Category: Rodeo Life Today

First night of Red Bluff Round-Up sets the bar for cowboys, cowgirls

 Red Bluff, Calif. (April 21, 2023) –   Tanner Aus traded the cold winter of Minnesota for California sunshine, and he’s loving it.

The bareback rider came to the Red Bluff Round-Up and put on a show, tying for the lead in the bareback riding after the first performance of the Round-Up on April 21.

He scored 86.5 points on the horse called Little Red Hawk, cared for by the Flying U Rodeo Co. Jacek Frost, Browns Valley, Calif., also scored 86.5 points, aboard the Rosser Rodeo horse Yeti Rambler.

For Aus, it was a horse he was anxious to partner with. “That horse is a very good bucking horse,” he said, “one of the best, the funnest horses to get on. She’s fun for me, anyway. She bucks, and she’s very consistent, and she’s been around a long time.” The mare is 17 years old.

The Round-Up is what is informally called part of the California run, rodeos in the state that draw cowboys and cowgirls, because of spring weather and outdoor arenas.

“We got two inches of snow this morning,” he said. “Being from Minnesota, you can expect that, but to be able to come out here for a few days and rodeo in the sunshine, it’s awesome.”

Aus is a seven-time qualifier to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the PRCA’s world championship, and is currently ranked nineteenth in the world standings.

He’s quick to give credit to his wife, Lonissa, who holds down the fort, with their three children, ages 5, 3 and 9 months, in Granite Falls, Minn. “My wife is my rock. She makes it all work. If I didn’t have her support, I definitely couldn’t do this. She believes in the dream that I have and lets me chase it. She’s a blessing.”

For saddle bronc rider Allen Boore, he got a birthday gift on April 21, with a lead in his event at the Round-Up.

The Axtell, Utah cowboy turned 32 years old on Friday and scored 86 points to take the lead after the first performance of the Round-Up.

He was complimentary of the bucking horse he rode, a horse named Houchie Mama and owned by C5 Rodeo.

“She’s a dream horse,” he said, “a horse you want, that feels good, that you have time to spur.”

He noted that the seven-year-old mare jumps higher than the average bucking horse, giving him time to make a better spur stroke. “That horse jumps up in the air high enough that you have time to set your feet, before the horse’s front feet hit the ground. The higher they jump, the longer you have to make that spur stroke.”

Like Aus, Boore was glad to experience springtime in California. His part of Utah has been colder and snowier than normal.

“I came over the (Sierra) Mountains, and dropped into the valley with the green grass, knee high, and it’s 70-some degrees.”

And rodeoing outside is good, too. “After being in the building (rodeos) all winter, it’s nice to get out.”

Boore has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals twice (2016, 2020).

Other leaders after tonight’s performance include steer wrestlers Jake Nelson, Whitehall, Mont. and Brandon Harrison, Cheek, Texas (5.0 seconds each); tie-down roper Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore, Calif. (9.0 seconds); breakaway roper Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D. (2.8 seconds); team ropers (and brothers) Kellan Johnson and Carson Johnson, both of Casper, Wyo. (6.6 seconds); and barrel racer Timber Allenbrand, Paola, Kan. (17.39 seconds).

In the bull riding, Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho, scored 90 points to take the lead. Hutchings is a college student at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas.

The second of three performances of the Red Bluff Round-Up takes place Saturday, April 22. Other activities taking place on Saturday include the rodeo parade at 10 am, Jackson Dean in concert at 6 pm, and more.

Round-Up tickets range in price from $20 to $40 and are available at the gate and online.

Results from the first performance, Red Bluff Round-Up, April 21, 2023

Bareback riding

1. (tie) Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. 86.5 points on Flying U Rodeo’s Little Red Hawk and Jacek Frost, Browns Valley, Calif. 86.5 points on Rosser Rodeo’s Yeti Rambler; 3. Jacob Lees, Caldwell, Idaho 85; 4. Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah 83.5.

Steer wrestling

1. (tie) Jake Nelson, Whitehall, Mont. and Brandon Harrison, Cheek, Texas 5.0 seconds each; 3. Kalane Anders, Bayard, Neb. 5.2; 4. Darcy Kersh, Charters Towers, Australia 7.2.

Tie-down roping

1. Tyler Forsberg, Fillmore, Calif. 9.0 seconds; 2. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La. 9.1; 3. Kass Kayser, Ellensburg, Wash. 11.0; 4. Bo Pickett, Caldwell, Idaho 11.6.

Saddle bronc riding

1. Allen Boore, Axtell, Utah 86 points on C5 Rodeo’s Houchie Mama; 2. Damian Brennan, Injune, Australia 84.5; 3. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho 84; 4. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. 83.5.

Breakaway Roping

1. Samantha Fulton, Miller, S.D. 2.8 seconds; 2. Josie Conner, Iowa, La. 3.2; 3. Kelsie Domer, Dublin, Texas 4.1; 4. Erika Frost, Randlett, Utah 4.3.

Team Roping

1. Kellan Johnson, Casper, Wyo./Carson Johnson, Casper, Wyo. 6.6 seconds; 2. Cole Thomas, Emelle, Ala./Clay Green, Pine Grove, La. 7.1; 3. Braden Pirrung, Hartford, S.D./Lane Siggins, Coolidge, Ariz. 7.2; 4. J7 Bland, Turkey, Texas/Tyson Thompson, Munday, Texas 10.8.

Barrel racing

1. Timber Allenbrand, Paola, Kan. 17.39 seconds; 2. Miley Bunting, Red Bluff, Calif. 17.40; 3. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Okla. 17.57; 4. Paige Dove, Hico, Texas 17.62.

Bull riding

1. Tristen Hutchings, Monteview, Idaho 90 points on Big Stone Rodeo’s Dirty Dave; 2. Braden Richardson, Jasper, Texas 86; 3. Trey Benton III, Richards, Texas 83; 4. Robbie Taylor, Chinle, Ariz. 80.

