Rodeo Life

Category: Articles

  • Back When They Bucked with Ferrell “Flashbulb” Butler

    Back When They Bucked with Ferrell “Flashbulb” Butler

    Ferrell “Flashbulb” Butler hadn’t a penny left to pay his entry fees. So the calf roper took out his camera and started shooting rodeos, selling the photos for a dollar and a half apiece in the 1960s. Each click of the lens drew him closer to the acclaim he receives today for the moments of rodeo history captured with his German Rolleiflex T camera.
    Butler, born in 1936 in Davidson, Okla., was the only child of his parents, UJ and Hazel Butler. His family later moved to Mesquite, Texas, and young Butler began competing in rodeo when he was 15. “I wanted to rope calves like all the other kids in the ’50s. I wanted to ride bulls, too, but that didn’t last long.” Butler went on to compete on the Arlington State College rodeo team. He was a charter member of several rodeo associations, but much of the time he competed in his hometown in Mesquite. It was there that 24-year-old Butler began his photography, learning the trade as he went. “I started taking pictures for money and the picture taking got plumb out of hand!” In 1960 at the NFR in Dallas, Texas, Butler met rodeo photographer DeVere Helfrich, future friend and mentor. Helfrich pioneered the technique of classic saddle bronc pictures capturing the rein picked up and the horse stretched out, jumping and kicking.

    Full story available in the July 15th edition.

     

  • On the Trail with the Engesser Family

    On the Trail with the Engesser Family

    Taylor and Rickie Engesser learned how to ride without a saddle – bareback. “They ran barrels with bucking riggings,” said their dad, Shorty. They started riding when they were two and competed at the Belle Jackpot, the starting place for other rodeo greats like Nikki and Kristi Steffes. Taylor finished her first year in college as the 2014 CNFR Barrel Racing Champion as well as Rookie of the Year. Rickie won the South Dakota State High School Barrel Racing Championship and is headed to Rock Springs, Wyo., to try for the National High School Barrel Racing Championship.

    Both girls run barrels on the same horse, a 19-year-old gelding named Rowdy. “I just bought him because I liked him,” said Shorty, who bought the gelding when he was four from a friend in Gillette. “We tried to sell him two or three times – he was strong and couldn’t keep the barrels clean.” It took several years for the horse to start clicking with the girls. The family credits younger brother, Jace, with helping to make Rowdy a champion. “When Jace started running flags on Rowdy, it seemed to free him up to run barrels.”

    Shorty is always looking for horses. The family currently has around 20 horses on the place in various stages of training. “I either fix them and sell them, or we keep them. Rowdy is the real deal.” With Dee Bar, Leo Bars, and Cool Deep bloodlines, Cool Rowdy has taken all three Engesser kids to the pay window on many occasions. “He set an arena record in Shawnee, he’s made it to the high school finals three years and won the short go there last year. He also took Jace to the World Champion in Flags in the National Little Britches Finals Rodeo last year.”

     

    Full story available in the July 15th edition.

     

  • Dalton Ward

    Dalton Ward

    Roughstock. Flank straps. Quick thinking sharpened by adrenaline and put to the test at all speeds. This is the world of 22-year-old Dalton Ward, a pickup man for Harry Vold Rodeo Company, and the son of Billy Ward, seven-time WNFR pickup man. While it is no coincidence that Dalton is following in his father’s bootprints, the cowboy from LaGrange, Wyo. admits that being a pickup man wasn’t always his dream career. He grew up wanting to be a stock contractor, but had his first taste of picking up at a kid day rodeo in Odessa, Texas, when he was 12. “When I first did it, I didn’t like it all that well. It was fast, and to this day I don’t ever remember tripping a flank. I’d sit out there with my dad and that was it. Being 12 years old, I was just trying to save my own life, let alone someone else’s!”

    Dalton mainly worked college and ranch rodeos with his dad for the next six years. His mom, Marlo Ward, says, “Dalton was about 16 when he developed more of an interest in picking up with his dad. He’s always been so big and strong, and when everything came together, he was pretty efficient and got more comfortable with it. He’s always had a very strong work ethic – you could almost say he was born working! He and I used to travel to Billy’s rodeos together, and even before he could form many words he would talk to me for hours. He was always taking care of me.” Dalton and his younger brother, Denton, were paid five dollars a performance by their dad to do the bulk of the horse care, which Dalton continued to do until he was about 17. When they were younger, the boys brought out their play animals and semi trucks and played stock contractors. One Halloween, when the Wards were camped at a rodeo, Dalton and Denton borrowed a bareback rigging and a bronc saddle and rode their horses from trailer to trailer dressed as roughstock riders. They were given everything from chewing gum and cans of soup, to TV dinners and DVDs.

