Category: Newsletter Articles

Where Laugh-Getters & Cowboy Savers Relive the Past

The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo is the destination for the 23rd Rodeo Clown Reunion.  It is  a time for retired bullfighters, funnymen and barrelmen to gather and reminisce, don their only familiar baggy britches and personal make-up, and spend time doing what they did “back in the good old days”.  They sign autographs, perform old acts and kibbitz with the fans.  When they have a few minutes to catch their breath in between gigs, they visit with other honorees and tell stories of earlier arena days and things that happened they well remember and other rodeo clowns who are no longer with us.

The purpose of the Rodeo Clown Reunion is to show these seniors that we are grateful for what they did in the rodeo arena entertaining the audience and saving the bull riders from serious harm and more.  Their abilities to promote a rodeo and put a smile on the spectators faces is so important to the success of an event and we are grateful for their years in this profession and their willingness to entertain.

On August 6th, the honorees will be at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame with programs, acts, and autographs.  It will be a day which anyone can spend with these characters and cowboy heroes, asking questions and learning about the life of a rodeo clown.  How did they happen to choose this profession?  How dangerous is it to stand in front of a raging bull and keep the bull riders from harm?  Is the barrel really a safe haven when a bull is charging?

August 7th and 8th the honorees will be in Castle Rock at the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo assisting in many annual venues including the mutton busting, and autographing and performing in their rodeos at 7 PM on Saturday, and 1 PM on Sunday.

Since the original 1974 Rodeo Clown Reunion that was held in Roseburg, Oregon, during the Umpqua Valley Rodeo, the Reunion was held there four more years, then in 1991 it was held in Moses Lake, WA.  Since that time it had been held in a variety of locales, more centrally located, in conjunction with PRCA rodeos.  The 1993 Rodeo Clown Reunion was held in Guthrie, OK;  then  in Colorado  Springs, 1995 & 2000 during the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo;

Rodeo de Santa Fe was our destination three times, 1997, 2011 & 2017; Deadwood Days of ’76  in 2002 & 2009; and once at rodeos at Springdale, AR, 1999; Stephenville, TX, 2004; Pendleton RoundUp, 2006; Sheridan, WY, 2012; Dodge City, KS, 2008;  Coffeyville, KS, 2015; and during the Day of the Cowboy weekend, 2018, at the Stockyards at Fort Worth.

During the years the Reunion has been held we adjust the events, other than the rodeo, to suit the area.  At Deadwood we traveled to Mount Rushmore and Chief Crazy Horse Monuments in addition to the rodeo.  In Guthrie, OK we toured the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and had a Clown-Mule Race at Remington Park, the local pari-mutual horse track in Oklahoma City.  At Moses Lake we traveled to the Grand Coulee Dam by bus.  At Dodge City we caravanned to the town of Greensburg, that had just been totally demolished by a tornado, with a pickup full of books the honorees had gathered together to help start a new library for the ravaged community.

We have second generation rodeo clowns attending this year.  Greg Doering,  the son of Karl (deceased), has attended each reunion since it’s inception.  Other multi-generational families attending are:  Jerry Wayne Olson, a third generation rodeo clown, who followed in the footsteps of his deceased dad, Jerry, and grandfather, LaRue Olson.  Other two-generation honorees are: Don Bowman and his twin step-sons Dan & Pat Ariaz;  Melvin Fields and son Devlin,  and  John Clark and son, Kelly.   Dixie Reger Mosley, the only woman rodeo clown who clowned for 12 years and was also a charter member of the Girls Rodeo Association.  So far, forty-four rodeo clowns have registered from 17 states and Canada.  Their accumulated years in the rodeo arena as a funnyman, bullfighter or barrelman add up to 939 years.

Every honoree’s story is different in some way.  A few retired after 5 decades in the arena.  Others retired earlier, some due to injury and others had a variety of reasons for moving on.  Some concentrated on being funny and fighting bulls.  Others were more inclined to fight bulls while others got their adrenalin rush by hearing the audience laugh.  Regardless of how they spent their years in the arena the one common denominator is they have all continued to keep their sense of humor.

Come join us, you’ll be glad you did.  For more information regarding the upcoming Rodeo Clown Reunion contact me at email:  rodeogal@airmail.net.

 

A major component of the 72nd College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) June 6 -12, 2021 was awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships to members of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA).

Winners during the competition earn scholarships, and special scholarships are awarded to NIRA members. The total given through the seven days of competition is over $150,000.

The Walt Garrison Top Hand Award is a $2,500 scholarship awarded for loyalty, determination, integrity and leadership. Each of the NIRA’s 11 geographic regions nominate one rodeo athlete for this award then one winner is selected from those nominees. Garrison, a former professional steer wrestler and professional football player with the Dallas Cowboys, started numerous scholarship programs.

This year’s Top Hand is Mayce Marek of Arp, Texas, who just completed her sophomore year at Wharton County Community College in Texas and plans to continue her education this fall at Texas A & M Commerce where she will major in agricultural business. Marek was the Southern Region’s nominee and competed in goat tying at her first CNFR last week.

The Harry Vold “Duke of the Chutes” Scholarship is presented in honor of the distinguished and respected stock contractor’s longtime association with college rodeo. Madison Deck, a West Virginia native and pre-vet student at Murray State University, received this $2,500 scholarship. Deck, who competes in barrel racing, maintains a 4.0 grade point average.

The $2,500 Shane Drury “Nothin’ But Try” Scholarship is given each year to an NIRA member who exhibits Drury’s never-give-up attitude in the face of adversity. Drury, a bull rider who competed at the CNFR and was part of a men’s championship team, died after a battle with cancer.

This year’s winner Brandy Schaack of Hyannis, Nebraska, competed at her second CNFR for the University of Wyoming. In 2019 when she was a junior, Schaack went through serious health challenges. She had a debilitating bout with ulcerative colitis in the fall of 2018, then in the spring suffered from leg pain. The cause was a blood infection normally seen in horses and called “strangles”. While undergoing surgery for that, doctors discovered she had stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that had spread to her liver, bones and throughout her body. As soon as she recovered from leg surgery, she began chemotherapy and two years later she was back at the CNFR in the breakaway roping.

Three other “Nothin’ But Try” $500 scholarships have been established since Shane Drury awarded the first in 2006. The Lee Akin scholarship went to Cheyenne Bartling of Oklahoma State University. Tyree Cochran of Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo received the Betty Gayle Cooper Ratliff scholarship, and the Levi Wisness scholarship went to Tayle Brink of Black Hills State University.

The John J. Smith Scholarship in honor of longtime NIRA commissioner John Smith is for NIRA members pursuing a graduate degree at an accredited institution. This year’s winner of the $2,000 scholarship is McKenzie Frizzell of Cochise, Arizona. She competed at the 2021 CNFR in breakaway roping and is a spring graduate of New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and economics.