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

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Cutlines:

Minnesota cowboy Tanner Aus leads the bareback riding after the first night of the Red Bluff Round-Up. Photo by Crystal Amen Photography.

Allen Boore makes an 86 point ride to lead the pack of saddle bronc riders at the Red Bluff Round-Up. Rodeo action continues April 22-23. Photo by Crystal Amen Photography

2,000 acres of the Cervi ranch, near Roggen, a small town in northeastern Colorado, are about to turn green. Two course routings—one by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the other by veteran Coore & Crenshaw associate Jim Craig—have already been devised for the 2,000-acre, pure sand property acquired by Michael and Chris Keiser, sons of Bandon Dunes developer/owner Mike Keiser and owners of Sand Valley Golf Resort in Wisconsin. And even more golf is expected.

The water will come from ranch shares of the Lost Creek Water Basin- 1,186 acre feet, or the equivalent water usage for 3,500 homes for a year. Water is a private property right, and the water for this project is already in the hands of the developers of the golf courses.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 27) – Steer wrestler Luke Branquinho, a five-time PRCA World Champion, heads up a star-studded 2023 induction class for the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

 Branquinho is joined by two-time PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc rider Cody Wright (2008 and 2010), World Champion Team Roper Doyle Gellerman (1981), pickup man Kenny Clabaugh, rodeo notables Butch Knowles and Tom Feller and standout bareback horse Night Jacket, rodeo committees from the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo and Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, N.J., and barrel racer Sherry (Combs) Johnson, the 1962 WPRA World Champion and WPRA notable Fay Ann Horton Leach.

The 2023 Ken Stemler Pioneer Award, which recognizes those who have provided groundbreaking, innovative ideas and forward thinking that help the development, advancement, and success of the PRCA and or the Hall of Fame and their missions is being awarded to Bryan McDonald, former bull rider, and National Finals Rodeo judge. His foresight on day money and work with PROCOM have set the industry apart.

 “It certainly wasn’t expected that’s for sure,” McDonald said. “It’s a great honor to be in the presence of all those people, knowing what they have contributed and did for the sport throughout the years. It’s pretty heavy company.”

They will be enshrined July 15, during ceremonies at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo.

 Branquinho, who won world championships in 2004, 2008, 2011-12 and 2014, is second all-time in ProRodeo Steer Wrestling World Championships behind only Homer Pettigrew, who had six.

“I don’t even know if words can describe it,” Branquinho said when informed of his induction. “A guy starts his rodeo career just wanting to be the best that he can and win a world championship and to win five is pretty special. Then to be able to consider myself as one of the greatest with what you guys are saying being inducted to the Hall, I don’t have words to describe it. Some of my heroes are in there obviously, John W. Jones Jr. and John W. Jones Sr., and a lot of the California cowboys that helped put ProRodeo on the map and to be able to be in that Hall with them is very special.”

 Branquinho, who was known for his booty shake, qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 14 times – 2001-04, 2006-15 – and won the average three times in 2008, 2011 and 2014. He has the record for most NFR rounds won by a steer wrestler at 25.

 Cody Wright comes from the storied Wright family of saddle bronc riders as his brothers Jesse (2012) and Spencer (2014) also won PRCA World Championships as have his sons, Ryder (2017 and 2020) and Stetson (2021). Stetson has won a total of seven world championships – four in all-around (2019-22), two in bull riding (2020 and 2022) and one in saddle bronc riding in 2021.

“Really?” said Cody, when told of his induction. “You didn’t give me much time to come up with any type of emotions, but it is definitely a great honor to be put in there just because of the people who are in there. I really don’t even know what to say. I would definitely say winning my first and second world championships were memorable and winning the second one made the first one that much sweeter to me. Probably more so than me winning world titles was to watch my boys win.”

  Cody qualified for the NFR 13 times from 2003-14, and 2016.

 In 1981, Gellerman, a header, roping with partner Walt Woodard, won the team roping world championship.

 Gellerman qualified for the NFR 25 times, the fifth most by any team roper in PRCA history.

 “It means everything to me really, it’s quite an honor,” Gellerman said. “When I started my career, it wasn’t anything I really even thought about. It was one of those things, where if it happened it happened, if it didn’t, I was good with it.

“Winning a world championship was something I wanted since I was a kid. That was one of my goals and I got that accomplished. So, I’d say that was my most memorable moment.”

 By nature, Clabaugh wasn’t about the spotlight at all. He didn’t seek attention nor boast about his accomplishments.

 However, after being selected as a pickup man for the NFR six times, he didn’t go unnoticed by the ProRodeo Hall of Fame selection committee.

 “Oh my gosh, are you serious? This means everything to me, I’m really in shock,” Clabaugh said. “This isn’t even something that I thought would be possible when I was picking up at rodeos. It was quite a life and an enjoyable life that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to getting out to Colorado Springs, but right now I’m still in shock this is happening.”

Knowles made a name for himself as a TV commentator, including countless broadcasts from the NFR. He also qualified for the NFR in saddle bronc riding in 1981, 1983, and 1986-87. He won the NFR average in 1987.

 “That’s pretty humbling, holy cow. For a guy that does a lot of talking I don’t have a ton of words to say right now. This is the last thing that I ever thought would happen. It is quite an honor, it’s probably not the place that I feel like I should be. But it’s an honor to be thought of that way, it really is.

 “I’ve never ever thought my place would be in the Hall of Fame, I’m just that type of guy. I’ve enjoyed the ride that I’ve had. I look up to all those guys in the Hall of Fame and I think they’ve made incredible marks in the sport of rodeo in their lives.”

