Rodeo Life

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  • Fight to the Top – John Crimber Closes the Gap Behind Number One Cassio Dias

    Fight to the Top – John Crimber Closes the Gap Behind Number One Cassio Dias

    The rain began to fall as fans streamed into VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, just steps away from EverBank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. PBR Jacksonville, sponsored by the U.S. Border Patrol, occurred on February 23rd and 24th.

    The weekend was full of excitement as 18-year-old John Crimber won his first-ever PBR Unleash The Beast event in front of a sold-out crowd that included actor Cole Hauser from Yellowstone.

    It is no surprise to PBR fans that John Crimber is excelling in the 2024 PBR Unleash the Beast Tour. Destined for greatness, John Crimber is the son of PBR legend and Florida Freedom head coach Paulo Crimber. He got his PBR card when he turned 18 and earned ten event wins on the Challenger Series, PBR Canada, before making his Unleash The Beast debut.

    Crimber earned 148 Unleash The Beast points in Jacksonville, Florida, climbing to second place in the 2024 PBR World Championship, just 295 points behind number one Cassio Dias.

     

    John Crimber closes in on Cassio Dias after a good showing at PBR Jacksonville. Photo Courtesy of Josh Homer at Bullstock Media

     

    Despite being bucked off bull Big Worm on Saturday night, Dias made a comeback and rode Hunted Down for 82.5 points. We interviewed Dias, the current world number one, and asked him about his recent experience riding Man Hater and his plans for the remainder of the 2024 season.

    “My family, they travel with me; they are what keeps me strong; they are my biggest support group,” Dias said with Gloria Peña translating.

    Dias does not shy away from hard work, consistent training, or the chance to ride previously unridden bull, Man Hater. His family joins him on his travels, and he stays energized by their presence on his exciting PBR journey.

    When asked about the secret behind his consistent performance throughout the season, Dias replied, “Lots of hard work and training, lots of training.”

    Like all journeys, there are peaks and valleys, and this young bull rider is ready for the ride. Dias achieved a new career high of 94.75 points by riding Man Hater in the Championship Round of the 2024 PBR Unleash the Beast Michelob ULTRA PBR in Los Angeles. Before being ridden by Dias, the bull had bucked off thirty bull riders.

    With Peña translating, we asked which bull he would like to match up with again this year, and he said, “Man Hater was definitely a great match. We scored great points together. I would want to match up with Man Hater again, for sure!”

    Current World #1 in the PBR Unlease the Beast Tour, Cassio Dias. Photo Courtesy of Josh Homer at Bullstock Media

    Dias won the title of the PBR Brazil National Championship in 2022. In addition to winning $100K, Dias also secured a spot to participate in two of the main PBR competitions in the United States: the Challenger Series Final and the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals. He continues to succeed across the nation. Will 2024 be the year Dias adds PBR World Champion to his achievements?

    “I’m going to keep training and working hard,” Dias said in response to the question of how he would stay consistent for the remainder of the 2024 season.

    Other notable riders at the PBR Unleash The Beast in Jacksonville, Florida, included Dalton Kasel, who was the only other rider going three for three behind Crimber. Veteran João Ricardo Vieira showed up to ride Saturday evening, earning scores of 89 and 90 to secure a third-place finish.

    John Crimber and Caden Bunch tied for round one win at the recent Sold-Out PBR Unleash The Beast Event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Crimber remained number two in the Unleash The Beast standings, inching within 270.5 points of number one Cassio Dias. (as of March 11, 2024)

    -Story by Kristen Schurr

    PBR Unleash The Beast – U.S. Border Patrol PBR Jacksonville

    VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, Florida
    Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
    1. John Crimber, 87-87.75-91-265.75-148 Points.
    2. Dalton Kasel, 87-84.5-89.5-261.00-97 Points.
    3. João Ricardo Vieira, 0-89-90-179.00-83 Points.
    4. Daylon Swearingen, 0-86-87.25-173.25-50.5 Points.
    5. Ednélio Almeida, 84.75-86.75-0-171.50-42 Points.
    6. Caden Bunch, 86.25-84.75-0-171.00-35.5 Points.
    7. Jesse Petri, 84.25-86.5-0-170.75-30 Points.
    8. Michael Lane, 84.75-75-0-159.75-13 Points.
    9. Cody Jesus, 87-0-0-87.00-25 Points.
    10. Clay Guiton, 86.5-0-0-86.50-17 Points.
    (tie). Dawson Branton, 86.5-0-0-86.50-17 Points.
    12. Kaiden Loud, 0-86.25-0-86.25-15 Points.
    (tie). Marco Eguchi, 86.25-0-0-86.25-13.5 Points.
    14. Vitor Losnake, 0-86-0-86.00-13.5 Points.
    15. Lucas Divino, 0-85.75-0-85.75-12 Points.

