Category: Newsletter Articles

Feb. 1, 2019 / Guthrie, Oklahoma – The grind of professional rodeo offers many challenges and requires many sacrifices for those that are successful.

Nobody understands that better than Trevor Brazile, the “King of the Cowboys” who owns the most world championships in the sport’s history. He owns several PRCA records, including the most world titles (24), most all-around world championships (14) and the most money earned over his career – so far, that figure sits at nearly $7 million.

Now 42, he’s realizing that the sacrifices need to be fewer while still chasing challenges. That’s why he is limiting his rodeo schedule, likely eliminating the chances for more PRCA gold buckles or even qualifications to the National Finals Rodeo.

His focus is on family, and that’s a good thing. As his three children grow, their activities do, too, and Brazile doesn’t want to miss as many of those.

While his schedule will be diminished greatly, he still has some major events on his calendar, and the CINCH Timed Event Championship is at the top of his list. He will return to the unique competition, dubbed the “Ironman of ProRodeo,” set for March 8-10 at the Lazy E Arena. For information on the event and to order tickets, visit www.LazyE.com.

“When I started off, I wanted to be diversified, to be a well-rounded cowboy,” said Brazile, 42, of Decatur, Texas. “The Timed Event is a true test of it.”

It’s a test he knows well. In the 22 years since he first competed at the CTEC, he’s won the Montana Silversmiths CTEC gold buckle seven times, more than any other competitor in its 35-year history. It also offers a great financial incentive, the $100,000 prize that goes to the winner at the conclusion of the five-round, three-day slugfest.

In an event where each cowboy must compete in all five timed-event disciplines – heading, heeling, tie-down roping, steer wrestling and steer roping – just to complete one round, it takes a mental fortitude and true athleticism to come out successful. But the rewards are plentiful: the runner-up will earn $25,000.

“When you talk about the mental and physical grind that it takes, it’s a lot of both,” Brazile said. “I don’t know what makes it fun, but it’s fun. I love competing. If I were to make a list of what makes it fun, No. 1 would be the $100,000. Second would be getting on the same playing field with 19 other guys.

“I work multiple events all the time, and it’s the one time a year I feel like it evens the playing field for me because everybody has to compete in multiple events.”

There are fireworks that happen each round, but the CTEC is a true spectacle.

As has happened in years past, the annual chuckwagon cooking contest will take place in

conjunction with the festivities. It was named the 2017 American Chuck Wagon Association’s event of the year. Breakfast will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, and the dinner will begin at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased through www.Ticketmaster.com.

The hottest ticket, though, is to see the 20 greatest all-around timed-event cowboys in ProRodeo today. Over the course of the storied championship, only 14 men have walked away from the Lazy E with the title.

Seven of those men will be in this year’s field, and Brazile is just one of them. He will be joined by K.C. Jones (5), Daniel Green (3), Kyle Lockett (2), Paul David Tierney (2), Jess Tierney and Jordan Ketscher, the last of whom is the reigning titlist.

“There’s not another event like it,” said Brazile, who has earned $808,000 at the CTEC. “It is the purest of timed-event contests, then you put it in a venue like the Lazy E, and it adds that much more of a cowboy contest.”

It goes back to being one of the most unique events in the sport, where team ropers must wrestle steers and steer wrestlers must rope them. It challenges every man, and it happens through five rounds over just three days.

While the cowboys are used to stopping the clock in 7.0 seconds in tie-down roping or 3.5 seconds in bulldogging, the key to success at the CINCH Timed Event Championship is being consistent over 25 runs.

“That part of it’s changed a lot over the years I’ve been part of it,” said Brazile, who joins header Clay Smith as the 2018 PRCA champions who are part of this year’s “Ironman.” “If you go into it with a practice-pen mentality too much, you’re not going to win it. You still have to be somewhat aggressive. There are some things that will happen that are out of your control, and you can’t let them be a downward spiral.

“If you try not to lose, it’s not going to be good enough in that event.”

Make no bones about it, he’s good. In fact, he’s the best there is in the game today. He’s a factor, and the other competitors know that very well. Some of that has to do with his impeccable work ethic, and part of it has to do with his talents in the arena.

“He’s a top 15 contender in every event he chooses to be in,” said fellow CTEC cowboy JoJo LeMond, who pointed to Brazile’s two Triple Crowns, when he won three gold buckles in 2007 and 2011.

Brazile cherishes every victory and every moment. He celebrates the opportunity to engage with fans, and there are none better than the ones who fill the Lazy E Arena through the second weekend in March.

“I go to rodeos all over the world, and people will come up to me and say they go to their hometown rodeo and the Timed Event every year,” he said. “If you’ve ever been a fan of the Timed Event, you’re always a fan of it. They’re fans of grit and determination as much as they are of rodeo.

“Seeing what people have to overcome in a three-day competition is worth the price of admission.”

CINCH Timed Event Championship Contestants

Jordan Ketscher – Squaw Valley, Calif. – Clayton Hass – Stephenville, Texas

Marcus Theriot – Poplarville, Miss. – Lane Karney – Creston, Calif.

JoJo LeMond – Andrews, Texas – Kyle Lockett – Visalia, Calif.

Cash Myers – Athens, Texas – Trevor Brazile – Decatur, Texas

Shank Edwards – Tatum, N.M. – Rhen Richard – Roosevelt, Utah

K.C. Jones – Burlington, Wyo. – Cody Doescher – Oklahoma City

Paul David Tierney – Oklahoma City – Landon McClaugherty – Tilden, Texas

Jess Tierney – Hermosa, S.D. – Shay Carroll – Hico, Texas

Daniel Green – Oakdale, Calif. – Erich Rogers – Round Rock, Ariz.

