2018 PRCA Media Guide

ISBN: 978-0-9834148-7-2

2018 ProRodeo Dates to Remember

All dates subject to change.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Planned dates

Event

Site

Oct. 6-13

All American ProRodeo Finals

Waco, Texas

Nov. 2-3

Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping

Mulvane, Kan.

Dec. 6-15

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo

Las Vegas, Nev.

WRANGLER PRORODEO TOUR

Planned dates

Tour stop

Site

June 15-23

Reno Rodeo

Reno, Nev.

June 26-July 2

Ponoka Stampede

Ponoka, Alberta

June 27-July 3

Greeley Stampede

Greeley, Colo.

June 28-July 4 World’s Oldest Rodeo

Prescott, Ariz.

July 1-4

Cody Stampede

Cody, Wyo.

July 3-7

St. Paul Rodeo

St. Paul, Ore.

July 10-14

Central Wyoming Fair & Rodeo

Casper, Wyo.

July 17-21

Snake River Stampede

Nampa, Idaho

July 19-22

California Rodeo Salinas

Salinas, Calif.

July 20-24

Spanish Fork Fiesta Days & Rodeo

Spanish Fork, Utah

July 21-29

Cheyenne Frontier Days

Cheyenne, Wyo.

Aug. 1-5

Dodge City Round Up Rodeo

Dodge City, Kan.

Aug. 8-11

Farm City ProRodeo

Hermiston, Ore.

Aug. 8-11

Sikeston Bootheel Rodeo

Sikeston, Mo.

Aug. 9-12

Lea County Fair & Rodeo

Lovington, N.M.

Aug. 14-18

Caldwell Night Rodeo

Caldwell, Idaho

Aug. 21-25

Horse Heaven Round-Up Rodeo

Kennewick, Wash.

Aug. 31-Sept. 3

Ellensburg Rodeo

Ellensburg, Wash.

Sept. 6-9

Washington State Fair Rodeo – Justin Finale

Puyallup, Wash.

PRCA XTREME BULLS TOUR, DIV. I Planned dates

Tour stop

Site

June 14

Reno Rodeo Xtreme Bulls

Reno, Nev.

Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale

Ellensburg, Wash.

Sept. 1

Check ProRodeo.com for updated information, including any date changes and additional events.

2018 PRCA Media Guide

RIGHT: Newly crowned world champions embrace their gold buckles at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER on a brand-new RANGER at the Thomas & Mack Center.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Roseanna Sales

COVER: Tuf Cooper earned the 2017 All-Around Cowboy title with $33,644, after placing second in the average in tie-down roping at the NFR.

The 2017 PRCA Media Guide was written, edited and designed by the PRCA Media Department.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Phil Doyle

Copyright © 2018, Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. All rights reserved.

Featured in the PRCA Media Guide

ISBN: 978-0-9834148-7-2 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 719.593.8840 Fax: 719.548.4889 www.ProRodeo.com Copyright ©2018 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Meet the PRCA’s new CEO...........................................................................................................22 2018Wrangler ProRodeo Tour...................................................................................................17 2017 Top Cowboys. .....................................................................................................................54 2017 Top 50 Rodeos................................................................................................................. 228 PRCA membership at a glance................................................................................................ 243 ProRodeo world records.......................................................................................................... 250 UpdatedWrangler NFR statistics............................................................................................ 328 2017 RAM Circuit Finals Rodeo records.................................................................................. 457

PRCA Communications Staff

The PRCA communications staff may be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (MT) at 719.593.8840.

Justin Shaw, PRCA Media DIrector jshaw@ProRodeo.com , 719.528.4704 – Oversees all communications and media-related activities of the PRCA

Amber Baillie, PRCA Publications Coordinator abaillie@ProRodeo.com, 719.528.4713

– Project-manages PRCA publications including the PRCA Media Guide, Annual Report, souvenir ProRodeo Programs, Wrangler National Finals Rodeo program, National Finals Steer Roping program, Committee Guide and Contract Personnel Directory

Scott Kaniewski, ProRodeo Sports News Editor skaniewski@ProRodeo.com, 719.528.4746 – Handles all issues or questions regarding the PSN

Stephen Olver, PRCA Art Director solver@ProRodeo.com, 719.528.4779 – Designs the PSN and PRCA Business Journal plus PRCA publications, including the Wrangler NFR and ProRodeo programs and the PRCA Committee Guide

Tracy Renck, Media Coordinator trenck@ProRodeo.com, 719.528.4758 – Writes stories for the PSN and the PRCA’s website; assists in day-to-day operations of the media department

Matt Naber, Media Coordinator mnaber@ProRodeo.com, 719.528.4768 – Writes stories for the PSN and the PRCA’s website; assists in day-to-day operations of the media department

Nick Cicere, Social Media Coordinator ncicere@ProRodeo.com, 719.528.4738 – Operates the PRCA’s social media platforms and writes stories for the PSN as needed

Matthew Castaneda, Media Assistant mhcastaneda@ProRodeo.com, 719.528.4773 – Processes book orders and assists in day-to-day operations of the media department

Advertising Requests regarding advertising in PRCA publications ( ProRodeo Sports News , ProRodeo Programs, Contract Personnel Directory and this PRCA Media Guide) should be directed to Nathan Vodehnal at 214.883.1466 or prorodeoads@gmail.com.

