ProRodeo Sports News - September 21, 2018

Payden’s Place

Emmett searching for All American buckle BY TRACY RENCK C ompeting in the All American ProRodeo Finals isn’t uncharted territory for team roping header Payden Emmett. The Mount Vernon, Mo., cowboy has been to the event several times and had success, but he has yet to walk away from the prestigious rodeo with a title. He hopes to change that when the event kicks off Oct. 6 at Extraco Coliseum, inWaco, Texas, with heeling partner J.W. Nelson. “My season has gone really well,” said Emmett, 30. “I started off roping with Joe Day this winter. We already had partners for the summer and I roped with J.W. (Nelson). I’ve had two good heelers and a couple of good head horses.” Emmett’s horsepower has been provided by his main horse, Ruger, 15, and Josie, 10. “Ruger and Josie were my wife’s barrel horses,” Emmett said. “We have a daughter (Ollie Kate) who just turned 1 (Sept. 12). I kind of stole my wife’s barrel horses while she was pregnant. Ruger is the best head horse I have ever ridden and ever will get to ride that we own. If it wasn’t for Ruger, I wouldn’t have had the year I’ve had. Josie is a horse we bought and trained. I’m surprised at how well she has done.” Emmett doesn’t rodeo full time, so the All American ProRodeo Finals are a big deal to him. “Getting to compete at the All American is exciting,” Emmett said. “There are not many rodeos where you get to rope for as much money as will be up for grabs there. A guy walks out of there with $20,000, it dang sure will be a good deal for them. J.W. and I have always got along, we just never roped together. He heels really well, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do.” The duo has been roping together since the Minnesota Horse Exposition Rodeo (April 27-29) in St. Paul, a rodeo they won in 5.9 seconds. “Payden is the best header I’ve roped with,” said Nelson, 35. “It’s awesome. He’s a real easy-going guy and great to rope with. I’ve never been to the All American, and I think it will be great for us.” EMMETT HAS RODEO ROOTS Until two years ago, Emmett’s main event was tie-down roping, but he changed his focus to team roping. “I was fairly successful at (tie-down roping), but I figured I had better odds to get a chance to ever make the NFR Team roping heeler J.W. Nelson, center, and header Payden Emmett competed at the Crystal Springs Rodeo in Clear Lake, S.D., in June. Emmett and Nelson just teamed up this season. They will be competing in the All American ProRodeo Finals in October. Clay Guardipee photo

WHAT: 2018 All American ProRodeo Finals WHO: 30 contestants in each event (Top 30 headers and Top 30 heelers). FORMAT: The top three finishers in Brackets I, II and III advance to the nine-man (nine teams for team ropers) semifinals Oct. 13. The top four placers in the semifinals advance to the championship round that night. WHEN: Oct. 6-7 and Oct. 9-13, 7 p.m. CT; Oct. 13, semifinals, followed by the finals WHERE: Extraco Coliseum, Waco, Texas

ProRodeo Sports News 9/21/2018

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