ProRodeo Sports News - March 15, 2024
An official publication of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
Rock On! Riley Webb & cowboys roll through lucrative winter run
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AND THE LEGEND CONTINUES. 8X WORLD CHAMPION.
Congratulations, Stetson Wright, on adding another chapter to an amazing story.
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CONTENTS
MARCH 15, 2024 VOLUME 72, NO. 6
Devastating Fire PRCA saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper calls Miami, Texas, home. The community took a direct hit in late February from the largest wildfire in Texas history. Casper shares his story of the moments the fire approached his ranch. 34
Wyatt Casper looks outside his pickup window toward the Smokehouse Creek Fire as he hauls his stock to safety on Feb. 27. Photo courtesy Wyatt Casper
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INSIDE
6 Manager’s Message 8 Grille 14 Social Media 18 World Standings 20 Short Round
RODEOS
32 Andrews, Texas
COVER
Rock On! Riley Webb & cowboys roll through the lucrative winter run
Robert Rosales photo 2024 M.M. Fisher Jr. Memorial, left to right, Dan Fisher, wife, Pam; Sarah Fisher, and husband J. Tom, and son, Jack; winner Doug Pharr; Vin Fisher Jr., wife, Candace, and their son, Jett. Jett, 17, won the Pro-Am team roping between Rounds 1 and 2 with Tyrel Taton. Giving Back to the Community All the proceeds from the M.M. Fisher Jr. Memorial Steer Roping go toward a scholarship that is awarded to deserving graduating Andrews (Texas) High School students. 32
RODEOS
Riley Webb celebrates with a guitar in hand after winning Super Series 2 of RodeoHouston. As of March 13, the reigning world champ sits third in the PRCA | RAM World Standings.
ProRodeo Sports News PRCA CEO Tom Glause MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA
PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS (ISSN 0161-5815; USPS 469-620) is published semimonthly 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. Subscription rate: $45 for one year, 12 issues. 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 merchandise or livestock advertised.
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Tracy Renck PSN EDITOR & DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Tanner Barth PRCA ART DIRECTOR Stephen Olver SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Jessica Butterly
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MANAGER’S MESSAGE TRACY RENCK
Tracy Renck is the Manager of Communications and Media. He previously served three years as the editor of the ProRodeo Sports News, and before that he spent seven years as a media coordinator at the PRCA. He has three decades of experience in sports journalism with the last decade consumed by ProRodeo.
Dan Hubbell photo Saddle bronc riding superstars, left to right, Billy Etbauer, Butch Small, Brad Gjermundson, and Dan Mortensen share a light moment before competing at a rodeo back in 1994.
Looking back on a priceless photo from 1994 T he expression is a picture is worth 1,000 words. The photo above may not be 1,000 words, but this photo from 1994 is definitely cool. It was 30 years ago, saddle bronc riding stars Billy Etbauer, Butch Small, Brad Gjermundson, and Dan Mortensen took a moment to pose for photographer Dan Hubbell. Digest these numbers for a moment – combined the foursome won 15 saddle bronc riding world championships and one all-around title from 1981-2004. They qualified for the NFR a combined 59 times. Etbauer, Mortensen and Gjermundson are all in the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Etbauer is the gold standard of saddle bronc riding, qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo an event record – 21 times (1989-2009) and winning an event record 51 rounds at the NFR, third all-time behind Trevor Brazile (74) and Cody Ohl (55). He also captured five PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Championships in 1992, 1996, 1999-2000, and 2004. Then, there’s Mortensen on the far right – all he did in his decorated career is win seven world titles – 1993-95, 1997, 1998, 2003 in saddle bronc and one also in all-around in 1997. Mortensen qualified for the NFR 16 times – 1990, 1992-2006. Mortensen also won 24 rounds at the NFR – second in the saddle bronc record book. It should come as no surprise that Etbauer (1992, 1999 and 2005) and Mortensen (1998) along with Ryder Wright (2016, 2020) share the mark at five for most round wins in one year at the NFR. Gjermundson, meanwhile, won four saddle bronc riding world championships 1981, 1983-85. He qualified nine times – 1981-88 and 1994. Small was no slouch either, qualifying 13 times for the NFR from 1982-94 in saddle bronc riding and finishing a career-best fourth in the world in 1982 and 1987.
There’s no question athletes in the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball have four players who have accomplished feats like Etbauer, Mortensen, Gjermundson and Small. However, having all those legends pose for a photo before competing is rare. That’s what makes finding this photo in the archives so priceless. As good as the saddle bronc riders going right now are it is hard to imagine a foursome putting up the incredible numbers of Etbauer, Mortensen, Gjermundson and Small. Of the saddle bronc riders today – the safest bets to make the ProRodeo Hall of Fame are Zeke Thurtson, he’s won four world championships (2016, 2019 and 2022-23) and of course Stetson Wright. Wright has only one saddle bronc title in 2021, but he has five all-around world championships (2019-23) and two bull riding titles (2020, 2022) to his name. Ryder Wright, a world champion in 2017 and 2020 also is in the Hall of Fame conversation. These numbers all can get dizzying, but the bottom line is this deep dive will make you appreciate the amazing careers of Etbauer, Mortensen, Gjermundson and Small even more.
