Category: Rodeo Life Today

Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo

Salt Lake City, Utah, July 19-24

 

SALT LAKE CITY – The Days of ’47 Cowboy Games and Rodeo kicked off with a bang in the brand new arena at Utah State Fairpark on July 19, 2017.

Current PRCA World Champion Tim O’Connell rode Flying U Rodeo’s Misplaced Insanity for an 87.5 point ride to move to the top of the leaderboard on the first night and more importantly move on to Monday nights Gold Medal Round and a shot at $50,000.

O’Connell of Zwingle, Iowa, will be joined by Tanner Phipps also advancing from the first night with an 87.5 point ride on Diamond G Rodeo’s 03, which happened to be on reride horse. The duo each pocketed $4,400 but hoping for a much bigger payday on Monday and a chance to compete for a Gold Medal.

2017 Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo Champion Steer Wrestler Justin Shaffter from Hallsville, Texas, made good use of his time on Wednesday night with a time of 4.4 seconds to easily advance to Monday’s finals. Nick Guy of Sparta, Wis., was second with a 4.8.

The team ropers ran into a bit of trouble as only three teams finished with a time. Nelson Wyatt of Clanton, Ala., and Matt Kasner of Cody, Neb., led the way with a 4.4 second run followed by Jr. Dees of Aurora, S.D. and Tyler McNight of Wells, Texas.

The last two PRCA world champions in the saddle bronc riding punched their ticket for a chance at a $50,000 payday. Jacobs Crawley of Boerne, Texas rodeo Flying Five Rodeo’s Front Page for 85.5 points, while Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, rode Komatsu’s King Mountain for 84 points.

A couple of Texans finished atop the leaderboard in the tie-down roping with Marty Yates leading the way. Yates of Stephenville, stopped the clock in 7.6 seconds while Tuf Cooper of Weatherford finished in 8.5.

The WPRA barrel racers turned up the heat on Wednesday night with Kassie Mowry of Dublin, Texas, and Stevi Hillman, of Weatherford, Texas, finished 1-2 in time of 17.04 and 17.07, respectively. Both are hoping to get a share of the $50,000 to close the gap on No. 1 Tiany Schuster, who just won the Calgary Stampede and set a new WPRA regular season earnings record. Schuster will be in the spotlight on Thursday night, July 20, at 7 p.m.

Shane Proctor of Grand Coulee, Wash., brought the first night to a close atop the leaderboard in the bull riding with a 89.5 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Tawa II. Proctor, who won the PRCA World title in 2011, outdistanced three-time and current world champion Sage Kimzey. Kimzey, of Strong City, Okla., rode Diamond G Rodeo’s Zion’s Lil’America for 85 points to punch his ticket to the Gold Medal Round on July 24.

KSL.com will be live streaming from the event every night and the Gold Medal Round will be televised on CBS Sports Network on July 30 at 8 p.m. ET.

 

 

Results –

*Top two in each event advance to July 24 Gold Medal Round

 Bareback riding: 1(tie). Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa, on Flying U Rodeo’s Misplaced Insanity, and Tanner Phipps, Dalton, Ga., on 03 Diamond G Rodeo, 87.5 points, $2,800 each; 3. Justin Miller, Billing, Mont., 84 on Flying U Rodeo’s Something Cool, $1,600; 4. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah, 83 on Big Bend Rodeo’s Commotion Toddy, $ 800

 Steer Wrestling: 1 Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas, 4.4 seconds $3,200; 2. Nick Guy, Sparta, Wis., 4.8 $2,400; 3.Hunter Cure, Holliday, Texas, 5.4, $1,600; 4. Tanner Milan, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, 5.6, $800.

 Team Roping: 1. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala./Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb., 4.4.seconds, $ 3,467; 2. Jr. Dees, Aurora, S.D./Tyler McKnight, Wells, Texas, 4.5, $ 2,667; 3 Chad Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn./Travis Graves, Jay, Okla., 4.6, $1,867.

Saddle Bronc Riding: 1.Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas, 85.5 points on Flying U Dunn Gone with Wrangler, $ 3,200; 2. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, Canada, 84 on Flying U Komatsu King Mountain, $2,400. 3. Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas, 80.5 on Lil Hawk at UT State Games, $1,600; 4. Austin Joseph, Benton, Ky., 71 on Diamond G Babe’s Foundation, $800.

Tie-Down Roping: 1. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas, 7.6 seconds, $3,200; 2. Tuf Cooper, Weatherford, Texas, 8.5, $2,400; 3. Cooper Martin, Alma, Kan., 8.8, $1,600; 4 Randall Carlisle, Athens, La., 9.7, $800.

 Barrel Racing: 1. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas, 17.04 seconds, $3,200; 2. Stevi Hillman, Weatherford, Texas, 17.07, $2,400; 3. Nellie Miller, Cottonwood, Calif., 17.27, $1,600; 4. Kris Gadbois, Escondido, Calif., 17.37, $800.

Bull Riding: 1. Shane Proctor, Grand Coulee, Wash., 89.5 points on Diamond G Rodeo’s Tawa II, $3,466; 2. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla., 85 on Diamond G Rodeo’s Zion’s Lil’ America, , $2,666; 3. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah, 84.5 on Diamond G Rodeo’s Da’ Magic, $1,866; no other qualified ride.

