Category: Newsletter Articles

EAGLE, Colo. – Two months ago, Kasen Brennise was wrapping up his freshman year at Weatherford (Texas) College.

He’s attending the two-year school on a rodeo scholarship, and he did his part in his inaugural campaign by winning the Southwest Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. That earned Brennise a trip to the College National Finals Rodeo.

A little more than a month ago, he roped and tied four calves in 55.0 seconds and finished seventh in the nation in tie-down roping. That’s not bad for a man in his first year of college rodeo.

Fast forward to Wednesday night at the Eagle County Fair and Rodeo, where he stopped the clock in 10.5 seconds to take the early tie-down roping lead after the opening performance.

“It’s really important for me to do well here,” said Brennise of Craig, Colorado, about a two-hour drive through the mountains northeast of Eagle. “It keeps me going. I’ve got for more (rodeos) to go to this weekend, then I’m back here Saturday, so it’s important to keep going and to win some money here.”

Just 19 years old, he’s in his first season in ProRodeo, competing on his permit – newcomers to the game are given the opportunity to earn their way to become full members of the PRCA by earning enough money on their permit. Heading into this week’s rodeos, he’s earned more than $1,500 in the Mountain States Circuit, made up of rodeos and contestants from primarily Colorado and Wyoming.

His family owns a ranch near Craig, and his father owns an outfitting business. He knows he has an opportunity to not only do well in the opening round, but he will run his second calf Saturday night and sits in a good place to not only collect a second-round check but also one for having a top aggregate score on two runs.

But he’s not the only young one in the bunch. He leans quite a bit on his partner, a 6-year-old horse he’s owned almost a year.

“I rode him at all the region rodeos,” he said, referring to his college season. “He’s just been outstanding him. I brought him tonight, and nothing bothers him. He takes the crowd pretty good. He was amazing when I got him. He scores great, and he stops and does the right things every time.”

His first experience in Eagle made an impact. He looked around at the packed ground, then stood in awe.

“This is an amazing rodeo,” Brennise said. “It’s one of the best circuit rodeos I’ve been to and one of the best in the region.”

While Brennise is new to the Eagle rodeo, saddle bronc rider Bradley Harter has been to the beautiful mountain community many times in his 17-year career. He’s also a 10-time qualifier to the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand championship.

A year ago, he just missed the mark. The NFR features only the top 15 contestants in each event after the regular season; Harter finished 19th. On Wednesday night, he rode Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Another Grey for 79 points to take the bronc riding lead.

“I come here every year,” he said. “I’ve won it, and we’re always up here going to Cheyenne (Wyoming) and over from Spanish Fork (Utah). This is a great rodeo. I thank God every day that I get to do my job, and I get to come up here and see how pretty it is. It makes me thank God every day for a great job.”

Now 37, Harter knows he’s on the downhill side of his bronc riding career. The miles on the road going from one rodeo to another take their toll, as do the rough buckoffs and the time away from family, his wife, Kirby, and their sons, Houston and Branson.

“I’ve had a great career, and I go into every town, and I look out and think, ‘I’ll be back next year,’ ” said Harter of Loranger, Louisiana. “The older I get, the more I realize I have an expiration date, so I get to sit back and take more pleasure out of jut being there, being around my friends and getting on good bucking horses.

“My schedule, with two older kids, is going to change. I’m going to make the good rodeos count and focus on raising my kids. I put them first. Houston is 9, and Branson is 5. They’re playing baseball, hunting, and I need to be there more.”

But he’s going to enjoy his time on the road while he can and hopefully return to the NFR this coming December. He is 10th in the world standings with nearly $64,000.

“They’re in Louisiana, where it’s ridiculously hot, and I’m here in God’s country,” he said with a laugh. “I went home and rededicated myself, so I’m not sitting on the couch this year during the NFR. I’m going to go in there and have a good finals and leave there with my head held high.”

It’s an approach that’s worked pretty well over his career.

 

Eagle County Fair and Rodeo

Eagle, Colo.

July 24-27

Bareback riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 81 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Bright Lights; 2. Joel Schlegel, 80.5; 3. Hunter Brasfield, 73; no other qualified rides.

Steer wrestling: 1. Kalane Anders, 4.3 seconds; 2. Austin Eller, 4.5; 3. Aaron Vosler, 4.7; 4. Logan Kenine, 6.3; 5. Danny Huxtable, 9.1; 6. Bill Claunch, 10.8

Tie-down roping: 1. Kasen Brennise, 10.5 seconds; 2. Tyler Boxleitner, 10.6; 3. Jase Staudt, 11.2; 4. Hunter Reaume, 11.7.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Bradley Harter, 79 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Another Grey; 2. Roper Kiesner, 76; 3. Mason Mardesich, 72; 4. Rhett Fanning, 68; no other qualified rides.

Team roping: 1. Jesse Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, 5.8 seconds; 2. Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson, 5.9; 3. Wade Kreutzer/Kyon Kreutzer, 6.1; 4. Jase Staudt/Clancey Kreutzer, 6.4.

Barrel racing: 1. Mackenzie Scott, 17.80 seconds; 2. Briana Bailey, 18.14; 3. Amy Joe Reisdorfer, 18.15; 4. Emily Miller, 18.35; 5. Kinlie Brennise, 18.45; 6. Trudy Petersen, 18.95; 7. Destri Davenport, 38.01; no other qualified runs.

Bull riding: 1. Ruger Piva, 85 points on Lancaster & Jones’ War Tank; no other qualified rides.

EAGLE, Colo. – The hardest part of Rusty Wright’s ride Saturday night was the anticipation.

Wright, a three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier from the first family of saddle bronc riding, was matched with Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, a two-time Bareback Horse of the Year now bucking under a bronc saddle. The result was an Eagle County Fair and Rodeo arena-record 91-point ride.

“I was more nervous than I was excited, because when you draw those kinds of horses, you’re expected to win on them,” said Wright, 23, of Milford, Utah. “You put a little pressure on yourself, because I thought I should win on him.”

He learned about his draw late last week, and he was “pumped up” to know he had a chance to ride one of the most electric bucking horses in the game the last decade. When the 15-year-old bay gelding was a bareback horse, he was regularly in the TV pen at the NFR – a nickname dubbed for the fifth- and 10th-round horses because they are considered the best.

He may be in the same pen in bronc riding this coming December.

“I couldn’t wait for it,” said Wright, who travels with his younger brothers, Ryder, the 2017 world champion; and Stetson, the No. 1 man in the all-around race who is just a PRCA rookie; and their uncle, Spencer, the 2014 world champ. “It felt like waiting on Christmas, like it was never going to come. I woke up this morning, and I had butterflies as soon as my eyes opened.”

Ryder Wright finished second in Eagle with an 85-point ride on Carr’s Daisy Duke, and Spencer Wright placed fifth with an 80.5-point ride on Northcott-Macza’s Moving Shadows. Ryder Wright will add to his saddle bronc world standings lead, which is already more than $180,000 this season.

Rusty Wright was ninth in the standings heading into this week, but the $3,079 he earned in Eagle will help.

“I’m really happy with my year,” he said. “I’m not up there in the standings where I want to be, but I’m really pleased with how I’m riding. I’ve been nickel-and-diming them, as my dad says, but winning is winning. Hopefully this will be the hot streak I’ve been waiting on all year to get the ball rolling.”

A year ago, Ryder and Spencer won the Eagle rodeo, so it’s been an important stop for the family, which boasts of five world champions in the family. Ryder is the only one of his generation, while his father, Cody, has two and uncles Spencer and Jesse each have one.