Feller is a cowboy through and through. His loyalty to the sport of rodeo and his commitment to ProRodeo programs such as the Justin Sportsmedicine team and the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund gained him entrance into the Hall.

 Feller also was a barrelman at the NFR in 1981 and was an alternate in 1976, 1982, 1985.

 “This is mind-boggling,” Feller said. “This is not anything I would have ever thought about. I think the only thing that stands out is the people in the business. They are lifelong friends and people who you can count on.”

 Famous “Night Jacket” raised by Jim and Maggie Zinser, who founded J Bar J Rodeo Company, is a horse that will be remembered for decades to come.

Night Jacket competed at every Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as a bareback horse from 2000-2007. During that time, the horse helped six different cowboys reach the pay window in Las Vegas. Even with

Night Jacket’s success inside the arena, the horse may be more known for his star-studded offspring.

 Moving from J Bar J to Pickett Pro Rodeo, NFR bucking horses like Fringe Jacket, Straight Jacket, and Night Gazer are direct descendants of Night Jacket. Many more are lighting up the ProRodeo ranks as we speak, carrying on this once in a lifetime horses’ legacy.

 “I’m at a loss for words, I really am. I didn’t ever think that would happen in the lifetime that we lived,” Maggie Zinser said.

Jim shared the same sentiments.

 “That horse had so many offspring that were buckers throughout their lives. It seemed like every single one of them were 20-to-22-point horses when you would buck them. Over 50 percent of them turned into fantastic horses from Night Jacket.”

 Cullen Pickett, who bought Night Jacket in 2009, also praised the horse.

“It means the world to us for sure. Just to be a part of that elite club is truly an hour.”

 “The horse was unlike any other as far as that many offspring and colts that have moved on to be great ProRodeo animals. Not to mention he had a great bucking career as well.”

 This also was a special honor for the St. Paul Rodeo.

“This is fabulous,” said Kevin Smith, a member of the St. Paul Rodeo committee. “A small town with some serious roots is a good place for rodeo and we have been one of those. Half of our board is grandsons and great grandsons of our rodeo in 1936. This is just a great honor for us to receive.”

 Cowtown has had a storied rodeo tradition, but rodeo secretary Betsy Harris, who has been an integral part of the rodeo for decades couldn’t believe the phone call she received on Monday.

 “Seriously,” Harris said when told Cowtown Rodeo was Hall of Fame bound. “Oh, my goodness. My husband and I have been doing this for 44 years and we never saw this coming. Our rodeo committee is just four of us, my son-in-law and daughter and my husband Grant and me. We have a huge work force that does work for us and so dedicated and wonderful. I’m really in shock, not the call I was expecting. This is wonderful.”

Johnson will join the Hall of Fame alongside her world champion horse Star Plaudit “Red,” who was inducted in 2017 and her sister Florence Youree, who was inducted as a notable in the 2019 Class.

 “I am in shock,” stated Johnson upon learning of her induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “I knew when Jimmie (Munroe) called me that she wasn’t fibbing, but it is still just so hard to grasp. It is such a blessing to be put in the Hall with my horse Red and my sister. It definitely brings my career around full circle.

 Born August 16, 1938, in Duncan, Okla., Johnson has made her home in Addington, Oklahoma. During her career she qualified for 12 National Finals Rodeos, the first coming in 1959 at the first GRA (predecessor to the WPRA) Finals in Clayton, N.M. and the last in 1991 under the bright lights of Las Vegas, a span of four decades (1959-68, 1970, 1991).

 She won her first WPRA world title in 1961 in the all-around category, but the highlight of her career would come in 1962 when she won the barrel racing world title aboard Star Plaudit “Red.”

 Johnson made her mark in the National High School Association as well, winning the all-around title, barrel racing and breakaway roping titles in 1955.

 Johnson gave back to the WPRA, serving on the Board of Directors from 1963-1971, including a stint as the Vice President. She was named Coca-Cola Woman of the Year in 1997 and was inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in 2005.

In July, she will cement her place in ProRodeo history with her induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame.

 “When I got my card and went to the first NFR in Clayton (N.M.), I would have never dreamt of this day and what the Association has become. It is just truly a great day.”

 Horton Leach led the Girls Rodeo Association (GRA-now WPRA) as a founding member, competitor, and board member. One of the 38 women who met in San Angelo, Texas, on February 28, 1948, to form the very first professional sports association created solely for women by women.

 “This is quite an honor. I don’t know that I truly deserve it but know it is a big deal,” said Leach, who makes her home in Kilgore, Texas. “We worked very hard in the early years for the Association but never really got to reap the benefits, but they are now. I am so thankful the girls now can expect to make some money as we were lucky to run at $20 day money. I love to see the progress the Association and the sport of rodeo has made.”

Leach never won a world title in the barrel racing, but she qualified for nine consecutive NFRs (1959-1967). She would finish third in the world in 1962 behind Johnson and Bush.

 Like many cowgirls during this era, they competed in many different events with calf roping being one of Leach’s favorites. In fact, she broke her mentor’s streak of six consecutive titles in the calf roping when she beat Bush for the world title in 1957. She would add three more of those titles in 1959, 1963 and 1971. She won the all-around in 1960, the flag race world title in 1964 and one that might surprise everyone was her bull riding title in 1966.

 In 1967, Fay Ann married Billy Leach, who competed in the RCA roping calves and steer wrestling. Together they founded Billy Leach Ropes.

 In 2011, she was inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame under the category of Trailblazers and now she will be immortalized in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame for her dedication to building a strong foundation for women in rodeo

March 23, 2023 – Fort Worth, TX — The Cowboy Channel is proud to announce the creation of a separate feed for Spanish-language viewers providing full coverage of all performances of the PRCA’s Top 10 rodeos.  Spanish language productions for Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, Austin, San Angelo, Reno, Calgary, Cheyenne, Salinas, Pendleton, and the Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas will be offered as part of a monthly or yearly subscription to the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app. The first live broadcast feed of The Cowboy Channel Deportes will start on June 15th with the Reno Rodeo.  The Cowboy Channel Deportes will also be offered on a regional basis to Spanish-language cable and broadcast channels to support these rodeos and to help develop new fan support in their respective local markets.