The winners of the Patty Skogan Memorial Scholarships were chosen from nominees from each NIRA region who show determination, grit and kindness while overcoming obstacles and demonstrating a welcoming attitude. Tyree Cochran, a 2021 animal science graduate of Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo who qualified for her first CNFR in team roping, and Kamryn Duncan, a sophomore early childhood education major at McNeese State University who competed at her first CNFR in breakaway roping and goat tying, received these awards.

The $1,000 George Howard Memorial Scholarships honor the life of Howard who spent 35 years as a college rodeo coach – first as an assistant at Dodge City Community College and Southwestern Oklahoma State University and later as head coach at the University of Wyoming. Howard’s teams qualified for the CNFR every year and he coached seven national championship teams and 27 individual champions.

Two scholarships were given in 2021. Owen Gustafson, from Browning, Montana, a senior ranch management major at Dickinson State University, and Colton Crawford, from Walsh, Colorado, a senior public relations and mass communication major at Missouri Valley College, were the recipients.

As a timed-event athlete, Gutafson also received the $1,000 NIRA Alumni Stan Harter Memorial Scholarship. Harter competed for Arizona State University and was the 1966 NIRA champion in both calf roping and ribbon roping. He went on to a successful professional rodeo career and was a long-time supporter of college rodeo who served as the alumni president.

No one has a background in college rodeo that is as extensive as Sonny Sikes. He competed and won national titles in the team roping and tie-down roping for Sam Houston State University. He went on to coach there and from 1962 through 1979, he and his wife, Joanne, served as the NIRA Executive Secretary.

Because of his dedication and passion for college rodeo, the NIRA started the Sonny Sikes Pioneer Award. This year’s winner is Jade Boote of Binford, North Dakota. Boote, a senior secondary education major at Dickinson State University, competed at her second CNFR in breakaway roping. She has served as the Great Plains Region Student Director and taken on several leadership roles.

Fundraising efforts for these awards are ongoing through the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Foundation and the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Alumni Association.

102nd Annual Cody Stampede Ends with a Bang

CODY, Wyo. July 4, 2021 — The 102nd Cody Stampede came to a close on July 4th with several contestants moving into the money.

One of those was the 2018 world champion saddle bronc rider Wade Sundell from Boxholm, Iowa. Sundell played to the crowd after getting off of C5 Rodeo’s horse named Kitty Whistle. The sold-out stands responded with a roar when his score of 90 points was announced.

That put Sundell in a tie for first place with Mitch Pollock from Winnemucca, Nevada. Pollock rode Frontier Rodeo’s Maple Leaf on July 3. Those scores earned each of them $4,907 which they needed badly. Both Pollock and Sundell are hoping to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December and both of them are outside of the top 15, but among the top 25. With three months full of rodeos, their goals are definitely in reach.

Caleb Bennett got his second win at the Cody Stampede in the bareback riding and they both came aboard the same horse. In 2019, he set an arena record on Gun Fire from Frontier Rodeo with a 94. They matched up at Stampede Park again July 2, and the result this time was a 91.5 point score. The win was worth $5,746 for the Corvallis, Montana resident.

In the steer wrestling, world standings leader Jacob Talley increased his lead when he added $6,269 to his earnings. Talley, from Keatchie, Louisiana, stopped the clock in 3.4 seconds for the win.

A year ago, Tuf Cooper left Cody with a championship in the tie-down roping. He competed during the final rodeo and again left with the championship. Cooper, from Decatur, Texas, stopped the clock in 8.3 seconds and was the big winner of the rodeo at $10,671.

The total payoff at the 102nd Cody Stampede was over $300,000. The dust hasn’t settled at Stampede Park as the Cody Nite Rodeo starts again July 5 and continues through Aug. 31.

102nd Cody Stampede Champions

Bareback Riding, Caleb Bennett, Corvallis, Mont., 91.5 points, $5,746

Steer Wrestling, Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La., 3.4 seconds, $6,269

Team Roping, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.0 seconds, $7,640 each

Saddle Bronc Riding, Mitch Pollock, Winnemucca, Nev., and Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 90 points and $4,907 each.

Breakaway Roping, Jayme Marcrum, Springtown, Texas, 2.0 seconds, $3,845

Tie-Down Roping, Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.3, $10,671

Barrel Racing, Emily Miller-Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 17.03 seconds, $10,124

Bull Riding, Braden Richardson, Jasper, Texas, 93 points, $5,584

The following are results from the 102nd Cody Stampede, Sunday, July 4, 2021

Fourth Performance —

Bareback riding: 1, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 90 points on C5 Rodeo’s Black Feathers. 2, R.C. Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif., 86. 3, Seth Lee Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 84.5. 4, Kody Lamb, Sherwood Park, Alberta, 81.

Steer wrestling: 1, Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas, 4.0 seconds. 2, Logan Wiseman, Paola, Kan., 5.5. 3, Connor Curtis McKell, Springville, Utah, 13.8. 4, Matt Watson, Springville, Utah, 16.2.

Team roping:  (three times) 1, Clint Summers, Lake City Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas, 4.2. 2, Nick Sartain, Bandera, Texas, and Reagan Ward, Edmond, Okla., 5.0. 3, Brandon Webb, Big Wells, Texas, and Kollin VonAhn, Blanchard, okla., 19.5.

Saddle bronc riding: 1, Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa, 90 points on C5 Rodeo’s Kitty Whistle. 2, Ks Thomson, Lundbreck, Alberta, 88. 3, Jake Watson, Hudsons Hope, British Columbia, 86. 4, Lefty Holman, Visalia, calif., 84.5.

Breakaway roping: (three times) 1, Callie Hardwick, Fairfield, Texas, 2.5 seconds. 2, Katie Mundorf, Mullen, Neb., 3.3. 3, sequin Brewer, Canyon, Texas, 3.4. 4

Tie-down roping: 1, Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.3 seconds. 2, Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif., 8.5. 3, Cy Eames, Gooding, Idaho, 9.8. 4, Koleby Hughes, St. George, Utah, 10.3.

Barrel Racing: 1, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.43 seconds. 2, Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 17.49. 3, Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho, 17.68. 4, Randi Holliday, Chouteau, Okla., 17.77.

Bull Riding: (one ride) 1, Chase Dougherty, Decatur, Texas, 84 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Out Cold. .

 

Current Leaders —

 

Bareback riding: 1, Caleb Bennett, Corvalis, Mont., 91.5 points on Frontier rodeo’s Gun Fire, $5,756. 2, Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif., 90, $4,405. 3, Mason Clements, Spanish Fork, Utah, 86.5, $2,107. 5, Richmond Champion, Stevensville, Mont., 85, $1,341. 6, Seth Hardwick, Ranchester, Wyo., 84.5, $958. 7, Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La.,  84, $766. 6, Will Lowe, Amarillo, Texas, 83, $575.