    Between helping their dad on the ranch and hauling with him to rodeos, Dalton and Denton were missing a lot of school. So their mom started homeschooling them. “It was a real good deal for us. A lot of people said that I didn’t have any friends, and I said I had a lot of friends in the rodeo world! I grew up around a lot of life lessons in rodeo. I think that contributes to who I am today.” Another influence in Dalton’s life is his parents. “The greatest thing about my dad was he always made his own horses – he’d trade them and make a pickup horse. My mom is always behind the scenes, but she’s the anchor. From my faith in Christ to my education, nothing would have happened without her.”

    Full story available in the June 15th edition.

  • Brylee Grubb

    Brylee Grubb

    Published in National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA)

    Brylee Grubb loves everything about competing in the NLBRA. From competing with her favorite horses to seeing friends and being with her family, eight-year-old Brylee pursues the sport enthusiastically. “I started Little Britches when I was five,” says Brylee. “My mom and dad competed in rodeo, and I love my horses and riding. I just thought it would be fun, and I like it a lot!” Brylee competes in the Little Wrangler division in barrel racing, flag racing, pole bending, and goat tail untying. While Brylee loves all of her events, she says her favorite is barrel racing. “My mom and dad have coached me and done a really good job,” she says. Brylee’s dad also judges quite a few of the Little Britches rodeos.

    Brylee savors the time she gets to spend with her family and friends at Little Britches rodeos. One group of her friends includes the Engesser family. “Taylor, Rickie, and Jace Engesser are some of my best friends,” says Brylee. “Taylor is in college now, but Rickie and Jace are still competing. They are really nice to me and they let me borrow a horse when my horse was hurt. They’re really good friends of ours.”

    The Grubb family lives in the country several miles outside of Spearfish, S.D. Brylee’s parents are Jason and Stephanie Grubb, and she also has a sister, Tiersyn, who is six. Tiersyn also competes as a Little Wrangler in the NLBRA. Since Brylee’s dad is a team roper and both sisters compete, the Grubbs have a number of horses. These include Abbe and Pueblo, Brylee’s barrel racing horses. She competes on her dad’s roping horse in the flag racing. Brylee holds the Little Wrangler arena record in pole bending with a 19.9 run, which she set during the second round of the 2013 NLBFR on her sister’s horse, Friday. Normally, Brylee competes on her horse Buddy in goat tail untying, but when Buddy got hurt several months ago, the Engessers let Brylee compete on their two horses, Sunny and Bucky. Finally, the Grubb’s home is made complete by their two dogs and two cats.

    Brylee is a second grade student at Spearfish West Elementary. She enjoys adding and subtracting, which makes math her favorite subject. In addition to school, Brylee has played soccer and most recently played basketball on a team called the Mini Spartans. When she’s home, Brylee likes to invite her friends over to ride horses together or play horse tag. One of her favorite movies is Secretariat, and she also enjoys reading. The Grubb family can often be found riding their horses together, riding bikes, going hiking, or playing board games when it’s cold. But in the summer, it’s most likely that Brylee and Tiersyn are in their arena.

    Several of Brylee’s rodeo accomplishments include winning a number of buckles in the NLBRA last year, as well as winning the Reserve All-Around Champion at the Elks Youth Rodeo in Sheridan, Wyo. in 2012 and 2013. Of the many rodeos she’s travelled to, Brylee’s top favorites are the Rapid City Little Britches rodeo and the NLBFR. This will be Brylee’s fourth year competing in the NLBFR, and she has qualified in all her events. “This year I would like to win the all-around saddle in the Little Wranglers division,” she says. “I’d like to make it to the junior high, high school, and college finals when I get older.” To be at her best for rodeo, Brylee says, “We practice four or five days a week, and then when it’s time, we go and I try as hard as I can!”

    Noble Outfitters recognizes youth accomplishments and supports programs like NLBRA. Brylee will receive a Hands Duffle!
    Learn more at nobleoutfiters.com

  • Barrel Racer Rides for a Cause at the National Western

    Barrel Racer Rides for a Cause at the National Western

    By Susan Kanode

    For the National Western Stock Show

                DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 19, 2014) — With two action-packed performances at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo on Friday, fans had plenty of time to make some noise.