Clay Smith – Broken Bow, Okla. – Joel Bach – Rhome, Texas

Jr. Ironman Championship Contestants

Rowdy Norwood – Amarillo, Texas    Quade Hiatt – Canyon, Texas

Rylen Sutherland – Benton, Ky.         Trevor Meier – Garden City, Kan.

Dillon Jones – Weir, Miss.                 Hiyo Yazzi – Brimhall, N.M.

Allen Morse – Dawson Springs, Ky.              Cole Walker – Sparta, Tenn.

Laine Moore – Asbury, Ala.    Charles Tyler West – Mertzon, Texas

CINCH Timed Event Championship – 2019

When: March 8, 2019 / NOON & 7:30 P.M.

March 9, 2019 / NOON & 7:30 P.M.

March 10, 2019 / 1 P.M.

Where: Lazy E Arena (Guthrie, Oklahoma)

Press Contact: Ted Harbin and Joey W. Niebrugge

(800) 595-RIDE / (405) 282-RIDE / imteditor@gmail.com  /  joey@lazye.com

DENVER, Colo. – The Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is pleased to announce that Rapid City, S.D., has been selected as the site to host the “PRCA Xtreme Broncs Finals” in August.

“South Dakota has produced great saddle bronc riders for years, starting with Casey Tibbs,” PRCA CEO George Taylor said. “It seems fitting for South Dakota to host the finals of this great event.”

The Xtreme Broncs Tour is a series of events that features only saddle bronc riding competition. These stand-alone events were first approved by the PRCA in 2016. It is estimated there will be up to 20 stops this year throughout the U.S.

The Rapid City event will be the conclusion of the tour and will be nationally televised. The format will be the top 12 saddle bronc riders in the PRCA earnings standings and the top 12 competitors who have competed in the Xtreme Bronc Tour events will compete in a long go and a short go for the Xtreme Broncs title and a portion of the $50,000 added money. All money earned on the Tour and in the Tour finale will count toward Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifying. This event will bring the best saddle bronc riding competitors in the world to compete in Rapid City.

The Central States Fair and Range Days Rodeo will host this event Thursday, Aug. 22, during the Central States Fair.

“This is a huge win for South Dakota and Rapid City to be able to host this world class event,” said John Kerstiens, President of the Central States Fair Board of Directors. “This event will bring the national spotlight to Rapid City.”

“There are lots of details to cover in producing an event like this,” said Ron Jeffries, General Manager for the Central States Fair. “Rapid City has never seen a rodeo event of this magnitude. We have a lot of ground to cover and a lot of sponsorship opportunities and exposure that this level of national event offers.”

For more information on this event, contact the Central States Fair office at

605-355-3861 or ron@blackhillsstockshow.com

ODESSA, Texas – Winning the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo is no easy feat.

Bareback rider Taylor Broussard, who bought his PRCA card in 2013, accomplished that goal with an 87-point ride on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Black Fury.

“I’m very happy to win Odessa, it is the biggest ProRodeo I’ve ever won,” said Broussard, 25.

The Estherwood, La., cowboy made his ride during the first performance of the rodeo Jan. 4 and then had to wait until Jan. 12 to see if his score would remain atop the leaderboard.

“It made it a little more special being out in the first perf and winning it,” Broussard said.

Broussard also drew Black Fury in July at Kansas’ Largest Night Rodeo in Pretty Prairie, where he finished sixth with an 81-point trip.

“He was good the first time I got him, and I didn’t ride him quite as good as I wanted to ride him,” Broussard said. “In Odessa, he bucked a lot harder and I rode him a lot better. The ride felt good. The horse had a lot of moves and I felt like I spurred him every jump. It felt good when the whistle blew.”

Broussard earned $3,043 for his performance to move into first place in the Jan. 14 PRCA | RAM World Standings.

The past two seasons have been the best in Broussard’s ProRodeo career, as he earned $19,169 in 2017 and $27,381 in 2018.

“I’m going to go full time again this year and try and make the NFR,” he said. “I’m pretty confident in my riding abilities. I always knew that I had the skills to compete against the best, but since the end of the (2018) summer run and into this year (2019), I have really stepped up my game. I’ve been keeping my chin down and things have been going a lot better for me. I’ve also been getting on better horses, which helps a lot.”

Rodeo is a family affair for Broussard. His wife, Alishea, and his little sister, Elizabeth, 19, compete in barrel racing.

“It’s pretty cool being able to go to rodeos with your family,” Taylor said. “That’s great that we all get to do what we want to do.”

When Taylor isn’t rodeoing, he works in his family’s business – Acadia Crawfish Company in Crowley, La. The company is run by Taylor’s father, Scott. Taylor also trains horses.

“When you can eat crawfish as fast as me, you can eat a lot,” Taylor said. “I can for sure eat eight pounds of crawfish in one setting.”

Other winners at the $222,609 rodeo were all-around cowboy JoJo LeMond ($3,385, team roping and steer roping); steer wrestler Matt Reeves (9.6 seconds on two head); team ropers Dustin Egusquiza/Kory Koontz (8.5 seconds on two head); saddle bronc rider Preston Burr (87 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Nutrena’s Bombshell); tie-down roper Tyson Durfey (17.7 seconds on two head); barrel racer Michelle Alley (14.05 seconds); steer roper LeMond (60.5 seconds on four head); and bull rider Parker McCown (88 points on Powder River Rodeo’s No. C05).

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (January 31, 2019) – The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is set to reopen the second floor, the Kit Moncrief Galleries and It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition, on March 9, 2019. The $5.5 million second floor renovation started a little over a year ago and the Museum is ready to reveal phase two of the renovation plan that started in 2015 with the first floor.

