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Larry Mahan was the all-around world champion in 1966-70 and 1973. He also was the bull riding champ in 1965 and 1967. He qualified for the NFR a combined 26 times from 1964-75 in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He was inducted in the inaugural class of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1979.

Justin McKee, rodeo announcer and Cowboy Channel cowboy minister, was Master of Ceremonies for the send-off for Larry Mahan and friends, on May 16, in Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth Stockyards. Justin told the audience it was definitely not a funeral. It was a collection of Larry’s friends who were going to talk about the man and share stories about him because he was someone who had made rodeo bigger and better, in his own way. Larry Mahan changed the world of rodeo. His mentors were Jim Shoulders and Casey Tibbs, and at 6 years old he rode a calf and won $6 and a buckle. He knew what he was going to do with his life – RODEO! But although he admired Jim & Casey he had his own agenda.

He was determined, tough, charismatic, and versatile. He won many World Championships and conquered the sport to his satisfaction. He also did other things – he was in the clothing world, he sang, he had a band, he loved horses, and taught many a young man how to not only learn how to ride roughstock, but he taught them manners; how to do many things it takes to go down the rodeo road when just starting out. But the one thread through the entire program was that he gave back, gave to, and tried to make the Western way of life better. And he did.
Red Steagall was up first and sang a song he wrote on an airplane returning home from the National Finals Rodeo when Larry won the All-Around, and it was about Larry.

Next in line was Bobby Steiner who said when he was 13, he met Larry for the first time. Bobby’s dad Tommy Steiner was producing rodeos and he heard his dad and other cowboys talking about this new cowboy from Oregon, they knew he was going to be the next top cowboy.
Billy Bob Harris was a personal friend of Larry’s and didn’t talk much about rodeo but told how Larry was one of those people who was always the center of attention – which everyone in the audience could agree with.

Next was a video of Tanya Tucker singing a song about cowboys like Larry.
Bobby Brown, roughstock rider, said, “Nobody could do what Mahan did. Today we have television and rodeos seen daily but when Larry was rodeoing that wasn’t possible. Before television, Larry got the attention that television allows so many of the competing cowboys to become known. He was tough physically and mentally.”

Donny Gay saw Larry Mahan on ‘Hamp’ a bull owned by Korkows, in 1968. He said, “I wanted to be just like him. He came to our house by his plane, a Comanche 250, spent the night, we took a load of stock to Rusk, TX, to their rodeo. He won the bareback, the bronc riding and the bull riding. He gave me his chaps and I wore them proudly. When I started flying, he told me, ‘Donny, when you step up on that airplane you take that cowboy hat off, and put on your pilot hat.’ He was my hero.”

Pam Minick said she met Larry in 1971, in 1973 as Miss Rodeo America they ran into one another often, and became very good friends. He was best man at Pam’s wedding to her first husband. She went to see Elvis with Larry in Las Vegas, and Larry was invited backstage to visit with Elvis. She also said, “Larry knew how to give back, he did so many things that improved not only rodeo but the people in and around rodeo. His legacy was to give back.”
Ty Murray fed Mahan’s horses when he was 13 years old. He said, “Larry impacted my life more than any one did – he took me under his wing when I was just 12. He was my Superman!”

Trevor Brazile said although he didn’t get to rodeo at the same time Larry did, they lived nearby later. He came over to Trevor’s place to rope calves not for himself, but Larry had a young man working for him and he wanted Trevor to give him some pointers. Trevor also said, “I don’t think there was anyone in any other sport that could measure up to Larry Mahan.”

Cody Lambert said Larry took rodeo to another level. He said Larry had a bumper sticker on the back of his saddle that said, “This is not a dress rehearsal.” He said he and Ty, who were good friends, often repeated that saying when they were competing for the big bucks.
Cody also said, “Larry would call after he had been to my place and tell me he was so impressed with the relationship I have with my son.”
Brooke Graham sang a song she had written about her grandpa but sung it with Larry in mind.
Rudy Gatlin said he always called Larry “May-horse” instead of Mahan because he was part man, part horse. He said, “Larry loved those horses.” Then he sang Larry’s theme song, “Rodeo O de O”

Former Texas Ranger Brantley Foster told that he had a son named Brandon that had a brain tumor. When Larry met Brantley and met Brandon he was working for the Wide World of Sports but he would call Brandon about every week and they just talked. Brandon died when he was just 18. Ranger Foster had many other stories about Larry, but “he didn’t want to talk about those,”

Chris Cox, well known horse trainer, said he met Larry in 1985. He said, “Larry loved horses, we talked a lot about horses and how they change our lives – horses are so forgiving. But they never forget.” He looked at the audience and said, “I’ll bet you never bought a horse from Larry Mahan. He never sold a horse he loved them so much.