    Unleash the Beast Standings (as of March 13, 2024):

    2024 PBR Unleash The Beast Standings
    (Place, Rider, Events, Wins, Top 5’s, Points, Total Winnings)
    1. Cassio Dias, 15, 4, 5, 881.83, $235,932.67
    2. John Crimber, 13, 1, 5, 617.33, $163,383.00
    3. Dalton Kasel, 13, 1, 5, 563.50, $136,275.33
    4. Austin Richardson, 8, 2, 3, 533.50, $188,437.00
    5. Eduardo Aparecido, 13, 0, 3, 447.00, $77,521.67
    6. Koltin Hevalow, 16, 1, 5, 445.50, $92,458.67
    7. Caden Bunch, 14, 2, 3, 400.83, $105,718.17
    8. João Ricardo Vieira, 13, 1, 3, 380.00, $88,701.67
    9. Alan de Souza, 13, 0, 3, 372.00, $58,326.33
    10. Brady Fielder, 15, 2, 4, 327.16, $72,640.33
    11. Cody Jesus, 10, 0, 3, 327.00, $59,803.00
    12. Julio Cesar Marques, 15, 0, 3, 323.32, $44,076.33
    13. Kaiden Loud, 14, 0, 2, 264.50, $41,359.00
    14. Wingson Henrique da Silva, 12, 1, 3, 263.83, $61,151.00
    15. Leonardo Castro, 4, 1, 1, 257.50, $121,005.00
    16. Alex Cerqueira, 14, 0, 2, 245.00, $34,528.00
    17. Clay Guiton, 10, 0, 3, 238.66, $32,232.33
    18. Daylon Swearingen, 15, 0, 1, 237.50, $26,627.00
    19. Cort McFadden, 9, 0, 2, 234.00, $25,610.00
    20. Vitor Losnake, 13, 0, 2, 223.50, $23,457.67

    Full Crowd at the PBR Unleash the Beast Tour in Jacksonville. Photo Courtesy of Bullstock Media.

     

  • Shawn Hays Reins in the Title of World’s Greatest Horseman

    Shawn Hays Reins in the Title of World’s Greatest Horseman

    When Shawn Hays learned he’d earned the title of the World’s Greatest Horseman, the annual event that celebrates best-in-class cow horse showmanship by pitting the greatest from across disciplines against one another in a single spectacular event, he had a somewhat surprising response. “It was just a relief!” he says. “Like, ‘Oh, finally!’ I’ve been second twice, I’ve been third, I’ve been fifth, I’ve been seventh, eighth, ninth, all the way down through there like sixteenth last year. So I was like, ‘Surely if I just keep chipping away, hopefully I’ll knock the number one spot out eventually.”

    As it turns out, 2024 would be his lucky year. He and his horse MoonshineandTwoAdvil can now claim the title of World’s Greatest Horseman, going down in history as two of the greats. Each year, the event brings together the most seasoned horsemen and the most prized horses to compete in rein work, fence work, steer stopping, and cow work to determine the true all-around masters.

    The National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) puts on the World’s Greatest Horseman competition, which is held annually as part of the Kalpowar Quarter Horses Celebration of Champions. This year’s Celebration of Champions took place from February 11 to 24, culminating in the World’s Greatest Horseman finale on the final day of the celebration at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

    The competition to designate the World’s Greatest Horseman kicked off in 1999 to showcase talent across disciplines, and this year’s event marked 25 years in World’s Greatest Horseman action. Although entry is open to anyone who feels ready to participate, this is no space for amateurs, as 80 of the most talented horsemen around signed up to compete in this year’s event. Each entry is limited to one horse and one rider. The participant and horse must reach the highest overall score across the four disciplines to earn the title.

    Shawn Hays after winning the title of World’s Greatest Horsemen. Photos Courtesy of Anna Krause

    “The thing that I think is the coolest is that you see horsemen and horsewomen from all different levels kind of coming in and trying this. We have competitors that are really successful, maybe in the cutting industry or the roping industry, that come over and try their luck at the World’s Greatest Horseman. So, you get a very diverse group of athletes coming to compete in Fort Worth for this title,” says Callie McCarthy-Boevers, Director of Media and Communications for the NRCHA.

    This year’s event was especially enticing, as it featured the biggest payouts to date. With $20,000 per event on the line, it was no surprise the crew of cowboys was willing to fight tooth and nail to claim the coveted title. The payouts are nearly double what they were in 2023, thanks to the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), the American Rope Horse Futurity Association (ARHFA), and One Time Pepto, sponsors of the rein work, steer stopping, and cow work, respectively.
    “I think the biggest thing is how electric and exciting the crowd is. We had a sell-out show. So we completely packed the Will Rogers Coliseum, which houses just under 5000 people. And so it’s loud and exciting. It’s kind of our own version of a rock concert, if you will,” says McCarthy-Boevers.

    As the winner of the main event, Hays took home a check for $150,000. But money aside, it was an achievement many years in the making, as Hays had been eying the title since he first learned about the event years before. “The first time I saw the World’s Greatest Horseman, those four events, the reining, the cutting, the steer stopping, and the down the fence, I’m like, ‘Man, I’ve got to do this. This looks pretty cool. This is right up my alley because it’s an all-around deal,” he says.

    However, it wasn’t a straight path to victory. After coming up short in 2023, Hays knew that he and MoonshineandTwoAdvil, which he calls “Keebler,” would have to train hard.

