ProRodeo Sports News - February 9, 2018

Fort of Gold

Cowboys Find Riches in Fort Worth for $600K

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Rockin’ Rides Spills and Thrills in FortWorth,Texas CONTENTS FEB. 9, 2018 – VOLUME 66, NO. 3

22 Dusty Tuckness tries to pull bull rider Adam Rainwater away from a bull in Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 28. James Phifer photo

TEAMING UP New season finds team ropers pairing with new part- ners for rodeo success. 28

RODEO FAMILY Rodeo clown Robbie Hodges gives guided tour for a special reason. 32

MORE IN THIS ISSUE

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INSIDE

Chason Floyd pulled down his steer at Rodeo Rapid City (S.D.) in 3.7 seconds on Feb. 2 to take first place in the rodeo. The victory saw Floyd cash a check valued at $3,237. Mary Peters photo

6 in his own words 8 cowboy grille 12 he said, she said 14 brain teasers 18 short round 37 results 50 prca notes 51 prca business

RODEOS

22 Fort Worth, Texas 26 Rapid City, S.D.

STANDINGS

10 2018 PRCA world 42 all-american 44 circuits

THE COVER

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER George Taylor MEDIA DIRECTOR Justin Shaw PSN EDITOR Scott Kaniewski ART DIRECTOR Stephen Olver PHOTOGRAPHY COORDINATOR Bryan Oller CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sports News ProRodeo

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS (ISSN 0161-5815; USPS 469-620) is published semi-monthly by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, 101 Pro Rodeo Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80919- 4301. PERIODICALS postage paid at Colorado Springs, Colo., and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to ProRodeo Sports News , P.O. Box 469025, Escondido, CA 92046. Disclaimer: The ProRodeo Sports News carries advertising as a service to PRCA members and PSN readers. However, publication of advertisements in the PSN does not in any way, whether expressed or implied, commit the PSN to guarantee or warrant any of the merchan- dise or livestock advertised.

Fort of Gold

Cowboys Find Riches in FortWorth for $600K

PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS 101 ProRodeo Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80919 ©2018, PRCA Properties Inc., a marketing service and subsidiary of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information retrieval system, without permission in writing from PRCA Properties Inc.

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Bareback rider J.R. Vezain claimed his first average title at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas. James Phifer photo

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IN HIS OWNWORDS: COLT GORDON

YOUNG BRONC RIDER MAKING EARLY IMPRESSION Colt Gordon finished third in the 2017 Resistol Rookie Standings in saddle bronc riding after earning $22,754. If not for a leg injury in the summer which set him back about a month, Gordon might have finished higher. In Fort Worth, Texas, he placed second in the second round, tied for second in the finals and tied for second in the average. The big score moved him from 35th to sixth in the PRCA World Standings with $14,079 as of Feb. 5. He also qualified for the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, which will be in Kissimmee, Fla., April 5-8. The 20-year-old from Comanche, Okla., is full- time rodeoing this season and wouldn’t have it any other way. I was working at (barrel racer) Jane Melby’s house, riding colts for the Melbys. Her son, Colton, wanted to start riding broncs, too. We got some practice horses and built an arena. Shoot, we’d get on them three times a week until we figured it out. I didn’t care if I fell off or not, I was moving my feet one way or another. One day it just clicked and hasn’t slowed down. Last year, finishing third in the rookie standings was all right. 1/4 page color ad $457 (12mth b/w rate)

I got hurt in the middle of the year and didn’t get to rodeo like I wanted to. I tore some muscles in my left leg. It was midsummer, right around the Fourth of July. It set me back, I took some time off for it, missed about a month. I got some platelet injections at a facility in St. Louis. Going to the RAMPrairie Circuit Finals in Duncan, Okla., and winning the first two rounds there and getting a good start on this year was probably the highlight of my rookie season. It also helped me qualify for the RNCFR. I’m sure I’ll either be going (to Kissimmee) with family or I’ll talk to some guys around here and see where they are going to be coming from and catch a ride with them. I always try to make everything a little bit of a vacation. You’ve got to have fun when you’re going down the road. Next up on the rodeo trail are trips to Jackson, Miss., for the Dixie National Rodeo and Belton, Texas, for the Bell County PRCA Rodeo. Rodeoing is a blast. It doesn’t get better than rodeoing full time. You get to do what you love and party and have fun afterwards and hang out with all your buddies. You can’t beat it. PSN- Pro Rodeo Sports New March 2018

I haven’t been riding broncs near as long as most of these guys. I didn’t start until halfway through my junior year of high school. All I did before was team rope. My whole family ropes. I’ve got an uncle (10-time NFR qualifier Gary Ledford) who’s been to the Finals in the calf roping quite a few times. So, my whole family is big into the roping deal. I kind of got burned out on the team roping. I wasn’t liking it as much. I’ve got a bunch of buddies who ride broncs. I always wanted to do it and I finally hopped on one and said let’s go. The first time didn’t go very well. I got the crap smashed out of me in the chute. It really made me think if I wanted to be a bronc rider or not. I got on another one the next day. It went a little bit better, but not a whole lot better. Then, about halfway through my senior year of high school, I set down and was riding everything they would put underneath me, I just wasn’t spurring them.

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© 2017 Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO

GRILLE COWBOY

Bareback rider WYATT BLOOM is back in action after a series of injuries during his rookie year in 2017. The 24-year-old Oregonian-turned- Montanan competed on the Montana State University rodeo team from 2013-16 before kicking off his rookie year by winning six rodeos. Despite a broken wrist, dislocated kneecap, torn meniscus and other injuries, Bloomwon $55,019 as a rookie.