Sonny Burgess ended the stories by singing, “Mamma, Don’t Let Your Boys Grow Up to be Cowboys”.
Justin ended the Celebration with a Prayer. A good send-off for a cowboy who made rodeo step up, who made too many friends to count, loved rodeo and horses, and gave to and back for the rest of his life. He will be missed.

I get asked every year for advice on the recruitment process. Here is some of the advice I share every year with students:
Finish your senior year strong, keep your grades up. The NIRA has very strict rules when it comes to grades and if you are taking dual credit classes in high school those will count as college classes. This means that if your dual credit GPA doesn’t meet the NIRA standards you will start off ineligible. Your grades matter, take care of them through your entire high school career. Another huge step is making sure you qualify academically. It’s important to know what qualifications your specific school requires so you know if you’re even eligible to apply. If your academics aren’t up to par, you can’t qualify for a scholarship, which is another important reason to do your research early.
Create a highlight video and resume. Show all of the best moments you have had over the past few seasons. However, keep your video short and to the point. Coaches are busy and we want to see your highlights, but we don’t have time to watch a 30-minute video on every student. Also pick appropriate music for your video. I’ve had videos that I couldn’t watch with the volume on in my office because of the language. Your video is a great opportunity to make a first impression, Take advantage of it.
Communicate with coaches. Learn how to contact and communicate with coaches throughout the recruitment process. YOU should communicate directly with the coach. Reach out to coaches early in the process to get on their radar. Recruiting is very competitive so start planning early and reach out to programs that you are interested in. Once you have committed to a school, let the other coaches know, trust me, coaches appreciate it when you tell us that you have committed.
It’s important to know yourself and your strengths and weaknesses and where you will be the most successful. This is true for the classroom and in the arena. Not everyone will do well at a University with 20,000 students and not everyone will do well at a community college with 1500 students. Pick a school where you can be successful in the classroom and in the arena. You have to be honest with yourself and pick programs that suit your talents and abilities. If you’re having trouble assessing your abilities, ask someone that you trust and will be honest with you. You don’t want to waste your time contacting schools that aren’t for you.
Make sure your social media content is professional and appropriate. It may come as a shock, but a lot of coaches will look to social media to see who you are and what you’re about. You want to make the right impression. Make sure things like pictures, voicemail, email, and Twitter handles are appropriate, because at the end of the day, they represent you and your future program.
Never be afraid to ask for help. College recruiting can be a very confusing and tedious process. Use your resources, whether that’s your parents, coaches, guidance counselors or students who have already been through the process. Always ask for help if you don’t know, because there’s no such thing as a dumb question. You don’t want to miss out on an opportunity because you were unsure about something or you were afraid to ask for help.

