; they all went on to make the NFR. One of the latest horses I hauled for Sammy was H-09 who went on to be an NFR saddlebronc horse. Having the success that I’ve had with the horses and bulls has been a very self-fulfilling experience.”
Through all the horses, bulls and productions, Phil was determined to not let rodeo interfere with his business life. “There were many times that I’d get off work on Friday, rent a car and drive to a rodeo where I had hired guys to haul my horse and meet me. I’d work as a pick-up man, and rodeo all weekend, and the guys would drop me off at work Monday morning, and I’d start work in the clothes I was wearing from the night before. Not too many people knew that’s what I was doing.”
Phil has a stepson, Jason Auddell, from his second wife, “Jason has a passion for rodeo and has been extremely helpful. He’s got some bulls that he’s had good success with, and his son Thatcher just graduated from high school but hauls bulls to events himself. All my kids have helped me at rodeos. My daughter helps time, and all of them have helped me at the IFR over the years. It’s great to share it all with them.” Phil’s wife Jeni is now helping him with some of the rodeos he puts on each year. Phil passed on the torch and stopped bringing stock to the IFYR 5 years ago, but he currently puts on many IPRA and KPRA rodeos each year.
Phil looks back fondly on the two decades he was involved with the IFYR, “One of the best things I ever did at the IFYR was on Sunday, I’d set up a trailer for the contractors to keep all their tack, and I’d put a 10 X 20 tent with a shade cloth on the west side, and I’d set up water misters. The stock contractors would all gather around there, and let me tell you, there were some very enjoyable stories told under that tent. Monday, the rodeo would start, so at that tent it was like the quiet before the storm.”