WITH MATT NABER PSN

You won a lot of money and some big rodeos your rookie year. What sticks out the most to you as the highlight? Wyatt: Well, being 90 was pretty cool – that was at theMcAlester (Okla.) ProRodeo on Hi Lo ProRodeo’sWilson Sanchez. That horse just loves his job and I love riding bucking horses, so it was pretty electric and a lot of fun. I didn’t want it to end. You were No. 2 in the race for the bareback riding rookie of the year award by $2,720. What’s your game plan for the 2018 season?

Wyatt: I had everything and then lost everything at the end last year, but I’ll just take advantage of every opportunity. I found out my wrist was broken last winter, and now they can’t fix it. So I have a long road ahead of me, but I’mexcited to figure it out. I don’t need surgery anymore onmy elbow – last year I brokemy elbow at Salt Lake City and tore the tendon, as well. I started tomake a comeback, but then dislocatedmy kneecap and toremymeniscus in Pendleton (Ore.). I won’t change a lot this year, but I will have some fun and enjoy it more. How did those injuries impact your riding? Wyatt: If they fix it (right wrist) now, my career is over – they would have to shave the bone off. It’s the little bone in your arm. I knew something was up when I’d shake someone’s hand or do a push-up. It just makes those bones pinch, so now I have a new set up in my rigging to help with that, but it makes my hand’s bones pinch when I ride. It doesn’t feel good, but I’ve been figuring out how to get around it. My rigging now twists the opposite way a little. … Instead of having my knuckles facing away fromme, they’re facing into me, but you can’t really tell. How did you overcome all these challenges? Wyatt: I had to change everything, so I could come back. I just love this sport toomuch to not come back. How did you get into rodeo? Wyatt: My family, my dad, that’s all they did growing up. It’s all we really knew. I was a team roper at first. Bareback riding looked like fun, so I picked it up for all- around points. Why do you compete in bareback riding? Wyatt: I just love the feeling of riding. When you’re on a bucking horse, it’s an indescribable feeling. You’re riding something that’s trying to buck you off and you’re just up there effortlessly. It’s a blast and puts a smile on your face. How would you describe your bronc riding style? Wyatt: I try to be super pliable. I can adjust on the fly for the situation. If one guy rides a horse and they ride a certain way, then I’ll try it out. Themore pliable you are, the easier it is on you. How did competing on the Montana State University rodeo team for four years help your ProRodeo career? Wyatt: It gaveme time to develop and it taught me patience. Which rodeo are you looking forward to the most this year? Wyatt: I’m just looking forward to riding bucking horses. But I didn’t get on in Cheyenne (Wyo.) – I had to go home – so I’m looking forward to Cheyenne. Are you picky about your hat’s shape? How do you maintain it? Wyatt: Yeah, as a bareback rider it’s tricky, but I trymy best. I fix the back up and try to take care of it – I like it when they get broken in, but I try to have it look normal. To fix the front, you have to fix the back first. What chore do you absolutely hate doing? Wyatt: I don’t have one that I really hate. Which chore do you actually enjoy doing? Wyatt: I guess up here inMontana, shoveling snow is an excuse to get a workout in and nobody else wants to do it. Who do you travel with and what’s the best part about it?

Wyatt: I’ll be going with JustinMcDaniel and J.R. Vezain. It’s not 100 percent set, but the best part is they are in the same circuit and they’re veterans who knowwhat they’re doing and they’re just positive people. I haven’t gone with themyet since I’ve been hurt, but I’m trying to get back into it since I’mnot having surgery. What’s your favorite song to listen to before a rodeo? Wyatt: “StompMe Out” (by Arc North &Bryce Fox) or “Sail” (by AWOLNATION). What movie do you never get tired of watching?

Wyatt: The first “Kingsman” movie. The second one is kind of crazy, too. What’s the most useful thing you bought with rodeo prize money? Wyatt: I bought a house withmy wife (Raegan). What was your first vehicle? Wyatt: A tan/goldish colored 2001 Cadillac Seville.

WYATT BLOOM

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Unofficial as of Feb. 8, 2018. For the 2018 season (Oct. 1, 2017-Sept. 30, 2018), official rodeo limits are as follows: all-around, 70; bareback riding, 100; steer wrestling, 100; team roping, 75; saddle bronc riding, 100; tie-down roping, 100; barrel racing, 100; and bull riding, no limit. Bull riders can count Xtreme Bulls events toward the PRCA World Standings, but not toward the all-around standings. 2018 PRCA WORLD STANDINGS

