ProRodeo Sports News - March 29, 2024

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Leon Coffee transitioning from barrelman at RodeoHouston

BY THE NUMBERS 1975 The Rodeo Cowboys Association changes its name to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, with 3,651 members competing for $6,432,580 in prize money that year. 1982 That year, for the first time, Bruce Ford becomes the first cowboy to earn $100,000 in a single event for a season. He earned $113,644 on the way to the PRCA Bareback Riding World Championship. Ford was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado, Springs, Colo., in 1993. money ($500,300) earned by the 2024 RodeoHouston champions, bareback rider Leighton Berry ($53,750), steer wrestler Dakota Eldridge ($54,250); team ropers J.C. Yeahquo/Buddy Hawkins II ($54,375 each); saddle bronc rider Damian Brennan ($56,750); tie-down roper Ty Harris ($58,000); breakaway roper Jackie Crawford ($55,250); barrel racer Leslie Smalygo ($58,000); and bull rider Creek Young ($55,550). $2.1M The projected payout ($2.178,000) for 2024 RodeoHouston. The 20-day tournament style competition began Feb. 27 and concluded March 17. Each event champion is awarded $50,000 which counts toward the PRCA | RAM World Standings. $500K The combined amount of

ProRodeo Hall of Fame bullfighter Leon Coffee has been a barrelman at RodeoHouston for 31 years. The beloved rodeo clown

“I have never had an opportunity in my life, in any facet of my life where I got to choose my successor,” Coffee said. “RodeoHouston is giving me that opportunity to go up and

wants the world to know he is not done yet. “I ain’t going anywhere,” Coffee said. “Everybody thought I was quitting…I’m just changing positions,” Coffee said in a RodeoHouston press release. “I’m retiring from bullfighting, but I’m not retiring from clowning.” Being out of the barrel will allow Coffee to impact more lives than he has already, interacting more with the crowd and creating more entertainment for all. With the barrelman chapter ending, Coffee has a new responsibility: finding someone to fill his shoes…or barrel…and take over his position. Coffee Powder River Rodeo’s decorated, award-winning saddle bronc horse Miss Congeniality passed away March 17. She was 26. Miss C, as she called, was the PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year in 2005, 2007 and was the reserve PRCA Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year in 2008. At the National Finals Rodeo, she finished third in the voting for the top saddle bronc horse in her NFR debut in 2002 and was voted in the top three at the 2007 NFR. “Those horses just don’t come along,” said Lori Franzen of Powder River Rodeo. “Hank (Lori’s husband) and I have been in the business for 40 years and when she was born, she was gorgeous and huge, and she was special from the day she was born.” Born and raised at the Franzen’s Riverton, Wyo., ranch, Miss C quickly made her mark in ProRodeo. Her Dam, a Red Roan

say, ‘Who do you want to see after you, who do you want to succeed you?’ Wow.” Coffee’s last moments in the barrel the last week of RodeoHouston were quite humbling. “I got a standing ovation out there,” Coffee said, “It was the most humbling thing that ever happened to me. “There were 70,000 people who stood up and clapped for me. That tells me the good Lord let me do what he wanted me to do.” Coffee’s successor will be announced in the spring of 2024. Mare by the name of Red Bird, came from Johnny Morris and her Sire was the great Cut The Cards who came from Harry Vold. Miss Congeniality appeared at the NFR from 2002-12 – highlighted by Rod Hay winning on her twice – 2002 Round 10 and 2008 Round 10. In her NFR debut, she bucked legendary ProRodeo Hall of Famer Billy Etbauer off in Round 3 and sidelined him for the remainder of the NFR. “Miss Congeniality was one of the greatest,” Etbauer said. “She was awesome. Good in that chute and just really bucked. They don’t make them any better than her.” “She could have kept going after 2012, but after starting at 4 years old and winning every award she needed, she didn’t owe us anything,” Lori said. “In 2012, we just said we are going to let her live out the rest of her life having babies and enjoying it.”

Standout saddle bronc horse Miss Congeniality passes

ProRodeo Sports News 3/29/2024

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