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COWBOY GRILLE WITH TANNER BARTH
Wacey Schalla, 18, has his first season of ProRodeo headed in the right direction after a strong start to 2024. Schalla competes in both the bareback riding and bull riding. His biggest payday so far this season came at the Homestead (Fla.) Championship Rodeo. He earned $3,924 for his 91.5-point ride on Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Prove It. The Arapaho, Okla., cowboy currently leads the Resistol Rookie of the Year race in the all-around with $19,636.
WACEY SCHALLA
How’d you get your start in rodeo? Wacey: My dad rode bucking horses and bulls. I guess you could say I was born into it. My dad’s biggest win was when he won Cheyenne (Wyo.) in the bronc riding. So, I saw that when I was little and knew it was something I always wanted to do. When did you know you could make a career out of the sport of rodeo? Wacey: My freshman year I went to National High School Finals Rodeo in the bull riding and did pretty good. Then my junior year, I won the bull riding and the all-around title and finished third in the bareback riding. At that point, I knew it was something I wanted to try and make a career of. Why did you decide bareback riding and bull riding would be your events? Wacey: Bull riding has always been my main event, but I guess the bareback riding just kind of clicked for me. I didn’t really take bareback serious until probably my junior year of high school. I think doing both events gives me a good shot in the all-around. Who’s someone you look up to in the sport of rodeo? Wacey: Cody Custer and my dad have helped me out so much along the way. As far as present times go, Stetson (Wright) and Ky (Hamilton) have been really good to me and helped me out a lot. So, I definitely look up to those three guys and my dad for sure. What’s one rodeo you want to win before your career is over?
Wacey: Obviously having a gold buckle someday would be awesome, but I want to win Cheyenne and have the same buckle as my dad. That’s one of my main goals. What are you hoping to learn during your Resistol Rookie season? Wacey: There’s a lot out there that I’m going to learn, I’m sure. But I’m just going to go out there and travel, see as much as I can, and try to do as much as I can in a short amount of time. Why did you decide to buy your PRCA card at this point in your career?
Wacey: As soon as I turned 18 last November, I filled my Permit and went ahead and bought my PRCA card. So, I figured if I was going to do it, I might as well go all the way. I’m still having some trouble getting into a few of the rodeos. I’m just trying to capitalize on the ones I do get to ride at. What was your most memorable moment on your permit? Wacey: I won Las Vegas Days in the bull riding and finished third in the bareback riding last November and filled my Permit. So, that’s probably the most memorable moment for me. What’s your favorite restaurant? Wacey: My traveling partner Jacob Carige is an Australian. So, we’ve been going to Outback Steakhouse quite a bit. So, I’d say that’s probably my favorite right now. Do you have a favorite candy? Wacey: I would have to go with PayDay candy bars. What was the make and model of the first vehicle you drove? Wacey: It was actually my mom’s 2018 Lexus. I was pretty lucky to get to drive that. What’s your favorite movie? Wacey: There’s no doubt that Unbroken is my favorite movie. It’s a pretty awesome movie about an Army soldier that gets stranded in the ocean. What’s your favorite holiday? Wacey: I am going to have to say Thanksgiving because you get to see your family that you haven’t seen in a while and get to eat a big meal on top of that. What type of music do you like listening to? Wacey: I’m a man of many genres. You can’t go wrong with some good classic rock though. What do you enjoy doing in your downtime from rodeo? Wacey: I actually buy, raise, and sell bucking bulls. So, that’s what I spend a lot of time on when I’m not rodeoing.
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WORD SEARCH TRY YOUR LUCK
ANSWERS ON PAGE 50
Find the winners from the Ellis County Stock Show & Rodeo in Waxahachie, Texas, and the Cave Creek (Ariz.) Rodeo Days in 2023. Cowboys or cowgirls who won more than one event at both rodeos appear once for each win. Names may be forward, backward, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. Spring Fling 1. Find the winners from Waxahachie, Texas:
DCUQXPTVLNKKDKVFMMYZO RRAPMFUCXMMOBCHI PHRBD OGANFPNDUB IOUOMFVTAEQ F JNWNLVL JZBCDKYI LULYD RUDVWOVXMXNNDENYFOPEH ES IVLENRYBRAYRBBNSNGR HTRVGNRCBLOGHLEP I EAXD T I FNOLGDRGYOABALLKGGZ UNNPMHOVNAI LWRTLXAI BF RHKKJKT J JAVAKKHFDJ LHM DOGVXHR I I JHE I EGNFZLMA AUBEZYEPMERENL IBHYI SY HSKTDTHMMSFDSSRYHGMI L CTTBZMCHI JE J I IWYZURLQ JOSHPARKERDUIYRYQXEPM INHRXNUJ SSQTSNEFMOLRI HBMMOLZOMZZ IOZLQGBYAD CKORB INR ICEBMETTWGTHV L IAGULAVTRHI PFAMFAJOL QHWESTYNHUGHESTNECXIA HFBWYTRMYAWBZVSGVUABR
BB: Chad Rutherford SW: Denell Henderson TR: Korbin Rice/Jake South Andrew Ward/Buddy Hawkins II
SB: Logan Cook TD: Tyler Milligan GB: Jimmie Smith BR: Cannon Cravens
2. Find the winners from Cave Creek, Ariz.: BB: Josh Parker SW: Bryar Byrne TR: Delon Parker/Ryan Zurcher SB: Statler Wright TD: Westyn Hughes GB: Sue Smith BR: Justin Houston
Dynamic Duo
Bull rider Ky Hamilton shines at NFR & Stetson Wright wins fifth all-around title
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Proud sponsor of NFR Playo Series, National Finals Rodeo, and Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
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2024 PRCA RAM WORLD STANDINGS
Official as of March 14, 2024. For the 2024 season (Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024), official rodeo limits are as follows: all-around, 70; bareback riding, 100; steer wrestling, 80; team roping, 80; saddle bronc riding, 100; tie-down roping, 80; barrel racing, 100; breakaway roping,100; and bull riding, 125. Bull riders can count Xtreme Bulls events toward the PRCA World Standings, but not toward the all-around standings.