ALL-AROUND 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas....................... $23,401 2. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif.............................. 21,044 3. Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla........ 15,668 4. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas............................. 14,634 5. Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss............................... 13,769 6. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D..................................... 10,049 7. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah...................... 10,043 8. Chant DeForest, Wheatland, Calif..................... 9,340 9. Wesley Brunson, Terry, Miss............................ 7,847 BAREBACK RIDING 1. Jake Brown, Cleveland, Texas...................... $21,461 2. Bill Tutor, Huntsville, Texas............................ 19,911 3. Shane O’Connell, Rapid City, S.D................... 19,096 4. J.R. Vezain, Cowley, Wyo............................... 18,616 5. Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif...................... 18,181 6. Caleb Bennett, Tremonton, Utah..................... 17,107 7. Tim O’Connell, Zwingle, Iowa......................... 16,749 8. Blade Elliott, Centreville, Ala........................... 15,152 9. Ty Breuer, Mandan, N.D................................. 14,282 10. Luke Creasy, Hobbs, N.M............................... 12,947 11. Mason Clements, Springville, Utah................ 11,654 12. Kaycee Feild, Spanish Fork, Utah................... 10,888 13. Winn Ratliff, Leesville, La............................... 10,825 14. Jessy Davis, Power, Mont.............................. 10,472 15. Evan Jayne, Marseille, France ......................... 9,815 16. Clint Laye, Pocatello, Idaho.............................. 9,766 17. David Peebles, Redmond, Ore.......................... 8,901 18. Tanner Phipps, Dalton, Ga................................ 8,702 19. Grant Denny, Minden, Nev................................ 8,692 20. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn........................ 8,569 STEERWRESTLING 1. Tyler Pearson, Louisville, Miss..................... $27,440 2. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla........................... 22,168 3. Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La............................... 21,716 4. Curtis Cassidy, Donalda, Alberta.................... 19,081 5. Tanner Brunner, Ramona, Kan........................ 15,321 6. Cameron Morman, Glen Ullin, N.D................. 13,594 7. Rowdy Parrott, Mamou, La............................ 12,607 8. Chason Floyd, Buffalo, S.D............................. 12,317 9. Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas................... 11,990 10. Taz Olson, Prairie City, S.D............................. 11,967 11. Olin Hannum, Malad, Idaho............................ 11,938 12. Jason Thomas, Benton, Ark........................... 11,213 13. Billy Bugenig, Ferndale, Calif.......................... 11,148 14. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif.............................. 11,052 15. Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas...................... 10,709 16. Tom Lewis, Lehi, Utah.................................... 10,096 17. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala............................. 9,744 18. Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas.................... 9,396 19. Jace Melvin, Fort Pierce, S.D............................ 8,792 20. Cody Cabral, Hilo, Hawaii................................. 8,633 TEAM ROPING (HEADER) 1. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla...................... $30,326 2. Luke Brown, Rock Hill, S.C............................ 21,339 3. Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif.......................... 18,115 4. Jake Cooper, Monument, N.M........................ 15,292 5. Lane Ivy, Adrian, Texas................................... 14,236 6. Matt Sherwood, Pima, Ariz............................. 12,828 7. Spencer Mitchell, Orange Cove, Calif............. 11,210 8. Jake Orman, Prairie, Miss.............................. 10,949 9. Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla......................... 10,430 10. Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Fla........................ 9,224 11. Keven Daniel, Franklin, Tenn............................ 9,009 12. Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla.......... 8,959 13. Aaron Tsinigine, Tuba City, Ariz........................ 8,939 14. Steven Duby, Melba, Idaho............................... 8,770 15. Joshua Torres, Ocala, Fla................................. 8,753 16. Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss................................. 8,584 17. Logan Olson, Flandreau, S.D............................ 8,177

STEER ROPING 1. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas....................... $15,268 2. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas.............................. 8,367 3. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas............................... 8,026 4. Jarrett Blessing, Paradise, Texas...................... 7,043 5. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas.......................... 6,662 6. Brian Garr, Belle Fourche, S.D.......................... 6,546 7. Shay Good, Midland, Texas.............................. 5,952 8. Chris Glover, Keenesburg, Colo........................ 5,878 9. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas............. 5,630 10. Mike Chase, McAlester, Okla............................ 5,610 11. Corey Ross, Liberty Hill, Texas......................... 5,522 12. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas......................... 5,484 13. Tony Reina, Wharton, Texas............................. 5,468 14. Garrett Hale, Snyder, Texas.............................. 5,454 15. Dee Kyler Jr., Pawhuska, Okla.......................... 5,076 16. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan............................. 4,230 17. Trey Sheets, Cheyenne, Wyo............................ 4,025 18. Leo Campbell, Amarillo, Texas......................... 3,941 19. Kelton McMillen, Paden, Okla........................... 3,894 20. John E. Bland, Turkey, Texas............................ 3,810 BULL RIDING 1. Trevor Kastner, Roff, Okla............................ $34,701 2. Sage Kimzey, Strong City, Okla...................... 29,470 3. Clayton Sellars, Fruitland Park, Fla................. 25,400 4. Chase Dougherty, Canby, Ore......................... 21,834 5. Tristan Mize, Bryan, Texas.............................. 19,953 6. Lane Nobles, Gatesville, Texas....................... 19,535 7. Roscoe Jarboe, New Plymouth, Idaho............ 17,716 8. Joe Frost, Randlett, Utah................................ 16,244 9. Tyler Bingham, Honeyville, Utah..................... 15,341 10. Michael Riggs Jr., Claxton, Ga........................ 14,506 11. Elliot Jacoby, Fredericksburg, Texas............... 14,109 12. Parker Breding, Edgar, Mont.......................... 13,978 13. Brody Yeary, Brock, Texas.............................. 13,588 14. Eli Vastbinder, Athens, Texas.......................... 13,526 15. Jimy Marten, Donahue, Iowa.......................... 13,281 16. Bayle Worden, Cooper, Texas......................... 12,709 17. Ty Wallace, Collbran, Colo.............................. 11,794 18. Trey Benton III, Rock Island, Texas................ 10,737 19. Dustin Boquet, Bourg, La............................... 10,350 20. Jeff Askey, Athens, Texas............................... 10,082 *2018 BARREL RACING (Through Feb. 5, 2018) Barrel racing standings, provided by the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA), are unofficial, subject to audit and may change. Unofficial WPRA Standings are published by the PRCA as a courtesy. The PRCA is not responsible for the verification or updating of WPRA standings. 1. Taci Bettis, Round Top, Texas.........................$34,186 2. Kylie Weast, Comanche, Okla............................27,131 3. Kellie Collier, Hereford, Texas............................24,764 4. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas..............................23,042 5. Amberleigh Moore, Salem, Ore.........................19,189 6. Carley Richardson, Pampa, Texas.....................15,403 7. Tiana Schuster, Krum, Texas.............................15,084 8. Kelly Bruner, Millsap, Texas..............................15,069 9. Ericka Nelson, Century, Fla...............................12,277 10. Nikki Hansen, Dickinson, N.D..........................11,990 11. Cheyenne Kelly, Halltsville, Texas....................11,746 12. Christine Laughlin, Pueblo, Colo.....................11,721 13. Bobbi Grann, Sheyenne, N.D...........................11,351 14. Wendy Culberson, Okeechobee, Fla................11,151 15. Lacinda Rose, Willard, Mo. ............................11,008 16. Ashley Day, Volborg, Mont..............................10,156 17. Jennifer Barrett, Buhl, Idaho ............................9,932 18. Lori Todd, Willcox, Ariz.....................................9,857 19. Christina Mulford, Franklinville, N.J. ................9,840 20. Carmel Wright, Roy, Mont................................9,363