AVERAGE WINNERS
Barrel Racing: Elizabeth Broussard, Estherwood LA 49.535/3 $2,013.08; Rio Flaharty, Eldorado KS 49.608/3 $1,750.50; Laney Fowler, Grandview TX 49.889/3 $1,487.93; Kelsey Cadwell, Oakdale CA 49.920/3 $1,225.35; Sadie Shake, Buena Vista CO 49.981/3 $962.78; Taylor Algrim, Blackwell OK 50.147/3 $700.20; Kaylee Scales, Blanchard OK 50.179/3 $437.63; Delani Wood, Stanton TX 50.215/3 $175.05
Pole Bending: Brooklyn Gunter, Sulphur LA 60.928/3 $1,221.30; Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin NC 60.961/3 $1,062.00; Anna Dietrich, Greenville IN 60.980/3 $902.70; Kasey Kretzschmar, East Bernard TX 61.672/3 $743.40; Kaytlyn Miller, Dammeron Valley UT 61.855/3 $584.10; Delani Wood, Stanton TX 61.871/3 $424.80; Riley Moore, Granby MO 61.939/3 $265.50; Lindsei Harvey, Seguin TX 62.400/3 $106.20
Breakaway Roping: Winter Williams, Copan OK 7.6/3 $1,997.55; Kaytlyn Miller, Dammeron Valley UT 8.1/3 $1,737.00; McKenzie Wansing, Garden City MO 8.2/3 $1,476.45; Jade Kenney, Canyon TX 8.3/3 $1,215.90; Maci Berry, Weatherford TX 9.4/3 $955.35; Chloe Frey, Eunice LA 9.9/3 $694.80; Tieren Gates, Paris TX 17.6/3 $434.25; Savanah Nelson, Arcadia FL 18.4/3 $173.70
Goat Tying: Beau Peterson, Council Grove KS 21.8/3 $1,432.24; Sarah Griswold, Geary OK 22.9/3 $1,185.30; Makenna Shook, Needville TX 23.0/3 $938.36; Karissa Rayhill, Martin SD 23.4/3 $691.43; Kathryn Todd, Tuttle OK 23.7/3 $444.49; Kodey Hoss, La Junta CO 23.8/3 $246.94
Calf Roping: Ben Piazza, Twin Oaks OK 26.9/3 $1,578.38; Ty Harris, San Angelo TX, Chance Thiessen, Elk City OK split 27.1/3 $1,269.56 ea; Quade Hiatt, Canyon TX 27.8/3 $960.75; Ricky Bo Yaussi, Udall KS 29.3/3 $754.88; Chase Goble, Dalton GA 29.4/3 $549.00; Jabin Rice, Hobbs NM 29.8/3 $343.13; Garrett Oates, La Vernia TX 30.8/3 $137.25
Steer Wrestling: Chase Graves, Poplarville MS 14.2/3 $1,158.19; Jace Rutledge, Peculiar MO 14.3/3 $958.50; Parker Carlton, Wauchula FL 14.5/3 $758.81; Walt Arnold, Coleman TX 14.6/3 $559.13; Garrett Oates, La Vernia TX 15.5/3 $359.44; Logan Wiseman, Paola KS 18.3/3 $199.69
Saddle Bronc: Stetson Wright, Milford UT 246.0/3 $949.50 ea; Ean Price, Leedey OK 135.0/2 $712.13 ea; Trey Watts, Muncy PA 122.0/2 $474.75 ea; Garrett Ellender, Sulphur LA 115.0/2 $237.38 ea
Bareback Bronc: Jesse Pope, Garnett KS 246.0/3 $679.50; Tyler Johnson, Athens TX 229.5/3 $509.63; Hunter Ramsey, Eldorado AR 229.0/3 $339.75; Payton Lackey, Blanco TX 223.5/3 $169.88
Bull Riding: Stetson Wright, Milford UT 171.0/2 $864.56; Judd Hebert, Egan LA 170.5/2 $715.50; Daylon Swearingen, Piffard NY 81.5/1 $566.44; Briggs Madsen, Honeyville UT 79.5/1 $417.38; Brett Custer, Elk City OK 77.5/1 $268.31; Wyatt Hart, Cape Coral FL 77.0/1 $149.06
Team Roping: Garett Chick, Salado TX – Kirby Blankenship, Lampasas TX 17.6/3 $1,593.90; Kash Miller, Mize MS – Chase Graves, Poplarville MS 18.8/3 $1,386.00; Gus Howell, Harrison AR – Justin Wood, Heber Springs AR 18.9/3 $1,178.10; Wyatt Tarver, Gillette WY – Tanner McInerney, Alzada MT 21.8/3 $970.20; Kade Smith, Post TX – Hayden Cape, Earth TX 23.5/3 $762.30; Jacob Scroggins, Traskwood AR – Myles Neighbors, Benton AR, Logan Graham, Winthrop AR – Cash Davis, Winthrop AR split 23.6/3 $450.45 ea; Ty Harris, San Angelo TX – Paden Bray, Granbury TX 23.9/3 $138.60

INTERNATIONAL FINALS YOUTH RODEO 25
GO AROUND #1
Barrel Racing: Kelsey Cadwell, Oakdale CA 16.325 $2,013.08; Elizabeth Broussard, Estherwood LA 16.326 $1,750.50; Amber Scales, Pittsburg KS 16.479 $1,487.93; Kelly O’neal, Choudrant LA 16.486 $1,225.35; Rio Flaharty, Eldorado KS 16.546 $962.78; Grace Jackson, Huntsville TX 16.581 $700.20; Taylor Algrim, Blackwell OK 16.681 $437.63; Laney Fowler, Grandview TX 16.749 $175.05
Pole Bending: Paige Jones, Wayne OK 20.375 $1,221.30; Taylor Algrim, Blackwell OK 20.456 $1,062.00; Mikayla Joh Almond, Olin NC 20.552 $902.70; Tori Culley, Muse OK 20.593 $743.40; Anna Dietrich, Greenville IN 20.605 $584.10; Skylar Getman, Stratford OK 20.622 $424.80; Lindsei Harvey, Seguin TX 20.806 $265.50; Peyton Glenn, Edmond OK 20.808 $106.20
Breakaway Roping: Winter Williams, Copan OK 2.1 $1,997.55; Kodey Hoss, La Junta CO, Hayley Novak, Terrell TX split 2.3 $1,606.73 ea; Shelby Lankford, Blanchard OK 2.4 $1,215.90; Emily Wiedel, Morris OK 2.5 $955.35; Kelly Valdez, La Junta CO 2.6 $694.80; Lexie Russell, Buchanan Dam TX, Jade Kenney, Canyon TX, Tieren Gates, Paris TX, Chloe Frey, Eunice LA, Taylor Mason, Marshall MO, Taylour Latham, Lapoint UT split 2.7 $101.33 ea
Goat Tying: Faith Hoffman, Kiowa CO 6.9 $1,432.24; Kaylee Cormier, Lake Charles LA 7.1 $1,185.30; Karissa Rayhill, Martin SD 7.2 $938.36; Beau Peterson, Council Grove KS 7.3 $691.43; Catlyn Ward, Miles TX, Brooke Krolczyk, Cypress TX split 7.5 $345.71 ea
Calf Roping: Ty Harris, San Angelo TX 7.8 $1,578.38; Quade Hiatt, Canyon TX 8.5 $1,372.50; Landry Lee, Deville LA, Tate Thomas, Ranger GA, Ben Piazza, Twin Oaks OK split 8.8 $960.75 ea; Chase Goble, Dalton GA 8.9 $549.00; Spencer Moulton, Blackfoot ID 9.2 $343.13; Jabin Rice, Hobbs NM 9.3 $137.25
Steer Wrestling: Connor Gentry, Pleasanton KS, Walt Arnold, Coleman TX split 4.0 $1,058.34 ea; Chase Graves, Poplarville MS 4.1 $758.81; Myles Neighbors, Benton AR, Blaine Buchannan, Henryetta OK split 4.4 $459.28 ea; Creede Hicks, Wanette OK 4.5 $199.69
Saddle Bronc: Stetson Wright, Milford UT 83.5 $949.50 ea; Ean Price, Leedey OK 68.5 $712.13 ea; Will Pollock, Utopia TX 66.5 $474.75 ea; Logan Kenline, Penrose CO 66.0 $237.38 ea
Bareback Bronc: Jesse Pope, Garnett KS 81.0 $679.50; Payton Lackey, Blanco TX 78.5 $509.63; Tyler Johnson, Athens TX 76.0 $339.75; Hunter Ramsey, Eldorado AR 73.5 $169.88
Bull Riding: Judd Hebert, Egan LA 85.5 $864.56; Stetson Wright, Milford UT 83.5 $715.50; Daylon Swearingen, Piffard NY 81.5 $566.44; Briggs Madsen, Honeyville UT 79.5 $417.38; Daxton King, McAlester OK 71.5 $268.31; Wyatt Culver-wells, Hereford TX 69.0 $149.06
Team Roping: Logan Graham, Winthrop AR – Cash Davis, Winthrop AR 5.8 $1,593.90; Lane Cooper, Weatherford TX – Blake Bentley, Burleson TX 6.0 $1,386.00; Abdiel Zamora, Okeechobee FL – Sam Morgan, Southwest Ranches FL 6.2 $1,178.10; Kash Miller, Mize MS – Chase Graves, Poplarville MS 6.3 $970.20; Kason Davis, Lumberton MS – Bryce Graves, Poplarville MS, Gus Howell, Harrison AR – Justin Wood, Heber Springs AR, Cody Stubbs, Odenville AL – Jt Ellison, Calera AL split 6.4 $554.40 ea; Stran Morris, Woodward OK – Jessen James, Moyers OK, Kade Smith, Post TX – Hayden Cape, Earth TX, Owen Wahlert, Grover CO – Winsten McGraw, Gill CO split 6.5 $46.20 ea

 

Rooftop Rodeo July 5-10, 2017

ESTES PARK, Colo. – Ace Slone has a lot more reasons to be at Rooftop Rodeo than just roping calves.