“Our #1 goal at The Cowboy Channel has always been to grow the fan base, and viewership, for rodeo and western sports”, stated Patrick Gottsch, Founder of The Cowboy Channel.  “The Hispanic community in the United States, and throughout all North & South America, are deeply involved in the western lifestyle.  We believe that The Cowboy Channel can help bridge this small gap by producing a year-long Spanish-language feed so that these fans can now follow the regular ProRodeo season from start to finish, growing attendance and interest for all rodeos across the country.”

“The PRCA will be able to expand our fan base, and audience with the addition of the Spanish language feed for select PRCA rodeos broadcast on The Cowboy Channel,” PRCA CEO Tom Glause said. “The excitement of rodeo transcends any language, and now our Spanish-speaking fans will be able to fully experience the great sport of ProRodeo.”

In partnership with Mexicanal, the veteran Mexican rodeo broadcast team of Luis Fernando Zepeda de Alba and Roberto Valdez will anchor these broadcasts from The Cowboy Channel studios in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards.  Each broadcast will consist of a pre-show, just like the one produced on The Cowboy Channel prior to each Top 10 rodeo performance.  The Cowboy Channel Deportes will simply be an additional option of the various “live” feeds available on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app and archived so viewers can access any of these Spanish-language broadcasts anytime throughout the year.  And with this new feed also allows the opportunity for Spanish-language commercials to be inserted into the commercial breaks, specifically on The Cowboy Channel Deportes.

“Mexicanal is proud to be a part of this very important initiative with The Cowboy Channel, bringing western sports programming in the Spanish language to the millions of Hispanics throughout the United States”, Demian Torres-Bohl, President of Mexicanal said.  “As a long-time supporter and producer of Mexican style bull-riding programming, Jaripeo, as well as Mexican Rodeo, Charreria, Mexicanal is looking forward to working with The Cowboy Channel to infuse some entertainment into the live broadcasts of the top rodeos from the PRCA and the Wrangler NFR.  It is an honor for Mexicanal’s production team to be working alongside their friends and partners at The Cowboy Channel with Luis Fernando Zepeda de Alba and Roberto Valdez, who have been working with Mexicanal for many years in popular shows like Estrellas del Jaripeo and Ahi Viene el Toro. I am sure this will be the first of many successful collaborations between our two companies.”

“We believe this is only the start for expanding the Spanish language feeds for several of our western lifestyle and sporting events,” added Raquel Koehler, Chief Communications Officer for The Cowboy Channel. “The western & cowboy culture knows no borders and was greatly responsible for settling both North & South America.  The American horse came from Mexico.  Whether he is called a Gaucho in Argentina and Uruguay, or a Vaquero in Mexico, the cowboy has an enduring image now growing in popularity worldwide.”  

For the complete broadcast schedule of The Cowboy Channel Deportes on the PRCA on Cowboy Channel Plus app, please visit www.cowboychannelplus.com.  Subscriptions are available for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

To find The Cowboy Channel on your cable/satellite system,

please visit thecowboychannel.com/find-us-on-tv.

Listen to Riley Webb talk, and it can raise eyebrows. He sounds young, but he competes like a veteran. He qualified for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo as a rookie last season. Still a teenager, Webb continued his meteoric rise in the sport, winning the tie-down roping championship at RodeoHouston on Sunday.

Webb, 19, walked away with one of the biggest purses in ProRodeo, pocketing $50,000 with an 8.9 second-run in the Championship Shootout and nearly $10,000 for his steady round runs to reach the finals.

As he enjoyed dinner with his mom and grandma in Houston, Webb revealed why he’s enjoying success. Nothing seems to bother him – not a packed arena of screaming fans or a reporter asking questions as knives and forks click off plates around him.

“It’s pretty cool,” Webb said. “I had my aunt and uncle there (for one round), then my mom and grandma there tonight. It was special.”

That it ended up this way is a testament to Webb’s approach. The stage is never too big. He won’t let it be with his narrow focus and even-keel demeanor.

“You just have to do your job (even in the championship shootout round). When you have a good calf, it’s about making no mistakes and winning what you can win. It’s about not trying to do too much, just doing what you can,” Webb said.

Webb entered the finals with confidence. He placed in every round, including a 9.0- second time in his first RodeoHouston run, posting a win.

“To make that first run like that really helped,” said Webb, who placed 10th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings last season, earning $188,597.

Webb, who hails from Denton, Texas, kept piling up strong performances, finishing third and fourth in subsequent runs before notching a second-place finish in the semifinal qualifier. It set the stage for the biggest regular-season win of his career as he bested Hunter Herrin (9.6, $20,000) and Reese Riemer (15.4, $10,000).

“I had a good feeling going into it,” Webb said. “It was cool.”

Riley was featured in the Rodeo News in July of 2021. Here is a link to that story:

https://reader.mediawiremobile.com/RodeoNews/issues/207284/viewer

Other winners at the $1,950,030 rodeo were bareback rider Leighton Berry (90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz); steer wrestler Dalton Massey (4.5 seconds); team ropers Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler (5.5 seconds); saddle bronc rider Sage Newman (90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Womanizer); breakaway roper Hali Williams (3.6 seconds); barrel racer Jordon Briggs (14.73 seconds); and bull rider Ky Hamilton (90.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Dim Tricks).