                Without a doubt, the most excited they got was during the barrel racing at the evening performance. On the same night as the Claire Davis Memorial Horse Show was held in the Events Center, barrel racer Kendra Dickson from Aubrey, Texas dedicated her performance at the rodeo to the young woman who lost her life from a gunshot wound sustained at her high school on Dec. 13. She lived for another eight days.

                Dickson, who is well known in rodeo circles for her caring nature and philanthropy was all decked out in black and gold and even had gold fringe on her horse’s tack representing the colors of the Arapahoe High School Warriors.

                The crowd in the Denver Coliseum erupted when Boyd Polhamus announced that Dickson was riding for Davis. To top it off, Dickson and her roan horse Dover stopped the clock in 15.52 seconds, the second fastest run of the rodeo here so far. And she gets to make another run here Saturday morning.

                “The people I’m staying with are friends of Claire’s family,” Dickson said. “God laid it on my heart that I should do this.”

                Dickson is also riding for Taylor Tornado a young boy with cancer. She has pledged a percentage of her earnings to Taylor Tornado Blows Away Neuroblastoma and the Claire Davis Fund.

                Edging Dickson out of the number one spot by just one-one hundredth of a second was Rachel Primm from Washoe Valley, Nev. The college rodeo standout had a 15.51.

                The crowd also went wild for one of their own at the afternoon performance when Joey Dickens from just up the road at Loveland had a blazing fast tie-down roping run at the matinee performance. He stopped the clock in 7.9 seconds, the fastest run of the rodeo so far.

                Markus Mariluch from Elko, Nev., also had the high-marked ride in bull riding Friday afternoon. He scored 88 points on Diamond S Bucking Bulls’ Summer Nights.

                There are three performances here on Saturday at 11 a.m., 3:30 and 8 p.m.

    DENVER, Colo., (Jan. 19, 2014) – The following are unofficial results from the National Western Stock Show Rodeo.

    Second Performance —

                Bareback Riding: 1, Brian Bain, Redmond, Ore., 83 points on Burns Rodeo’s -707 Boeing. 2, Micky Downare, Hartsel, Colo., 81. 3, Luke Creasy, Levelland, Texas, 80. 4, Kody Lamb, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 77.

                Steer Wrestling: 1, Joe Buffington, Wheatland, Wyo., 5.2 seconds. 2, Brian Snell, Wheatland, Wyo., 5.4. 3, Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif., 5.8. 4, Wade Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 6.0.

                Team Roping: (three times) 1, Cole Cooper, Loma, Colo., and K.C. Curtis, Monroe, Utah, 6.3. 2, Ryan VonAhn, Sac City, Iowa, and J.W. Beck, 14.8. 3, Quisto Lopez, Beeville, Texas, and Keagan, Duncan, Midland, Texas, 15.8.

                Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla., 83 points on Burns Rodeo’s April Snow. 2, Kaleb Asay, Roan Wash, Wyo., 78. 3, Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah, 77. 4, Cody Wright, Milford, Utah, 76.

                Tie-Down Roping: 1, Joey Dickens, Loveland, Colo., 7.9 seconds. 2, Ryan Bothum, Caddo, Okla., 8.8. 3, Mitch McAdow, Littleton, Colo., 10.2. 4, Mark Black, Pinedale, Wyo., 10.7.

                Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Andrea Cline, Springtown, Texas, 15.63 seconds. 2, Nicole Riggle, Scottsdale, Ariz., 15.80. 3, Ginger Greene, Jefferson, Colo., 15.83. 4, Gretchen Benbenek, Aubrey, Texas, 15.91.

                Bull Riding:  1, Markus Mariluch, Elko, Nev., 88 points on Diamond S Bucking Bulls. 2, Trevor Kastner, Ardmore, Okla., 84. 3, Brett Stall, Detroit Lakes, Minn., 80. 4, Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., 76.

                Third Performance —

                Bareback Riding: 1, David Clapp, Sedalia, Mo., 79 points on Calgary Stampede’s Kauai Coconut. 2, (tie) Taylor Price Huntsville, Texas, and Jake Brown, Hillsboro, Texas, 78 each. 4, Josi Young, Buhl, Idaho, 77.

                Steer Wrestling: 1, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.3 seconds. 2, Clayton Hass, Terrell, Texas, 6.3. 3, (tie) Sterling Wallace, Justin, Texas, and Austin Courmier, Oakwood, Texas, 7.2 each. 4, Chisum Docheff, Longmont, Colo., 8.6.