The second floor of the Museum has only had minor alterations since the building opened in 2002 before this comprehensive renovation. The completion of this project provides the 33,000 – square foot, two-story Museum the ability to augment visitor experience as well as increase educational programming.

As the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the American West who have displayed extraordinary courage in their trail-blazing efforts, the renovation has enhanced its mission by exploring the special bond between women and horses through the lens of many Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honorees.

“The newly renovated Cowgirl Museum second floor pays tribute to the amazing relationship between women and horses,” said National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame’s executive director Patricia Riley, “and celebrates the partnerships which are so special to both. The new exhibition and experiences are sure to engage and enthrall visitors of all ages.”

The Kit Moncrief Galleries will be largely given over to the new It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition which explores the relationship between women and horses, and those women – who have and who are – shaping the West and changing the world. The expansive gallery will pay homage to the undeniable link among the horse, women, the West and the world.

The It’s Never Just a Horse exhibition will feature five thematic “islands”: Ranching, Competing, Healing, Business and Inspiring. These broad categories explore how the horse connects with women through artifacts, some never before seen, displayed on the perimeter of each island. Each island will have a media station that provides the ability to explore additional information, artifacts and photos. New artifacts include the saddle Kit Harrington used when he portrayed Jon Snow in the blockbuster series Game of Thrones, on loan from Cowgirl Honoree and horse master Camilla Naprous.

Twice an hour, the gallery lights will dim and life-size horses will appear on the surrounding walls, encircling the visitor. Seemingly entering the gallery space; the horse will be large enough for a visitor to see it breathe.

An immersive digital experience that was designed with Ideum, an interactive design firm, will include a 65” platform multitouch table. Visitors will be able to design their own horse, western shirt and boots inspired by Cowgirl Honorees like Fern Sawyer, Tad Lucas and Connie Douglas Reeves. While the visitor is designing their chosen cowgirl piece, it will be projected on the walls around them, providing the opportunity to take a picture of their design to share via social media using #CowgirlMuseum.

The National Cowgirl Museum’s popular, interactive bronc ride will be making a return to the second floor with new features and the ability to download your video to share with your friends on social media.

There will be a Cowgirl Museum members-only party inviting members to have one of the first viewings of the newly renovated second floor before it’s open to the public. The morning of March 6 is designated for media; please contact our public engagement manager, Madison Ward, at mward@cowgirl.net or 817.509.8969 to reserve a media visit.

To continue the celebration of the new second floor, the Cowgirl Museum will stay open late the third Friday of each month starting March 15 through December 20 for cowgirl cocktails from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. More event details will be released later.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame worked with the same team, Projectiles, an international architect team based in Paris, France that designed the Hitting the Mark: Cowgirls and Wild West Shows Gallery and the stunning two-story mobile located in the rotunda. The Museum also teamed up with Ideum, an interactive design firm, for new projects for the second floor that include an immersive table and media stations.

The Museum has extended their hours during the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. February 10 through March 8 the Museum will be closed for final renovations.

New museum hours and admission prices are as follows:

Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday: Noon – 5 p.m.

Closed Mondays (including summer); except during FWSSR and Spring Break (March 11th): 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission Rates:

Adults – $12.00

Seniors (age 65+) – $9.00

Military & First Responders – $9.00

Children (age 4-12) – $6.00

Children age 3 and under – free with paid admission **Cowgirl Family Special (2 adults and up to 4 children age 4-12) $36.00** Perfect for Spring Break

Group Rates: minimum 10 people with two week advance reservation; maximum 120 people Adults/Seniors – $7.00 Students (PreK-12th) – $4.50 One free chaperone per every 10 students Additional Chaperones – $7.00

Adult/Senior groups – complimentary docent guided tour based upon availability Student groups – self-guided; complimentary scavenger hunt kits upon request

Keep up with the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, visit www.cowgirl.net and follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/NCMHOF, Twitter at www.twitter.com/cowgirlmuseum and Instagram at www.instagram.com/cowgirlmu-seum. The Museum will be available for event rental after the Museum reopens March 9, 2019. Contact Tommy Morton for more information at tommy@cowgirl.net or 817.509.8987.

Check out our Second Floor Reopening FAQs on www.cowgirl.net.

FORT WORTH, Texas (January 31, 2019)—With 10 rodeo performances of the 123rd edition of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo complete, the competition is just about one-third finished.

In the next 8 days, 18 rodeos will feature preliminary competition with contestants hoping to be back here on Feb. 9th for the Championship Finals. One of those is the current Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champion barrel racer, Hailey Kinsel from Cotulla, Texas.

The Texas A&M graduate stopped the clock in 16.68 seconds on Thursday night in front of a near-capacity crowd that saw fans wearing lots of purple. It was Texas Christian University night featuring the university’s band, pom squad and their mascot Super Frog.

Even though Kinsel is an Aggie, fans were still making lots of noise as she brought her horse, DM Sissy Hayday “Sister”, around the third barrel. Sister was selected as the 2018 WPRA/AQHA barrel racing horse of the year and has taken Kinsel to over $1 million in earnings.

The eight-year-old Palomino super star is now on track to get Kinsel her first championship at the World’s Original Indoor Rodeo. They are currently eight in the first round of competition and will be among the 70 barrel racers that get an opportunity to compete again.

After a shutout in the bull riding on Wednesday night, two bull riders lasted eight seconds and got a score. Tyler Taylor from Stephenville, Texas, rode Beast of Burden from 84.5 points and Trey Kimzey, of Strong City, Okla., was 83 points on Pacer. The bulls are both owned by Dakota Rodeo Company of Mandan, North Dakota, and Webster, Minnesota.

This was their second round of competition in the Will Rogers Coliseum. Taylor is currently second in the round and Kimzey is third. They are also in the overall standings based on their one ride. However, that is likely to change throughout the coming week.