Results from Houston Championship
Bareback Riding: 1. Cole Reiner, 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Disco Party; 2. Kaycee Feild, 89; 3. Leighton Berry, 88; 4. Keenan Hayes, 87; 5. Tim O’Connell, 86.5, $2,500; 6. Chad Rutherford, 85, $2,500; 7. Jayco Roper, 84.5, $2,500; 8. Jess Pope, 83.5, $2,500; 9. Richmond Champion, 82.5, $2,500; 10. Sam Petersen, 81, $2,500.
Steer Wrestling: 1. (tie) Dalton Massey and Rowdy Parrott, 4.8 seconds; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 5.3; 4. Cody Devers, 6.1; 5. J.D. Struxness, 6.1, $2,500; 6. Clayton Hass, 6.3, $2,500; 7. Jesse Brown, 6.6, $2,500; 8. Stephen Culling, 6.6, $2,500; 9. Stetson Jorgensen, 14.6, $2,500; 10. Jacob Talley, 15.9, $2,500.
Team Roping: 1. Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry, 5.5 seconds; 2. Brenten Hall/Paden Bray, 5.7; 3. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.8; 4. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, 5.9; 5. Tanner Tomlinson/Patrick Smith, 5.9, $2,500 each; 6. Cory Kidd V/Lane Mitchell, 6.4, $2,500; 7. (tie) Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, Levi Simpson/Caleb Hendrix, Coy Rahlmann/Jonathan Torres and Chad Masters/Trey Yates, NT, $2,500 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sage Newman, 90 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Hitman; 2. (tie) Ben Andersen and Zeke Thurston, 88; 4. Chase Brooks, 87.5; 5. Kade Bruno, 86.5, $2,500; 6. Ryder Wright, 86, $2,500; 7. Ross Griffin, 85, $2,500; 8. Brody Cress, 83, $2,500; 9. Isaac Diaz, 81, $2,500; 10. Riggin Smith, 75.5, $2,500.
Tie-Down Roping: 1. Beau Cooper, 8.5 seconds; 2. Reese Riemer, 8.9; 3. Riley Mason Webb, 9.9; 4. Hunter Herrin, 9.9; 5. Caleb Smidt, 10.8, $2,500; 6. Shad Mayfield, 11.8, $2,500; 7. Adam Gray, 11.8, $2,500; 8. Matt Shiozawa, 12.6, $2,500; 9. (tie) Tuf Cooper and Cory Solomon, NT, $2,500 each.
Barrel Racing: 1. Jessica Routier, 14.63 seconds; 2. Molly Otto, 14.66; 3. Jordon Briggs, 14.73, $2,500; 4. Sissy Winn, 14.75; 5. Hailey Kinsel, 14.84, $2,500; 6. Shelley Morgan, 14.88, $2,500; 7. Summer Kosel, 14.90, $2,500; 8. Sarah Rose Waguespack, 15.07, $2,500; 9. Wenda Johnson, 15.28, $2,500; 10. Kassie Mowry, 20.79, $2,500.
Bull Riding: 1. Ky Hamilton, 86.5 points on Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Vitalix Flight Risk; 2. Creek Young, NS; 3. J.B. Mauney, NS; 4. Josh Frost, NS; 5. (tie) Trey Benton III, Jeff Askey, Ernie Courson Jr., T. Parker, Chance Schott and Brady Porternier, NS, $2,500 each.

Championship Shootout
Bareback Riding: 1. Leighton Berry, 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yippee Kibitz, $50,000; 2. Kaycee Feild, 89, $20,000; 3. Keenan Hayes, 88, $10,000; 4. Cole Reiner, 87, $5,500.
Steer Wrestling: 1. Dalton Massey, 4.5 seconds, $50,000; 2. (tie) Cody Devers and Tyler Waguespack, 4.7, $15,000 each; 4. Rowdy Parrot, 5.1, $5,500.
Team Roping: 1. Rhen Richard/Jeremy Buhler, 5.5 seconds, $50,000 each; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Justin Davis, 9.9, $20,000; 3. (tie) Marcus Theriot/Cole Curry and Brenton Hall/Paden Bray, NT, $7,750 each.
Saddle Bronc Riding: 1. Sage Newman, 90 points, $50,000; 2. Chase Brooks, 87, $20,000; 3. Ben Andersen, 83, $10,000; 4. Zeke Thurston, 81, $5,500.
Tie-Down Roping: 1. Riley Mason Webb, 8.9 seconds, $50,000; 2. Hunter Herrin, 9.6, $20,000; 3. Reese Riemer, 15.4, $10,000; 4. Beau Cooper, 18.5, $5,500.
Barrel Racing: 1. Jordon Briggs, 14.73 seconds, $50,000; 2. Molly Otto, 14.75, $20,000; 3. Jessica Routier, 14.79, $10,000; 4. Sissy Winn, 19.94, $5,500.
Bull Riding: 1. Ky Hamilton, 90.5 points on The Cervi Brothers’ Dim Tricks, $50,000; 2. Josh Frost, 86, $20,000; 3. Creek Young, NS, $10,000; 4. J.B. Mauney, Injured, $5,500.
*(all totals include ground money)

Total payoff: $1,950,030. Stock contractor: Cervi Championship Rodeo. Sub-contractors: Bailey Pro Rodeo, Calgary Stampede, J Bar J, Big Rafter Rodeo, Silver Spurs Club, Generations Pro Rodeo, The Cervi Brothers, Rocky Mountain Rodeo, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo, Stace Smith Pro Rodeos and Pickett Pro Rodeo Co. Rodeo secretary: Sunni Deb Backstrom. Officials: Butch Kirby, Will Lynd, Mike Todd and Harry Rose Jr. Timers: Molly Jane Twitchell and Vicki Pack. Announcers: Boyd Polhamus, Andy Seiler and Bob Tallman. Specialty act: Shelby Pierson. Bullfighters: Nathan Jestes, Beau Schueth and Dusty Tuckness. Clown/barrelman: Leon Coffee. Flankmen: Chuck Kite, Shad Smith, Ken Rehill and Cullen Pickett. Chute boss: Binion Cervi. Pickup men: Matt Twitchell, Chase Cervi, Gary Rempel and Randy Britton. Photographer: Mallory Beinborn. Music director: Benje Bendele.