 

Steer wrestling: 1, Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La., 3.4 seconds, $6,269. 2, (tie) Caden Camp, Belgrade, Mont., and Zack Jongbloed, Kinder, La., 3.6 and $5,279 each. 4, Gage Hesse, Keenesburg, Colo., 3.9, $4,289. 5, Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D.; Joe Wilson, Martin, S.D.; and Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas; 4.0 and $2,989 each. 8, (tie) Tucker Allen, Oak View, Calif.; Tyler Pearson, Louisville, Miss.; Baxtor Roche, Tremonton, Utah; and Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif.; 4.2, $742.

 

Team roping: 1, Clay Tryan, Billings, Mont., and Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan., 4.0 seconds, $7,640.  2, Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla., and Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.1, $6,835. 3, (tie) Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla., and Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas; Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz., and Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas; and Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif., and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 4.2 and $5,227 each. 6, Britt Smith and Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla., 4.3, $3,619. 76, Jake Clay, Spulpa, Okla., and Rance Doyal, Harshorn, Okla., 4.1, $2,815; 8, (tie) Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D., and Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz.; Jaxson Tucker, Statesville, N.C., and Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas; and Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil; 4.5, $1,206.

 

Saddle bronc riding: 1, (tie) Mitch Pollock on Frontier Rodeo’s Maple Leaf and Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa on C5 Rodeo;s Kitty Whistle, 90 points and $4,907 each. 3, (tie) Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont., and K’s Thomson, Lundbreck, Alberta, 88 and $2,593. 5, (tie) Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo., and Shorty Garrett, Eagle Butte, S.D., 87.5, $1,111. 7, Jake Watson, Hudson’s Hope, British Columbia, 86, $741. 8, Ryder Wright, Milford, Utah, 85, $556.

 

Breakaway roping: 1, Jayme Marcrum, Springtown, Texas, 2.0 seconds, $3,845. 2, Cheyanne Guillory, Gainesville, Texas, 2.1, $3,076. 3, (tie) Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D., and Hope Thompson, Abilene, Texas, 2.3 and $2,211 each. 7, Sloan Anderson, Whitehorse, S.D., 2.6, $961. 8, (tie) Kayelen Helton, Stephenville, Texas; Tracey Bolich, Belgrade, Mont., and Megan Burbidge, Tremonton, Utah,; 2.9, $769. 11, Sarah Verheist, Pryor, Mont., 3.0, $577. 12, (tie) lari Dee Guy, Abilene, Texas; Abbie Medlin, Tatum, N.M., and Anna Callaway, Billings, Mont., 3.1, $384. 15, Kelsie Chace, Dublin, Texas, 3.2, 4192.

 

Tie-down roping: 1, Tuf Case Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 8.3 seconds, $10,671. 2, Kyle Lucas, Carstairs, Alberta, and Blake Chauvin, Raceland, La., 8.4 seconds and $8,986 each. 4, (tie) Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif.; Cody McCartney, Ottowa Lake, Mich.; Michael Pederson, Hermiston, Ore.; and Andrew Burks, Kiln, Miss.; 8.5, $5,617. 8, J. Cody Jones, Ukiah, Calif., 8.6, $2,808. 9, Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas; Ryan Thibodeaux, Stephenville, Texas; and Adam Gray, Seymour, Texas, 8.7, $749.

 

Barrel Racing: 1, Emily Miller-Beisel, Weatherford, Okla., 17.03 seconds, $10,124. 2, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.05, $8,099. 3, Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 17.24, $6,580. 4, Cheyenne Wimberley, Stephenville, Texas, 17.25, $5,062. 5, (tie) Sabra O’Quinn, Ocala, Fla., and Dona Kay Rule, Minco, Okla., 17.31, $3,543 each.  7, Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 17.32, $2,531. 8, Jessica Routier, Buffalo, S.D., 17.35, $2,278. 9, (tie0 Jill Wilson, Snyder, Texas, and Ericka Nelson, Lake City, Fla., 17.40, $1,898. 11, Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Calif., 17.42, $1,519. 12, Shali Lord, Lamar, Colo., 17.43, $1,265. 13, Jordon Briggs, Chilton, Texas, 17.45, %1,012. 14, Meka Farr, Honeyville, Utah, 17.46, $759. 15, Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 17.46, $506.

 

Bull Riding: 1, Braden Richardson, Jasper, Texas, 93 points on Frontier Rodeo’s County Jail, $5,584. 2, Jordan Wacey Spears, Redding, Calif., 91, $4,281. 3, J.B. Mauney, Cotulla, Texas, 90.5, $3,164. 4, (tie) Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, and Koby Radley, Montpelier, La., 88.5 points each., Ariz., 85, $1,675. 6, Creek Young, Fort Scott, Kan., 87, $931. 7, (tie) Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont., and Trey Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 86, $651.

Detached tendon doesn’t stop California cowboy from steer wrestling title; sellout crowds fill stands for 85th anniversary

St. Paul, Ore. (July 4, 2021) – Luke Branquinho may have detached his hamstring tendon from the bone, but that didn’t stop him from winning the 2021 St. Paul Rodeo.

The Los Alamos, Calif. cowboy, a five-time world champion, made two solid steer wrestling runs, 4.2 seconds in each of two rounds, to win the average in St. Paul with a time of 8.4 seconds on two head.

He had suffered the hamstring tendon injury at a rodeo in Weatherford, Texas in June and took off about three weeks to rehab it. But there’s no time for surgery, with Branquinho ranked in the top twenty in PRCA world standings, so he’s rehabbing and stretching it, hoping to put off surgery until after the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in December, in hopes of competing at the pinnacle of the pro rodeo world for the fifteenth time in his career.

“As of right now, we’ll keep rolling and see how things go,” he said. It isn’t causing any pain, and he wraps it tight before competing.

For Branquinho, in part because of the hamstring tendon detachment, he’s rodeoed less this Cowboy Christmas than any of the last 21 years of his career.

“This is probably the least number of rodeos I’ve gone to” over the lucrative Cowboy Christmas, the days preceding and following Independence Day, he said. He and his traveling partners competed at Livingston, Mont. on July 1, in Cody, Wyo. and Red Lodge, Mont. on July 2, in St. Paul on July 3, then in Eugene, Ore. on July 4.

He was aboard one of the best steer wrestling horses in pro rodeo.

Baby, an American Quarter Horse whose registered name is Babysgonecountry, is owned by Sam Dixon of Lockesburg, Arkansas. Four cowboys are riding the mount this year: Branquino, Jacob Talley, Justin Shaffer and Tucker Allen, all four traveling partners. In part because of the horse’s exceptional ability, Talley finished as reserve champion in St. Paul and is ranked first in the PRCA world standings.

This is the third St. Paul Rodeo buckle for Branquinho; he also won the rodeo in 2006 and 2015. He also won second place at the Livingston, Mont. rodeo on July 4.

In the saddle bronc riding, another world champion took home the gold from St. Paul.

Zeke Thurston, the two-time PRCA world champion saddle bronc rider, won St. Paul  with 88 points on the Flying Five Rodeo Co. horse Broken Camp.

He knew the horse would be a challenge but he was ready for it. “That horse really bucks,” he said. “She’s bucked some guys off, but they won lots on her. I was just lucky to draw her, and lucky to make a good ride on her.”