Steer wrestler Tom Lewis, from Lehi, Utah, has the best potential of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association members to qualify for the finals here after stopping the clock in 4.2 seconds on Thursday night. With his wife, Lacee riding her horse and hazing for him, he is currently fourth overall with a total time of 9.2 seconds.

The World’s Original Indoor Rodeo® continues on Friday with performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Fort Worth’s historic Will Rogers Coliseum.

FORT WORTH. — The following are unofficial results from Thursday’s performance of the World’s Oldest Indoor Rodeo® at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, January 31, 2019.

Tenth Performance

Bareback Riding: 1, Wyatt Bloom, Bozeman, Mont., 77 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Witchy Woman. 2 (tie), Lane McGehee, Victoria, Texas, and Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore., 76.5 each. 4, Logan Patterson, Kim, Colo., 76.

Steer Wrestling: 1, Ryan Lewis, Hineston, La., 3.8 seconds. 2, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.2. 3, Austin Eller, Glendo, Wyo., 4.8. 4, Cutter DeHart, Laramie, Wyo., 7.0.

Team Roping: (three times)1, Joshua and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 4.8 seconds. 2, Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Tanner Braden, Dewey, Okla., 5.3. 3, Ty Bach, Millsap, Texas, and Trey Johnson, Weatherford, Texas, 5.5.

Saddle Bronc Riding:  1, Scott Davis, Mobile, Ala., 78.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Native Fringe. 2, Curtis Garton, Boxholm, Iowa, 76.5. 3, Logan Cook, Alto, Texas, 71. 4, Parker Fleet, Axtell, Texas, 60.

Tie-Down Roping: 1, Kyle Dickens, Loveland, Colo., 9.5 seconds. 2, Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont., 10.6. 3, Jayce Johnson, Wallis, Texas, 15.2. 4, Cody Craig, Wendell, Idaho, 18.6.

Barrel Racing: 1, Haley Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 16.68 seconds. 2, Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla., 16.70. 3, Brittney Barnett, Joliet, Mont., 16.86. 4, Molly Childers, Mead, Okla., 17.04.

Bull Riding: (two rides) 1, Tyler Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 84.5 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Beast of Burden. 2, Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 83.

Current Leaders

Bareback Riding: (first round) 1, Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah, 87.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Biscuit. 2, Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 85.5. 3, Tyler Johnson, Burneyville, Okla., 83.5. 4, Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 82. 5, Waylon Guy Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 79.5. 6 (tie), Trey Moore III, Anniston, Ala., and Wyatt Bloom, Bozeman, Mont., 77. (second round) 1 (tie), Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Night Lizard and Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas, on Championship Pro Rodeo’s River Bugs, 83.5 points each. 3, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont., 82.5. 3, Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La., 80.5. 5, BoDell Jessen, Altamont, Utah, 78.5. 6, Wyatt Maines, Maple Creek, Sask., 77.5. (third round) 1, Casey Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., 84 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Sunrise. 2, Waylon Guy Bourgeois, Church Point, La., 81.5. 3, Tristan Hansen, Dillon, Mont., 78.5. 4 (tie), Travis Chapman, Bastrop, La., and Trey Moore III, Anniston, Ala., 78. 6, Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La., 77. (total on three) 1, Feild, 245 points. 2, Ratliff, 235. 3, Moore, 232. 4, Hansen, 231. 5, Wyatt Maines, Maple Creek, Sask., 227.5. 6, Bourgeois, 223.

Steer Wrestling: (second round) 1, Baxtor Roche, Tremonton, Utah, 3.5 seconds. 2, Tyler Pearson, Louisville, Miss., 3.6. 3, Ryan Lewis, Hineston, La., 4, Bubba Boots, St. Anthony, Idaho, 4.0. 5, Cade Austin Goodman, Waelder, Texas, 4.1. 6, Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah, 4.2. (total on two) 1 tie), Jace Melvin, Fort Pierre, S.D., and Marcus Theriot, Poplarville, Miss., 8.6 seconds each.  3, Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore., 9.0. 4. Lewis, 9.2. 5, Boots, 9.3. 6, Brandon Harrison, Port Arthur, Texas, 9.9.

Team Roping: (first round) 1, Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho, and Jake Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 5.0 seconds. 2, Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., and Tyler Worley, Berryville, Ark., 5.4. 3 (tie), Garrett Rogers, Baker City, Ore., and Cesar de la Cruz, Tucson, Ariz.; Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Fla., and Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas; and Brye Crites, Afton, Okla., and Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., 5.8. 6, Riley Minor and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 6.3. (second round) 1, Marcus Theriot, Poplarville, Miss., and Coleby Payne, Lipan, Texas, 4.7 seconds. 2, Joshua and Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla., 4.8. 3, Aaron Macy, Post, Texas, and Jason Johe, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 4.9. 4, Riley and Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash., 5.1. 5, Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz., and Tyler Worley, Berryville, Ark., 5.2. 6, Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Tanner Braden, Dewey, Okla., 5.3. (total on two) 1, Sherwood and Worley, 10.6 seconds. 2, Riley and Brady Minor, 11.4. 3, Levi Simpson, Ponoka, Alberta, and Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas, 12.1. 4, Ty Bach, Millsap, Texas, and Trey Johnson, Weatherford, Texas, 13.3. 5, Brandon Gonzales, Seboyeta, N.M., and Steve Northcott, Odessa, Texas, 13.8. 6, Egusquiza and Koontz, 15.2.