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Table of Contents

Key ProRodeo Dates.........inside front cover General Information....................................3 Media guidelines......................................................................4 About the PRCA........................................................................6 Tours, series and championships.......................................8 Terminology.............................................................................10 PRCA event descriptions, abbreviations.......................14 ProRodeoTV.............................................................................16 2018Wrangler Tour...............................................................17 History of rodeo; history of the PRCA............................18 PRCA Board of Directors and leadership.......................20 PRCA staff..................................................................................24 PRCA and livestock welfare ...............................................28 Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund..................................................31 ProRodeo Hall of Fame .......................................................34 Related associations and contacts..................................41 Miss Rodeo America.............................................................42 2017World Champions..............................43 ProRodeo Cowboys....................................53 Top 2017 cowboys by event..............................................54 Cowboy biographies............................................................62 ProRodeo Records and Statistics........... 225 PRCA annual statistics.......................................................226 Top 50 2017 PRCA rodeos................................................228 Champions at top 2017 rodeos.....................................229 Approved 2017 PRCA rodeos.........................................244 ProRodeo earnings records.............................................248 ProRodeo times and scores records.............................250 Past world champions by name, 1929-2017............253 Past world champions by event, 1929-2017 ...........258 Final world standings, 1937-2017.................................263 Wrangler NFR Records, History.............. 325 About theWrangler National Finals Rodeo..............326 Prize money and attendance stats...............................327 Wrangler NFR qualification stats..................................328 Wrangler NFR arena and round records.....................330 RAM Top Gun Award..........................................................332 Wrangler NFR average champions by event, 1959-2017..........................................................................333 Wrangler NFR average champions by name, 1959-2017..........................................................................338 Wrangler NFR personnel..................................................341 TopWrangler NFR bucking stock, 1959-2017..........347 2017Wrangler NFR livestock roster.............................349 2017Wrangler NFR results..............................................351 National Finals Steer Roping...........................................355 Wrangler Champions Challenge............ 359 Wrangler Champions Challenge stats, results.........360 Wrangler Champions Challenge winners..................361 Wrangler Champions Challenge teams, results .....367 Justin Boots Playoffs............................... 369 Justin Boots Playoffs/Championships records.........370 2017 Justin Boots Playoffs/Championships results......371 Playoffs, Championships, Finales champions..........373 All finale champions by name, 2000-17.....................376 Tour Finale personnel........................................................379 Wrangler Million Dollar Tour.................. 380 Champions at Tour rodeos, 2000-17..................................382

All American ProRodeo Series................ 405 All American ProRodeo Finals records..............................407 All American ProRodeo Finals champions 2008-17.......408 2017 All American ProRodeo Series standings........410 2017 All American ProRodeo Finals results...............412 All American ProRodeo Finals personnel...................421 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour.......................... 423 About the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour..............................424 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour records, career leaders......425 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour champions, by year............427 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour champions, by name.........430 2017 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour standings....................431 PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour results......................................432 Final Xtreme Bulls Tour standings, 2003-2017.........433 PRCA Xtreme Bulls personnel........................................435 Circuit Information and Records............ 437 The 12 RAM Circuits and contacts................................439 1987-2017 NCFR champions by year..........................440 1987-2017 NCFR champions by name.......................443 NCFR records........................................................................446 2017 and 2018 NCFR results...........................................448 NCFR and NCFSR contract personnel, 1987-2018..452 NCFSR records......................................................................455 2018 and 2017 NCFSR results.........................................456 Circuit system year-end title record-holders............457 Circuit system average title record-holders..............459 Year-end title record-holders by circuit......................460 Average title record-holders by circuit.......................466 Circuit year-end title and circuit finals rodeo champions, by name, 1975-2017..................................472 Circuit year-end title-holders by circuit and year, 1975-2017....................................................................521 Circuit finals rodeo champions by circuit and year, 1975-2017...............................................................541 ProRodeo Awards.................................... 559 2017 PendletonWhisky Stock of the Year.................560 Stock of the Year, 1956-2017...........................................561 Remuda Awards..................................................................565 AQHA/PRCA Horses of the Year, 2017.........................566 AQHA/PRCA Horses of the Year, 1989-2017..............569 PRCA Media Awards...........................................................572 Justin Committeeperson of the Year Award.............573 Rodeo Committee of the Year Awards........................574 Donita Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award...........576 Contract Personnel awards.............................................577 Linderman Award...............................................................579 Resistol Rookie of the Year Award................................580 Announcers.............................................. 587 2017 NFR and NFSR announcers...................................588 Announcer bios...................................................................590 Bullfighters, Clowns, Barrelmen. ........... 605 2017Wrangler NFR personnel.......................................606 Bullfighters, clowns, barrelmen bios...........................608 Specialty Acts.......................................... 627 2017Wrangler NFR specialty acts.................................628 Specialty act bios................................................................630 Stock Contractors.................................... 639 PRCA National Partners.......................... 653