“We always try to enter Estes Park for the end so we have a few days to hang out here,” said Slone, 28, of Cuero, Texas. “This is our favorite place to hang out every summer. We try to be here every Monday night.”

He was originally scheduled to compete in both go-rounds Saturday morning, but a scheduling conflict forced him to trade with another tie-down roper. After having trouble with his first-round calf, Slone made the most of his second round Monday with a 7.8-second run.

That was good enough to finish in a tie for second place with Westyn Hughes, and each cowboy pocketed $1,178. Hughes, by the way, placed in both rounds and won overall title with a two-run cumulative time of 15.8 seconds. Hughes earned $4,384 at Rooftop Rodeo.

“A little consolation in the second round goes a long way,” Slone said. “Plus, we don’t mind being here on Monday and having a couple of days off in Estes. The way they treated us here with the hospitality is amazing. There are very few rodeos that are as hospitable.

“They make it a lot of fun with the full RV hookups and meals, and, of course, we enjoy it for all the reasons all the tourists come to Estes. I love to fish, and we go to Rocky Mountain National Park every year. It’s just an awesome place to hang out.”

Of course, there also was some unfinished business to tend to once he arrived.

“Fortunately, I drew a good calf and was able to put a good run together,” he said. “This round was really fast, so there was no holding back.”

 

Rooftop Rodeo Estes Park, Colo. July 5-10, 2017 Bareback riding: 1. Jake Brown, 84.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Rose Puff, $6,260; 2. Steven Dent, 83, $4,800; 3. Buck Lunak, 82.5, $3,548; 4. (tie) Dantan Bertsch, Seth Hardwick and Zach Hibler, 81, $1,600 each; 7. (tie) Orin Larsen and Austin Foss, 80.5, $730.

3. (tie) Buck Lunak and Orin Larsen, 81.5; 5. (tie) Dantan Bertsch, Seth Hardwick and Zach Hibler, 81.

Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Billy Bugenig, 3.8 seconds, $1,573; 2. Cody Doescher, 3.9, $1,302; 3. Wade Sumpter, 4.0, $1,031; 4. Blaine Jones, 4.1, $760; 5. (tie) Justice Johnson and Errol Frain, 4.4, $380 each. Second round: 1. Blaine Jones, 3.5 seconds, $1,573; 2. Blare Romsa, 3.7, $1,302; 3. Cody Cabral, 3.9, $1,031; 4. (tie) Cody Pratt, Cameron Morman and Billy Bugenig, 4.0, $506 each. Average: 1. Blaine Jones, 7.6 seconds on two runs, $2,360; 2. Billy Bugenig, 7.8, $1,953; 3. Cody Cabral, 8.6, $1,546; 4. (tie) Cody Pratt and Hunter Cure, 8.7. $936 each; 6. Baylor Roche, 8.8, $407.

Team roping: 1. Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, 4.7 seconds, $4,121; 2. Levi Simpson/Jeremy Buhler, 5.0, $3,688; 3. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins, 5.1, $3,254; 5. (tie)Matt Sherwood/Walt Woodard and Cory Kidd/Cole Davison, 5.2, $2,603 each; 6. Ty Blasingame/Tanner Luttrell, 5.3, $1,952; 7. (tie) Marcus Theriot/Cody Doescher and Joshua Torres/Jonathan Torres, 5.4, $1,301 each; 9. (tie) Casey Adams/Riley Pedro and Kolton Schmidt/Dugan Kelly, 5.9, $434 each.

Saddle bronc riding 1. Layton Green, 84.5 points on Cervi Rodeo’s Payback, $5,330; 2. Hardy Braden, 84, $4,086; 3. (tie) Tanner Lockhart and Brody Cress, 83.5, $2,487 each; 5. (tie) Cort Scheer and Heith DeMoss, 82.5, $1,066 each; 8. (tie) Colt Gordon and Roper Kiesner, 82, $622 each.

Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Cooper Martin, 7.8 seconds, $1,589; 2. Westyn Hughes, 8.0, $1,314; 3. (tie) Tim Pharr, Jake Pratt and Tuf Cooper, 8.1, $767 each; 6. (tie) Tyler Prcin and Lane Livingston, 8.2, $137 each. Second round 1. Taylor Santos, 7.5 seconds, $1,589; 2. (tie) Ace Slone and Westyn Hughes, 7.8, $1,178 each; 4. (tie) Justin Smith, Scott Kormos, Cimarron Boardman and Caleb Smidt, 7.9, $384 each. Average: 1. Westyn Hughes, 15.8 seconds on two runs, $2,383; 2. Caleb Smidt, 16.5, $1,972; 3. Jake Pratt, 16.8, $1,561; 4. Sterling Smith, 17.6, $1,151; 5. Robert Mathis, 17.9; 6. Monty Lewis, 18.4, $411.

Barrel racing: 1. Taci Bettis, 17.36 seconds, $3,978; 2. Tillar Murray, 17.42, $3,182; 3. Kelley Schnaufer, 17.48, $2,586; 4. Christine Laughlin, 17.51, $1,989; 5. Tammy Fischer, 17.56, $1,591; 6. Sidney Forrest, 17.58, $1,193; 7. (tie) Sydni Blanchard and Ashley Shafer, 17.59, $945 each; 9. Michele McLeod, 17.62, $796; 10. (tie) Shelby Janssen and Kaylee Burnett, 17.66, $646 each; 12. Ari-Anna Flynn, 17.68, $497; 13. (tie) Bonnie Wheatley and Erin Parsons, 17.71, $348 each; 15. (tie) Ericka Nelson and Kynzie McNeill, 17.73, $99 each. Bull riding: 1. Scottie Knapp, 87 points on Cervi Brothers’ Po-Boy, $3,948; 2. Cole Meloncon, 85.5, $3,027; 3. Trey Benton II, 85, $2,237; 4. Remi Wildeman, 83, $1,448; 5. (tie) Tyler Ray Viers and Hawk Whitt, 81, $789 each; 7. Trevor Reiste, 79, $526; 6. Garrett Uptain, 77, $395.

MANDAN, N.D. (July 1, 2017) –The first Xtreme Bulls at Mandan Rodeo Days was a memorable night, especially for three-time World Champion Sage Kimzey of Strong City, Oklahoma.