The Big Valley, Alberta cowboy has only won money once at St. Paul, “so to win it would be amazing.

“This is an iconic, prestigious rodeo. It has some of the best horses and some of the best cowboys at it. It’s very unique, with trees in the arena. The crowd is amazing. I’m tickled to death to win it.”

The rodeo saw four sell-out performances and record crowds. Its opening day, June 30, coincided with the first day that Governor Kate Brown lifted all Covid restrictions in the state.

Other 2021 St. Paul Rodeo champions include bareback rider Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. (87.5 points); 2019 world champion tie-down roper Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. (15.9 seconds on two head); bull rider JC Mortensen, Paulden, Ariz. (87 points); team ropers Kaleb Driggers, Stephenville, Texas and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil (10.4); and barrel racer Stephanie Fryar, Waco, Texas (17.37).

The 86th St. Paul Rodeo will take place June 30-July 4, 2022. For more information, visit www.StPaulRodeo.com.

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Results from the 85th St. Paul Rodeo, June 30-July 4, 2021.

All-around champion: Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah

Bareback riding champion: Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Oregon

1. Austin Foss, Terrebonne, Ore. 87.5 points on Flying 5 Rodeo’s Cougar Country; 2. Jess Pope, Waverly, Kan. 86; 3. (tie) Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho and Lane McGehee, Victoria, Texas 84 each; 5. Wyatt Denny, Minden, Nev. 83; 6. (tie) RC Landingham, Hat Creek, Calif. and Cooper Cooke, Victor, Idaho 82.5 each; 8. (tie) Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif. and Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. 82 each.

Steer wrestling champion: Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, California

1st round

1. Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore. 3.8 seconds; 2. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif., Tucker Allen, Oak View, Calif., and JD Struxness, Alva, Okla. 4.2; 5. Dakota Eldridge, Reedley, Calif. 4.3; 6. (tie) Justin Shaffer, Hallville, Texas, Will Lummus, Byahlia, Miss., Mike McGinn, Haines, Ore. and Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La. 4.4 each.

2nd round

1. Dalton Massey, Hermiston, Ore. 3.8 seconds; 2. Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho 3.9; 3. (tie) Winsten McGraw, Gill, Colo., Joe Nelson, Watford City, N.D. and Cody Cabral, Hilo, Hawaii., 4.0 each; 6. (tie) Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. and Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. 4.2 each; 8. (tie) Scott Guenthner, Provost, Alb. and Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La. 4.4.

Average on two head

1. Luke Branquinho, Los Alamos, Calif. 8.4 seconds on two head; 2. Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La. 8.8; 3. Jesse Brown, Baker City, Ore. 8.9; 4. Payden McIntyre, Douglas, Wyo. 9.0; 5. (tie) Mike McGinn, Haines, Ore. and Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss. 9.1 each; 7. Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas 9.2; 8. Dirk Tavenner, Rigby, Idaho 9.3.

Bull riding champion: JC Mortensen

1. JC Mortensen, Paulden, Ariz. 87 points on Corey and Lange Rodeo’s Highway to Hell; 2. Jordan Spears, Redding, Calif. 86.5; 3. Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah 86; 4. (tie) Tristen Hutchings, Inkom, Idaho and Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas 84 each; 6. (tie) Sage Kimzey, Salado, Texas and JB Mauney, Stephenville, Texas 83.5 each; 8. Laramie Mosley, Palestine, Texas 82.5.

Tie-down roping champion: Haven Meged, Miles City, Montana

1st round

1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 7.8 seconds; 2. (tie) John Douch, Huntsville, Texas, Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M. and Michael Otero, Weatherford, Texas 8.1 each; 5. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 8.3; 6. (tie) Zack Jongbloed, Iowa, La., Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. and Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas 8.7 each.

2nd round

1. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas 7.5; 2. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 7.6; 3. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho 7.8; 4. (tie) Colton Farquer, Oakdale, Calif. and Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas 8.2 each; 6. (tie) Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Idaho, Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif. and Reid Zapalac, Smithville, Texas 8.5 each.

Average on two head

1. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 15.9 seconds on two head; 2. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas 16.5; 3. John Douch, Huntsville, Texas 16.9; 4. Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas 17.7; 5. Michael Otero, Weatherford, Texas 17.8; 6. (tie) Westyn Hughes, Caldwell, Texas and Stetson Vest, Childress, Texas 17.9 each; 8. (tie) Reid Zapalac, Smithville, Texas and Cody Huber, Albia, Iowa 18.2 each.

Saddle bronc riding champion: Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta

1. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alb. 88 points on Big Bend Rodeo’s Broken Camp; 2. (tie)

Ben Andersen, Rocky Mountain, Alb.; Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah and Jack Bentz, Crane, Ore. 86.5 each; 5. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah 85.5; 6. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho 84.5; 7. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alb. 84; 8. Sam Harper, Paradise Valley, Nev. 83.5.

Team roping Champions: Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Georgia and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil

1st round

1. Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas/Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo. 4.6 seconds; 2. Steven Duby, Hereford, Ore./Andy Carlson, Hermiston, Ore. 4.8; 3. Derrick Begay, Winslow, Ariz./Cory Petska, Marana, Ariz. 4.9; 4. (tie) Brenten Hall, Stephenville, Texas/Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont. and Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla./Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas 5.0 each; 6. (tie) Kaleb Driggers, Stephenville, Texas/Junior Nogueira, Lipan, Texas and Clay Smith, Bowie, Texas/Jade Corkill, Stephenville, Texas 5.4 each; 8. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alb. 5.5.

2nd round

1. Cory Kidd V, Statesville, N.C./Ryan Motes, Weatherford, Texas 4.2 seconds; 2. Colby Lovell, Madisonville, Texas/Paul Eaves, Millsap, Texas 4.3; 3. Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Joseph Harrison, Marietta, Okla. 4.4; 4. Luke Brown, Morgan Mill, Texas/Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas 4.9; 5. Kaleb Driggers, Stephenville, Texas/Junior Nogueira, Lipan, Texas 5.0; 6. Jared Parke, Gooding, Idaho/Jaylen Eldridge, Nampa, Idaho 5.2; 7. (tie) Jake Graham, Lakeview, Ore./Calgary Smith, Adams, Ore.; Tate Kirchenschlager, Yuma, Colo./Cole Davison, Stephenville, Texas; Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alb.; Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla./Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan.; Tyler Waters, Stephenville, Texas/Richard Durham, Henrietta, Texas 5.5 each.

Average on two head

1. Kaleb Driggers, Stephenville, Texas/Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil 10.4 seconds on two head; 2. Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla./Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas 10.6; 3. (tie) Brenten Hall, Stephenville, Texas/Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont; Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah/Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alb. and Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas/Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo. 11.0 each; 6. Tyler Waters, Stephenville, Texas/Richard Durham, Henrietta, Texas 11.1; 7. Britt Smith, Broken Bow, Okla./Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. 11.2; 8. Tate Kirchenschlager, Yuma, Colo./Cole Davison, Roosevelt, Utah 11.4.