3

2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

Media Guidelines

NOTE: The following guidelines govern media covering PRCA events, as well as those co-sponsored and approved by the association. All media must review these guidelines. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may, at the discretion of the PRCA and/or the respective rodeo committee, result in forfeiture of media credentials and an immediate escort from the premises, as well as refusal of accreditation for future events. Unless specified otherwise, journalists and media are general terms for print, electronic, television, Internet and photo journalists. General media guidelines and regulations • Credentials are distributed on an as-available basis to journalists of recognized news outlets who are on assignment to cover the event and/or the PRCA. Journalists must represent recognized daily or weekly newspapers; news services; recognized publications and outlets that regularly cover rodeo; recognized national/regional radio and television networks; local radio and television stations; and/or recognized Internet sites. In each case, this determination is at the sole discretion of the PRCA and the respective rodeo. • Accreditation badge must be worn at all times. • The PRCA retains all rights to the filming, taping, recording in any media now or hereafter known, still footage/ photography, radio or television broadcasting or reproduction in any manner or form thereof of any PRCA-sanctioned event. • Credential applications and approved credentials to cover individual PRCA rodeos are available through each individual rodeo. Media credentials should be requested well in advance of the rodeo • Security checkpoints and procedures have been implemented in the interest of safety for everyone. Accredited media are expected to cooperate with the procedures and requirements implemented for access to the media, photographer and broadcast areas. Media access will vary by rodeo, and the media rules of the respective rodeo must be followed. • Contestants may be available for interviews after they compete. • Many of the individuals staffing media areas are volunteers, and accredited media and broadcasters are expected to treat them with courtesy and respect. • Where provided (the Wrangler NFR, RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo and other major rodeos), the media workroom and other media areas are the workplaces for accredited media. To ensure a positive working environment for all, please avoid making excessive noise in working areas; do not leave belongings in the common work area overnight; and dispose of unwanted papers, etc., to assist in keeping the area neat. A media workroom is not a gathering place for staff and volunteers. • The media rooms at the PRCA’s premier events are nonsmoking areas. • Due to the limited number of general-use phones (if provided), accredited media should be aware of the needs of other journalists and limit phone usage to story filing and business-related calls. • Phones that have been ordered by individual media outlets are for the exclusive use of representatives from those media outlets. • Each individual is responsible for his/her personal property. The PRCA and/or the local rodeo committee are not responsible for thefts or damage to personal items. • Media access to contestant dressing and warm-up areas is regulated by the respective rodeo. Television, radio and Internet • The PRCA owns the rights to originate live, play-by-play coverage from the rodeo grounds, and in many instances, these rights may have been awarded to a broadcast or cable network and/or an Internet provider. Subject to limitations, local radio, television stations, networks and Internet providers who were not specifically granted those rights are nonetheless encouraged to cover PRCA events with the following limitations. • The only exception is coverage for local, regularly scheduled newscasts. Any nonlocal news outlets must first get approval from the national PRCA office and the local rodeo before they can shoot footage at any PRCA-sanctioned rodeo. • Some rodeo rounds are televised, and for those sessions, access may be limited.

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Media Guidelines

• Any TV/radio broadcaster/photographer who does not comply with the above regulations will, without warning, have his/her accreditation withdrawn for the remainder of the rodeo and may be banned by the PRCA from covering future events. • For local, regional and national TV news coverage, video of PRCA rodeos shall not exceed three minutes in length in the daily aggregate and must be part of a regularly scheduled newscast. Only prerecorded footage may be included in these reports. The outlet may not purport to show live play-by-play coverage from a rodeo unless approved in advance by the local rodeo and the PRCA. • Local credentialed TV outlets may broadcast live from the rodeo grounds, as long as the broadcast does not include footage from inside the arena (which is covered above). • The use of tripods is limited, based on available space. • Television cameras are not allowed on the arena floor, with the exception of the TV network covering the event. • The PRCA owns the rights to all recorded coverage of its rodeos, whether it airs on a national, regional and/or local network. Such television outlets will provide the PRCA with copies of their coverage upon request. • Radio and Internet (audio or video) coverage may not purport to be live play-by-play from the rodeo unless this capacity has been approved and arranged in advance with the • Only PRCA member photographers are granted a worldwide, nonexclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display and distribute images taken during PRCA-sanctioned events. No other photographer is allowed to shoot a PRCA-sanctioned event without written approval from the PRCA or the rodeo committee. • Only PRCA-member photographers are permitted to shoot from inside the arena or behind the chutes during PRCA events. An exception may be made for in-arena awards or presentations, if applicable and coordinated with the PRCA photographer and the rodeo committee before the rodeo performance. • Freelance and media photographers must shoot from designated areas and may not shoot from behind the bucking chutes (on the chute platform). Proper Western attire (long sleeve shirt with collar) is recommended. Cowboy hat is not required, but ball caps are not permitted. • Freelance and media photographers will not be approved to photograph a PRCA- sanctioned event without proof of assignment for a specific media outlet and without signing an agreement to limit usage of the images to the specified assignment. • News media are encouraged to obtain photographs/images from PRCA photographers where available. • All photographers who are not PRCA members must sign the PRCA license form agreeing that photographs may not be used, sold or reused in any other manner including, but not limited to, broadcast or streaming in any format (to include any websites) or for any other purpose without the prior written consent of the PRCA. Freelance and media photographers must not interfere with contestants or judges during the performance. The PRCA license agreement for media and freelance photographers is available through the rodeo committee or by calling PRCA Media at 719.528.4736. • Any secondary, noneditorial or commercial use of any picture/image, film or drawing of a PRCA-sanctioned event or competitor is prohibited without prior written consent of the PRCA and the contestant. • Commercial photography is prohibited unless prior written approval and the proper clearances have been obtained from the PRCA, rodeo committee, and contestant before the first rodeo performance. • Photographers who do not comply fully with the above regulations may, without warning, have their credentials withdrawn for the remainder of the rodeo and may be banned by the PRCA from photographing future events. local committee and the PRCA. General photography guidelines