Bull rider Trevor Kastner, who qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo seven times in 2011-13, 2018-20, and 2022, confirmed to ProRodeo Sports News he has called it a career.

Kastner, 35, joined the PRCA in 2008.

“I’m not calling it retirement because if you retire you don’t have to work anymore,” Kastner said with a laugh. “I was getting a little older and I wanted to spend more time with my family. I just thought it was time. It (rodeo) treated me good. I was wanting to step away whenever I was still competitive.”

Kastner and his wife Katie have two children, son, Korbyn, 3, and daughter, McKenna, 5. The family resides in Roff, Okla.

A year ago, Kastner finished fifth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $255,179. He earned $131,640 at the NFR. Kastner placed in five rounds, highlighted by his Round 7 win with a 90.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Midnight Rider at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

During his seven NFR qualifications, Kastner placed in 14 rounds, including winning four.

“I had so many great memories it is hard to pick any single one out,” Kastner said. “I didn’t plan on riding bulls as long as I did, but it worked out that way. I wanted to go out on top of my game and quit on my own terms.”

Kastner’s full-time job now is as a real estate agent. He works for Legacy Land Group based out of Durant, Okla.

“I have always been interested in the real estate stuff, and I got my license and I’m getting started in it,” he said.

Aggregate Results (total on twenty five head)

“This is life-changing for us,” said Oklahoma cowboy Cody Doescher.“We live in a single-wide, and we’re trying to get out of it because we’ve outgrown it with three kids. We’re trying to get us a place either bought or built. Right now, that money couldn’t have come at a better time. We’ve never seen that much money at one time. To be able to put it to good use, it’s all a blessing in itself.” This is his 10th time competing at the CTEC.

1. Cody Doescher 312.7 seconds worth $100,000
2. Russell Cardoza 321.7 seconds worth $25,000
3. Lane Karney 355.3 seconds worth $15,000
4. Riley Wakefield 366.0 seconds worth $10,000
5. Nelson Wyatt 370.2 seconds worth $7,500
6. Marcus Theriot 376.7 seconds worth $5,000
7. Clayton Hass 377.6 seconds worth $4,500
8. Jess Tierney 396.4 seconds worth $3,000
9. Colby Lovell 408.2 seconds
10. Paul David Tierney 413.33 seconds
11. Erich Rogers 428.8 seconds
12. KC Jones 434.9 seconds
13. Seth Hall 445.8 seconds
14. Kyle Lockett 486.8 seconds
15. Justin Thigpen 533.0 seconds

Round Five Results (total on five head)

1. Jess Tierney 57.0 seconds worth $3,000
2. Clayton Hass 57.1 seconds worth $2,000
3. Marcus Theriot 57.5 seconds worth $1,000
4. Lane Karney 62.2 seconds
5. Cody Doescher 62.4 seconds (tie)
6. Russell Cardoza 62.4 seconds (tie)
7. Colby Lovell 68.5 seconds
8. Nelson Wyatt 85.7 seconds
9. Seth Hall 103.3 seconds
10. Riley Wakefield 108.5 seconds
11. Paul David Tierney 109.6 seconds
12. Erich Rogers 109.8 seconds
13. KC Jones 130.9 seconds
14. Kyle Lockett 152.6 seconds
15. Justin Thigpen 211.7 seconds

CTEC Total Payout $6,001,000 (1985-2023)

Jr Ironman Results

Aggregate Results (on twenty head)

1. Ketch Kelton, 107.4 seconds worth $20,000
2. Clay Clayman, 162.6 seconds worth $5,000
3. Conner Griffith, 176.3 seconds worth $2,000
4. Dylan Hancock, 191.0 seconds
5. Mason Appleton, 192.7 seconds
6. Caleb Lake, 258.8 seconds
7. Wyatt Williams, 270.0 seconds
8. Kreece Dearing, 300.0 seconds
9. Evan Bottinin 345.1 seconds
10. Jake Holmes 401.1 seconds

Round Three Results (on four head)

1. Kreece Dearing 33.5 seconds, worth $750
2. Ketch Kelton 35.0 seconds, worth $250
3. Conner Griffith 57.6 seconds
4. Mason Appleton 63.5 seconds
5. Dylan Hancock 72.9 seconds
6. Wyatt Williams 78.2 seconds
7. Clay Clayman 88.9 seconds
8. Caleb Lake 101.2 seconds
9. Evan Bottini 140.5 seconds
10. Jake Holmes 171.4 seconds

TEC Round Two Results (on five head)

1. Cody Doescher 48.9 seconds, worth $3,000
2. Nelson Wyatt 51.6 seconds, worth $2,000
3. Cole Patterson 51.7 seconds
4. Riley Wakefield 56.1 seconds
5. KC Jones 60.7 seconds
6. Justin Thigpen 65.6 seconds
7. Lane Karney 68.4 seconds
8. Cody Cabral 68.8 seconds
9. Colby Lovell 74.1 seconds
10. Russell Cardoza 74.7 seconds
11. Taylor Santos 75.3 seconds
12. Erich Rogers 79.2 seconds
13. Kyle Lockett 87.7 seconds
14. Clayton Hass 87.8 seconds
15. Marcus Theriot 90.8 seconds
16. Roger Nonella 96.8 seconds
17. Jess Tierney 107.5 seconds
18. Paul David Tierney 108.9 seconds
19. Seth Hall 111.1 seconds
20. Kolton Schmidt 121.5 seconds

Aggregate After Round Two (on ten head)