ALL-AROUND 1. Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss. .................. $31,043 2. Wacey Schalla, Arapaho, Okla. .......................... 19,636 3. Bodie Mattson, Sturgis, S.D. ............................. 17,221 4. Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss. ................................. 16,880 5. Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas ............................. 16,740 6. Luke Gee, Stanford, Mont. ................................ 15,863 7. Zane Kilgus, Pyror, Okla. ................................... 14,833 8. Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas ........................ 14,323 9. Slade Wood, New Ulm, Texas ............................ 14,162 10. Chet Weitz, London, Texas .............................. 11,298 11. Seth Peterson, Wellington, Colo. ..................... 10,347 12. Scot Brown, Mount Joy, Pa. ............................ 10,155 13. Stetson Wright, Beaver, Utah ............................. 9,984 14. Abdiel Zamora, Okeechobee, Fla. ....................... 9,229 15. Paul Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla. ..................... 9,215 BAREBACK RIDING 1. Rocker Steiner, Weatherford, Texas ................. $48,250 2. Keenan Hayes, Hayden, Colo. ............................ 46,531 3. Bradlee Miller, Huntsville, Texas ........................ 40,285 4. Cooper Cooke, Victor, Idaho ............................. 37,877 5. Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah ...................... 34,747 6. Taylor Broussard, Estherwood, La. ................... 34,315 7. Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb. ..................... 30,255 8. Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo. ................................. 30,021 9. Weston Timberman, Columbus, Mont. .............. 28,589 10. Cole Franks, Clarendon, Texas ......................... 27,787 11. Tanner Aus, Granite Falls, Minn. ...................... 26,000 12. Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La. ............................ 25,226 13. Sam Petersen, Helena, Mont. .......................... 23,906 14. Waylon Bourgeois, Church Point, La. .............. 21,856 15. Clayton Biglow, Clements, Calif. ...................... 20,886 16. Leighton Berry, Weatherford, Texas ................ 20,809 17. Brayze Schill, West Columbia, Texas ............... 20,324 18. Lane McGehee, Victoria, Texas ........................ 20,281 19. Nick Pelke, Mondovi, Wis. ............................... 19,961 20. Bronc Marriott, Woods Cross, Utah ................ 19,009 STEER WRESTLING 1. Will Lummus, Byhalia, Miss. ........................... $42,516 2. Tyler Pearson, Atoka, Okla. ................................ 35,497 3. Dalton Massey, Hermiston, Ore. ........................ 35,273 4. Tanner Brunner, Ramona, Kan. .......................... 34,523 5. Jacob Talley, Keatchie, La. ................................. 33,982 6. Stetson Jorgensen, Blackfoot, Idaho ................. 28,487 7. Stephen Culling, Fort St. John B.C. ................... 23,170 8. Justin Shaffer, Hallsville, Texas ......................... 21,412 9. Travis Munro, Townsville, Australia ................... 20,518 10. Kyle Irwin, Robertsdale, Ala. ........................... 20,283 11. Walt Arnold, Coleman, Texas ........................... 19,238 12. Don Payne, Stephenville, Texas ....................... 18,254 13. Tyler Waguespack, Gonzales, La. .................... 18,158 14. Grant Peterson, Livermore, Calif. .................... 17,010 15. Shane Frey, Duncan, Okla. ............................... 16,871 16. Ty Erickson, Helena, Mont. .............................. 16,368 17. Cash Robb, Altamont, Utah ............................. 15,638 18. Riley Duvall, Checotah, Okla. ........................... 15,313 19. J.D. Struxness, Milan, Minn. ........................... 14,836 20. Tim Kemp, Kitchener, Ontario .......................... 13,643 TEAM ROPING (HEADER) 1. Clint Summers, Lake City, Fla. ......................... $43,410 2. Dustin Egusquiza, Marianna, Fla. ....................... 36,593 3. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla. .......................... 35,318 4. Derrick Begay, Seba Dalkai, Ariz. ....................... 29,646 5. Andrew Ward, Edmond, Okla. ........................... 28,427 6. Cody Snow, Los Olivos, Calif. ............................ 25,759 7. Kaleb Driggers, Hoboken, Ga. ........................... 25,376 8. Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas .................................. 25,158 9. Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss. .................... 24,909 10. Brenten Hall, Jay, Okla. ................................... 22,402 11. Brady Tryan, Huntley, Mont. ............................ 20,903 12. Bradley Massey, Perry, Fla. .............................. 20,178 13. Cory Kidd V, Statesville, N.C. ........................... 19,246 14. Jake Clay, Sapulpa, Okla. ................................. 17,689 15. Erich Rogers, Round Rock, Ariz. ..................... 15,453 16. Brye Crites, Welch, Okla. ................................. 14,847 17. Tanner James, Porterville, Calif. ...................... 14,300