Kimzey won the night’s Xtreme Bulls competition and nearly $7,000, besting a field of forty riders. He then came back to face Pearl Harbor, this year’s number one rated bull, in a match ride with $20,000 on the line.

The 22-year-old Kimzey, who rode in the second of four sections, scored 88 points on Dakota Rodeo’s Big Black Cat, a bull that has been featured at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and at the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals.

Dakota Rodeo’s Chad Berger, a native of Mandan, brought some of his best bulls, including 24 who had been to one, or both, of bull riding’s most prestigious finals events, to make the bull riders earn their share of the $24,100 purse.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) bull riders also came to play. Nine cowboys made a qualified ride and seven scored 84 points or better. The finale of the night was the highly touted match between Kimzey and Berger’s Pearl Harbor, the number one ranked bull in the PBR.

After Kimzey’s 88 held for the Xtreme Bulls championship he was awarded a commemorative rifle and a pair of trophy spurs. He also took a victory lap around the arena in a RAM truck.

Then, in about five minutes, he was climbing into the chute onto the back of Pearl Harbor. There’s hardly another situation in professional sports when an athlete must refocus so quickly.

Kimzey said the quick turnaround was not that difficult. “Ever since I accepted this challenge I’ve been thinking of nothing but Baldy,” he said, referring to Pearl Harbor, a bald-faced, six-year-old, crossbred Brahma bull.

The biggest challenges that Pearl Harbor, who bucks off more than 90 percent of those who try him, throws at a bull rider happen just out of the chute and at about the six-second mark, Kimzey said.

“I stayed with him out of the gate and then when he hesitated at about six, I knew he would go either left or right, but he lands square on his feet so you don’t know which way he’ll go. I shifted a bit to the left, but he turned back into my (right) hand,” he said.

Pearl Harbor managed to get Kimzey a little off-center toward the end of the ride, but he rode for eight seconds, then went to his second awards presentation of the night.

After the night of bull riding, the action continues in Mandan with three days of award-winning PRCA rodeo, Sunday, July 2 through Tuesday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Kimzey will be back during Sunday’s Family Night performance to try for a trifecta in Mandan. The total purse for the rodeo is $120,000, $18,000 of which is offered in bull riding.

More information about the 2017 Mandan Rodeo Days Celebration is available at www.MandanRodeo.com.

 

 

 

 

Champions crowned in each event

HASTINGS, NEB. (June 19, 2017) – The Nebraska High School Rodeo season wrapped up last weekend with the high school finals in Hastings at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Rodeo athletes from across the Cornhusker State competed in two go-rounds on June 15-16 and the short go-round on June 17. The top four contestants in each of twelve events were determined, and they will go on to compete at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyo., July 16-22.

Champions from the 2017 Finals are: Gauge McBride, Kearney, bareback riding; JT Bradley, Brewster, boys cutting; Morgan Kessler, Callaway, girls cutting and breakaway roping; Maddee Doerr, Creighton, goat tying; Grant Turek, St. Paul, tie-down roping; Sage Miller, Springview, saddle bronc riding; Brook Jamison, Ashby, barrel racing and pole bending; Zane Patrick, Bartlett, and JT Bradley, Brewster, co-champions in the steer wrestling; Mason Ward, North Platte, bull riding; and Tee Whited and Rio Whited, North Platte, team roping.

The year-end all-around winners were JT Bradley, Brewster (boys), and Brook Jamison, Ashby (girls).

Reserve all-around champs were Gauge McBride, Kearney (boys) and Maddee Doerr, Creighton (girls). Rookie of the year went to Gracie Pokorny, Barlett, (girls) and Gauge McBride, Kearney (boys). The V-Bar Sales Men’s Timed Event Trailer was awarded to Gus Franzen of Kearney. The 2017-2018 Nebraska High School Rodeo Queen is Joscelyn Soncksen of Lexington.

The following are highlights of a few of the champions.

Bull riding champion Mason Ward

Mason Ward led the pack of bull riders in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association all year long.

The North Platte resident, who will be a junior at Tryon High School this fall, broke his ankle at the 2016 National High School Finals Rodeo in July of last year, and ended up sitting out the first three rodeos of the fall season. But then he never looked back, winning first at eight rodeos (O’Neill, Grand Island, Nelson, Callaway, McCook, Mitchell, Harrison and Crawford), and placing second at Stapleton.

He entered state finals in first place, and won the title with a total of 129.5 points, more than forty points ahead of the number two bull rider, Conner Halverson.

Ward knows the mindset of a bull rider has to be positive. “You have to believe in yourself, and you can’t ever fight your head. You have to go at it 100 percent.” He describes his attitude towards bull riding as “grinding” away.

Ward also plays football and wrestles at Tryon High School and is on the honor roll.

This will be his second qualification for the National High School Finals.

At state in Hastings, Ben Wood, Greeley, was the only bull rider out of six riders to cover two of his three bulls; two riders covered one of three (Ward and Halverson).

Ward is the son of a former bull rider, Mark, and his wife Kelly.

Breakaway roping and girls cutting champion Morgan Kessler

Callaway’s Morgan Kessler came home with two titles: breakaway champion and girls cutting champion.

The seventeen year old cowgirl switched breakaway horses in the spring, which made a difference in her roping. She won second in the first round in Hastings, then knew all she had to do for her second run was “rope clean” and not break the barrier. It was hard for her to hold back and not push the barrier. “I like being fast and going for first,” she said, but she held off, making a clean run.

A broken barrier in the short round and a time of 12.9 seconds caused her to think she didn’t win the year end title, till her mom, Tina, also the high school secretary, told her she did.

This will be her second qualification for the National High School Finals; she competed there two years ago in the cutting. The cutting is tough at Nationals, she said. “It’s hard to be amazing with some of the horses there.” But Kessler is ready to do whatever it takes. “I’ll do whatever my trainers (Don and Kelly Troyer) tell me to do.”

Kessler, who is homeschooled, is the daughter of Kevin and Tina Kessler.

Tie-down champion Grant Turek

Grant Turek used his experience to his advantage.

This year’s state finals was the second qualification for the St. Paul cowboy, which made his competition this year better.

He came into state finals in first place in the tie-down roping, and he had a plan. “I knew I had to go make my runs, and do what I wanted to do: be consistent, be smooth, and no mistakes.”

And second time around helped. “Not everything was new,” he said. “Being in the short round last year helped. I felt like I’d been there.”

Turek, who will be a junior at St. Paul High School this fall, will make his first trip to National High School Finals. He qualified for the National Junior High Finals three times.

He also competed in the team roping at state finals, finishing in sixth place.

In high school, he plays basketball, is on the honor roll, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

He is the son of Jeff and Sheila Turek.

Goat tying champion Maddee Doerr

Maddee Doerr didn’t let a rough patch this spring get her down.

The fall rodeo season was good to her, but in the spring it was “a little rough,” she said, “till I pulled my head out and started doing good.” Her problem? The goats were tough, and “figuring out how to tie them took me a little while. Once I figured that out, I took off from there.”

The goats were also difficult to keep tied at state finals. In the first round, out of 28 cowgirls, only eight had their goats stay tied. Maddee’s was not one of them, but a solid run in the second round, with a time of 8.6 seconds, won her that round.

