Category: Newsletter Articles

It’s all come down to this.

Months spent qualifying. A lifetime of watching, learning and honing his skills.

This weekend, Wynn Schaack, of Wall, S.D., will put his experience to the test – competing against the top steer wrestlers in the world at RFD-TV’s The American, the biggest two-day payout in rodeo.

“It’s exciting,” Schaack said of the qualification. “Kind of surreal.”

Schaack’s journey to The American officially began last summer when he won the reserve champion steer wrestling title at the National High School Rodeo Association Finals. That earned him one qualification for The American Semi-Finals. He needed two.

He qualified again in Montana and a third time in Texas.

When the dust settled, Schaack was one of 170 steer wrestlers who made it to The American Semi-Finals. He advanced to the top 30 upon winning the second round of slack Feb. 24, then subsequently won the first performance of the semi-finals Thursday.

By Saturday, Schaack had entered the Top 10 lineup and advanced to the final qualifying round on Sunday. He threw his steer in a time of 4.01 seconds Sunday – securing a fourth-place finish on the leaderboard and becoming one of six underdogs to earn a spot at The American.

It’s a huge accomplishment for any rodeo cowboy, but especially one who is 19.

“I was definitely nervous being up against that level of competition,” Schaack said. “But, my dad always told me to think of every performance as just another run – don’t get too worried about it, just focus on what I do best. That’s what I did, and I guess it worked.”

Schaack hasn’t had much time to celebrate. After the competition Sunday, he drove all night from Texas to attend classes at MPCC’s campus in McCook on Monday. He’s currently studying agribusiness there and is an active member of the college’s rodeo team.

His teammates will be among the many cheering him on when he enters the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas this weekend for The American as will his family.

“My family is in the middle of calving right now, so my mom and brother had to stay home during the semi-finals and take care of stuff at the ranch,” Schaack said. “I’m hoping my mom at least can come down for The American. My dad and grandma will be there as well.”

There are a variety of ways the general public can watch live coverage of the event. Options can be found at rfdtvamericanrodeo.com.

“This whole experience has been amazing,” said Schaack. “I’ve been meeting a lot of people and have really stepped up my competitiveness because of it. I’ve always had a strong drive for rodeo, but now I want it more than ever.”

Bareback rider makes winning ride on new riggin’; champions determined at N.D. Winter Show PRCA rodeo

Valley City, N.D. (March 7, 2020) – Tucker Zingg was dreading breaking in a new bareback rigging.

When they’re new, the riggin’, which looks similar to a suitcase handle on a band of leather, is stiff and doesn’t have the broken-in feeling like a comfortable old shoe.

But his new riggin’ worked just fine.

The Crow Agency, Mont. cowboy won the bareback riding at the N.D. Winter Show PRCA rodeo in Valley City on March 7.

He scored 83 points aboard the Championship Rodeo bronc called Bunny Hugger, a horse that has bucked in the saddle bronc riding in the past.

“I really didn’t know the horse,” Zingg said. He was looking forward to riding the horse in an indoor arena, where they are more likely to buck quicker because they see walls, unlike at an outdoor arena. “I figured he’d be good inside, and he was awesome. He bucked in front of the chutes for half the ride before he moved,” he said. “Shoot, he made the ride for me.”

The thirty-one-year-old is an “old-timer” in bareback riding terms, but he still loves to go. “I’d rodeo more if I could,” he said. He and his fiancée, Jamie Riley, live on a ranch, where she runs some race-bred horses. “I’m just a hired hand,” he joked.

Zingg, who grew up in Bismarck, N.D., was on horseback at a young age. “Like all us ranch kids, I started before I could walk,” he said. He began riding junior bulls at age thirteen, then added bareback horses when he was sixteen. In college, he also team roped and tie-down roped, but bareback riding was his strength. Since he began his PRCA career, Zingg has qualified for a circuit finals rodeo eleven times: once in the Badlands Circuit (North Dakota and South Dakota), several times in the Montana Circuit, and once in the Mountain States Circuit (Wyoming and Colorado).

He and Jamie will marry on September 19 of this year, the same day as his parents wed 39 years ago. It’s a lucky day, he says, even though his mom passed away seventeen years ago.
In the saddle bronc riding, a young cowboy won the Winter Show.

Qwint Stroh, Dickinson, N.D., was 85 points on the Bailey Pro Rodeo horse Big Casino for the win.

Stroh, who is 21 years old, is the son of five-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Shaun Stroh. In his first year of pro rodeo, he also competes at regional rodeos in the North Dakota Rodeo Association and the Rough Riders Association. He won both the NDRA and Rough Riders saddle bronc riding titles last year.

In the bull riding, a Minnesota man topped the scoreboard.

Reid Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn., scored 87 points on the Bailey Pro Rodeo bull The Preacher.

It was Oftedahl’s first trip to the Winter Show, and the win is a good start for his year. “It’ll give me a little push,” he said. Oftedahl is 26 years old.

Other champions from the 83rd annual Winter Show include steer wrestler Scott Kleeman, Killdeer, N.D. (4.0 seconds); tie-down roper Jason Vohs, Dickinson, N.D. (9.9 seconds); team ropers Alfred Hansen, Dickinson, N.D. and Luke Morast, Halliday, N.D. (5.3 seconds); and barrel racer Kaylee Gallino, Wasta, S.D. (12.16 seconds).