    “We always do the reining and fence work day in and day out, going to all these shows. So the main thing I really went back and concentrated on is the roping and the cutting,” Hays says of his preparation process. “The last couple of years I showed at this deal, the roping kind of took me out of it. You would think roping is like riding a bicycle, but I guess it’s not,” he says with a laugh.

    Leading up to this year’s event, whenever he wasn’t competing, Hays sent the horse over to fellow horseman Dustin Rogers, who would rope on him. This allowed the cow horse to become more acclimated to the roping that had set Hays back in previous years.

    Hays, and his horse, MoonshineandTwoAdvil, can now claim the title of World’s Greatest Horseman, going down in history as two of the greats. Photos Courtesy of Anna Krause

    The combined effort and discipline just go to show that if there’s one cowboy who has worked hard to earn the title of World’s Greatest Horseman, it’s Hays. “Shawn has been an incredible competitor for many years. He just won a million dollars in NRCHA earnings this past year, and now he’s won the World’s Greatest Horseman. He is just on this huge uphill trajectory. It’s so exciting for him and his family,” says Emily Konkel, Executive Director of the NRCHA. The NRCHA oversees and enforces the rules that regulate the sport of reined cow horse, in addition to hosting the World’s Greatest Horseman event each year.

    The festivities also feature a youth division, which went to Nicole Donahoo and Very Smart Pearl this year. “It’s a really cool opportunity for those kids. They’re the future of NRCHA, and they’re hungry for this.” Konkel says of the youth event.

    Ultimately, the event brings the best and most talented horsemen together among the masses, who get to experience the thrill of watching the other most highly technical and seasoned athletes doing what they do best, year after year.

    “It’s an honor to be in with that group of riders. And there’s a lot of guys that still have not won this event that are truly great horsemen, too. And it’s just amazing that I can be considered one of the ones that won it.” Hays says.

    -Story by Whitney Meers

  • Team Cavender’s Jolee Alvey

    Team Cavender’s Jolee Alvey

    Every rodeo starts with the singing of the national anthem and a prayer. It makes sense that Jolee Alvey, a 17-year-old high school senior and a Region 4 Texas High School Rodeo Association athlete, favorite place to be is with her church youth group when she is not on the road going to rodeos.

    “I don’t have much free time outside of rodeo because I high school rodeo; I am in the Lone Star High School Rodeo Association and hit every jackpot in between,” said the Lindale, Texas cowgirl. “I am always roping and always rodeoing, but I am also very active in my youth group at church. “We go to an event every year called Leadership Training for Christ,” she added. “It’s held every year during Easter weekend in Dallas.”

    Alvey said North Texas Leadership Training for Christ (NTLTC) is an event she looks forward to attending every year. She said it helped her develop close relationships with all the church youth group members. According to the NTLTC website, the purpose of NTLC is to plan, organize, promote, and execute programs that assist young Christians in developing their knowledge of the Bible and biblical principles, enhancing their communication and leadership skills, and orienting their energies and abilities to areas of Christian Service.

    Jolee Alvey proudly rides for Team Cavenders. Photo Courtesy of Twisted C Rustic Shots

    “I really became close with everyone over this last year and a half because before then, I was always gone and rodeoing,” she said. “I got baptized the night before my birthday, and that experience brought me much closer to God.”

    The young cowgirl decided to transition to homeschool classes. Now, she will have more time to focus on her multiple rodeo events. She said she competes in barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, breakaway roping, and team roping and is a former rodeo queen.

    “I went in person to school my freshman year, but when I went back my sophomore year, I decided it was not really for me,” she said. “I went to homeschooling for my junior year. Now, I can focus on rodeo more.”

    Alvey said the homeschool program simplifies juggling schoolwork and rodeo because there are no set due dates throughout the semester. “As long as I have everything turned in by the nine-week mark, I am good to go,” she said. Taking time to focus on rodeo has paid off for Alvey. She was crowned the 2023 LHSRA Breakaway Average Champion.

    Alvey, who also won the “Raye” of Sunshine award in the THSRA in 2023, said it was an honor to carry on the legacy that Bailee Raye Ackerman Byler left behind when she and her husband died in a helicopter crash leaving their wedding in 2018. The award is presented to a THSRA member who displays exceptional character, leadership, and sportsmanship.

    -Article Courtesy of Charity Pulliam

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  • American Hat: Shad Mayfield

    American Hat: Shad Mayfield

    Shad Mayfield can be seen wearing an American 100x black felt hat during the colder months but said he would wear a felt year-round if Texas did not reach the scorching temperatures that it does. “I have been with American Hat’s since junior high,” said the 5x Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “They have believed in me every step of the way. “American is all I have ever worn,” he added. “Their quality is the best, for sure.”

    Son of Sylvester Mayfield, a two-time WNFR qualifier, Shad ‘Money’ Mayfield said he knew from a young age that he loved the competitiveness that rodeo brought to his life. “I have always been very competitive,” he said. “When I went to the junior rodeos, I entered every event, and I loved getting the chance to compete against everyone.”

    Mayfield’s competitive edge sets him apart from other Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association athletes. So much so that at the start of the 2020 WNFR, he led the tie-down roping by $89.479.