                Team Roping: 1, David Motes, Tolar, Texas, and Evan Arnold, Santa Margarita, Calif., 5.9 seconds. 2, Donny Scantling, Buffalo, Wyo., and Seth Anderson, Hurley, S.D., 6.1. 3, Drew Horner, Plano, Texas, and Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan., 11.6. 4, Nick Becker, Garden City, Kan., and T.W. Wilson, Limon, Colo., 13.7.

                Saddle Bronc: 1, Ryan MacKenzie, Jordan Valley, Ore., 81 points on Calgary Stampede’s Sergeant Whitney. 2, J.D. Johnson, Tremonton, Utah, 80. 3, (tie) Max Filippin, Battle Mountain, Nev., and Brady Nicholes, Hoytsville, Utah, 76 each.

                Tie-Down Roping: 1, Chant DeForest, Wheatland, Calif., 8.7 seconds. 2, Russell Cardoza, Terrebonne, Ore., 9.2. 3, Blair Burk, Durant, Okla., 9.4. 4, Bryson Sechrist, Apache, Okla., 9.9.


    Women’s Barrel Race:     1, Rachel Primm, Washoe Valley, Nev., 15.51 seconds. 2, Kendra Dickson, Aubrey, Texas, 15.52. 3, C.J. Vondette, Rifle, Colo., 15.54. 4, Hanna Montey, Eaton, Colo., 15.67.

                Bull Riding: 1, Brady Portenier, Caldwell, Idaho, 81 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Black Out. 2, (tie) Cody Campbell, Summerville, Ore., and Dylan Dicey Vick, Escalon, Calif., 80 each. 4, Cody Sierks, Brewster, Neb., 73.

  • Russell Friend

    Russell Friend

    Russell Friend is just starting his fourth year in the Senior Pro association, but he has established himself as a leader, as someone actively promoting the association, and as a top competitor. He has won the Reserve World Champion Bull Riding title for the last three years. He is the representative for the Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo Association and works to insure that rodeo schedules between the two associations mesh. “I represent Canadian Senior Pro Rodeo at the NSPRA board meetings and essentially act as a conduit of information between the two. This function has been quite important in the last six months with all the changes that have taken place in the NSPRA.”

    Russell got started in rodeo after the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. “I was on the Canadian Olympic team competing in wrestling and was asked if I wanted to ride bulls. That was back when the bull riding only events were just starting. I had a lot of success early on here in Canada and took off from there. I was 25 at the time and I set a goal of being able to enter and compete at the best rodeos on earth. And going hand-in-glove with that, I wanted to say I had gotten on some of the best bulls around. That was a pretty cool time.” He was a “carded athlete” in Canada and as such received medical, tuition, and a stipend to train, but the financial reward possible in bull riding far outweighed the government’s support.

    The lifestyle of elite Olympic athletes is best described as Spartan; no fast food, never a drink, and pure diligence to a training regimen. “There were several years where I went without any fast food. With bull riding, I could have a cheeseburger once in awhile; I could have camaraderie with other rodeo athletes, and I get paid based on my own success! And I enjoyed bull riding!”

    He has enjoyed the travel associated with rodeo and compares it to his life as an Olympic athlete. “I’ve traveled all over the world competing in wrestling but I couldn’t tell you much about the people or locations other than the airport and the gym. With rodeo I can stop and meet people and see the country. I love that.”

    Attitude in bull riding is critical as Russell explains, “The guy that wants to ‘ride bulls’ is different from the guy who wants to be a ‘bull rider’. The guy who wants to be a ‘bull rider’ is always looking to improve and learn more about the sport. The guy that wants to ‘ride bulls’, is accepting what he’s given.” Russell spends hours in keeping himself fit and ready to compete. “You have to be fit. You have to have core strength and fantastic balance.” He uses his wrestling skills to keep himself ready for bull riding. As a testament to his discipline to conditioning, Russell just won his 18th Provincial Wrestling Championship at age 43, against all age competitors. “No other wrestler has won 18 Provincial titles in Canada. Wrestling puts your body in positions that test your core strength and balance.” His philosophy about training is that if he’s working out early in the morning or late at night, there’s a good chance your competition is not. He strongly believes in the adage, “The will to win is nothing without the will to prepare.” Russell is grateful to all the cowboys he competes against, “Those guys push everyone to do more preparation and ride better.”

    He makes his home in Irrcana, Alberta with his wife Jennifer and son, Cash. Between bull riding events, Russell operates an oil field fencing company. He is also the president of the newly formed Bull Riders Canada, (www.bullriderscanada.ca) the largest bull riding organization in Canada.