The 83rd annual North Dakota Winter Show concluded on March 7. Dates for the 2021 event are tentatively set for Feb. 28-March 6.

For more information, visit www.NorthDakotaWinterShow.com or call 701.845.1401.

 

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Results, North Dakota Winter Show PRCA Rodeo, March 6-7, 2020 –N.D. Winter Show

All-Around champion: . –steer wrestling and tie-down roping

Bareback riding champion- Tucker Zingg, Crow Agency, Mont.
1. Tucker Zingg, Crow Agency, Mont. 83 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Bunny Hugger; 2. (tie) Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb. and Blake Smith, Zap, N.D. 81 each; 4. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D. 80; 5.(tie) Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D. and Ben Kramer, Max, N.D.79 each.

Steer wrestling champion – Scott Kleeman, Killdeer, N.D.
1. Scott Kleeman, Killdeer, N.D. 4.0 seconds; 2. Riley Reiss, Manning, N.D. 4.2; 3. Lane Day, Bartlett, Neb.4.5; 4. Evan Entze, Golden Valley, N.D. 5.0; 5. Kody Woodward, Dupree, S.D. 5.5; 6. Jason Reiss, Manning, N.D.5.7.

Saddle bronc riding champion – Qwint Stroh, Dickinson, N.D.
1.Qwint Stroh, Dickinson, N.D. 85 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Big Casino; 2. Josh Davison, Miles City, Mont. 83; 3. Jacob Kammerer, Philip, S.D. 82.5; 4. (tie) Chuck Schmidt, Keldron, S.D. and Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D. 81 each; 6. Taygen Schuelke, Newell, S.D. 81.5.

Tie-down roping champion – Jason Vohs, Dickinson, N.D.
1. Jason Vohs, Dickinson, N.D. 9.9 seconds; 2. Tanner Wznick, Cavalier, N.D. 10.4; 3. Rex Treeby, Hecla, S.D. 10.7; 4. Will Powell, St. Ignatius, Mont. 11.1; 5. Cody Rood, Bengough, Sask. 11.2; 6. Jordan Staton, Hickson, S.D. 11.5.

Team roping champions – Alfred Hansen, Dickinson, N.D. and Luke Morast, Halliday, N.D.
1. Alfred Hansen, Dickinson, N.D./Luke Morast, Halliday, N.D. 5.3 seconds; 2. Butch Levell, Ft. Calhoun, Neb./Martin Walker, Belzoni, Miss. 6.5; 3. Wyatt Treeby, Hecla, S.D./Jimmy Jacobsen, Jr. Stacy, Minn. 7.2; 4.Turner Harris, Killdeer, N.D./Jade Nelson, Midland, S.D. 10.5; 5. Mikey Loiseau, Egan, S.D./Emit Valnes, Eden, S.D. 11.2; 6. Layne Carson, Grassy Butte, N.D./Jake Beard, Menoken, N.D. 11.7.

Barrel racing champion – Kaylee Gallino, Wasta, S.D.
1. Kaylee Gallino, Wasta, S.D. 12.16 seconds; 2. Amanda Harris, Spearfish, S.D. 12.21; 3. Jill Moody, Pierre, S.D. 12.29; 4. Carmel Wright, Roy,Mont. 12.54; 5. Terri Kaye Kirkland, Billings, Mont. 12.58; 6. Brandee Wardell, Buffalo, S.D. 12.61; 7. Heidi Gunderson, Murdock, Minn. 12.64; 8. Carey Rivinius, Carson, N.D. 12.68; 9. Summer Kosel, Glenham, S.D. 12.69; 10. Austyn Tobey, Bemidji, Minn. 12.70.

Bull riding champion – Reid Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn.
1. Reid Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn. 87 points on Bailey Pro Rodeo’s The Preacher; 2. Coy Thorson, Fergus Falls, Minn. 80; 3. Cleve Spang, Billings, Mont. 75; 4. Tate Smith, Litchville, S.D. 74; 5. Dalton Wright, Keene, N.D. 72.5.

** All results are unofficial. For more information, visit www.NorthDakotaWinterShow.com.

N.D. Winter Show hosts high school rodeo contest between North Dakota, Minnesota competitors

Valley City, N.D. (March 7, 2020) – It was a battle between neighboring states’ high school rodeo athletes at the annual N.D. Winter Show.

The Battle of the Border High School Rodeo pitted North Dakota high school contestants against Minnesota high school contestants in ten events, and at the end, North Dakota won.

North Dakotans won the breakaway roping (Haley Vollmer, Wing); the tie-down roping (Cael Hilzendeger, Baldwin); the barrel racing (Breanna Benson, West Fargo); the steer wrestling (Ken Hagen, Mandan); the goat tying (Haley Vollmer); the team roping (Trevor Sorge, Bismarck/Riley Staton, Hickson); and the bull riding (Kasen Johnson, Mandaree).

Minnesota took two events: the bareback riding (Cody Cole, Warroad, Minn.); and the pole bending (Austyn Tobey, Bemidji, Minn.). In the saddle bronc riding, there were no qualified rides.

To be invited to participate, the cowboys and cowgirls had to be ranked in the top ten in their respective events.