1. Riley Wakefield 121.5 seconds
2. Cole Patterson 129.8 seconds
3. Russell Cardoza 132.7 seconds
4. Lane Karney 138.1 seconds
5. Erich Rogers 141.8 seconds
6. Justin Thigpen 144.9 seconds
7. Cody Doescher 146.3 seconds
8. Marcus Theriot 150.6 seconds
9. KC Jones 156.7 seconds
10. Kyle Lockett 158.6 seconds
11. Nelson Wyatt 165. seconds
12. Taylor Santos 171.6 seconds
13. Clayton Hass 174.9 seconds
14. Paul David Tierney 176.4
15. Cody Cabral 178.6 seconds
16. Colby Lovell 178.8 seconds
17. Seth Hall 190.0 seconds
18. Kolton Schmidt 193.6 seconds
19. Jess Tierney 236.4 seconds
20. Roger Nonella 243.7 seconds

Junior Ironman Round Winners (on four head)

1. Ketch Kelton 32.7 seconds, worth $750
2. Clay Clayman 37.4 seconds, worth $250
3. Mason Appleton 38.5 seconds
4. Dylan Hancock 58.4 seconds
5. Conner Griffith 59.6 seconds
6. Caleb Lake 59.9 seconds
7. Wyatt Williams 87.9 seconds
8. Jake Holmes 88.5 seconds
9. Kreece Dearing 154.5 seconds
10. Evan Bottini 155.3 seconds

Aggregate After Round Two (on eight head)

1. Ketch Kelton 72.4 seconds
2. Clay Clayman 73.7 seconds
3. Dylan Hancock 118.1 seconds
4. Conner Griffith 118.7 seconds
5. Mason Appleton 129.2 seconds
6. Caleb Lake 157.6 seconds
7. Wyatt Williams 191.8 seconds
8. Evan Bottini 204.6 seconds
9. Jake Holmes 229.7 seconds
10. Kreece Dearing 266.5 seconds

The first armless pilot will be the grand Marshal of the 2023 Rodeo Parade on February 23rd.  Jessica Cox has been named the Grand Marshal for the 98th Tucson Rodeo Parade.  Jessica Cox is known for becoming the world’s first armless pilot and is building The Impossible Airplane.  The Impossible Airplane will be the first airplane ever designed to be flown with just feet. The simulator of this airplane will be loaded on one of the wagons of the rodeo parade accompanied by six children with disabilities. This will be the debut of the Impossible Airplane simulator. The Tucson Rodeo Parade is the longest unmotorized parade in the world and draws over 170,000 attendees.

Jessica Cox is a licensed pilot, author, motivational speaker, and Guinness World Record Holder.  She created a foundation to advocate for children with disabilities and has been named 2022 Woman of the Year by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Awards.

Event:  98th Tucson Rodeo Parade

Date:  February 23, 2023

Time: 9:00 am

Location: Tucson Rodeo Parade

4823 S 6th Ave
Tucson, Arizona 85714

Press Conference:  Please call (520) 294-1280 or email office@tucsonrodeoparade.org for more information about the press conference that will take place before the parade.

James (Jim) Floyd Svoboda, Jr. was born November 8th, 1934 at Ord Nebraska, and passed February 19th, 2023 at the age of 88. The cause of death was inoperable stomach complications/perforation which were exacerbated by a longstanding unrecognized rodeo injury. He passed comfortably at peace with his wife and family at his side thanks to the excellent care he received at Grand Island Nebraska Regional Hospital.

Jim graduated in 1956 from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and worked 33 years for the USDA as County Executive Officer for the Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Service serving Garfield, Loup, and Wheeler Counties until he retired in 1989. He also owned a ranch with his wife and family north of Burwell prior to his retirement, where they owned a registered Hereford operation.

Jim spent nearly 20 years as a successful four event all-around rodeo competitor, with his best streak of riding 54 barebacks in a row. He filled his PRCA permit in 1958 and received his PRCA Gold card in 1984. A severely broken leg forced him to become a full-time rodeo photographer.

With over 3 million photos shot and worn out nearly 40 cameras, Jim was a true legend in the rodeo photography industry. He won numerous awards and buckles during his rodeo career including four coveted PRCA award buckles: “Sports News Best Action Photo”, “Best Action Rodeo Photo”, “PRCA Best in Photo Journalism “and “Las Vegas National Finals Rodeo Official Photographer”, a feat no other photographer has ever accomplished.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn of 64 years, three children, Tana Brinkman (Jim), Jason Von Svoboda (Angela), JonBen Svoboda (AnneMarie), 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, 2 brothers and 4 sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents James, Sr. and Margaret (Walkowiak) Svoboda, 1 brother and 3 sisters.

At Jim’s request, he wanted a private graveside service and in lieu of flowers send remembrance memorials to the family which will be collectively donated in his honor to the Nebraska’s Big Rodeo

FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 4, 2023)—The $1.2 million FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament came to a rousing close on Saturday, February 4, in Dickies Arena.

No one was more excited to win their first championships at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo than bareback rider Rocker Steiner and barrel racer Jackie Ganter. Steiner, who calls nearby Weatherford home, made a 90-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Yipee Kibitz. This was the second matchup for Steiner and the bucking horse. The last time the two met, Steiner won the Calgary Stampede in Alberta last July riding, so the 19-year-old was super excited to get on the horse again.

The ride on Saturday added $20,000 to Steiner’s earnings. Prior to Fort Worth’s rodeo, he was 13^th in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association world standings. With his success in the brackets and the semifinals as well as the championship round, he added $27,080 which will give him a big boost on his way to his second consecutive Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) qualification.

“This win is really special,” Steiner said. “It’s close to home, the fans are great, and I just love that horse.”