  • Robby Farias

    Robby Farias

    Robby Farias has been a member of the association for the last two years and also competes in the PRCA, World Series Team Roping, and USTRC. He likes going to the Rocky Mountain events because he knows he can count on good cattle and a short score. “It’s mostly local guys with some out-of-state guys. They are always fun rodeos that are fast paced.” Most often Robby ropes heads and is rated as a 7 header; 8 heeler in the USTRC books.

    Robby got started team roping when he was 14 years old with the help of his dad and uncle, Ross Farias. “They both rodeoed for a living for a while and were both real good ropers. I competed in high school rodeo for one year in Hawaii and then went into the pro rodeos. I team roped quite a bit in Hawaii; jackpots and US ropings.”

    Born and raised in Hawaii, the 21-year-old roper now makes his home in Decatur, Texas after moving from Spanish Fork, Utah. “I moved from Hawaii to Utah when I was 17. I’m living at Allen Bach’s place now and doing a lot of roping and work with Allen. He definitely knows what it takes to get to the Finals and he has helped me a bunch.” His present situation matches up perfectly with one of Robby’s long term goals which is to one day make the NFR and he is getting some insight and lessons from one of the best in the game. But he knows the NFR doesn’t come easy and he is planning on making an all out effort to get to 75-plus rodeos to make that goal a reality.

    When Robby is getting ready to make that fast run, he takes time to be sure everything is right. “I really think about the score a lot. I make sure my horse is standing straight; when he’s standing straight, I know that he’ll come out right. It may take two or three times to get him set right, but I want everything right before I nod my head.” He knows that as with any timed event, his horse is crucial to his success. “I think I have a really good horse and I can get out really good on him.  He’s 22 years old and I’ve been riding him since I was 15. When you get out right, you don’t have to reach so much.” Being consistent is important to Robby and he makes sure he does everything the same way every time, including the black glove. “I always wear a black glove. They’re kind of hard to find, but I always make sure I’ve got one. That may be a little bit over the top, but I like to get into the groove.”

    His parents are Bob and Tobi Farias and he has a sister, Rachael. He says that his father has been his biggest influence. “He’s the one that really got me started and taught me everything I know about roping. He always made sure I had good horses to ride, made sure I was doing things right, getting plenty of time to practice.”

  • Zack and Jet Toberer

    Zack and Jet Toberer

    The Toberer boys have had the privilege of experiencing rodeo from the west to the east coast. Getting their start in central California, they have now made a home in Raeford, N.C., and will compete in their second year with the JrSRA. “It has the toughest competition available and it gives us the chance to compete against the best competitors around,” said Zack, 15.

    Zack, a sophomore, competes within the senior age division in the tie down roping, team roping and chute dogging. “He is currently working on expanding to the steer wrestling and will compete once we get a horse for him,” said mom. Younger brother, Jet, a fifth grader, competes within the junior age division in the calf riding, breakaway, goat tying and team roping. “I want to win the calf riding and all-around titles and maybe take a shot at a buckle in the team roping,” said Jet, 11.

    Both parents (Mike, who teaches U.S. military special forces how to pack, and Michele, the family ranch manager who books events and makes arrangements for horse boarding) rodeoed throughout high school, so naturally, have raised their four kids with a rodeo lifestyle, but it wasn’t within the arena that competition began. Mike, a world champion and two-time reserve world champion mule packer, got Zack into youth competitions at around the age of six. The youngster went on to winning two youth world championships and two reserve youth world championships, at the Bishop Mule Days Celebration. By the age of nine, Zack got interested in roping, and with the help of Jerold and Leo Camarillo, was competing full force. “I hope to compete in packing again someday and go back to Bishop, but I am just focusing on rodeo right now,” said Zack.

    While Jet made pack trips, he never competed at Bishop. “We had quit going by the time he was old enough to compete,” explained Michele. A little brother’s watchful eye spurred Jet into action, but it was bull riding that was on the brain. Having entered the mutton bustin’ prior, Jet decided that he was “big” enough to start calf riding at five years old. “A good friend of ours [PBR contractor, Ryan McClure] saw a natural talent in him and started helping,” said Michele. At the same time, Zack was in need of a roping partner so taught Jet to rope and he later started roping with the Camarillo‘s. “Calf riding is my favorite. I want to ride in the PBR someday,” said Jet.

    In their first year with the JrSRA, both boys qualified for the finals. Zack was able to finish in the top four in both tie down and team roping, with partner Ty Worley. “I mostly heel. I find it to be more fun and challenging in getting in time,” he said of his favorite event. Jet took the reserve champion calf riding title and then finished in the top four of the breakaway standings. “I owe it all to our family and friends who have helped us along the way. We couldn’t have done it without them,” he said.