Barrel racing champion: Stephanie Fryar, Waco, Texas

1. Stephanie Fryar, Waco, Texas 17.37 seconds; 2. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 17.51; 3. Shelley Holman, Brentwood, Calif. 17.57; 4. (tie) Emily Miller-Beisel, Weatherford, Okla. and Jennifer Barrett, Buhl, Idaho 17.62 each; 6. Jessi Fish, Washington, Texas 17.70; 7. Sue Smith, Blackfoot, Idaho 17.76; 8. Tanya Jones, Arlington, Ariz. 17.78; 9. (tie) Sherry Cervi, Marana, Ariz. and Sidney Forrest, Lipan, Texas 17.82 each; 11. Katie Pascoe, Morro Bay, Calif. 17.84; 12. Mary Shae Thomas, Hermiston, Ore. 17.85; 13. Paige Jones, Wayne, Okla. 17.89; 14. Bailey Cline, Roseburg, Ore. 17.91; 15. (tie) Katie Davis, Adrian, Ore. and Danyelle Williams, Vale, Ore. 17.94. each.

 

 

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

The Black Hills Roundup rodeo was held in Belle Fourche, S.D., on June 30 – July 4 where members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) from around the globe competed in their specialty events. This year, the rodeo committee celebrated 102 consecutive years of hosting the Black Hills Roundup and are expecting many more to come.

The Black Hills Roundup is a family friendly event that has something for everyone. Throughout the Roundup, fans could find numerous activities to keep them entertained such as a cattle drive through downtown Belle Fourche on Thursday afternoon, a carnival every night, mutton bustin’ held before each rodeo, a firework show after the rodeos on Friday and Saturday, and a parade downtown on Sunday afternoon.

This event wouldn’t be possible, though, without the volunteers that are willing to pitch in throughout the event. One volunteer in particular, Mel Schmidt, has stepped up in past years to help make the contestants feel welcome with the rodeo’s hospitality tent. “We love giving them that small town, family feel and want to let them know that we appreciate them coming to our rodeo,” Mel explained. The hospitality tent has played a large role in the Black Hills Roundup’s accomplishment of being voted PRCA’s Medium Sized Rodeo of the Year three years in a row.

Each night of the rodeo performances, the rodeos contain a theme: Thursday – Family Night, Friday – Chutes for Charity, Saturday – Tough Enough to Wear Pink, and Sunday – Military and First Responders Appreciation. Each night also has a special presentation.

One of the most touching events of the weekend, though, occurred during the Thursday night performance when the Western Wish Foundation made one girl’s dream come true. Emma Juelffs, a young girl with down syndrome, had the chance to ride into the arena dressed in a new cowgirl outfit given to her by the foundation. She was also presented with a cowboy hat signed by multiple pro cowboys and a sash to make her the rodeo’s princess.

The Black Hills Roundup welcomed many contestants to Belle Fourche and crowned champions in each event. In the saddle bronc riding, Kole Ashbacher won the rodeo with an 87.5 on “Lunatic from Hell” provided by Burch Rodeo. Cole Franks also made an impressive ride in the bareback riding to win the rodeo with 89 points on “Two Buck Chuck” from Powder River Rodeo. Clay Smith and Jade Corkill took home the win in the team roping with a fast time of 3.7 seconds. In the steer wrestling, Riley Reiss had the quickest throw with 3.3 seconds.

This ProRodeo is a great event for everyone involved: fans, volunteers, and contestants. The competition was stiff in each event thanks to the stock. Powder River Rodeo, Burch Rodeo, and Legend Rodeo Stock, LLC all provided top notch rough stock that helped the winning cowboys earn their high point rides. Timed event stock, provided by the Frontier Rodeo Company, were fast and even, giving each contestant an equal opportunity to perform.

If you’re looking for a fun-filled, action packed weekend for next summer’s get away, the Black Hills Roundup will take place again June 30 – July 4, 2022. Tickets will be available starting Jan. 1, 2022.

 

 

Black Hills Roundup – Final Results – Belle Fourche, SD – July 1-4

Bareback riding: 1. Cole Franks, 89 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Two Buck Chuck, $2,786; 2. (tie) Clayton Biglow and R.C. Landingham, 86.5, $1,857 each; 4. Jess Pope, 86, $1,022; 5. Jamie Howlett, 83, $650; 6. (tie) Shane O’Connell, Shawn Perkins and Zachariah Phillips, 81, $371 each.

Steer wrestling: 1. Riley Reiss, 3.3 seconds, $2,590; 2. Rowdy Parrott, 3.6, $2,317; 3. (tie) Trell Etbauer and Riley Westhaver, 3.8, $1,908 each; 5. Josh Garner, 3.9, $1,499; 6. Jace Melvin, 4.2, $1,227; 7. (tie) Tyler Thorson and Bridger Anderson, 4.4, $818 each; 9. Gavin Soileau, 4.5, $409; 10. Richard Coats, 4.6, $136.

Team roping: 1. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 3.7 seconds, $4,324 each; 2. Tyler Wade/Trey Yates, 4.3, $3,869; 3. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.5, $3,414; 4. Jr. Dees/Matt Sherwood, 4.6, $2,959; 5. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Logan Medlin and Nelson Wyatt/Levi Lord, 4.7, $2,276 each; 7. (tie) Jade Stoddard/Max Kuttler and Cory Kidd V/Ryan Motes, 4.8, $1,366 each; 9. (tie) Brandon Webb/Kollin VonAhn, Curry Kirchner/Austin Rogers, Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Chad Masters/Joseph Harrison and Levi Simpson/Tyler Worley, 5.2, $182 each.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Kole Ashbacher, 87.5 points on Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic From Hell, $5,555; 2. (tie) Brody Cress and Chase Brooks, 86.5, $3,704 each; 4. (tie) K’s Thomson, Cody DeMoss and Isaac Diaz, 86, $1,420 each; 7. (tie) Jarrod Hammons, Stetson Dell Wright and Cash Wilson, 85, $432 each.

Tie-down roping: 1. Caleb Smidt, 8.5 seconds, $4,965; 2. Beau Cooper, 8.7, $4,442; 3. Tyler Milligan, 8.8, $3,920; 4. Marcos Costa, 9.0, $3,397; 5. Trent Sorey, 9.1, $2,875; 6. J.D. McCuistion, 9.2, $2,352; 7. (tie) Chase Lako and Erik Dublanko, 9.3, $1,568 each; 9. (tie) J. Cody Jones and Tanner Green, 9.4, $523 each.