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round) 1, Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta, 84.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Golden Glow. 2, Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 84. 3, Colt Gordon, Comanche, Okla., 83.5. 4, Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 82, 5, (tie) Joey Sonnier III, New Iberia, La., and Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 81.5.  (second round) 1, Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 86.5 points on Andrews Rodeo’s Rock Bottle. 2, Thurston, 84. 3 (tie), Bradley Harter, Loranger, La.; Wyatt Casper, Pampa, Texas, and Colt Gordon, 82.5. 6, Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, 82. (total on two) 1 (tie), Crawley and Thurston, 168 points each. 3, Gordon, 166. 4, Hay, 164. 5 (tie), Sonnier and Casper, 160.5.

Tie-Down Roping: (second round leaders) 1, Sterling Smith, Stephenville, Texas, 7.5 seconds. 2, Alex Caudle, Livingston, Ala., 8.3. 3, Clint Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.7. 4, Justin Brinkerhoff, Corinne, Utah, 9.0. 5, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 9.2. 6, Monty Lewis, Hereford, Texas, 9.4. (total on two) 1, Caudle, 19.1 seconds. 2, Smith, 19.8. 3 (tie), Lewis and Santos, 20.0. 5, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M., 20.6. 6, Kyle Dickens, Loveland, Colo., 21.4.

Barrel Racing: (first round) 1, Jennifer Sharp, Montgomery, Texas, 16.48 seconds. 2, Jill Wilson, Snyder, Texas, 16.49. 3, Tiany Schuster, Krum, Texas, 16.53. 4 (tie), Ilyssa Glass, Tatum, N.M., and Ivy Conrado, Nowata, Okla., 16.58. 6, Stephanie Fryar, Waco, Texas, 16.62.

Bull Riding: (first round) 1, Dallee Mason, Weiser, Idaho, 89 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s King Herod. 2, Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas, 83. 3, Dalan Duncan, Ballard, Utah, 82.5. 4, J.T. Moore, Alvin, Texas, 80.5. 5, Bayle Worden, Charleston, Texas, 77.5. 6, Aaron Williams, Pismo Beach, Calif., 78. (second round) 1, Boudreaux Campbell, Crockett, Texas, 87.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Johnny Cash. 2, Tyler Taylor, Stephenville, Texas, 84.5. 3, Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 83. 4, Moore, 82. 5, Cullen Telfer, Thonotosassa, Fla., 81. 6, Aaron Williams, Pismo Beach, Calif., 80.5. (total on two) 1, Moore, 162.5. 2, Askey, 160. 3, Duncan, 158. 4, Williams, 156.5 (on one) 5, Mason, 89, 6, Campbell, 87.5.

Ulla, North Carolina is home to 17-year-old, Smarty Young Pro, Jaxson Tucker, but more often than not you’ll find him on the professional rodeo trail. Jaxson has been fortunate to have connections in the rodeo world that have developed into relationships allowing him to live his dream; traveling and roping with some of the top ropers in the world. Jaxson’s father, Jason Tucker, is the general manager for Smarty, and competed for several years as a professional team roper. Jason taught Jaxson how to rope and brought him along as he competed. “I’ve roped for as long as I can remember, always roping the dummy or the sled, and we roped a lot in Texas. I was fortunate to have my dad teaching me, and to be around great ropers like Luke Brown, Brad Culpepper, Caleb Anderson, and Cory Kidd when I started roping steers.”

At 10, Jaxson began entering Junior Southern Rodeo Association rodeos, and competed in the North Carolina and Georgia Junior High School Rodeo Associations in middle school. He was the 2014 NCHSRA All-Around Champion Cowboy, winning team roping, breakaway roping and goat tying. “In seventh-grade I went to Georgia so that I could head for Braxton Culpepper but came back to North Carolina to heel for my cousin, Cole Futrell, in eighth-grade.” While heading for Braxton at the 2015 NJHSFR, the team finished in the top 10 after winning the second round as well as the short round.

Jaxson has competed at multiple USTRC and open ropings across the country and traveled with several professional ropers following PRCA circuits. “I was traveling back and forth to Texas, so it really was impossible to keep up with a rodeo schedule myself. The past two years I traveled with Kaleb Driggers, Brandon Webb, and Kolin Von Ahn; and before that I traveled with Luke Brown.” Jaxson has acquired a multitude of titles as a header, including winning the #15 at the USTRC South Georgia Championships two consecutive years, also winning the Open roping with Ty Etheridge there last year. He has won the Biggest East of the Mississippi roping the past two years, and won at the Perry Bigbee Memorial Roping recently. “Traveling with the pros has pieced me together more as a person than anything. I learn so much just listening to them talk and enter rodeos while they’re driving, because entering right is the key to rodeoing now. Seeing how they handle winning and losing really humbles you as a person because you want to be like that. I could’ve been rodeoing more myself, but it’s been more beneficial to me having the opportunity to travel with these guys. Relationships are key, and I’ve been fortunate to meet and become friends with so many great ropers.”

Jaxson is an eleventh-grader through the Abeka homeschool program which allows him to be mobile, and when he’s not on the road he values his time in North Carolina with his mom, Robin Tucker, and younger brother, Brody. “It’s hard to be away from my mom so much, I wish I could be with her 24/7, my dad too; but I appreciate them supporting me.” Jaxson also enjoys golfing with friends and loves spending time with his girlfriend, Hallee Webb. “After I graduate, I’d like to go to college and get a business degree while I college rodeo. Of course, everyone says they’d love to pro-rodeo, but it’s expensive and you need to have cash flow from somewhere first. I’ll rope and grind it out, but there’s no way around getting a degree first.”

Jaxson built his heading foundation on a Smarty and is honored to be a Smarty Young Pro. “Roping the Smarty has made me a better roper and changed a lot of things I was doing wrong before.” Besides believing in the training products, being on the team has developed Jaxson as a Christian. “I recommend it to anyone; to learn from Allen Bach, and listen to Trey Johnson, it’s just humbling, and has meant so much more to me than just becoming a better roper.”