18. Ty Arnold, Midway, Texas ................................ 13,625 19. Cyle Denison, Iowa, La. ................................... 13,600 20. Manny Egusquiza Jr., Hico, Texas .................... 13,504 TEAM ROPING (HEELER) 1. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. ............................. $46,848 2. Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D. ..................................... 36,593 3. Coleby Payne, Stephenville, Texas ..................... 35,318 4. Kaden Profili, Jacksonville, Texas ...................... 29,897 5. Colter Todd, Willcox, Ariz. ................................. 29,646 6. Hunter Koch, Vernon, Texas .............................. 27,770 7. Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas ................. 25,158 8. Cole Curry, Liberty, Miss. .................................. 24,909 9. Sid Sporer, Cody, Wyo. ..................................... 21,776 10. Zack Mabry, Piedmont, Ala. ............................. 20,875 11. Tyler McKnight, Pollok, Texas ......................... 20,232 12. Clay Green, Pine Grove, La. ............................. 19,476 13. Clay Futrell, Union Grove, N.C. ........................ 18,246 14. Junior Nogueira, Pres. Prude, Brazil ................ 17,787 15. Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo. ................................. 17,689 16. Paul Eaves, Lonedell, Mo. ............................... 17,542 17. Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas ................................ 16,896 18. Calgary Smith, Adams, Ore. ............................ 16,304 19. Jace McDaniel, Jonesboro, Ark. ...................... 16,273 20. Evan Arnold, Stephenville, Texas ..................... 16,245 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Statler Wright, Beaver, Utah ............................ $53,283 2. Damian Brennan, Injune, Australia .................... 49,857 3. Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas ............................... 45,716 4. Parker Fleet, Axtell, Texas .................................. 38,414 5. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo. ............................. 38,211 6. Logan Hay, Wildwood, Alberta .......................... 37,760 7. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah ............................... 34,448 8. Lefty Holman, Visalia, Calif. ............................... 33,472 9. Logan Cook, Alto, Texas .................................... 32,781 10. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho .............................. 31,740 11. Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta ........ 30,230 12. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta ................... 28,500 13. Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La. ............................ 28,036 14. Cole Elshere, Faith, S.D. .................................. 25,649 15. Lucas Macza, High River, Alberta .................... 23,916 16. Parker Kempfer, Deer Park, Fla. ....................... 22,652 17. Ben Andersen, Eckville, Alberta ....................... 21,469 18. Qwint Stroh, Glendive, Mont. .......................... 20,644 19. Cort Scheer, Elsmere, Neb. .............................. 20,551 20. Quintin McWhorter, Petrolia, Calif. .................. 20,020 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Shad Mayfield, Clovis, N.M. ............................ $95,870 2. John Douch, Huntsville, Texas .......................... 39,439 3. Riley Webb, Denton, Texas ................................ 37,126 4. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas ................................ 34,680 5. Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif. ............. 25,677 6. Chance Thiessen, Elk City, Okla. ........................ 23,529 7. Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. ........................ 21,710 8. Tom Crouse, Gallatin, Mo. ................................. 21,529 9. Quade Hiatt, Canyon, Texas ............................... 20,110 10. Cole Walker, Sparta, Tenn. ............................... 18,757 11. Randall Carlisle, Athens, La. ............................ 18,716 12. Tyler Milligan, Pawhuska, Okla. ....................... 18,256 13. Ty Harris, San Angelo, Texas ........................... 18,184 14. Kincade Henry, Mount Pleasant, Texas ............ 18,168 15. Joel Harris, San Angelo, Texas ........................ 17,942 16. Macon Murphy, Keatchie, La. .......................... 17,768 17. Garrett Elmore, Springer, Okla. ........................ 15,951 18. Blane Cox, Stephenville, Texas ........................ 15,739 19. Chance Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn. ................ 15,673 20. Cole Robinson, Moorcroft, Wyo. ..................... 14,501 STEER ROPING 1. Cole Patterson, Pawnee, Okla. ......................... $28,154 2. Scott Snedecor, Fredericksburg, Texas .............. 20,172 3. Slade Wood, New Ulm, Texas ............................ 19,800 4. Vin Fisher Jr., Andrews, Texas ........................... 19,406 5. John Bland, Okarche, Okla. ................................ 18,983 6. Jess Tierney, Hermosa, S.D. ............................. 18,419 7. J. Tom Fisher, Andrews, Texas ........................... 18,248 8. Kyle Cauthorn, Poetry, Texas ............................. 15,025