18. Dustin Bird, Cut Bank, Mont............................. 8,057 19. Shay Carroll, Hico, Texas................................. 7,742 20. Eric Fabian, Gansevoort, N.Y............................ 7,610 TEAM ROPING (HEELER) 1. Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo............................. $30,326 2. Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M. ........................... 22,577 3. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan............................ 21,339 4. Buddy Hawkins II, Columbus, Kan................. 16,263 5. Jason Duby, Klamath Falls, Ore...................... 14,993 6. Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas.............. 14,425 7. Walt Woodard, Stephenville, Texas................ 12,099 8. Kyle Lockett, Visalia, Calif.............................. 10,814 9. Reagan Ward, Edmond, Okla.......................... 10,430 10. Chase Tryan, Helena, Mont............................. 10,213 11. Kory Koontz, Stephenville, Texas...................... 9,224 12. Will Woodfin, Marshall, Texas.......................... 9,156 13. Matt Kasner, Cody, Neb.................................... 9,107 14. Brad Culpepper, Sylvester, Ga.......................... 9,009 15. Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla.............................. 8,753 16. Cody Pearson, Tucson, Ariz.............................. 7,742 17. Jake Smith, Broken Bow, Okla.......................... 7,660 18. Brady Norman, Springer, Okla.......................... 7,645 19. Jake Edwards, Fort Ann, N.Y............................ 7,610 20. Trace Porter, Leesville, La................................ 7,317 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jacobs Crawley, Boerne, Texas.................... $36,147 2. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo........................... 33,490 3. Sterling Crawley, Stephenville, Texas............. 18,718 4. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas....................... 18,100 5. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa........................ 14,594 6. Colt Gordon, Comanche, Okla........................ 14,079 7. Joey Sonnier, New Iberia, La.......................... 13,484 8. Leon Fountain, Socorro, N.M......................... 12,939 9. Taos Muncy, Corona, N.M.............................. 12,516 10. Jesse Wright, Milford, Utah........................... 12,498 11. Hardy Braden, Welch, Okla............................. 12,321 12. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta.................. 10,934 13. J.J. Elshere, Hereford, S.D............................. 10,892 14. Bradley Harter, Loranger, La........................... 10,431 15. Heith DeMoss, Heflin, La................................ 10,350 16. Chet Johnson, Douglas, Wyo......................... 10,225 17. Ty Manke, Hermosa, S.D................................ 10,017 18. Shade Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla......................... 9,898 19. CoBurn Bradshaw, Beaver, Utah....................... 9,159 20. Jesse Kruse, Great Falls, Mont......................... 8,846 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Marcos Costa, Childress, Texas.................... $35,118 2. Shane Hanchey, Sulphur, La........................... 33,498 3. Blane Cox, Cameron, Texas............................ 23,156 4. Riley Pruitt, Gering, Neb................................ 15,052 5. Jake Pratt, Ellensburg, Wash.......................... 14,881 6. Ryan Jarrett, Comanche, Okla........................ 14,728 7. Jesse Clark, Portales, N.M............................. 13,859 8. Cory Solomon, Prairie View, Texas................. 13,808 9. Marty Yates, Stephenville, Texas.................... 13,353 10. Clif Cooper, Decatur, Texas............................. 12,222 11. Cody Quaney, Cheney, Kan............................. 10,932 12. Scott Kormos, Teague, Texas......................... 10,833 13. Tyson Durfey, Weatherford, Texas.................. 10,647 14. Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla....................... 10,630 15. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif................................ 9,992 16. Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas............................ 9,829 17. Matt Shiozawa, Chubbuck, Idaho..................... 9,620 18. J.C. Malone, Plain City, Utah............................ 9,220 19. Braxton Laughlin, Sulphur, La.......................... 9,051 20. Cody Huber, Albia, Iowa................................... 8,533

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10QUESTIONS

HE SAID – SHE SAID Who knows bareback rider and Pueblo, Colo., native Casey Colletti better, his wife, Kacee, or his traveling partner, Seth Hardwick?

CASEY

WIFE KACEE

PARTNER SETH

KACEE

SETH

CASEY

WHO IS HIS FAVORITE BAREBACK HORSE TO DRAW?