Jaxson appreciates the support of his sponsors: Smarty, Classic Ropes, and Embrace Victory

Twombly Performance Horse Sale was held December 7th & 8th, 2018 in Las Vegas, NV. Held during the National Finals Rodeo!  Record high seller, $100,000!  Royally bred horses!  Gentle to ride!  We would like to thank all of you who attended and bid by phone.  The sale was held at the Mandalay Bay in the Roper Cowboy Marketplace!  People participated in bidding from 26 states and Canada.   Big thanks to Group W Productions!  Make plans to join us in Cheyenne, Wyoming on July 27th, 2019 for another exciting sale!   Join us on instagram and facebook!  www.twomblyhorse@gmail.com  308-783-1866

Averages

Top 5    $50,900

Top 15  $34,500

Overall  $25,800

When the hammer fell on Lot 4, “Pumkin”, he became our all-time high selling horse! This beautiful 4 yr old palomino gelding is an own son of HF Mobster. He has had reining training and is a blast to ride on the ranch. He sold for $100,000 and is going to a repeat buyer of Arizona! She has a barn full of Twombly horses and keeps adding to her collection!

Lot 15, “Doodle”, found an awesome home with repeat buyers of Kansas! He is a finished reiner with earnings and is a gem to ride on the ranch. Cowy and as broke as they come! Own son of Mister Dual Pep. This amazing horse sold for $42,500!

Lot 7, “Majestic” also heads to repeat buyers from Kansas! He was a sale favorite! As fancy as they come and broke and gentle as can be! There aren’t too many like him around! Own son of Wimpys Slippers by Wimpys Little Step. They have purchased four geldings from us! $40,000 being the final bid.

Lot 5, “Brix”, is a fancy 4 yr old buckskin gelding. Own son of Pretty Peppy Chec. Reining/ranch broke and gentle gentle! He sells to repeat buyers of California for $37,000! We would like to congratulate them for winning the AQHA World Show on the last gelding they purchased from us!

Selling sight unseen was Lot 3.  “Cromz” is a fancy 5 yr old buckskin.  Own son of Spook N Dunit! He has been shown in the reining and is a pleasure to ride on the ranch. He makes Colorado his new home at $35,000!

Lot 6, “Kissa” is the most amazing mare! She is an own daughter of the great Hollywoodstinseltown and out of a daughter of Shining Spark! She sells for $35,000 to an awesome home in Arizona!

Lot 19, was the flashy colored paint gelding “Splash”.  He was used as a lesson horse and finished to ride on the ranch. He also sells to repeat buyers from Arizona for $32,500!

Lot 13, “Eclipse”, an own son of Wimpys Little step! He is as broke and gentle as they come! Earner of over $5,000 in the reining pen. He heads for Arizona for $32,000!

“Gunit” sold at Lot 8 and was the beautiful dun gelding with the bald face and blue eyes! Out of an own son of Gunner. He heads to California at $26,000!

One of the two mares offered in the sale was Lot 16, “Gunzy” she heads for Arizona at $26,000!

“Cooscoos” was the horse everyone could ride! He sold at Lot 12 and heads to Illnois at $24,000!

“Boogee”, Lot 10 is an own son of Spooks Gotta Whiz! He sold for $23,000 and heads to California!

“Sticks” sold at Lot 11 for $22,000 to California! They purchased three horses!

Little and extra cute is what we called Lot 18 “Woodstock” He’s California bound at $21,000!

The last horse in the sale was Lot 27 “Bandito”, a 3 yr old buckskin gelding! Arizona bound for $21,000!

Lot 1 “Boots” sold to a Wisconsin buyer for $20,000! Own son of Jacs Electric Spark!

Lot 14 was the big pretty black gelding. Going to California for $20,000!

Gentle family horse! Lot 22 “Boomer” heads for Oklahoma at $20,000!

Lot 20 – $18,000 to Wisconsin!

Lot 2 – $15,000 to Indiana!

Lot 17 – $14,000 to Arkansas!

Lot 23 – $14,000 to Kansas!

Lot 21 – $11,500 to Nevada!

Lot 21 – $11,000 to Nevada!

Lot 24 – $7,500 to Utah!

Lot 26 – $2,600 to California

“But by means of their suffering, He rescues those who suffer. For He gets their attention through adversity. God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.” Job 36:15-16.

Why do people suffer? Why does God allow hardships to good people? Why would God let you or somebody you know go through something bad even though you are reading your bible, praying, worshiping, and going to church regularly? We all know God has the power to stop all bad things from happening so why do bad things happen to people?

I have been reading and studying the book of Job here recently and have gained a lot of encouragement throughout Job’s story. In the beginning of Job’s story, he was a man of great wealth; he had  7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 jenny donkeys. He was the richest man in all the area; he had 7 sons and 3 daughters, a wife, and many servants. He feared the Lord, and God thought very highly of him. In fact in Job 1:8, God calls him the finest man in all the earth, blameless,and a man of complete integrity. Job had it going on and was highly revered.

One day the devil showed up and God asked if he’d seen his great servant Job. In 1:9-11, Satan replied, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

So, the Lord allowed Satan to test Job. He took everything he had away from him. Killed all of Job’s farm animals and servants. He killed all the sheep and the sheep herders. Satan even killed all of Job’s children leaving him with nothing. To top it off, Satan sent a dose of the boils to cover Job from his head to his feet. Owning my own ranch animals, it would be a huge disaster to lose my whole herd of animals and becoming a father, I couldn’t think of anything worse than losing a child, let alone all 10 of them. Yet through all of this, Job’s response was to fall to the ground and worship (Job 1:20)! His wife asked him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity?” His reply was “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”

In all your hardships, sufferings, and trials what is your first response? Is it the same as Job’s? Is the first thing you do fall to the ground, praising and worshipping God or is it to run a million different scenarios through your head and start worrying about the future?

