Category: Articles

[ “If you never give up you cannot be beaten” – Keith Maddox ]

I went to the home of American Hat in 2015, in Bowie, Texas, and spent several hours visiting with Andre Trevino, the factory manager, and a few days gathering information on the story behind the company. To hear company president Keith Mundee tell it, it just wouldn’t be American Hat Company without the dedication of Andre and the other  employees. The story goes that when Andre was 12, he saw a bag in the company’s parking lot. It was a bag of money that belonged to Bubba Silver. He picked up the bag, walked it into the building, and returned it. “I don’t want a reward,” Andre recalls. “I wanted a job. He said I was too young, so I asked if I could work in the evenings.” Andre obtained permission for school to get out a little early and he was hired as a cleaning boy at .90 an hour. 50 years later – Andre retired. “He was here at 5 a.m. every day,” Keith says. “He’s the most loyal, honest guy, and he loves hats. He says, ‘I would come to work here even if you didn’t pay me.’  That’s how much he loves it.”
It’s the power of the cowboy hat itself and American Hat’s mantra of quality that inspire that kind of devotion. But it’s a dream that nearly ended in catastrophe the year after Maddox moved the company to Bowie. On November 27, 2005, a grassfire swept through town; the blaze was so close to American Hat that firefighters used the parking lot as a command post. “The factory building wasn’t flamed out; it was smoked out,” Keith said. “The loss was devastating: $13.5 million in raw hat bodies and not enough insurance to cover it.” But Mr. Maddox kept the employees working. He ordered more hat bodies. He went into his 401(k) and second-mortgaged his house. He did everything he could to keep it alive. A lesser man would have quit. But his attitude was, I can’t quit — it’s this or nothing.
Rodeo News and American Hat unite in that integrity and grit. To Susan, Mercedes, and Treasure Maddox and Keith and Teri Mundee – thank you for believing in this dream and may both companies be blessed and remember that none of this would be possible without God – we are honored to be the stewards. As Keith Maddox told me many years ago, sitting at his home, “It’s not the destination it’s the journey – once you get close, you need to change the goal.” Well said Mr. Positive Times.

Take care of our lifestyle. We are living the dream that most can only dream of. Our sport could go away in a moment’s notice, and we need to take care of the sport and each other – that’s what makes us cowboys.

“For me, American Hats embodies a lot of things – the American spirit, the cowboy spirit, and a family spirit.” Garrett has worn American hats for at least 15 years. “I started as a customer and built a relationship from there.” He is proud to wear the hat – “It’s a brand and lifestyle I’m proud to ride for.”
Garrett Yerigan was born into the rodeo lifestyle. His mom and dad, Dale and Kathy Yerigan, were involved in rodeo his entire life, as were his maternal grandparents, Bob and Barbara Ink. Dale was an 11 time IPRA world champion steer wrestler and went on to be the general manager of the IPRA for 20 years. Kathy was an IPRA barrel racer. From the age of 7, Garrett set his sights on announcing – starting with jackpots and barrel races, at the age of 10, he got his first paying gig. He learned many aspects of rodeo, including a 15,000 song playlist. Garrett was a highly sought-after tractor driver for arena work. “I was kind of a tractor nut,” he admits. “I was only about 6 or 7 when I realized being an announcer would be a cool way to be involved in rodeo without being a contestant,” he said. “I figured the announcer gets a for-sure paycheck, and he’s not tearing up his body every week. Garrett graced the cover of Rodeo News in January, 2014, the year he was selected to announce the International Finals Rodeo.
https://reader.mediawiremobile.com/RodeoNews/issues/100160/viewer?page=14
Fast forward ten years and the 29-year-old phenomenon from Pryor Creek, Oklahoma is the youngest ever to receive PRCA Announcer of the Year, 2021 and again in 2022 “I’m still blown away it’s happening – its surreal.” For many, it’s no surprise. Garrett has studied the sport, the contestants, and the art of announcing. “I listen and take tips from here and there – using the pipes God gave me.”
I see little signs each day that God put me on the earth for a reason. The microphone has taken me all over the world and I never thought that I’d get that as young man. Those are signs and proof that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing on this earth.”
“It’s a thrill every year,” he said of Cheyenne. “When you are there, you realize the magnitude of the history of that event, and then you understand why it’s called the “Daddy of ‘em All.” Garrett spends hours of preparation before each perf. He not only knows the contestants and latest news in the rodeo world, but he also studies the rodeos themselves to better learn their rhythms.
He is right where he wants to be – surrounded by a family of rodeo people that love God and support each other. “I never want to grow up.”