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2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

About the PRCA

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the largest and oldest rodeo-sanctioning body in the world. The recognized leader in professional rodeo, the PRCA is committed to maintaining the highest standards in the industry in every area, from improving working conditions for contestants and monitoring livestock welfare to boosting entertainment value and promoting sponsors. The PRCA also proudly supports youth rodeo with educational camps and financial assistance to young standouts preparing to enter the professional ranks, as well as supporting allied organizations such as Tough Enough to Wear Pink, Miss Rodeo America, the American Quarter Horse Association and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Annually, the PRCA sanctions or co-sanctions about 600 top-of-the-line multiple-event rodeos on the continent, in 38-40 states and three countries: Canada, Mexico and Brazil. As a membership- driven organization, the PRCA works to ensure that every event it sanctions is managed with fairness and competence and that the livestock used is healthy and cared for to the highest standards. Here are some key facts about participants in ProRodeo and the PRCA: Fans. More than 43 million people identify themselves as fans of ProRodeo, and many of them attend PRCA-sanctioned rodeos around the country annually. According to the Sports Business Daily , rodeo is seventh in overall attendance for major sporting events, ahead of golf and tennis. Fans can follow professional rodeo all year long through the PRCA’s television coverage on ProRodeoTV.com, the Wrangler Network, the PRCA’s ProRodeo Sports News magazine and ProRodeo.com, as well as other rodeo-related media outlets. Competition. Unlike most other professional sports, where contestants are paid salaries regardless of how well they do at a particular competition, cowboys generally pay to enter each rodeo. If they place high enough to win money, they probably make a profit, but if they don’t, they’ve lost their entry fee and any travel expenses, so every entry is a gamble pitting the chance for loss and physical injury against the chance for financial windfall and athletic glory. Also,unlike most sanctioned professional sports, the hundreds of “playing fields” – rodeo arenas – of PRCA-sanctioned rodeos vary widely. The size, shape, perimeter of an arena, as well as the chute configuration and whether it’s indoors or outdoors, all significantly affect times for timed events and, to a lesser extent, scores for roughstock events. The differences are so significant that some timed-event cowboys own different horses for different types of arenas. For that reason, the fairest way to measure cowboys’ success in competition across the varied settings is by earnings. The total payout at PRCA rodeos in 2017 was $48,116,166. Cowboys. The PRCA’s membership includes nearly 5,000 cowboys (including permit holders), who comprise themajority of the association’s roster, as well as about 1,000 contract personnel (performers and workers). The largest membership segment includes a full range of contestants, from cowboys who compete in professional rodeo for a living, crisscrossing the country with their own horses or equipment, as well as to those who work at other jobs during the week and compete in nearby rodeos on the weekends. Read more about individual athletes in the ProRodeo Cowboys chapter of this book. Permit system. Cowboys who want to apply for membership in the PRCAmust first obtain a permit card and then earn at least $1,000 at PRCA-sanctioned rodeos; there is no time limit to “fill” the permit. Money won under a permit card counts toward circuit standings, but not toward world standings or rookie standings. (A rookie is a cowboy in his first year as a PRCA card-holding contestant.) World champions. “World champion” is the most coveted title in ProRodeo. The sport’s world champions are crowned at the conclusion of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, based on total season earnings at PRCA rodeos across the continent, including money earned at the NFR (see the next section of this chapter). The PRCA crowns eight world titlists; each receives a gold buckle and a specially crafted trophy saddle. The 2017 PRCA world champions had season earnings ranging from $265,417 to $436,479 (not counting sponsorships). Stock contractors. All PRCA rodeo events involve livestock, and the care of those animals falls to the stock contractors who buy or breed them, raise them, feed them, watch over them, provide medical care when necessary, and transport them safely between rodeos and their home pastures. PRCA stock contractors agree to follow more than 60 rules providing for the care and humane treatment of livestock – the toughest standards in the industry – and constantly look for ways to improve their husbandry, knowing that best practices produce top-performing livestock. Readmore in the PRCA and Livestock Welfare section of this chapter.