“It seems we come to Eagle every year,” Rusty Wright said. “I love coming here.  Pete’s got awesome horses. It doesn’t matter what day you’re coming, you know you’re going to get a good one; it’s just up to how well your ride to see if you’re going to get some money.

“The fans are loud. I got off today, and the fans were cheering so loud, I couldn’t help but throw my hat.”

Of course, he joins of chorus of other cowboys singing the praises of the talented gelding. In addition to having been named a two-time world champion in 2014-15, Dirty Jacket also finished second in the 2013 voting and third in the 2012 voting.

“He’s like a ticking time bomb,” Wright said. “As soon as the gate opens, he explodes out of there. He’s a big, strong, solid horse, and you could feel his whole body just blow up out of there. He was showy and electric. Horses like that get you excited. Every single jump, you feed off the last jump; you just try to ride them better.

“He’s now one of my favorite horses. I hope I draw him again, because there were a couple things I could do better, where I could have been two or three more points if I’d done everything perfect. That’s what we’re all after is that perfect ride, and the day you make that perfect ride, you should be done, because you’re never going to do it again.”

Saturday’s ride also marked the second-highest score Wright has ever posted; he was 92 points a few weeks ago at the Calgary (Alberta) Stampede. That rodeo, however, doesn’t count toward the ProRodeo world standings.

“As far as the PRCA goes, that’s my career best. I knew I could be at least 90 on this horse; it was up to me to ride him good. Next time I draw him, I’ll try to do those things better and maybe be 92 or 93.”

 

Eagle County Fair and Rodeo

Eagle, Colo.

July 24-27

Bareback riding: 1. Steven Dent, 89 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s San Angelo Sam, $2,800; 2. Tanner Aus, 85, $2,147; 3. Tim Murphy, 83, $1,587; 4. (tie) Clayton Biglow, Logan Patterson, Jamie Howlett and Luke Wozney, 82, $630 each; 8 Cole Reiner, 81, $280.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Gage Greer, 3.9 seconds, $927; 2. (tie) Kalane Anders and Chisum Docheff, 4.3, $687 each; 4. Austin Eller, 4.5, $447; 5. Payden McIntyre, 4.6, $288; 6. Aaron Vosler, 4.7, $160. Second round leaders: 1. Kalane Anders, 4.1 seconds, $926; 2. (tie) Chisum Docheff and Cody Pratt, 4.4, $687 each; 4. (tie) Gage Hesse, Logan McDonald and Austin Eller, 4.7, $298 each. Average leaders: 1. Kalane Anders, 8.4 seconds on two runs, $1,390; 2. Chisum Docheff, 8.7, $1,151; 3. Austin Eller, 9.2, $911; 4. Gage Greer, 9.4, $671; 5. (tie) Cody Pratt, 9.6, $336 each.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Darnell Johnson, 8.4 seconds, $1,021; 2. Garret Arnold, 9.1, $765; 3. Brandon Kammerzell, 9.5, $510; 4. Jarrett Oestmann, 10.0, $255. Second round: 1. Garret Arnold, 8.1 seconds, $1,021; 2. Jarrett Oestmann, 8.6, $755; 3. (tie) Kyle Dickens and Ryle Smith, 8.9, $383 each. Average: 1. Garret Arnold, 17.2 seconds on two runs, $1,531; 2. Jarrett Oestmann, 18.6, $1,148; 3. Tyler Boxleitner, $765; 4. Ryle Smith, 22.0, $383.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Rusty Wright, 91 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dirty Jacket, $3,079; 2. Ryder Wright, 85, $2,360; 3. Jacobs Crawley, 84.5, $1,745; 4. Garrett Buckley, 82, $1,129; 5. Spencer Wright, 80.5, $719; 6. (tie) Tanner Butner, Jesse Kruse and Kobyn Williams, 79.5, $411 each.

Team roping: First round: 1. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 5.7 seconds, $999; 2. Jesse Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, 5.8, $749; 3. (tie) Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson and Clay Norell/Hank Bounds, 5.9, $375 each. Second round: 1. (tie) Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy and Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson, 5.5, $874 each; 3. Jace Staudt/Clancey Kreutzer, 7.0, $500; 4. Jess Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, $250. Average: 1. Corey Whinnery/Robert Murphy, 12.2 seconds on two runs; 2. Brit Ellerman/Trey Johnson, 12.4, $1,123; 3. Jase Staudt/Clancey Kreutzer, 13.4, $749; 4. Jesse Sheffield/Derek Pake Younger, 17.9, $375.

Barrel racing: 1. Sara Cheeney, 17.35 seconds, $2,013; 2. Ivy Conrado, 17.45, $1,711 ; 3. Leia Pluemer, 17.52, $1,409; 4. Ryann Pedone, 17.58, $1,208; 5. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 17.64, $1,007; 6. Caroline Kelly, 17.76, $705; 7. MacKenzie Scott, 17.80, $503; 8. (tie) Chris Gibson and Emily Hamrick, 17.81, $378; 10. Marley Hammer, 17.82, $302; 11. Brittney Barnett, 17.84, $252; 12. Sally Conway, 17.94, $201.

Bull riding: 1. Trevor Reiste, 86.5 points on Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Smokey, $3,777; 2. (tie) Eli Vastbinder and Ruger Piva, 85, $2,611; 4. (tie) Nic Lica and Koby Radley, 77, $1,329 each; no other qualified rides.

Two Helena pro rodeo champions repeat their titles; champs are crowned in Helena

Helena, Mont. (July 27, 2019) – Clayton Hass loves coming to Helena.

For the second time, the Weatherford, Texas man won the steer wrestling title at the Last Chance Stampede.

He turned in a time of 3.6 seconds to tie the arena record, and become the two-time consecutive titlist.

The steer he had was the same one he drew in Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier in the week, but the steer stumbled and fell. “This is kind of a bittersweet rematch,” he said, “and it worked out in my favor.”

Hass, who has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo three times, is ranked twenty-third in the PRCA world standings and has competed in Salt Lake City twice this week, Deadwood, S.D., in Joseph, Ore., and tonight in Helena. “We’ve been all over the place,” he said.

Hass loves competing in Helena. When he and traveling partner Dakota Eldridge pulled into the parking lot, they were awed that the parking lot was full. “Dakota was like, are you sure the

rodeo doesn’t start at 7 pm?” Hass said. “I said, no, it’s 8. They’re just here for a good time.”

There’s plenty of rodeo left before the season ends on Sept. 30, and Hass and Eldridge won’t take many days off. “There’s tons of money left to be won,” he said. “We just have to bear down.”

Hass’ winning time last year was 3.7 seconds; he tied for second place in 2017 and won the all-around, taking the coveted elk ivory ring.

In the bareback riding, a Utah man walked away with the championship.

Mason Clements, Draper, Utah, scored 87 points on the Kesler Rodeo horse Candy Smile to win the championship spurs. She was the horse to have, he said. “She’s just a great horse. When she comes out there, she does her job. If you get a good mark out on her, and she does her job and you do yours, it feels great.”

Clements had an ACL and meniscus worked on in a knee and didn’t begin his rodeo season till April 1. “I just kind of eased into it,” he said. “I wanted my knee to be one hundred percent so when I came back, I didn’t have to rush, I didn’t have to panic.”

He’s ranked in the top thirty in the world, but figures there’s about $10,000 between the number thirty man and the number fifteen man, and earning $10,000 is feasible. “For as many rodeos as are going on, and as many as we are hitting, ($10,000) is just a solid week of rodeo, really.

“I’m making short targets and riding one horse at a time,” he said. “Not getting ahead of myself has been key. I’m just trying to do my job correctly and ride my horse, jump for jump.”

