ProRodeo Sports News - June 15, 2018

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FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO Flagstaff,Ariz. June 28-30 flagstaffrodeo.com Held amid the tall ponderosa pines at the Coconino County Fort Tuthill grandstands, the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo enters its fifth year. “Our near-perfect mountain temps help set the stage for a cool summer night under the stars and arena lights,” board president Kristen Daulton said. Bareback rider Clayton Biglow, who finished fifth in the world standings last year, won the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo and took home nearly $2,000. Over the rodeo’s first four years, there already has been plenty of growth. With a stadium capacity of 3,000, the rodeo usually gets about 7,500 fans over the three days of performances. Saturday night’s perf is the most popular and busiest, Daulton said, adding that the arena dirt dance featuring Briana Payne immediately follows that night’s performance. The rodeo also features mounted shooting between events and will add shooters running a team pony express race while shooting at targets this year. Each night includes a flyover by the Guardian Air Helicopters during Emily Johnson’s portrayal of the National Anthem. “We try to mix up our entertainment each year to keep rodeo fans on the edge of their seats night after night,” Daulton said. The Flagstaff Pro Rodeo makes it a point to put on their best rodeo to keep fans and contestants coming back. “Our board and committee members are passionate about the success of our rodeo and all that we do,” Daulton said. “We work hard to be professional, preserve Western heritage, give back to the community and make it our goal to have the highest hospitality for everyone attending – contestants, stock contractor crew, judges and rodeo fans.” The Home of Champions Rodeo derived its name from favorite son and ProRodeo Hall of Famer Bill Linderman, the six-time world champion and former PRCA president who was from Red Lodge. Beth Boggio, director of the Home of Champions Rodeo and a member of the committee for more than a quarter of a century, was happy to talk about how crucial the rodeo is to Red Lodge. “We are the founding fathers of rodeo,” Boggio said. Red Lodge also is the home of 1993World Champion Bareback Rider Deb Greenough, whose grandfather, Turk, is a legend, along with sisters Alice and Mary Greenough. Deb Greenough will be inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame this summer and will be honored at the 2018 Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo, which is the 89th annual edition. “The rodeo is very important to the community, and it is the kickoff for our summer events and it brings thousands of people for our parades and rodeo,” Boggio said. “We have a beautiful setting. We are at the base of the Beartooth Mountains. The cowboys love to come here. You have your three gateway rodeos to the NFR right here during Cowboy Christmas, which are Cody (Wyo.), Red Lodge and Livingston (Mont.).” The population swells from about 3,000 to 10,000 during the rodeo. “It is a huge economic boost to our community and our businesses,” Boggio said. “Tourism is one of the major industries in Red Lodge, and it (the rodeo) lends pride to the history of rodeo inMontana and especially in the Red Lodge area.” RED LODGE HOME OF CHAMPIONS RODEO Red Lodge, Mont. July 2-4 redlodgerodeo.com

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ProRodeo Sports News 6/15/2018

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