Vollmer entered the Battle in first place in the breakaway roping and seventh in the goat tying and won both. A senior at Wing High School, she is a member of the National Honor Society and is on the honor roll. She won the breakaway with a time of 2.06 seconds and the goat tying with a time of 7.65 seconds.

At the Winter Show, she rode her sister’s horse Wrangler in the breakaway roping. The horse did well. “I have a good breakaway horse,” she said, “but I wanted to try him out and this is a nice weekend to do it. He’s awesome. I really, really love him.”

This fall, Vollmer will work towards an ag marketing degree in college. In high school, she is a member of the National Honor Society, is student council president, a member of the Academic Olympics team and in choir.

Her senior class has five people in it, and she appreciates that. “Everybody is very close to each other,” she said. “We have tight-knit relationships.”

She is the daughter of Troy and Sara Vollmer.

Austyn Tobey was one of two Minnesota champions in the inaugural Battle of the Border.

Tobey, a resident of Bemidji, Minn., won the pole bending with a time of 20.025 seconds.

She was aboard her thirteen-year-old mare named Buttons, who is also her barrel racing horse. It was the first time Buttons had practiced on the pole bending pattern since the fall rodeo season. But the mare did well. “I’m happy with my horse,” she said. “She’s great. She’s consistent with everything she does.”

Tobey would have won the barrel racing but she hit a barrel, adding a five second penalty to her time. Buttons rarely knocks down barrels, Tobey said. “That’s the first one in a year. It doesn’t happen very often.”

A senior in high school, she will attend Bemidji State University this fall, majoring in pre-medicine. Her dream is to become a radiologist. She’s had firsthand experience in the field.

When she spent two weeks in the hospital four years ago for a ruptured appendix, the radiologist helped her read the image taken of her. But the hospital stay became serious; she was so full of infection that the doctors couldn’t take her appendix out. She still has it; the doctors never did remove it.

Tobey played four years of high school hockey, is a member of the National Honor Society, is on her school’s honor Roll and is a member of the Link Leadership team at her school.

Tobey also competed in the PRCA rodeo on Saturday evening and finished in tenth place (12.70 seconds.)

She is the daughter of Gary and Amy Tobey.

Another Minnesotan proudly won his event in Valley City.

Cody Cole made a 68 point ride in the bareback riding to best the field.

The Warroad, Minn. cowboy entered the Battle of the Border in third place in the Minnesota rankings after suffering what could have been a career-ending injury.

Last spring, he fractured four vertebrae and bruised another one and was out of rodeo for eight weeks, returning just as the fall season started up. “I made a strong comeback,” he said.

He loves riding bareback horses. “I love doing it. It’s so much fun, so much adrenaline.”

This fall, he will be a student at Iowa Central Community College, where he will compete collegiately and work towards his associates degree in business management. After two years of college rodeo, he’ll get his PRCA membership. “I’ll climb the ladder a little before I pro rodeo,” he said.

He is the son of Kelly and Sarah Cole.

Unofficial results from the Battle of the Border High School Rodeo follow.

The 83rd annual North Dakota Winter Show concluded on March 7. Dates for the 2021 event are tentatively set for Feb. 28-March 6.

For more information, visit www.NorthDakotaWinterShow.com or call 701.845.1401.

 

Unofficial Results, Battle of the Border High School Rodeo, March 7, 2020 –N.D. Winter Show

Bareback Riding
1. Cody Cole, Warroad, Minn. 68 points; 2. Chance Isaak, Richardton, N.D 62; 3. Seth Berg, Mandan, N.D. 55.

Breakaway Roping
1. Haley Vollmer, Wing, N.D. 2.06 seconds; 2. Danielle Fladeland, Minot, N.D. 3.70; 3. Jordan Vanvickle, Pillager, Minn. 6.05.

Tie-down Roping
1. CaelHilzendeger, Baldwin, N.D. 13.54 seconds;2. Chase Heim, Bismarck, N.D. 16.34; 3. Riley Staton, Hickson, N.D. 16.66.

Barrel Racing
1. Breanne Benson, West Fargo, N.D. 12.839 seconds; 2. Austyn Schafer, Wilton, N.D. 13.026; 3.Jaida Hagen-Marben, Elk River, Minn. 13.105.

Steer Wrestling
1. Ken Hagen, Mandan, N.D. 6.41 seconds; 2.Justin Inglis, Regan, N.D. 9.91; 3.Caydon Roshau, Bismarck, N.D. 12.49.

Goat Tying
1. Haley Vollmer, Wing, N.D. 7.65 seconds; 2. Jayda Miller, Bowman, N.D. 8.53; 3. Victoria Skiba, Cambridge, Minn. 9.45.

Team Roping
1. Trevor Sorge, Bismarck, N.D./Riley Staton, Hickson, N.D. 13.43 seconds; 2. Lathan DeMontigny, Ruby, N.D./Chance Mickelson, Foxholm, N.D. 17.39; 3. Weston Klatt, Dickinson, N.D./Sam Andrews, Bowman, N.D. 22.47.

Pole Bending
1. Austyn Tobey, Bemidji, Minn. 20.025 seconds; 2. Danielle Fladeland, Minot, N.D. 20.134; 3. Austyn Schafer, Wilton, N.D. 20.197.

Bull Riding
1. Kasen Johnson, Mandaree, N.D. 77 points; 2. Lane Wilkens, Bismarck, N.D. 68; no other qualified rides.