For a team roper, nothing quickens the blood like a horse and some steers to turn.
And the Wrangler Team Roping Championships have given the team roping world a place to rope, to be horseback, to enjoy friends, and to win money for the past eighteen years.
Founded by Dennis Tryan, the Wrangler Team Roping Championships are headquartered in Huntley, Montana.
They consist of between 45-55 team ropings a year, scattered throughout Montana, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Washington, and Canada.
They average about 4,000 members annually, and at their 2022 finals, held in Billings, about 6,000 teams came to rope.
It started in the fall of 2005 when the UPS truck drove up one day, as Dennis sat in the shade by the bunkhouse. He watched as the driver dropped off a box of goodies for his boys, professional team ropers.
“What I noticed,” he said, “was that the better they got at team roping in the professional ranks, the more free stuff all these companies gave them. Every single day, it seemed like, the UPS truck would stop by, drop off free ropes, leg gear, free clothes, this and that, and it was for my kids.”
He realized that for the ropers who weren’t on the national scene, there were no freebies.
“My brain said, ‘Oh, wow, what if I did that for the amateur team roper, the hobby team roper, that will never get a shot at anything free from these companies?’”
He had already been producing team ropings around the state, and knew there was a need for a new level of competition.
So he called his old friend Allen Bach, co-owner of Cactus Ropes, and pitched the idea to him.
Cactus Ropes agreed, as did several other companies. Wrangler came aboard as title sponsor, and the Wrangler Team Ropings were born.
Dennis designed some of his divisional ropings to be designated for individual companies. For example, the No. 9 roping might be the Cactus roping, and winners from that roping who are using Cactus ropes are rewarded with a check and a multi-month rope contract with Cactus.
“You’re a hobby roper, you won a Wrangler roping, and a national company just took interest in you, calls you and askes you what ropes you want,” he said.
“Here’s what’s unique about what we do: we go to sponsors, and instead of the sponsor writing a check to us, they come with product. Instead of it going into our pockets, the ropers end up with it.
“That’s what makes us different.”
Another thing unique to the Wrangler Team Roping Championships is the Challenge Race. At every roping, ropers accumulate points. At the end of the year, the top point-holders win product: Fast Back Ropes, Cactus Ropes, Boulet Boots, Wrangler clothing, Preifert chutes, Smarty, PRO Orthopedic, and more.
“It’s something else to win at the end of the year,” he said, “and it didn’t cost you a penny to win it.”
Dennis, a team roper himself, began roping in his teens, and in 1984, made the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. But the rodeo life wasn’t what he wanted. He remembers driving to Clovis, N.M., for a rodeo in 1985, going 110 miles per hour to get there on time. “My kids were going to start Little League baseball, and I was 1,500 miles away from them. I thought, ‘is this really what I want to do?’”
So he quit full time competition.
Team roping is so popular, he believes, because it’s a sport that can be done as an adult. After high school and college, there aren’t many sports to compete in, other than golf.
Being around horses is also a draw. “A lot of old ranchers have been around horses their entire life, and anything to do with a horse, they want to do it.”
It’s addictive and a challenge. He remembers watching his younger brother rope in high school, before Dennis started, and thinking, ‘what’s so fun about this?’ Then he tried it. “I got on and tried it and instantly I loved it, and I think a lot of people are like that.”
There’s also a strong sense of camaraderie among the competitors, which Dennis is evident of. “I have friends all over the place. I don’t know a town I couldn’t get broke down in that I couldn’t call somebody.”
His family helps with the business. Wife Pat works in the office; son Travis and his wife Hillary manage the office, and son Brady and his wife Callahan manage the records. His sons Clay and Matt and daughter Taylor are also ropers.
His sons Clay, Travis and Brady are all pro ropers and are the only three-some of brothers who qualified for the Wrangler National Finals the same year, 2010. “That was a cool moment for me,” he said.
He and Travis produce some of the Wrangler ropings, but other people produce as well.
The finals are huge, “an undertaking like you wouldn’t believe,” he said. “That many teams, stalls, and the other details.” Pre-entries are not required for the Wrangler championships, so there’s no way of knowing the exact number of teams that will be in town. The finals used to average between 4,800-5,200 teams, but in 2020, because of the pandemic, the number jumped to 7,000 teams. That year, they roped around the clock. In 2021 and 2022, the number has leveled off to 6,000 teams and Dennis has added a third arena, so the ropings are done by evening time.
The finals are held in two locations in Billings: the MetraPark Coliseum and the Expo Center. They both provide “the atmosphere that’s needed for big events like that,” he said.
Among team roping associations, the Wrangler Championships are in the top five, he estimates. But if the finals are the measuring stick, “we have one of the biggest finals in the U.S.”
He’s pleased with what he’s produced.
“I had a dream, and it came to life, to fruition. I made it work. It’s been a lot of work, but it’s very satisfying.”
More information can be found at WranglerTeamRoping.com