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

About the PRCA

Judges. There are at least two judges at every PRCA rodeo who have attended judging seminars and are trained to ensure that all results of competition and livestock welfare are followed. During the timed events, each judge has a different role; during the roughstock events, the judges are on opposite sides of the cowboy and animal, watching for the cowboy’s control of the ride and how well his timing is synced with the animal’s bucking motion, among other scored aspects of a ride that can be different on the two sides. Contract personnel. The noncontestant personnel working a rodeo include the bullfighters, who help bull riders escape from powerful rodeo bulls; the barrelmen, clowns and specialty acts, who entertain the crowds; pickup men, who help bareback and saddle bronc riders dismount, then prepare and assist bucking stock to leave the arena; announcers, who call the action; arena secretaries, who handle extensive administrative duties; and timers, who operate the clocks for the timed and roughstock events. Read more about some of these types of contract personnel in the Announcers, Clowns/Bullfighters/Barrelmen and Specialty Acts chapters of this book. Committees. Local rodeo committees organize the PRCA-sanctioned rodeos held across the continent. Most are run by dedicated groups of volunteers whomake the rodeos work frombehind the scenes, procuring local sponsors for events, awards and programs; setting up safe facilities; staffing various functions and making the contestants and attendees feel at home. Many PRCA rodeos are broadly involved in their communities in both service and fundraising areas. For a list of 2017 PRCA-sanctioned rodeos by state, see the Records and Statistics chapter of this Media Guide. Charities. PRCA-sanctioned rodeos annually raise more than $16 million for local and national charities, from college scholarships for local students to the Tough Enough toWear Pink campaign against breast cancer. Contact the PRCA Media Department at 719.528.4772 for more information. FanZone. The ProRodeo FanZone is the official membership programof the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Membership benefits include: free entry into the HOF; a PSN subscription; HOF event tickets; FanZone member-only belt buckles; exclusive contests and giveaways and a welcome package containing a variety of FanZonemerchandise and other exclusive items fromPRCA national sponsors. Learnmore at ProRodeoFanZone.com. Sponsors. The PRCA’s loyal national sponsors support all aspects of rodeo, from entire events like the NFR and RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo to the Montana Silversmiths gold buckles awarded to world champions each year. Read more in the PRCA National Partners chapter of this book. Sponsors also help defray the costs of producing rodeos and support contestants in their efforts to climb the ranks of ProRodeo. Demographics. The PRCA’s loyal rodeo attendees across the U.S. are about 47 percent male and 53 percent female; 51 percent have household income of $50,000 or more and 77 percent of rodeo TV viewers own their homes. ProRodeo fans come from all walks of life, but as a group, they are demographically similar to NASCAR fans, and are likely to also enjoy hunting, fishing and camping. ProRodeo.com. The PRCA maintains a website with the latest news stories, world standings, rodeo results, cowboy and livestock bios, and tons of other information. The PRCA also has a presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ProRodeoTV.com In 2017, the PRCA launched the subscription-based digital platform to allow subscribers to watch live and archived PRCA-sanctioned rodeos. ProRodeoTV livestreamed the 2017 NFR to more than 50 countries worldwide and will livestream the 2018 NFR, along with 13 broadcasts of the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour. Television. Along with ProRodeoTV, CBS Sports Network telecasts all 10 performances of the NFR each December. In 2018, the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour, Justin Tour Finale, RAM NCFR and the All American ProRodeo Finals will be telecast by CBS or livestreamed on ProRodeoTV or the Wrangler Network. Social Media Policy. Livestreaming of any kind, whether through such platforms as Facebook Live, Periscope, or any software sharing similar purposes, is prohibited. The PRCA is the sole distributor of any and all rodeo content, and violation will be subject to review and possible legal action. The PRCA has implemented a 90-second time limit on video content taken either by a contestant or a fan. The time limit is attached to a single rodeo performance, whether that be one video clip or multiple clips. Due to the advancements in social media video streaming, the PRCA must begin to enforce this bylaw now at our PRCA rodeos.

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2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

PRCA Tours, Series and Championships

Cowboys decide which tours and series they want to participate in, then plan their rodeo entries and travel routes accordingly. Earnings at nearly all PRCA rodeos count toward the PRCA World Standings, within certain limits per event, and the 15 top-earning PRCA cowboys in each event compete at the ultimate championship, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.

Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR). The NFR, the sport’s richest and most prestigious rodeo, showcases the world’s best contestants and stock. The 10-day championship, held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas every December, has enjoyed sold-out attendance for 30 years, and is televised live on CBS Sports Network and streamed live on ProRodeoTV (outside of the U.S.). In 2017, 168,952 fans cheered 120 of rodeo’s superstars at the 59th “Super Bowl of rodeo,” in which $10 million was paid to

contestants who won or placed in rounds or in the average – $10,000 each just for earning their way to Vegas. Cowboys earn their slots at the NFR based on their season earnings at most PRCA rodeos; the Top 15 earners in each event qualify for Las Vegas. Cowboys can count only a limited number of rodeos toward their NFR-qualifying earnings (bareback riding, 100; steer wrestling, 100; team roping, 75; saddle bronc riding, 100; tie-down roping, 100; bull riding, no limit), so experienced rodeo cowboys plan their competition seasons to maximize potential winnings and minimize travel expenses. Read more in the NFR chapter.

