ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

WRANGLER NFR NEWS & NOTES

AWARD-WINNING HORSE MEDICINE WOMAN PASSES AWAY The rodeo world has lost one of its best saddle bronc horses – Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman. She was 19. Medicine Woman was the four-time PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year (2011, 2014-16) and the two-time saddle bronc horse of the National Finals Rodeo (2010 and 2015). She retired last year after competing at the 2020Wrangler NFR at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Only ProRodeo Hall of Famer Descent of Beutler Brothers and Cervi has won more saddle bronc horse of year honors than Medicine Woman. Descent won the honor six times from 1966-69, 1971-72. “She was part of the foundation that kicked us off about 18 years ago,” said Jerry Nelson, the owner of Frontier Rodeo. “She went to heaven to buck at the NFR. We feed in the evenings and early in the mornings and sometime between feeding last night and 6 o’clock this morning (Dec. 9) she passed away in Freedom, Okla.” Medicine Woman was a ranch-raised mare out of Big Medicine (sire) & Showtime (dam). Frontier Rodeo has won PRCA’s Stock Contractor of the Year seven years in row – 2015-2021. “Medicine Woman was like one of the family,” Nelson said. “She was just a special horse. She was easy to get along with and she was gentle. She will be buried on the Frontier Rodeo ranch in Freedom (Okla.). We are going to have a headstone made.” Medicine Woman was selected to the Wrangler NFR 12 times. Her first trip was in 2009 in the bareback riding, she made her debut in the saddle bronc riding in 2010 and never looked back. She was selected in saddle bronc riding from 2010-2020. “We bucked last year, and we didn’t have to retire her, but she didn’t owe us anything anymore,” Nelson said.

During the style show rodeo clown/barrelman Robbie Hodges started things off entertaining the crowd. That was followed by a fashion show displaying western lifestyle clothes. “NFR wives, barrel racers and breakaway ropers participated in the fashion show,” Custer said. “We use first-time NFR wives, that’s kind of our criteria. It was a great time. The Gaughans always make sure we have a fantastic lunch. We are now moving for to the 2022 style show and luncheon. Tracy and I have been involved with this for more than 30 years, raising money for the JCCF and we will as long as we are able.” BUBBA GREIG TOPS PERMIT STANDINGS A trip to Las Vegas during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is every young cowboy’s dream, whether they’re competing or not. In Bubba Greig’s case he had the opportunity to take in the experience all at once and found success while doing it. The Estherville, Iowa, bull rider competed in the 2021 Permit Members of the Year Challenge at the South Point Hotel &Casino, Dec. 2. Greig led the bull riding permit standings all season and capped off the season with an average title in Vegas. He finished with 88 points on one head, on the year he earned $34,446 while competing on his permit. “It went really well I thought,” said Greig, 21. “I led the standings all year, so I really had a big goal to come in there and win the permit challenge and get that buckle. I only got one of my bulls rode, but he was really good. It was enough to take home first.” He says the experienced he gained while competing in Las Vegas is something he’ll carry with him for the rest of his career. “It’s pretty cool getting to go out there during the NFR and have that permit challenge,” Greig said. “The challenge gives you a taste of riding in Vegas for something that counts.” Greig purchased his PRCA rookie card in October. He’ll look to follow in the footsteps of the 2021 Resistol Rookie Bull Rider of the Year Creek Young. Young qualified for his first NFR in 2021 and finished 5th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “I’m ready to make that first push and try to make it to the Finals,” Greig said. “I know Creek (Young) pretty well from growing up. So, to see him buy his rookie card and then make the NFR and have the success that he did is really cool. It really proves that it’s doable.” CARR BUYS HI LO PRO RODEO’S NFR HORSES In Las Vegas, stock contractor Pete Carr made news by purchasing all 10 of Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s horses competing at the 2021 Wrangler NFR. Carr bought Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s five bareback horses, Midnight Kid, Wilson Sanchez, High Heels, Pretty Woman and Redzilla – as well as Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s five saddle bronc horses, Palindrome, Border Town, Larry Culpepper, Billie and Toma Jo. “I bought their whole deal (of horses) and then wired them the money during the NFR,” Carr said. “Their guy who drives their truck loaded them up (Dec. 12) and took them to our ranch in Moscow, Texas and six of these 10 horses that I bought fromHi Lo are mares. “If you noticed at the Finals, I have horses that have been there 17 years, they get some age on them. We have some of the greatest young bucking horses coming, but sometimes you need a bridge. I just wanted to make sure we still keep our numbers (at the NFR). We took 15 this year and if we can get back to that 25 number, I think a couple of years ago I had 27. We pride ourselves in having great animals and that’s what our company is built around. We have had a lot of success with our breeding program and buying great animals like this from other people.”

Study for Windows to the West triptych, c. 1990. Wilson Hurley. Wilson Hurley Papers. Dickinson Research Center. RC2010.008.

NOVEMBER 12 - 13, 2021

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Presented By Dellora A. & Lester J. Norris Foundation

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

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