    “I always said when I turned 18, I was going to buy my card and rodeo,” he said. “So, that’s what I did. My dad rodeoed with me for my first year.” His start in the PRCA was slow. He said he was lucky enough to win money during the spring and early summer, but it was not until later that year Mayfield realized he had a chance at making his first WNFR.

    “It wasn’t until late summertime when I placed at Cheyenne, and that gave me a good jump in the world standings and put me in the top 20, that I realized I had shot at the finals,” Mayfield said. “I was actually up at the high school finals and Cheyenne at the same time.” Mayfield was riding the bubble in the 15th spot during the last week of rodeos before the season ended.

    Fred Whitfield and Sad Mayfield at the 2023 NFR Buckle Ceremony. Photo Courtesy of Kristen Schurr

    “It was a lot for a young kid, thinking about if I didn’t make it,” he said. “There were a lot of ‘what ifs’ in that time. So, I took that week at home to practice really hard and tried to stay positive.”
    After winning and placing at several rodeos in the last week of the 2019 rodeo season, Mayfield qualified for his first NFR. He ended the year 12th in the world standings after placing in two rounds. At the start of 2020, he won the San Antonio PRCA Rodeo and The American. He estimated this put him around $100,000 in winnings.

    “I was at the Houston rodeo when everything started shutting down,” he said. “Covid slowed down the whole rodeo season for everyone, but it really put a stop to a lot of goals I could have accomplished that year with the momentum I had.” He went on to win his first world title in Globe Life Field at the 2020 WNFR. While thankful for the win, he said it is still at the top of his goal list to win a gold buckle in the infamous Thomas and Mac Event Center.

    “I always watched the NFR there as a kid,” he said. “Watching Cody [Ohl], Fred [Whitfield], and Joe Beaver in the Thomas and Mac as a kid, that feeling of being there is like no other.”
    Since his first NFR, Mayfield has had five consecutive finals qualifications and won over a million dollars in his pro rodeo career. This year is looking a little different for the 23-year-old cowboy. “I have always been tight in my hips, but this year at the finals, they really affected me,” he said. “I went to my doctor, and he told me I’d have to have surgery on both of them due to torn labrum and impingements.”

    He originally planned to have the surgeries after Rodeo Houston this year. However, after revisiting with his doctor and surgeon, he elected to hold off until after the 2024 rodeo season and NFR.

    Mayfield said he is working to maintain his health and focus on not worsening his hip conditions. He is doing all of this in hopes of achieving his dream of winning that gold buckle in the Thomas and Mac.

    -Article Courtesy of  Charity Pulliam

     

  • American Hat: Riley Webb

    American Hat: Riley Webb

    It’s no surprise that 20-year-old Riley Webb from Denton, Texas, PRCA tie-down roper (currently ranked number seven in the world) and team roping header, is going straight to the top in his rodeo career. His parents, Dirk and Jennifer Webb run Webb Roping Productions, a sanctioned cattle producer for the breakaway and tie-down qualifiers for the Junior World Finals. Dirk is also the manager of The American Rodeo, and with Jennifer being secretary, Riley couldn’t have had a better setup to be an achiever in the rodeo world.  

    Riley’s first rodeo was in Denton, Texas, at only a few weeks old. He roped his first calf at a young age and was hooked from that point on.  At 11 years old, he began his rodeo career roping competitively. Riley was the 2020 National High School Rodeo Association Champion Tie-Down Roper. When he gets up every morning, he’s always roping and practicing with one goal: to accomplish getting better. Riley says it’s in inches and tenths of seconds they’re working with, so he has to think about things most people don’t. Everybody can rope and have a good horse, so he has to think outside the box to improve himself. Riley became a member of the PRCA in 2021, and he says his favorite rodeo is the Pendleton Roundup in Pendleton, Oregon, because of the atmosphere created by the fans. 

    Winning Reno is his favorite memory, and his favorite food on the road is Mexican. For his young age, Riley already has quite a resume of accomplishments. As well as winning many other rodeos throughout the year, including Rodeo Houston (Houston, Texas,) Rodeo Austin (Austin, Texas,) National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, Calgary Stampede, Alberta, Canada, Horse Heaven Roundup in Kennewick, Washington, and The Washington State Fair in Puyallup, Washington, in 2023 (for the second time,) he qualified for the finals and claimed the number one spot and he won his first PRCA World Championship; winning $452,852, and breaking the previous season earnings record. He finished second in the average with 82.9 seconds on ten head, earning $172,447 at the finals in Las Vegas. 

    Riley’s first trip to the Thomas and Mack was in 2022, and he finished 12th in the average and tenth in the world, placing in five rounds that year.  Riley’s success this year comes from a couple of new horses he calls Boots and Rudy and a new determination to look at every single run individually, practice with the basics, not worry about the standings, and just do his very best and execute every single run. 

    Currently sitting in the top ten in the standings, he’s starting in a great spot in his 2024 ti-down roping season and is well on his way to adding to his growing list of accolades.