The Wrangler ProRodeo Tour. The new tour has 22 rodeos lined up for 2018 and is a points-based system for contestants who place in all go-rounds (including the long rounds, average and finals). Points will be distributed according to payoff placing. For example, if a round pays 12 places, then

first place will receive 120 points, with each subsequent placing reducing in point value by an increment of 10. Contestants will be ranked in the standings from highest accumulated points to least accumulated points. If there aren’t enough qualifiers, the remaining Tour points will not be awarded, except for bull riding, where the remaining points will be divided equally among the qualifiers. If there are no qualifiers, then no tour points will be awarded for that go/final/ average.

The Wrangler Tour Justin Finale. The 2018 Justin Finale will occur Sept. 6-9 in Puyallup, Wash. The Top 24 contestants (in each event) in the Tour Standings will qualify for competition; all fill positions will be taken from the next-highest individual in the standings. The Finale format will be a two go-round, back-to-back rodeo with a finals performance consisting of an eight-round and four-round. The winner in each event of the Finale will be considered the 2018 Wrangler ProRodeo Tour Champion.

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

PRCA Tours, Series and Championships

RAM Circuits. The PRCA divides the United States into 12 geographic areas or circuits. Cowboys compete for circuit points throughout the year by winning at rodeos within the circuit they choose at the beginning of a rodeo season. Top earners within each circuit compete at circuit finals, and those winners advance to the prestigious annual RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Fla. The RAM NCFR field includes world champions as well as top regional cowboys. Likewise, the top four

steer ropers from each of the six PRCA circuits that have steer roping circuit finals meet up at the National Circuit Finals Steer Roping in Torrington, Wyo., each year to determine the national circuit champion. The PRCA’s circuit system enables cowboys who are not full-time, widely traveling contestants to compete locally and regionally, yet have the chance to advance to those regional and national competitions. For the first time in 2017, the RAMNCFR included contestants from the Mexico Rodeo Federation, bringing international competition and adding over $8,000 to the prize money at the championship event. Read more in the Circuit Information and Records chapter.

AllAmericanProRodeoSeries. Themore than400PRCA-sanctioned rodeos that have less than $30,000 in added money are part of the All American ProRodeo Series presented by Pendleton Whisky. The series and its Finals are structured to encourage part-time cowboys – the majority of the PRCA’s membership – to enter more rodeos, and they provide more chances for emerging stars to win more money. The series’ eighth year, 2017, saw more than 67,000 contestant entries in All American ProRodeo Series rodeos,

and there were at least 30 contestants in every event qualified to win the All American ProRodeo Finals. The series concludes in October with a rich and prestigious championship event: the All American ProRodeo Finals in Waco, Texas, which in 2017 offered a $482,597 payoff. Read more in the All American ProRodeo Series chapter.

PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour. Some of the best bull riders in the world fight to stay aboard some of the rankest bulls in the world at every stop of the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour. The PRCA’s bull-riding-only tour debuted in 2003. In 2017, it included six Division I events, 37 Division II events and a September championship in Ellensburg, Wash. Money earned at regular PRCA rodeos and PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour events counts toward the PRCA

World Standings and qualification for the NFR, but only money won at PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour events can get cowboys into the Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale. Read more in the PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour chapter.

Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping. The Top 15 steer ropers in the PRCA based on PRCA World Standings at the end of the regular season head to their own national championship in November in Mulvane, Kan., which is a separate event from the NFR. Read more in the NFSR chapter.

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2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

Terminology

A-B Added money: rodeo is different from most other sports in that it’s pay-to-play: at most rodeos, every contestant pays an entry fee, and those entry fees are part of the prize money for that event. Added money (also called the committee purse) is what the local rodeo committee may put in for each event, which in the long run usually comes from sponsors Average: usually used to describe the aggregate score for a contestant who competed in more than one round, e.g., “He had times of 9.3 and 9.8 seconds in the two rounds and placed third in the average with 19.1 seconds on two head” Barrelman: an entertainer who, after a bull ride, uses a barrel to distract the bull and protect the cowboy Barrier: in timed events, a line at the front of the box that the contestant and his horse cannot cross until the steer or calf has a head start, usuallymarkedwith a rope and a flag so the timers can see it drop and start the clock Box: in a timed event, the area a horse and rider back into before they make a roping or steer wrestling run Breaking the barrier: in the timed events, if the roper or steer wrestler leaves the box too soon – failing to give the animal enough of a head start – he or she is assessed a 10-second penalty Bronc rein: a saddle bronc rider holds onto a bronc rein, a six-foot braided rope, at a specific position that he determines based on the size and bucking habits of the horse he’s about to ride; bronc riders often give each other advice about the best position for that handhold to allow the horse its best performance, e.g., “Give him 3½ fingers” Bulldogger: a steer wrestler Bullfighter: an athlete who protects the bull rider after he dismounts or is bucked off by distracting the bull and directing its attention to the exit gate, sometimes stepping between the bull and the bull rider C-D Calf roper: a tie-down roper Chute: a pen that holds an animal safely in position Covering: in the roughstock events, staying on for at least the minimum time, eight seconds: “He covered all three broncs he rode last weekend.” Crossfire penalty: in team roping, if the header doesn’t change the direction of the steer before the heeler catches, the run is disqualified Dally: in team roping, each roper, after throwing his loop, wraps the loose rope around his saddle horn – dallies – and the two ropers move their horses to face each other, pulling the ropes taut to stop the clock