She’s already a role model for barrel racers young and old around the world, but Utah cowgirl Amberley Snyder continues to set new goals for herself. A Chickasha, Okla. company, Signature Quarters, has big plans to help her achieve them.

A professional barrel racer, Snyder was parayzed in 2010 at the age of 18 when her truck slid off the highway, ejecting her from the vehicle and slamming her into a fence post that broke her back. Four months later, thanks to unwavering determination and a competitive spirit, she was back on her horse. Since then, she has faced countless challenges and adversity, but has continued to achieve her goals, including earning her Women’s Professional Rodeo Association card in 2017.

Outside the arena, Snyder shares her inspiring story through powerful public speaking engagements at events and in schools. in 2019, Netflix released a movie about Snyder titled “Walk. Ride. Rodeo.” Snyder appears in the film as a stunt double with her horse, Power.

Through a new contract agreement with Signature Quarters, Snyder will be traveling to rodeos across the country in a horse trailer created just for her. Signature Quarters specializes in custom horse trailer conversions, and their team will design a one-of-a-kind living quarters tailored especially for Snyder, complete with special accessibility features like a wheelchair lift and a custom shower. Beyond that, Snyder will have the opportunity to handpick all unique finishes and fixtures from floor and furniture to ceiling and sinks.

We are so excited for the opportunity to work with Amberley on her new living quarters,” said Abby Clark, owner of Signature Quarters. “In partnering with her, we hope to create a custom space that will help her keep achieving her goals. We are proud to build her a home away from home!”

The horse trailer itself will be built by Hart Trailer, another of Snyder’s sponsors also based in Chickasha. The trailer will be a Tradition model four horse with a 16.5’ shortwall living quarters, and it will feature Hart’s unique Smart Tack design for the tack storage area.

“Working with Amberley has been a blessing and a wonderful experience,” said Tracy Hart, owner of Hart Trailer. “Her ‘can do’ attitude and tenacity has been amazing to witness. I’m very thankful that she chose Hart Trailer. Allowing us to be a part of her story, so that we can build her the very best horse trailer.”

Snyder will be visiting Oklahoma to work with both Signature Quarters and Hart in March to make final design plans for her trailer. She will also be competing at The American Rodeo Semi-Finals this month.

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About Signature Quarters – Since opening their doors in 2006, Signature Quarters has gained a national reputation as one of the finest trailer conversion companies in the United States. Maintaining a tradition of quality work and integrity, their talented personnel produce custom trailer conversions using the finest materials, equipment and techniques available. Located at the heart of the trailer industry in Chickasha, Oklahoma, Signature Quarters builds superior living quarters conversions to the specifications of each customer. With quality, comfort and safety in mind, the SQ team strives to find innovative ways to enhance life on the road in your “home away from home.”

About Hart Trailers – Established in 1968, Hart Trailer remains privately owned and operated by the Hart family. Over the years Hart has maintained a reputation for manufacturing quality trailers while becoming friends with their customers. Safety, reliability, convenience, eye appeal and excellence are engineered into every feature of a Hart Trailer. The design features Hart incorporates in its trailer today have been continuously developed for more than 50 years in close cooperation with their customers and dealers. Because Hart aspires for excellence in trailer manufacturing and service, they have been able to inspire confidence in customers that they have made the right choice in purchasing a Hart Trailer.

Letters of interest and resumes due on March 4.

LAS VEGAS – February 4, 2020 – Las Vegas Events announced today that it is seeking a general manager for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The annual event, held each year at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, is scheduled for December 3 –12.

Known as the richest and most prestigious rodeo in the world, the Wrangler NFR attracts the top 15 contestants in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding to compete for a share of the $10 million purse and the coveted Gold Buckle. In 2019, the event had a total attendance of 168,289 over the 10 days of competition and has sold out 330 consecutive performances.

The general manager will work closely with the LVE, NFR Committee and the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association on all aspects of rodeo production.

All letters of interest and resumes may be sent to the following:
Wrangler NFR Production Manager
c/o Las Vegas Events
770 E. Warm Springs Road, Suite 140
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Resumes can also be sent directly to NFRGeneralManager@LasVegasEvents.com. All resumes must be received by Wednesday, March 4, 2020 by 11:59 p.m. PT.

 

For more information on the Wrangler NFR, please visit www.NFRexperience.com or
through social media at /LasVegasNFR and use #WranglerNFR.

About Las Vegas Events:
Founded in 1983, Las Vegas Events is a private, not-for-profit organization funded by hotel room tax. Through its Signature Event initiative, LVE has created a model to integrate all elements of special events and formally improve communication between event producers and Las Vegas’ hotel properties and sponsors. Since 1991, Las Vegas Events has produced, presented or supported more than 800 events. www.lasvegasevents.com

About the Wrangler NFR
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR), considered the world’s premier rodeo, features 10 straight days of the best in PRCA PRORODEO competition, with a total of 120 contestants competing every night in seven events. Each December, the top 15 contestants, based on the PRCA | RAM World Standings, in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding qualify to compete at the Wrangler NFR. www.prorodeo.com

WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH (February 1, 2020) – Shorty Garrett did the family name proud on Saturday night at the third annual Days of ’47 Lewis Feild Bulls and Broncs event at the Maverik Center.
Garrett of Dupree, S.D., comes from a long line of champions with two uncles being world champions – Mark and Marvin Garrett and his lineage goes all the way back to the great Casey Tibbs. In the long round, he rode Northcott Macza’s Dark Secret for 83 points to advance to the final round where he matched up with Diamond G Rodeo’s Miss Nancy for 85.5 points. Dalton Kingery of Monroe, Iowa, rode Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Momma’s Boy for 81.5 points to advance to the two person finals. Unfortunately for the Iowa cowboy, he was unable to make the eight second whistle aboard Diamond G Rodeo’s Sis is Sassy.
Garrett punched his ticket to two $1 million rodeos the first being the WCRA event in Kansas City, Missouri, and the second being in July right here in Salt Lake City with the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo, July 21-25 at Utah Fairpark.
In addition, this event served as a World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) Semifinal event. The top eight in the bareback and saddle bronc on the day advanced for a chance at their share of $1 million at the WCRA Royal City Roundup in Kansas City, Feb. 28, 2020. The top four in the bull riding also advanced to the WCRA’s $1M event at the Sprint Center.
Bull rider Colten Fritzlan also punched his ticket to July’s Days of ’47 event after marking 86.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Hou’s That in the long round. Fritzlan of Rifle, Colorado, was unable to stay atop his bull for eight seconds in the short round but earned $6,250 on the night with a chance to add to that in Kansas City in February and Salt Lake City in July.
The top bareback rider on the night was Canadian Orin Larsen after he finished with an 88-point ride on Northcott Macza Ima Winner. Larsen was in fact the winner after out riding Jamie Howlett who was matched with Northcott Macza’s Dirty Looks for 84 points. The duo earned a spot in WCRA’s $1 million rodeo in Kansas City but will have to wait to see if they are back in Salt Lake City in July. Pascal Isabelle of Okotoks, Alberta, Canada, rode earlier in the day and turned in an 89.5-point ride in the short round aboard Utah’s own Bar T Rodeo’s Red Lady to earn his spot in the July Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo.
The event honors the late ProRodeo Hall of Fame cowboy Lewis Feild. Feild was Utah’s own two-time PRCA World Champion Bareback Rider and three-time All-Around Champion, who continues to be an icon in the sport of rodeo and the Beehive State. His son, Kaycee Feild carries on his legacy having won four PRCA world titles in the bareback riding. Kaycee was on hand Saturday to welcome the crowd and interact with fans and cowboys alike.

For a full list of the day’s results visit www.wcrarodeo.com.
Advancing to Days of ’47 Cowboy Games Rodeo – July 21-24:
Bareback riding – Pascal Isabelle
Saddle Bronc riding – Shorty Garrett
Bull riding – Cole Fritzlan

SALADO, TEXAS – Randy Bloomer, CEO of Bloomer Trailer Mfg., Inc. , announced SOM Trailers, owned by David Walther of Pevely, Missouri has been selected to represent the Bloomer Brand.
With the same integrity and customer service that has earned them high praise from the equine industry for over two decades Randy Bloomer, CEO, and owner of the Bloomer Brand, welcomes David Walther as a representative of Bloomer Trailers, built and headquartered in central Texas since 1998.
“I am pleased to introduce SOM Trailers will now be carrying our brand. David Walther’s commitment to excellence in the industry is exactly what we strive for every day,” continued Bloomer.
Walther believes the brand relationship is a good fit for him and his customers and, most importantly, a quality trailer that he is pleased to carry at his dealership. The Bloomer Brand is known to continually raise the bar in equine transportation, which is why the Brand was attractive to SOM Trailers.
“Honestly, I have never had one I couldn’t sell,” said Walther.
SOM began in 2012 selling used and refurbished and quickly learned that the Bloomer brand resale value was second to none, and they hold up as a trailer and hold value longer than most horse trailers.
“We sell a tremendous amount of living quarters trailers and mostly to serious rodeo people, and Bloomer has a huge brand loyalty following, and frankly, the Bloomer is the best money can buy. It’s just a perfect fit for us – Bloomer is the quality of trailer we want in our dealership, and the resale value is second to none, which means they hold up,” said SOM Trailers owner David Walther.
“We have never stopped challenging ourselves to find a better or safer way to protect our customers and their livestock. “I’ve just tried always to do what’s right and never stop trying to make my trailers better,” said Bloomer.
“When trailer shopping, the experience you have at a dealership is just as important as getting a fair price, and we feel very confident at SOM the Bloomer customer will get that high service standard we pride ourselves on, added Bloomer.
Being a competitive horseman, Randy is always striving for comfort and safety in Bloomer Trailers by developing new features for the owners and their precious cargo.
According to Randy Bloomer, the Texas-born businessman who began the company in 1998 and remained at the helm, the Made in America Bloomer line of trailers is now available in Missouri at SOM. Walther also cited the direct relationship he has with Bloomer as a key factor in representing the trailer company from Salado, Texas. “It’s a tight-knit family and company, and you don’t feel like you are getting any corporate run-around,” added Walther.
“We are a hands-on company, I have been building trailers for 22 years and my day to day role has not changed, my family and I take a direct approach relationship to every order, and it bothers me if there is an issue, I never want to make an apology for one of my trailers or dealers,” said Bloomer from the headquarters in Salado, Texas.
Bloomer’s commitment to excellence has helped the twenty-two-year-old family-owned and managed company carves out its reputation as the breakout leader in equine and livestock transportation that has fundamentally reshaped the industry.
“I only want the best for these animals and families that live their lives in these trailers, making sure the flexing and stress points just right keep me up at night, I wake up and go to bed thinking about it,” said Bloomer.

