December 20, 2012
Heartland Express - Rodeo Nebraska
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Brazile Sets Half a Dozen More Records at NFR COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Trevor Brazile, Jack-of-all (roping) trades, has the ProRodeo record for having the most records, and he either broke or extended six more during his 10-day stint in Las Vegas, Nev. for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. At the top of the list was his record seventh consecutive All-Around World Championship, which extended his record total to 10 and allowed him to break out of his tie with Jim Shoulders for most total world championships (17) by a multi-event cowboy. He also won a record seventh Wrangler NFR all-around gold buckle, breaking the deadlock he’d had with Ty Murray and Tom Ferguson.
The $50,649 he won on his way to finishing third in the team-roping heading world standings allowed him to extend his National Finals (NFR and National Finals Steer Roping) earnings record to $1,505,697 and his career earnings record to $4,598,002. Luke Branquinho’s win in the fourth go was the 21st NFR-round win of his career - moving him past fellow four-time World Champion Ote Berry on the all-time list for his event - and Cody Ohl won two rounds of the tie-down roping to extend his NFR event record to 44. World Champion Barrel Racer Mary Walker broke the NFR earnings record for her event
with $146,941, surpassing Sherry Cervi’s old mark by $841. • On his way to a second consecutive gold buckle in tie-down roping, Tuf Cooper fell just short of becoming the youngest cowboy in ProRodeo history to surpass $1 million in career earnings. His $108,464 at the Wrangler NFR brought his career total to $995,249, leaving him just $4,751 shy of the milestone on entering next month’s National Western Stock Show & Rodeo in Denver. ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee Ty Murray holds the record, having reached $1 million over his Fourth of Continued on page 4
Peterson Pleased with Miss Rodeo America Pageant Results Suzi Nelson, Ashland Gazette ASHLAND, Neb. - Sierra Peterson's reign will soon be over as Miss Rodeo Nebraska. And she has certainly enjoyed it. Peterson placed in the top 10 at the Miss Rodeo America Pageant last week in Las Vegas, the crowning event in her reign as Miss Rodeo Nebraska, which ends on Dec. 31. "I think I did very well," said Peterson, who was a member of the Platte Valley Wranglers 4-H Club in Ashland as a youth and attended Yutan Public Schools. Peterson was pleased, but not necessarily surprised, that she placed in the top 10. "I had a feeling throughout the week that I'd been really solid," she said. The pageant events lasted from Dec. 6 to 12 and took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The competition included fashion shows, speeches, horsemanship and written tests. When it came time to announce the top 5 during the coronation on Dec. 12, Peterson's name was not among them. "It was hard for about five seconds," Peterson said. But then she said thought of the girls behind her who didn't even make top 10, and realized she was blessed to have such an honor. Peterson said the 30 other state queens were "extremely competitive," making the decision reached by the four pageant judges anything but easy. In the end, Miss Rodeo Utah Chenae Shiner, won the crown. "It came down to four people's opinions on that day," Peterson said. A highlight of the pageant for Peterson was winning the most unique chaps competition. Each state queen had chaps made for the competition. None had the advantage of having had their father make them, however, except Peterson. Mark Peterson has made leather chaps for rodeo riders for many years. He made a special pair of chaps when his daughter dressed up as Miss
Rodeo America for Halloween in fifth grade. He recreated those chaps for the pageant. When Peterson's name was announced as the event winner, she locked eyes with her father and started crying. "It was such an honor to have him there with me," she said. Mark Peterson was among the 40 friends and family who cheered Peterson on during the entire pageant. Her large cheering section was louder than any other, and they whooped and hollered not only for Peterson, but for her friends, too. "They would cheer for those girls because they knew they worked as hard as I had," Peterson said. Hearing her cheering section was just one of those special "little moments" Peterson said she will take away from her pageant experience. She also was touched by the many words of encouragement she received from fans around the country. Her parents also sent flowers every day. One of the most difficult aspects of the pageant was that the contestants were secluded from their families and friends throughout the competition. "The most challenging part for me would be just to constantly keep my spirits up when I couldn't talk to my parents and family," she said. But the fun times Peterson had with her competitors more than made up for it. She and Miss Rodeo Wisconsin Laura Taysom would record a video each morning called "ProRodeo Queens Live." Before each competition, Peterson and Miss Rodeo Nevada Kayla Roundy stacked their hands like teammates getting ready to head out on to the basketball court. The behind-the-scenes action also made the Miss Rodeo America Pageant a unique experience. "There were no iPods, iPads or computers allowed so you had to make your own soundtrack when you went places," Peterson said. The queens made up songs, told jokes and danced together. "Those are the memories that make the experience," Peterson said.
Peterson shared a special moment with a pageant judge who also hailed from the Cornhusker state. Craig Haythorn, a cattle rancher from Arthur, was head judge. On the day of the coronation, Peterson thanked him for being a part of the pageant. "He said, 'I'm so proud of you and so proud to say I'm from Nebraska and you're our representative,'" she recalled. Peterson's most "fun" moment of the pageant was the horsemanship competition. After several days of indoor pageant events, the rodeo queens were ready to get on their horses. "I prayed before I got on ‘my’ horse that these were the two best rides of my life, and they truly were," she said, despite the fact that she drew a horse in the first round that was very spirited and difficult to stop. But she followed it up with a great performance in the freestyle round. "I was confident I showed true horsemanship to get on that horse and really show the cowgirl in me," she said. In addition to her top 10 finish and chaps award, Peterson also tied for top honors in the written test. She received scholarship money and prizes for these accomplishments. Now, Peterson will take the confidence she honed for the pageant and turn it into a career in sales or marketing. She said contacts she made during her time as Miss Rodeo Nebraska have opened doors for her career. She hopes to land a job in Omaha. The reigning Miss Rodeo Nebraska will close out her reign by quietly celebrating Christmas and New Years with her family at their home in rural Yutan. Her time as Miss Rodeo Nebraska went by in a blur, Peterson said. "But for me, it went by at the right speed," she said. "I was able to enjoy every moment."