Barrel racing: 1. Summer Kosel, 16.95 seconds, $4,273; 2. Hallie Hanssen, 17.15, $3,419; 3. Emily Miller-Beisel, 17.21, $2,778; 4. Jessica Routier, 17.23, $2,137; 5. Ashley Castleberry, 17.31, $1,709; 6. (tie) Ericka Nelson and Amanda Welsh, 17.34, $1,175 each; 8. Jamie Chaffin, 17.36, $961; 9. Stevi Hillman, 17.37, $855; 10. Molly Otto, 17.38, $748; 11. Leia Pluemer, 17.45, $641; 12. Shaw Nelson, 17.49, $534; 13. Tamara Reinhardt, 17.50, $427; 14. Hilary Hilzendeger, 17.51, $320; 15. Loni Lester, 17.52, $214.

Breakaway roping: 1. Cheyanne Guillory, 1.80 seconds, $4,899; 2. (tie) Sawyer Gilbert and Nicole Baggarley, 1.90, $3,552 each; 4. (tie) Cassidy Boggs and JJ Hampton, 2.10, $2,205 each; 6. (tie) Sarah Verhelst, Shai Schaefer and Danielle Lowman, 2.20, $1,266 each; 9. (tie) Beau Peterson and Coralee Spratt, 2.30, $919 each; 11. (tie) Rickie Engesser and Caitlyn Wiswell, 2.40, $674 each; 13. (tie) Justine Doka, Bethanie Shofner, Cadee Williams and Casey Rae Reimler, 2.50, $276 each.

Bull riding: * 1. Daylon Swearingen, 90 points on Powder River Rodeo’s Audacious, $13,240; no other qualified rides. *(all totals include ground money).

Steer roping: First round: 1. Clay Long, 9.9 seconds, $1,427; 2. Thomas Smith, 10.2, $1,181; 3. Vin Fisher Jr., 10.4, $935; 4. Ora Taton, 10.7, $689; 5. Scott Snedecor, 10.8, $443; 6. Landon McClaugherty, 11.3, $246. Second round: 1. Cole Patterson, 8.8 seconds, $1,427; 2. Slade Wood, 9.5, $1,181; 3. Reo Lohse, 9.7, $935; 4. (tie) J. Tom Fisher and Vin Fisher Jr., 9.8, $566 each; 6. Ryan Willberg, 10.2, $246. Third round: 1. Shay Good, 9.5 seconds, $1,427; 2. Rocky Patterson, 9.7, $1,181; 3. Ty Tillard, 10.4, $935; 4. Ryan Willberg, 10.6, $689; 5. Darin Suit, 10.8, $443; 6. Garrett Hale, 11.4, $246. Average: 1. Chet Herren, 35.2 seconds on three head, $2,140; 2. Shay Good, 36.3, $1,771; 3. Ora Taton, 36.4, $1,402; 4. Travis Mills, 43.5, $1,033; 5. Don Ed Eddleman, 44.8, $664; 6. Roger Branch, 45.6, $369.

All-around cowboy: Tanner Green, $523, tie-down roping and team roping.

Stock contractor: Powder River Rodeo. Sub-contractors: Legend Rodeo Stock and Burch Rodeo. Rodeo secretary: Jackie Northrop. Officials: Wade Berry, Scot Quick and Butch Kirby. Timers: Kim Ridley and Pat Parks. Announcer: Steve Goedert. Specialty act: Trent McFarland. Bullfighters: Zane Lewis and Clay Heger. Clown/barrelman: Trent McFarland. Flankmen: Darcy Hollingsworth, John Franzen and Dillon Page. Chute boss: John Franzen. Pickup men: Clint Humble and Jay Shaw. Photographer: Alaina Stangle. Music director: Nicky Kimm.

GUNNISON, Colo. – Darran Robertson and Cody Emerson look at life inside the rodeo arena vastly different than most.

When danger appears, they attack it. When a 1,600-pound bull charges, they return the favor, utilizing their athleticism and experiences to help themselves and others inside the arena escape harm’s way. It’s their nature; it’s their job. They are the bullfighters and will have a very important role at the Cattlemen’s Days PRCA Rodeo, set for Thursday, July 15-Saturday, July 17, at Fred Field Western Center in Gunnison.

“I do this for the love of the game,” said Emerson, 32, of Marble Falls, Texas. “I think the thrill of protecting your buddies is something that most people don’t get to feel. The bull riders are always grateful that you saved their butts. You get to travel all over the country doing what you love to do. There aren’t many jobs like it that you can provide what it provides, along with the adrenaline rush that comes with the job and the brotherhood we have as bull riders and bullfighters.”

It takes a passion to jump into the middle of a wreck in order to keep everyone else in the arena out of trouble, and both men have that. Robertson, who rode bulls for several years before he tried his hand at bullfighting, understands the necessity of his job better than most.

Both are veterans in the game, but Robertson is a bit more … distinguished. He’s 44 years old doing a job that most men do until their mid-30s.

“My wife, kids and I talked about when to hang it up,” said Robertson of Weatherford, Texas. “I said I was going to be done at 40, but I still have fun doing it. I do it because I just enjoy it.

“My son gets to go with me a little bit. When I stop having fun or if my body tells me I’m done, then I’ll quit, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen soon. I go to the gym five to six days a week, and I still feel pretty good.”

It shows in his effectiveness, and he and Emerson work well together. They’ve partnered together numerous times over the last decade, and that trend doesn’t look to stop soon. Both are excited about returning to Gunnison and experiencing how a community comes together for a celebration like Cattlemen’s Days, which has been around for 121 years.

“That’s just a great little rodeo,” Emerson said. “It’s got the old-school look and the big, wood chutes, which is something you don’t see very often at rodeos today. We have two sections of bull riding, so we get to open and close the performances with bull riding. You have your work cut out for you, because they’ll bring the heat twice a day, and you need to be on your toes.”

There will be plenty of action inside the historic arena, but the rest of his venture to work the rodeo will mean enjoying the cool mountain air; that’s a far cry from their Texas homes, which features high humidity and intense heat through the summer months.

“Gunnison is a cool little town in the mountains, and I like going to the mountains and rodeoing in June and July,” he said. “It’s also a cool town to be in, with a neat atmosphere. The rodeo is a huge deal to the people there, so that helps make it really exciting for us when we get there.”

He got his start nearly a decade ago after watching the action for much of his life. He grew up roping in northeastern Arkansas, then decided to try his hand at bullfighting. He attended a school put on by veteran bullfighter Frank Newsom, and he quickly fell in love with it.

Robertson rode bulls well enough to qualify for the Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo three times. After he decided to hang up his spurs, he found a job, but he had the world of rodeo calling back. of Fame rodeo clown Lecile Harris, a longtime family friend, offered some assistance, and Robertson followed by putting his natural athleticism to work in a different capacity.

When he arrives in Gunnison, he will offer decades of experience around bulls and a love for the game that most men in their 40s would never comprehend.

“The people in that town are amazing,” he said. “There is definitely an Old West feel when you get there. They have the old-style bucking chutes, and that Tough Enough To Wear Pink program is a huge deal there.

“The town has some nostalgia to it, and it’s got an incredible feel. I just love that small-town atmosphere and the way the people treat you when you’re there.”