SOM Trailers
David Walther
1882 Hwy Z
Pevely, Missouri
314.498.9891

Returning rodeo to Madison Square Garden June 19 – 21, 2020, Rodeo New York will be the ultimate challenge of champions, an invitational featuring some of the biggest names and title holders in the sport. That’s why, after the Wrangler NFR in December, all of the new world champions were invited to join the star-studded roster — and among them is Stetson Wright.

His is a name rodeo fans quickly came to know in 2019, if they didn’t already. Stetson won both the Bull Riding and All-Around titles at the 2019 Cheyenne Frontier Days. He’s the 2019 PRCA Bull Riding Rookie of the Year, the All-Around Rookie of the Year, and the reigning All-Around World Champion. He’s also the son of rodeo legend Cody Wright and one of the many ProRodeo saddle bronc champions that make up the Wright family dynasty.

Joining uncles Jesse and Spencer, Stetson became the third Wright to sign on to compete at Rodeo New York, and since the inaugural event will be held over Father’s Day Weekend, we thought, why not invite the rest of the family?

We are now thrilled to announce Cody is officially on board — as are sons Rusty Wright (a Calgary Stampede Champion and the current National Western Saddle Bronc Champion) and Ryder Wright (the 2017 World Champion).

Considered to be maybe the best saddle bronc rider of all time, 2X world champion Cody Wright will return to rodeo once again (following his performance last year at RFD-TV’s The American) to spend Father’s Day Weekend riding alongside his sons at Madison Square Garden. This will be one for the history books, marking the first time a father and three sons will compete together in the same event — not to mention six members of the same family.

In a recent interview on Western Sports Round-Up, Steve Kenyon asked Ryder, “Madison Square Garden, Father’s Day Weekend — how’s that going to be?

Ryder responded with just one word: “BIG.”

SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 11, 2020) – Nobody was more surprised to set a new team roping arena record at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo than the men that stopped the clock in 3.5 seconds.
Two years ago, Coleman Proctor and Billy Jack Saebens had the fast time of the rodeo at 3.7 seconds. That was the record in the AT&T Center. That same year, Proctor and Saebens went on to be crowned the San Antonio Rodeo champions.
Now, Dustin Bird of Cut Bank, Montana and Levi Tyan from Wallace, Nebraska are hoping for similar results. They roped together here for the very first time. In fact, they hadn’t even met each other until they got here. Both had qualified and after entering the rodeo, they got paired up.
Their first outing didn’t go well, and they came up empty. But with everything to gain in the second round, they went for it and made history together. They will have their third steer on Wednesday night and are in good position to be back here for the Semifinals. They will go their separate ways after they rope Wednesday and meet back up in San Antonio later. Bird is going to Arizona for more rodeos and Tyan is going back to Nebraska to work on the family ranch.
Shorty Garrett has been at the top of the saddle bronc riding leaderboard in both rounds of Bracket 3. He tied for the win in the first round then got to make the victory lap around the arena alone on Tuesday. That was because of an 82-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Zealous Departure.
Garrett, from Eagle Butte, S.D., finished three spots out of making the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last year. He is on fire this year and on track to be among the top 15 who ride for world championships next December. He just won Rodeo Rapid City in his home state of South Dakota and is currently third in the world standings.
Now, he is also making plans to be in the Alamo City for the Semifinals. He has already won $4,417 here and could add to that on Wednesday. The final round of Bracket 3 will begin at 7 p.m. in the AT&T Center on Wednesday night.

 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Feb.11, 2020) — The following are unofficial results from the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo, the 14-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year. Complete results are at www.sarodeo.com.

Bracket 3, round 2 —

Bareback Riding: 1, Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, 89 points on Calgary Stampede’s Zulu Warrior, $2,500. 2, Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, 85, $2,000. 3, Paden Hurst, Huntsville, Texas, 83.5, $1,240. 4, Jamie Howlett, Rapid City, S.D., 81, $750.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas, 3.9 seconds, $2,500. 2, (tie) Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., and Josh Clark, Belgrade, Mont., 4.0, $1,625 each. 4, (tie) Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., and Bridger Anderson, Carrington, N.D., 4.1, $375.

Team Roping: 1, Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mnt., and Levi Tyan, Wallace, Neb., 3.5 seconds, $2,500.* 2, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.1, $2,000. 3, Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho and Tyler Worley, Berryville, Ark., 4.2, $1,250. 4, Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Lane Siggins, Eloy, Ariz., 6.7, $750.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 82 points on Calgary Stampede’s Zealous Departure, $2,500. 2, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, and Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, 80 and $1,625 each. 4, Logan James Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 77.5, $750.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, (tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La., and Justin Smith, Leesville, La., 7.9 seconds and $2,250 each. 3, Marcos Costa, Menard, Texas, 8.2, $1,240. 4, Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas, 8.5, $750.