  • American Hat: Haven Meged

    American Hat: Haven Meged

    25-year-old Miles City, Montana native, and PRCA member since 2018, Haven Meged, should have plenty to smile about these days, as he’s not only recently married to 2023 Breakaway Champion Shelby (Boisjoli) Meged, (meeting for the first time in Junior High rodeos) but he’s making big “boots’ to fill for any future PRCA tie-down ropers.  Haven is a five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Qualifier, winning the tie-down average in Las Vegas last month, and breaking the record with 77.40 seconds on 10 head.  

    Currently residing close to Stephenville, Texas, Haven and Shelby both have the work ethic that makes champions.  Along with setting this new record, a new arena record was set in round 7 as well, making Thomas and Mack history, tying his calf in only 6.4 seconds.  “It happened so fast, I had a good calf and just tried to take full advantage.”  Meged said about his historic run. The previous record of 6.5 seconds was shared by Cody Ohl in 2003, Trevor Brazile in 2015, and Shad Mayfield in 2022. Shad Mayfield was the next guy out of the box in round 7 after Meged, and tied his calf in 6.1 seconds, but the calf got up, which nullified the run. Haven commented, “It was just a great set of calves.”  

    This was Haven’s second world title, as he was first World Champion in 2019, and along with winning the average, he was also crowned Intercollegiate Tie-Down Champion that same year. Haven also recently won the Canadian tie-down roping title. Currently sitting second in the PRCA/Ram World Standings with, $309,238, (chasing Riley Webb) Haven says he’s keeping his foot on the gas and the plan is to not let off. Fast times in the first round made horse changes necessary, and in round two, Haven made the decision to run six-year-old, For Goodness Shakes, AKA, “Lil Punch,” a sorrel gelding he gives full credit to his wife Shelby, for training and letting him use, rounds two through nine. 

    Haven recalls, “My horse has been phenomenal.”  “He stood in the box every single night, hit the barrier and gave it his all, and for a 6-year-old that’s never been to an indoor rodeo, it was pretty cool for him to be able to be so consistent.”  “He’s been the biggest blessing.”  It’s been a great year for Meged in rodeo, surpassing $1 million in career earnings early on in the season, and marrying his Canadian fiancé Shelby back in May, but he’s also invested his money in cattle.  When Haven and Shelby have a few days off, you can find them back in Miles City, helping out at his family’s sale barn, or out on the family ranch.  The couple also enjoys spending time together, supporting each other in their events, and training young horses.  

  • Team Cavender’s Anna Wilder

    Team Cavender’s Anna Wilder

    Anna Wilder started her career in rodeo in fourth grade. The 18 year old from Millington, Tenn., grew up around horses. Her mom, Bebe, barrel raced in college and her dad, Keith, started roping after he met Bebe. When she went to high school, she competed in all the timed events, barrels, poles, breakaway, goat tying, and team roping. “I started doing them all and wanted to be my best at all of them; goat tying, and breakaway roping are my favorite.” She uses the same horse for both events, Sadie, a little bay mare. Anna uses another horse, Movin, for barrels and poles.

    She just graduated from Tipton-Rosemark Academy, a small Christian private school; there were 23 in her graduating class. “That’s where both my parents went and it’s only about 20 minutes from home.” She has friends through high school rodeo as well as school. There are a few others in school that share her interest in running the barrels, but for the most part it’s just her and her brother, Daniel, who also goes to that school and competes in all the timed events. Anna has an older sister, Emma Kate, who competes in breakaway roping and ties goats. Emma Kate goes to UT Martin, which is where Anna will go in the fall. They will live together. Both girls are getting their college education thanks to scholarships.

    Rodeo has taught her a lot. “Definitely to trust God’s timing and patience. I’ll have my plans and goals and it doesn’t turn out how I envisioned,” she shares. “I have to think that it’s not my time it’s His. It happens a lot. It’s a continual thing – and it’s always just trusting in His plan.” Her plan is always to give it her all and leave it all in the arena; and give the glory to God.

    After the finals, she will go to little jackpots and she is hoping to go to the CINCH world championships at the Lazy E. She and her sister have been doing goat tying clinics around her place and they will have a few over the summer. She plans to college rodeo and see where that takes her. Her major is going to be in accounting and finance. “I’ve always been somewhat good at math, and it’s been suggested to me. I I shadowed someone that was an accountant and thought it would be interesting.”

    Anna has been part of the Cavender Team for a year. “It’s helped me in many aspects of life. I’ve learned about sponsorships and how the rodeo world works.”

  • Team Cavender’s Jada Trosper

    Team Cavender’s Jada Trosper

    Jada Trosper is cherishing every minute of her senior year and her time at home with her family. This fall, the 17-year-old from Ponder, Texas, will be a freshman at Oklahoma State University. “I am going into college six credits shy of my junior year,” said the captain of her cheerleading squad. She plans on majoring in business and minoring in media and marketing. “We have three family businesses and I have hopes to eventually take those over.” She also has her radar on working for a big-name company within the Western industry. “I want to give back to the community that I get to be a part of – the greatest people on earth.” Jada knows one thing is certain. “I do not want a desk job – I want to see the world and travel and be in this industry.”
    Jada competes in barrels and poles but retired her good pole horse last year. “Poles is my absolutely my favorite event; it takes pure focus and determination, and if you have a horse that can do it, it’s amazing.” Jada has a list of accomplishments a mile long and attributes her success to the rodeo contestants that have gone before her. “I am able to learn and grow as an athlete by watching the most successful athletes prepare their mental game, perform, and win.”