Don’t expect to be treated fairly in life. Some people will say and do hurtful things that you don’t deserve.
After leasing our part of the ranch for 10 years we went through another heart wrenching experience. The owner sold the whole ranch to a man in Oregon. Harry had a meeting with the new owner and he agreed to sell us the part we had been leasing. He told us to go do our winter rodeos in Texas and we would finalize the deal when we returned the 14th of February. On the 15th of February, the fire marshal, and the foreman of an outfit from Louisiana, came to the ranch and asked if Harry had found another place yet. He told us we had 30 days to get out. The man from Oregon had sold the entire ranch to a developing outfit that went all over the country buying up land.
Several years earlier, Harry and his brother bought some property in Ponoka, Alberta. Eventually a gas line from Alaska was installed past it and an interstate was built next to it, so it became very valuable. Harry’s younger brother—whom he had been partners with in an auction market before moving to the States—built a very elite golf course on his half. That, in turn, made Harry’s half more valuable to build houses around the golf course.
During this time in March we would go up to Edmonton and put their rodeo on. The guys from Louisiana finally dealt with Harry and many prayers later traded the ranch we leased for the land around the golf course, as things were really hopping in Canada that year in construction. It was truly a miracle! “The things that are impossible with man are possible with God” (Matthew 19:26).
Sometime later, the army at Ft. Carson was looking for land to expand for training and they thought they wanted our ranch along with the rest of the Red Top. The people of Pueblo put up such a fuss, as they didn’t want the army trucks, etc., all going through Pueblo to get to the training base. Many more prayers later, the army went farther south to Highway 10 and took those ranches. Some had been in families for several generations. Scriptures we stood on at this time were Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” and Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
In 2004, on a Cheyenne parade morning, while I was trying to keep a saddle horse on his feet that was colicing, I was kicked hard and landed 15 feet away.
It required two surgeries, and 12 months to completely recover from this accident. When I was taken to the emergency room, the parade committee chairman came to see me. I was told later that the announcer asked the entire audience to pray for me. That too was a humbling experience.
Another example of God’s faithfulness in spite of undeserved treatment came in 2011, after we had put on the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo for 36 years. They told Harry they decided to change stock contractors, and didn’t need him anymore. Harry was extremely hurt over it because he thought you didn’t lose a rodeo unless you did something wrong, and we had worked just as hard the 36th year as we did in 1976, the bicentennial year and our first year.
I will admit that all of the family was pretty upset about the way they went about it. They could have handled it in a less hurtful way after 36 years but it had nothing to do with the people of Cheyenne. Many of them were always wonderful and we made a lot of good friends over those years.
Sometimes God’s plans are different than your plans. Cheyenne was very hard work and required additional horses, and equipment only needed for their rodeo. It costs a lot to feed that extra livestock all year, for one rodeo. At this point in life I’m glad not to have to work that hard, so it turned out for the best in the long run.
After Harry and I married we became a blended family. He had four children and I had one. His two daughters married and moved to the States, living in Casper, Wyoming and Greeley, Colorado. His two sons both stayed and still live in Canada, and my daughter Nancy married and moved to Texas. Kirsten, our daughter, was born in 1973 and was raised on the ranch we still live on.
All the children were and still are involved in the rodeo business. Nancy died of diabetes when she was 48. There was no background of diabetes on either side of the family but her doctor indicated it was brought on by stress. I had a hard time believing that and it is very painful to lose a child at any age. No one expects that to happen. But let that be a warning to you not to allow stress to cause you to get a serious illness.
Harry passed away in 2017 and Kirsten has taken over running our rodeo and ranch company. She had been the foreman for her dad for many years and is trying to keep the legacy going. Thank you, Lord, for all those who stepped in when I couldn’t do it alone. Now let me be the one to reach out to others. I am very blessed to have a good relationship with all our children and the rodeo business is still our common bond.
I was fortunate to be in rodeo when they formed the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys, and also blessed to be at Colorado Springs when my dad got saved during a church service. His friend, Wilbur Plaugher, another rodeo clown, and one of the original seven that formed the FCC, did the service that day.
Jesus is a gentleman. He stands at the door and knocks. You must choose to invite Him into your heart and life, unlike Satan, who barges into your life and tries to steal your health and finances, and destroys relationships and families. God created us but gives us the freedom to choose Jesus and His gift of eternal life, or Satan and his path, which leads to hell and horror. John 10:10, “Jesus said, ‘The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.” Remember, no matter what the challenges are that we face in life, the Lord loves you and wants you in his family.
Jesus has been my rock, my shield, my refuge, and my strength through all our challenging ordeals. He promised he would never leave those who believed in him. And he has kept his word throughout my life and he will in yours.
If you don’t already know him, I urge you to make the choice to accept his free gift of forgiveness and salvation. He wants to be your best friend and will never leave you or disappoint you as your family or friends or other people you deal with might do at times. Psalms 18:30 says “As for God His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him”