This is the fourth time the Creighton cowgirl has qualified for state finals. This year, she also competed in the breakaway roping this year, finishing second in the state.

This is also the fourth time she has qualified for Nationals. Last year, she finished as fourth in the nation in the goat tying.

This fall, she will attend Cochise College in Douglas, Arizona, on a full ride rodeo scholarship. She will compete on the rodeo team in the goat tying, breakaway, and possibly the team roping. She plans on studying agri-business at the two-year school.

This is the second year Doerr has finished as the Nebraska goat tying champion.

She is the daughter of Eric and Monica Doerr.

For the 2016-17 year end rankings, visit http://hsrodeo-nebraska.com/rodresults/rgn1ev.htm. For more information on the state finals and national finals, visit www.AdamsCountyFairgrounds.com, www.hsrodeo-nebraska.com, and www.nhsra.com.

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The complete list of qualifiers for Nationals follows. Final results from the 2017 Nebraska State High School Finals Rodeo can be found at http://hsrodeo-nebraska.com/rodresults/rgn1ev.htm.

Bareback riding:

Champion: Gauge McBride, Kearney

2. Ty Richardson, Ainsworth
3. Trey Seevers, North Platte

Boys cutting:

Champion: JT Bradley, Brewster

2. Josh Powers, Arthur

3/4 tie Chase Miller, Broken Bow

3/4 tie Mark Kasperbauer, Spalding

Girls cutting:

Champion: Morgan Kessler, Callaway

2. Kesha DeGroff, Broken Bow
3. Concey Bader, Palmer
4. Bayli Bilby, Chadron

Goat tying:

Champion: Maddee Doerr, Creighton

2. Shelby Spanel, Anselom
3. Mataya Eklund, Valentine

4/5 tie Rachael Calvo, Bassett

4/5 tie Riata Day, Fleming, Colo.

Tie-down roping

Champion: Grant Turek, St. Paul

2. Kurtis Palmer, Madison
3. Will Thiele, Atkinson
4. JT Bradley, Brewster

Saddle bronc riding

Champion: Sage Miller, Springview

2. Wyatt Kunkee, Lexington
3. Garrett Long, Valentine
4. Trey Seevers, North Platte

Barrel racing

Champion: Brook Jamison, Ashby

2. Rachael Calvo, Bassett
3. Sheyenne Hammond, Valentine
4. Bailey Witt,Valentine

Breakaway roping

Champion: Morgan Kessler, Callaway

2. Maddee Doerr, Creighton
3. Brittni McCully, Mullen
4. Georgie Lage, Arthur

Pole bending

Champion: Brook Jamison, Ashby

2. Gracie Pokorny, Bartlett
3. Adeline Hobbs, Mitchell
4. Riata Day, Fleming, Colo.

Steer wrestling

Champion: tie – Zane Patrick, Bartlett and JT Bradley, Brewster

3. Gus Franzen, Kearney
4. Quade Potter, Cambridge

Team roping

Champions: Tee Whited, North Platte and Rio Whited, North Platte

2. Taylor Whetham, Morrill, and Tanner Whetham, Morrill
3. Wyatt Williams, Ord and Chance Williams, Ord
4. Clay Bauer, Arcadia and Austin Hurlburt, Norfolk.

 

Photos by Jill Saults 

 

 

 

 

CASPER, Wyo. (June 13, 2017) – The first performance of the 69^th annual College National Finals kicked off at the Casper Events Center on Tuesday night in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

While this was the first full rodeo performance, competition is now more than two-thirds complete. The second full round was completed Tuesday afternoon during slack. Then the third round started at the evening performance.

The fastest time of barrel racing was recorded during the rodeo when Loni Lester of the Sam Houston State University Bearkats stopped the clock in 13.98 seconds.

Lester, a junior majoring in animal science qualified in barrel racing and breakaway roping. In the first two rounds, five-seconds was added to her time for knocked down barrels. She was determined to have a clean run in the third round and that determination paid off.

She has been extremely consistent in her second event stopping the clock in the first two rounds in identical times of 2.7 seconds. Lester, who will rope in the third round later this week is in contention for the women’s all-around title here.

Denver Berry, son of four-time Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association steer wrestling world champion Ote Berry was expected to do well in that event here. Berry, who attends Southeastern Oklahoma State University had his third-round competition Tuesday evening stopping the clock in 4.6 seconds.

In his first qualification, Berry leads both the third round and overall standings. He has a total time of 15.9 seconds on three runs and is in good position to be among the top 12 who qualify for Saturday night’s championship finals.

Third-round competition continues at the second performance on Wednesday night, June 14, beginning at 7 p.m.

 

 

CASPER, Wyo.—The following are current leaders from the 69^th annual College National Finals Rodeo, June 13, 2017, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

 

Bareback Riding: (third-round leaders) 1, Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western,74.5. 2, Cache Hill, University of Great Falls, 69.5. 3, (tie) Wyatt Bettony, Dine College, and Zach Hibler, Western Texas College, 67.5 each. (total on three) 1, Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western, 222.5. 2, Cache Hill, University of Great Falls, 216. 3, Braxten Nielson, Weber State University, 208. 4, Zach Hibler, Western Texas College, 198.5.

 

Breakaway Roping: (third-round leaders) 1, Valerie James, Treasure Valley Community College, 2.6 seconds. 2, (tie) Brandi Epps, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Dalli Bean, Treasure Valley Community College, and Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 2.9. (total on three) 1, Teague Crane, Colorado Northwestern Community College, 9.6. 2, Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, 18.0. 3, Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 18.6. (on two) 4, Brandi Epps, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 5.0.

 

Steer Wrestling: (third-round leaders) 1, Denver Berry, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 4.8 seconds. 2, Wyatt Lindsay, New Mexico State State University, 5.6. 3, Gage Greer, Laramie County Community College, 5.7. 4, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 9.3. (total on three) 1, Denver Berry, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 15.9. 2, Wyatt Lindsay, New Mexico State University, 19.9. 3, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 20.2. 4, Cole Lickley, University of Idaho, 30.5.

 

Team Roping: (third-round leaders) 1, Chase Onaka, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo and Brushton Minton, West Hills College, 5.9 seconds. 2, Bubba Boots and Matthew Williams, Northwest College, 6.7. 3, Landon Heryford and Tim Messner, Oregon State University, 16.8. 4, Lindy Lehman and Garrett Springer, Treasure Valley Community College, 17.9. (total on three) 1, Chase Onaka, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 23.6. 2, Bubba Boots and Matthew Williams, Northwest College, 24.1. 3, Landon Heryford and Tim Messner, Oregon State University, 45.2. (on two) 4, (tie) Mason Boettcher, and Ty Arnold, Sam Houston State University; and Cooper White and Riley Wakefield, Gillette College, 12.7 each.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: (third-round leaders) 1, Jake Finlay, Panhandle State University, 79.5 points. 2, Logan cook, Panola Junior College, 76.0. 3, Mason Mardesich, Otero Junior College, 75.5. 4, Josh Davison, New Mexico State University, 68. (total on three) 1, Logan Cook, Panola Junior College, 210.5. (on two) 2, Jake Finley, Panhandle State University, 153.5. 3, Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College, 145. 4, (tie) Will Centoni, Cuesta College and Tanner Butner, University of Montana Western, 140.5.