Scarlet’s Web

Scarlet’s Web

Scarlet’s Web

WHAT HAS BEEN HIS BIGGEST CAREER RODEO WIN?

Cheyenne

Cheyenne

Cheyenne

WHAT’S HIS FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN PUEBLO

Mill Stop

Mill Stop

Mill Stop

WHAT’S HIS FAVORITE NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE?

Iced Tea

Iced Tea

Water

WHO WEARS THE PANTS IN THE FAMILY?

Kacee

Kacee

Casey

WHAT HAS BEEN HIS WORST INJURY?

Spinal cord

Spinal cord

Spinal cord

WHO IS A BETTER BASKETBALL PLAYER, HE OR KACEE?

Kacee

Me

Kacee

WHAT’S HIS FAVORITE TYPE OF SOCIAL MEDIA?

Facebook

Instagram

Facebook

WHO’S HIS FAVORITE MUSICAL ARTIST?

Taylor Swift

Aaron Watson

Aaron Watson

12 WHAT TV SHOW DOES HE LIKE TO BINGE WATCH?

The Curse of Oak Island

The Ranch

Gossip Girl

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The Offic i a l Spi r i t of ProRodeo

Each batch of oak-barrel aged whisky delivers an uncommonly smooth taste and rich, complex flavor.

©2016 Hood River Distillers, Inc., Hood River, OR USA. Pendleton Blended Canadian Whisky, 40% Alc./Vol. The Bucking Horse Logo and Let’er Buck are registered trademarks of the Pendleton Round-Up Association. PENDLETON is a registered trademark of Pendleton Woolen Mills. Stay in control.® www.PendletonWhisky.com

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BRAIN TEASERS

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

THEN & NOW Can you match these adorable future rodeo stars’ photos with the current PRCA contestants? Some don’t look quite the same.

5

1

3

2

4

E

B

C

D

A

WORD SEARCH San Antonio champs B J H V H V K A L E B D R I G G E R S A Q T N C Y Z N I R R E H R E T N U H Q J I N P W Y H M N B K T B S K O O R B E C A L L A W A T L R E X P A P S M H U O C R P E T T R H H L H E A L G S R E W Y Q X M R F O M C I B S O V G R V Q D A D I A F D G H Y J A S E P D F X N D N E V D L I L F I N N G Z N L U C A N T M O Q E L A P U E H I R B F I U I G U R O R D F J V L W D V Z M I A E B I E B O C B T E E M B O X S H D B R A O F X F L L N L N Y V F W J E T V O S S Z T I F O S E E R L R A O R M F G A J M N I D P Q E T F N N O E U L R N O S K C I R E Y T J M Y R X O V I A B C B I U C E E W H Q B E L A I X K S B N R O M R Y M N E H V L U O K O M T A O S M U N C Y A S T A P D U A T B M R O E I Q T B J A C C Z N J T H K E E A R U L J L I H V H T G E J I K B R S O G N U R E D X I Q P Y F Z U C A L N U J O J L O S F N M W U S C J H L Q R U E S O V J O Y K Z T K W V A P H M O A I L J P G N I R A P S M I T Y T G T N T D J C N G J J C T T K A A K C Y O G U A S L P T O V L I O R T C O E Y E H Y O C Q N S O B X T B T P L W Y K V L M R O P R I S M V L N V R D B

Find the cowboys in the puzzle at the left. Words may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal and/or backward. 1. Find the 2017 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo champions: AA-Josh Peek BB-Tyler Nelson SW-Ty Erickson TD: Hunter Herrin TR-Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira GB-Amberleigh Moore BR-Roscoe Jarboe SB-CoBurn Bradshaw SR-Scott Snedecor 2. Arena Record Holders, circa 2017

BB-Kaycee Feild 93 pts. SW-Tim Sparing 3.0 sec. SB-Taos Muncy 92 pts. GB-Sydni Blanchard 13.68 sec. BR-Ardie Maier 94 pts. SR-Trevor Brazile 9.1 sec. 3. Inaugural 1950 champions

BB-Wallace Brooks SW-Manuel Enos SB-Bill Linderman TD-Toots Mansfield BR-Bud Watson BONUS 1. What is the current venue of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo? 2. In 2014, Sage Kimzey won his first SASSR average title, but this bull rider managed the best ride of the rodeo with a score of 93 points.

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TIME CAPSULE

PRCA ProRodeo file photos

A round the time Fox Hastings ran away from home, somewhere between the age of 12 and 14, ProRo- deo Hall of Famer Bill Pickett was inventing the sport of steer wrestling. By 1924, the 26-year-old, California cowgirl became the first female bulldogger. Born Eloise Fox, in Galt, Calif., to Wesley Galveston Fox and Susie Agusta (Sawyer) Fox in 1898, Hastings ran away to begin her career riding bucking horses and trick riding with the Irwin Brother’s Wild West Show. By 1912, she was riding one of the fastest running trick riding horses at that time. At age 16, the cowgirl married rodeo cowboy Mike Hastings. Two years later, she placed third at the 1916 New York Stampede’s cowgirls bronc riding. Hastings kicked off her bulldogging at the 1924 Houston (Texas) Stock Show and was quoted as saying, “If I can just get my fanny out of the saddle and my feet planted, there’s not a steer that can last against me.” The “red-headed feminine daredevil of the arena” (as Foghorn Clancy described her) wasn’t bragging. The cowgirl proved her grit with a record-setting, 17-second run in 1924. Clancy, a rodeo announcer and publicity man, noted her as being, “a charismatic performer who could smile at the camera while lying in the mud, still clinging to the neck of a freshly thrown steer.” The same year she kicked off her bulldogging career, the Prince of Wales (Edward VIII) presented her with a Thoroughbred horse as a token of appreciation for getting to ride an American cowboy horse. Trailblazer Fox Hastings was first female bulldogger