An emotional Jackie Ganter, from Abilene, Texas, got the win in the barrel racing. Riding her great gelding Howes a Tycoon, she stopped the clock in 16.30 seconds, the same time that she had when she won the wildcard round. Ganter and Tycoon made four trips around the barrels to have the opportunity to run on Saturday. They watched as two-time FWSSR champion Hailey Kinsel stopped the clock in 16.35 seconds.

Ganter and Tycoon earned $25,260 here. They were seventh in the world standings before and with their earnings here they will be very close to the number one spot. She has qualified for the NFR twice in 2015 and 2016. With her success here and her blazing fast horse, the former hunter-jumper equestrian is on track to make a third trip to Las Vegas this year.

Will Lummus, a college rodeo coach from Byhalia, Mississippi, punched his ticket in the steer wrestling with a 4.1-second run. The horse he rode was Be Dun By Three, nicknamed “Benz”, owned by Clayton Hass. While this was a great rodeo for Lummus, who earned a total of $27,080 here, it was even better for Benz. Ty Erickson, from Helena, Montana also rode Benz and finished second for the championship. Benz earned $32,000 for his riders on Saturday night.

The saddle bronc riding ended in a tie, and it was a big one. Stetson Wright of Milford, Utah and Dawson Hay from Wildwood, Alberta, each had 90.5 point rides to win $16,000. They both rode horses from the Calgary Stampede. Wright got on Xena Warrior and Hay rode Tokyo Bubbles.

In the breakaway roping, Cheyanne Guillory caught the win with a 1.9-second run. The National Finals Breakaway Roping qualifier earned a total of $26,193 to take back home to Kingston, Oklahoma.

A Texan took the top spot in tie-down roping. Weston Hughes from Cameron stopped the clock in 7.4 seconds for the win. He earned a total of $25,200 here and said, “It couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

Andrew Ward from Edmond, Oklahoma and his brother-in-law Buddy Hawkins II, who lives in Stephenville, Texas, had the fastest team roping run of the night at 3.9 seconds. This is the second time Hawkins has won this rodeo. He also won it in 2014 roping with Drew Horner. Ward and Hawkins have roped together twice at the NFR and are looking good for another trip to Las Vegas this year.

The best two bull riders in the PRCA in 2022 took the top two places in bull riding. Reigning world champion Stetson Wright made the night’s first successful ride on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s bull Dances With Monsters to earn a score of 87.5 points. After a few other riders hit the dirt, 2022 reserve world champ Josh Frost tried his luck on Rafter G Rodeo’s High Brow Cat. Frost’s 90.5-point score gave him the FWSSR signature square trophy buckle. He took home $23,787. Wright added $18,347 in bull riding money to his winnings, boosting his total from Fort Worth to nearly $41,500.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is the biggest rodeo so far in the 2023 season. It is one of the big indoor rodeos that can jump start a contestant’s year. Plans are underway for the 127^th Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo which will start on January 12 of 2024.

2023 FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament Champions with total money

Bareback Riding: Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, $27,080

Steer Wrestling: Will Lummus, Byhalia, Mississippi, $27,080

Breakaway Roping: Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., $26,193

Saddle Bronc Riding: (tie) Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, $23,080

Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, $21,080

Tie-Down Roping: Weston Hughes, Cameron, Texas, $25,200

Team Roping: Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla., and Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas, $26,200 each

Barrel Racing: Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, $25,260

Bull Riding: Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, $23,787

FORT WORTH, Texas — The following are unofficial results from the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s ProRodeo Tournament after the Championship Finals, Saturday, February 4, 2023.

Bareback riding: 1, Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas, 90 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yipee Kibitz, $20,000. 2, (tie) Kaycee Feild, Genola, Utah; Chad Rutherford, Hillsboro, Texas; and Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La., 89 and $8,000 each.

Steer wrestling: 1, Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss., 4.1 seconds, $20,000. 2, Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont., 4.3, $12,000. 3, Stockton Graves, Alva, Okla., 4.5, $8,000. 4, Walt Arnold, Coleman, Texas, 5.0, $4,000.

Breakaway roping: 1, Cheyanne Guillory, Kingston, Okla., 1.9 seconds, $20,000. 2, Ashley Goforth, Azle, Texas, 2.0, $12,000. 3, Hali Williams, Comanche, Okla., 2.1, $8,000. 4, Erin Johnson, Fowler, Colo., 2.2, $4,000.

Saddle bronc riding: 1, (tie) Stetson Wright on Calgary Stampede’s Xena Warrior and Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta, on Calgary Stampede’s Tokyo Bubbles, 90.5 and $16,000 each. 3, (tie) Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah and Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo., 88.5, $6,000.

Tie-down roping: 1, Weston Hughes, 7.4 seconds, $20,000. 2, Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas, 7.9, $12,000. 3, Trevor Hale, Perryton, Texas, 8.9, $8,000. 4, Brushton Minton, 9.7, $4,000.

Team Roping: 1, Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla., and Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas, 3.9 seconds, $20,000 each. 2, Jake Cooper Clay, Sapulpa, Okla., and Billie Jack Saebens, Nowata, Okla., 4.6, $12,000. 3, Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif., and Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas, 5.4, $8,000. 4, Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga., and Junior Nogueira, Presidente Prude, Brazil, 8.9, $4,000.

Barrel Racing: 1, Jackie Ganter, Abilene, Texas, 16.30 seconds, $20,000. 2, Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas, 16.35, $12,000. 3, Sissy Winn, Corpus Christi, Texas, 16.47, $8,000. 4, Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla., 16.49, $4,000.

Bull Riding: 1, Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah, 90.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s High Brow Cat, $20,000. 2, Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah, 87.5, $12,000. (Final places bucked off in championship round. They earned 3^rd and 4^th based on their score in the semifinals.) 3, Coy Thorson, Fergus Falls, Minn., $8,000. 4, Jestyn Jax Woodward, Custer, S.D., $4,000.