Clements keeps a strong mental game. “It’s important to stay confident in your craft, in your training, hit those short targets, and when the opportunity presents itself, you have to take it.”

Another man repeated his title in Helena.

Bull rider Jordan Hansen bested the field with a score of 84 points on the Kesler bull Goose Bumps to win his second Last Chance Stampede title.

He was prepared for the bull. “I’d seen him around a little but never had the chance to get on him. A lot of guys slap him (with their free hand), because he’s up and down and one of the stronger bulls. I knew if I did my part right, I should be able to get a good score and luckily things worked out for me.”

The Ponoka, Alb. man won the Helena pro rodeo two years ago, and he’d like another pair of trophy spurs like he was awarded in 2017. “They’re my favorite set,” he said. “I’d like to have two sets. The first set actually has a couple of rubies, and they’re pretty.”

Other 2019 Last Chance Stampede champions include team ropers Shawn Bessette, Great Falls, Mont. and Ike Folsom, Dillon, Mont. (4.7 seconds); saddle bronc rider Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho (84.5 points); tie-down roper Colton Farquar, Oakdale, Calif. (8.5 seconds); and barrel racer Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla. (17.44 seconds).

The 2019 Miss Last Chance Stampede Queen was crowned tonight. Hunter Brewer of Helena won the title. Brewer, who is eighteen years old, will be a freshman at Montana State University-Northern this fall. She is the daughter of Walt and Heather Brewer.

The 60th annual Last Chance Stampede and Fair will be July 23-25, 2020.

For more information on the Stampede, visit LastChanceStampede.com. For complete rodeo results, visit ProRodeo.com.

 

Final results, Last Chance Stampede,  Helena, Mont. July 25-27. 2019

All-around champion: Landon Williams, Helena, Mont.

Bareback riding champion: Mason Clements, Draper, Utah

1. Mason Clements, Draper, Utah 87 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Candy Smile; 2. Trenten Montero, Winnemucca, Nev. 82; 3. Wyatt Denny, Minden, Nev. 81.5; 4. Skyler Erickson, Powell, Wyo. 81; 5. (tie) Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mon. and Pascal Isabelle, Okotoks, Alb. 80.5 each; 6. Devan Reilly, Great Falls, Mont. 77.5; 7.Spur Lacasse, Calgary, Alb. 77.

Steer wrestling champion: Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas

1. Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas 3.6 seconds; 2. Jake Nelson, Belgrade, Mont. 3.8 seconds; 3. Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho 4.0; 4. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alb. 4.1; 5. (tie) Hank Hollenbeck, Molt, Mont. and Blake Knowles, Heppner, Ore. 4.2 each; 6.(tie) Bart Slaney, Whitefish, Mont. and Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. 4.3 each.

Team Roping champions:  Shawn Bessette, Great Falls, Mont. (header) and Ike Folsom, Dillon, Mont. (heeler)

1. Shawn Bessette, Great Falls, Mont./Ike Folsom, Dillon, Mont. 4.7 seconds; 2. Garrett Rogers, Baker City, Ore./Jake Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 5.1; 3. (tie) Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D./Lane Siggins, Coolidge, Ariz. and Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont./Clay Futrell, Union Grove, N.C. 5.4 each; 5. Jade Stoddard, Sugar City, Idaho/Cole Cooper, Clearmont, Wyo. 6.3; 6. Clay Robertson, Augusta, Mont./Caleb Guardipee, Cut Bank, Mont. 6.5; 7. (tie) Joshua Torres, Stephenville, Texas/Jonathan Torres, Stephenville, Texas and Riley Minor, Ellensburg, Wash./Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. 10.8 each.

Saddle bronc riding champion:  Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho

1. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho 84.5 points on Kesler Championships Rodeo’s Break Away; 2. Joe Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev. 82; 3. Allen Boore, Axtell, Uatah 81.5; 4. Travis Nelson, Broadus, Mont. 77; 5. Keenan Reinhardt, Cochrane, Alb. 76.5; 6. Alan Gobert, Browning, Mont. 75; 7. Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alb. 69; 8. Houston Garrett Brown, Miles City, Mont. 61.

Tie-down roping champion: Colton Farquer, Oakdale, Calif.

1.Colton Farquer, Oakdale, Calif. 8.5 seconds; 2. Reese Riemer, Stinnett, Texas 8.7; 3. Landon Williams, Helena, Mont. 9.4; 4.(tie) Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. and Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash. 9.6 each; 6. Bode Scott, Pryor, Mont. 9.8; 7. Jack Graham, Lakeview, Ore. 10.3; 8. Cimarron Boardman, Stephenville, Texas 10.5.

Barrel racing champion: Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla.

1. Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla. 17.44 seconds; 2. Teri Bangart, Olympia, Wash. 17.52; 3. Shai McDonald, Gardiner, Mont. 17.66; 4. Heidi Schmid, Kalispell, Mont. 17.76; 5. Valee Miller, Billings, Mont. 17.81; 6. Mary Walker, Ennis, Texas 17.84; 7. (tie) Casey Wagner, Park City, Mont. and Tia Murphy, Cut Bank, Mont. 17.88 each; 9. Lindsay Kruse, Great Falls, Mont. 17.90; 10. Rene Cloninger, Helena, Mont. 17.91; 11. Shelby Gill, Helena, Mont. 17.96; 12. Olivia Grimsley, Power, Mont. 17.98.

Bull riding champion: Jordan Hansen, Ponoka, Alb.

1. Jordan Hansen, Ponoka, Alb. 84 points on Kesler Rodeo’s Goose Bumps; 2. Luke Gee, Stanford, Mont. 76; no other qualified rides.

** All results are unofficial.  Visit Prorodeo.com for results and LastChanceStampede.com for fair and rodeo information.

The men and women that have served on the front lines in our armed forces, law enforcement and fire departments, have a job that requires them to sacrifice their own lives every day above all others.  Not many of us can say that, nor understand what that truly means – how these sacrifices have impacted them and their families.  Bucks for the Brave allows the loved ones and communities that support these heroes to share their stories and unite us all in honoring and recognizing their service to our great nation.

This contest allows you to nominate Veterans (no longer serving), Retired Firefighters and Law Enforcement Retirees to win the hunt of a lifetime. This all-inclusive hunt (as defined in our official rules and regulations) will take place Veteran’s Day Weekend, November 8-12, 2019, at Trinity Oak’s Thumbtack Ranch in Batesville, TX.  We will be awarding one winner from each of our seven categories:  Air Force Veteran, Army Veteran, Coast Guard Veteran, Marine Corps Veteran, Navy Veteran, Retired Firefighter, Retired Law Enforcement.  7 HEROES WILL WIN!

YOUR MISSION

Honor and recognize the Hero in your life!  Submit a photo along with a short essay as to why this Hero should be chosen to win.  All nominations must be submitted by September 15th.

Please note, nominees must no longer be serving in the military, this includes Active Duty, National Guard or Reserves.  Firefighters and Law Enforcement must be retired and no longer working in those roles.  See our official rules for more information.

HEROES AWARDED

Nominees will be contacted to verify eligibility (see official rules and regulations) and availability to attend the hunt scheduled for November 2019.  ONE (1) hero from each category will be selected by a committee made up of contest partners, Veterans and Retirees of Law Enforcement and Firefighters.  These 7 heroes will be our Grand Prize Winners that are announced on October 5, 2019.

https://www.sportsmanschoicefeeds.com/bucks-for-the-brave

Deeply respected and loved by his family, friends and the thousands of athletes whose lives he touched, Dr. J. Pat Evans passed away peacefully Monday July 22nd at his Dallas home.