9. Clay Long, Stephenville, Texas .......................... 14,545 10. Duck Benson, Colfax, Wash. ............................ 14,535 11. Cody Lee, Gatesville, Texas .............................. 14,020 12. Brodie Poppino, Big Cabin, Okla. ..................... 13,634 13. Rocky Patterson, Pratt, Kan. ............................ 12,445 14. Garrett Hale, Snyder, Texas .............................. 12,132 15. Cooper Mills, Saint John, Wash. ...................... 11,768 16. Chad Mathis, Morristown, Ariz. ....................... 10,359 17. Ryan Willberg, Lott, Texas ............................... 10,034 18. Dalton Walker, Clyde, Texas ............................... 9,760 19. John Clark, Pecos, Texas ................................... 8,772 20. Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla. ......................... 8,032 BULL RIDING 1. Clayton Sellars, Wildwood, Fla. ....................... $73,246 2. Luke Mast, Hutchinson, Kan. ............................. 46,619 3. Creek Young, Rogersville, Mo. .......................... 44,970 4. Cody Teel, Bryan, Texas ..................................... 44,681 5. Brody Yeary, Morgan Mill, Texas ....................... 42,103 6. Chase Dougherty, Canby, Ore. ........................... 39,348 7. Jace Trosclair, Chauvin, La. ............................... 37,797 8. Taylor Toves, Stephenville, Texas ...................... 36,992 9. Mason Moody, Letcher, S.D. ............................. 35,846 10. Hayes Weight, Goshen, Utah ........................... 34,577 11. Jake Lockwood, Volborg, Mont. ...................... 32,135 12. Dustin Boquet, Bourg, La. ............................... 32,074 13. Jake Gardner, Fort St. John, B.C. ..................... 31,402 14. Jeter Lawrence, Council Hill, Okla. .................. 30,599 15. Maverick Smith, Mountain. Grove, Mo. ........... 30,201 16. Fulton Rutland, Westville, Okla. ....................... 29,914 17. T.J. Gray, Dairy, Ore. ........................................ 29,405 18. T Parker, Winnie, Texas ................................... 29,238 19. Trey Holston, Fort Scott, Kan. .......................... 26,769 20. Cooper James, Erda, Utah ............................... 26,515 BARREL RACING 1. Sara Winkelman, Big Lake, Minn. .................... $34,832 2. Ashley Castleberry, Montgomery, Texas .............34,085 3. Hailey Kinsel, Cotulla, Texas .............................. 31,992 4. Kassie Mowry, Dublin, Texas ............................. 30,615 5. Abby Phillips, Marshall, Texas ........................... 28,868 6. Emily Beisel, Weatherford, Texas ....................... 26,879 7. Taylor Carver, Broxton, Ga. ................................ 25,411 8. Wenda Johnson, Pawhuska, Okla. .................... 24,520 9. Lisa Lockhart, Oelrichs, S.D. ............................. 24,117 10. Katie Jo Halbert, Port Lavaca, Texas ................ 23,953 11. Sissy Winn, Chapman, Texas ........................... 22,775 12. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, Lampasas, Texas ......... 21,704 13. Preslie Reid, San Angelo, Texas ...................... 20,972 14. Shelley Morgan, Eustace, Texas ....................... 19,944 15. Chloe Gray, Yatesville, Ga. ............................... 19,290 16. Jamie Olsen, Brock, Texas ............................... 19,256 17. Tayla Moeykens, Three Forks, Mont. ............... 18,147 18. Rainey Skelton, Llano, Texas ........................... 16,814 19. Oceane Veilleux, St-Alfred, Quebec City ........... 15,859 20. Halyn Lide, China Spring, Texas ....................... 15,329 BREAKAWAY ROPING 1. Danielle Lowman, Gilbert, Ariz. ....................... $49,909 2. Maddy Deerman, Hope, N.M. ............................ 26,456 3. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, Miles City, Mont. ........... 25,276 4. Jackie Crawford, Stephenville, Texas ................. 21,158 5. Rickie Fanning, Spearfish, S.D. ......................... 20,978 6. Bradi Good, Abilene, Texas ................................ 19,326 7. Cassidy Boggs, Stephenville, Texas ................... 17,729 8. Sarah Angelone, Lipan, Texas ............................ 17,099 9. Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, Springtown, Texas ......... 16,215 10. Taylor Munsell, Alva, Okla. .............................. 16,145 11. Bailey Bates, Tohatchi, N.M. ............................ 15,377 12. Willow Wilson, Baggs, Wyo. ............................ 13,949 13. Martha Angelone, Stephenville, Texas .............. 12,851 14. Tacy Webb, Midway, Texas ...............................12,645 15. Braylee Shepherd, Fitzhugh, Okla. ....................11,836 16. Sawyer Gilbert, Buffalo, S.D. ............................ 11,187 17. J.J. Hampton, Stephenville, Texas ....................10,592 18. Nicole Baggarley, Las Cruces, N.M. ..................10,418 19. Rylee A. George, Oakdale, Calif. ....................... 10,128 20. Bailey Patterson, Pendleton, Ore. ...................... 9,989
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SHORT ROUND NFL Star at Hall
D efensive standout Karl Mecklenburg, a member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame, will be the featured speaker at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame’s 2024 Spring Sports Fundraiser May 16 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Doors open at 6 p.m. (MDT). This will be an evening with Mecklenburg, a star for the Broncos from 1983-1994. He played in three Super Bowls and ended his career with 79 quarterback sacks. Mecklenburg, who was selected to six Pro Bowls (1985-87, 1989, 1991, and 1993), was an unknown 12th-round draft choice out of Minnesota who blossomed into a superstar. Mecklenburg got his first start for the Broncos in 1985 and proved to be a versatile star playing seven different defensive positions during his career, including making highlight reel hits from the linebacker position. Karl Mecklenburg to be featured at ProRodeo Hall Denver Broncos defensive great
Photo courtesy Denver Broncos Star Denver Broncos defender Karl Mecklenburg is shown back in his playing days. Mecklenburg is a featured speaker at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colo rado Springs, Colo., May 16.