    The Toberer boys have even gotten the opportunity to see how behind the scenes of a rodeo works as the family recently hosted a NCHSRA event at their home facility of Mountain Mule Packer Ranch. “It was a lot of work, but fun,” said Zack, who ended up winning the tie down roping and team roping both nights. While Zack will continue to work both associations, Jet will join dual forces next year with the junior high division.

    Zack hopes to attend Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Tex. “I’m not sure what I want to major in, yet, but I would eventually like to go on to do good in the pros and eventually coach roping,” he said. For now though, he hopes to conquer as much as he can within the JrSRA. “I would like to win the all-around. I started off good, so would like to get back on a roll and keep winning,” he said.

    The brothers will be joined by their sister (Grace, 8) next season. “She has just started running barrels and the boys have started her on roping,” said Michele. When the time is right, the boys will exert their expertise on to their youngest sister (Faith, 3). “We have our parents and Jerold to thank for all that they’ve done. They have made it possible for us to rodeo,” said Zack. “I would also like to thank my sponsors Rope Smart and Rope-For-Less for supplying me with the necessary tack to go on.”

  • Brenda Delano

    Brenda Delano

    In her approximate six years as a member of the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association (KPRA), Brenda Delano has worked her way to the top of the standings to qualify for the finals four times. “It’s all in the rodeo people, who quickly become friends. Everyone is so nice and it becomes like a second family,” Brenda said of the association. The 57-year old cowgirl spends a majority of her time horseback, riding young horses and selling them when she gets the opportunity. “I’ve been blessed with nice horses,” she says.

    She also finds the time to work on the farm outside of Bird City, Kan., with her husband (Patrick). “We lease our farm ground out, but there is still plenty of work to do,” she said. Patrick, who also holds a fulltime job as a physician assistant for the past 20 years, does not rodeo, but gives his full support to his wife in her rodeo choices. “He stays home while I’m hauling to take care of all of the animals,” said Brenda. With Patrick holding down the fort, Brenda often takes to the road alone. “It can get lonely. It would be nice to have a driver, because I get so tired,” she admitted. The couple have two daughters (Tori, a cardiac nurse, and Danielle, an Apple Bees Manager), who have never rodeoed, but are very supportive. “I didn’t ride a lot when they were growing up, and by the time I started back up, they were more into their high school activities,” explained Brenda.

    Growing up in an agricultural background, on a farm only a short distance from where she lives now, Brenda was introduced to the cowboy lifestyle early on with her dad (Harold Leroy Connett) competing in the calf roping within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “Dad always had cattle, horses and farmed, so it was easy to jump right in there,” Brenda said. Although, she is the youngest of three sisters, she was the only sibling to inherit the arena itch. “I just always stuck with my passion,” she said. Granting that Brenda had been riding since she was a young child, she got her initial start in competition while in high school. “I was a member of the gymkhana club, where I did numerous events and was the high-point senior girl three times in a row,” she said.

    Since that time, she has expanded her list of associations to the National Barrel Horse Association, where she was named the 2002 Kansas State Champion. She has also been found competing in the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association within the Prairie Circuit in 2003-2004. “I competed on a horse that I had raised and called Rocket. He was a very nice horse, but I ended up selling him and haven’t found a horse to match him yet,” said Brenda of her current pause with the organization. Along side of the KPRA, she currently competes in the Nebraska State Rodeo Association, where she has qualified for the finals for the past two years. “It is such a challenge. Rodeo has so many variables to it with many different situations, which makes it challenging for you and your horse,” she said of why she prefers to rodeo. “If you don’t have a horse that can handle all of the variables, you may have a harder time.”

    With the 2014 season kicking off in full force, Brenda will have a full schedule. She will compete on her finished 14-year old mare (“Blazie” Fast Freckles), whom she raised, but will also keep herself busy with a handful of young horses that she is getting started. “My main project is a five-year old futurity horse that I’m working on. I see a lot of potential and hope to see great things,” she said.

  • Cindy Wall

    Cindy Wall

    Cindy Wall is no stranger to the top of the standings within the Central Plains Rodeo Association (CePRA), having qualified for the finals all three years of her membership within the organization. The mother of five has burst out of the gate to take a strong lead in the barrel racing for 2014, having already surpassed her total 2013 year-end winnings by approximately $150. “It’s the people that make the organization. They are run well and they are willing to work with the contestants,” she said of what keeps her coming back to the CePRA. “Of course, I like that they are located great for me, but all year-round they do a great job.”