To paint a picture of Hasting’s tenacity in the arena, Clancy recalled an instance at the 1916 Joe Bartles Roundup in Kansas City, where a horse fell on her during the cowgirl bronc riding competition. Clancy was certain she had broken her neck, but he lied to the crowd and assured them she was going to be fine. “Her limp form was rushed to the hospital,” he wrote in an October 1948 edition of Hoofs and Horns . Then, to Clancy’s surprise, “an open car sped into the arena, and there, sitting upon the top of the back seat was Fox Hastings waving to the crowd.” The 20-year-old cowgirl demanded a re-ride and won the competition. After receiving an ovation from the crowd, “she managed to get where the

same audience could not see her before she collapsed.” Hastings remarried in the 1940s to Chuck Wilson, shortly before both of their deaths. Now, 70 years after her death in 1948, she is remembered as one of the pioneers of professional rodeo.

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R OUND THE SHORT BY THE NUMBERS The amount of money steer wrestler Tyler Pearson combined to earn at the National Western Stock

Recognizing Volunteers

Show and Rodeo in Denver (Jan. 21) and the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas (Feb. 3). Pearson, the reigning steer wrestling world champion, moved up to first in the Feb. 5 PRCA World Standings with $27,440. The amount of money tie-down roper Shane Hanchey combined to earn at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver (Jan. 21) and the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth, Texas (Feb. 3). Hanchey, the 2013 PRCA world champion, moved up to second in the Feb. 5 PRCA World Standings with $33,498. The estimated number of visitors who attend the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo each year. The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is the 13-time PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year. The 2018 rodeo began Feb. 8 and concludes Feb. 25.

Justin Boots award program expands An army of volunteers are what make ProRodeo possible by offering their time, knowledge and skills. Now, more volunteers will be recognized for their hard work thanks to the John Justin Standard of the West Award program expanding from 100 recipients to 125. “It’s the equivalent of qualifying for the Finals or winning the world in the eyes of the volunteers,” said Tom Feller, director, event marketing Justin Brands Inc. Justin Boots created the John Justin Standard of the West Award program in the late 1980s to recognize the thousands of hours of work that rodeo committee members donate to putting on their rodeos. “Sponsors like Justin have been with the PRCA from nearly Day 1, and we get a lot of support from them,” said Jack Morris, rodeo chairman for the Buffalo Bill Rodeo in North Platte, Neb. “Typically, these are guys who spend more time volunteering for the rodeo than they might spend at their regular job,” Feller said. “It’s recognition for something that people take for granted; these rodeos don’t just happen. Some have fully paid staff when it comes to big stock shows, but for the most part it’s purely volunteer driven.” Each year, 100 PRCA rodeos are selected to participate in the

More pairs of Justin Boots will be handed out this year to honor volunteers who dedicate time to the sport of rodeo.

John Justin Standard of the West Award program, with each selecting an outstanding volunteer. Now, that number has grown to 125 rodeos. Each recipient is awarded a custom, embroidered pair of Justin Boots in recognition of their excellence. Then, each October, a ballot listing the recipients is sent to every PRCA rodeo committee to vote for the Justin PRCA Committeeman or woman of the year. “Rodeo wouldn’t exist without the volunteers, it’s impossible,” Feller said. “If you had to pay for all the services provided by volunteers, rodeo wouldn’t exist because you couldn’t add enough money to attract the cowboys and pay for the stock.” Morris expanded on that. “Most of the time, the committee folks are the ones that spend a year preparing for events, and a lot of work goes in behind the scenes with promoting professional rodeo and making our event the best it can be,” Morris said. “The fact that Justin Boots identifies that and recognizes folks is a testament to them in their promotion of ProRodeo.” Steven Money served as the rodeo director for the Spanish Fork (Utah) Fiesta Days Rodeo for 34 years and spent about 20 years picking the John Justin Committeeperson of the Year before retiring. Shortly after his retirement, the Utah cowboy was awarded the 2017 John Justin Committeeperson of the Year. “It’s a great honor to have, and I want to thank all my committees at Spanish Fork over all the years for the support they gave me,” Money said. “It’s not very hard to guide a ship when you have a crew like I have had in the past.” Money emphasized the importance of having major sponsors in rodeo, not just for the financial contributions but also for the “electricity in the air” that comes with having big sponsors supporting the sport. “When I received the award, it was one of the highlight awards of my life,” Money said. “The recognition I received down in Las Vegas was just unbelievable, and the ripple effect of it is coming to this day.”

ONLINE: For ProRodeo events and results, go online at www.prorodeo.com.

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A bull charges but can’t find a target as a cowboy seesaws his way above the arena grounds during a break in the action at Rodeo Rapid City Up and Away

(S.D.), Feb. 3.