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Terminology Daymoney: a portion of the roughstock (usually bull riding) contestants’entry fees that may be used as a separate per-performance payoff for a multi-performance rodeo; all bull riders who make a qualified ride during a paid performance are paid an equal share of the day money; if they also placed, they get prize money in addition to day money; if there are no qualified rides during a performance, the day money is added to the total payout for that event; day money counts toward the world standings Draw: each roughstock competitor who enters a PRCA rodeo is assigned a specific bucking horse or bull in a random draw conducted at PRCA headquarters three days before the rodeo; each timed-event contestant is assigned a calf or steer in a random draw on site, shortly before each performance of a rodeo begins Drop: in roughstock events, the way a bucking horse or bull may lower its front end suddenly while kicking out in back, creating a more difficult ride; in timed events, the way a calf or steer may lower its head to avoid a catch E-F Equal money: many PRCA rodeos offer equal money in the team roping event, meaning that the committee adds the same amount to the purse for headers and heelers as for other contestants (rather than adding the same amount as the other events, to be shared by the two-person team) Flags: judges in the arena drop flags to signal the timers to stop the clocks Flankman: a cowboy or cowgirl who works behind the bucking chutes, adjusting the flank strap around the animal before the ride; the best flankmen and women are familiar with each individual animal and know exactly how much flank to give that animal to encourage optimal bucking Flank strap: a soft sheepskin- or Neoprene-lined strap placed in the area where a human’s belt would go, it encourages the animal to kick out behind itself rather than rear up, providing a safer, showier ride G-H Go-round: many rodeos have more than one round of competition; each is called a go-round, and all cowboys entered in that rodeo compete in each go-round unless there is a semifinal, final or progressive round Gold Card member, life member: a 10-year, dues-paying member of the PRCA who has reached their 50 th birthday, or a 20-year dues-paying member of any age Ground money: if not enough contestants qualify for the number of places to be paid, the money that would have been awarded for the remaining places is divided evenly among those contestants who did qualify (have a score or time); that money is considered ground money; in the bull riding only, it counts toward standings Hazer: in steer wrestling, the cowboy who rides on the right side of the steer to make sure the steer runs straight Header/heeler: the two partners in team roping – the header throws the first rope, over the animal’s head or horns, and the heeler throws the second rope to catch both the steer’s hind legs; roping only one leg results in a five-second penalty

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2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

Terminology Hooey: the knot that a cowboy uses to finish tying the calf’s legs together in tie- down roping Hooking: a generic term for any contact a bull makes with his horns to a person, object or another animal Hung up: when a bull rider or bareback rider cannot remove his hand from the rope or handle before he dismounts or is thrown off the bull’s or horse’s back, his hand is “hung up”– a dangerous situation – and the pickupmen or bullfighters will move in to help dislodge his hand so he can get clear of the animal I-M Judges: as in other sports, trained PRCA judges ensure that all participants follow PRCA rules; they determine times for runs in the timed events and scores for rides in the roughstock events, record penalties for any infractions of the rules, and inspect the arena, chutes and livestock before each competition Left (or right) delivery: many bucking animals prefer to stand in the chute facing a particular direction, so they can leave the chute in the direction they prefer Mark out: in the bareback and saddle bronc riding, a cowboy’s feet must be above the point of the horse’s shoulders when the horse’s front feet hit the ground – if so, he “marked the horse out,” but if not, he “missed the horse out” and the ride is disqualified N-R Nodding: in the roughstock events, a cowboy nods when he is ready for the gateman to open the gate and the ride to begin; in the timed events, a cowboy nods when he is ready for the calf or steer to be released from the chute and get its head start Penalty: in timed events, common penalties include 10 seconds for breaking the barrier and, in team roping, five seconds for a one-hind-leg catch Permit holder: a PRCA contestant who has not yet won their first $1,000 at PRCA rodeos and successfully applied to become a card-holding member of the organization Pickup men: two mounted cowboys who help riders dismount, release a bucking horse’s soft flank strap, and escort bucking horses and bulls to the exit gate after a ride Piggin’ string: in rodeo’s tie-down roping and steer roping events, the small rope used to tie the animal’s legs together; in the pasture, this technique immobilizes the animal so it can be “doctored” Pigtail: a piece of string attached to the barrier that breaks if a timed-event contestant’s horse exits the box too soon, not giving the calf or steer enough of a head start according to PRCA rules; this is called “breaking the barrier” Rank: an adjective of praise and respect used to describe especially challenging roughstock