Pop Can Commemorates Abilene Rodeo’s 75th Anniversary

 

Abilene, Kan. (June 3, 2021) – To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo in Abilene, Kan., the rodeo’s logo will be placed on Pepsi cans in the central Kansas area.

Mahaska Bottling Co. will distribute 60,000 Pepsi cans, with the rodeo’s logo on the back, at area grocery and convenience stores.

The cans will be sold in twenty-four and twelve-packs and will hit the shelves in the next few weeks, said Larry Brake, rodeo committee man and coordinator of the project.

The cans will be distributed in the general area of Salina, to Concordia, to Manhattan, Kansas.

The same project was done for the rodeo’s 50th anniversary in 1995.

The 75th Wild Bill Hickok Rodeo will take place August 4-7 in Abilene, Kansas at the Central Kansas Free Fair. Performances start at 7:30 pm each night. Tickets are $13 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-12. They can be purchased at various locations around Abilene and the area, online at

www.ckff.net, and at the gate.

For more information, visit the website at WildBillHickokRodeo.com or call 785.263.4570.

The decorated ProRodeo journey for superstar bull rider J.W. Harris has come to an end.

Harris, a four-time PRCA world champion and a nine-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier confirmed to ProRodeo Sports News on May 27 that he is retiring.

“Man, I would just rather be home,” said Harris, 34. “I’m just tired of going up and down the road. I’ve been fortunate enough to make a living in this sport and made lots of great friends. I got to see a lot of places a lot of people don’t get to see in their lifetime. There are guys who don’t get to ride bulls for five years and I’ve been very blessed to do this for a living and do it for as long as I have. I’m one of the few guys who got to do this for this long.”

Harris’ last ride was at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show & Rodeo Xtreme Bulls in Mercedes, Texas, May 12 when he failed to register a score.

“I’ve been seeing the writing on the wall because the last few (rodeos) I went by myself because my kids would be in school or whatnot and I just didn’t want to be there (at the rodeo),” Harris said. “I was wanting them to hurry up the rodeo so I could get back on the road and go home. When I came home from Mercedes, I was like, I think this is it.”

Harris won back-to-back-to-back world titles from 2008-10 and added his fourth in 2013. He made nine consecutive NFRs from 2006-14.

Harris and his wife, Jackie, have a daughter, Aubrey, 10, and a son, Dillon, 8. Outside of rodeo, Harris has been conditioning some yearlings.

“If you ride as long as I have the injuries take their toll,” Harris said. “Your reaction time slows down due to the injuries piling up and things not working how they’re supposed to. My riding style has changed in the last couple of years just to try and compensate for stuff. When I haven’t been riding bulls, I’ve been doing cowboy stuff around the house and I kind of get to work when I want to, and I’m lucky on that part.

“Time with my wife and family is something I cherish. I’ve dragged them all over the country for years. My wife and I have been together since 2006 at the NFR, and she’s been there every step of the way.”

The Goldthwaite, Texas, cowboy, who joined the PRCA in 2005 and earned more than $2 million in ProRodeo, took a moment to reminisce about his fondest memories.

“Obviously the four world titles for sure,” Harris said. “It’s kind of hard to put it on one thing you’re most proud of. If it wasn’t for rodeo, I would have never met my wife and wouldn’t have what I have today. It’s all because of rodeo.”

Several Nebraska high school rodeo athletes finish as valedictorians, salutatorians of their classes

Hastings, Neb.  (May 31, 2021) – In the last few weeks, the seniors among the Nebraska State High School Rodeo athletes exchanged cowboy hats for mortarboard hats, and several of them graduated at the top of their classes.

Dalton Kunkee, Callaway; Brooke McCully, Mullen; Rylee Naprstek, Gothenburg; Dean Schroder, Taylor; Jessica Stevens, Creighton; Faith Storer, Arthur; and Kaci Wickersham, Verdigre, all graduated as either valedictorians or salutatorians.

Kunkee finished as valedictorian of Callaway High School. Throughout his high school career, he was involved in FFA, (two years as president), One Acts (three years with the lead role), speech, National Honor Society, football and wrestling.

He will attend McCook Community College with full tuition paid, thanks to an academic scholarship.

In high school rodeo, he competes in the team roping and steer wrestling and is scheduled to make his fourth trip to the Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo again this year, as he’s ranked in the top ten in both of his events. He is a 2021 recipient of the Broc Cresta Memorial Scholarship.

He is the son of Dean and Angie Kunkee.

 

Brooke McCully graduated as valedictorian of Mullen High School.

During high school, the cowgirl was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and basketball and a three-year letter winner in track (losing a year, due to the pandemic). She was a member of the National Honor Society.

She competes in the breakaway roping, pole bending, barrel racing and team roping and, as a sophomore, qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in the breakaway. She’s currently ranked in the top ten in the barrels and the poles and is poised to qualify for her fourth state high school finals rodeo.

This fall, her rodeo career will be on hold as she plays basketball for Chadron State College. She will major in business accounting and has chosen to put rodeo on the back burner till college is over. She joins her older sister, Brittni, on the basketball team.

She is the daughter of Brad and Traci McCully.

 

Rylee Naprstek, Gothenburg, graduated as valedictorian of Gothenburg High School with a 4.0 GPA.

In high school, she was involved in the Interact Club, student council, the school musical, the speech team, one acts, basketball for two years, FFA, Sigma Phi Beta, pep club, and National Honor Society.

This fall, she will attend Chadron State College on a Gold Presidential Scholarship, which will cover her entire tuition. Naprstek plans on studying elementary education.

A breakaway roper, team roper and goat tyer, she has qualified for the state high school finals rodeo all three years and is headed to her fourth qualification this June in Hastings.

She is the daughter of Chad and Renee Naprstek.

 

Dean Schroder, the son of John and Belinda Schroder, finished his high school career as valedictorian at Loup County High School with a 4.0 GPA.

The Taylor, Nebraska cowboy played football for four years and wrestled for three. He was involved in student council, FFA, and the National Honor Society.

In high school rodeo, he was a saddle bronc rider and a team roper and qualified for the state finals all three years. He’s on track to be in Hastings June 17-19 for this year’s finals as well.

He has earned a President’s Scholarship to Chadron State College, where he will rodeo collegiately and work towards a rangeland management degree.

 

Creighton Community High School’s Jessica Stevens finished as salutatorian of her class, with a 4.2 GPA.

The Creighton, Neb. cowgirl was involved in FFA, FCCLA, HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), Teammates, speech, and participated in cross country, basketball and track.

Through all four years of high school, Stevens placed in the HOSA statewide contests and this year, will compete at the international contest.

In rodeo, she competes in the breakaway, team roping and goat tying and finished the 2019-2020 rodeo season as reserve champion at the national level in the goat tying. She is set to qualify for her fourth state finals next month, and is currently ranked first in the goat tying in the state.

Stevens has received full tuition through academic and rodeo scholarships to attend Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana, where she will work towards two degrees: animal science and business, and farm and ranch management.