Evans, a Native Texan, was born August 5, 1930 and raised in Dallas. He was a devoted Christian, spending summers as a youth at Young Life camp in Colorado.  In 1947, following in the footsteps of his father, Evans served as Lodge Chief for Boy Scout Troop 42. He was one of the first to help settle Camp Constantin and instigated the long-standing ceremony of a torch-lit canoe paddle across Possum Kingdom Lake.

He attended Whitworth University in Washington on a football scholarship.  The disappointment of suffering a severe knee injury ultimately led Evans to discover his true passion at an early age. Now sidelined, Evans became the team’s Student Athletic Trainer. Upon graduation he promptly attended the Grady Vaughn School of Physical Therapy to further pursue his career in working with athletes.

Evans began his career at Baylor Hospital as a Physical Therapist. His success there soon led the department head to ask him why he didn’t just go to medical school and become a doctor.  Never one to ignore good advice, Evans graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in 1959, interned at Baylor University Medical Center and was promptly offered a staff position.  He practiced at Baylor Hospital for over 30 years.

Staying true to his original passion Evans was one of the very first surgeons in the U.S. to focus solely on sports medicine. He fought to have his category of “Sports Medicine” recognized as a subspecialty by the medical community. He was the Team Physician for the Dallas Cowboys from 1970 to 1989 and the Dallas Mavericks from 1980 to 1992.

In 1979 Evans was introduced to the world of rodeo by Walt Garrison who was both a Dallas Cowboy and rodeo cowboy. Along with his friend Don Andrews, then the Athletic Trainer for the Fort Worth Texans Hockey Team, Evans realized that rodeo cowboys usually took a bigger beating in 8 seconds than any NBA or NFL player. With the support of Garrison and world champion bull rider Don Gay, Evans and Andrews convinced the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to initiate an onsite medical team. The Justin Boots Sports Medicine program was inaugurated at the 1980 National Finals Rodeo and remains the premier provider of top-tier medical support at major rodeos throughout the U.S. By the time Evans retired in 2000 the Sports Medicine team had racked up an incredible contribution toward caring for rodeo cowboys.  They attended 3,300 rodeos and 13,000 rodeo performances, treated over 135,000 athletic injuries, traveled 2.7 million miles and managed to have hundreds of doctors donate $28,000,000 of free medical services to the cowboys.

Dr. Evans’ many accomplishments and awards include being inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2002 and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund in 1988. In 2006 he established the J. Pat Evans Foundation for rodeo research. He received the Jim Shoulders Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 from the Professional Bull Riders Association.

Evans credited his faith in Jesus Christ for his surgical abilities. He was grateful and humbled to be able to treat and extend the careers of so many athletes.  He gained the trust of his patients because he understood firsthand the frustration of being sidelined from competition. He loved his work and proclaimed that ‘cowboys are the toughest guys on the planet!’ The Sports Medicine Program was a dream of his and the world is a better place thanks to his determination, devotion and love of the athletes.

Early in his career Evans met an unsuspecting young woman, Joanie, whom he courted and eventually tricked into marrying him.  Little did she know what a life he had in store for her! Early on, Pat, the ever-attentive boyfriend, agreed to take Joanie to the country to shoot a shotgun for the first time. Pat carefully positioned a rather naïve Joanie in a cleverly chosen spot.  He carefully explained she should lean back a little and then pull the trigger. As expected, the the kick from this 12 gauge shotgun knocked the 97 pound Joanie backwards directly into the mud puddle located right behind her.  Pat and his accomplice, Bob Chambless, told and retold this story for the rest of their lives (but only when Joanie wasn’t around).  Despite this dreadful behavior Joanie agreed to marry Pat and they tied the knot in 1957.  Joanie was the love of Pat’s life and together they raised three high-spirited (putting it mildly) children; a daughter, Kerrie, and two sons, Mike and Kirk.

An avid outdoorsman, Evans taught his children the love of nature, hunting and fishing. The family often spent summers ‘Up Top’ at the family property in a somewhat remote area in Colorado. Most of the family’s weekends were spent at their Texas ranch not far from Dallas shooting, fishing, playing practical jokes on each other and creating a lot of chaos at all times.

Dr. J. Pat Evans’ tireless efforts to help others was endless.  His kindness and humor is the thing legends are made of. He is a Hero. We rejoice knowing he is Home at last with Joanie, his parents and friends that left this temporary home before him.

Thank you, Good Doctor.

History made at 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (July 28, 2019) – History was made on Championship Sunday of the 123rd Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo (CFD.) While this year’s rodeo debuted a tournament-style competition format, some familiar faces rode into the winner’s circle.

Local favorite Brody Cress became the first saddle bronc rider to win three consecutive CFD championships when he rode Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Resistol’s Top Hat for 87.5 points.

Saddle bronc began in Cheyenne in 1897 and only Earl Thode, who won four titles between 1927 and 1934, has more wins here than Cress.  Hall of fame cowboy Turk Greenough won three in the 1930s and 13-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) cowboy Cody DeMoss has won three beginning in the 21st century.

Cress, whose hometown is nearby Hillsdale, extended the traditional winner’s victory ride on horseback around the arena to three full laps – one for each of his titles. The cheers from the crowd grew louder with each trip.

“Frank (Thompson-the CFD arena director) told me to make three laps,” Cress said with a smile. “I’ve been listening to Frank my whole life, so I wasn’t going to stop now.”

The $12,585 Cress won in Frontier Park will help him on his quest for a third consecutive NFR qualification. He is currently ranked 28th and needs to be among the top 15 on September 30 to return to Las Vegas.

Nellie Miller of Cottonwood, California, became the first barrel racer since Kristie Peterson in 1998 to successfully defend her CFD championship. The 2017 world champion, who is currently ranked second in the 2019 standings, won $20,697 dollars in Frontier Park, making her the highest money winner of the rodeo.

“This is such a traditional-filled rodeo,” Miller said. “It’s so special to win here. My horse loves big pens and she runs well here.”

She rode the blue roan mare named Rafter W Minnie Reba (called Sister) that she raised and trained. They rounded the pattern in 17.22 seconds, an identical time to that set by Shali Lord of Lamar, Colorado, seven runs earlier. While both women shared the final round’s first and second place prize money, Miller won the tiebreaker to be crowned champion based on having the fastest time in the earlier rounds.

The 19-year-old professional rodeo rookie sensation Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah, has begun carving out his own place in the CFD record books. Wright became the first rough stock cowboy to win the all-around title at the Daddy of ‘em All since Chad Eubank in 2007 won money in bareback and bull riding.

Wright qualified for Championship Sunday in both saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He thought his shot at the all-around title might have slipped away when he bucked off Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s saddle bronc Utopia. But the money he had earned in the quarterfinals and semifinals in saddle bronc riding still counted toward the all-around.

The defeat in the bronc riding made Wright more determined to do well in bull riding, his favorite event. When the day began, he was second in the world championship standings, just about $16,000 behind five-time world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey.

Parker McCown of Montgomery, Texas, set the bar high when he scored 90 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bull Hacksaw Ridge. Wright was the next-to-last cowboy to compete and he came within a single point of the CFD bull riding record with 93 points on Dakota Rodeo’s bull Safety Meeting.

That earned Wright both the bull riding and the all-around championship and his own place in the record books. Wright comes from a legendary bronc riding family. He is the third-oldest son of two-time world champion Cody Wright; the brother of world champion Ryder and NFR bronc rider Rusty; the nephew of world champions Spencer and Jesse; and three other uncles have qualified for the NFR in bronc riding.

“I’d have figured one of them would have won it before now,” he said. “What really means the most to me is to be the first member of my family to win a title here.”