    With a father in the military, Cindy spent most of her childhood overseas, and wasn’t able to get on her first horse until she was ten years old. “I was an army brat and never had horses,” she explained. “I finally got on my first horse in Berlin, Germany with the British. I rode off and on from there, but never rode western until after college.” Upon getting married and moving to Kansas, where western-style riding is almost mandatory, Cindy began her new journey. “I guess I was around 26 years old when I started running barrels,” she said. Through her progression and climbing the ranks through 3 and 4D barrel races, Cindy found comfort in the rodeo arena and was found capturing the fastest time of the 2013 CePRA finals, along with being a recent pistol winner of the KPRA/CePRA Gunslinger Rodeo Series. “It’s definitely the atmosphere, my adrenaline really gets running at rodeos and I think that they make for grittier horses that run harder, compared to the well groomed ground at barrel races,” she said.

    To add to Cindy’s remarkable tale, she has the unique opportunity of hauling with her daughter (Katie, 21), who finished second in the CePRA year-end standings last year. “We are each other’s biggest supporters and biggest competition, which makes us a great team,” said Cindy. “While Katie will always be my daughter, she is also my best friend, which is a nice new stage in our relationship.” The pair have set a busy schedule for the rest of the season, having filled their WPRA permits on the last race together in the previous season, they plan on hitting the road hard to earn their way to the Prairie Circuit Finals as rookies, along with qualifying for the CePRA finals. “We have fun, but stick to business. It’s a special thing to be able to compete and share the experiences together,” she said. Katie is currently attending the nursing program at Newman University and will graduate next year. “She’ll move into the real world and have to get a job, so this may be our last chance to go at it hard,” said Cindy. “We’ll just have to really take advantage and enjoy the moment.

    Outside of the arena, the Mulvane, Kan., resident earns her way through a 10-year partnership with her husband (Mike) in a consulting company (Better Enterprise Solutions). “It’s been great. We’ve scraped through the tough times and are still going strong,” she said. While Mike works in the field with nuclear and power plants all over the country, Cindy runs the office and heads up all of the administration work.

    When it comes to the arena, Mike has picked up the title of “coach”. “He has an amazing eye for technique and helps Katie and I through it all,” she explained. “He also has an amazing eye for horses and, actually, hand picked the ones that we each compete on. It has truly been a blessing to have found the horses that we have, and it will be hard to fill their shoes.”

    The couple of 25 years, have a total of five children between them. Their four sons, an age difference of 20 years from oldest to youngest, have all enjoyed the horse experience, but focused a majority of their time on wrestling. “I have been a wrestling mom for 23 years,” said Cindy, while standing outside of the practice room. While three (Tyson, 30, Isaac, 27, and Chris, 23) are no longer on the mat, Cindy continues to attend the meets for her 10-year old son (Carson). “My family are as much supportive of me as I am of them. I couldn’t do it without them,” she stated.

  • Sean Wernsman

    Sean Wernsman

    Sean Wernsman has been competing in the saddle bronc riding for approximately 10 years and is a six-time finals qualifier in the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA). “It’s like a big family. Everyone knows everyone and I get to see and reacquaint with a lot of the same people that I grew up with in Little Britches,” he said of the organization.

    Sean was able to qualify for the 2013 finals, but was unable to attend after landing wrong and suffering an injury to his ankle at a Rocky Mountain Bronc Rider Association (RMBRA) event in Hayden, Colo., weeks prior. Despite the fact, he still finished the season 12th in the standings. “The CPRA has expanded to a lot more rodeos, that offer a better chance to go and compete. A lot of the rodeos are getting better added money as well, which gives a great chance to win money,” he included.

    The 33-year old cowboy got his start in rodeo through his dad (Neal), who rode broncs in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Senior Pro Rodeo Association. “Dad was my inspiration. I always wanted to ride broncs, just because he did. But I have learned that it is not something that you just go and do and is a learning process,” said Sean. Neal passed the rodeo tradition on to his two boys. Sean’s younger brother (Keith), who no longer competes, rode bulls in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) and progressed to the College National Finals while riding for the Eastern Wyoming College rodeo team and later qualified for the Mountain States Circuit Finals. Sean first rode bulls in the junior division of the NLBRA. By the senior division, Sean was able to win the Reserve World Champion bull riding title in 1996 and expanded his list of events to add bronc riding. He later joined the Colorado High School Rodeo Association. His talents led him to receiving a rodeo scholarship to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., where he cut down and just rode bulls.