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Terminology Reride: if a cowboy’s score is affected by equipment failure or a horse or bull that doesn’t buck to performance specifications, the judges may offer the cowboy a clean-slate chance on a different horse or bull Riggin’: a suitcase-style handhold customized to a rider’s grip and attached to a molded piece of leather that is cinched, with a pad, around the horse’s girth Rookie: a cowboy in his first year of card-holding PRCA membership Ropes: the correct term is rope, not lasso, lariat or riata; most ropes used inProRodeo timed events are made of strong yet flexible braided materials such as nylon/poly blends, and a cowboy may change his rope selection depending on the weather and the cattle; bull ropes and bronc reins are often made of sisal or poly blends Roughstock: the bucking horses and bulls used in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding, usually bred and raised for the job S-Z Score: in roughstock events, the points awarded for the difficulty of the ride (bucking) and the cowboy’s skill in riding; in timed events, the length of the head start given to the calf or steer, which the judges calculate based on PRCA rules (each cowboy must calculate how much head start to allow the calf or steer to get before signaling his horse to leave the box; if he miscalculates, he will be out late and get a longer time, or will be out early and be penalized for breaking the barrier); when used to describe a timed-event horse (“That mare scores well”), it refers to the horse’s obedience in staying in the box until the cowboy signals it to start the pursuit Slack: excess entries at some rodeos may be scheduled for preliminary (slack) competition, usually before the rodeo opens to the public Spurs: the spurs used in PRCA rodeos have several dulled rowels that do not penetrate the animals’ skin, which is several times thicker than human skin; see the PRCA and LivestockWelfare chapter for more information Standings: a professional cowboy’s success is measured in earnings; cowboys may keep track of where they rank in yearly earnings in several sets of standings Stock contractors: the companies that bring livestock to the arena for rodeos – bucking horses and bulls for the roughstock events and steers and calves for the timed events Timed events: steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping and steer roping – events in which the contestant(s) who make the fastest qualified runs win Triple Crown winner: a multi-event cowboy who wins three world championships in the same year; the most recent cowboy to do so was Trevor Brazile in 2008 and 2010 Try: a noun used for both cowboys and livestock, denoting grit, determination, fitness, stamina and resilience: “Give that cowboy a hand – he had a lot of try.” Turn out: a cowboy may turn out of a rodeo if, for example, he has a scheduling conflict; this is different from“doctor-releasing”due to injury

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2018 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

Event descriptions

Bareback riding Bareback riding is one of the most physically demanding events in rodeo. A bareback rider sits directly on a bucking horse, with only his own “riggin’” to hang onto. As the horse comes out of the chute, the cowboy’s feet must be above the break of the horse’s shoulders. He holds his feet up at least through the horse’s first move, usually a jump, then spurs the horse on each jump, matching the horse’s rhythm and showing control rather than flopping around. He may not touch the horse, his equipment or himself with his free hand. If the ride lasts eight seconds, two judges award up to 25 points each for the cowboy’s “exposure” to the strength of the horse and his spurring technique and up to 25 points each for the horse’s bucking strength and moves. Steer wrestling Steer wrestling demands coordination between two mounted cowboys – the contestant and a hazer who controls the steer’s direction – and their horses. The cowboys back their horses into the box on each side of the steer. When the contestant nods, the chute gate opens and the steer gets a head start before the cowboys start to chase him. As the steer wrestler draws even, he dismounts from his horse, which is moving at perhaps 30 miles an hour. He grasps the steer’s horns and digs his boot heels into the dirt to slow down the 500- to 600-pound steer. Then he wrestles the steer onto its side; when all four legs point in the same direction, the clock stops. Times vary widely depending on the size of the arena. Team roping Team ropers work as partners: one header and one heeler who move in precise coordination. They and their horses start in the “box.”When the header nods, the chute gate opens and the steer gets a head start. The header throws the first loop, which must catch the steer’s head or horns, protected by a horn wrap. Then the header dallies – wraps his rope around his saddle horn – and moves his horse to pull the rope taut, changing the direction of the steer. That gives the heeler the opportunity to catch both of the steer’s hind legs with his own rope; most heelers try to time their throws to catch the legs when they are in the air. After the catch, the heeler also dallies, to stop the steer. When the ropes are taut and both horses face the steer, the time is recorded. Times vary widely depending on the size of the arena. Saddle bronc riding In rodeo’s classic event, the saddle bronc rider sits on a specialized saddle – it has no horn, and the stirrups are set forward. In the chute, the cowboy adjusts his grip on the rein and perhaps the horse’s position. When the gate opens, his boots must be above the breaks of the horse’s shoulders. After the horse’s first move, usually a jump, the cowboy begins spurring in long, smooth strokes, in sync with the horse’s jumps – legs straight when the bronc comes down, toward the back of the saddle at the top of the jump. His only handhold is a six-foot braided rope; his free hand may not touch his equipment, his body or the horse. If the ride lasts the required eight seconds, it is scored by two judges – one on each side – who assess difficulty and control. Each judge awards up to 25 points for the cowboy’s performance and up to 25 points for the animal’s performance, for a potential of 100 points. Tie-down roping To start this sprinting event, the tie-down roper and his horse back into the box; the cowboy carries a rope in one hand and a “piggin’ string” in his mouth. When the cowboy nods, the chute opens and the calf gets a head start. The cowboy throws a loop over its head; his horse stops and pulls the rope taut while the cowboy jumps off, dashes down the rope, lays the calf on the ground and uses the piggin’ string to tie any three of its legs together. Then he lifts his hands to show he is finished, and the field flag judge drops a flag to stop the clock. The horse is trained to keep the rope taut until the cowboy remounts and moves the horse toward the calf, giving the rope slack. If the calf’s legs stay tied correctly for six seconds, it’s a qualified run and the time stands.

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INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL INFORMATION