 

Goat Tying: (third-round leaders) 1, Rickie Engesser, Gillette College, 6.3 seconds. 2, Tess Turk, University of Montana – Western, 6.4. 3, Kylee Bennett, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 6.6 4, Raegan Bloom, Montana State University, 6.7. (total on three) 1, Rickie Engesser, Gillette College, 19.4. 2, Kylee Bennett, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 20.2. 3, (tie) Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, and Quincy Segelke, Gillette College, 20.7 each.

 

Tie Down Roping: (third-round leaders) 1, Reid Zapalac, Tarleton State University, 8.0 seconds. 2, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University, 9.0. 3, Bryce Bott, Casper College, 9.2. 4, Dillon Sherrick, Oklahoma State University, 9.8. (total on three) 1, Reid Zapalac, Tarleton State University, 27.9. 2, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 29.8. 3, Bryce Bott, Casper College, 37.4. 4, Preston Pederson, Blue Mountain Community College, 39.5.

 

Barrel Racing: (third-round leaders) 1, Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University, 13.98 seconds. 2, Kailee Webb, University of Wyoming, 14.36. 3, Kelsi Haller, Lake Land College, 14.47. 4, Danyelle Williams, Blue Mountain Community College, 14.50. (total on three) 1, Kailee Webb, University of Wyoming, 43.50. 2, Danyelle Williams, Blue Mountain Community College, 43.81. 3, Kelsi Haller, Lake Land College, 44.05. 4, Abby Phillips, Panola Junior college, 44.19.

 

Bull Riding: (third round no rides) (total on two) 1, Ruger Piva, University of Montana Western, 157. 2, Cody Ballard, Panhandle State University, 154. (on one) 3, Blue Wilcox, Mesalands Community College, 75.5. 4, Jake Davis, Northwest College, 73.

 

Men’s All-Around: 1, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 190 points. 2, Marcus Theriot, East Mississippi Community College, 165. 3, Wyatt Miller, Fort Scott Community College, 70. 4, BoDell Jessen, Odessa College, 65.

 

Women’s All-Around: 1, KL Spratt, Sam Houston State University, 140 points. 2, Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, 125. 3, Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University, 95. 4, Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 70.

 

Men’s Team: 1, Panhandle State University, 460 points. 2, University of Montana – Western, 325. 3, Northwest College, 280. 4, Sam Houston State University, 275.

 

Women’s Team: 1, Sam Houston State University, 295 points. 2, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, 280. 3, Treasure Valley Community College, 195. 4, (tie) University of Tennessee – Martin, and University of Wyoming, 175.

CASPER, Wyo. (June 12, 2017) — One year ago, Wesley Thorpe and Cole Wheeler left Casper, Wyoming as the newly crowned team roping champions in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

They qualified again this year and are on a mission for a repeat. The duo, who come from Texas Tech University at Lubbock made their first appearance at the 69^th annual College National Finals Rodeo on Monday during slack. They stopped the clock in 6.1 seconds to finish second in the first round.

The first-round winners came from California’s Cuesta College. Tristan Ruffoni and Dalton Pearce were the only team ropers to be under six seconds at 5.2. These teams will have their second round of competition during Tuesday’s slack.

Second generation rodeo competitor Jake Fulton from local Casper College and Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Cody Devers split the win in the steer wrestling with 3.7-second runs. Wyoming was also well represented in the barrel racing with Kailee Webb. The University of Wyoming student took first in the round with a 14.53.

Last year’s all-around champion Marcus Theriot from East Mississippi College had some success in the tie-down roping with an 8.8-second run, which finished in second place. Theriot is also competing in the team roping and steer wrestling here and will need to earn points in those events to have an opportunity for a second title.

The second round of competition will be completed during slack on June 13 beginning at 7 a.m. The third round will start at the evening performance.

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CASPER, Wyo.—The following are results from the 69^th annual College National Finals Rodeo, June 12, 2017, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

Bareback Riding:(second round leaders) 1, Austin Williams, Odessa college, 75.5 points. 2, (tie) Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western, and Rio Lee, Cochise College, 70.5. each. 5, Hunter Carlson, Sheridan College, 70. 6, (tie) Paden Hurst, Wharton College and Cory Brown, Fort Scott Community College, 67.5. 8, Colton Delgado, Fort Scott Community College, 66.5.

Breakaway Roping: (second round leaders) 1, Kirbie Crouse, Missouri Valley College, 2.2 seconds. 2, Tierra Gray, Eastern New Mexico University, 2.3. 3, Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University, 2.7. 4, Bailey Smith, Idaho State University, 3.1. 5, Ryanne Tracy, Montana State University, Montana State University, 3.7. 6, Jamie Giefer, Fresno College, 4.0. 7, Lakota Bird, Central Arizona College, 12.4. 8, Breanna Ellis, Missouri Valley College, 15.0.

Steer Wrestling: (first round winners) 1, (tie) Cody Devers, Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Jake Fulton, Casper College, 3.7 seconds each. 3, Fenton Nelsen, Missouri Valley College, 4.0. 4, Brady Thurston, Central Wyoming College, 4.6. 5, Cole Frey, McNeese State University, 4.8. 6, Cade Goodman, Texas A&M University, 4.9. 7, Kris Rasmussen, Midplains Community College, 5.0. 8, Bubba Boots, Northwest College, 5.2.

Team Roping: (first round winners) 1, Tristan Ru ffoni and Dalton Pearce, Cuesta College, 5.2 seconds. 2, Cole Wheeler and Wesley Thorp, Texas Tech University, 6.1. 3, Dylan Schulenberg, Northwest Oklahoma State University and Wyatt Miller, Fort Scott Community College, 6.2. 4, Braden Pirrung, Eastern Wyoming College and J.D. Kirwan, Gillette College, 6.5. 5, Ross Mitchell, University of Tennessee – Martin and Ethan Wheeler, East Mississippi Community College; and Cooper White and Riley Wakefield, Gillette College, 6.6 seconds per team. 7, Mason Boettcher and Ty Arnold, Sam Houston State University, 6.7. 8, Chase Onaka, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo and Brushton Minton, West Hills College, 6.8.

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round winners) 1, Preston Burr, New Mexico Junior College, 78.5 points. 2, Brody Cress, Tarleton State University, 76.5. 3, Blaise Freeman, Western Texas College, 75. 4, Logan cook, Panola Junior College, 74. 5, Will Centoni, Cuesta College, 73.5. 6, Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College, 72.5. 7, Johnny Espeland, Blue Mountain Community College, 72. 8, Parker Kempfer, Sam Houston State University, 70.5. (second round leaders) 1, Luke Logan-Marvel, College of Southern Idaho, 74.5. 2, (tie) Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College and Treyson Antonick, Sam Houston State University, 72.5 each. 4, Briar Dittmer, Missouri Valley College, 71.5. 5, Wyatt Hageman, University of Wyoming, 71. 6, Mitch Pollock, College of Southern Idaho, 69. 7, Keenan Reinhardt, Montana State University, 64.5. 8, Jake Burwash, Cochise College, 59.5.