    Her mom, Melinda (MAIDEN NAME) was Miss Rodeo Oklahoma in 1994 and Jada and her 15-year-old sister, Tana, learned from her the strength – both mental and physical -it takes to compete. Jada competed in ????sports???? until her sophomore year, when she chose to focus on cheerleading and rodeo. “With cheerleading, I could still be part of all the sports,” she said. The family spent last summer living in a living quarters trailer, chasing Jada’s rodeo dreams across the country. This summer will be a bit different. “I will still rodeo, but it won’t be as far.”

    “This summer is my parents 25th anniversary, my sister will celebrate her sweet 16, and I’m going to college,” she said of the upcoming trip to Aruba. “We’ve been on maybe two vacations – we have horses. We are a unit and each other’s best friends so me being the first to leave the nest will be hard. We are going to do other special little moments this summer.”

    For now, Jada is excited to get to the Texas High School finals, Region 3, the end of the month. “My little horse got hurt, so he couldn’t run last year,” she said. “My young horse did amazing, but Texas is tough. This year my main man is back and I cannot wait to run down that alley.”

    Cavender’s Team member – Jada Trosper. “I have loved that company since I was a little girl. My dad was friends with Mr. Joe Cavender. I got a little insight into the brotherhood, but I wanted to know the story. Riley Webb has been a family friend and Miss Jennifer came up to me and said I was going to have an amazing opportunity. All she did was tell me a little of their story and then I got to go to Cavender’s Summer Camp. They take us to the headquarters and tell us the story of the brothers. They have the true family morals. They still work together – all the brothers care about giving back and they are giving back to us. We have been exposed to so many opportunities through them. They have completely excelled the sponsorship program – I am now part of their family.”

    COLLEGE INFO:
    They put a lot of effort into it – one of the few colleges that provide the resource to before we go for enrollment, they can see our skill level to determine our major classes – same one, but help a little more in the areas of weakness, but more personalization to it.
    Three hours, just far away – but if I need to swap a horse out, or shoe a horse, I will make the drive.
    Cody Hollingsworth – great guy – he seems like an amazing – and if the athletes show they want it, he will get behind them – I’m excited to work with him.
    I have been blessed to have several associations work with me and I get to go on the Cowboy channel and do a roundup interview – I love it and that’s why I want to pursue that career.

  • Team Cavender’s Ethan Winckler

    Team Cavender’s Ethan Winckler

    “Don’t try to prove your haters wrong; try to prove the people who believe in you right.” These are good words of advice from 17-year-old Ethan Winckler, an Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association member from Winnie, Texas. Ethan, the youngest of three brothers (Tyler, 27, and Korbin, 21), remembers always looking up to his brother Korbin; being only three years older, Ethan had to do everything Korbin tried his hand at. From sports to riding sheep and calves, no matter what Korbin was doing, Ethan cried and begged his parents, Keith and Shantell, to let him have a go at it too. Ethan says he was the kid who always cried to go to the rodeo, but once he got there, he was crying again, but for a different reason..he was scared! His folks never forced him to ride, but he continued getting on sheep and then calves. As he got older he worked his way up to the steers, and it was then he realized how much he craved it, and with the talent he had, he was ready for more.

    Keith decided to text retired professional bull rider LJ Jenkins out of Porum, Oklahoma, to get help for his son and more opportunities to practice. Ethan recalls LJ saying, “Yep, come on!” So Ethan packed up and headed North, moving over 7½ hours from home to pursue his dream. Ethan and LJ created a bond and Ethan ended up staying in Oklahoma for nine months, becoming a member of the OHSRA and finishing his senior year enrolled in an online charter school. Ethan built a friend group in rodeo but quickly ran into a long buck-off streak. LJ told him to talk to Lonnie Austin (Sulphur Springs, Texas), who went right to work with him on the bucking barrel, and doing exercises to improve his form. With Lonnie living five hours away, Ethan would leave at 5 am, get to Lonnie’s at about 10 am, and they’d practice and train and get on bulls and then drive home day after day. Almost immediately, his form and riding style changed. He began winning and covering about 80 percent of his bulls. Then, on November 4th, 2023, Ethan had a little misfortune after making a ride at a High School rodeo. His landing was perfect, he said, but his knee kind of buckled underneath him, leaving him with a torn ACL, MCL, and a cracked femur bone from the impact. Dr Tandy Freeman performed an MRI and then scheduled surgery for December 1st. Dr Tandy predicted recovery would be 5-6 months.