Emily Stephens has a few hats on these days, but of those hats, shaping them is by far her favorite one to wear. She is one of the few female hat shapers in the nation. “It’s a dying art and there aren’t many of us left,” she said. She learned the art from an older gentleman that creased hats at NRS. “Tommy Bishop encouraged me to learn how to shape hats,” said the 22- year-old from Paradise, Texas. “I learned from him and others and adapted what I learned into my own style.”  Here are a few of her thoughts about her passion:

• This is a true art form as it is based solely off of feel for the hat. You must have the right amount of steam in order for the fibers to loosen and then constrict as you mold the hat with your hands and the hat cools. By doing this you are locking the crease into place.
• I find that the coolest thing about shaping a hat is that no two hats are the exact same; they are fully customizable to the person that is wearing it.
• You can tell a lot about a person by the hat they wear upon their head and it never ceases to amaze me. You can generally tell what part of the country they are from, what discipline they participate in, and if you have been shaping hats for a long time you can even read the hat and tell a lot about the personality and lifestyle of the person it belongs too.
• The hat industry is booming as cowboy hats are starting to expand in to the mainstream world. I believe this is because individuals idolize the western lifestyle and believe it to be a “simpler time” even though that couldn’t be further from the truth as the western lifestyle has been built on blood, sweat, and tears. It is so amazing though to get someone fitted for their first cowboy hat and see them beam with joy.
• Cowboy hats are so special because they are with cowboys and cowgirls from all parts of the world, from sun up to sun down, carrying so many memories and stories.

Mackenzie Geesen is proud to be chosen as an American Hat ambassador. “I will be encouraging to the younger people and set an example. This will be part of my life for a long time, so I take pride in what I’m doing every day.”

Mackenzie Geesen has been involved in rodeo her whole life. “My parents have been involved in rodeo their whole life too,” said the 13-year-old from Kersey, Colorado. “They started hauling me and my little pony, Poncho, when they were still competing.” At first, she was led around, and then she got to the point when she went to a little local gymkhana and started doing the events by herself. She moved up in horses as her ability increased, and each horse had a special place in her life. “Pistol was a big step up and got me where I am now.” She and her family traveled to Georgia for the National Junior High School Finals and the trip continued to family memories. “We got to go to the beach for the first-time last year – getting to go in the ocean, even though it’s scary … and collect sea shells. I made a seashell necklace out of a breakaway string.”
She plays basketball and volleyball and for the first time this year, she did track. “I did the mile and 800 – both of those are hard because you have to figure out your pace.” She learned a lot about herself during those long runs. “If you say you can’t do it, your body will give up. By the time you are running around the track for the fourth time, you want to quit. But you have to finish, and that’s in your mind. If you say you can’t do it, then you won’t.”
Kersey is east of Greeley by about 20 miles. “Kersey is staying small,” she said of the town. “Mom (Heidi) works at the sale barn on Wednesday. My dad shoes horses. They work for Randy Miller and we work his cows in Colorado.” The family runs through the herd often, checking for salt, water and mineral as well as rotating between pastures. “My brother and I work out there too.” As much as she loves the country, Mackenzie loves the bright lights and the travel. “Winning is fun, but getting to meet all the new people. I was working my horse in the round pen (during the National Junior High Finals), and this girl came up and we started talking. Now she’s my friend – that’s what’s fun about it.” She is like her mother in that regard. “At some of the barrel races we got to, she is talking to everyone, and we can’t get out of there,” she laughs.
Those same people are what are shaping Mackenzie and her younger brother, Cooper’s lives. “What’s helped me the most are the people that helped me – my family and Laura Lambert and the Terrells (owner of Pistol), and Erin Johnson. The tradition of rodeo is once again being passed through to the next generation. “We always give the glory to God – I wouldn’t have any of this without God.”

[ “He’s an old man trapped in a little kid’s body,”
– Gizmo McCracken of his grandson, Bronc Evans. ]