Mary Peters photo

NHSRA adds membership in Mexico The National High School Rodeo Association expanded its membership into Mexico. After several months of communication with the Mexican Rodeo Federation, NHSRA Executive Director James Higginbotham and Guillermo “Memo” Herrera, president of the Mexican Rodeo Federation, signed an agree- ment to organize the Mexican High School Rodeo Association governed by the NHSRA. Mexico officially became a member Jan. 2. Herrera visited the 2018 NHSRA Mid-Winter Meeting to discuss rules, bylaws and events. Herrera will serve as the Mexico National Director. He said there are already youth levels of rodeo competition within the Mexican Rodeo Federation, “so we are going to implement and improve the system we have now.” In the first year, the Mexican High School Rodeo Association plans to offer five to seven events for the High School Division members and four to six events for the members in the Junior High Division and grow from there. “This is the best news for the MRF (Mexican Rodeo Federation) since signing on with the PRCA,” Herrera said. “I’m very glad to be part of this large youth association, it’s a great opportunity for the Mexican cowboys and cowgirls, as well as for the Federation to increase the number of memberships and increase the level of competition.” The vision of the Mexican High School Rodeo Association is to provide a good foundation for the youth and sport of rodeo. Herrera said, “I am sure the Mexican High School Rodeo Association is going to provide us with better contestants for the future of rodeo, contestants with more fair-play competi- tion, and with more respect and values to the sport.” Owner may have big plans for Mesquite According to a Feb. 2 report on nbcdfw.com, the historic PRCA Mesquite (Texas) Rodeo has a new owner with big plans for improvements to the venue and new development on the property around it.

The PRCA Mesquite Rodeo celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, according to Mesquite Mayor Stan Pickett. Pickett is more excited about the future plans of developer Mehrdad Moyadi. In October, Moyadi completed a $350 million renovation of the Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas. At the rodeo site west of Interstate 635 LBJ Freeway at Scyene Road, Pickett said Moyadi has a contract to purchase 50 acres of vacant land where apartments and new entertainment attractions are planned. At the rodeo arena, the developer plans to install a concrete floor that would make the venue more than just a rodeo arena. Dirt could be trucked in for the rodeo season. Work is underway at the arena. Economic boon from San Angelo rodeo The 86th San Angelo (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo officially kicked off with the arrival of livestock, the opening of commercial and creative arts exhib- its, midway food vendors, the carnival and the first rodeo performance Feb. 2. This is the fifth year the event will offer 12 rodeo performances spread over three weekends. The short-go finals will be at 7:30 p.m. (CT), Feb. 16. The annual stock show and rodeo is expected to pump more than $15 million into the local economy, according to a Jan. 28 article in the San Angelo Standard-Times . Poly Royal Rodeo at Spanos Stadium The 78th annual Poly Royal Rodeo will be at Alex G. Spanos Stadium on Cal Poly’s campus in San Luis Obispo, Calif., for the second consecutive year, the school announced Jan. 25. The 11,000-seat venue typically used for Cal Poly football and soccer games filled with more than 10,000 spectators for last year’s event – despite a rainout on the first night of competition. Last year, workers spread out 1,500 sheets of plywood and covered them in 2,000 cubic yards of dirt to convert the grass football field into a rodeo arena. This year’s rodeo will be April 13-14.

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SNAPSHOT

A team of horses pulls the wagon around the Barnett Arena at Rodeo Rapid City (S.D.), Feb. 3. Mary Peters photo

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SOUTHWESTERN EXPO & LIVESTOCK SHOW

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Gateway to Victory

ort Worth, Texas, the site of one of the winter’s biggest rodeos, made the trip well worth it to some deserving cowboys from Jan. 19-Feb. 3. COVERAGE PAGES 24-25 F

Saddle bronc rider Cole Elshere pops out of the chute aboard Pickett

Pro Rodeo’s Faded Away.

James Phifer photo

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SOUTHWESTERN EXPO & LIVESTOCK SHOW

Dynamic Duo Veterans Sherwood/Woodard win at Fort Worth, eye WNFR BY TRACY RENCK C hasing world championship dreams aren’t at the front of the minds of team ropers Matt Sherwood andWalt Woodard. They’ve been there and done that. Sherwood, a team roping header, won titles in 2006 and 2008, andWoodard captured coveted gold buckles in 1981 and 2007. On Feb. 3, they teamed to take home the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show championship in Fort Worth, Texas. Sherwood teamed with Randon Adams to claim his second world title. Woodard and header Doyle Gellerman shared the 1981 team roping world champion title with $48,818 each. In 2007, at 52, Woodard, while roping with header Clay Tryan, won the 2007 PRCA team roping heeling world championship. He set a record for longest span between gold buckles at 26 years. Sherwood andWoodard reunited in April 2017 with success. Sherwood finished 17th in the world standings, Woodard 21st. “Neither one of us were ready to retire, and neither one of us had a good partner we liked,” said Sherwood, 48. “We had success before, so we talked again, and it was a good time to get back together.” Woodard, 62, was excited to get the call from his former partner. “I love roping with the guy,” Woodard said. “He’s a stand-up guy and a great family man, and he’s a pleasure to be around. He has a great work ethic and great attitude.”

“This is such a great rodeo,” Sherwood said. “We drew three really good steers, and it was really nice to go in there in the short-go and make a good run and win it.” When Sherwood won his inaugural world championship, he and Woodard roped together, withWoodard finishing second to Allen Bach.