    Before leaving for Oklahoma, Ethan went to school at the Hamshire-Fannett school in Hamshire-Fannett, Texas. He was first-team all-district in baseball his freshman year, then second-team all-district in football his sophomore year. His community is a small rice-farming town between Beaumont and Houston. “It’s very marsh down here with gators and pigs everywhere.” He laughs as he tells me a story about the time he and his buddies were swimming and fishing off a boat, and a ten-foot alligator came up on them. “Oh, we’re used to them,” he says, “they pretty much go away if you leave them alone.” Ethan is no stranger to the water; he’s saved his money to continue rodeoing by working for a crawfish farmer. He drives a boat, dumps the crawfish traps, cleans the crawfish, and delivers them to places to be sold. His buddies always told him with his build, he’d be a good bareback rider, so he tried it, but he just never got into it. He’s a first-generation bull rider, and he says his want to comes from “pure passion.” Ethan’s first bull, at just shy of 16 years old, was Universal Pro Rodeo’s “Chandler’s Mule.” A bull that went to the NFR that same year, Ethan got him rode for 87 points and 2nd place at the Hull-Daisetta rodeo in Texas. Ethan is sponsored by the Lane Frost Brand and has bought himself a 1999 red Ford conversion van to travel in, complete with a full-sized bed for sleeping on the road. He’s looking forward to the new Lane Frost movie coming out. He and his van are featured in the movie, and they’ve been out to film at the place where Lane Frost built his arena.

    Ethan takes care of his practice bulls while recovering from surgery, down at the arena on his family’s place, and likes to visit and hang out with his friends, most likely eating a nice hot “Cup a Noodles.” His future plans include pro rodeoing full-time with the money he’s saved from previous rodeo winnings and crawfish farming.

    He says he’d like to make the NFR finals his rookie year and be rookie of the year, and he has dreams of winning multiple world titles. Ethan’s favorite Bible verse is Psalms 16:3: “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”

  • On the Trail with Ky Hamilton

    On the Trail with Ky Hamilton

    Since the 2023 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Ky Hamilton has become a household name. The 23-year-old professional bull rider, originally from Queensland, Australia, rocked the rodeo industry after coming back to win a gold buckle following a serious injury after being bucked off a bull during round five of the finals. Just as shocked as fans, the other competitors were not expecting to see Ky at the round six performance.

    RodeoReady Photo

    “I know those guys didn’t think I was going to show up and win, and they damn sure didn’t want me to, and I went ahead and did it,” said the four-time National Finals Rodeo Qualifier and 2023 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bull Riding World Champion.

    Ky, who joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2019, came into the National Finals Rodeo with over $250,000 in earnings in the regular season and started the finals in second place. Hamilton scored an 86.5 in the first round, a 78 in the second, 87.5 in round three, and an 89 in the fourth round of the NFR. 

    Still riding the high from his recent success, Ky drew the bull Bales Hay’s MAGA, owned by Honeycutt Rodeo, for the fifth round. During his ride, Hamilton’s head collided with the bull, rendering him unconscious. Fans and athletes watched as he was carried out of the arena on a stretcher and taken to University Medical Center Trauma Center in Las Vegas, where it was discovered he had suffered a concussion as well as injuries to his ribs and lungs. 

    Due to the severity of his injuries, medical professionals recommended he sit on the sidelines for the following rounds of the rodeo. However, the cowboy had different plans.

    “The whole time I was in the hospital, I knew I was coming back,” Ky said. Although he wanted to immediately return to the rodeo, he said he waited for a doctor to review any changes in his lungs the next morning before actually leaving the hospital. 

    “There was no doubt in my mind that as long as there was nothing worse with my lung, I was going to be riding,” said Ky.

    Not only did Hamilton return for the next performance, he tied for third place with 85.5 points and took home over $15,000 in round six alone. During round seven on Wednesday night, he was the sole rider and had a $99,000 payday. He continued his winning streak in the following days, earning over half of a million dollars overall in addition to a world championship title.

    RodeoReady Photo

    “I showed that I came there to win, and nothing was getting in my way,” said Ky.

    Although Hamilton has collected numerous wins in both the United States and Australia, he said the countries vary greatly when it comes to the rodeo industry. 

    “It’s a hell of a lot bigger,” Ky said about American bull riding and rodeos. He said that events are more spread out in Australia and have a smaller payout. Because of this, he said people in Australia must work a day job rather than travel full-time from rodeo to rodeo, which is a common practice for American cowboys and cowgirls.

    “Over there, you only get to go to about one rodeo per weekend, and there’s one performance, and that’s it,” Hamilton said. He also said that the stock and competitors of Australia are not on the same level of difficulty as the ones he has seen in the United States. 

    “Everything’s just on a smaller scale over there,” he said. 

    Ky competed for the first time in America at the age of fifteen, and a few years later, the bull rider decided to move from Australia to the United States to rodeo full-time. He now resides in Texas and travels to compete in rodeos across the nation. In 2023, Hamilton won rodeos in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, North Dakota, Idaho, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

    With his successful 2023 season ending, Ky is now focused on the year ahead. 

    “It’s the same every year; just try to win a world title… I damn sure want to do it again,” he said. Ky said another goal he has for this year is to ride Bales Hay’s MAGA, the bull that cost him round five and sent him to the hospital.

    “He sure got the better of me, so I’d like to get even with him,” Hamilton said. 

    Ky plans to return to the arena in January 2024, sharing that he hopes to ride in Fort Worth, Texas and Denver, Colorado. Although he will be back on the road, he will be missing his travel partner, Stetson Wright, who is out due to a hamstring injury sustained at the NFR in December. 