Goat Tying: (first round winners) 1, Jacey Hupp, South Dakota State University, 6.1 seconds. 2, Janey Reeves, University of Idaho, 6.2. 3, (tie) 3, Rickie Engesser, Gillette College; LeighAnn Scribner, University of New Mexico; and Celie Vick, Eastern New Mexico University and Lauren Bane, Tarleton State University; 6.3 each. 7, (tie) Carlee Johnston, Black Hills State University and Amelia Anderson, University of Wyoming, 6.4.

Tie Down Roping: (first round winners) 1, Cooper Mathews, Hill College, 8.5 seconds. 2, Marcus Theriot, East Mississippi Community College, 8.8. 3, Andrew Burks, Pearl River Community College, 9.0. 4, Wyatt Willaims, Boise State University, 9.6. 5, Chace Valdez, New Mexico State University, 9.9. 6, Colton Farquer, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 10.1. 7, (tie) Reid Zapalac, Tarleton State University, and Kolbey Hughes, Idaho State University, 10.2 each.

 

Barrel Racing: (first round winners) 1, Kailee Webb, University of Wyoming, 14.53 seconds. 2, Abby Knight, University of Great Falls, 14.58. 3, Kynzie Rae McNeil, Texas Tech University, 14.66. 4, Sierra Spratt, Sam Houston State University, 14.70. 5, Danyelle Williams, Blue Mountain Community College, 14.71. 6, Nealey Dalton, University of Tennessee – Martin, 14.73. 7, Rainy Robinson, South Plains College, 14.74. 8, Leia Pluemer, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, 14.78.

Bull Riding: (second round leaders – three rides) 1, Dakota Rice, Chadron State College, 75.5. 2, BoDell Jessen, Odessa College, 72.5. 3, Josh Frost, Panhandle State University, 66.5.

 

 

CASPER, Wyo. (June 11, 2017) — The 69^th annual College National Finals Rodeo kick off on Sunday with the Bulls Broncs & Breakaway performance.

Nearly 400 contestants have made their way to Wyoming after having qualified by competing at rodeos in 11 different geographic regions. Each of them will have three opportunities in their events and hope to be among the top 12 that advance to the Championship Finals on Saturday, June 17^th where national champions will be crowned.

The first round of bareback riding, bull riding and breakaway roping were completed Sunday. There is one rider in the saddle bronc riding who has a chance to change the leaderboard on Monday. Times were fast in the breakaway roping with two women finishing at the top. Brandi Epps from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Kenzley Wilson from the University of Tennessee – Martin each roped a calf in 2.3 seconds. That got their teams off to a good start with 75 points each.

In the bareback riding it was Lane McGehee from Sam Houston State University that won the first round with 80.5 points. Will Martin from Panhandle State University was second with 78.5. After Martin rode, he got to watch his team mate Cody Ballard win the bull riding with 81.5 points.

The men’s team at Panhandle State University located at Goodwell, Oklahoma, earned 150 points with these two rides and will be hoping to add to it and get another national championship for the Aggies.

Preston Burr from New Mexico Junior College located at Hobbs leads the saddle bronc riding. Burr’s coach, Marty Eakin won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association saddle bronc riding championship in 2004 Burr scored 78.5 points. Cody Crim from Missouri Valley College is the lone saddle bronc rider yet to compete in the first round. Rodeo officials gave him the option of a re-ride which he will take on Monday.

The first round of saddle bronc riding as well as steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and goat tying will be completed Monday during slack. The second round will start for bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders as well as breakaway ropers. It begins at 7 a.m.

 

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CASPER, Wyo.—The following are results from Bulls Broncs and Breakaway at the College National Finals Rodeo, June 11, 2017, courtesy of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Complete results are available at www.collegerodeo.com.

 

Breakaway Roping: (first round winners) 1, (tie) Brandi Epps, Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Kenzley Wilson, University of Tennessee – Martin, 2.3 seconds each. 3, Ryanne Tracy, Montana State University, 2.4. 4, (tie) Blair Bullock, University of West Alabama and Mia Manzanares, McNeese State University, 2.5. 6, Cassie Bahe, College of Southern Idaho, 2.6. 7, (tie) Hannah Springer, Southern Arkansas University; Loni Lester, Sam Houston State University and Shaylee Thacker, Utah Valley University, 2.7.

 

Bareback Riding: (first round winners) 1, Lane McGehee, Sam Houston State University, 80.5 points. 2, Will Martin, Panhandle State University, 78.5. 3, Cache Hill, University of Great Falls, 78. 4, Kody Lamb, Tarleton State University, 77.5. 5, Chance Ames, Sheridan College, 77. 6, (tie) Rowdy Moon, Mid-Plains Community College; Tristan Hansen, University of Montana – Western; and Rio Lee, Cochise College; 74.5 points each.

 

Saddle Bronc Riding: (first round leaders) 1, Preston Burr, New Mexico Junior College, 78.5 points. 2, Brody Cress, Tarleton State University, 76.5. 3, Blaise Freeman, Western Texas College, 75. 4, Logan cook, Panola Junior College, 74. 5, Will Centoni, Cuesta College, 73.5. 6, Jalen Joaquin, Cochise College, 72.5. 7, Johnny Espeland, Blue Mountain Community College, 72. 8, Parker Kempfer, Sam Houston State University, 70.5.

 

Bull Riding: (first round winners) 1, Cody Ballard, Panhandle State University, 81.5 points. 2, Ruger Piva, University of Montana – Western, 80. 3, Chase Dougherty, Montana State University, 77.5. Kolton White, South Eastern Oklahoma State University and Coloe Melancon, Hill College, 76.5. 6, Aaron Williams, Cal Poly State University – San Luis Obispo, 74. 7, Cody Hudson, Walla Walla Community College, 73.5. 4, Jake Davis, Northwest College, 73.

 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After nearly nine years at the helm of the PRCA, Commissioner Karl Stressman has announced that he will be retiring, effective Dec. 31, 2017.

Commissioner Stressman has stewarded meteoric growth of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association since 2008. Under his leadership, the organization signed a record $175 million contract that keeps the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas through the year 2024.

Stressman also played a major role in negotiating a television broadcast agreement with CBS Sports Network through 2019; successfully protecting the organization’s rights to provide equal opportunity to all association members, and not just a select few athletes; and accepting fiduciary responsibility for generating substantial cash reserves for the organization, while returning nearly 90 percent of all income generated to benefit members and membership services.

“I sat down in the Commissioner’s chair for the first time in September 2008, and I made a promise to myself that I would give my very best efforts each and every day to improve the sport of Professional Rodeo,” Stressman said. “I made myself another promise that I would stay at the PRCA as long as I enjoyed the job. Well, it’s time to say goodbye! I will be retiring at the end of 2017, after completing my 10th Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as Commissioner of the PRCA.”

Even as he plans his departure, Stressman has put into place a future path that will allow for the PRCA’s top rodeos to gain even more prominence, and for the PRCA membership to profit as the organization enters into new digital content opportunities. Commissioner Stressman’s iconic leadership tenure stands as a landmark for professional rodeo and the entire western industry.

“It has been an amazing run, but certainly not without a few battle scars,” he said. “It has been my privilege to have had the opportunity to serve the members, our committees, our great sponsors and the best fans in the sporting world. I thank you all for the opportunity! Long Live Cowboys!”