    After college, Sean took a break from rodeo, but got to missing it too bad and joined the CPRA and the Wyoming Rodeo Association (WRA) in 2004, where he has been solely a bronc rider. “Rodeo gets in your blood and is an addiction that is hard to kick. I’ve loved the sport since I was a little kid,” he said of what couldn‘t keep him away. Since then, his list of associations has swollen to the PRCA and the RMBRA, where he was crowned the year-end champion in 2012.

    Sean and his wife (Julie) are in the process of moving their family from Craig, Colo., back to his original stomping grounds in Haxtun. Julie has recently joined in with the CPRA and competed in her rookie year as a barrel racer. The couple of five years hopes to hit the road together in future seasons and take their two children (Karli, 8, and Kacey, 4) along with them. “The kids already have the rodeo bug. They both competed in the Black Mountain Junior Rodeo Association summer series, where Karli competed in barrels, poles and flags and Kacey did flags, but he would much rather just be a bronc rider,” said Sean. When he is not rodeoing, Sean drives a truck for a welding supply company that keeps him traveling all around the state, but in his free time likes to hunt. “I like everything from big game [elk, deer and antelope] to birds [pheasant, duck and geese], but my favorite is calling coyotes,” he said.

    Sean had hopes of getting a little higher in this year’s standings and going to the finals, but has not set any goals for next season yet. “I want to allow my family to get settled in our new home before I make any decisions or plans,” he said.

  • Kevin Crain

    Kevin Crain

    The co-owner of C-Bar Rodeo Company, Kevin Crain has been stock contracting for more than 20 years. The rodeo company was started in 1991 by Kevin and his older brother and best friend Ronnie. Growing up in Illinois, the two brothers didn’t have many opportunities for rodeo in the area they lived. “We started out trying to get on things when we were just kids,” Kevin remembers. “We’d get on anything – horses, bulls, cows, hogs. Whatever we could catch, we’d get on it.” Throughout high school, Kevin and Ronnie began challenging themselves further. With nowhere to practice, they built an arena out of telephone poles and hollow field pipe. The brothers started buying up horses that were sale barn rejects to see if they would buck. Little did they know that this was the beginning of their rodeo company. Over the next few years the brothers’ backyard bucking had grown enough that they began hauling bucking horses to rodeos, and in 1991, C-Bar Rodeo Company was formed.

    Today, C-Bar Rodeo Company puts on 25 events a year. “Our bull ridings are sanctioned with the BOA and our roughstock events are with the CSRA,” Kevin explains. Since his brother’s passing two years ago, Kevin runs the rodeo company with the help of his nephews and co-owners, Wade and Will. Kevin’s four daughters have helped with the company as well, especially carrying flags. His niece Dusti Lynn is a PRCA and IPRA trick rider, and his younger nephew and niece Tucker and Dakota are old enough to start helping now. “Everybody joined in the rodeo because we needed free help. That’s why we had so many kids!” Kevin said with a laugh. In addition to providing the roughstock for CSRA rodeos, Kevin also serves on the association’s Board of Governors.

    Kevin, in addition to running his rodeo company, works as a union business agent. Following high school, and before the rodeo company was born, Kevin had served in the Illinois Army National Guard for several years and then became a union worker. Kevin, 44, says his job entails, “Putting union members out to work and solving any kind of union disputes that come up.” He also enjoys golfing, a hobby which he took up at a rodeo after putting several balls around with some cowboys from the rodeo circuit. They meet at a golf course on occasion, and Kevin says, “I don’t know if the golf course appreciates it, but we have a pretty good time!”

    Kevin makes his home about 12 miles outside of Farina, Ill. with his wife Dawn and their four daughters. “Katie competed in volleyball and went to college on a volleyball scholarship, Alex went to college on an academic scholarship, and Kellie went to college on a softball scholarship, so we’re doing pretty well so far!” says Kevin. “Kacie is still in high school, she’s a freshman at South Central High School.”

    In addition to running the rodeo company, Kevin and his nephew Wade are also starting to breed their own line of bucking bulls, but Kevin says, “Finding the right combination of bloodlines is a heck of a trick! We’ve got our cows and we’re dabbling around in the embryo and breeding aspects. A goal for us is to someday raise a bull that will take us to the next level.” In 2013, the Crains bought into a futurity calf and competed in the Million Dollar Futurity in Las Vegas, Nev. Ultimately, Kevin is very proud of the rodeo company that he created with his brother. “We had no idea that our company would grow like it has today!” he concluded.