Women’s Barrel Race: 1, Brittney Barnett, Stephenville, Texas, 13.91 seconds, $2,500. 2, Christine Laughlin, Reddick, Fla., 14.30, $2,000. 3, Leia Pluemer, Bosque Farms, NM., and Kathy Grimes, Medical Lake, Wash., 14.36 and $1,000 each.

Bull Riding: (three rides) 1, Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas, 86.5 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Valhalla, $2,750. 2, Jordan Hansen, Ponoka, Alberta, 83.5, $2,250. 3, Sage Steele Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 67, $1,000.

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (Jan. 20, 2020)— Cowboy Entrepreneur Scott Knudsen may have his own heritage as a 5th generation Texas cowboy, but this week he cleared his calendar for appearances with Heritage to support the Mustang Heritage Foundation, January 23-26, 2020, when the debut Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle happens at Will Rogers Coliseum during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Knudsen (pronounced kah-newd-son) will ride and do meet-and-greets with the Foundation’s once-wild-turned-ambassador, Heritage, when the Extreme Mustang Makeover and Mustang Magic, bring true Western icons to the public, at the landmark Fort Worth events.

“The first time I saw Heritage was exciting and humbling,” said Knudsen who met the resident ‘mascot,’ while visiting the Mustang Heritage Foundation with his new online show Cowboy Entrepreneur and went behind the scenes with Director of Marketing Matt Manroe last summer. “I could tell Matt was a very ‘outside the box’ thinker. Someone who is very accomplished, yet always looking for a better way to do things,” said Knudsen.  “When he and I came up with this idea [Knudsen appearing with Heritage in Fort Worth], we felt this would not only get more people engaged with the Mustang Heritage Association, but would cross-market all over our industry.”

“Here was this amazing Mustang standing impressively,” recalled Knudsen, an AQHA Professional Horseman and AQHA Ambassador, who’s ridden rough stock to race horses, team roped, penned, and sorted, ridden cutting horses, worked rescues, and trained Thoroughbreds to Morgans and Mustangs. “I could see why Heritage was the Foundation’s ambassador. Once I got near him, I realized how truly great he is. Gentle, yet so strong.” (Interestingly, Knudsen grew up in Georgetown, Texas, the Foundation’s headquarters.) From the action in Fort Worth, Knudsen also will do live call-in radio segments for Texas Hill Country’s 103.7 FM, The Buck.

“Being invited to appear with Heritage at a major event like Extreme Mustang Makeover and the first-ever Mustang Magic Celebrity competition, is something I will never forget,” said Knudsen, a gifted entrepreneur and speaker, who intersects the horse world and business. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to show the public how truly magnificent the Mustang breed is and to do it with Heritage,” he added.

The Extreme Trail Horse Association which Knudsen founded and directs, already supports the Mustang Heritage Foundation and its mission to promote adoption adoption of BLM-housed American mustangs through innovative gentling competitions and awareness programs. www.mustangheritagefoundation.org

Visit: www.cowboyentrepreneur.com

To schedule speaking engagements and interviews with Scott Knudsen, contact

Elizabeth McCall at 310-720-4096 or elizmccall@earthlink.

About Scott Knudsen: A 5th generation Texas cowboy, with a Fortune 50 background as an award-winning national sales rep, Knudsen, 51, brings the best of the West together with business acumen to make the horse world fun and profitable. Headquartered at Lightning K Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, his family owns Knudsen Equine Center, Knudsen Horses, and Knudsen Cattle Company. An AQHA Professional Horseman and AQHA Ambassador, Knudsen’s ridden rough stock to race horses, team roped, penned, and sorted, ridden cutting horses, worked rescues, and trained Thoroughbreds to Morgans and Mustangs. In 2005, he was struck in the head by lightning and had to relearn how to read and write.

As President of the Board for the San Antonio area’s top-rated theater company, Knudsen’s helped turned the non-profit’s balance sheet into a $1 million-plus operation. He founded and directs the Extreme Trail Horse Association, with destinations in the US and Canada.

In his new online show Knudsen takes viewers behind-the-scenes at the Mustang Heritage Foundation, joins music entertainment pal Derek Spence “From the Saddle to the Stage,” and appears at HEEL-O-MATIC’s bustling booth at Cowboy Christmas in Las Vegas, interviewing rodeo celebrities to NFR fans. Upcoming shows include Richard Winters, World Champion Team Roper Ty “Blaster” Blasingame, Olympian Steffen Peters, and more.  A captivating speaker, Knudsen’s presentations have inspired audiences far and near, including: Western States Horse Expo, Sam Houston State University, and Texas A&M.

For information on becoming a show sponsor, visit cowboyentrepreneur.com  or email knudsenhorses@yahoo.com.

Courtesy of Payton Walter

Growing up as a Cowboy Pastor’s kid (a C.P.K.), I believe that I can adequately give an accurate description of what a cowboy church is.

According to Wikipedia, a Cowboy church is defined as a “local Christian church within the cowboy culture that is distinctively Western heritage in character. A typical cowboy church may meet in a rural setting in a barn, metal building, arena, sale barn, or old western building; have its own rodeo arena, and a country gospel band.”

That’s a decent answer but still leaves quite a few questions, which I will now provide the answers for.

What a Cowboy Church is Not

When most people think of a church they picture a white steeple building with pews and carpeting. These churches are filled with well-dressed members, the men often in suits and the women in dresses. The pastor preaches from a pulpit and the choir leads the congregation in their most beloved hymns. Each week there are such activities as a youth group, Bible studies, and even bingo night.