Annual Trail Ride signals the beginning of St. Paul Rodeo festivities

St. Paul, Ore. (May 25, 2017) – On June 4, several hundred St. Paulians and area residents will saddle up for some fun. They’ll make a seven mile ride to kick off the season for the St. Paul Rodeo.

Before they do the trail ride, they’ll fuel up with a hearty breakfast: pancakes, locally smoked sausage, and Oregon-grown berries.

The annual trail ride is June 4, and for nearly all of his five-plus decades, Dave Smith has been part of it.

Smith, who grew up and lives in St. Paul, was on horseback when he was a kid, riding his blue roan horse named Blue. And when it was trail ride time, he and his buddies joined in on the jaunt.

When he got into his early twenties, the rodeo committee put him to work, helping prepare the trail for the riders. He took over official Trail Ride duties about twenty-five years ago, making sure any downed trees are out of the way, mowing, and making the decision if the trail should be shortened. If the Willamette River is higher than normal, the trail goes from its usual ten mile length to seven miles. Most horses don’t have a problem crossing the river, Smith said, but if one balks, it backs up traffic. “It’s a narrow road, with timber on both sides, so if one won’t go over the river, it stops the ride.”

The breakfast runs from 7-10 am on June 4, and not all breakfast-eaters take part in the trail ride. The trail ride starts at 10 am and a free lunch is served to the participants after it. Smith, who loves riding, says his favorite part of the day is breakfast and lunch.

But the camaraderie among riders is also special, which Smith likes. “You see the same people year after year. It’s a good time.”

The trail ride got its start when the horses and cattle were brought from a local farmer, Willy Smith, and driven to town by horseback. Willy was Dave Smith’s great-uncle.

A  youth rodeo is held on June 3-4 from 10 am to 1 pm. The trail ride is free; breakfast is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at www.StPaulRodeo.com or call the office at 800.237.5920.

The St. Paul Rodeo runs June 30-July 4, with performances nightly at 7:30 pm and a 1:30 pm matinee on July 4. Tickets are on sale for the rodeo through the website.

 

 

 

 

 

AT THE TOP OF THEIR CLASS

Hastings, Neb.  (May 22, 2017)  – They’re gifted in the arena, knowing how to rope, wrestle, race, ride cutting horses and pole bend.

They’re also gifted academically.

Seven seniors in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association have been designated as valedictorians and salutatorians for their high school classes.

Jake Judge, West Holt High School, Savannah Jordan, Banner Co. High School, Alison Stracke, Stuart High School, and Peyton Flack, Arthur Co. High School, have all earned the title of valedictorian for their respective classes of 2017.

Earning salutatorian honors are Georgie Lage and Josh Powers, co-salutatorians at Arthur Co. High School, and Taylor Whetham, Morrill High School.

Jake Judge, Atkinson, Neb., valedictorian of the West Holt High School Class of 2017, was a four-year letterer in the sports of football, wrestling and track, president of the National Honor Society for two years, president of his class for four years, was involved in the one-act plays, a member of 4-H, and involved in FFA. In FFA, his ag sales entrepreneurship project won state this year.

He has been elected as the student president of the state FFA program, and this fall, will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in agriculture engineering. His dream is to some day design agriculture equipment like tractors, disks and balers.

He competed as a team roper in high school rodeo and is the son of Kevin and Tammie Judge.

Harrisburg, Neb.’s Savannah Jordan graduated from Banner Co. High School. In school, she was involved in basketball, volleyball, FFA, one-act plays, the National Honor Society, and 4-H. In rodeo, she competed in the goat tying, pole bending, barrel racing, reining cow horse, cutting, and breakaway, competing at state finals the last three years.

This fall, she will attend Concordia University in Seward, Neb., on an academic scholarship, and major in elementary education with a minor in drama. An influential teacher in elementary school, when she hit a rough patch, changed her life for the better and has made her decide to become a teacher.

She is the daughter of Hope and Gregg Wurdeman and Shannon and Melanie Jordan.

 

Alison Stracke graduated from Stuart High School as valedictorian of her class, after participating in volleyball, basketball, as co-captain of the dance team, one-act plays, speech, quiz bowl, National Honor Society member, president of her class and FFA, and  co-president of student council.

In high school rodeo, she competes in the pole bending, breakaway roping and barrel racing and has competed at state finals the last three years, finishing eighth in the state last year in the barrel racing.

This fall, she will attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in hopes of becoming either a nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist. She has earned an academic scholarship to UNL.

She is the daughter of Mike and Jenny Stracke.

Peyton Flack is the valedictorian for the Arthur Co. High School Class of 2017. The cowgirl competes in the barrel racing, goat tying and pole bending, and in high school, was involved in volleyball, basketball, one-act plays, quiz bowl, speech, the National Honor Society, band, and was president of student council.

This fall, she will attend Chadron State College, majoring in elementary education; she has earned a Susan Buffett Foundation scholarship for college.

She has competed at state finals twice, and is the daughter of Audra Peterson and Jon Flack.

Flack is not the only top rodeo athlete from Arthur Co. High School; two other high school rodeo members finished at the top of the class.

Georgie Lage and Josh Powers were co-salutatorians, and they, along with Flack, earned 4.0 grade point averages. After figuring averages with a weighted percentage scale, Flack came out ahead of her classmates by only a couple thousandths of a point.

Lage was involved in basketball, volleyball, quiz bowl, speech, one-act plays, student council, FFA, band, the National Honor Society, and 4-H. She, along with Flack, won state with their Finance Challenge team and finished third at the National Personal Finance Challenge, edging out teams with students in schools of more than 5,000 people.

This fall, she will attend Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyo. and major in ag business, then go on to a four-year school and become an ag education teacher. The 2017 Nebraska Reined Cowhorse champion, she will compete collegiately in the breakaway and team roping. Lage has competed at state finals the past three years.

She is the daughter of Ron and Kristy Lage.

 

Powers, a tie-down roper, steer wrestler, cutter and team roper, was vice-president of student council and the National Honor Society, treasurer of his class, and was involved in the one-act play, FFA, and quiz bowl.

This fall, he will be enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, majoring in biology, and then go on to study veterinary medicine. He has qualified for state finals the past three years.

He is the son of Dan and Patty Powers.

 

While at Morrill High School, Taylor Whetham, salutatorian, participated in FFA, FBLA, and FCA, was president of her school’s National Honor Society chapter, played basketball for two years, and was leading actress in the one-act play. In high school rodeo, she competes in the breakaway roping and the team roping, competing at state finals last year in the team roping.

She has earned an R-HOP scholarship (Rural Health Opportunities Program) which pays for her tuition at Chadron (Neb.) State College and guarantees her a spot in the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She plans on becoming a dental hygienist. She is the daughter of Shon and Cathy Whetham.

 

These outstanding students, plus more than one hundred more, will compete in Hastings at the Nebraska High School Finals Rodeo June 15-17. Performances are at 10 am and 6 pm on June 15-16, with the finals at 1 pm on June 17. From the state finals, the top four in each event will qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo, held in Gillette, Wyo., July 16-22, 2017.

 

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