    Despite the numerous injuries and Stetson’s absence, Ky will be continuing his chase for another gold buckle and won’t be throwing in the towel anytime soon.

    Editor’s Note: Ky was also featured in the November 2020 Edition of “On the Trail” by writer Siri Stevens  



  • Team Cavender’s Sage Gaillard

    Team Cavender’s Sage Gaillard

    With a family with rodeo flowing through their veins, Sage Gaillard is no stranger to the competition or the lifestyle of competing on the arena floor. Sage has major wins from her freshman and sophomore years, claiming the gold at the Texas High School State Finals in barrel racing.

    Sage competes in barrels, breakaway, and goat tying. She has had most of her success in barrel racing. Sage shared that her favorite arena to compete is in Abline where the Texas State High School Finals are held. She had two good clean runs but didn’t have a fast enough time to make it to the National High School Finals Rodeo.

    When getting in the competitive mode, Sage shares that she treats it like any other day; she tries not to get nervous but instead spends time with her friends. She also listens to music of all genres and one of her favorites is Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus.

    When Sage is not on the rodeo road, she is found at school or hanging out with her friends. She shares that if she could spend the day with any celebrity, she would love to meet professional barrel racer Hailey Kinsel.  When Sage has a moment at home, she loves to binge-watch Gilmore Girls. While on the road Sage shared that her favorite road trip snack is peanut butter crackers.

    Sage has been a member of Team Cavender’s Youth Rodeo Team since her freshman year of high school, when her brother, Gus Gaillard, introduced her to the team. She has continued to grow and make new friends along the way. Her favorite thing about being part of the team is the team summit where the members come together and meet professional rodeo athletes and learn life skills such as how to interview and be more professional day to day. Now as a senior, she is looking forward to the next chapter in her life. 

    Sage shared about life with her brother Gus, a PRCA saddle bronc rider. He is a third-generation saddle bronc rider in the Gaillard family. “It is great to see my brother accomplish his dreams,”. Sage’s family also has a great history of rodeo athletes, as her father was the reserve college finals champion back in the ‘90s. Her mom also competed in breakaway roping. 

    Now as a senior, Sage is looking forward to the next chapter in her life. Although rodeo is not in the cards for her going off to college, Sage has ambitions to pursue a career in communications and marketing. She hopes to design a line of apparel and be active in social media content creation. 

    The Rodeo News family wishes Sage the best of luck in her new endeavors! She’s left a lasting impression on the young rodeo competitors ready to follow in her footsteps!

    Gaillard Family
  • Team Cavender’s Jase Stout

    Team Cavender’s Jase Stout

    If you happen to be behind the bucking chutes at a Texas high school rodeo, you may just come across a singing jokester who happens to be one of the top saddle bronc riders in the state. Jase Stout, from Decatur, Texas, has made a name for himself over the past three years.
    Jase started his rodeo career early in the mutton busting while his dad rode bucking horses. He soon moved from riding steers to entering his first junior high rodeo, where he rode saddle bronc steers. Jase quickly worked his way into the winning circle after entering high school. He made it to the High School National Finals in his freshman, sophomore and junior years. Although, those wins came with a price.
    During Jase’s sophomore year, he had a horse rough him up in the chutes. The judges gave him a re-ride which flipped over on top of him. He waited two weeks and got on two more head before finally heading to the doctor.
    “I ended up tearing my MCL and meniscus and had to have surgery,” said Jase.
    He had a long road to recovery but learned that patience is key with an injury like this. Jase took his physical therapy serious and managed to be back riding after two months. While he missed a few high school rodeos and UPRA rodeos he still managed to qualify for the finals.
    This year, Jase came back stronger than before his injury. He has been working on his endurance to ensure he has the strength in the event of having to ride a second horse. He stays in shape by doing a lot of cardio. He worked hard through the season and became the 2023 UPRA rookie of the year. He came home with a short-go win and claimed 3rd place overall in saddle bronc at the National High School Rodeo Finals.
    When Jase isn’t on the rodeo road, you can find him on the golf course or out hunting hogs with his friends for farmers and ranchers in the area.
    Jase shared he has gone to over 100 rodeos across the state of Texas and beyond this past year. He shares his go-to traveling snacks are a coconut Red Bull, peanuts and teriyaki beef jerky.
    He has come face to face with many great horses and many not so great but shares about the one he and many other riders keep an eye out for.“ A J and J Rodeo has a horse named Soda Pop Valley is one that we all have a love hate relationship with.” says Jase. “If you ride him you’re going to win but he’s a tough one to get by.”
    Jase graduated earlier this fall from high school and is currently taking a year to spend time hitting a lot of open rodeos before starting college in Weatherford in the fall of 2024. He is hoping to study ag business and plans to be involved in some trade programs and get his HVAC license.
    He has been a part of Team Cavender’s since his Sophomore year of high school. He has been so thankful for the doors the team has opened and the people he has met.
    “I have met some of my best friends through the team,” said Jase, “and honestly, this is more than just a team, it’s a family.”
    Jase is gearing up for the Junior World Finals in Vegas. This will be his fifth time to qualify for saddle bronc riding.
    Jase says, “I’ve been riding pretty good lately and have been hot, so I hope that carries over.”