Through the middle of Job’s story he has several friends come and falsely accuse him of receiving punishment from God because of his sinning. He begins to ask God why all of this is happening to him because he was living the best he thought he could. Job didn’t have any hidden sins he needed to repent from. He worshipped the Lord and followed the laws. He worked hard and cared for his children. He was a man of integrity and was living up to par as far as he could tell. He couldn’t figure out why he was being punished bad enough to lose everything he had. He tells his friends he has done nothing wrong, not that he was perfect, but he didn’t do anything to deserve the punishment he was receiving. He couldn’t figure out why God was punishing him so much.

The Lord replies in Job 38:2  “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?”

Then God begins to question Job in chapters 38-41 and makes him think. Who created all the earth, the seas, the mountains, the sky, the ground, the grass and the dirt? What keeps the seas in their boundaries, who controls the rain, the snow, and the wind? Who created morning and night, darkness and light? Placed the stars in the sky and makes the sun shine? Who created all the animals and determined their gestation? Who can control forest fires, hurricanes, tsunamis, drought, and floods? Who is in charge? Humans? Do each of us have as much knowledge and control as He?

Our reply should be the same as Job’s in chapter 42 verse 2, “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” He continues in verse 3 and says “I was talking about things far too wonderful for me.” We don’t know Gods plans. We don’t think like the Lord thinks. He is far too wonderful for us to fathom.

Job 23:8-10 “I go east, but He is not there. I go west, but I cannot find Him. I do not see Him in the north, for He is hidden. I look to the south, but He is concealed. But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”

Just like in this verse, even when we can’t see the outcome, and we don’t know why we are having to deal with the hardships and challenges we are going through. When we can’t seem to find the reason. When we are finally at our breaking point and begin to wonder “why”, we can find great encouragement if we reflect on these verses. We can’t fathom or understand what the Lord has in store, what he is thinking, or what the big picture is, but what we do know is He is in charge and has a plan. We can’t control the hand we are dealt, but we can control how we respond. The Lord isn’t picking on you or making you pay. He is trying to grab your attention and lead you away from destruction. Maybe He is purifying you like gold; making you hard so you can help somebody else with a similar struggle later in life. Whatever the outcome the Lord has in store, know that God has a plan. He is in control and like in these verses His plan is to bless us beyond what we deserve. With His forgiveness and gift of eternity with Him, if we accept Jesus as our savior and believe in Him what else do we need? If God is for us who can ever be against us? Keep searching, keep reaching, and keep believing. Put your trust and hope in the Lord and let Him do His work!

NORFOLK, Neb. – Life will literally be a rodeo for some students at Northeast Community College. Officials announced Thursday that rodeo will become the 10th intercollegiate athletic program at the Norfolk-based college beginning in fall 2019.

“Rodeo is a popular sport across the region among high school students. Northeast Community College wants to give those students the opportunity to pursue their passion to take part in the competition the sport offers while earning their college degree with us,” said Kurt Kohler, dean of student life and athletics. “Also, with agriculture as the College’s largest academic program, rodeo is a natural fit and is relevant to the curriculum that is offered.”

Kohler said the program will provide additional student-athletes opportunities to compete for Northeast.

“We want to give all of our student-athletes the chance to compete in the sport they love, whether its basketball, soccer, volleyball, or whatever it may be. Rodeo is one more opportunity for our student-athletes to learn the many invaluable lessons that sports teach them, while also providing them a quality education.”

Rodeo at the collegiate level is quite popular, especially across the Great Plains. The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) sanctions more than 100 college rodeos every year in the United States. It represents over 3,500 student-athletes attending more than 135 member colleges and universities. Northeast will contend in the competitive Great Plains Region of the NIRA. Within the Great Plains Region, there are currently 12 teams competing in 10 sanctioned rodeos throughout the year, with six in the fall and four in the spring. The top-two teams in the region and the top-three individuals in each competition qualify for nationals held every June in Casper, Wyo.

The Great Plains Region could not be more pleased to be able to add another rodeo program,” said Tate Eck, faculty director of the Great Plains Region. “It may be cliché, but our region is great and to have the opportunity to give rodeo student-athletes another choice to be able to stay in this region is very momentous. Each school in the Great Plains Region offers something unique to every student; to have that chance to rodeo already on to the decision to go to Northeast Community College is just an added bonus for that student.”

Eck said there are many students who would like to participate in the sport, especially student-athletes in the region.

“If we can keep them here local …if we have one other unique opportunity, a unique school to keep that student, ‘to keep them home, keep them right here’ in the Great Plains region, we love that.”

Eck, who is an agriculture instructor at North Dakota State University, said he sees more than his students in the sport.

“My greatest amount of students are ag-related, (but) you’re going to have nursing students, you’re going to have linemen, you’re going to have everybody on this program. It’s such a wide array of students. It’s amazing how many come (to college) to rodeo. They’re there to rodeo and earn a degree.”

Kohler said the College will begin searching immediately for a coach to lead the program.

“Anytime a college adds an athletic program, there are many things to consider such as facilities, equipment, staffing, and budgets,” Kohler said. “We have put together an advisory board to help guide the College through this initial process of building the rodeo program, and I am looking forward to hearing their input. Northeast has looked into practice facility options, and once we have a coach hired and get input from that individual, as well as from our advisory board, we will contract a practice facility, begin purchasing equipment that may be needed, and assemble a schedule for the 2019-2020 seasons. Until then, our focus will be on marketing our program in our region, and on hiring an excellent coach who holds our student-athletes to a high standard in the arena, in the classroom, and in the community.”