Cheyenne Frontier Days sets concert lineup The Daddy of ‘Em All is back. Western fans from all over the country will flock to Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days for concerts, rodeos and the carnival. The event will run from July 19-28, and FOX31 has confirmed the big names that will grace the stage in Wyoming. List: Artists performing at 2024 Cheyenne Frontier Days are as follows: July 19: Turnpike Troubadours with The Red Clay Strays July 20: Jason Aldean with Chase Matthew July 21: Jelly Roll with Warren Zeiders
July 24: Machine Gun Kelly July 25: T-Pain and Ludacris July 26: Lainey Wilson with Flatland Cavalry July 27: Thomas Rhett From July 20-28, the PRCA Rodeo will be open to spectators.
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BY THE NUMBERS $6K The amount of money ($6,616) earned by Doug Pharr on his way to winning the M.M. Fisher Jr. Memorial Steer Roping in Andrews, Texas. $97K The amount of money ($97,870) earned so far by tie-down roper Shad Mayfield to sit atop the PRCA | RAM how good a season Mayfield is having, Tuf Cooper qualified for the 2023 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge in the No. 15 spot with $114,326. $100K The amount of money ($100,932) earned by saddle bronc rider Bud Munroe in 1986, which was a single-season event record. The saddle bronc single-season earnings record is $456,356 earned by world champion Zeke Thurston in 2023. World Standings. To put in context
Tickets on sale for third annual Resistol Rookie Roundup Saddle bronc rider Cort Scheer, a six-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, had an 84.5 ride on Frontier Rodeo’s Little Medicine at the 96th annual Arcadia All-Florida Championship, March 7. He finished second and earned $3,762. Good Medicine Jessica Burns photo
For the third year in a row, Resistol in partnership with The Cowboy Channel, will host the Resistol Rookie Roundup April 26-27 at 7:30 pm (CT) in the Fort Worth Stockyards Coliseum. Sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, the top 15 PRCA rookies in each event, in their first year as card holders, will compete for $100,000. The Cowboy Channel will produce and broadcast the event. The first performance on April 26 will feature all 15 contestants in a single go-round competition. Then, the top eight will continue to the semifinals on April 27 with the top four advancing to the championship round in the same performance. In addition to competing for $100,000 in total prize money, each contestant will learn skills in becoming a professional rodeo athlete and be able to compete with their peer group. They will attend media training, Cowboy Channel interviews, sponsor training and PRCA discussions. Each will receive a gift bag of items from The Cowboy Channel that may be used to help them travel down the road during their rookie year The Cowboy Channel will also produce a series of roundtables with the participants in each event
hosted by “mentors” in the sport meaning past of the Resistol Rookie of the Year, PRCA World Champions, or National Finals Rodeo qualifiers. The mentoring and training are intended to prepare the first-year professionals for their career ahead The Resistol Rookie of the Year Award is one of the most coveted awards that can be earned by PRCA and WPRA members as they can only earn it once in their career. Money won during the Cowboy Channel Rookie Roundup presented by Resistol will count towards the Resistol Rookie Standings but will not be credited towards PRCA | RAM World Standings for NFR qualification Entries will be open to qualified PRCA rookies on April 1, and close on April 2 at 10 a.m. (MT), through the PRCA’s PROCOM entry system. Tickets are on sale at Cowtown Coliseum website, or through a link on the Cowboy Channel website. Additional information and updates will be made on Western Sports Roundup and/or on the nightly “live” rodeos on The Cowboy Channel and on PRCA and Cowboy Channel social media platforms Tickets are on sale at the Cowtown Coliseum or ticketsales.com/cowtown-coliseum-tickets.
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ProRodeo Sports News 3/15/2024 ©2023 AGCO Corporation. Massey Ferguson is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation. Hesston is a brand of AGCO. AGCO, Massey Ferguson and Hesston are trademarks of AGCO. All rights reserved.
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SNAPSHOT
Record Turnout This year’s M.M. Fisher Jr. Memorial event had 96 steer ropers enter, which is not only a record for this event, but for any signature series steer roping in the PRCA. – Robert Rosales photo
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The Best ProRodeo Cowboys and Cowgirls from the U.S. and Canadian Circuits, plus National Champs from Mexico are coming to Colorado Springs, Colorado July 9-13, 2024. With over $1 million in payouts, they’ll be riding to win. This is where champions and careers are made. The speed, the excitement... there’s no better place to be than the NFR Open at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo.
H Bareback Riding H Breakaway Roping H Steer Wrestling H Team Roping
H Saddle Bronc Riding H Tie-down Roping H Barrel Racing H Bull Riding
Evening performances Tuesday through Saturday, matinee performances Friday and Saturday! Fan Zone fun before the Rodeo and the Coors Roadhouse Saloon afterward, with live music and dancing!
The 83rd Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo | NFR Open takes place at the Norris Penrose Event Center at 1045 Lower Gold Camp Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80905.
Copyright © Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo All rights reserved. © Photography by Brian Gauck
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© 2024 Cargill, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
THE CHUTE BOSSES WITH SHAD MAYFIELD
VIDEO
Money Mayfield pays a visit The Chute Bosses, the official podcast of ProRodeo, welcomes 2020 PRCA World Champion Tie-Down Roper Shad Mayfield into the show for Season 2. Tanner Barth and Tracy Renck sit down with Mayfield to talk about his incredible regular season he has had so far and discuss his goals for 2024. KEEP UP WITH THE HERD!