Wright, who turns 20 on Tuesday, won just over $16,000 in two events with more than $13,000 from bull riding.

Clayton Biglow of Clements, California, was the final bareback rider to compete. Former CFD champ Richmond Champion has just scored 89.5 points on Sankey Pro Rodeo’s Prairie Rose, so Biglow knew he needed 90 points or more to win the title and he delivered.

He made a wild ride on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s bucking horse Witchy Woman and earned 91 points from the judges to win his first CFD title in four tries.

2019 has been Biglow’s best rodeo season thus far. He is ranked second in the world championship standings, about $27,000 behind four-time world champion Kaycee Field. The nearly $12,000 he earned in Frontier Park will help keep him within striking distance as the pro rodeo season begins its final two months.

The Cheyenne crowd had a chance to cheer for more than one local winner. Steer roper Trey Sheets grew up in western Nebraska and has made Cheyenne his home for the past seven years. He had the second-fastest time of the finals, but the championship in this event was awarded in the traditional format of total time on three runs. His 45.6 seconds was the best by four seconds.

In tie-down roping and steer wrestling, one of the first cowboys to compete in the finals set a pace that could not be beaten. Seth Hall of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was the second roper and his time of 10.5 seconds earned the championship. Hall has competed at CFD about eight times but had only made the finals once before-in 2012.

“This is almost more than amazing,” Hall said of earning the championship in Frontier Park.

Eli Lord was the first steer wrestler to ride out from CFD’s Chute 9 and he stopped the clock in 6.9 seconds. The next 15 competitors got no closer than two seconds to Lord’s time. He credits his hazer, Linn Churchill, a former CFD steer wrestling champion with helping him win the title. Lord is the third CFD champion that Churchill has assisted.

Dustin Bird of Cut Bank, Montana, and Trey Yates of Pueblo, Colorado, are the 2019 team roping champions in Cheyenne. They won the final round in 7.8 seconds and each won just under $12,000. Bird is a former NFR qualifier, and Yates is the 2018 collegiate champion who roped at his first NFR last December. Their paychecks in Cheyenne will jump Yates into the top 20 in the heeling standings and put Bird in the top 30 in the heading.

Frontier Days added women’s breakaway roping for the first time and drew 242 entries. When the tournament-style competition ended, seven of the 16 ropers in the championship round turned in times in the four-second range.

Jordan Jo Fabrizio of Canyon, Texas, was the fastest of the seven – 4.18 seconds. She is the first breakaway roping in the CFD record book with winnings of more than $17,500.

“All of the breakaway ropers took time to take a group photo in front of the grandstand before the finals today and it really hit me how historic this is,” she said. “This will be something I’ll never forget and always treasure.”

Fabrizio took inspiration from the buckle she wore, a CFD champion tie-down roping buckle won by Raymond Hollabaugh in 1983. Fabrizio spent five years competing in college rodeo for West Texas A & M University where Hollabaugh is the coach.

Plans are already underway for the 124th edition of Cheyenne Frontier Days scheduled for July 2020.

2019 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Champions

(money is total earned during the rodeo)

Bareback Riding – Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 91 points, $11,784

Steer Wrestling – Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 6.9 seconds, $8,628

Team Roping – (header) Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., 7.8 seconds $11,979

(heeler) Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., $11,979

Saddle Bronc Riding – Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyoming, 87.5 points, $12,585

Tie-Down Roping – Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.5 seconds, $12,615

Barrel Racing – Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, California, 17.22 seconds, $20,687

Bull Riding – Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 93 points, $13.253

Steer Roping – Trey Sheets, Cheyenne, Wyo., 45.6 seconds (on three) $19,903

Breakaway Roping – Jordan Jo Fabrizio, Canyon, Texas, 4.18 seconds, $17,515

All-Around – Stetson Wright, $16,007 won in saddle bronc and bull riding

CHEYENNE, Wyo., July 28, 2019 — The following are final round and overall Cheyenne Frontier Days results.

 

Bareback Riding: 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 81 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Witchy Woman, $8,259. 2, Richmond Champion, The Woodland, Texas, 89.5, $6,257. 3, (tie) Will Lowe, Canyon, Texas, and Tilden Hooper, Carthage, Texas, 87.5, $3,754 each. 5, Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb., 85.5, $1,752. 6, Pascal Isabelle, Okotoks, Alberta, 85, $1,251.

 

Steer Wrestling: 1, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D., 6.9 seconds, $5,948. 2, Reed Kraeger, Elwood, Neb., 8.7, $5,172. 3, Del Ray Kraupie, Bridgeport, Neb., 8.9, $4,396. 4, Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla., 9.2, $3,620. 5, Kyle Callaway, Blue Creek, Mont., 10.6, $2,845. 6, Riley Wakefield, O’Neill, Neb., 15.2, $2,069. 7, Jeff Johnston, Thedford, Neb., 16.0, $1,293. 8, Joe Nelson, Alexander, N.D., 16.6, $517.

 

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M., 10.5 seconds, $8,278. 2, Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas, 10.8, $7,199. 3, Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk, Neb., 11.6, $6,119. 4, Marcos Costa, Menard, Texas, 11.7, $5,039. 5, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 11.9, $3,959. 5, Tyler Thiel, Belle Fourche, S.D., 13.4, $2,879. 6, Chase Williams, Stephenville, Texas, 13.6, $1,800. 8, Tristan Mahoney, Florence, Ariz., 16.5, $720.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1, Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., 87.5 points on Stace Smith Pro Rodeo’s Resistol’s Top Hat, $7,918. 2, (tie) Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas; Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa; and Sam Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev.; 86 and $4,399 each. 5, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., 84.5, $1,680. 6, (tie) Jake Watson, Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia and Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah, 84, $600.

 

Team Roping: 1, Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont., and Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo., 7.8 seconds, $9,459. 2, Brenten Hall, Stephenville, Texas, and Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont., 9.3, $8,225. 3, Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M., and Caleb Anderson, Mocksville, N.C., 9.5, $6,991. 4, (tie) Pace Freed, Chubbuck, Idaho and Dustin Searcy, Weatherford, Texas; and Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Fla., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 9.6, $5,141 each. 6, Peyton Holliday, Chouteau, Okla., and Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla., 9.7, $3,290. 7, Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla., and Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Okla., 14.4, $2,056. 8, Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., and Joseph Harrison, Overbrook, Okla., 14.6, $823.

Barrel Racing: 1, (tie) Nellie Miller*, Cottonwood, Calif., and Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.22 seconds, $6,919. 3, Megan Champion, Ukiah, Calif., 17.24, $4,961. 4, Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo., 17.53, $3,655. 5, Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Victoria, Texa,s 17.56, $2,350. 6, Michelle Darling, Medford, Okla., 17.59, $1,305. *Miller won the championship based on fastest previous time.

 

Bull Riding: 1, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 93 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Safety Meeting, $10,077. 2, Parker McCown, Montgomery, Texas, 90, $7,706. 3, Ruger Piva, Challis, Idaho, 87, $5,632. 4, Nic Lica, Garden City, Mich., 85.5, $3,853. 5, Joseph McConnel, Bloomfield, N.M., 84.5, $2,371.

Steer Roping: (final round winners) Dan Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 13.7 seconds, $1,870. 2, Trey Sheets, Cheyenne, Wyo., 15.6, $1,548. 3, J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas, 18.4, $1,226. 4, Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas, 19.5, $903. 5, Marty Jones, Hobbs, N.M., 21.9, $581. 6, Roger Branch, Wellson, Okla., 25.8, $323.  (overall winners) 1, Sheets, 45.6, $13,197. 2, Dan Fisher, 49.6, $10,922. 3, J. Tom Fisher, 49.9, $8,647. 4, Vin Fisher Jr., 51.3, $6,371. 5, Jones, 54.2, $4,096. 6, Branch, 59.4, $2,275.