Northeast will work to recruit “homegrown” students in the state of the Nebraska with the help of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association (NHRA). The NHRA serves more than 200 students in the state who compete in a wide variety of events.

“It is encouraging to see Northeast add the sport of rodeo to their athletic programs,” said Tricia Schaffer, national director of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association. “The majority of our members go on to college and the ability to rodeo is why some are there. Many of our students come from a rural background and will return after college. The opportunity for our students to have another college in the state of Nebraska with a rodeo program is a plus, and I thank you.”

Rodeo is not new to Northeast. It operated at the club level at Northeast’s predecessor institution, Norfolk Junior College, in the 1960’s, and again from the mid 1990’s to the mid 2000’s.

Dr. Michael Chipps, college president, said Northeast Community College wants to be a competitor in the sport.

“The addition of intercollegiate rodeo is truly another exciting opportunity for all of our students at Northeast Community College,” he said. “Athletics provide additional opportunities for our students to be engaged outside of the classroom. Evidence supports that students who make connections at college not only enhance their academic experiences, but they are more likely to be retained and graduate, which is why they are here.”

Chipps said rodeo is an innovative way to grow the College’s enrollment, “and the addition of our athletic programs, in general, is another essential element in Northeast’s enrollment plan to reach new students.”

The new program is already generating interest. One student at the news conference asked how he could sign up. In addition, Kohler said he has started a list that already included some names as of Thursday afternoon.

Anyone who would like more information, may go online to www.northeasthawks.com or call (402) 844-7271.

Rodeo will join men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s golf, women’s volleyball, baseball, and softball in Northeast’s athletic program line-up.

Bucking horses, bulls selected for awards in the Badlands Circuit

Minot, N.D. (October 23, 2018) – In rodeo, it’s not just the cowboys who get the glory. It’s the animals, too.

In the Badlands Circuit, four bucking horses and two bulls have been honored with accolades.

For the Badlands Circuit Year Awards, Yankee Rose and South Point, both bucking horses owned by Sutton Rodeo Co. won the events of bareback horse and saddle bronc horse, respectively. The bull Cougar, owned by Bailey Pro Rodeo, won bull of the year.

For the Badlands Circuit Finals Awards, bareback horse Onion Ring and saddle bronc horse Bad Onion, both owned by Korkow Rodeos, won their events, and the bull of the finals was won by Ace High, of Bailey Pro Rodeo.

Yankee Rose is a horse that Steve Sutton, along with his dad Jim and the family, based out of Oneida, S.D., raised. The seven-year-old buckskin  was started in the saddle bronc riding but when she didn’t show an interest in it, the Suttons switched her to the bareback riding, and “she’s been one of the cowboys’ favorites ever since,” Steve Sutton said. “She’s cowboy friendly. She’s not an arm jerker, she’s not hard on their bodies, but she’s still marked nineteen or twenty points all the time.”

The saddle bronc of the year, South Point, is owned by the Suttons and waits for no one. The twelve-year-old bay gelding doesn’t delay in the chutes; some cowboys don’t get a measurement on their rein because the gelding doesn’t wait around, Sutton said. At nearly every Sutton rodeo this year, the saddle bronc riding was won on him. This is the second year South Point has won the Badlands award.

The bull of the year, Cougar, is a five-year-old black flat-horned animal who is “pretty rider friendly,” said Shane Gunderson, co-owner of Bailey Pro Rodeo, Baldwin, N.D. “They ride him about sixty percent of the time, but they win on him every time. He’s just good to ride.”

For the finals awards, two Korkow horses were recognized.

Onion Ring, an eight-year-old solid sorrel gelding, won the bareback horse of the finals. He’s docile, said TJ Korkow, who is the third generation of the family on the ranch near Pierre, S.D. “You can go up to him and pet him. He’s just dog gentle, but he loves what he does.”

The cowboys love him, too. “He gets stronger as the ride goes on,” Korkow said. “He leaves the chute good, and as the ride progresses, he’s jumping higher and dropping harder.” Onion Ring was selected as the number two bareback horse in the PRCA for 2018.

His half-brother, Bad Onion, won saddle bronc of the finals. Also an eight-year-old, Bad Onion is not like his sibling. “You cannot walk up to him without maybe him pawing you in the head,” Korkow joked. “He is not friendly.” The sorrel with socks on his back feet and a strip face leaves the chute and often kicks over the top rail of the chutes. “He’s a bucker,” Korkow said.

In the bull riding, the bull Ace High is the one the cowboys love to ride. The six-year-old yellow bull, however, has other plans; in the last two years, only two cowboys have made a qualified ride on him. Outside the arena, he is “pretty easy to handle,” said Gunderson. “He’s just a nice bull.”

Voting on the animals is done at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo by the contestants in their respective events. The Badlands Circuit Finals, hosted by the Minot Y’s Men’s Rodeo was held in Minot October 5-7. Next year’s circuit finals will be October 11-13, 2019. For more information, visit www.MinotYsMensRodeo.com or www.ProRodeo.com.

Bad Onion bucks off saddle bronc rider Jeremy Meeks at the Badlands Circuit Finals in October. The horse, owned by Korkow Rodeos, is the 2018 Saddle Bronc of the Finals. Photo by Peggy Gander/Cowboy Images.

The 2018 Bareback Horse of the Finals went to Onion Ring, who bucked off Nick Schwedhelm at the Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo in Minot in October. The horse is owned by Korkow Rodeos. Photo by Peggy Gander/Cowboy Images.

Jeff Bertus attempts to ride Bailey Pro Rodeo’s Ace High at the Badlands Circuit Finals earlier this month. The bull, who is the Badlands Bull of the Finals, has bucked off every cowboy but two in the past two years.