Kicking up Kindness

“To me it’s a family legacy.” explains the 22-year-old, Queen Creek, Arizona native, Kennadee Riggs, about her platform. “My grandmother in the 90s didn’t like how negative the news headlines were, so she started writing a column for a local paper on kind deeds and she had people write back with their own stories of kindness. We now have a whole book of kindness stories and I get to do the exact same thing – hoping to bring more positivity to the media.”
“Kennadee exudes kindness,” said Hailey Frederickson, the outgoing Miss Rodeo America. “She is genuine in every way and I have no doubt that whoever comes across her during her year as Miss Rodeo America will leave with a warm heart.”
Kennadee will have the entire year to share stories of kindness as she crosses the globe representing rodeo as the 2023 Miss Rodeo America. “I dipped my toes in all the waters,” said Kennadee about her childhood in Arizona. “I performed on an equestrian drill team with the women in my family – Cowgirls Historical Foundation – which started with my grandmother – and included many different women across Arizona. My life was split between the loud environment of rodeo and the quiet lifestyle of showing horses. My great great grandfather, Harry Frost, started Frost Quarter Horses over 75 years ago. That bloodline is still going today.”
Harry Frost was the 1963 Reno Rodeo President. After the grandstands burned down, Harry was said to have saved the rodeo when by a miracle he was able to bring in temporary stands just in time.
Kennadee’s great grandmother was the Reno Rodeo queen, and all the women in the family have followed in that. Kennadee had always wanted to pursue Miss Rodeo Arizona and Miss Rodeo America to carry on the family legacy, but hadn’t known if that was the Lord’s will for her. Her plan after high school was actually to cheer in college. “Then one specific day, I felt strongly that I needed to go on a mission for my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I knew that would change the course of my life being that it was 18 months away from home, dedicating my time and money to serving others.” Teaching horse lessons to fund the mission herself, the mission trip took her to Brazil and Oklahoma, before returning home. “I came away a completely different person – thankful of Heavenly Father’s awareness of us – I was always meant to be where I was – I also came back with a new appreciation for air conditioning and carpet.” The experience helped her see and focus on what matters the most – and that her deeper sense of purpose is who she can help.”
She felt called to try out for Miss Rodeo Arizona and won that competition. “It’s something she’s always wanted to do,” said her mother, Shanda. “I was Gilbert Days Rodeo Queen, and my sisters were all rodeo queens, Taryn Brady Hale (Miss Rodeo Arizona 2009), Kelsee Brady Bradshaw (Miss Rodeo USA 1st runner-up) and Marjon Brady Brown (Miss Rodeo USA 2000). We were all part of Gilbert Days Royalty and ran at the national level so she was familiar with that lifestyle.” Her first time running in a pageant was Miss Rodeo Arizona.
When she won the title in December as Miss Rodeo America, she knew it was God’s calling for her life. “When my name was called, that was more of a testament to me that this is Heavenly Father’s will, it wasn’t just by chance that I won. I knew it was because of my prayers. That’s the biggest sense of emotion that I got when they called my name — gratitude — for another mission experience that I was really hoping and praying for.” Her first stop is the National Western Stock Show, where she will present the flag for 20 performances. “In a nutshell, I hope to always be kind so people might recognize a light in me that comes from something beyond our comprehension. I will get to meet people all across the country and hopefully continue to do what I was able to do as Miss Rodeo Arizona, which is promote this heritage and lifestyle that is so special to me,” she said. “At the same time, in everything I do, I will try to be an example of Jesus Christ as someone who loves Him and show that in everything I do.”