 

CFD Invitational Breakaway Roping: 1, Jordon Jo Fabrizio, Canyon, Texas, 4.18 seconds, $10,573. 2, Chloe Frey, Eunice, La., 4.43, $8,010. 3, Kasey Eaves, Milan, N.M., 4.49, $5,767. 4, Linsay Sumpter, Fowler, Colo., 4.66, $3,845. 5, Daysha Steadman, Georgetown, Texas, 4.92, $2,243. 6, K.L. Spratt, Lysite, Wyo., 4.98, $1,602.

Wild Horse Race: (final round winners) 1, Outlaw Liquors, $896. 2, Team Crazy Horse, $672. 3, BMC Construction/Applebaker, $448. 4, Shockers, $224.  (overall winners) 1, BMC Construction/Applebaker, $6920. 2, Outlaw Liquors, $5,549. 3, Team Crazy Horse, $3,989. 4, Shockers, $2,526.

SPANISH FORK, Utah – Sometimes excelling at a hometown rodeo can be too much for a cowboy.

Not bareback rider Kaycee Feild.

The four-time PRCA world champion won the Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo for the third time in his career July 24.

Feild’s latest victory came thanks to a rodeo-record ride of 91 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Delta Ship at the ProRodeo Tour stop.

The Spanish Fork bareback riding record was 89 points, shared by James Sursa (2006) and Ryan Gray (2009).

“That’s awesome to beat the rodeo record and to hold the record in my hometown,” said Feild, who made his ride July 23 at the rodeo, which ended July 24. “I have a lot of passion for the Spanish Fork rodeo and my dad (Lewis Feild) did as well. The stock that was there, the committee and my friends and family who were there and the energy I felt in the arena, it was a pretty special night, it really was. I get on a lot of bucking horses and compete a lot, but when you’re in front of your hometown and they support you and show appreciation it makes it a lot more special.”

Feild also had wins in Spanish Fork in 2012 and 2015. Lewis Feild, who was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 1992, passed away Feb. 15, 2016. He was 59.

Feild winning on Frontier Rodeo’s Delta Ship was no surprise. The horse has been a star for years. Delta Ship was the top bareback horse of the 2009 and 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeos.

“I’ve been on that horse a handful of times,” Feild said. “I believe I was 91 on that horse in Corpus Christi and hold the record there. I had him in San Antonio this past year. I have probably been on that horse six or seven times the past 12 or 13 years. That horse has been around my whole career. That horse is still really good. He stayed hooked the whole time and was amazing, and it was fun. He had a few tricks right out of there and just hung in the air.”

Feild, who earned $7,614 for his eight-second performance, was first in the July 22 PRCA | RAM World Standings with $143,646. Feild was out of action from March 30 until July 3 recovering from a skull fracture, an inline fracture of his jaw and inline fracture of his nasal cavity.

Feild had an 87-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Killer Bee but was injured moments after the whistle March 30 in the finals at Rodeo Austin (Texas).

“Injuries happen for a reason,” Feild said. “I’ve been doing this game for quite sometime and if you take an injury as a positive and when you’re home you work really hard in your comeback you should expect to win. I felt really good my first rodeo back and I won, and I’ve had a lot of luck and have been drawing really good. Everything is rockin’ and rollin’ and feels great.”

All-around winner Stetson Wright earned $10,035 in saddle bronc riding and bull riding, setting a rodeo record for all-around money. He surpassed the $8,710 won by Josh Peek in 2015.

Saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson also established a rodeo record with his 89.5-point ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman. The record had been 89 points by Jeffrey Willert in 2005.

Other winners at the $290,066 rodeo were all-around cowboy Wright ($10,035, saddle bronc riding and bull riding); steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack (8.1 seconds on two head); team ropers Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord (8.6 seconds on two head); saddle bronc rider Johnson (89.5 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman); tie-down ropers Clint Robinson and Tanner Green (17.5 seconds on two head); barrel racer Alishea Broussard (16.73 seconds); and bull rider Wright (90 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Count Down)

Third-generation cowboy, Dillon Hahnkamp, is no stranger to the rodeo lifestyle. Although his little hometown of Melrose, Montana only has 75 residents, he had a father, Jay, and grandfather, Charlie Hahnkamp, who set the example in front of him his entire life. Now 20 years old, Dillon still carries on that rodeo tradition in his own life and is grateful to have a wonderful support system making it possible for him to compete at the college level in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, as he secures an education for his future. Dillon was a recipient of the Montana Silversmiths Pursuit of Excellence scholarship this past spring, and he is looking forward to putting the scholarship to use in the fall as he continues his education.

Dillon attended school at Beaverhead County High School in the nearby town of Dillon, which is home to approximately 5,000 Montanans. He competed in the Montana High School Rodeo Association as a calf roper and team roper while in high school. After graduating in 2017, he went on to Ranger, Texas to attend Ranger Community College where he competed in the NIRA and studied welding technology. “The Southwest region of the NIRA is one of the toughest regions there is. It’s just a melting pot of fantastic ropers and the competition there is outstanding. I think if you want to rope, that’s where you need to be for at least a little while.” Dillon appreciates all that he learned while in the region and is proud to have made it to several short-gos at region rodeos during his time there.

Dillon’s dad competed as a calf roper, and he and Charlie also worked as pick-up men at pro rodeos in Montana for nearly 30 years. Charlie also worked for many years as a stock contractor. “My grandpa went with the more reliable paycheck when it came to rodeo. He’s 88 and still rides and shuttles cattle around, he’s a true cowboy. He’s the real deal.” Dillon’s mom, Denise, is from Minnesota and rodeo was not a huge part of her life before moving to Montana. However, she is now immersed in the lifestyle with Dillon, and his younger brother, Cord, 15, who competes as a bareback rider and roper.

Dillon is still making the decision between attending school in Laramie, Wyoming at the University of Wyoming, or Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana next fall. He’s considering focusing on business to complement his welding skills he’s gained so far and turn his associate degree into a bachelor’s degree while continuing to compete in the NIRA. Dillon appreciates the support of Montana Silversmiths and is honored to carry the scholarship with him as he continues to prepare for his future. “Being a college student that rodeos is very expensive. When you have to be at school with horses and trailers and have the extra expenses that rodeoing in college entails, every little bit of help makes a huge difference. I am so grateful to Montana Silversmiths for recognizing me with this honor.”

Implemented in 2005, the Pursuit of Excellence Scholarship program was created to give back as an investment in candidates who have a history of self-improvement and a desire to better themselves and their communities. Montana Silversmiths’ vice president of marketing, Judy Wagner, explained, “Montana Silversmiths is grateful for this opportunity we have to give back. The most rewarding part is reading the applications and stories the applicants send in. It gives me hope and pride in the future to see the talent and stories these young people share with us. Of course, it’s a great asset to have straight A’s, but the whole premise of this scholarship is not just academic, it’s more about applicants that have improved themselves no matter what, and the effort they have put in to get where they are.”  The trophy hat feathers that Montana Silversmiths unveiled this year seemed like the perfect product to pair with this scholarship program, and a portion of the sales of the trophy hat feathers will be used to support the Pursuit of Excellence Scholarship program.

SALT LAKE CITY (June 26, 2019) – Bull riding fans are in for a real treat at the Komatsu Equipment Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo presented by Zions Bank in Salt Lake City, July 19-24. Seven of the top eight bull riders in the current PBR World Standings have all earned a chance to compete for a share of over $1 million and a gold medal at the Days of ’47 Arena.