As for the cowboy church my dad pastors, we look a bit different than your typical church.

Instead of a white steeple church, we meet in a barn. After all, it was good enough for Jesus.

We also have no dress code. Often our members are coming in from working and caring for their livestock. This means dirty jeans, muddy boots, and of course cowboy hats. This dress attire is not restricted to members only. The pastor is never seen without his cowboy hat on and as his child, I can tell you that I’ve only seen him in a suit maybe three times in my life.

Speaking of the pastor, his weekly messages aren’t what you’d be used to at a traditional service. If you’re not familiar with the fundamentals of Rodeo then you most likely won’t understand half the analogies. Agriculture examples are often used including calving, breeding, castration and other such delightful everyday tasks of a rancher’s life.

The music is also countryfied with our two-stepping version of I’ll Fly Away and Amazing Grace. Most of the songs we play on a Sunday morning are also the same ones we play at our annual barn dances. Many a George Strait and Willie Nelson songs have been tweaked to share the gospel message via acoustic guitar and a bit of twang.

As for our weekly events, youth group is replaced by open arena nights and ropings where most of our attendees are students of the local high school and college rodeo teams. Bible studies take place at our many rodeo events, as the messages are shared by the pastor on horseback. And for our upper aged members, a combination of barn dances and mini ropings are a way of ensuring that all ages have a blast. If you don’t know what mini roping is, you’re missing out.

Along with these western events, we also put on a yearly Rodeo Bible Camp where kids ages 8-18 come to be taught by some of the world’s best rodeo cowboys and cowgirls while also learning about the word of God and His love.

What a Cowboy Church Is

With this understating as to what a Cowboy church looks like and how it functions you might now be interested in stopping by and checking out one in your area.

Now hold your horse. Before you buy yourself a cowboy hat and a pair of boots I’d like to inform you of one last thing. The Cowboy Code of Cowboy Churches.

The entire reason cowboy churches exist is for two main reasons.

#1. To Share the Word of God with those who otherwise would never step foot into a church.

Stinky odors, conversation topics, and not to mention the lifestyle choices that often find their way into these cowboy’s lives, keep most them from ever stepping into a church building in fear that the ceiling will fall in on them. These are the people we at cowboy churches are out to reach.

My dad has said many times before that when you walk out into our parking lot you should see beer cans in the back of pickup truck. Otherwise, we’re not doing our job.

With this said, we don’t condone poor lifestyles, but just as our Lord and Savior came to seek and save the lost, we make it our mission to meet these people exactly where they are and love them with all our hearts. We don’t expect people to become perfect to walk in our doors. We welcome them as they are and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work of saving.

For this reason, we have all kinds of people sitting in our seats any given Sunday. Cowboys passing through from the rodeo the night before, ranchers that have never opened the bible let alone know what’s in it, truck drivers who needed a place to turn around, even bikers. Yes, bikers.

This atmosphere is focused on the agricultural lifestyle but the down to earth openness attracts people from all walks of life.

#2 To Preserve and teach the character traits and lifestyle of agriculture.

This is not just a show. This is our way of life.

Our pastor doesn’t just put on an act for Sunday service, he makes his living by working cattle and training horse. This isn’t a John Wayne twist for entertainment purposes. Our members are proud to live the lives they have chosen. Ones that require them to get up at the break of dawn to care for an animal or tend a field. This is a hard life that requires hard people with soft hearts.

It is this life that we wish to pass on to the next generation to ensure that we don’t disappear in history along with the beliefs that we hold so dear.

Conclusion

So before you go out and buy yourself a cowboy hat and pair of boots, try just stopping in, the way that you are. Cowboy Church isn’t for cowboys, it’s for all who will hear. Our desire is simply to be that voice that cries out to all who will hear, sharing with them the coming of our Lord. (Matthew 11:15)

Kansas cowgirl wins national rodeo title

Abilene, Kan. (January 22, 2020) – A New Cambria, Kansas cowgirl has been named Miss Rodeo USA.

Brooke Wallace, the former Miss Rodeo Kansas, was crowned on Sunday, January 19 prior to the International Pro Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo, held in Oklahoma City.

Wallace swept the categories, winning each one: photogenic, test, horsemanship, speech and personality.

In December, she competed at the Miss Rodeo America pageant in Las Vegas and finished as third runner-up.

As Miss Rodeo USA, she will represent pro rodeo and the International Pro Rodeo Association (IPRA), at rodeos across the nation, especially in the south, where there are many IPRA rodeos.

She is a 2017 graduate of Kansas State University, where she earned a bachelors in apparel design. A talented designer and seamstress, she designed a shirt to be worn at the Miss Rodeo USA pageant that represented her home state. Her shirt had sunflowers and wheat heads on it, with the state seal on the back. She won people’s choice for the shirt during the ladies luncheon at the Miss Rodeo USA pageant.

Wallace has held several titles throughout her career, starting with Miss Rodeo Junction City (Kan.) in 2015, Miss Rodeo Kansas State in 2016, Miss Central Plains Rodeo Association the next year, and Miss Rodeo Kansas last year.

For winning Miss Rodeo USA, she will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

She is the daughter of Mark and the late Julie Wallace and is sponsored by the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kan.