“In the rope horse world, you have to get your name out there so people will want you to train their horses,” said 13-year-old Bronc Evans. “I want to get to the NFR and get a world championship. Everybody wants to do that, and honestly, you can’t mimic Trevor Brazile because he’s the greatest. But I want to train horses when I’m done rodeoing.”
Bronc grew up with a rope in his hands. “Me and my dad were moving a set of cows,” Bronc said. “I was four. There was one little baby calf. Her mom ran into the herd. Dad told me to rope it, and it’s walking along, I roped it, and we took a picture and sent it to my mom.”
Bronc’s mom, Mandy, realized early that Bronc has special roping talents. “This is a special child with unique talents and gifts. We need to nurture these abilities, and take this where God wants this to go,” said Mandy.
A fourth-generation ranch in southwest Missouri is home to Bronc and his sister, Jaylen. Their maternal grandparents, Dianna and Jerry Evans, still work and live on the ranch. Along with yearlings, the family raises quarter horses and has been breeding horses for more than 20 years. In fact, Bronc raised and trained both his head and heeler horses.
“Bronc has been going with me and gathering cows for years,” said his dad, Jimmy. “He’s my right hand. He’s better than any help I can hire. He can drive almost any piece of equipment I’ve got. If it’s getting dark and I’m busy, he will bring in the horses and he’ll put them in the trailer and bring the truck and trailer to me.”
Now a rising rodeo star, Bronc said, “I don’t really try to get pumped up before a competition. I try to stay focused and keep my nerves under control, which keeps my horses calm.”
Bronc’s trail from Missouri ranch hand to competitive rodeo athlete is spurring him toward the top. Spanning only six years, his long list of titles and championships includes the 2021 Junior World champion breakaway roper coming in wearing #1 for ten and under, in Las Vegas, NV. In late spring 2023 alone, Bronc snagged reserve champion breakaway and reserve champion header in the Hooey Jr. Patriot Finale, winning almost $30k in Fort Worth, TX. He has won more than 100 buckles, which currently takes up an entire wall, as well as a dozen saddles.
“My favorite event is team roping,” he said. “In Feb. 2022, I bought my first horse using my own money. His name is Pinto, like the bean. He’s a red-and-white paint.” He uses Pinto for team roping and breakaway. “I like to go fishing on our ranch, but not as much as I like rodeo.”
Along with ranch life, Bronc and Jaylen spent many days on the rodeo road with their grandfather, the famous rodeo clown Gizmo (Dale McCracken). Giz has innumerable accolades and awards to his credit, winning 2017 Comedy Act of the year for his popular ambulance routine. Gizmo is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), and has worked 19 PRCA circuit finals rodeos in ten of the 12 circuits.
With his wife Janice, Gizmo still spends a lot of time kickin’ up the road dust. As they travel, churches request their gospel music performances, and they’re happy to oblige. Also going strong for over a decade, Janice’s Power of Pink foundation has raised over $360,000 for women who are battling breast cancer in their small Missouri hometown.
Janice and Gizmo’s lives have remained a segue for their four grandchildren – Jaylen and Bronc, and Brimley and Raeley Crouch – from ranch life to the rodeo world. All the grandchildren have been performing in Gizmo’s comic routines since they were very young. As well, their daughters, Mandy and Cassie, have followed in Janice’s footsteps, and are home schooling all the children.
“When I was growing up, my poppy (Gizmo) would take my cousins and me to the rodeos and we’d be part of his acts,” said Bronc. “He knew most of the ropers and I got to talk to them. I liked what I saw at the rodeos. My dad was in the cutting world before we were born, and he’s a good horseman and we’ve raised horses all our lives. It takes practice to feel the different types of horses, and you learn how.”
Bronc wants to win a saddle in a USTRC roping heeling event. And his goal, to make the NFR in calf roping and team roping, is a 24/7 pursuit. To that end, the Evans home is full of roping dummies. While sitting in a saddle on a stuffed horse, watching Cowboy Channel live-streamed rodeos, Bronc ropes and ties calf dummies. And he’s got a rope in his hand at church, the grocery store, and everywhere else.
During the school year, Bronc finishes early each morning. His favorite part of school is when it’s over, and his least favorite subject is math. And his daily four hours of rodeo practice include working on horses and roping.
“Jaylen and I were born on the same day, six years apart,” Bronc said. “She just turned 19. Right now, she’s working at the hospital and going to start school to be a nurse. She preaches at a lot of church services. Growing up going to Cowboy Church, Jaylen has a gift for delivering the Word of God that has developed over the years of preaching at youth rodeos. She competes in breakaway roping, team roping, running poles, and tying goats.”
Gizmo said, “The coolest thing has been seeing my grandkids do something that my wife and I have been involved with all our lives. To watch them working with and caring for their horses.”
“I want to train rope horses for ropers when I grow up,” Bronc said. “I just want to keep the ranch we’ve got. I like ridin’ through the pastures. My favorite things on the ranch are dragging calves and when we bring the colts in to halter break. I just want to keep ropin’ all the way through life.”
However, the strongest roots, that run deep through all generations of this family, are their love for Jesus, and spreading that message wherever they go.