She is the daughter of Gene Stevens and Heather and Travis Stacken.

 

Faith Storer, Arthur, completed her high school career as salutatorian of the Arthur County High School Class of 2021, with a GPA of 4.049.

In high school, she was student body president of the Nebraska State High School Rodeo Association, was captain of the basketball and volleyball teams, and was involved in FFA and National Honor Society. She also participated in track.

She earned early acceptance to the Bryan College of Health nursing program, which guarantees her, after two successful years of college at Bryan, acceptance into the nursing program at Bryan, which is located in Lincoln.

The cowgirl competes in the breakaway roping, team roping and girls cutting and has competed at the National High School Finals Rodeo two years. She’s on track for her fourth state finals this year, currently sitting first in the girls cutting standings.

She is the daughter of Jared and Angie Storer.

 

Kaci Wickersham, Verdigre, Neb., is co-valedictorian of Summerland High School at Orchard, with a 4.0 GPA.

The cowgirl, who competes in the breakaway roping and goat tying, was in cross country, track, band, choir, journalism, FFA and National Honor Society. She qualified for the state high school finals rodeo twice and is on track to be there again this June.

She will attend Chadron State College with full tuition paid, and will study agribusiness.

She is the daughter of Darin and Kerry Wickersham.

The Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo will take place in Hastings at the Adams Co. Fairgrounds June 17-19. The top thirty high school contestants in each event (the top sixty in the team roping) qualify; after state finals determines the winners, the top four in each event go on to the National High School Finals Rodeo, this year held in Lincoln July 18-24.

The state finals performances are June 17 at 10 am and 6 pm; June 18 at 11 am and 6 pm, and the finals on June 19 at 1 pm.

For more information, visit AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com or hsrodeo-nebraska.com, or call 402.462.3247.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – As the event was down to one eligible athlete in the Triple Crown of Rodeo (TCR) at May 9 Rodeo Corpus Christi, tie-down roping had the fans inside American Bank Center on the edge of their seats throughout the jaw-dropping run where Riley Webb (Decatur, Texas) Riley Webb prevailed. The 17-year-old Riley Webb was the undeniable star of the rodeo, delivering what would be the most groundbreaking performance of the event. As only one of two athletes remaining TCR eligible in the TCR round (short round), his 7.03-second effort elevated him to a $12,500 payday. For Webb, fresh off his win at August’s Stampede at the E, the event marked his second consecutive WCRA Major, putting him in contention to be the youngest millionaire in the history of rodeo. If Webb triumphs at July’s Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo, he will be the first victor of WCRA Triple Crown of Rodeo $1 Million Bonus.

Not only did Webb emerge victorious, but did so by defeating WCRA Windy City Roundup Champion, and the 2013 PRCA World Champion tie-down roper Shane Hanchey (Carmine, Texas) and JD Mccuistion (Collinsville, Texas). Webb received the quickest time in both May 9 rounds.

As the only team ropers to deliver a qualified run in the TCR round, Kaleb Driggers (Hoboken, Georgia) and Junior Nogueira (Lipan, Texas) delivered a 6.04-second run. Besting the No. 1 team on the Rodeo Corpus Christi Leaderboard and WCRA Champions Erich Rogers (Round Rock, Arizona) and Paden Bray (Stephenville, Texas) along with Clay Smith (Broken Bow, Oklahoma) and Jade Corkill (Stephenville, Texas).

In the bull riding, PBR (Professional Bull Riders) world No. 9 Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) rode supreme. Capping his perfect 2-for-2 effort on Sunday evening, the 2x WCRA Champion (2018 Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo, WCRA Windy City Roundup) rode County Jail for a monstrous 91.5 points to net an equally impressive check for $16,500. Kolbaba logged the only qualified ride in bull riding, to land his third WCRA Champion Title. The win in Corpus Christi elevates Kolbaba to be one of the highest earners in WCRA with a total upwards of $160,000 in earnings since May of 2018.

Will Lummus (Byhalia, Mississippi) was unstoppable in the steer wrestling where he notched the only qualified time in the TCR round. The 3x NFR qualifier recorded a 3.54-second run in the long round, prior to delivering a lightning-fast 3.94-second effort in the TCR Round. The victory is Lummus’ first WCRA Major win. Lummus walked away with $16,500.

As the Sunday evening event continued, a hotly contested race in the breakaway roping began to unfurl. Women’s Rodeo World Champion (WRWC) Madison Outhier (Utopia, Texas), Titletown Stampede Champion Shelby Boisjoli (Stephenville, Texas), and WRWC All-Around Cowgirl Jackie Crawford (Stephenville, Texas) entered the TCR round edging each other’s showdown round times within the tenths of second. Calm and collected, Outhier remained poised as she backed into the roping box as she readied for what would be a career defining moment. Madison’s rope broke off from her saddle horn at an impressive 1.84-second time edging out Crawford’s 2.60-second time and Boisjoli’s penalized 6.67-second time.

After Shorty Garrett (Dupree, South Dakota), Kolby Wanchuk (Sherwood Park, Alberta) and 2015 PRCA World Champion Jacobs Crawly advanced to the TRC Round with high 80+ scores, the trio quickly became immersed in a shootout for the $12,500 Major payday in the TCR round. Outscoring Garrett, the victor from the 2020 Stampede at The E who was seeking his second win in the Triple Crown, by 5.5 points, Wanchuk delivered a critical 87.5-point ride on Cash Deal to capture the victory.

Richmond Champion (Stevensville, Montana) won the bareback riding courtesy of his 89-point ride in the long round, and 91.5-point score in the second round, both the top scores in the rounds. Champion topped Caleb Bennetts (Tremonton, Utah) 88-point ride in the short round. In the barrel racing 2019 Days of ’47 Cowboy Game and Rodeo runner-up Maggie Poloncic (Gillette, Wyoming) and mare Puff expertly navigated the course as her 13.817-second run in the TC round was the quickest, distancing runner-up Kelley Carrington (Boston, Georgia) who recorded a 14.176-second run.

Since launching in May of 2018, the WCRA and its partners have awarded more than $9,000,000 in new money to rodeo athletes.

On Sunday, June 6 fans will be able to tune into Rodeo Corpus Christi on a CBS network broadcast at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Nominations are now open for WCRA’s next Major rodeo- The Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo taking place July 20-24 in Salt Lake City. Athletes are eligible to nominate their competitive efforts in the Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) until June 27, 2021 to earn a spot in the $562,500 event.

 

All results from the event can be found here.

-WCRA-

About WCRA

WCRA is a professional sport and entertainment entity, created to develop and advance the sport of rodeo by aligning all levels of competition. In association with the PBR, WCRA produces major rodeo events, developing additional opportunities for rodeo-industry competitors, stakeholders, and fans. To learn more, visit wcrarodeo.com. For athletes interested in learning more about the WCRA Virtual Rodeo Qualifier (VRQ) system, visit app.wcrarodeo.com.