PAIR CREATES SOME OLD MAGIC Sherwood andWoodard took home the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show average title with a time of 15.6 seconds on three head. “This is a huge winter rodeo, and it gives us a chance to get caught up in

TOPS AT FORT WORTH — Jan. 19-Feb. 3

BAREBACK RIDING 1. J.R. Vezain .............. 338.5 pts. on four 2. Mason Clements ............................ 338 3. Ty Breuer ....................................... 333 4. Two tied at ..................................... 332

STEER WRESTLING 1. Tyler Pearson .......... 12.4 sec. on three 2. Tanner Brunner ............................. 13.0 3. Joshua Clark ................................. 13.5 4. Cody Cabral .................................. 13.7

TEAM ROPING 1. Sherwood/Woodard ..15.6 sec. on three 2. L. Brown/J. Long .......................... 16.0 3. J. Cooper/L. Medlin ...................... 16.3 4. Two tied at .................................... 16.5

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jacobs Crawley ..... 247.5 pts. on three 2. (tie) Brody Cress ........................... 247 Colt Gordon ................................... 247 4. Rusty Wright .............................. 246.5

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the standings,” Sherwood said. “There are a lot of good winter rodeos left. This was a great shot in the arm for us.” Woodard concurred with his partner. “These are the best guys in the world you are going up against, and to win a major event you have to have some things go your way and we did,” saidWoodard about his first career Fort Worth win. “Fort Worth is an hour from our home in Stephenville, and the history of that rodeo makes it such an honor to win it.” This was Sherwood’s second career victory at the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. He also took home the title in 2008 with Adams. Sherwood andWoodard each earned $8,909 in Fort Worth. The performance rocketed Sherwood up to sixth in the Feb. 5 PRCA world standings with $12,828. Woodard moved up to seventh with $12,099. “I feel healthy and heading is so competitive,” Sherwood said. “There are so many young guys who are good, and you have to be so aggressive, yet consistent. I still enjoy the competition. What is harder for me now than it ever has been is the work that it takes to stay here. I’ve got quite a few things going on at home, so to make time and go out every day and rope the dummy and work horses is more difficult now than it has ever been.” Woodard has qualified for the National Finals Rodeo 20 times (1976-90, 1993, 2006-08, 2011), but he acknowledged he must do things differently to compete at today’s highest level. “I went to a lighter rope and a little bit softer rope to help my swing speed, and that really helped,” Woodard said. If Woodard does qualify for the 2018Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, he would be 63, which would make him the second-oldest team roper to compete at the NFR. Carl Arnold qualified as a team header in 1962 at the age of 64. “Doing it now against guys who are 22 years old and super-fast is very tough, but that’s the goal,” Woodard said. “We want to try and rope for a world championship this year and Fort Worth is a step in the right direction.” Sherwood is a five-time qualifier for the WNFR (2006, 2008, 2011, 2015-16). “I’m just having a good time right now,” he said. “To me, I don’t focus on the gold buckle. I do this because I enjoy it. My goals are simpler and shorter. I try to score good and rope every steer the very best I can. If I can do that, by the end of the year we will be real successful.” Sherwood is riding a mare he trained, Murphy, 13. She is a sister to Nick, the horse Sherwood rode from 2005-15. “I actually sold Murphy to Riley Minor in 2014 and I just bought her back in April of last year,” Sherwood said. “It took me a little while to get back on the same page with her, but the last couple of months last year we were going good. And so far, this year, she has worked very good.” HORSEPOWER IS KEY

When Sherwood isn’t rodeoing, he’s at home in Pima, Ariz., with his wife of 25 years, Kim. They have seven children –Megan, 24; Cody, 23; Logan, 20; Jessica, 17; Porter, 16; and twin girls Aubrie and Ashlie, 13. He has one grandson, Houston, 1. “I have things going on at home and my kids are playing sports and I go down to the gym with them and do stuff, and there are just a million things always going on around here,” Sherwood said. Woodard said he would love to qualify on the horse he’s riding, Blue Berry, 10. “My son (Travis) and I trained that horse, we halter broke him, we did everything,” Walt said. “I won the world in 1981 on a horse called Tacky, and then I won the world in 2007 on Dudley. Both of those were great horses, but I think (Blue Berry) is better than those horses. This horse never makes a mistake. Secretly, after I won the championship at 52 years old, I wanted to see if I could do it when I was in my 60s and I wanted to do it on a horse we broke.” Travis, a team roping heeler, has made one WNFR appearance in 2015, finishing 14th in the standings with $99,519. Walt and Travis keep busy at home in Stephenville by putting on roping schools. “We have the Woodard Training Center, where we teach people how to rope, and Travis trains horses out of here, as well,” Walt said. “I work here a lot (at the Woodard Training Center) and that helps keep me strong. I’m an arena rat. I practice all the time and that keeps me sharp.”

World champion

team ropers, header Matt Sherwood, right, and heeler Walt Woodard, turned back the clock to win the South- western Exposition and Livestock Show champ- ionship in Fort Worth, Texas, with a time of 15.6 seconds in the three- head average. James Phifer photo

Bull rider Trevor Kastner won the three-head average with a 251.5-point score. It was Kastner’s second career Fort Worth win, his first coming in 2010. Kastner left town after earning $12,655. James Phifer photo

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shane Hanchey ....... 27.3 sec. on three 2. Clif Cooper .................................... 27.9 3. J.C. Malone .................................. 28.4 4. Blane Cox ..................................... 28.5

BARREL RACING 1. Amberleigh Moore.. 49.32 sec. on three 2. Haley Kinsel ................................ 49.33 3. Kylie Weast ................................. 49.43 4. Carman Pozzobon ...................... 49.51

BULL RIDING 1. Trevor Kastner ....... 251.5 pts. on three 2. Tyler Bingham ............................ 248.5 3. Colby Hill ....................................... 231 4. Elliot Jacoby ...................... 171 on two

Complete results on Page 37

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