To subscribe to the ProRodeo Sports News call 800.763.3648 or go to ProRodeo.com
Dynamic Duo
Bull rider Ky Hamilton shines at NFR & Stetson Wright wins fifth all-around title
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NEWS
ATHLETES STANDINGS RESULTS
SCHEDULE
THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE FOR EVERYTHING
VISIT PRORODEO.COM FOR UP-T0-DATE COVERAGE The only place to get real-time scoring, average, stock draw and RAM Top Gun standings during the Wrangler NFR
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ANDREWS, TEXAS
Pharr uses consistent pace to nab surprising victory Savored Win BY ALEX RILEY, Special to ProRodeo Sports News W ith each handshake and pat on the shoulder reality set in for Doug Pharr. He was just looking for a solid weekend at the M.M. Fisher Jr. Memorial Steer Roping event in Andrews, Texas. Pharr M.M. FISHER JR. MEMORIAL STEER ROPING
never envisioned walking away with the average title. But as the steady stream of competitors came by to shake his hand and offer their congratulations, his accomplishment became real. “Without a doubt it’s a boost for the confidence for sure,” Pharr said. “It’s great to get a little boost that the work is paying off. I would have been happy just placing at this roping and felt a level of confidence just from placing. It was totally unexpected to come in here and for everything to click like it did and come out the champ.” Pharr didn’t need to dazzle at one of the PRCA’s biggest standalone steer roping events of the year. He only placed in one round, taking seventh in the second round. Instead, the Mount Calm, Texas, cowboy just kept catching steers and recording times, securing a time on each of his four runs. In the end, his aggregate time of 54.5 seconds was enough to win the average title, placing him one full second better than runner-up John E. Bland. In all, Pharr secured $6,616 for the weekend, his highest earnings total for a season since earning a little over $7,100 in 2012. It was a moment Pharr called “unexpected” as the longtime PRCA competitor continues to find his way in the steer roping world. In 2009, Pharr stepped away from being a full-time competitor to focus on work outside of rodeo and his family. Before that, he had been among the sport’s elite tie-down ropers. He qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2008, placing in 12 rounds. With two young kids and a growing business as a future’s broker, feeding about 4,000 head of cattle in the Texas panhandle, Pharr has stayed plenty busy without the rigors of being a full-time rodeo competitor. But he never fully let it go, keeping his PRCA card active and taking part in occasional rodeos as a way to stay engaged. About five years ago, he decided to take up steer roping as a way to try something new. “I made a living with a rope and string for 12 years and I didn’t think the transition would be that difficult – and I was very wrong,” Pharr said. “There are so many variables in this event in my opinion. You don’t only have to compete very well, but your horse has to too and your steer has to cooperate. It’s been difficult for all three of those things to come together in one setting.” While his experience in steer roping is limited, Pharr has been steadily improving. He trained his own horse which he rode in events until it sustained an injury last year. While his personal mount is recovering, Pharr has been grateful that Jamie Long has allowed him to ride his horse, Tongue, which helped Cash Myers reach the National Steer Roping Finals two years ago. Pharr called Tongue’s efforts over the weekend “absolutely flawless,” allowing him to focus on catching and tying. Pharr was well outside the top 50 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings prior to the weekend and while he’ll certainly leap onto the list thanks to this victory, his focus is still on his business and his family. He’s riding for the enjoyment, the camaraderie, and the fun of it all. But a little taste of success doesn’t hurt either. “It was unexpected for me to win this roping,” Pharr said. “It’s one of the biggest steer ropings of the year and certainly the prestige and the caliber of everyone there, it was very exciting for me to win this roping. I’m still in disbelief.”
Robert Rosales photo Doug Pharr makes a catch during the M.M. Fisher Jr. Memorial Steer Roping in Andrews, Texas. Pharr, a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in tie-down roping, captured the biggest steer roping win of his career.
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PRORODEO COWBOYS
VIDEO
Casper
Photo courtesy Wyatt Casper Billowing smoke and flames are seen near the home of PRCA saddle bronc rider Wyatt Casper in Miami, Texas. Casper and family members acted promptly and were fortunate to minimize the damage to their personal property as a result of the Smokehouse Creek Fire.