2017 PBR Rookie of the Year Jose Vitor Leme leads the pack as the current No. 1 ranked rider in the PBR World Standings. He punched his ticket to the Days of ’47 after winning PBR Unleash the Beast, Ty Murray Invitational, presented by Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, N.M.

Fan favorite and presently the hottest bull rider in the PBR, Jess Lockwood can also make plans for Salt Lake City.  Three straight PBR Touring Pro event wins in as many weeks moved the 2017 PBR World Champion to No. 2 in the world standings as of June 24. Lockwood now joins his fiancé, reigning world champion and two-time gold medal winning barrel racer Hailey Kinsel, on the list of qualifiers. No doubt this rodeo power couple would love to add more gold to their growing collection.

João Ricardo Vieira joined fellow Brazilian Vitor Leme on the list of qualifiers after winning the WCRA Titletown Stampede bull riding in Green Bay, Wis. earlier this month. Ricardo Vieira is currently ranked 3^rd in the PBR World Standings.

Chase Outlaw, sitting fourth in the standings at present time, is having his best season yet and will be looking to keep things sizzling this summer when he attempts to finish atop the medal stand at the Days of ’47 Gold Medal Rodeo. Cody Teel, ranked fifth, earned his spot to compete Salt Lake City winning the Trial Event at the PBR Unleash the Beast Billings Invitational, presented by Cooper Tires.

2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis added his name to the list of qualifiers for the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo with his current sixth place ranking on the PBR World Standings. With Vitor Leme, Ricardo Vieira and Teel having already advanced, Davis became the third and final bull rider pulled from the PBR World Standings.

Joining these top 6 bull riders will be eighth ranked Derek Kolbaba. The 26-year-old Walla Walla, Wash. cowboy will be looking to defend his Days of ’47 title after picking up his first gold medal in 2018.

A total of 288 competitors will get the chance to compete during the five day event in July. The rodeo will feature 32 competitors in each event (bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, women’s breakaway roping and bull riding) with eight competitors per performance starting on Friday, July 19.  The top two from each performance, along with two via the Wild Card category, will advance to the Gold Medal Round on July 24 where ten competitors in each event will compete in a sudden-death format with the winner collecting a Gold Medal and $50,000 cash.

Only a few qualification spots remain for contestants to earn their spot– either via the Days of ’47 Qualification events or the WCRA path.

 

The Days of ’47 qualification routes still available:

– 2019 Priefert Patriot Days of ’47 Challenge *timed event only 

The WCRA remaining qualifications will consist of the following:

– Top 20 (12 in bull riding, 28 in the breakaway roping and 21 in team roping) in WCRA Virtual Qualifier points as of July 8, 2019

Bull riders will need to have a PBR card and be registered on the WRCA App to compete while all others must be registered with the WCRA to compete.

The Komatsu Equipment Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo presented by Zions Bank, July 19-20 and 22-24, will take place at the $17.5 million state-of-the-art Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark, custom designed and built for rodeo. The venue—an outdoor arena located in the heart of Salt Lake City—features over 10,000 stadium-style seats.

For only the fifth time in the history of rodeo, riders will have an opportunity to compete for Gold, Silver or Bronze Medals. The first two times were in conjunction with the Olympic Winter Games in Calgary (1988) and Salt Lake City (2002), when rodeo was part of the Cultural Olympiad and the other two times being the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo in 2017 and 2018. The medals that will be awarded at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo will be produced by OC Tanner, the same company that made the Olympic medals for the champions of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Tickets are currently on sale at smithstix.com. For more information on the event visit www.daysof47cowboygames.com.

The Komatsu Equipment Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo will broadcast live every night exclusively on PBR’s RidePass via RidePass.com or the RidePass mobile app. Additionally fans can catch preshow and post shows on CBS Sports Network with the final Gold Medal Round airing on CBS at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 28. For a complete list of broadcast times and dates visit www.daysof47cowboygames.com.

# # #

Current list of athletes who have earned qualification for 2019 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo

Bareback Riding

Richmond Champion – 2018 Calgary Stampede

Wyatt Denny – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

*JR Vezain – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo (will be unable to compete due to injury)

Ty Breuer – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Tristan Hansen– 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo (replacing JR Vezain)

Kaycee Feild – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Shane O’Connell – 2019 DO47 Lewis Feild Bulls & Broncs Event

Tilden Hooper – 2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

Will Lowe – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-Star

Tanner Aus – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Austin Foss – 2019 Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

Seth Hardwick – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Chance Ames – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

 

Steer Wrestling

Matt Reeves – 2018 Calgary Stampede

Justin Shaffer – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

*Rowdy Parrott – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo (will be unable to compete due to injury)

Hunter Cure – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo (replacing Rowdy Parrott)

Bridger Anderson – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Tyler Pearson – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Josh Garner –2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

Mason Carter – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-Star

Jon Laine Herl – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Blake Knowles – 2019 Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

Stockton Graves – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Tyler West – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

 

Team Roping – Headers

Kellan Johnson – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Matt Sherwood – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Riley Minor – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Garrett Tonozzi – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Ty Blasingame – 2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

Justin Thigpen – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-Star

Tanner Tomlinson – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Lane Santos Karney– 2019 Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

Luke Brown – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Dalton Titsworth – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

Team Roping – Heelers

Carson Johnson – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Will Woodfin – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Brady Minor – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Joe Mattern – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Kyle Lockett – 2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

Kyle Crick – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-Star

Ty Arnold – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Taylor Winters – 2019 Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

Paul Eaves – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Kolton White – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

Saddle Bronc Riding

Zeke Thurston – 2018 Calgary Stampede

Cody DeMoss – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Wyatt Casper – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Isaac Diaz – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Colt Gordon – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Ross Griffin – 2019 DO47 Lewis Feild Bulls & Broncs Event

Jesse Wright – 2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

Travis Gardner – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-Star

Spencer Wright – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Lefty Holman – 2019 Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

Shorty Garrett – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Riggin Smith – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

 

Tie-Down Roping

Tuf Cooper – 2018 Calgary Stampede

Cory Solomon – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

JC Malone – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Caleb Smidt – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Shane Hanchey – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Michael Otero – 2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

John Douch – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-Star

Seth Cooke – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Taylor Santos – 2019 Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

Tanner Green – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Haven Meged – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

Barrel Racing

Hailey Kinsel – 2018 Calgary Stampede

Lisa Lockhart – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Chani Graves – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Cheyenne Wimberley – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Nellie Williams-Miller – 2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

Shali Lord – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-Star

Dona Kay Rule – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Kathy Petska – 2019 Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

Michelle Darling – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Ashtyn Carlson – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

Women’s Breakaway Roping

Jackie Crawford – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Shelby Boisjoli – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Taylor Munsell – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

Bull Riding

Marcos Gloria – 2018 Calgary Stampede

Derek Kolbaba – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Alisson De Souza – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Garrett Smith – 2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo

Chandler Bownds – 2019 WCRA Windy City Roundup, Chicago

Coleman Entze – 2019 DO47 Lewis Feild Bulls & Broncs Event

Trevor Kastner – 2019 RODEOHOUSTONÒ Super Series

Marco Antonio Eguchi – 2019 PBR Fresno, CA Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Event

Keyshawn Whitehorse – 2019 PBR Casper, WY Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Event

Koal Livingston – 2019 PBR Bakersfield, CA Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Event

Preston Louis – 2019 Denver Rodeo All-star

Cody Teel – 2019 PBR Billings, MT Unleash the Beast Tour Event

Garrett Tribble – 2019 Rodeo Corpus Christi

Jose Vitor Leme – 2019 Albuquerque, NM Unleash the Beast Tour Event

Boudreaux Campbell – Santa Maria (Calif.) Elks Rodeo

João Ricardo Vieira – 2019 WCRA Titletown Stampede, Green Bay

Daylon Swearingen – 2019 College National Finals Rodeo

Jess Lockwood – PBR World Standings

Chase Outlaw – PBR World Standings

Cooper Davis – PBR World Standings

NOTE: The above is strictly a list of who has qualified. A final list of competitors will be released after entries close on July 10.