make preparations for their stock and home in a minute’s notice. “The wind was blowing about 50 mph consistently. The fire was traveling quite a bit there for a while,” Casper said. “My wife (Lesley) went and picked up our kids (Cooper, 5, Cheyenne 4) from school, while I was hauling all our horses off the property. We had three trailers full, with probably 25 to 30 head of horses. “We took them to Wade Helton’s house, he’s about 20 miles south of us. But luckily, we were able to get them all to safety, out of the smoke and away from the danger. It was pretty nerve-wracking there for a while.” Casper and his family were able to return to their ranch that night once the fires had passed. Casper returned home to minimal damage, his family that lives just down the road from him didn’t fare quite as well. “I live about a mile from my brother-in-law (Travis Chester), and he lost pretty much every acre that he owns to the fire,” Casper said. “On his place, he lost one of the buildings on his property and a couple barns. They actually stayed back and fought the fire when it was coming toward his place and got it to go around their house. Then they came down and fought it when it hit our place.” Casper said he had never seen anything quite like it as it surpassed the East Amarillo Complex fire (907,245 acres) for the
Fortunate
Wyatt Casper escapes major damage in Texas Fires, others not as lucky
BY TANNER BARTH T he largest wildfire in Texas history has left behind a burn scar that will leave farmers and ranchers across the state with a not-so-subtle reminder of its blazing destruction. The Smokehouse Creek Fire began in the early afternoon of Feb. 26, just north of Stinnett, Texas. The once small fire spread rapidly throughout the Panhandle, fueled by strong winds that seemed to last forever. Nearly a month later the fire is still burning in spots, leaving behind over 1 million charred acres in its aftermath. As of March 12, the fire had stretched into six different counties in Texas and eached the western edge of Oklahoma. Roberts County was just one of the many counties that took a direct head-on hit from the wildfire. Four-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo saddle bronc riding
largest in the state’s history. “Two or three years ago we had a fire get within probably four miles of the house. But we’ve never had one come right through our property before like this one,” Casper said. “We got lucky that they plowed up the ditches on the road that we live on, and it stayed on the west side of it. It had a mind of its own. That fire was rank, it was the craziest thing that I’ve ever seen.” Casper was quick to offer his gratitude to the fire departments and first responders who leaped into action across the state. Without their work he said this life-changing event could’ve been even worse. “The fire department sent as many people as they could to help, but there were fires across 90 miles at one point in the state of Texas,” Casper said. “The fire departments were stretched pretty thin. So, they were doing what they could, and they did as good as they could under those circumstances. We are so thankful for their work. It just burned up our grass, so we are just counting our blessings.”
qualifier Wyatt Casper lives in the area and calls the county seat of Miami, Texas, home. Ninety percent of the county’s 924 square miles were burned once the fire reached them on Feb. 27. Casper was one of the lucky ones, but still didn’t escape the loss of land. “It probably got 25 percent of our pasture that we own around there, but we only own around 70 acres or so,” said Casper, 27. “Luckily, for us it went around our house and all our out structures. A lot of people are a lot worse off than we are down here.” There were an estimated 7,500 livestock lost in the fires in Roberts County alone. Miami is 63 miles to the southeast of Stinnett, where the fire originated. It moved quickly off to the east forcing Casper and his family to
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Tracing steer wrestling’s roots to Bill Pickett more than a century later BY PRCA STAFF B ulldoggers often grit their teeth when taking a steer to the ground, which is highly fitting since this staple rodeo event’s roots are as a novelty-act where the cowboy literally sunk his teeth into the steer. The inspiration for bulldogging (or steer wrestling, as it’s more commonly known today), came from when 10-year-old Bill Pickett watched a bulldog take hold of a calf by its upper lip in 1882, and he decided to give it a try. The young ranch hand rode alongside a running steer, threw himself on its back, grabbed it by the horns and twisted the steer’s neck so he could sink his teeth into the nose or lip of the steer – creating the event that would evolve into the bulldogging we know today. Biting is no longer used today, instead the event requires finesse and technique. William “Bill” M. Pickett was born to Thomas Jefferson Pickett and Mary Virginia Elizabeth Gilbert, near Taylor, Texas, on Dec. 5, 1871. It wasn’t until he was 16 years old that Pickett put his bulldog-inspired trick to a more practical use. Roping steers in thick mesquite brush was difficult, but wrestling them to the ground was an easier solution. At just 5-foot-7 and 145 pounds, the cowboy rode alongside a running steer, dropped onto its back and flipped it to the ground by the horns, and bit down just like the bulldog he’d watched as a kid. Pickett took his trick for quick steer submission from the ranch and into the show arena when he and his brother started the Pickett Brothers Bronco Busters and Rough Riders Show, which toured fairs and rodeos. The public got its first glimpse at Pickett’s bulldogging in 1900 at the Arkansas Valley Fair in Rocky Ford, Colo. Shortly after, more than 20,000 spectators saw Pickett perform his steer wrestling technique at Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days, not knowing they were seeing what would become a future competitive event. Pickett went solo with the act by 1904 with a new name, “The Dusky Demon,” and performed all over the country, including Madison Square Garden in 1905 or 1907 (accounts differ). In 1907, Pickett was hired as a cowhand on the historic 101 Ranch in Oklahoma and participated in the Miller Brothers’ 101 Ranch Wild West Show. He worked on the ranch when he was not traveling with the Miller Brothers for more than 25 years. He also performed internationally, taking his rodeo show to Canada, Mexico, South America and England. Pickett went on to perform in multiple silent movies in Hollywood, such as the 1921 film “The Bull-Dogger,” which featured acts of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show. Of course, life wasn’t all about bulldogging – Pickett married Maggie Turner in 1890, and together they had nine kids. The famed cowboy died at 61 years old when he was kicked in the head while breaking a colt at the 101 Ranch. The kick knocked him into a coma that lasted for 11 days before he died on April 2, 1932. Pickett’s contributions to the sport of rodeo were commemorated as the first black cowboy inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1971, before the establishment of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, which he was also inducted into in 1989. Pickett can also be found in the Museum of the American Cowboy, as well as on a 1994 U.S. Postal Service stamp. A life-size statue of Pickett steer wrestling was installed at the Cowboy Coliseum in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1987. TIME CAPSULE ... BILL PICKETT Pioneer Cowboy
PRCA ProRodeo file photos
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