Remaining schedule

– 2019 WCRA VRQ Standings (20 athletes all events except bull riding, breakaway and team roping; 12 athletes for bull riding; 28 for breakaway roping; 21 for team roping) July 8

– 2019 Priefert Patriot Days of ’47 Last Chance Qualifier *timed event only – July 20-21

About Days of ‘47

The Komatsu Equipment Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo presented by Zions Bank, takes place at the $17.5 million, state-of-the-art Days of ’47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark each July. The venue—an outdoor arena located in the heart of Salt Lake City—features over 10,000 stadium-style seats. The Days of ’47 Rodeo is one of Utah’s longest-standing traditions – celebrating Utah’s heritage since 1847. The rodeo, and other Days of ’47 events, commemorate the day – July 24, 1847 – when a determined company of Mormon pioneers realized their dreams upon entering the Great Salt Lake Valley. The Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo is a private, non-profit, volunteer, charitable organization. Our mission is to honor Utah’s pioneer heritage and educate Utah’s kids. Please visit daysof47cowboygames.com for more information.

“I don’t know if I could do what you do, handle the situation like you do, and have the attitude like you do.” These are all things that I have heard over and over from people the last nine months since the injury. At first I didn’t know how to respond to these statements because I felt like I was just being me. I have just been trying to handle the situation the best that I can, remain as positive as I can, and leave the rest up to God. The more I hear these statements the more I’ve thought about it, and have come up with a couple reasons as to why I choose to remain positive about the whole situation.

 

I don’t know how many of you have been around any clover but on wet years we get a ton of clover in our area. It over flows our pastures and gets thick. It looks like alfalfa, starts small and then as it grows it bushes out and gets thick. It gets really green and makes the area look outstanding. Animals love it and it’s a bonus feed for the spring. From a distance you can’t even tell that it’s clover it just looks tremendously green all over the rolling hills as far as you can see.

 

From Shelby and I’s house when you look across the river about a mile, on my in-laws place is where we calve our cows. For about a month as that clover popped up it turned the whole pasture a brilliant green. As green with as much clover as I’ve ever seen around here. Each afternoon I would load up my four wheeler and go with whoever was going to tag calves, usually either Sage my brother in-law, or Liane my mother in-law. I would get on my four wheeler with my rigged up handle to shift and take off. I would go around one side of the pasture looking for new babies. When I would find one I would take my sheep cane in one hand, get up beside the calf, get it hooked around the neck and pull it in towards my four wheeler. Once I got the calf pulled in and stopped, I then could could lean off the side and stick a tag in its ear. Sometimes this worked really slick, sometimes I’m sure it was quite the site to see as I chased the calf around trying to get it snagged. Regardless though I did my best to carry my weight and help out through calving season.

As the month went on the thicker the clover got in that pasture. As it started to heat up it would start to bloom and get a yellow head on it. The hotter it got the more it turned. From our house, a mile away, you couldn’t tell it was turning yellow at all. You could only see it turning as you were driving or riding through it. All of May from out our front door it still just looked green, but each day when we would go tag calves a little more would bloom. Then about the first week of June, we had a week of sunny and eighty degree weather and it turned the whole pasture a bright dandelion yellow. As far as you can see, its just rolling hills of yellow sweet clover all over.

 

This is kind of how I try to handle each hardship I come to. When I come to a storm and it seems like an overwhelming sense of green clover thickening all over my pastures I hold on to the sun and the heat, which represents the Lord and his word. Spending time in prayer, reading his word, and focusing on the hope that he promises us if we trust in him, will make that clover start to bloom. No matter how bad your situation is, remember it can always be worse. Therefore, if you make a habit out of finding the little things to be thankful for it will be like the clover starting to bloom. Little by little you keep finding the positives in every situation, hold on to the promises found in his word, then pretty soon it will be like when the whole pasture blooms and turns yellow. No matter how bad you think you have it when you focus on the little things to be thankful for you it will take your eyes off the mountain and put your gaze on the mountain mover!

So, to those who say “I don’t think I could handle the situation like you do” I say sure you can. We all have a choice when we wake up. We may not be able to control our circumstances, but we all can control our attitudes. Just because you’re dealt a duce instead of an ace this hand, doesn’t mean it has to affect your frame of mind on life. Just because life got a little hard for a minute doesn’t mean it has to affect your quality of life. Each morning we are all blessed with a breath of fresh air. Each morning we are blessed with a God who loves us enough that he sent his son to die on the cross for our sins. No matter what you are facing and how bad it seems God has a plan for you and there is always something to be thankful for. Remember when you are complaining that somebody out there would love to have what you are complaining about, so find the positives, trust in the Lord, and keep stepping forward.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

When: July 8-13, 2019 – 7 p.m.

Where:  Granny May Arena – Estes Park, Colorado

 

Four of the eight 2018 winners, including a world champ, earned NFR bids

 

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Rooftop Rodeo has always been an important stop for the top cowboys and cowgirls in ProRodeo.

Whether it’s the mountain beauty of Estes Park or the big money up for grabs, it’s the perfect setting for those that make their living playing the game they love. Hundreds of them will return for this year’s event, set for 7 p.m. Monday, July 8-Saturday, July 13, at Granny May Arena in Estes Park inside the Estes Park Fairgrounds.

Of the eight champions from the 2018 Rooftop Rodeo, half utilized the money won in this Colorado resort town to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s grand finale that features only the top 15 money-earners in each event.

“We pride ourselves on being a place the contestants want to come to every summer,” said Mark Purdy, chairman of Estes Park Western Heritage Inc., a group of volunteers that works with the town of Estes Park to produce the annual rodeo. “To see that so many of our champions went on to the NFR shows the caliber of contestants we attract here.

“One of our winners was Caleb Smidt, who went on to win the world title. Another was Will Lummus, who was in the hunt for the championship until the ninth round of the NFR. I know we’re excited to see cowboys like that back here.”

Lummus, in fact, set a Rooftop Rodeo record with a 3.2-second run to win the second round and the overall title. It was one of the catalysts to his first qualification to ProRodeo’s finale.

“That was the fastest steer I’ve ever thrown,” said Lummus of West Point, Miss. “(In 2017), I was 4.5 on both steers and didn’t win anything. I like Estes Park. It’s an awesome place to be. They have always had good steers, and just the environment …

“I’m from Mississippi, and we don’t have mountains. Everywhere you go around here, the scenery is beautiful. There are great cattle, a great committee; this is a great place to have a rodeo with great fans. It’s a wonderful place to be.”

The $4,526 he pocketed was pretty wonderful, too. Rodeo is a unique sport; not only do dollars help pay bills and cover expenses with traveling across the country, but they also serve as championship points. The contestants with the most money won in each event are crowned world champions.

Others Rooftop Rodeo champions who made it to Las Vegas last December were team roping header Tyler Wade, who pocketed $4,440 in Estes Park, and saddle bronc rider Brody Cress, who earned a little more than $7,000.

“I love it over here,” Wade said. “The mountains are awesome. There are a lot of committees that don’t take care of their contestants quite as good as I think they should, but they do here. We appreciate every bit of it.”